Jonathan Bairstow became the 13th son to follow his father into the England Test side after being handed a debut against the West Indies at Lord's here on Thursday:

West Indian cricket icon Brian Lara has called upon Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the world's number one batsman, to move up the order for his team's three-Test series with England which begins on Thursday.

Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore believes his players are preparing well for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour, and added that the home conditions would amplify the Lankan threat.

England will need to win its three-Test series against the West Indies starting at Lord's from tomorrow (Thursday) if it is to stay as the number-one ranked Test side on the Reliance ICC Test Championship table.

England captain Andrew Strauss on Wednesday received the prestigious Reliance ICC Test Championship mace for leading the team that finished on top of the Reliance ICC Test Championship table on the annual cut-off date of 1 April.

Pakistan cricket head coach Dav Whatmore has said the national team has the strength and ability in all departments, and their capabilities are not limited to bowling only.

England fast bowler James Anderson has said the players believe they can become one of the best England teams ever.

Former West Indies bowler Ian Bishop believes the Caribbean team has no chance against world's number one ranked Test team England in the three-match Test series, starting on May 17 at Lord's.

England Lions crushed West Indies by 10 wickets on Sunday, dealing a further blow to the brittle confidence of the tourists ahead of the first Test which starts at Lord's on Thursday.

Pakistan batsman Mohammad Ayub Dogar, who has been given a chance to prove his mettle at the international stage for the national team at the age of 32, has said he is in top form.

The England selectors today named a 13-man squad for the first Test match against West Indies commencing Thursday May 17 at Lord's.

Kieran Powell said he felt West Indies could now make a push for a morale-boosting victory, following his second first-class hundred that brought the visitors back into their game against England Lions on Saturday.

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Sami, while expressing his delight at being named in all three squads for the forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka, admitted that it is probably the last opportunity for him to prove his credentials as an international cricketer.

Ravi Rampaul said he and the rest of the West Indies bowling attack would have learnt a few valuable lessons, after they endured a tough day in the field in their tour match against the England Lions on Friday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed Mohammad Hafeez in place of Misbah ul Haq as the captain of the T20 squad for the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka.

Marlon Samuels joined up with the West Indies squad in England on Tuesday as the tourists moved close to having their full strength party available for selection.

West Indies' attempts to get in some meaningful practice ahead of the first Test against England in a fortnight were again dashed by rain as their tour opener against Sussex ended in a draw.

Darren Bravo felt it was unfortunate that there was so little play in the West Indies' tour opener against Sussex, which ended in a no-result on Monday.

The bumpy start of the West Indies tour of England continued Saturday when rain forced the abandonment of the first day of their opening tour game against Sussex.

England wicket keeper Matt Prior has said winning the third Test match against Sri Lanka in Colombo to level the three-match series, which also safeguarded their number one Test ranking, was a massive high for the team.

Adrian Barath said he and his West Indies teammates were prepared to grit their teeth and deal with whatever conditions they confront on the tour of England.

England's stylish No 5 batsman Ian Bell believes he is just one knock away from a turnaround in his performance

Australia coach Mickey Arthur Tuesday backed veteran batsman Ricky Ponting to be a key figure in next year's Ashes series in England, saying the former skipper was "not going anywhere".

Australia moves ahead of India in third place after beating West Indies 2-0

Essex batsman Ravi Bopara is expected to bat at the No. 6 position for England in the first Test match against the West Indies, starting on May 17.

Selectors have called up uncapped pacer Shannon Gabriel for the three-Test West Indies tour of England, starting next week.

Australia captain Michael Clarke has said Mathew Wade possesses the potential to play as a specialist batsman along with veteran Brad Haddin as the wicketkeeper in the Test team.

Jamaican batsman Marlon Samuels and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin have been recalled to the West Indies squad for next month's test series in England.

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua - The Selection Panel of the West Indies Cricket Board today announced the 15-member West Indies squad for the three-Test series on the tour of England, starting next month.

Michael Clarke's second five-wicket haul in Test cricket has helped Australia to a 75-run victory on the fifth and final day of the third Test at Windsor Park.

England seamer Stuart Broad is likely to make a comeback from injury in next week's LV County Championship match for Nottinghamshire against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

South African Test captain Graeme Smith has started his rehabilitation programme after undergoing surgery on his left ankle and is likely to be fit for the UK tour in July.

Australia captain Michael Clarke dismissed West Indies stalwart Shivnarine Chanderpaul with the last ball of the day to put his team within sight of victory in the third and final Test on Thursday.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul became the second West Indies batsman and just the 10th in the history of Test cricket to reach 10,000 runs on Thursday.

Michael Vaughan has labelled questioning of Andrew Strauss's position as England Test captain "ridiculous".

Half-centuries from Ed Cowan and Ricky Ponting left Australia in control at the end of the third day of the third and final Test against the West Indies here at Windsor Park on Wednesday.

Matthew Wade said Brad Haddin remained Australia's number one test match wicketkeeper despite his maiden test century Tuesday shifting the final West Indies Test in favour of the tourists.

A wonderful maiden test century from Matthew Wade and a poor batting display by the West Indies left Australia in total charge at the end of the second day of the third and final Test here on Tuesday.

West Indies will be depending on the ever-reliable Shiv Chanderpaul and the capable batting of Ravi Rampaul and Kemar Roach to pull them out of trouble, when the third Digicel Test continues on Wednesday.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting overtook India's Rahul Dravid to become the second highest test run scorer on Monday during the opening day of the third test against West Indies.

Australian Dave Warner, once considered a machine purpose-built for Twenty20 cricket, showed he is learning the more patient skills required for test matches with a patient half-century on the opening day of the third test against West Indies on Monday.

Shane Shillingford celebrated becoming the first Dominican to play Test cricket in his home country in style on Monday as the West Indies off-spinner took four Australian wickets on the opening day of the third and final Test at Windsor Park.

Shane Shillingford said it was "my best day in Test cricket" as he had an excellent four-wicket performance to give West Indies the upper hand over Australia on the opening day of the third and final Digicel Test.

West Indies off-spinner Shane Shillingford will create history on Monday when he becomes the first Dominican to play a Test match on home soil.

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting said Sunday he has no intention of calling time on his Test career and was looking forward to taking on bitter rivals South Africa later this year.

Australia captain Michael Clarke believes his decision to declare behind the West Indies total in the Barbados Test, and then setting them a target of 215 from 61 overs in Trinidad on the last day shows the positive mindset of his team.

Australia coach Mickey Arthur vowed his team will go for the West Indies' jugular in the third and final Test even if their full throttle assault backfires.

Inexperienced pacer Mitchell Starc can get a chance to play against the West Indies in the third Test due to injuries to fast bowlers Peter Siddle and James Pattinson.

Australia captain Michael Clarke feels that his predecessor Ricky Ponting was a victim of the high standards he himself set.

It has been a long journey from the playing field at the Rose Hall Cricket Club to the West Indies team, but Assad Fudadin has made that journey and now he is looking to take more strides forward.

Australia captain Michael Clarke admitted he was slightly worried about losing the second Test against the West Indies, especially after the way his opposite number Darren Sammy set about the run chase.

Australia coach Mickey Arthur vowed his team will go for the West Indies' jugular in the third and final Test even if their full throttle assault backfires.

West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach and left-handed batsman Darren Bravo are both delighted following significant moves up the International Cricket Council's Test match rankings.

Australian opener Ed Cowan may lose his berth if selectors choose a team on the basis of scores, but is optimistic about his own game.

Australia captain Michael Clarke vowed to keep making ambitious declarations even if it meant risking seeing his plans come back to haunt him.

West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach has achieved a career-best ranking after producing a man of the match performance in the Port-of-Spain Test against Australia which ended in a draw on Thursday.

Australia captain Michael Clarke vowed to keep making ambitious declarations even if it meant risking seeing his plans come back to haunt him.

Australia retained their two-decade grip on the Frank Worrell Trophy when heavy rain meant the second Test against the West Indies petered out into a draw on Thursday.

The West Indies Cricket Board's Selection Panel has called up left-hander Assad Fudadin to squad for the third Test against Australia at Windsor Park in Dominica.

Cricket Australia (CA) today advises that fast bowlers Peter Siddle and James Pattinson will return to Australia from the West Indies due to back soreness.

Australia were confident they could still win the second Test against West Indies despite losing most of the fourth day on Wednesday to rain.

Kemar Roach paid tribute to deceased West Indies fast bowling legend Malcolm Marshall, following another penetrative spell for West Indies in the second Digicel Test against Australia on Wednesday.

Sir Ian Botham expects England to hold onto their world number one status for "quite a while now" provided they learn from the disappointments of their recent series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

One disastrous hour on Tuesday may have cost West Indies their chance to level the test series against Australia, coach Ottis Gibson said.

A spell of five for sixteen by Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon put Australia in charge at Queen's Park Oval at the end of the third day of the second Test in the West Indies on Tuesday.

When Narsingh Deonarine went to the crease with West Indies in deep trouble on Tuesday morning, he knew he had a huge fight on his hands.

West Indian off-spinner Shane Shillingford wasted no time making his impact felt on his return to test cricket, capturing three key wickets in the second test against Australia.

An 89-run partnership between Mike Hussey and James Pattinson ensured Australia remained in control at the end of the second day of the second Test against the West Indies on Monday.

Both Australian spinners Nathan Lyon and Michael Beer are under pressure to lead their side to victory in the second Test against the West Indies.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy expects the Queen's Park Oval pitch to produce a result but does not believe it will offer a home advantage.

Shane Watson again showed why he is Australia's man for all occasions when he ground his way to a vital half-century on the first day of the second test against West Indies on Sunday.

Shane Watson hit a patient half-century as Australia reached 208 for five on the first day of the second Test against West Indies on a slow Queen's Park Oval pitch.

Australia may employ two specialist spinners for the second Test against the West Indies, which starts on Sunday at the Queen's Park Oval.

Australian allrounder Shane Watson has vowed to change his appalling record of run-outs at Test level.

Australian captain Michael Clarke's immense confidence in his young players, compounded with a winning mentality is breeding success, and it was clearly evident in their grinding Test win against the West Indies at Barbados.

Ben Hilfenhaus and Ryan Harris, who saw Australia home to a three wickets win against the West Indies with the bat in Bridgetown, Barbados, have achieved their highest-ever bowling ratings in the latest Reliance ICC Test Rankings.

Pacer Ryan Harris, who played a dominant role with bat in Australia's first innings, was called from toilet to complete the nerve-racking climax of the run chase against the West Indies.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy said the three-wicket loss to Australia in the opening Test here will not damage his side's growing self confidence and has urged his troops not to despair despite the hugely disappointing result.

Australia won an exciting first test against West Indies by three wickets as Michael Clarke's team were rewarded for their positive approach.

Some fine batting by Ryan Harris and an electrifying spell of bowling from Ben Hilfenhaus looked to have turned the first Test with the West Indies in Australia's favour on an engrossing fourth day here Tuesday.

England head coach Andy Flower hopes that his team would keep the lessons they learnt during the Sri Lanka series in mind for their away Test series against India.

West Indies kept the pressure on Australia on day three of the first test in Bridgetown, Barbados on Monday with the tourists restricted at the close to 248 for five in 95 overs.

Australia's stylish opening batsman David Warner has revealed that he is working hard on his leg-spin bowling.

Andrew Strauss heads home from Asia confident his future as captain is secure after England ended a miserable run in Tests by beating Sri Lanka to draw the series and retain their number-one ranking.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul completed his 25th test century on Sunday to put West Indies in a strong position against Australia at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Sunday.

Graeme Swann's 10-wicket haul not only helped England to a Test victory in Colombo but also lifted him five places to fourth spot in the Reliance ICC Test Bowling Rankings - just one place behind team mate James Anderson.

A slow Kensington Oval pitch and three dropped catches helped the West Indies make a solid start against Australia on the opening day of the first Test on Saturday.

Captain Andrew Strauss felt Saturday's eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second and final test had given his team the boost needed to perform well in England in the summer.

Graeme Swann claimed a match haul of 10 wickets as England roared to a series-levelling win over Sri Lanka in the second and final Test on Saturday to retain their number one ranking.

England will start its domestic international season next month as the number-one ranked Test side in the Reliance ICC Test Championship after retaining the top spot following its eight wickets victory over Sri Lanka in the Colombo Test as the two-Test series ended in a one-all draw on Saturday.

Australian middle order batsman Michael Hussey has said that the West Indies' pace attack is more than capable of causing serious problems for the Aussie batsmen, and they can not be taken lightly.

Off-spinner Graeme Swann grabbed four wickets to leave a rejuvenated England on the brink of a series-levelling win in the second and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Friday.

Former West Indies legend Joel Garner has reckoned the three-Test series against Australia could revive the cricketing rivalry between both teams.

West Indies coach Ottis Gibson has expressed confidence that his resurgent side will knock Australia off in the upcoming Test series.

