In the ODI rankings, Sri Lanka's two ODI matches at home against Zimbabwe =saw a number of movers, most notably on the bowling side through spinner Maheesh Theekshana, who moved to a career high rating (634) and rank (11th) with four wickets across the matches.
A day after India announced their squad for the all-important tour of South Africa, former spinner Harbhajan Singh on Friday questioned Yuzvendra Chahal's selection for the tour, and said that they gave him a "lollypop to suck on."
Outgoing South African captain Graeme Smith feels the immediate future of the team is bleak in the wake of its shock World Cup ouster and a lot of work lay ahead for the new skipper and coach.
Jacques Rudolph was surprisingly recalled by South Africa when he was included in its preliminary squad for next year's World Cup.
'If the ground remains uncovered and the rain stops, you know it doesn't start for another one hour. Suddenly it rains again. So there's no play whatsoever.'
Images from the World Cup 2023 match between Australia and South Africa.
Images from the ICC World Cup match between Afghanistan vs South Africa, in Ahmedabad, on Friday.
'I have been playing for UP since 2013 at No. 5 or 6. So, I have got used to that position. I keep backing myself to play in that position because it is very tough to play in that position if 4-5 wickets are down.'
South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad slammed the Newlands pitch as 'not great'.
Images from Day 3 in the first Test between South Africa and India, at SuperSports Park, Centurion, on Thursday.
It means there are two players from India inside the top 10 for fielding ratings, with Australia the only other side to have Warner (third) and Glenn Maxwell (eighth) among the top 10.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson fractured his thumb during a match against Bangladesh.
Bangladesh collapsed to 34 for five as the home seamers got exaggerated bounce out of the surface and caught the edge with regularity.
'It's a nice feeling to hear 'Ram Siya Ram' in the background'
'There is not much we can do as players, but there is that disparity in the number of games. We have to find a way mentally to meet the challenge.'
Young leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha has been cut along with fast bowler Nathan Ellis and rookie all-rounder Aaron Hardie.
Markram and Shamsi's middle-over spells became turning point, feels Tilak Varma
South Africa's batting great AB de Villiers is clearly disappointed that the ever-growing popularity of T20 Cricket is putting Test cricket 'under pressure'.
South Africa should have been more clinical in the run-chase against Pakistan during the World Cup match in Chennai on Friday, said skipper Temba Bavuma, adding they were lucky to escape by the skin of their teeth.
South Africa's premier left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj is confident that slow bowlers will play a vital role on flat decks expected to be on offer during the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in the Americas in June.
De Zorzi ton guides South Africa to eight-wicket win over India
Australian team will be aiming to put up a much better batting performance with a rejigged playing eleven against an upbeat South Africa
Similarities between Eden Gardens 2010 and Lord's 2008 are remarkable. On the latter occasion, South Africa closed the third day on 13/0 in 4 overs and needed a further 342 to make England bat again. This time South Africa are 6/0 and need a further 341 runs to make India bat again.
Former South African batting legend Barry Richards has slammed the 'ball tampering' rule, saying "ban on use of things like bottle-tops scratching the ball" can be understood but "using the ground is a different issue."
'His experience is immense. In our batting chat today (Friday), we basically listened to him. He gave the batting chat as to what the conditions are like, what to expect.'
England have been largely rusty and inconsistent despite having a dangerous squad on paper.
Suryakumar strengthens top position in ICC T20 batter rankings
'As long as the guys understand the way that we want to try play as a team and can keep that close to them when playing in different leagues and tournaments. Then hopefully by the time we meet up for the World Cup, the guys are used to that brand and how we want to operate as a team.'
Disillusioned with the 'politics' in South African cricket administration, Brian McMillan decided to stay away from the game.
The 'Umpire's Call' handed South Africa's Tabraiz Shamsi the much-needed lifeline by the barest of margins, which somewhat proved to be the decisive factor in the World Cup encounter against Pakistan in Chennai on Friday.
The situation in fact is not that worrying for Thursday and IMD regional director Ganesh Das said the rain is expected to be "light and moderate".
Indian team will certainly feel a sense of deja vu when it takes on a red-hot South Africa on Sunday in what will be a battle of equals
Kagiso Rabada's hunger for success and an impeccable technique to release the ball easily makes him a modern-day South Africa legend, reckons former fast bowling great Allan Donald.
South Africa's bowlers chipped away at the wickets to stay on course for a huge victory against New Zealand.
Kagiso Rabada proved the destroyer-in-chief with 4-103, assisted by Anrich Nortje who took three wickets for 56 runs as England fell short by 107 runs.
Matthew Short has also been called up as an extra batter while Travis Head recovers from a fracture to his left hand.
India started well as opener Shikhar Dhawan scored 79 from 84 balls and former captain Virat Kohli 51 from 63, but when they were dismissed the touring side struggled to keep up with the required run-rate and finished on 265 for eight.
South Africa have had well documented troubles against spin in the past and Rahul believes the returning Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal will be a handful for the hosts in the first two games, with the third to be staged at Newlands in Cape Town on Sunday.
The three-Test South Africa series is the first of a gruelling 2018-19 season that includes tours to England and Australia.
'It turned out to be a special day. I have never thought about taking five wickets. I just wanted the team to win which is more important.'
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