Shardul Thakur's better batting ability compared to speedster Prasidh Krishna could prove to be decisive while selecting the extra pacer for World Cup but both are likely to be auditioned if India pick a 17-member squad for the Asia Cup, which is set to be named on Monday.
Ravichandran Ashwin is fast closing in on the No 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings for bowlers.
Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe has been ruled out for up to 10 weeks after scans revealed a stress fracture in his right foot, the club said on Monday.
England pace bowler James Anderson has been ruled out of the team's Test series in Bangladesh next month after the 34-year-old failed to recover fully from a shoulder injury.
Among the "first" to be sent home due to fitness problems until a couple of years ago, Shane Watson says it is ironic that he is one of the last few left standing as Australia defy a massive injury crisis in their One-Day International series triumph over India. The all-rounder, who has played just 96 One-Day Internationals and 11 Tests in his seven-year international career, has bounced back from back stress fractures, a shoulder reconstruction, groin and thigh tears.
Australia's fast bowling stocks got some welcome news on Tuesday after James Pattinson suggested he could be fit in time for matches later in the Ashes series against England.
Fast bowler Doug Bollinger will replace the injured Ben Hilfenhaus in Australia's Test squad for the tour of West Indies. Hilfenhaus has suffered a recurrence of a stress fracture in his lower back.
A stress fracture in his back threatened to come in the way but fit-again Indian luger Shiva Keshavan is all set to represent the country for the fourth time in the Winter Olympics this weekend, hoping to finish at least inside the top-20 in Vancouver.
A back injury has sidelined Peter Siddle for five months but the Australian paceman insists that it has nothing do with excessive workload. Siddle has to undergo a three month rehabilitation before considering a return.
While professional golf prepares to confront a bleak economic landscape in 2009, the biggest talking point in the game relates to the timing and immediate impact of Tiger Woods's comeback from injury. The American world number one has been sidelined since his astonishing US Open victory in June when he defied stabbing knee pain and a double stress fracture of his left tibia to clinch his 14th major title.
Senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma feel pacer Mohammed Siraj's outstanding run of form in 50-over cricket augers well for the Indian team heading into the World Cup later this year.
India captain Virat Kohli will end the year as the top ranked batsman while Ajinkya Rahane slipped a rung to be seventh in the latest ICC Test rankings issued on Tuesday. Kohli (928) remained 17 points ahead of Australia's Steve Smith who occupied the second spot while New Zealand skipper Kane Willamson (864) ends the year at number three.
Tiger Woods has no idea when he will return to competitive golf next year, despite being ahead of schedule in his recovery from reconstructive knee surgery. The world number one has been sidelined since winning the US Open in June when he defied stabbing knee pain and a double stress fracture of his left tibia to clinch his 14th major title.
The Pakistan fast bowler has recovered from a stress fracture to his ankle and is likely to be available for the third Test against England.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is confident that fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar would be fit for the important tour of England in June.
England pacer Jofra Archer will continue to prepare for the Ashes while playing in the IPL, and once the lucrative T20 tournament is over, he will straightaway get into the gruelling five-Test series against Australia, according to his country club coach.
Elena Dementieva put retirement thoughts behind her on Tuesday after overcoming freezing temperatures and occasional snow flurries to beat American Meilen Tu 6-7 6-0 7-5 at the Warsaw Cup.
Playing under Mahendra Singh Dhoni again is something that he is looking forward to.
World marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe said on Thursday she had a stress fracture of her left femur and that some specialists had told her it would be impossible for her to compete in the Beijing Olympics. The 34-year-old, who made the announcement via a teleconference, said she was still "90 percent" confident she could be fit but would only go if she felt
While Mauresmo and Davydenko made their exits, former Australian Open finalists Kim Clijsters and Marcos Baghdatis signalled their intentions with impressive victories.
Chelsea attacking midfielder Joe Cole has suffered a minor stress fracture of the foot and will not play again this month, the Premier League club said on Monday.
IPL 2022's runners up Rajasthan Royals have managed to keep their core team intact with more than a decent set of match-winners at their disposal.
Shiv Kumar, president of Mazdoor Adhikar Sanghathan, was held a few days after the arrest of labour rights activist Kaur. Kaur was arrested for allegedly gheraoing an industrial unit and demanding money from the company in Haryana's Sonipat on January 12.
Sri Lanka have axed middle order batsman Thilan Samaraweera from their 14-man squad for the first test against England
Maharoof badly injured his foot during the second Test against Australia in Hobart and captain Mahela Jawardene said he had been diagnosed with a stress fracture.
The England fast bowler will miss the Test series because of a back injury.
The England speedsters are doubtful for the forthcoming Test series against Sri Lanka
However, Shastri still thinks Hardik will now struggle to break into the Indian T20 side as a pure batter because it is already full of power-hitters.
Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the Test series against Sri Lanka due to a back injury.
New Zealand will be at full strength for their tour of England starting next month.
IMAGES from the IPL match played between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
West Indies have drafted all rounder Darren Sammy into their squad for the ICC Champions Trophy in England next month.
The PCB will rest the fast bowler to allow him to recover from his rib-cage stress fracture injury.
Nathan Astle returns to Test cricket following knee surgery in the first Test against England starting on Thursday.
The NFL champions play Geylang United FC in the first round of the AFC Cup on February 10.
Bond has not played Test cricket since the tour of Sri Lanka in May 2003.
The New Zealand fast bowler is to undergo another scan of his troublesome back after experiencing pain in a Christchurch club match.
Langer said his team would look to drive home the advantage in the absence of Virat Kohli by putting relentless pressure on new skipper Ajinkya Rahane.
