With an eye on the gruelling Australia series that follows the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League, the Indian Tests specialists including Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari have begun preparations for the pink ball Test against Australia at the ICC Academy in Dubai, from Friday evening.
'We are ready to deliver a Brisbane 2032 games that will leave the same incredible legacy for Queensland.'
From Australian captain Michael Clarke to other big names, tributes flew in for former Australian cricket captain and commentator Richie Benaud, who died of skin cancer late on Thursday aged 84. Here are some reactions...
India's young guns are fearless and mentally hardened by the IPL exposure. But true mettle will be tested when adversity strikes -- and this time, there will be no Kohli to stir up the crowd, no Rohit to deliver a captaincy masterstroke, and no Ashwin to conjure wickets out of nowhere.
Play was halted for close to 10 minutes before stadium security as well as New South Wales Police checked in to the relevant stand from where the nasty comments were being hurled at.
Among the countries that have directly qualified for the Super 12 are defending champions Australia and runner-up New Zealand.
Australia captain Richie Benaud, the voice of cricket for millions of television viewers, said he was being treated for skin cancer in his first public appearance in more than a year.
Australia reduced South Africa to 149 for six at the close of play on the fourth day of the rain-disrupted third Test on Saturday after declaring on 475/4 in pursuit of a victory that would give them a 3-0 series sweep.
Relishing the challenge of squaring off against new Indian captain Virat Kohli in the fourth and final cricket Test in Sydney, Australian skipper Steve Smith described his rival number as an "emotional character".
Following is a fact box on the final Test of the four-match series between Australia and India
Former Australia pacer Mitchell Johnson's criticism of ex-teammate David Warner's retirement intentions has prompted the veteran opener to respond, stating that his former teammate is entitled to his ideas, no matter how harsh.
Australian bowler Sean Abbott, who bowled the bouncer that led to the death of Phillip Hughes, is set to return to action.
Lokesh Rahul hit his maiden century, Virat Kohli his fourth of the series but Australia's Shane Watson hit back with two wickets in as many balls to leave India on 342 for five after the third day of the fourth Test on Thursday.
Australians survived a barrage of bouncers under lights from Indian pacers before the match ended in a draw at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The coach also launched a book 'India's 71-Year Test: The Journey to Triumph in Australia'.
South Africa dug deep to deny Australia a 3-0 series sweep with a battling draw in the rain-disrupted third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday, finally finding some fight on the final day of a miserable tour.
Lavishing praise on young Sam Konstas, former opener David Warner has urged Australia's senior players to adopt a similar aggressive approach when facing Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah
'This Border-Gavaskar Trophy (series) has had the biggest Boxing Day crowd ever passing the Ashes and the series is so delicately poised now, it is living up to every hype.'
A dominant Australia looked firmly on course for a 5-0 Ashes series sweep when they reached 140 for four, a lead of 311, at close of play after skittling England for 155 on the second day of the fifth Test on Saturday.
Australian batsman Steve Smith narrowly missed reaching the 10,000-run milestone in Test cricket during the final match against India in Sydney. He acknowledges the significance of the milestone, describing it as "a different beast." Smith's pursuit of the landmark weighed heavily on his mind during the match, and he even joked about associating the number 38 (the runs he needed) with teammate Josh Hazlewood, whose jersey number is 38. Despite falling short, Smith remains hopeful of achieving the milestone on the first day of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka.
'We only felt that it has never happened before, I don't think it will ever happen again. It was a freak inning'
Spectators at the Sydney Cricket Ground were repeatedly treated to the sight of leg-spinner Imran Tahir throwing his head back, screaming with joy and pumping his arms before setting off on an uncoordinated run across the outfield on Wednesday as South Africa thrashed Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the first quarter-final at the World Cup.
After India outplayed Australia with bat and ball in Melbourne, Captain Virat Kohli is convinced India have the firepower to break new ground.
Rohit Sharma returned to India's playing XI for the third Test
Rohit Sharma practised with the Mumbai team at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Iconic Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday became the first overseas player to be presented with the honorary life membership of the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Sean Abbott, the Australian fast bowler who delivered the ball that killed Phillip Hughes, has made a remarkable return to cricket, helping New South Wales beat Queensland on Friday.
He has taken nine five-wicket hauls in SENA conditions.
Wins in Adelaide and Melbourne had given Virat Kohli's side a 2-1 lead going into the final Test and a draw was enough to secure a breakthrough that had eluded all previous Indian touring parties for 71 years.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke stated that David Warner's talent kept his contract from being "ripped up" early in his career.
Glenn Maxwell scored a 40 ball century on Wednesday.
Usman Khawaja scored his second century of the match to help Australia to 265 for six declared on the fourth day of the fourth Ashes Test on Saturday, handing England an unlikely victory target of 388.
A series win will be an ideal confidence booster for India before the visitors hit Test match mode.
The weather-ravaged, dead rubber third Test between Australia and the West Indies petered out in a draw at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Thursday.
Images from Day 2 of the third Test between Australia and South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday
Sri Lanka will use the example of their remarkable turnaround on their last tour of South Africa to try and rescue a face-saving third Test victory against Australia, captain Mahela Jayawardene said on Wednesday.
New Zealand thrashed reigning champions Australia by 89 runs in a rematch of last year's final
Sachin Tendulkar led the cricketing world in applauding Sri Lankan veterans Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, who bowed out of ODIs after their team's World Cup quarter-final loss to South Africa in Sydney.
Fans, cricketers and administrators remembered Player No 408 as #63 was trending through the morning.
Doing their bit to raise funds for his foundation, India's cricketers on Saturday presented Glenn McGrath signed pink caps, while many donned attires of the same colour in memory of the former Australian pacer's late wife Jane.