England batsman Kevin Pietersen has defended the switch-hit shot, which he utilized on more than one occasion, during his sublime century against Sri Lanka in the Colombo Test.

Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee after being found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the second Test between his side and England at the P Sara Oval, Colombo on Thursday.

Jeff Crowe will become the fifth member of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees to complete a half - century of Tests. Mr Crowe will achieve the milestone on Saturday when he takes the field for the coin toss in Bridgetown for the first Test between the West Indies and Australia.

Australia aim to extend their 17-year grip on the Frank Worrell Trophy against the West Indies from Saturday and pile on the Test match agony for the fallen Caribbean giants.

West Indies leg spinner Devendra Bishoo, who hasn't played against Australia in the series so far, is expected to be their secret weapon to derail any strategy formulated by the tourists in the first Test in Barbados, starting on Saturday.

Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade believes he had to come out of his comfort zone to earn his baggy green, as he prepares to make his Test debut against West Indies in the first Test at Kensington, Oval on Saturday.

Graeme Swann has backed England's under-fire captain Andrew Strauss, and claimed he is the best leader in world cricket after his team enjoyed their best day of Test cricket this year.

Kevin Pietersen's unbeaten century put England firmly in control of the second test against Sri Lanka on Thursday, his aggressive knock changing the pace of the match as the visitors forged a 77-run lead by the third day tea break.

Australia captain Michael Clarke is set to lead the Test team against the West Indies in Barbados after a month long injury lay-off. His deputy Shane Watson believes his time out of the team has freshened Clarke up.

Australia's selectors are still undecided about the pace attack for the first Test against the West Indies.

Under-pressure skipper Andrew Strauss and fellow opener Alastair Cook hit gutsy half-centuries as England made a confident reply to Sri Lanka's 275 in the second Test in Colombo on Wednesday.

The West Indies Cricket Board's Selection Panel has called up allrounder Narsingh Deonarine to the 13-man squad to face Australia in the First Digicel Test at Kensington Oval, starting Saturday.

Ricky Ponting is all geared up for the Test series against the West Indies, but failure in this series could end one of the most illustrious careers in international cricket, especially after his dumping from the one-day squad.

Skipper Mahela Jayawardene cracked his second century in consecutive matches to pull Sri Lanka out of trouble in the second and final Test against England in Colombo on Tuesday.

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Julian Hunte has lauded head coach Ottis Gibson for his outstanding work with the national side and believes the team has made huge strides during his watch.

West Indies Cricket Board chief Julian Hunte has hailed the recent showing of the regional side, following exciting ties in recent one-day and Twenty20 series against Australia, and said these augured well for the upcoming Test series.

Australia's rookie Matthew Wade will make his Test debut against the West Indies on Saturday, despite being rested from a warm-up match against a West Indies Board XI.

Australian captain Michael Clarke expects to feature in the three-day tour match against the West Indies Cricket Board President's XI in Barbados.

England's Andrew Strauss insisted on Monday that he would fight on as captain and battle through his batting slump as the team look for a series-levelling win in the final Test against Sri Lanka.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy has warned Australia to expect more of his side's fighting spirit when the three-Test series kicks off here next weekend.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who engineered a 3-0 test whitewash of England earlier this year, has backed the world's top-ranked side to bounce back in Sri Lanka because of the strength of their bowlers.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy has warned Australia to expect more of his side's fighting spirit when the three-Test series kicks off here next weekend.

Five Australian fast bowlers are battling for a Test berth against the West Indies ahead of the first game in Barbados next week.

Steven Finn is hoping to revive his Test match career by being selected to play for series against Sri Lanka ahead of his 23rd birthday.

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain has come out in spirited defence of current Test captain Andrew Strauss after the latter experienced his fourth straight loss in the longer version of the game.

Sri Lanka hope to celebrate 30 years in Test cricket by toppling England from the number one ranking when the second and final Test starts in Colombo on Tuesday.

Fast bowler Stuart Broad has been ruled out of England's second test against Sri Lanka with a calf strain, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Friday.

England pace bowler Stuart Broad has been ruled of the final Test against Sri Lanka after a scan today confirmed a right calf strain. Broad will return to the UK immediately for further assessment before beginning a rehabilitation programme which will determine his availability for all cricket including the IPL.

New Zealand cricket head David White has admitted the presence of a 'positive tension' between coach John Wright and director of cricket John Buchanan.

Vernon Philander, who is the second quickest ever to reach the 50-wicket landmark in Tests, is due to turn out for Somerset in eight matches starting on April 5, and South Africa coach Gary Kirsten wants to ensure that his fast bowler doesn't burn out.

Captain Andrew Strauss was at a loss to explain what had gone wrong for his England team after they were beaten for the fourth test in a row on Thursday.

South Africa's AB de Villiers has reached the number-one batting position for the first time in his career where he has been joined by Australia captain Michael Clarke in the latest Reliance ICC Player Rankings which were released on Friday.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath claimed a match haul of 12 wickets as Sri Lanka condemned top-ranked England to their fourth consecutive Test defeat on Thursday in the series opener.

Graeme Smith is comfortable with television referrals and the umpire decision review system (DRS) playing a larger role in international cricket, the South Africa captain said on Wednesday.

New Zealand middle order batsman Kane Williamson has received plaudits from his teammates, and also from the South African team after scoring a match saving century on the final day of the Wellington Test match.

South African veteran Mark Boucher would have to wait until the England series, starting in July, to become the first wicketkeeper to achieve 1 000 international dismissals.

A fracture to Ross Taylor?s left arm in New Zealand?s Test series against South Africa is causing ripples as far away as New Delhi.

England recovered from two crucial blows to stay afloat in their tough run chase to win the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Wednesday.

Former India captain Rahul Dravid on Tuesday said during his 16-year-long career, the Indian team has emerged from being second class citizens on tours to becoming the big boys of world cricket.

South Africa's new bowling sensation Vernon Philander is trying to stay grounded after becoming the second fastest bowler to grab 50 wickets in Test cricket

Poor weather undoubtedly halted South Africa's march to the top of the world test rankings after they claimed a 1-0 series win against New Zealand when the third and final test at the Basin Reserve ended in a draw on Tuesday.

England bounced back after being spun out cheaply by Sri Lanka to leave the first cricket Test evenly poised at the Galle International Stadium on Tuesday.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has predicted pacer James Anderson will surpass Sir Ian Botham's record to become the country's leading Test wicket-taker.

Sri Lankan coach Graham Ford has said that dropped catches by England in the first Test in Galle allowed batsman Mahela Jayawardene to smash an unbeaten 169 and added that this could affect the team's morale.

A heroic century by 21-year-old Kane Williamson trumped a hostile South African bowling attack and allowed New Zealand to hang on for a tenacious draw in the third Test Tuesday.

Skipper Mahela Jayawardena crafted a classy century to steer Sri Lanka out of trouble on the opening day of the first Test against England in Galle on Monday.

Former England captain Geoffrey Boycott has been appointed as the new President of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club, replacing former England captain Raymond Illingworth.

Australia captain Michael Clarke has confirmed he is in talks to join Indian Premier League franchise Pune Warriors, reports said Monday.

Travelling English supporters hugely outnumbered local Sri Lankan fans at the start of the first Test in Galle on Monday, making it look like a home match for the tourists.

South African pace sensation Vernon Philander became the fastest man in 116 years to reach 50 Test wickets on Monday as New Zealand struggled to stay alive in the third Test.

New Zealand Cricket today announced that BLACKCAPS captain Ross Taylor has suffered a broken bone in his left forearm.

Just two weeks ago, pace bowler Mark Gillespie was focused on letting his badly damaged toe heal and finding a job when New Zealand's first class cricket season came to an end.

England pace bowler James Anderson has admitted that it will be tough for his side to retain the world's top Test team title ahead of the series against Sri Lanka.

Oppressive heat and humidity will present a major problem for England in the first of two cricket tests against Sri Lanka starting in Galle on Monday.

Captain Michael Clarke said on Sunday Australia could play two spinners in the opening Test against the West Indies next month before he left to join up with the rest of the squad in the Caribbean.

Martin Guptill and Daniel Flynn battled hostile pace bowling to guide New Zealand to 65 for no loss at the close of play on the third day of the final test against South Africa at the Basin Reserve on Sunday.

England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who had a nightmarish last tour of Sri Lanka, has said he is keen to get rid of the monkey off his back by scoring a century this time around.

Top-ranked England play Sri Lanka in a two-Test series from Monday with both teams looking to prove a point after recent setbacks in the traditional five-day game.

The stop-start nature of a weather-affected third test and howling winds that were gusting more than 80kph had rated as one of Daniel Vettori's worst in test cricket, the former New Zealand captain said on Saturday.

South Africa made light of the grim weather as they cruised to 246-2 on the second day of the weather-affected third and final Test against New Zealand on Saturday.

South Africa batsman Hashim Amla has had emergency surgery after he was hit in the groin with the ball on the opening day of the third test against New Zealand, the team said on Saturday.

Australian opener David Warner has said if he was provided with a choice between playing Tests and the lucrative Twenty20 tournament, he would go for the former.

Sri Lanka's cricket selectors on Friday recalled off-spinner Suraj Randiv for the home Test series against England, but left out in-form batsman Chamara Silva.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting Friday rejected the chance to play county cricket this year as he bids to play one last Ashes series in England in 2013.

Australian wicket-keeper Brad Haddin may have played his last Test after withdrawing Friday from the series against the West Indies for undisclosed family reasons.

South Africa's batsmen made a mockery of supposedly helpful bowling conditions to finish the weather-affected first day of the third and final test against New Zealand on 136 for two.

South Africa's fast bowler Morne Morkel has said he is happy for new bowling sensation Vernon Philander, and believes he deserves each and every single one of his phenomenal 45-wicket in six Test matches.

New Zealand's nine-wicket loss to South Africa in the second test was a closer match than the result suggests and the hosts' captain Ross Taylor believes his team are not far away from being competitive in the third test in Wellington.

England captain Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott warmed up for next week's Test series against Sri Lanka by slamming centuries in a practice match on Wednesday.

Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has urged his team mates to think of December's victory against Australia in Hobart, and take inspiration from it to beat the South Africans in the final Test in Wellington.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith has equated new swing sensation Vernon Philander to legendary Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath, as he is on the verge of reaching a cricketing milestone that has not been achieved in 116 years.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith has warned New Zealand bowlers that he intends to carry forward his good form in the final Test match at Wellington, as the team's peak form hasn't been achieved yet.

New Zealand have bolstered their batting roster and axed misfiring opener Rob Nicol and unsuccessful fast bowler Brent Arnel for their must-win third and final Test against South Africa.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has admitted that England are certainly the best Test team in the world, but only when opening batsman Alastair Cook scores.

England's Greame Swann said on Sunday the team was hoping to set the stage for the upcoming Test series with a win at the next warm-up game against Sri Lanka.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) today announced the 14-player squad for the third Test of The National Bank Series against South Africa beginning in Wellington on Friday 23 March.

South Africa's crushing nine-wicket victory over New Zealand to win the second test inside three days on Saturday was achieved by three 20-minute periods of superb pace bowling and their tail contributing a valuable 165 runs when they were in deep trouble.

South Africa grabbed the second Test against New Zealand by the scruff of the neck on Friday, reducing the hosts to 65/4 at the close of the second day's play at Seddon Park.

Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade has said he is enjoying working along side Brad Haddin in the West Indies, as he is keen to take a few tips from the veteran.

Australian selector Rod Marsh has signaled that Brad Haddin would be retained for the first Test match at least against the West Indies.

England Test team captain Andrew Strauss has said he is not concerned by Alastair Cook's high-quality performance as one-day captain, and insists everyone is focused on making sure that the team wins as many matches as possible.

Australian all-rounder Shane Watson, who is leading the one-day side in the absence of injured skipper Michael Clarke, has said that he would be happy to bat at number three in the Test series against the West Indies.

New Zealand pacer Tim Southee has admitted having bowling technique issues at the Test level, and has vowed to set it right.

Chris Martin struck back for New Zealand with two quick wickets to leave South Africa on 27/2 at the close of play on the rain-hit first day of the second Test on Thursday after the hosts' middle order had collapsed.

New Zealand pacer Tim Southee has admitted having bowling technique issues at the Test level, and has vowed to set it right.

England will look for a good work-out when they prepare for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka with a practice match against a local team in Colombo from Thursday.

Both the Proteas and the Black Caps fancy their chances in the second Test to be played in Hamilton.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, dropped from the one-day team last month, was included in the test squad for the tour of West Indies on Wednesday.

Andy Flower has challenged his England players to prove they can cope with the demands of playing in the sub-continent during their forthcoming series against Sri Lanka.

Samit Patel said on Monday he was hopeful that his all-round talents would help him win a Test cap for England during the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.

England off spinner Graeme Swann believes Andrew Strauss is the best captain the country has had, and believes no one even comes close to him.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) today announced the 14-player squad for the second Test of The National Bank Series against South Africa beginning in Hamilton on Thursday 15 March.

