Wicket-taking is going to play a crucial role in deciding this World Cup.
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.
The Sri Lankan opener struck 61 off 40 balls, including six fours and three sixes, to help Sri Lanka outclass South Africa by five runs in the ICC World T20.
Images from the World Cup match between South Africa and Zimbabwe at Hamilton, New Zealand.
South Africa, chasing 161 to win, were 36 for two at the end of the second day of the third Test.
Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis shared an unbroken century stand to put South Africa in control of the first Test with a lead of 287 runs against New Zealand on Friday. South Africa reached close of play on the second day on 179-2. Amla, who was dropped on two, was 85 not out with Kallis on 76 in a partnership of 159.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has named Dean Elgar in the list of its contracted players, in place of the retired Test captain Graeme Smith.
Under-fire Mahendra Singh Dhoni marked his return to form with an unbeaten 92 as India recorded a 22-run victory over South Africa in the second One-Day International to level the five-match series 1-1 at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, in Indore, on Wednesday.
The hosts have suffered a body blow with Jacques Kallis pulling out of the squad because of a back strain.
David Warner's power-packed performance complemented by excellent death bowling from Bhuvneshwar Kumar enabled Sunrisers Hyderabad record an emphatic 10-wicket victory over Gujarat Lions, in a lopsided Indian Premier League encounter, in Rajkot, on Thursday.
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.
The final margin might appear closer but it was because the hosts pressed in service some irregular bowlers.
As many as 76 players including 28 from overseas will go under the hammer at the 2017 Indian Premier League auction to be held in Bengaluru on February 20.
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.
South Africa have recalled fast bowler Kyle Abbott for the second Test against India in his home town of Durban starting on Boxing Day (December 26).
Paceman Vernon Philander became the fastest South African to take 100 Test wickets on Friday but India can claim the ascendancy at lunch on the third day of the first Test at the Wanderers.
Rediff.com takes a look at how the owners fared this time.
Proteas coach Russell Domingo has said that the three-match ODI series against No.1 ranked India will be a good gauge of the progress his squad has made in recent months, according to reports.
Two Indian batsmen are now in the top five of the ICC ODI rankings, with Virat Kohli remaining at number three and opener Shikhar Dhawan climbing up the ladder to fifth after earning four places in the latest list issued on Wednesday.
New Zealand, set 249 to win, were in desperate trouble at 98 for seven against South Africa
English county side Surrey bagged Virat Kohli for a dirt cheap deal as the Board of Control for Cricket in India was keen to ensure quality game time for the India captain ahead of tour of England.
Cheteshwar Pujara scored a sparkling unbeaten 135 as India took a stranglehold over South Africa in the first Test in Johannesburg on Friday. The top-order displayed remarkable application on Day 3, as the tourists, after dismissing the hosts for 244 in the first innings, swelled their overall lead to 320.
South Africa will hope the new year brings about a change in luck as they seek to put behind them a disappointing 2015 and get back to winning ways against England in the second Test at Newlands starting on Saturday.
Captain Hashim Amla has said South Africa were suffering a crisis of confidence following a woeful 2015 which culminated with a 241-run defeat to England in the first Test.
Captain Virat Kohli roared back to form with a scintillating unbeaten 83 as India further consolidated their position with whopping overall lead of 403 runs at stumps on Day 3 of the fourth and final Test against South Africa at the Feroz Shah Kotla, in Delhi, on Saturday.
With the teams entering the final phase of their preparations for next year's World Cup, former batting great Ian Chappell said defending champions India, Australia and South Africa are the favourites to win the game's showpiece event.
Indian touring parties that have left Australia empty-handed over the last 70 years
Australia took a 48-run lead on the back of some solid batting by Matt Renshaw and Shawn Marsh on Sunday. Statistical highlights on day two of the second cricket Test between India and Australia, in Bengaluru.
India captain Virat Kohli remained in second spot behind Steve Smith while Alastair Cook jumped nine places to be eighth in the latest ICC Test rankings after his unbeaten double century in the ongoing Ashes.
The auction ahead of the ninth edition of the Indian Premier League had in store something on expected lines and some surprises. Here's a look at the top buys after the first round.
Virat Kohli's hundred in the first Test against England provides just the kind of inspiration that a struggling Indian batting line-up needed, feels Chris Gayle.
South Africa reclaimed top spot in the Test rankings after grimly hanging on for a draw in the second and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, on Monday to win the series 1-0.
Rajneesh Gupta presents all the important numbers after the sixth week of IPL 2020.
Among the Indians, while Robin Uthappa was bought by Rajasthan Royals for 3 crore, Test specialists Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari went unsold.
Sunrisers Hyderabad's New Zealand import Trent Boult is hoping that Indian conditions will help him carry forward the good work he did during the recently-concluded ICC World Cup.
Opener Dean Elgar struck a magnificent century for South Africa but Sri Lanka came back strongly with four wickets in the final session to balance the scales on the opening day of the first Test on Wednesday.
Outstanding centuries from Quinton de Kock and captain AB de Villiers helped South Africa coast to a series-clinching 82-run win over Sri Lanka in the third and final one-day international on Saturday.
Drafted into the team for the first time in the ongoing cricket World Cup, Pakistan wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed made an instant impact with a record-equalling six catches and 49 runs in the team's upset win over South Africa in Auckland.
Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur pushed South Africa to the backfoot before the classy AB de Villiers rallied the tourists with a typically aggressive century on the second and last day of the practice game against Board President's XI which ended in a draw, in Mumbai, on Saturday.
Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan feels India's Ravichandran Ashwin is presently the best spinner in the world and his achievements with the ball are a testimony to his greatness.
