Former India captain Rohit Sharma has revealed that his mother's homemade baked banana wafers were his go-to comfort food for midnight cravings during Test matches, helping him cope with the nervousness of the longest format.
Eran Wickramaratne, chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket's interim committee, has called for a revision of the ICC's Future Tours Programme to allow Sri Lanka to play more Test matches against cricketing powerhouses like India, England, and Australia, citing the financial dependence on India and the desire to excel in the format.
The ICC has approved trialling the use of pink balls in Test matches to maximise play in bad light, along with allowing coaches on the field during drinks breaks. Cricket Canada has been suspended due to breaches of membership obligations.
Australia return to Newlands for the series-deciding Test against South Africa, confronting Sandpapergate memories from 2018, as Steve Smith seeks redemption and Nortje's injury reshapes hosts' bowling options.
South African pacer Kagiso Rabada has become the fourth Proteas bowler to claim 200 Test wickets on home soil, joining legends like Dale Steyn and Shaun Pollock. His achievement came during a Test match against Australia where South Africa staged a remarkable comeback, enforcing a follow-on after dismissing Australia for 99. Captain Temba Bavuma led a strong batting recovery for the Proteas.
Indian cricketer Pratika Rawal, fresh off her Test debut, is advocating for more women's Test matches, highlighting the format's importance for player development and character building.
Former South Africa all-rounder Shaun Pollock has called for the use of pink balls in traditional daytime Test matches to reduce playing time lost due to bad light, following interruptions in the ongoing first Test between South Africa and Australia.
Pat Cummins says Australia must learn to grind out Test results as they prepare for a tricky South Africa challenge at Kingsmead.
Gambhir strongly advocates three-Test series, arguing they give teams that lose the opening match a genuine opportunity to recover, compete harder and still win the series.
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has relaid Pitch 9 at Lord's after it received an "unsatisfactory" rating from the ICC following England's Test against New Zealand in June. The pitch, which saw all 40 wickets fall in just 166 overs, will be out of use for at least the next two seasons. MCC has launched a comprehensive review of pitch preparation and plans to use hybrid surfaces to mitigate the impact.
Rashid Khan considers stepping back from Test cricket after medical warnings over his back injury, with the Afghanistan star prioritising fitness and ODI longevity.
Australia's Matt Renshaw has broken Virat Kohli's record for the most runs scored while batting with lower-order batters and tail-enders (numbers 8 to 11) in a single Test innings, achieving 174 runs during his 190-run knock against South Africa in Durban.
Shukri Conrad has demanded sharper batting and greater mental toughness from South Africa after their 214-run defeat to Australia, urging composure over knee-jerk changes ahead of Sunday's second Test.
Australia's assistant coach Matthew Wade has warned his team to expect a more dangerous and aggressive South African attack with pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada poised to return for the second Test in Gqeberha, following his absence from the first match due to a hamstring injury.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved the use of pink balls in day-time Test matches on a trial basis, aiming to mitigate the frequent loss of overs due to fading light in the final session. This decision, applicable to series starting from October 1, allows for mutual agreement between teams to use the pink ball for the entire duration of a Test.
A strong India A squad, featuring senior team members like KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, will play New Zealand A in a four-day match starting Saturday, serving as crucial preparation for the senior team's upcoming two-Test series.
Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood believes reverse swing will be a crucial factor in the ongoing three-test series against South Africa, attributing its resurgence to the abrasive pitches. He successfully utilised this technique in the first test, which Australia won, and expects similar conditions for the second test in Gqeberha. Hazlewood also reflected on his recent performance and career longevity.
Former Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin has lauded young batter Tilak Varma for his composed match-winning knock against New Zealand in the second T20I, expressing his strong desire to see Varma represent India in Test cricket.
Former Pakistan captain Shan Masood is racing against time to recover from a calf muscle injury ahead of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka. His place in the playing XI is uncertain, especially with selectors and coach Mike Hesson looking to introduce younger players into the Test squad for the next World Test Championship cycle. Masood, who had an unsuccessful run as Test captain, fears his injury might be used as a reason to sideline him.
South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the decisive third Test against Australia due to a groin injury sustained during the second Test victory.
South African captain Temba Bavuma acknowledged the pressure of being World Test Champions after their series-levelling win against Australia. He highlighted the team's realisation of facing strong opposition and praised key performances from himself, Marco Jansen, and Kagiso Rabada. The victory sets up an exciting series decider in Cape Town.