England has secured top spot in the Reliance ICC Test Championship table at the 1 April cut-off date, after the first Test between New Zealand and South Africa ended in a draw in Dunedin on Sunday.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes opening batsman Ed Cowan can be a long term prospect for Australian cricket, after the pair hit centuries for Tasmania.

Virender Sehwag on Saturday paid rich tributes to Rahul Dravid, who has announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket, saying the Bangalore stalwart's performance would be sorely missed, as nobody could possibly match him.

Former India captain retires having spent 35 Tests on top of the world; only Gavaskar and Tendulkar among India batsmen have achieved higher ratings; inaugural winner of ICC Cricketer of the Year and ICC Test Player of the Year

New Zealand battled to 137 for two at the close of play on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa on Saturday after being set an imposing 401-run target to win.

Troubled New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder will take an indefinite break from cricket to deal with personal issues after being dropped following a drinking binge.

Team-mates and rivals joined hands in paying glowing tributes to India's batting great Rahul Dravid, who quit international cricket on Friday after an illustrious 16-year career.

Batting great and former skipper Rahul Dravid announced his retirement from international cricket on Friday, saying it was the right time to "move on" and make way for the next generation of players.

South Africa skipper Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis both scored centuries and combined for a 200-run partnership as the tourists virtually batted New Zealand out of the first test by the close of play on the third day on Friday.

Debutant wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk and former captain Daniel Vettori staged a middle order fightback to help New Zealand establish a slim first innings lead at the close of play on the second day of the first test against South Africa on Thursday.

Medium fast bowler Chris Martin grabbed three wickets in four balls after tea to seize the momentum for New Zealand as the hosts reduced South Africa to 191 for seven at the close of the opening day of the first Test in Dunedin on Wednesday.

England spinner Graeme Swann believes that Tim Bresnan, who is a top class all-rounder can bat permanently at No. 6 or 7 for the national team.

Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has said though South Africa is on their way to the World No 1 ranking but if the Black Caps treat them like that the upcoming Test series is as good as lost.

South Africa will be aiming to carry the winning momentum from its ODI series into the three-Test series against New Zealand starting in Dunedin on Wednesday which will earn it the status of the number-one Test ranked side in the world in the Reliance ICC Test Championship table at the 1 April cut-off date for the first time since the Test rankings were introduced in 2001.

Pakistan hopes new cricket coach, Australia's Dav Whatmore, can find a magic formula to transform the country's talented players into a team that enjoys sustained, match-winning success.

Coach Gary Kirsten believes that South Africa's cricketing juggernaut is passing through an interesting and exciting time, especially in terms of player selection.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) today confirmed that BJ Watling will not be available for the first Test against South Africa, starting tomorrow at University Oval in Dunedin.

President of the West Indies Cricket Board Dr. Julian Hunte said that it is with deep sadness that the West Indies cricket family received the news of the tragic passing of Runako Morton.

New Zealand Cricket today announced that Kruger van Wyk has been added to the New Zealand Test squad as cover for BJ Watling.

Australian batsman Peter Forrest is set to earn Australia's reserve Test batting spot for the forthcoming West Indies tour ahead of other tried, but failed options like Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh and Phil Hughes.

Former captain Sunil Gavaskar came down heavily on the Indian cricket team after the conclusion of its disastrous tour Down Under, saying it was hard to understand the "psyche" of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced a 13-player squad for the upcoming National Bank Series Test against South Africa starting in Dunedin on Wednesday 7 March.

The England selectors today named the England Test squad for the forthcoming series against Sri Lanka. England will play two three-day games in preparation for the two Test series against Sri Lanka beginning on 26 March.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) today issued an injury update for Dean Brownlie and Ross Taylor who both suffered injuries during the recent National Bank Series against Zimbabwe.

Blaming Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the apparent 'rift' in the Indian cricket team in Australia, former captain Bishan Singh Bedi on Sunday said that time has now come for the side to have a new Test skipper.

Experienced fast bowler Fidel Edwards says he is hoping to make a major contribution to West Indies' success against Australia when the visitors come to the Caribbean next month for the Digicel Series.

Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris is contemplating retiring from Test cricket as injuries take a toll on his body.

The Technical Committee of the Cricket Board, headed by Sourav Ganguly, on Friday recommended usage of floodlights during Test matches played in India.

South Africa open hostilities on Friday against New Zealand on a six-week tour they hope will climax with a 3-0 Test sweep that would see them topple England from the top of the Test rankings.

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar on Tuesday said he hoped a window could be found to accommodate an India-Pakistan series, as tight schedules were stopping the arch-rivals from playing each other.

South African rookie Thami Tsolekile has been included in the list of 22 nationally-contracted players, indicating that the national selectors have earmarked him as Mark Boucher's successor when he quits wicket-keeping after the England tour.

Former Australian first-class pacer Joe Dawes will take over as the Indian cricket team's bowling coach after Eric Simons' tenure comes to an end at the completion of the ongoing tour of Australia.

India suffered a humiliating 0-4 Test series whitewash against Australia last month and had the dubious distinction of losing their eighth successive match overseas but the BCCI on Monday ruled an inquiry into the performance of the team in the disastrous tour.

South Africa's upcoming battles with "streetsmart" New Zealand are an important warm-up for their England tour later this year as the Proteas get there early to hone their skills, coach Gary Kirsten said on Friday.

Australian left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has revealed that being "bombarded" by an information had affected his mental approach to bowling and subsequently led to his axing from the Test squad.

Former New Zealand cricket great Richard Hadlee believes that India should persist with the veteran trio of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman for some more time.

Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar's comeback in international cricket after a gap of more than two years is a terrific boost for England cricket, feels fast bowler Stuart Broad.

Australian coach Mickey Arthur has said he wished that the Ashes series is held quickly to test his resurgent side against the English.

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh believes South African Test captain Graeme Smith should hand over the job to someone else ad follow Ricky Ponting's example.

Former Pakistan wicket-keeper Rashid Latif has backed Mohsin Khan, saying he does not require a certificate to remain as the Pakistan coach because the team recent victory against England under him, itself says it has 'achieved what it never did in its Test history.'

England captain Andrew Strauss has described England's first series defeat since 2009 as an eye-opener rather than an aberration.

Saeed Ajmal, who tortured England's batsmen in Pakistan's clean sweep of their three-Test series, believes no one has yet been able to pick his mystery "teesra" ball.

Pakistan's young gun Azhar Ali has not only claimed a career-best ranking but has also achieved the distinction of sharing 10th position with India's iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen which were updated after the Dubai Test which finished on Monday.

Winning captain Misbah-ul Haq said his team's 3-0 routing of world number one England sends a strong message to the cricketing world - Pakistan is a power and should be ignored no more.

Pakistan recorded its first ever clean sweep against England with an emphatic 71-run victory in the third and final Test on Monday.

Pakistan has narrowed the gap with the top four sides in the Reliance ICC Test Championship table after beating number-one ranked England by 3-0 in the three-Test series which finished in Dubai on Monday.

England's opening batsmen safely negotiated the final hour's play to close the third day of the third test with Pakistan on 36 without loss, chasing 324 to win, after Azhar Ali's mammoth innings of 157 put the hosts in a dominant position in Dubai.

Seasoned Pakistan batsmen Younus Khan said he drew motivation from his first innings failure to score an unbeaten hundred in the third and final Test against England on Saturday.

Younus Khan hit a defiant 20th Test hundred, first by either side in the series, and Azhar Ali ably assisted him to help Pakistan reach 222-2 at close of play on the second day of the third and final Test against England on Saturday.

Pakistan coach Mohsin Khan said good bowling from both England and Pakistan throughout the series was making batting difficult, as 16 wickets tumbled on the opening day of the third and final Test here Friday.

Pakistan coach Mohsin Khan supports technology in international cricket to rectify umpires' mistakes.

The West Indies Cricket Board today announced that it has taken a decision to move the third Test which was originally scheduled to be played at the Guyana National Stadium.

It was a day packed with action in the third and final Test in Dubai with 16 wickets falling on the opening day and 203 runs being scored.

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh believes England cricket is still in good shape despite being thrashed by Pakistan in the UAE.

Former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has said off-spinner Harbhajan Singh should be recalled back to the Indian team.

England spearhead James Anderson has denied seamers were discouraged by the spin-friendly pitches here, saying he was fully focused on how to win the third and final Test against Pakistan starting from Friday.

England captain Andrew Strauss disagreed the lucrative Indian league was a distraction for his team which faces a 3-0 defeat against Pakistan in the third and final Test starting from Friday.

England's batsmen held a crisis meeting on Tuesday to assess what went wrong with their approach in the two lost Tests to Pakistan, and to determine what would be the best way forward going into the third Test.

Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has said Pakistan's batting performance against England in the ongoing Test series between the two countries in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is quite satisfactory.

Captain Misbah-ul Haq believes routing world number one England 3-0 will be a big achievement but stressed his team will not take that extra pressure into the third and final Test starting from Friday.

Injured Australian all-rounder Shane Watson wants to continue batting in the top-order once he returns to the Test team even though his increased bowling workload has made it difficult to balance his role as an opening batsman.

Facing severe criticism for his unimpressive captaincy and performances in Test cricket, under-fire Mahendra Singh Dhoni has offered to quit the leadership role in the longer format of the game if the BCCI feels there is a better replacement waiting in the wings.

Legendary England batsman Geoffrey Boycott has described England's current batsmen as the 'worst' players of spin bowling and their performance in Abu Dhabi as 'shocking'.

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has stressed on the need for Indian cricket to take stock of the situation, with a special focus on assessing their performances outside the subcontinent following their whitewashes in the Test series against England and Australia.

Only months ago, one-time powerhouse Australia were wallowing fifth in the Test rankings but now they are nudging India for third spot after the 4-0 series annihilation of MS Dhoni's men.

Crafty off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has risen one more place and his spin partner Abdur Rehman has broken into the top 10 for the first time in his career in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers which were released on Sunday after the conclusion of the Abu Dhabi, Adelaide and Napier Tests.

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has come down heavily on the Indian cricket team after it suffered a 0-4 whitewash in the Test series in Australia, demanding sweeping changes in the current set-up.

Former captain Ravi Shastri on Sunday made scathing criticism of the star-studded Indian batting line-up for constantly playing away from the body outside the off-stump, which he said was responsible for their 4-0 whitewash in the just-concluded Test series.

Feisty off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has backed the vanquished Indian cricket team to bounce back strongly from the Test whitewash in Australia, saying that there is "nothing to worry" as such a setback can happen to any side in the world.

Embattled Rahul Dravid made it clear that he has not taken any decision on retirement from international cricket but admitted that his glorious career was "definitely nearer the end than the beginning".

Rival captains Misbah-ul Haq and Andrew Strauss acknowledged Pakistan's excellent performance which saw them win the second Test against England by 72 runs in a thrilling finish here on Saturday.

Pakistan's spinners were rampant as they reduced England to 39-4 at tea in the second test on Saturday, with the tourists needing another 106 to win and square the three-match series.

Spinner Abdur Rehman took six wickets as Pakistan beat England by 72 runs in the second test on Saturday to clinch the three-match series, bowling out the tourists for 72 in their second innings after another abject batting display.

The flopshow of India's senior batsmen in the Test series loss to Australia notwithstanding, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Saturday refused to say anything on their future, insisting that decisions would not be taken in haste.

Facing intense criticism for failing to put up even a semblance of fight in the 0-4 Test series loss to Australia, stand-in Indian skipper Virender Sehwag on Saturday tried to defend the team's performance, insisting that such debacles happen to every international side.

Pacers Chris Martin and Doug Bracewell shared 13 wickets as New Zealand bowled out Zimbabwe for 51 and 143 on Saturday to win the one-off Test by an innings and 301 runs - their biggest-ever victory margin.

Monty Panesar ripped through Pakistan's top order to reduce the hosts to 125 for four at the close of the third day of the second Test on Friday, 55 runs ahead of England's first innings total.

Former captain Sunil Gavaskar on Friday said that at least three senior cricketers may not be selected again for the national Test team after what has already turned out to be a disastrous tour for India.

A little over a year ago, Nathan Lyon was an Adelaide Oval groundsman watching from the sidelines as Australia crashed to an innings defeat on their way to a humiliating Ashes series defeat.

India were "extremely disappointed", but not embarrassed, by their inept performances against Australia, spinner Ravi Ashwin said on Friday.

Torrential rain dashed New Zealand's hopes of building an imposing first-Ross Taylor receives attention after sustaining an injury during day two of the Testinnings lead in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe on Friday, with an injury to captain Ross Taylor further frustrating the home side.

Australia were on the brink of a crushing series sweep after reducing India to 166 for six in their pursuit of 500 runs for an unlikely victory at the close of play on the fourth day of the fourth test on Friday.

New Zealand Cricket today announced that captain Ross Taylor is out of the rest of The National Bank Series against Zimbabwe after scans revealed a Grade 2 tear of his right calf.

