All their efforts to stop a rampaging England ending in smoke, South Africa's all-rounder Jean-Paul Duminy said it was the bowlers who let them down by giving too many extras during their two-wicket loss in the ICC World Twenty20 pool match in Mumbai on Friday.
England batsman Kevin Pietersen celebrated his first Test against his native South Africa on Thursday with an imperious 104 not out on the opening day of the first Test at Lord's.
The combination of India's flat pitches and cricket's most trigger-happy batsmen is certain to produce some torrid moments for fast bowlers during the World Twenty20.
Heavy showers had been forecast for Sunday and they duly arrived early in the morning. It picked up as the scheduled start time of play approached.
Kagiso Rabada has said currently his thoughts are not towards participating in the cash-rich Indian Premier League which, though he did not rule out the possibility in the future.
Virat Kohli slammed a brilliant 138 before the bowlers produced an impressive performance as India comfortably beat South Africa by 35 runs to level the series 2-2 in Chennai on Thursday.
Looking back at the five-match ODI series, rising South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada termed his one-on-one battle with Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the of opening contest in Kanpur as his best display of the series.
Half-centuries from Quinton de Kock and J P Duminy hit half-centuries before South Africa survived a late assault from Mahendra Singh Dhoni to edge past favourites India by four runs in the ICC World T20 warm-up match at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, on Saturday.
Fiery paceman Andre Nel returns to the squad as South Africa announced a battery of fast bowlers for their tour of England on Friday. The 30-year-old, who has played 34 tests, is the only addition to the squad that toured India in March and April, from which he was controversially omitted. Nel joins a six-man pace attack that includes the in-form Dale Steyn, the experienced Makhaya Ntini, the up-and-coming Morne Morkel, as well as Monde Zondeki.
A threat issued by the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti or Patel agitation could affect the game temporarily
Yuvraj Singh, Ishant Sharma and Kevin Pietersen will be among the eight marquee players up for grabs at the IPL 2016 Player Auction scheduled to take place, in Bengaluru, on February 6.
A total of 62 players were sold at the auction for the 13th edition with the eight franchises spending a total of 1.403 billion rupees ($19.73 million). Australia's Pat Cummins became the most expensive overseas buy ever in the Indian Premier League when the Kolkata Knight Riders paid a staggering Rs 15.50 crore ($2.18 million) for the fast bowler in Thursday's auction in Kolkata on Thursday.
When Vinoo Mankad ran out Bill Brown, he created cricketing history -- and eternal controversy.
The veteran left-hander played a vital knock of 87 as India ended day two of the third Test against South Africa on 288 for nine, taking a first innings lead of 23 runs. VVS Laxman (50) was the major contributors in the Indian innings while Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel were the most successful South African bowlers with figures of three for 60 and three for 57 respectively.
Kagiso Rabada regained his top spot among bowlers crossing the coveted 900-point mark in ratings even as Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin climbed up a couple of notches to be placed fourth in the ICC Test Player Rankings, released on Tuesday.
Spinner Robin Peterson took five wickets to lead South Africa to a crushing victory by an innings and 205 runs in the second Test against Bangladesh on Monday. The touring side bowled out their hosts for 119 on the fourth day to complete a 2-0 series win. South Africa captain Graeme Smith and fast bowler Dale Steyn were named man of the match and man of the series respectively.
The South African selectors announced four changes to the tour squad with Justin Kemp, Albie Morkel, Johan Botha and Charl Langeveldt replacing Paul Harris, Dale Steyn, Ashwell Prince and Hashim Amla.
Bangladesh reduced South Africa to 76 for four after being bowled out for 192 on the opening day of the first Test.
India remained third, while star batsman Virat Kohli maintained his second spot in the latest ICC ODI rankings released on Sunday.
The countries will pin their hopes of victory on their quicks with seamer friendly wickets on order for the Tests in Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Johannesburg, and the contests set to be dominated by fiery exchanges of fast bowling.
Opener Mayank Agarwal stamped his authority on a struggling South African attack with a second successive hundred as India gained the upperhand on the opening day of the second Test.
Jacques Kallis suffered his second disappointment in less than a week on Thursday when he was left out of South Africa's squad to tour Zimbabwe.
India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin became the fastest bowler to reach the milestone of 300 Test wickets in his 54th match, breaking Dennis Lillee's record during India's win over Sri Lanka in the second Test, in Nagpur on Monday.
Only the top ten teams will be taking part in this World Cup and they all will play each other in a round-robin format before the semi-finals stage.
With home advantage comes home expectation as Eoin Morgan leads arguably the strongest England side in the history of the tournament which has seen a co-host triumph in the last two editions.
Wicket-taking is going to play a crucial role in deciding this World Cup.
South Africa wicketkeeper AB de Villiers will undergo hand surgery on Friday, but is expected to be fit for the upcoming series against Australia, a Cricket South Africa spokesman said on Thursday.
An image of West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo taking a full-length diving catch in mid-air has been named the Wisden-MCC 'Cricket Photograph of the Year 2014'.
South Africa fast bowler Andre Nel has pledged to keep his fiery temper under control in the third Test against England starting at Edgbaston on Wednesday. Nel is set to take over from Dale Steyn, who is out of action for at least two weeks with a broken thumb. South Africa lead 1-0 in the four-Test series after their 10-wicket victory in the second Test in Leeds.
South Africa lost the wicket of opener Alviro Petersen for a duck as they chased 369 runs for victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka on Sunday.
The Springboks beat defending champions England 15-6 in a dour, defence-dominated final on Saturday night.
Pakistan were 140 for 4 in reply to South Africa's 357 in the first innings at close of play on day two of the second Test.
South Africa were dealt a severe blow on Friday as Morne Morkel, their premier fast bowler, was ruled out of the ongoing first Test against India after suffering a Grade I ligament tear on his ankle on Day 3.
South Africa score big win over Pakistan Pacer Dale Steyn took five wickets to lead South Africa to a thumping 160-run victory just before tea on the final day of the first Test.
Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar congratulated New Zealand on sealing their maiden cricket World Cup final spot, but also consoled South Africa for again failing to cross the semi-final hurdle after losing to the Kiwis by four wickets in a nail-biting finish in Auckland, on Tuesday.
South Africa have retained the same 15-man squad that saved the series with Pakistan in October for their two home Tests against India later this month.
India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Thursday came down hard on the pitch at the Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad saying pitches must be prepared to suit the home bowlers.
Seamer Vernon Philander took career-best figures as rampant South Africa claimed a 72-run victory over India in a gripping first Test at Newlands on Monday.
India rung in two changes, Munaf Patel and Dinesh Kaarthick coming in place of VRV Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni respectively, for the third Test against South Africa.
Describing their narrow defeat to Royal Challengers Bangalore as a sweet and sour feeling, Kolkata Knight Riders's impact player Andre Russell questioned his team's decision to send him lower down the order.