As the cycle enters a crucial phase, the teams now look to strengthen their case for a top-two finish.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri has advised the Indian team management to preserve pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for Test cricket and use him sparingly in other formats to keep him fresh for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Sri Lanka coach Gary Kirsten praised Sonal Dinusha's twin centuries and pressure-handling ability, while calling India's Dhruv Jurel a world-class player with superb technique and short-ball skills.
Top-order batter Kevin Wickham has received his first Test call-up for the West Indies' two-match series against Bangladesh. The squad sees changes with Shai Hope rested and Alzarri Joseph withdrawn due to workload management, replaced by Keemo Paul. John Campbell returns from injury, as West Indies aim to improve their ICC World Test Championship ranking.
Tanmay Baloda's exceptional 10-wicket match haul has put India in a commanding position against Australia in their second Youth Test in Ahmedabad. Baloda followed his first innings 6/32 with 4/26 in the second, leaving Australia U-19 trailing by 55 runs. Half-centuries from Yashbardhan Chauhan and Abhipray Biswas also contributed to India's strong first innings total.
Sameer Minhas, Mohammad Taha, and Mohammad Suleman have received their maiden Test call-ups for Pakistan's upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka, with former T20 captain Salman Ali Agha also returning to the squad.
Sri Lanka has announced its 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship series against Pakistan. Kusal Mendis will captain the side for the first time in Tests, taking over from Dhananjaya de Silva. The series, part of the WTC cycle, begins November 9 in Pakistan.
Test Twenty, cricket's new format, debuts in Colombo on November 14, with 160 young cricketers and boys' and girls' scores combining to decide one winner.
The only previous tie had occurred at Brisbane back in December 1960 between Australia and the West Indies. In the 40 years since the Madras Test, there have been 1,583 Test matches. But there has never again been a tie.
Former England all-rounder Samit Patel has lauded Joe Root's exceptional hunger for runs and remarkable longevity, stating it would be an "unbelievable" achievement if Root surpasses Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most runs in Test cricket. Patel highlighted Root's determination as he closes in on Tendulkar's all-time Test record of 15,921 runs, with Root currently at 14,278 runs as of 2026. Patel also praised young England captain Harry Brook as an exciting talent.
Steve Smith surpassed Steve Waugh's Test run tally in 42 fewer matches, moving behind only Ricky Ponting and Allan Border among Australia's leading run-scorers.
South Africa crushed Australia by an innings and 31 runs in Gqeberha to level the series 1-1, with Bavuma's 179 and Rabada's four wickets proving decisive.
Sri Lanka's head coach Gary Kirsten expressed satisfaction with his team's developing approach to Test cricket despite a loss to India. He highlighted the team's fight and resilience, particularly after a poor start in their first innings, and praised young batter Sonal Dinusha. Kirsten also provided an update on key player injuries ahead of the next Test.
A maiden Test century is never just about three figures. It is a reflection of patience, perseverance, self-belief and the courage to wait for the right moment.
Sediqullah Atal's 111 and Qais Ahmad's unbeaten 49, capped by a last-ball six, helped Afghanistan survive 142 overs to force a dramatic draw against Bangladesh.
India has announced its squads for the upcoming two-Test and five-ODI series against New Zealand. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been named in the Test squad, subject to fitness clearance, while pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah returns for the Test leg. Shubman Gill will captain the Test side and the first three ODIs, with Shreyas Iyer leading the final two ODIs.
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir indicated that top batters might be rested from white-ball cricket to prepare for Tests during the upcoming New Zealand tour. He emphasised the importance of Test cricket, the challenge of multi-format players, and discussed preparations for the 2027 World Cup, highlighting the crucial roles of Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, and praising Shubman Gill's captaincy.
Dhananjaya de Silva has resigned as Sri Lanka's Test captain with immediate effect on Thursday, citing a desire to pass the leadership to the next generation. He will continue to be available for selection as a player. De Silva led Sri Lanka in 18 Tests, winning seven, and took over the captaincy in January 2024.
India Test captain Shubman Gill is taking an unprecedented step to prepare for the upcoming red-ball series in New Zealand by personally funding four to five net bowlers to accompany him on the tour. This move highlights his dedication to Test cricket, especially as he balances ODI commitments and skips India A matches, opting instead for a Ranji Trophy fixture before his early departure to acclimatise.