New Zealand captain Ross Taylor could be out of his team's One-Day International and Twenty20 International matches against Zimbabwe after retiring hurt with a calf muscle strain on the second day of the one-off test on Friday.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar says the cricket ground in Abu Dhabi, where Pakistan and England are engaged in a Test match, does not suit fast bowlers much.

Opener Alastair Cook praised Pakistan's fightback, which saw them grab four wickets in the last 30 minutes in the second Test on Thursday, but still believes England have not thrown away the advantage

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar on Thursday disapproved of young batsman Virat Kohli swearing at the Australian players after scoring a century in the final Test at Adelaide, terming it as "school kid" temperament.

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has blasted the team for putting up an ordinary batting display on a lifeless track at the Adelaide Oval in the fourth and the final Test against Australia on Thursday.

Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal took three late wickets to thrust his team back into contention at the close of the second day of the second test against England on Thursday.

Virat Kohli accused Australia of "really low" sledging and criticised the boisterous Adelaide crowd after he scored a maiden Test century on Thursday as India again struggled with the bat.

Paceman Peter Siddle took a swipe at India after another stout-hearted bowling effort put Australia on track for a 4-0 series whitewash in the final Test on Thursday.

India's Sachin Tendulkar again failed to score his 100th international century when he was dismissed for 25 on Thursday, the third morning of the fourth Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval.

Peter Siddle took five wickets as Australia bowled India out for 272 before extending their lead to 382 runs by the close of play on third day of the fourth Test on Thursday.

New Zealand captain Ross Taylor notched up an impressive century to put the hosts in a strong position on the first day of the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Napier.

England's pace-cum-spin attack delivered the goods to keep Pakistan down to 256-7 on the opening day of the second Test at Abu Dhabi Stadium here on Wednesday.

Ishant Sharma has been toiling hard for the past one month but does not have results to show for his on-field efforts during the tour of Australia.

Michael Clarke joined Don Bradman and Wally Hammond as the only players to hit double and triple centuries in the same series on Wednesday as Australia made India suffer in the fourth Test.

Australia's chief selector John Inverarity has told injury-ravaged all-rounder Shane Watson to give up on leadership ambitions despite being the vice-captain and focus on regaining fitness and form.

England paceman Chris Tremlett will return home after a troublesome back problem recurred in the lead-up to the second Test against Pakistan which started on Wednesday.

Mighty impressed with Australia's domination of India in the ongoing Test series, former batsman Darren Lehmann on Wednesday said the "arrogance" of old seems to be back in the team led by the "fantastic" Michael Clarke.

Zimbabwe will approach its one-off Test against New Zealand from Thursday keenly aware that every international match it now plays strengthens or loosens its foothold in world cricket after a long and sometimes bitter exile.

Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke both hit masterful double centuries to drive Australia to 604 for seven declared before their bowlers reduced India to 61 for two at the end of second day of the fourth Test on Wednesday.

England have been working overtime to solve the Saeed Ajmal riddle for the second test after being baffled by the Pakistan spinner in the opening match in Dubai.

India have nothing to lose in their irretrievable series position and have a license to play their natural game against rampant Australia, spinner Ravi Ashwin said on Tuesday.

Ricky Ponting said his exuberant celebration of his 41st Test century in the fourth Test against India on Tuesday was not a sign of any impending retirement.

Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke both grabbed centuries and combined for 251 runs to drive Australia to 335 for three as India wilted in the Adelaide sun on the opening day of the fourth Test on Tuesday.

Pakistan's fast rising paceman Mohammad Talha was Monday ruled out of the remaining two Tests against England after developing spinal disc problems.

Pakistan's young wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal on Monday admitted.

Australian skipper Michael Clarke has signed a three-year bat sponsorship deal and the new bat has been manufactured in a factory in Jalandhar.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting became the third batsman to score 13,000 Test runs on the first day of the fourth Test against India on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan has resigned as captain, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said on Monday, a day after the end of his team"s tour to South Africa.

Alastair Cook is hoping he and opening partner Andrew Strauss will provide England with a good platform when they walk for a 100th time together in the second Test against Pakistan starting from Wednesday.

England need a quick solution to their frailties against off-spinner Saeed Ajmal when they face Pakistan in the second Test at the Abu Dhabi Stadium starting on Wednesday.

Australia are aiming for a whitewash but that is easier said than done as skipper Michael Clarke on Monday conceded the conditions at Adelaide Oval are more of India's liking even though he expects reverse swing to play a crucial role during the fourth and final Test starting on Tuesday.

Stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag said on Monday he rates Australia's bowling attack as the best he has faced as India battle to restore some pride in the final Test in Adelaide this week.

Australia have left paceman Mitchell Starc out of their team to face India in the fourth and final test and brought spinner Nathan Lyon back into the side, captain Michael Clarke said on Monday.

New Zealand coach John Wright is still unsure whether to carry on with his current job or not, as his contract expires in August.

Sam Wells added to New ZealandTest squad for the Test match against Zimbabwe in Napier starting Thursday 26 January.

England batsman Jonathan Trott says his teammates shouldn't worry about the legitimacy of someone's bowling action in the wake of off-spinner Saeed Ajmal's 10-wicket haul to steer Pakistan to an emphatic win in the first Test.

Young wicketkeeper-batsman Adnan Akmal has no guilt pangs about having replaced his elder brother Kamran in the national Pakistan team.

Veteran pacer Brett Lee has warned Cricket Australia against the temptation to "baby" the nation's fast bowlers with a rotation system that was designed to protect them from injury, saying the selectors' job was to pick the best players to spearhead the Test attack.

The series is out of grasp but Indian opener Gautam Gambhir said the debacle has not affected his team's motivation and it is focussed on winning the fourth and final Test to avoid a whitewash against Australia.

Completely enamoured with Sachin Tendulkar in the present series, Australian batsman Michael Hussey feels it's "inevitable" that the Indian icon would get his 100th century in due course.

A three-wicket burst by Neil Wagner enlivened proceedings during the second day of the tour match between Zimbabwe and a New Zealand XI at Gisborne today.

Former Australian batsman Dean Jones believes that the Indian cricket team needs a fresh batch of fast bowlers if it wants to rebuild its reputation as world cricket's top side in all formats of the game.

England batsman Jonathan Trott on Saturday refused to be drawn into commenting about Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal's action, saying it was up to the game's governing body and officials to decide.

New Zealand's cricketers are hoping to frighten touring Zimbabwe batsmen on a green top in Napier.

Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon is keen to use home advantage to cut the Indians to size, and give his side a four nil white wash.

Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough has said the pitch will favour batsmen and spinners ahead of the fourth Test between India and Australia.

Australian opener Ed Cowan has revealed that he idolized Ricky Ponting when he was young and still has a poster Ponting on the wall of his bedroom at his family home.

Pakistan coach Mohsin Khan says the spot-fixing scandal that shamed the country last year has ended up being quite motivating for his players in the ongoing series against England as they are charged up to get rid of the negative image.

Former Pakistan cricket captain Javed Miandad believes steps taken to clean up the sport has led to the national team's improved performance at the international level.

England coach Andy Flower wants the team to pick up its intensity after losing the first Test against Pakistan by 10 wickets.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has become world's highest-ranked spinner after bowling Pakistan to a 10-wicket win over number-one ranked England in the first Test which ended in three days in Dubai on Thursday.

For many years, Pakistan's biggest rivals were not their opponents but their own players.

Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle has said that he is eager to play in the Adelaide Test match against India.

Australian opener David Warner wants Australia to replace England as the world's No1 Test nation by next year's Ashes.

Rival captains Misbah-ul Haq and Andrew Strauss showed surprise at England's capitulation which saw them lose the first Test against Pakistan by ten wickets here on Thursday.

Pakistan beat England by ten wickets in the first Test at Dubai to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series on Thursday.

Former chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns believes Australia can become the number one Test team within two years.

Out of form Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has admitted that he is suffering both mentally and physically due to the increased pressure on him to keep his Test spot.

Pakistan offspinner Saeed Ajmal says he's happy to have proved his critics wrong by claiming the wickets of four left-handed batsmen in the first test against England on Tuesday.

Paceman Stuart Broad felt fighting England deserved wickets in the dying moments of the second day in the first Test and if they score big in their second knock they can pose problems for Pakistan.

England spent day two of the first Test playing catch-up, and eventually eking out seven Pakistan wickets, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

In a series which has been disastrous to say the least, not many expect Wriddhiman Saha to script a success story for India in the final Test against Australia next week but the Bengal youngster might turn out to be a pleasant surprise.

Australian spin legend Shane Warne has backed out-of-form wicketkeeper Brad Haddin to retain his place in the national team but said Matthew Wade is ready to replace him.

Australian pacer Ryan Harris has pleaded with the team management to retain him for the fourth and final Test against India amid speculation that one fast bowler will be dropped to make space for off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Australian team coach Mickey Arthur has said that the current squad of players has set its sights on regaining the Ashes that it lost in 2010-11.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes if the English batsmen don't learn to play Pakistani bowler Saeed Ajmal, they will lose the Test series.

David Warner says he should be fit for the fourth Test against India after suffering dizzy spells following a hit to the head during his stunning 180 in Australia's thrashing of the tourists in Perth.

Indian opener Gautam Gambhir said Tuesday a change of captain for the fourth Test against Australia would not banish his side's problems and urged the whole team to raise its game.

Struggling Australian batsman Shaun Marsh has admitted he is running out of chances at Test level.

World Cup winning coach Dav Whatmore appears upbeat about taking on Pakistan after talks with cricket bosses in Lahore, saying a final decision will be made later in the month.

Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal took a career-best seven wicket haul to destroy England's much vaunted batting line-up on the opening day of the first Test here on Tuesday.

Aussie legend Glenn McGrath has reckoned that England bowler Stuart Broad can become a great player, and will most likely to emulate his own achievements.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Sunday put the blame on himself for his side's dismal performance against Australia in the ongoing test series.

South African-born pair Kruger van Wyk and B J Watling are in a two-horse race to be New Zealand's new test wicketkeeper after incumbent Reece Young was axed today.

Rival captains Misbah-ul Haq and Andrew Strauss both believe batsmen will be under pressure to perform as Pakistan take on England in the first Test starting here from Tuesday.

England star cricketer Kevin Pietersen has vowed to achieve the 10,000 Test run benchmark and maintain his average above 50, indicating that he has regained his enthusiasm for the sport.

Suspended captain M.S. Dhoni has backed coach Duncan Fletcher as the right man to turn around the fortunes of the beleaguered Indian cricket team, despite a run of dismal overseas tours.

Australian coach Mickey Arthur has tipped big-hitting opener David Warner as a future captain of his country, after the 25-year-old drove the home side to victory over India in the third Test.

While England will be aiming to win US$175,000 for topping the Reliance ICC Test Championship table in the three-Test series which starts on Tuesday, Pakistan will be targeting to narrow the gap with the top four in the Championship table.

England will have a chance to the win the US$175,000 jackpot for topping the Reliance ICC Test Championship table when it goes head to head with Pakistan in a three-Test series starting in Dubai on Tuesday.

England paceman James Anderson on Sunday showed his team's resolve to stay on top of the Test rankings, but warned they needed to beat Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka in this tough year.

New Zealand will have a new wicketkeeper in their one-off Test against Zimbabwe later this month after incumbent Reece Young was dropped from the squad.

Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar has expressed fears over Pakistan's batting strength in their impending Test series against England in the UAE.

Pakistani all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez raised the excitement over the mystery delivery that off-spinner Saeed Ajmal wants to unveil against England in the first Test starting on Tuesday, saying it is "unique".

The chairman of selection committee Krishnamachari Srikkanth on Sunday expressed huge disappointment on Indian team's dismal performance Down Under terming it as a collective batting failure.

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni took the blame on himself for a disastrous performance of his team against Australia, saying that he was the main culprit as the captain.

Australian opener David Warner admits he and partner Ed Cowan are an "odd couple" at the top of the batting order but says the combination of aggression and caution is working well.

Australia skipper Michael Clarke was naturally delighted with his team's series triumph over India on Sunday but said he and his players will not rest until they once again top the world rankings.

The India team has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during the third Test against Australia in Perth, Western Australia, and as this is the second offence within 12 months India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been suspended for the next Test match in line with the ICC Code of Conduct.

English cricketer Chris Tremlett has said that he is fit for a Test berth for the upcoming series against Pakistan, after recovering from an eye infection.

Aussie legend Glenn McGrath has reckoned that England bowler Stuart Broad can become a great player, and will most likely to emulate his own achievements.

The national selectors have announced the Zimbabwe squad for the New Zealand tour starting from the 16 January to 14 February, 2012.

Australia tromped India by an innings and 37 runs in the third Test at Perth on Sunday to clinch series by taking a 3-0 lead. India were bowled out for 171 runs in second innings on Day 3 at WACA.

Legendary fast bowler Dennis Lillee will monitor injured pacer Mitchell Johnson's training once he is back from the foot injury that has ruled him out of competitive cricket for a period of six months.

