India's long winning streak in Test cricket is under threat in a quick-fire three match series against South Africa this month, where their status as the top ranked nation in the format faces a stiff examination.
A fit again South African pacer Dale Steyn on Wednesday said that New Zealand's decision to play three spinners against India in the World Twenty20 opener paid off as the Kiwis posted a comfortable 47-run win over the hosts. Chasing a mere 127 runs for victory, favourites India were bundled out for 79 in 18.1 overs on a turning track at Nagpur last night with the Kiwi spinners sharing as many as nine wickets among them. "I guess New Zealand thinking was correct. Playing with three spinners paid off. We would probably go with spin, I don't know. But as a seamer I have to back myself. Bowl fast cutters. It is really difficult to hit out when the ball is coming at 140-145, its gripping and stopping," Steyn told reporters on the sidelines of his team's practice session at the Brabourne stadium on Wednesday. Steyn, who had suffered a shoulder injury, said he was now fully fit and things were coming up nicely.
Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas destroyed Australia, picking up five wickets in both innings, as the hosts won the second and final Test by a huge margin of 373 runs to clinch the series 1-0.
Despite the painful semi-final loss to New Zealand in Auckland in the World Cup, South African fans and media went easy on its cricket team. A long history of failure at the tournament has often put the Proteas at the sharp end of stinging criticism from the demanding media and fans back home.
South Africa took control of the first Test against West Indies on Saturday after pacemen Dale Steyn, who reached 200 Test wickets, and Morne Morkel had skittled the hosts for 102 on the third day. South Africa, with a first innings lead of 250, declined to enforce the follow-on and extended their lead by reaching 155 for two at the close at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad.
Tamil Nadu batsman S Badrinath says it wasn't easy to bat, let alone score runs, in his Test debut against South Africa earlier this month.
India survived several anxious moments before beating South Africa by one run in the first One-Day International at the Sawai Mansingh stadium in Jaipur on Sunday. Wayne Parnell smashed 49 from 45 deliveries but was run-out off the final delivery of the innings as South Africa were dismissed for 297, in reply to India's 298 for nine in 50 overs.
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.
South African pacer Morne Morkel believes his and Dale Steyn's exploit with the new bowl on the first day of the opening Test would have repercussions on the rest of the three-match series and also send a good message to the Indian camp.
While South Africa grabbed a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, the visitors squandered a golden opportunity to script a memorable win outside the sub-continent.
South Africa made a sedate start to their second innings after conceding a 78-run first innings lead to a spirited Bangladesh on day three of the opening Test at Chittagong on Thursday.
The flat decks in India no longer worry pacers, said South Africa captain Graeme Smith as he attributed Dale Steyn's devastating form in the first cricket Test against India to a changed mindset of not letting conditions dictate bowling.
Dale Steyn's figures of seven for 51 are his best ever in Test cricket, bettering the six for 49 he took against New Zealand at Centurion in November 2007.
South African skipper Faf du Plessis ratcheted up the rhetoric on the eve of the much-anticipated opening Test against India, saying they have a 'score to settle' with the World No 1.
The three-Test South Africa series is the first of a gruelling 2018-19 season that includes tours to England and Australia.
Veteran Anil Kumble showed the fire in him was still burning as he rallied Royal Challengers from a disastrous start to a runners-up finish in the second season of the IPL. The ace leg spinner was instrumental in the team's revival while veterans Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis also made notable contributions as it finished behind Deccan Chargers.
Rajneesh Gupta glances at the history of this fascinating 21st century cricketing rivalry.
Images from the Indian Premier League match between Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore, in Nagpur, on Monday.
Images from Indian Premier League match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challenegrs Bangalore, on Saturday
Experienced South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis will not be able to bowl in the first Test against England, captain Graeme Smith said on Tuesday.
JP Duminy has been named in the South African Twenty20 squad for the three-match home series against West Indies next month, but a number of other top players will again be rested.
Images from the Indian Premier League match between Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bangalore on Thursday.
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.
Fast bowler Vernon Philander will return to international action for the first time in eight months after a freak injury when he plays for South Africa A against Zimbabwe A in Harare in a four-day match starting on Saturday. The 31-year-old has been sidelined since November after damaging ankle ligaments playing a warm-up game of soccer while on tour with South Africa in India.
After escaping with a narrow win in Jaipur, India would aim to plug their bowling loopholes and seal the three-match series to retain the number two spot in ICC rankings when they take on South Africa in the second ODI in Gwalior on Wednesday.
India are still 259 runs behind South Africa's imposing first innings of 558 for six declared, with Murali Vijay (27 not out) and Sachin Tendulkar (15 not out) at the crease. Can the pair stay put at the crease? Will India be able to stave off defeat? India Abroad's Bikash Mohapatra is at the ground posting updates as they happen. Follow what's the latest from the Test on Bikash's MyPage!
Dale Steyn, who picked a career-best figures of seven for 51 on Monday, said the reverse swing came to his aid and pitching the ball up paid rich dividends.
When Vinoo Mankad ran out Bill Brown, he created cricketing history -- and eternal controversy.
South Africa have included the world's number one test bowler Vernon Philander in their preliminary 30-man squad for the World Twenty20 tournament to be played in Bangladesh in March and April next year.
South Africa won the fourth and final Test by an innings and 74 runs on Sunday, bowling England out for 169 just before lunch on the fourth day at the Wanderers to level the series at 1-1.
South Africa moved into a strong position to win the third Test and level the series after England, chasing an unlikely 466 to win, were reduced to 132 for three at the close on the fourth day at Newlands on Wednesday.
England, replying to South Africa's 291, were 241 for seven at close on the second day of the third Test thanks to battling innings by Alastair Cook, Ian Bell and Matt Prior.
Jacques Kallis defied England with another composed century to lift South Africa to 279 for six on the first day of the third Test on Sunday.
Former pacer Fanie de Villiers has slammed South African selectors for including "half-fit" bowlers in the national side that suffered an ignominious defeat to the visiting Englishmen in the second Test in Durban earlier this week.
Australia captain Michael Clarke has re-injured his hamstring and will take no further part in Friday's one-day match against South Africa, governing body Cricket Australia said.
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's team manager defended fast bowler Dale Steyn on Tuesday, saying the player had shown elevated levels of morphine in a random drugs test in April because of medication he was taking for migraines. Mohammed Moosajee, the team's manager and doctor, expects the "routine matter" to be cleared up quickly.
The West Indies dropped fast bowler Daren Powell and all-rounder Ryan Hinds for their two-Test tour of England next month. A statement on the West Indies official website (www.windiescricket.com) said all-rounder Dwayne Bravo was unavailable because he was still recovering after ankle surgery. Three uncapped players, Grenada fast bowler Nelon Pascal, Barbados batsman Dale Richards and Jamaica medium-pacer Andrew Richardson, were named in the 17-man squad.
Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara has regained the number one ranking among Test batsmen after scoring 130 not out on Friday to help draw the final test against Pakistan in Colombo.
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