India lost the crucial wicket of opener Murali Vijay after Steven Smith led Australia's fightback with a magnificent century on his captaincy debut. He received able support from Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc, who both scored half-centuries. At close of play on Day 3 in the second Test , India were 71 for one in their second innings. Check out some images from the day's play.
- 'At no point did we back off. If at any stage that we had in mind that we might play for a draw, we would have lost by 150 runs' - 'I was playing positive and going by my instincts'
Stephen Fleming's six-year partnership with Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the Chennai Super Kings has been a successful one but the former New Zealand captain rates countryman Brendon McCullum and Australian Michael Clarke as better captains in One-Day Internationals at the moment.
The Multan declaration that snuffed out Sachin Tendulkar's double century in the 2004 Test match had triggered stories of serious differences between skipper Rahul Dravid and the batting maestro, but the two laughed it off as an honest difference in the dressing room.
Rajneesh Gupta lists some amazing coincidences in cricket -- a feature guaranteed to amuse you in these anxious times.
Rajneesh Gupta surveys the batting landscape in India-Australia Test encounters.
Former Australia captain Richie Benaud, the celebrated 'voice of cricket' in the commentary box, has died at the age of 84 after battling skin cancer.
New Zealand's cricketing Gallipoli came on February 1, 1981 when Australia captain Greg Chappell instructed his brother Trevor to bowl the last ball of a One-day match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground along the ground.
'The dressing room is a precinct that abounds with all the complexities that make up human nature -- and the unpredictable consequences that can emerge from interpersonal relationships. 'A cursory study of cricket history throws up interesting (and some hugely surprising) examples of conflict between players from the same team,' says Ayaz Memon
'It is easy to criticise the fast bowlers, but do they have the support they need to grow as bowlers? No!'
Steve Smith led the way with another good knock as Australia raced to 251 for 6 and a lead of 348 over India before rain stopped play at the end of the fourth day in the fourth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday. Statistical highlights from the day's play.
At best, an autobiography by a megastar like Sachin Tendulkar tends to be insipid, recounting situations or experiences that have already been documented and shared ... For a person his image and unsurpassable popularity, there was virtually no upside.
Virat Kohli remained the highest-placed Indian batsman at fourth even as Shikhar Dhawan rose a rung to sixth in the latest ICC ODI rankings.
'You should keep your ego aside, whether you are coach or a player.'
The Aussie series of 1985-1986 will remain a missed opportunity for Indian cricket. But it is least talked about despite all the high points in the series.
Despite losing four years of playing days due to World War II, Don Bradman still is head and shoulders above the rest. Haresh Pandya pays tribute to the incomparable Don Bradman.
'It was all media speculations that Sehwag and Dhoni are at loggerheads' 'I had no interest in becoming captain, nor any interest in becoming vice-captain'
How will cricket change with the new rule on big bats?
With his versatile talents, Hardik Pandya is the kind of unique cricketer the Indian team has always wanted, writes Dhruv Munjal
Statistical highlights of the fifth and final day of the first Test between India and Australia at the Adelaide Oval.
Rajneesh Gupta surveys the bowling landscape in India-Australia Tests.
Sachin Tendulkar's autobiography, Playing It My Way, may have generated controversy over an incident involving former India coach Greg Chappell, but the batting legend insists that his only main aim was to bring out the truth.
The biggest plus point for Kohli is that leadership is not affecting his performance, in fact it is the opposite, it is helping him.'
When South Africa's AB de Villiers scored the quickest century on Sunday, he broke more than just an ODI record. Here is how the South African has rewritten cricketing history.
The result in the first Test against Australia was expected, if one takes a look at India's recent, or overall, record overseas. What was unexpected, though, says Bikash Mohapatra, was the Virat Kohli-led side's change of attitude.
'He is the biggest match-winner India has ever produced, not only in India, but in world cricket.' 'He has been a great mentor for many players, including me.'
'2 hours and 20 minutes later, I walked out of Sachin: A Billion Dreams learning not one additional thing about Tendulkar: Not one factoid, not one statistic.' 'Maybe it's convenient filmmaking, or maybe just the essence of God,' says Sreehari Nair.
'No, you don't require tantrums, or beating a tattoo on the helmet or rude and hostile gestures to make a point.' 'A true fast bowler lets the ball do the talking as it crashes into the stumps,' says veteran sports commentator Kishore Bhimani.
In this exclusive excerpt from his autobiography, A Century Is Not Enough, Sourav Ganguly makes some startling revelations.
Duncan Fletcher's impending exit prompts Haresh Pandya to suggest 'Indian' options for the job of national coach.
- 'Always strong at the psychological game, the Aussies put the pressure on the opponents, knew how to handle the pressure themselves and exploited virtually every situation to their advantage' - 'They are firmly and categorically told never to allow success to go to their heads. You don't find Australian cricketers getting even a little complacent'
Rajneesgh Gupta salutes Captain Cool.
'Bhuvneshwar can swing the ball, Bumrah has a difficult action to pick, Shami's seam position is outstanding, one of the best probably in world cricket and his rhythm is outstanding.' 'Umesh is fantastic as well and so is Ishant.' 'So we have all the tools.' 'It is just about them hitting the right length as quick as possible.'
There are bowlers who have a better statistical record than the 311 wickets in Tests and 282 in ODIs, but those figures do not reveal Zaheer Khan's match-winning abilities in all conditions
'In the merry-go-round of Indian cricket, amid abhorrent match-fixing scandals and incessant politicking, Ravi Shastri is a multifaceted personality who, when called upon, can don any hat with ease.'