Former captain Sourav Ganguly feels India's poor form in the series against Australia is continuing, and believes that both Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Michael Clarke read the WACA pitch wrongly.

Off-spinner Graeme Swann has said that having left-arm spinner Monty Panesar as a partner in the Test squad would benefit England tremendously.

Young Australian paceman Mitchell Starc said he wouldn't be losing any sleep over Sachin Tendulkar's controversial dismissal on the second day of the third Test in Perth Saturday.

Emerging Indian paceman Umesh Yadav took little solace from a Test-best performance as his side slid towards another heavy defeat in the third Test against Australia in Perth on Saturday.

Australia, fired by David Warner's 180 and another fine display from their pace attack, were closing on victory after reducing India to 88 for four in their second innings after two days of the third test on Saturday.

Pakistan coach Mohsin Khan on Friday warned England will feel the heat to maintain their world number one ranking against his fast-rising team in the three-Test series starting next week.

Lanky paceman Chris Tremlett said on Friday he did not expect to be selected to play in the first Test against Pakistan starting in Dubai next week due to the nature of the pitch.

It was another black day on what is proving to be a disastrous Australian tour, but Indian batsman Virat Kohli said Friday his embattled team were just a good side out of luck.

West Indian batting legend Brian Lara has backed Sachin Tendulkar to get to his 100th international century mark.

Australian skipper Michael Clarke has lavished praise on right-arm fast bowler Ryan Harris, saying that he is the equal of any quick that he has played with in the recent past.

Jonathan Trott returned to form with 93 as England geared up for next week's first Test against Pakistan with a 100-run win over Pakistan Cricket Board XI in their three-day tour match here on Friday.

After bundling India out for 161, Australia's openers David Warner and Ed Cowan tightened the home team's noose around the visitors by scoring 149 for no loss on Friday, the first day of the third Test between India Australia at the WACA Ground here.

Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson is using his lay-off after his toe surgery to rebuild his mental strength.

Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar reminded selectors he could still be good for Test cricket by grabbing five wickets to help England dominate the three-day match against Pakistan Cricket Board XI here on Thursday.

Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris has admitted that he is nervous about breaking down in his comeback Test on Friday, and adds that he has had restless nights and "bad thoughts" about his chronic injury problems.

India have a lot to ponder after the Test losses in Melbourne and Sydney - most pertinently whether the team has once again gone soft when playing overseas, feels former skipper Sourav Ganguly.

Australian captain Michael Clarke says he is considering ignoring two of his own golden rules for the third Test against India at Perth's WACA Ground, starting on Friday.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has hinted he will quit test cricket if he decides to lead India in their World Cup defence in Australia and New Zealand in 2015.

India are considering an unusual four-pronged pace attack for the third Test against Australia but won't settle on their final line-up until just before the match, said captain M.S. Dhoni

England's batting coach Graham Gooch played down the hype over Pakistani spinner Saeed Ajmal's mysetry delivery he wants to unveil in the three-Test series, saying it will be a good challenge.

Fast-rising paceman Aizaz Cheema Wednesday said the Pakistan team was not reading much into England's recent run of poor batting displays, acknowledging that Test matches would be a different ball game.

India's flamboyant left-handed batsman Yuvraj Singh Wednesday made himself available for selection for the triangular ODI series in Australia hoped the 'fab-four' would fire in the third Test in Perth starting Friday.

Through its community action program, Cricket Cares, Cricket Australia has joined UNICEF and the Global Poverty Project (GPP) in The End of Polio campaign, using Day 1 of the third Vodafone Test in Perth to support the cause.

Former Australian spinner Stuart MacGill is surprised by India's poor batting display in the Test series so far and has called on the visitors to show some pride in the remaining two matches.

Injured fast bowler Mitchell Johnson believes that "five to six years" of cricket is still left in him and he wants to use the Indian Premier league to regain his place in the Australian Test cricket side.

Former captain Sourav Ganguly fears India may have lost the ability to win overseas as the team has struggled on its current tour of Australia, dropping its sixth straight Test away from home.

The team morale hit by back-to-back defeats, senior Indian batsman Rahul Dravid is anxious that the ongoing tour of Australia doesn't turn out to be a repeat of England last year when his team lost all the four Tests and also drew a blank in the one-day series.

Australian pacer Peter Siddle has that Ryan Harris is ready to instantly regain his status as a Test match enforcer and a severe lack of first-class cricket will not come in his way.

Not wasting a moment on Indian pacer Zaheer Khan's comment that Ricky Ponting is a Test grinder, the former skipper said he was comfortable with his game after his century at the SCG, and believed further riches were just around the corner.

Australian middle-order batsman Michael Hussey has described his skipper Michael Clarke as a revelation from a leadership point of view, and believes that he is being quite successful in setting the benchmark for players of the future.

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq has said his side will not be intimidated by England's number one Test status when the two teams square off against each other in the upcoming series in Dubai.

Australia's pace spearhead Peter Siddle doesn't think he has got a hold on Sachin Tendulkar, in contrary to the claim made by the home team's wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Australia may be tempted to play four pacers at the WACA pitch against India but former Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait says his personal experience tells that it would be a bad idea to go in with four quicks.

Graham Onions, called in following an elbow injury to Tim Bresnan, may walk into the England team for the first cricket Test against Pakistan if he shows any signs of form in the three-day warm-up game against Pakistan Board XI, starting here Wednesday.

Australian bowler Pat Cummins is unable to predict a time frame for his recovery from a foot injury to make a comeback in the squad.

Australia's beleaguered Test vice-captain and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin received the much needed backing from coach Mickey Arthur to fire in the third Test against India at Perth starting Friday.

Pakistan's batsman Azhar Ali has reaffirmed his desire to represent his country in all three formats of cricket.

Pakistani cricket captain Misbah-ul-Haq is optimistic about the team's performance in the upcoming three-match Test series against England in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Cricket Australia (CA) is reportedly developing a strategic long-term plan for non-playing vice-captain Shane Watson to keep him on the park.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc took three wickets for Sydney Sixers against cross-town rivals Sydney Thunders at ANZ Stadium last night.

England all-rounder Tim Bresnan has been ruled out of the forthcoming Test series against Pakistan beginning on January 17.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly feels that the Indian bowling attack does not require a total overhaul but wants off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin replaced with left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.

Australian top order batsman Shaun Marsh was unable to fulfill a media engagement ahead of the third test against India in Perth because of illness on Monday.

Cricket Australia (CA) high performance manager Pat Howard feels that its rotation policy will help strengthen the Test side rather than compromise on performance.

Australian paceman Ryan Harris has vowed 'to go in for a kill' in the upcoming Perth Test.

Cricket New South Wales (NSW) chief executive David Gilbert has said local teen Pat Cummins may miss the summer tri-nation ODI series even if he recovers in time from the heel injury that forced him to miss the ongoing Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India.

Pakistani cricket captain Misbah-ul-Haq is optimistic about the team's performance in the upcoming three-match Test series against England in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Australia's embattled cricket board has defended its player management practices in the face of withering criticism following a raft of injuries that have gutted the team's bowling unit.

Australia captain Michael Clarke has rocketed his way into the top 10 of the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen for the first time in 15 months after his career-best unbeaten triple century earned his side an innings and 68 runs victory in the second Test in Sydney on Friday. The win gave the home side a 2-0 lead in the four-Test series.

Former Pakistani cricketer Mudassar Nazar is looking forward to the Kevin Pieterson versus Saeed Ajmal duel in the upcoming series in the United Arab Emirates.

Pakistan's batsman Azhar Ali has reaffirmed his desire to represent his country in all three formats of cricket.

Australia coach Mickey Arthur has hinted at paceman Ryan Harris's return to the Australian playing eleven for the third Test beginning Friday at Perth.

South Africa's series win over Sri Lanka was "a starting point" for a year of demanding tours, captain Graeme Smith said on Friday.

Skipper Michael Clarke has said that he is strongly considering an all-pace attack for next week's third Test at the WACA Ground.

Boyd Rankin looks ahead to playing England

Australia's crushing second test victory over India was cheered on Saturday by a triumphant local media who saw the ghosts of last year's Ashes humiliation vanishing under the leadership of captain Michael Clarke.

Captain Graeme Smith hit back at the critics of his senior players after South Africa's 10-wicket victory in the third and final test against Sri Lanka on Friday.

England will be without all-rounder Tim Bresnan for Saturday's opening match of their tour of the United Arab Emirates.

Pakistan's cricket captain Misbah-ul Haq was full of confidence his fast-rising team will have more success in 2012 after overcoming a spot-fixing scandal and remaining unbeaten last year.

Captain Michael Clarke on Friday savoured taking Sachin Tendulkar's prized wicket to send India tumbling to another heavy Test defeat and deny the tourists a first-ever series win in Australia.

Defiant captain M.S. Dhoni said India were looking to level the series after another heavy Test loss Friday saw them relinquish all hope of a first-ever series triumph in Australia.

South Africa beat Sri Lanka by ten wickets to clinch the series 2-1 on the fourth day of the third and final Test at Newlands on Friday, despite a fighting century by Thilan Samaraweera.

The Cricket Australia National Selection Panel (NSP) has announced a 12-man squad for the third Vodafone Test against India, which begins at the WACA on Friday 13 January.

Pakistan coach Mohsin Khan said on Wednesday that the highly anticipated series against England was about far more than just the spinners as his young side eyes a strong start to the year.

Fast bowler Aizaz Cheema is confident of taking wickets against England in the coming Test series as he feels that pitches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are similar to the ones in Pakistan.

Australia, inspired by captain Michael Clarke, crushed India by an innings and 68 runs in the second test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday to take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

South Africa need only six more wickets to clinch their three-test series against Sri Lanka after forcing the visitors to follow on on the third day of the third test at Newlands on Thursday.

Sri Lanka were in danger of an innings defeat after losing 12 wickets on the third day of the third and final Test against South Africa at Newlands on Thursday. Sri Lanka were 138 for four in their follow on innings at the close, still 203 runs short of making South Africa bat again.

Australia captain Michael Clarke Thursday said he didn't think of Don Bradman and Mark Taylor's record when he made a surprise declaration and all that he thought was to give his bowlers enough time to dismiss India for a second time and win the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Rahul Dravid said on Thursday that India will need an inspired performance from their stellar batting lineup to deny Australia in the second Test in Sydney, after conceding a 468 first-innings deficit.

England batsman Ian Bell has admitted that beating Pakistan in the Middle East would be just as tough as winning the Ashes.

Pakistan's interim cricket coach Mohsin Khan has said the team will rely on a combination of both pace and spin instead of merely banking on spinners to take on England in the upcoming series in the United Arab Emirates.

Former skipper Ricky Ponting has said that his successor Michael Clarke has become a better batsman with the Australian captaincy.

Michael Clarke never considered batting on beyond his mammoth unbeaten 329 to chase more records rather than declaring Australia's first innings in the second test against India on Thursday.

India batsman Virat Kohli has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee after being found guilty of breaching the ICC's Code of Conduct during the second day's play in the second cricket Test against Australia in Sydney.

Interim team coach Mohsin Khan said Wednesday he will have no problem with the Pakistan Cricket Board if he does not get the role full time.

Stuart Broad, who missed the one-day tour of India due to torn shoulder muscle, has been resorting to a calorie-controlled diet to ensure an injury-free year.

England's key middle-order batsman Ian Bell on Wednesday warned his world's top Test team of any complacency against Pakistan, saying their opponents pose a big challenge.

Jacques Kallis hit his second career double-century on Wednesday, then said South Africa had given themselves enough time to gain a series-clinching win in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka at Newlands.

Michael Clarke scored only the 25th triple century in test cricket before declaring Australia's first innings at 659 for four, a lead of 468, on the third day of the second test against India on Thursday.

Sri Lanka were 149 for two at the close in reply to South Africa's 580 for four declared, a deficit of 431 runs.

New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill has opted to play county cricket in England instead of the Twenty20 matches in the Indian Premier League.

Pakistan interim coach Mohsin Khan has said he will focus on the forthcoming series against England rather than worrying about his coaching future amid speculations that Dav Whatmore will likely take over as the country's head coach.

Australian bowler Shane Watson is hoping to be available as a batsman for the third Test against India in Perth, but admitted that fitness and the selectors' decision are significant hurdles before him.

Former captain Sourav Ganguly wants the India batsmen to learn from teammate Sachin Tendulkar.

Skipper Michael Clarke notched up his maiden double hundred and Ricky Ponting ended his century draught to give Australia a massive 291-run first innings lead, ending the second day's play at 482 for four in the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here Wednesday.

England captain Andrew Strauss believes only by succeeding away to Pakistan and Sri Lanka will his side convince the whole of world cricket they deserve their number one Test ranking.

Bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake conceded Sri Lanka had misread the pitch when they asked South Africa to bat first in the third and final test on Tuesday and then compounded the mistake by bowling badly.

India coach Duncan Fletcher blamed the lack of big partnerships for his team's disappointing show in the Test series against Australia so far and asked the celebrated middle-order to fire in unison.

Australia's young fast bowling sensation James Pattinson, who picked up four for 43, feels that the Indian batsmen have been intimidated with the aggression of the Australian quicks.

Australia's Ricky Ponting scored his first test century in two years on Wednesday, reaching the milestone just after lunch on the second day of the second test against India.

Jacques Kallis and Alviro Petersen hit centuries as South Africa dominated the first day of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka at Newlands on Tuesday. South Africa were 347 for three at the close after being sent in to bat.

England captain Andrew Strauss believes only by succeeding away to Pakistan and Sri Lanka will his side convince the whole of world cricket they deserve their number one Test ranking.

The venerable Sydney Cricket Ground is to get a major US$191 million makeover with the demolition of three spectator stands in favour of one huge state-of-the-art grandstand, officials said on Tuesday.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Tuesday congratulated Jacques Kallis on his 150th Test match appearance on the occasion of the third Sunfoil Test against Sri Lanka at Sahara Park Newlands.

Australia bundled India out for 191 on the opening day of the second test on Tuesday, before coming through a top order crisis of their own to finish a frenetic day on 116 for three, 75 runs behind.

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq has said his side will focus on playing good cricket rather than just entertaining crowds, ahead of the upcoming series against England in the United Arab Emirates.

South Africa must be mentally stronger in the third and final test against Sri Lanka, captain Graeme Smith said on the eve of the match.

Australia's young fast bowler James Pattinson ripped through Indian batting, leaving the visitors struggling at 72 for four in the first innings at lunch on the first day of the second cricket Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here Tuesday.

Former England cricket legend Alec Stewart has reckoned that his side has best players to tackle Pakistan in the forthcoming series in the United Arab Emirates.

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq has dubbed the upcoming series against England in the United Arab Emirates as extremely tough for his side and added that a huge score by his team will lay the roadmap for victory.

Nathan Lyon, the spinner on whom skipper Michael Clarke will rely to contain the prolific Indians in Sydney, has never played a senior match at the historic venue.

Predicting a four-nil Test series whitewash over India, former pacer Glenn McGrath has said that the Australian team is on the rise.

Australian captain Michael Clarke Monday named an unchanged XI for the second Test against India starting Tuesday at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has warned Australia not to get too carried away with their victory in the first test and backed his team to battle back in the second in Sydney this week.

Australian bowler Pat Cummins has vowed to reflect the agression and intimidation of his team-mate James Pattinson, when they partner to launch the bowling attack together

Indian batsman Rohit Sharma says he is fully prepared to play in the second Test against Australia in case he gets selected in the playing XI over Virat Kohli.

Pakistan interim coach Mohsin Khan has said that captain Misbah-ul- Haq has adopted a defensive approach over fears losing captaincy and place in the team.

Australian skipper Michael Clarke has backed his team to take on India ahead of the second Test in Sydney

South African captain Graeme Smith is looking forward to start the new year with better performances, ahead of the third Test against Sri Lanka.

The SCG, hosting its 100th Test, is one of 38-year-old Tendulkar's happy hunting grounds. He has scored three of his 51 Test hundreds there in seven innings and averages an incredible 221.33 at the ground.

New Zealand coach John Wright has said that Jesse Ryder will have to toil hard to make himself fit to return to international cricket.

Pakistan's opening batsman Taufeeq Umar has predicted his side will have to perform beyond its potential to defeat the current No. 1 Test team England in the forthcoming series in the United Arab Emirates.

Sri Lanka skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan has praised debutant wicket-keeper Dinesh Chandimal for scoring a half-century in both innings, taking three catches and a stumping in the second Test against South Africa.

South African skipper Graeme Smith has denied rumours that he was stepping down from the captaincy over his team suffering a 208-run defeat against Sri Lanka at Kingsmead.

Australian batsman Michael Hussey has said the Sydney Cricket Ground pitch will likely assist spinners.

Australia coach Mickey Arthur feels that his team's pace attack has the potential to be the best in the world and he's happy with his top six batsmen.

Australia's former Test pace spearhead Brett Lee has praised the latest pace sensation James Pattinson, and has said he should continue his combative, intimidatory approach against India in the Test series.

Former captain Sourav Ganguly is confident India will bounce back in the second Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) starting Tuesday.

Australia coach Mickey Arthur has hinted at retaining the same bowling attack for the second Test against India starting Jan 3 here at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle says his team is open to an all-pace attack for the second Test against India in Sydney though the strategy could sometimes backfire.

Sri Lanka captain Tillekeratne Dilshan acclaimed "one of the great wins" after his side completed an historic 208-run victory over South Africa on the fourth day of the second Test at Kingsmead on Thursday.

Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle and Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath have achieved career-best rankings in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers after good performances in the Melbourne and Durban Tests, respectively which finished on Thursday.

A delighted Rangana Herath praised the efforts of his team mates after bowling Sri Lanka to their first test win in South Africa at Kingsmead on Thursday.

Former Australian Test fast bowler Craig McDermott has done a great job with the pace battery since taking over in May as the bowling coach.

Australia's new fast bowling star James Pattinson continued his meteoric rise with a man-of-the-match all-round performance in the first Test thrashing of India in Melbourne on Thursday.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni conceded they are 'tentative starters' on a tour and praised the Australian bowlers after their 122-run loss in first Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here Thursday.

The Cricket Australia National Selection Panel (NSP) has today announced a 12-man squad for the second Test against India, which begins at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 3 January.

Sri Lanka scored its ninth Test match win outside the sub-continent and probably the most significant ever when they outclassed South Africa by 208 runs with a full day to spare in the second Test at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Thursday.

India's formidable batting line-up crumbled twice but skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he is not worried, instead he chose to give credit to Australian fast bowlers for eking out the 122-run win in the first cricket Test.

Interim Pakistan coach Mohsin Khan said his team were hoping for a 'fresh start' when they take on England for the first time since the spot-fixing scandal next month.

Kumar Sangakkara hit a superbly-crafted century on the third day of the second Test match against South Africa at Kingsmead on Wednesday and put Sri Lanka in a strong position to "close out the game".

Australia crushed India by 122 runs in the opening Test on Thursday, destroying their vaunted batting lineup with aggressive pace to claim a decisive victory inside four days in Melbourne.

Kumar Sangakkara took full advantage of being dropped in the first over of the day to score his 28th test century as Sri Lanka took firm control of the second test against South Africa on Wednesday.

Former captain Rashid Latif on Wednesday backed Pakistan to beat the world's best Test side England in a three-Test series starting next month.

Australia's Test vice-captain and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin believes that his place in the team is not under threat despite his unimpressive performance in the ongoing first Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Australia pacer Ben Hilfenhaus, who bagged his maiden fifer in Tests, said Wednesday that pre-season training with Tasmania bowling coach Ali de Winter helped him emerge as a better bowler.

Ricky Ponting made clear he had no plan to step away from cricket on Wednesday after his second half-century of the first Test against India rescued Australia and gave them a chance of victory.

Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz has expressed his relief after making a come back in the Pakistan national team for the upcoming series against England in the United Arab Emirates.

By emerging as Australia's most consistent batsman in the first test against India, former captain Ricky Ponting has both answered his critics and likely batted himself into selection for the remainder of the four-match series.

With the match evenly poised, aggressive India opener Virender Sehwag on Wednesday said any target less than 300 would be gettable for his team in the first Test against Australia here.

Australian star all-rounder Shane Watson's recovery from a calf injury has been slower than expected and he could miss the entire Test series against India.

Fortunes continued to fluctuate wildly in the Melbourne Test as Australia finished Day 3 230 runs ahead, but with only Michael Hussey and the tail-end remaining.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting Tuesday said older players like Sachin Tendulkar inspired him to score a flamboyant 62 in the first innings against India in the Boxing Day Test.

Left-arm opening bowler Chanaka Welegedera produced a career-best performance to put Sri Lanka in the ascendancy on the second day of the second Test match against South Africa at Kingsmead on Tuesday.

Former Test paceman Aaqib Javed has been recalled in Pakistan team management as bowling coach for the upcoming home series starting in United Arab Emirates from 17 January, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Tuesday.

Gautam Gambhir's failure notwithstanding, India responded strongly to Australia's score of 333 on Day 2 of the Melbourne Test. Virender Sehwag's risk-prone but entertaining 67 was followed by the calming presence of Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, who was dismissed by Peter Siddle for 73 in what turned out to be the final over of the day.

India's fastest bowler on the Australia tour Umesh Yadav said he would cherish Ricky Ponting's scalp the most among his three wickets on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test Monday. He, however, had mixed feelings at the end of the day after conceding almost five runs an over.

India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took two wickets each on the morning of the second day to bowl out Australia for 333 in the first innings shortly before the lunch break in the first Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here Tuesday.

Thilan Samaraweera and new cap Dinesh Chandimal shared a century partnership as Sri Lanka made a strong recovery on the first day of the second Test match at Kingsmead on Monday.

Left-arm paceman Wahab Riaz returns to the Pakistan Test squad that has been named to play England in a three-match series in UAE.

Michael Clarke's positive intention to bat first in swinging, seaming conditions in Melbourne didn't yield the best possible result, but held be happy to take 277-6 after a mid-innings collapse.

England cricket coach Andy Flower has reckoned that his team cannot afford complacency in 2012 if it is to remain the No.1 Test side.

Australia's batting boot camp focussed more on mental work rather than technical shortcomings with wicketkeeper Brad Haddin predicting the form of the team's batting line-up will make-up for their inexperience in the series against India.

South Africa should not take Sri Lanka lightly during the Kingsmead Test, Proteas batsman AB de Villiers has said.

South Africa will likely amends to overcome their past three defeats at Kingsmead during the Boxing Day Test against Sri Lanka.

The last two cricket series haven't been memorable ones for veteran Australian batsman Michael Hussey but he insists that he isn't out of form.

Test series wins over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have whetted Pakistan's appetite for success and they are capable of beating world number one test side England next month, coach Mohsin Khan said.

Vernon Philander, South Africa's latest fast bowling sensation, had his participation in the second test against Sri Lanka thrown into doubt after he pulled up with a knee injury in Durban on Saturday.

South Africa will remain favourites but Sri Lanka can expect less treacherous batting conditions in the second Test starting at Kingsmead Monday.

Skipper Michael Clarke today said that his players will be aggressive towards India, but won't cross the line in the four-Test series starting on Monday.

Having India shake off their image as home-track bullies is one of captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's goals as he bids to lead his team to a breakthrough test series win in Australia.

Australia and India will aim to a narrow the gap with number-one ranked England in the Reliance ICC Test Championship table when they lock horns in a four-Test series which starts in Melbourne on Monday.

Cricket Australia has today announced the team for the first Test against India, which begins at the MCG on Boxing Day.

Australia's young fast bowler James Pattinson is taking advice from England's bowling coach David Saker to plot the downfall of the famed Indian batting order in the four-match Test series starting with the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from Monday.

Pakistani skipper Misbah-ul Haq said Friday his high-flying team can beat England -- world's leading Test side -- when they meet next year, believing his side are unstoppable on current form.

Former Proteas coach Graham Ford believes the pitch at Kingsmead in Durban will favour South Africa's bowling line-up in the second Test against Sri Lanka, starting on Monday.

Australia look set to present India with a revamped top order for the Boxing Day Test, with opener Ed Cowan on Saturday named to the team alongside big-hitter David Warner and Shaun Marsh.

Ending all speculations, veteran India batsman V.V.S. Laxman Friday said pacers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma are 'fully fit and raring to go' in the Boxing Day Test starting Monday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

ECB Chief Executive David Collier today led the tributes to the England team and Team Director Andy Flower who each won major awards at last night's BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) event.

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-haq has said the team needs to work harder to defeat England in the upcoming tour.

It will be a dream come true for young Aussie bowler James Pattinson when he will play his first ever Boxing Day Test.

In a defiant captain's swansong, Ricky Ponting hit a fighting century in a losing cause as Australia bowed out of the World Cup earlier this year and then spoke of his hopes for a "Tendulkar-like" re-birth.

Veteran Indian batsman VVS Laxman hopes Australia will target him during the Boxing Day Test, saying that this is the secret to his success against the Baggy Greens.

Former captain Ian Chappell feels that lack of emerging talent in Australian batting was allowing struggling veteran players like Ricky Ponting to prolong their careers.

Sri Lankan captain Tillakaratne Dilshan has blamed his batsmen for last week's Test loss to South Africa by an innings and 81 runs, inside three days.

Former Test captain mark Taylor feels that either Ricky Ponting or Mike Hussey must make way for young all-rounder Dan Christian or recovering batsman Shaun Marsh in the top six for the Boxing Day Test against India starting Monday.

England captain Andrew Strauss is aiming to complete four successive Ashes series victories over Australia with wins at home in 2013 and again on the return leg in 2013-14.

A bumper crowd is expected at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Boxing Day as cricket fans prepare for a likely Australian farewell to star Indian batsmen Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.

Tasmanian fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus's recall to the Test squad adds vital experience to a young attack, from which spinner Nathan Lyon is Australia's leading wicket-taker for the calendar year after just seven Tests.

A swashbuckling century on debut against India was the making of Michael Clarke as a test batsman. Seven years later, the one-time golden boy of Australian cricket might hope a home series against the same team could be his making as a captain.

Live in the moment, keep it simple and work hard.

Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has become the number-one ranked all-rounder in the Reliance ICC Test Player Rankings after stellar performance with the bat and the ball against Pakistan in the Mirpur Test which finished on Wednesday.

Newly-svelte Australian legspin legend Shane Warne joked that a hefty bronze statue of him unveiled at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday was a "lifelike" memento of his time in Test cricket.

Australia's chief cricket selector John Inverarity admitted that the Big Bash Twenty20 could compromise the preparation of players vying for a Test team berth this summer.

India may lack the bowling firepower to pull off a first-ever Test series win in Australia, former Test great Glenn McGrath said on Wednesday.

Australian batsman Shaun Marsh will test his fitness in a Twenty20 match on Thursday evening and is confident he will be ready to go for next week's opening test against India.

In-form newcomer Ed Cowan said on Wednesday he will be fully prepared if Shaun Marsh fails to make Australia's first Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground next week.

India's left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha said that coach Duncan Fletcher has held a meeting with the team to discuss how to tackle mind games by Australia in the four-match Test series starting with the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The final day of the drawn three-day warm-up game here at the Manuka Oval between Indians and the Cricket Australia (CA) Chairman's XI turned farcical as Ishant Sharma, who was not even in the 13-man squad, bowled to prove that he is on track to lead the attack on Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Captain Michael Clarke has said that Tasmanian opener Ed Cowan's Test call up has put his faltering national unit on notice to perform or go out.

Abdur Rehman claimed 4-51 as Pakistan posted a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the second and final cricket Test in Dhaka on Wednesday to make a clean sweep of the series.

Pakistan has gained a place on the Reliance ICC Test Championship table and is now in fifth position following its 2-0 victory over Bangladesh in the two-Test series which finished in Mirpur on Wednesday.

Mohsin Khan will continue as interim Pakistan cricket coach for Test and One-Day International series against England in the United Arab Emirates.

Australian pace legend Pace Glenn McGrath has backed batsman Ricky Ponting in the Boxing Day Test against India.

The Cricket Australia National Selection Panel (NSP) has today announced a 13-man squad for the first Vodafone Test against India, which begins at the MCG on Boxing Day.

Umar Gul and Aizaz Cheema each took two wickets to boost Pakistan's chances of winning the second and final Test against Bangladesh on Tuesday despite Shakib Al Hasan's superb all-round display.

Ed Cowan staked a claim for selection as an opening batsman for Australia in next week's first Test against India with a century for the Chairman's XI against the tourists in Canberra on Tuesday.

Uncapped fast bowler Kanishka Alvitigala and seamer Dhammika Prasad have flown out to South Africa to join Sri Lanka's struggling Test team, officials said on Tuesday.

Ricky Ponting's international future could be in doubt if he fails to make runs, regardless of the former captain's standing in the game, Australia coach Mickey Arthur has said.

Australia's old nemesis on the filed, Indian batsman VVS Laxman, has said he is ready to do it all over again in what is almost certain to be his last Test tour Down Under.

The man who is keeping India's batting great Sachin Tendulkar busy at the nets has no credentials to warrant being part of the tour. But Tendulkar has made sure that D.V.G.I. Raghavindraa was part of the touring party.

Australia's veteran batsman Mike Hussey says he is in a good frame of mind and is doing his best to prove his critics wrong during the forthcoming four-match Test series against India starting with the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Australia's spin legend Shane Warne feels that bowling will be India's weak link in the four-Test series starting in Melbourne on Boxing Day.

Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten half-century on Monday as India's batting stars failed on a rain-interrupted opening day of a three-day tour match against a Chairman's XI at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

Former South Africa skipper Shaun Pollock has said that pacer Dale Steyn is the best bowler that the country has ever produced.

Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten half-century on Monday as India's batting stars failed on a rain-interrupted opening day of a three-day tour match against a Chairman's XI at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

Taufeeq Umar cracked his seventh Test century to help Pakistan post 217-2 in their first innings at tea in reply to Bangladesh's 338 on the third day of the second and final Test in Dhaka on Monday.

South Africa fast bowler Vernon Philander continues to make an upward movement in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers after inspiring his side to an innings and 81 runs victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Centurion.

Australian coach Mickey Arthur is adamant that Usman Khawaja has the technique to succeed in Test cricket as the rookie batsman faces selection axe.

Vinay Kumar, who is expected to replace Ricky Ponting's nemesis Ishant Sharma if he is unfit, is not worried about the pressure of playing in the Boxing Day Test.

Proteas batsman AB de Villiers says he has no regrets over not asking for a TV review when he was dismissed for 99 in the first Test against Sri Lanka at the SuperSport Park.

Proteas seamer Vernon Philander has said that he is not fazed by all the sudden media attention after his sensational start to Test cricket.

Legendary Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath wants to act as a mentor to help and guide the country's new generation of pacemen. As the first word of advice, McGrath feels young fast bowlers must maintain the rage.

Former Australian batsman Mark Waugh reckons that next week's batting camp organized by Cricket Australia (CA) must be as much about mental preparation as addressing problems with technique.

Speedster Fidel Edwards threatens to touch the 160 kmph-mark in the next one year and get closer to the fastest delivery ever unleashed by Pakistani Shoaib Akhtar and Australian Shaun Tait.

Former off-spinner Pat Symcox has reckoned that South African cricketer Mark Boucher is the Proteas' best option as wicketkeeper in Test matches.

Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon insists that he doesn't fear bowling to Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and other star batsmen in the upcoming four-Test series.

Former Australian bowling coach Troy Cooley admits that the idea of David Warner being a Test cricketer seemed absurd until recently, but says that now the Twenty20 specialist is looking like a potential Australian captain.

Former off-spinner Pat Symcox has reckoned that South African cricketer Mark Boucher is the Proteas' best option as wicketkeeper in Test matches.

Former Australian bowling coach Troy Cooley has said that Doug Bollinger, who is coming back from a hamstring injury, will use the Chairman's XI match against India to attract the eyes of the selection panel for the Indian Test series.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is optimistic of playing India in a Test series next year, Chairman Zaka Ashraf has said.

Pakistan closed day two of the second Test on 87-1, trailing Bangladesh by 251 runs at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 338 on day two of the second Test with Pakistan at Dhaka.

Legendary Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath wants to act as a mentor to help and guide the country's new generation of pacemen. As the first word of advice, McGrath feels young fast bowlers must maintain the rage.

Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon insists that he doesn't fear bowling to Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and other star batsmen in the upcoming four-Test series.

Sri Lanka have drafted Nuwan Kulasekara and Dhammika Prasad into their ailing squad for the remainder of the Test series with South Africa

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who is struggling with form, can look up to Rahul Dravid as a inspiration that Test batsmen can fire even if they are in their late 30s.

England fast bowler James Anderson expects a ferocious and heated battle with Pakistan next month as his side attempts to confirm their world No 1 status.

South Africa beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 81 runs to go 1-0 up in the three-Test series with two days to spare at Centurion.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has congratulated Dale Steyn on his achievement in becoming the second quickest cricketer of all time to take 250 Test match wickets.

Former India coach Greg Chappell will share his knowledge of the Indian team with the out-of-sorts Australian squad ahead of the first Boxing Day Test next week, reports said on Saturday.

Bangladesh's Shahriar Nafees (97) and Shakib Al Hasan (108 not out) put on a record fifth-wicket stand for their country against Pakistan on day one of the second Test in Dhaka.

Pakistan paceman Aizaz Cheema took three early wickets to leave Bangladesh struggling at 54-4 in their first innings at lunch on the opening day of the second and final Test in Dhaka on Saturday.

Australian fast bowlers James Pattinson and Peter Siddle both have niggles and their injuries are being carefully monitored to make sure they are fit for the Boxing day Test against India in Melbourne.

South African batsman AB de Villiers said he had no regrets about taking a Sri Lankan fielder's word about a catch that ended an innings of 99 on the second day of the first Test at SuperSport Park on Friday.

South Africa ended the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka on 389-9, leading their opponent by 209 runs.

India fast bowler Ishant Sharma said the fiercely fought 2007-08 series against Australia helped him emerge as a better bowler in international cricket.

Former Australian opening batsman Simon Katich has said that he is ready to play if recalled for the Boxing Day Test match against India.

Pakistan are confident of a 2-0 rout of struggling Bangladesh with another solid all-round performance in the second and final Test starting in Dhaka on Saturday.

Sachin Tendulkar top-scored for India on the final day of their tour match against the Cricket Australia Chairman's XI in Canberra.

South Africa reached 90-1 after bowling Sri Lanka out for 180 on the first day of the Test series at Centurion.

On this week's ICC Cricket World Radio Show, India's master batsman Rahul Dravid looks ahead to the upcoming series against Australia that begins on 26 December in Melbourne.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has praised his side for their good run of form in recent months.

Under-performing batsman Ricky Ponting has received unexpected support from Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, who predicted the former Australia captain will make a strong comeback.

Cricket Australia (CA) has conceded that batsman Shaun Marsh will have to manage the recurring back problem for the rest of his career.

The Cricket Australia Chairman's XI piled up 398-6 at the close of day one of the tour match with India in Canberra.

Former India captain Rahul Dravid feels Test cricket should be preserved and said day-night Test matches should be seriously considered by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to bring fans back to the oldest form of the game.

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni believes the experience in the team's ranks will hold it in good stead against Australia in the four-match Test series starting with the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

England wicketkeeper Matt Prior has warned bowlers that he plans to add another 10 runs to his existing batting average of 44.71.

Australia Test opener Phil Hughes has opted out of the Big Bash Twenty20 league with Sydney Thunder to concentrate on his technique.

South Africa and Sri Lanka each begin the three-Test series at Centurion on Thursday aiming for a return to form.

While New Zealand basks in the glory of a first test match win over Australia in more than 18 years, national cricket coach John Wright put the victory in perspective and again told his top order batsmen they must put more runs on the board.

Cricket Australia today advised details of an Australian Batting Group Camp that will take place in the days leading up to the Australian squad assembling in Melbourne in advance of the Vodafone Boxing Day Test match against India.

Former Pakistan cricket captain, coach and team manager Intikhab Alam says the team is "very positive" about its chances against England in the upcoming Test, One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) series taking place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next year.

Australian opener David Warner, who made his maiden Test century and was named man-of-the-match against New Zealand in the second cricket Test at Hobart Monday, is looking forward to being selected for the Test series against India and expects it to be highly competitive series.

Former Pakistan leg spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, who is now employed in a coaching role with England, has predicted a battle of spin between the two countries when they meet in an upcoming series.

Pakistan batting's mainstay Younus Khan has charged up the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen after his double-century set-up an innings and 184-run victory for Pakistan in the first Test against Bangladesh.

Batsman AB de Villiers has said that South Africa will be looking for consistency against Sri Lanka.

Australian batsman Shaun Marsh has been withdrawn from the team to play India in a tour match next week and is unlikely to be fit for the opening test on December 26, Cricket Australia said on Tuesday.

Self-belief was the major factor in New Zealand fast bowler Doug Bracewell's performance in Tasmania when he bowled his side to an incredible series-levelling victory in the second Test.

Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan is on track to make his comeback from injury in the upcoming four-Test series against Australia, coach Duncan Fletcher said today.

Indian captain MS Dhoni emphasized that his team won't take a struggling Australian team lightly in the upcoming four-Test series Down Under.

Fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep has been ruled out of Sri Lanka's tour of South Africa while key batsman Kumar Sangakkara is a doubt ahead of Thursday's first Test.

Skipper Ross Taylor praised his New Zealand team's fighting spirit as the Kiwis pulled off a magnificent seven run victory for their first win in Australia for 26 years at Bellerive Oval on Monday.

David Warner hopes he has finally laid to rest the notion that he is only a Twenty20 specialist after scoring his maiden Test century in Australia's second Test loss to New Zealand on Monday.

Pakistan eased to an innings and 184-run victory over Bangladesh on day four of the first Test in Chittagong.

New Zealand won one of the greatest Test matches of all time on Monday when it clinched a thrilling seven-run victory over Australia.

Sri Lanka's top order gained some time at the crease ahead of the first Test during the final day of their tourist match against the South Africa Invitation XI at Benoni.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan feels that tough days are ahead for Andrew Strauss-led England as they face Pakistan and India in Test series next year.

Bangladesh ended day three of the first Test against Pakistan facing an innings defeat in Chittagong.

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh has said that he is extremely pleased by the way Michael Clarke has embraced being the leader.

Follow Live - Bangladesh v Pakistan

Australia closed day three of the second Test at Hobart as favourites to complete a 2-0 series victory over New Zealand.

Pakistan closed on 415-4 after day two of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

Former captain Steve Waugh has said that the new crop of Indian bowlers are very good and are surely going to give a tough time to the Australian team.

Former England captain and all-rounder Ian Botham has described Test cricket as the flagship of world cricket today and refuses to accept that the longer format of the game is dying out.

Follow Live - Bangladesh v Pakistan

New Zealand lead by 153 with seven second-innings wickets in hand after dominating the second day of their Test with Australia in Hobart.

An injury to pace bowler Varun Aaron has given Vinay Kumar a place in the Indian squad for their upcoming tour of Australia.

Cricket Australia (CA) announced squads on Friday for the two warm-up games against India leading to the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne on December 26.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 135 before Pakistan moved to within three runs in reply at the end of the first day of the first Test in Chittagong.

New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori has been ruled out for up to a month with a hamstring injury.

England have named a 16-man squad for the Test series against Pakistan in January and February.

Victorian pace bowlers James Pattinson and Peter Siddle skittled New Zealand out for 150 on Friday, the first day of the second Test with Australia.

Follow Live - Bangladesh v Pakistan

Follow Live - Australia v New Zealand

Bangladesh batsman Naeem Islam has been ruled out of the first Test against Pakistan at Chittagong, starting on Friday.

In a country whose players are on the high seats of the cricketing pantheon, Indian ace batsman Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman has inked his name into batting lore courtesy his match saving feats time and again.

England fast bowler Graham Onions has said that he expects to be named in the national squad for next month's Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to seal a comeback.

Pakistan will begin their first Test series in Bangladesh for almost a decade in Chittagong on Friday determined to extend their 100 percent winning record against the hosts.

Australia's bowling coach Craig McDermott couldn't be happier with Victorian speedster Peter Siddle, whose reputation as an honest workhorse among a pack of rising colts has others worrying about his place in the Test attack.

A week, as former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson once quipped, is a long time in politics, though New Zealand captain Ross Taylor and his young team have also discovered that it also applies to test cricket.

Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan says his team's batting must improve if they are to stand a chance in their upcoming series with South Africa.

Australia's teen bowling sensation Patrick Cummins is doubtful for the four-match Test series against India as scans on his heel revealed the injury to be worse than first expected.

Former Australian captain Adam Gilchrist feels that Harbhajan Singh will be missed by India during their tour Down Under as the feisty off-spinner can get under the skin of the champion team.

Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting Wednesday said he has not regrets about standing down for Michael Clarke.

Bangladesh have recalled former captain Mohammad Ashraful for the upcoming Test series with Pakistan.

New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum has ruled out wicket -keeping in Test matches, saying his sole aim is to cement his place as an opener.

Young quick bowler Marchant de Lange has been named in South Africa's squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka, starting at Centurion on Thursday December 15.

New Zealand coach John Wright has called on the team's batsmen to show enough "substance" and curb their attacking instincts, ahead of second Test match against Australia.

Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon has said that he is enjoying is role as the country's frontline spinner.

Mark Waugh believes Phillip Hughes needs to work on his technique if he wants to continue opening the innings for Australia.

Victoria's strength and conditioning coach David Bailey has described Gabba Test man of the match James Pattinson as a bit of a "Bambi" when he was first introduced to him as a callow 17-year-old, but one who always had a strong work ethic.

Karnataka pacer Abhimanyu Mithun has replaced injured Praveen Kumar, who is down with a fractured rib, in the 17-member Australia-bound Test squad for the four-match series starting Dec 26, the Indian cricket board announced here Monday.

South African cricket selection chief Andrew Hudson insists that wicketkeeper Mark Boucher's days in the team are not numbered.

Former Australian fast bowler Damien Fleming believes that Australia has put the world on notice with its new squadron of "monster" fast bowlers.

Cricket Australia's National Selection Panel (NSP) today announced the squad of twelve for the second Vodafone Test vs New Zealand in Hobart, which begins on Friday 9 December.

India pacer S Sreesanth will be out of action for up to eight weeks due to a toe injury, which will prevent him from being on the reserves for the Test series in Australia.

Former Australian batsman Matthew Hayden believes that David Warner has a long and prosperous career ahead of him in the Test arena despite his failure on debut against New Zealand.

England batsman Eoin Morgan has said that he expects to be fit to play in the Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next year.

New Zealand captain Ross Taylor has challenged his side to be stronger after their comprehensive defeat in the first Test against Australia at the Gabba.

James Pattinson enjoyed a dream debut as Australia secured a comfortable nine wicket over New Zealand in the opening Test.

Cricket Australia has announced that all-rounder Dan Christian has been put on stand-by for the second Test against New Zealand.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly feels pace bowler Zaheer Khan needs to play more matches before the first Test against Australia, beginning in Melbourne on Boxing Day.

Michael Clarke chuckled at the thought of the standing ovation he received from the home crowd after his century put Australia in a powerful position against New Zealand in the first Gabba Test on Saturday.

Sam Loxton, a member of Don Bradman's 1948 "Invincibles", has died aged 90, Cricket Australia said on Saturday.

Australia captain Michael Clarke made New Zealand pay for missed chances as the home side ended day three of the first Test at the Gabba on top.

New Zealand's Daniel Vettori was philosophical about his brain snap which cost him his first Test century against Australia at the Gabba on Friday.

Ricky Ponting helped Australia build a good platform in their pursuit of New Zealand's 295 on the second day of the first Test at Brisbane.

South African bowling coach Allan Donald has said that he has been studying video material of Sri Lankan players ahead of the upcoming Test series, which starts on December 15 in Centurion.

Daniel Vettori and Dean Brownlie restored the New Zealand first innings after a clatter of wickets on the rain-shortened opening day of the first Test against Australia at the Gabba on Thursday.

Former Australian batsman Mark Waugh feels that Ricky Ponting's place in the team should be based on merit and not stature.

Cricket Australia has been informed that pacer Mitchell Johnson will require surgery and is likely to be sidelined for the entire 2011/12 cricket season.

England coach Andy Flower said there were no "mysterious answers" to success after twice being honoured at the 2011 UK Coaching Awards.

Catch the latest action from Brisbane

ECB Chief Executive David Collier today hailed the contribution of Andy Flower after the England Team Director won two prestigious awards at the 2011 UK Coaching Awards.

Seasoned batsman Thilan Samaraweera was on Tuesday added to Sri Lanka's squad for next month's Test series in South Africa.

Explosive Australian batsman David Warner is all set to make his Test debut after playing his first limited overs game almost three years ago. And he credits none other than India's Virender Sehwag for his first cap in the longer format.

Captain Ross Taylor said on Wednesday that New Zealand were confident of winning their first Test in Australia for 26 years against a weakened bowling attack at the Gabba this week.

Skipper Michael Clarke hinted on Wednesday he is likely to play spinner Nathan Lyon and leave out one of Australia's three fast bowling newcomers against New Zealand at the Gabba.

Cricket Australia (CA) today updated the media on Mitchell Johnson's foot injury.

India pacer Praveen Kumar was on Tuesday ruled out of the Test series in Australia due to a fractured rib that would take 5-6 weeks to heal.

New Zealand can rise to seventh in the Reliance ICC Test Championship table with a 2-0 win over Australia in the series that begins in Brisbane on Thursday.

Sri Lanka had a disappointing outing against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, but the team needs to put the series behind and look ahead to South Africa, batsman Mahela Jayawardene has said.

New Zealand batsmen Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder have denied suggestions that the relatively inexperienced Australian team will be vulnerable in the two-Test series.

Australia will field their most inexperienced bowling attack in decades against a New Zealand team chasing their first Test victory in Australia for 26 years at the Gabba on Thursday.

One of England's best players of spin bowling, Graham Thorpe, has said that spin is expected to dominate the five Tests against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Former captain Ricky Ponting gave a ringing endorsement of Australian cricket's new selection and squad policies on Monday, saying it should have happened a decade ago.

New Zealand is optimistic about putting in a good performance against Australia in the forthcoming Test series after three key batsmen - Jesse Ryder (175), Brendon McCullum (146) and captain Ross Taylor (138) scored big hundreds against Australia 'A' in a drawn four-day match.

Australian cricket team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris has said no decision had been made on whether Western Australian pace Mitchell Johnson should or should not undergo season-ending surgery on his injured toe.

Former Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill has strongly endorsed Cricket Australia (CA)'s decision to appoint South African Mickey Arthur as the new head coach of the national team.

New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder made a mockery of his critics who ridiculed him for being too fat to play cricket by smashing a world record 16 sixes against Australia A in Brisbane Sunday.

Brian Lara has said that the talented Darren Bravo will have to play with more maturity from now since he will be the main target of rival teams due to his sheer batting talent.

India spinner Pragyan Ojha has broken into the top 15 of the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers for the first time in his career following a high-quality performance in the third Test in Mumbai, which concluded yesterday.

Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly Saturday said off spinner Harbhajan Singh who has been dropped for the upcoming Australia tour will make a comeback sooner than later.

Australian opening batsman David Warner' readiness for Test cricket is a contentious issue among legends Mark Waugh, Tony Greig, Ian Healy and Stuart MacGill.

Former Australian batsman Mark Waugh has thrown his support behind under-pressure Ricky Ponting, saying that the 36-year-old still has a future in Test cricket despite a dismal run of form.

Reacting on the exclusion of Harbhajan Singh from the 17-man squad for the upcoming four-Test series in Australia, BCCI selection panel chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth said that the team had the talents of Pragyan Ojha, Ravichandran Ashwin and never had more than two spinners travelled Down Under.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq on Saturday hoped his team continued their winning streak during the tour of Bangladesh starting next week, after whitewashing Sri Lanka in all three formats of the game.

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni Saturday made it clear that he wants spinning tracks at home.

The third cricket Test between India and the West Indies ended in a dramatic draw on the fifth day at the Wankhede Stadium here Saturday.

The India selectors on Saturday named a 17-man squad to tour Australia for the Test series starting on 26 December in Melbourne.

A thunderous 146 of 115 balls by Kiwi batsman Brendon McCullum against Australia "A" is being seen as instructive ahead of next Thursday's first Test against Australia at the Gabba.

Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal, who was snubbed for the Test series against Sri Lanka, says that he will make all-out efforts to make a comeback into the national Test team.

The duel between Australia's newest sporting sensation Pat Cummins and Sachin Tendulkar, the biggest name in international cricket, will, barring injuries to either party, be a massive drawcard in this summer's marquee series against India.

Former Australian skipper and right-handed batsman Ricky Ponting has said he will retire only when his hard work does not yield good results, though he admitted he was racing against time to preserve his career.

The Cricket Australia National Selection Panel (NSP) has today announced a 12-man squad for the first Test against New Zealand starting at the Gabba on Thursday.

West Indies were leads by 189 runs, at stumps on the fourth day of the third cricket Test against India at the Wankhede Stadium here Friday.

Greg Chappell on Thursday cautioned selectors against choosing too many youngsters in the transitional Australian team and sacrificing experience.

Out of favor off-spinner Harbhajan Singh believes he has another five to six years of cricket left in him and hopes to be in the selectors mix when the Indian team is chosen for the Australia tour.

Pakistan on Thursday named left-arm paceman Mohammad Khalil to replace an injured Junaid Khan in the squad for the Bangladesh tour kicking off with a Twenty20 next week.

Gautam Gambhir Thursday said Ravichandran Ashwin's criticism of Wankhede pitch was uncalled for and that the off-spinner should be ready to bowl on any kind of wicket.

Legendary Sri Lankan batsman Sanath Jayasuriya on Thursday backed his country's team and captain Tillakaratne Dilshan, saying they needed time and space to recover after losing both Tests and the one-day series to Pakistan.

Cricket Australia has today advised that five players will be unavailable for selection for the first Test against New Zealand starting at the Gabba on 1 December.

Sachin Tendulkar stayed on course for an unprecedented 100th international century as India made a strong reply on the third day of the third and final Test against the West Indies on Thursday.

Australian hot-shot teenage bowler Pat Cummins said on Thursday he is confident a heel injury will not prevent him from playing his first Test at home against New Zealand next week.

Brendon McCullum hit the ground running with a belligerent century to begin New Zealand's tour of Australia today.

India's off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin lamented the lack of bounce on the Wankhede track as the West Indies piled up a huge 575 for nine in the first innings on the second day of the third Test here Wednesday.

Australian captain Michael Clarke has refused to give struggling veterans Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin his unconditional backing for selection in the upcoming series against New Zealand and India.

India's veteran batsman Rahul Dravid will be honoured with the 'Polly Umrigar Award for India's best cricketer of 2010-11' at the Board of Cricket Control for India (BCCI) Annual Awards slated for December 10 in Chennai.

Darren Bravo continued his dream run with a third century in four Tests to help the West Indies post a mammoth 575-9 on the second day of the third and final Test against India on Wednesday.

Former South African captain Shaun Pollock reckons that fast bowler Vernon Philander is a class act and well up to the demands of Test combat.

South Africa's national convenor of selectors, Andrew Hudson, says they won't change much for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, but hinted that some of the veteran players' future would be discussed after that series.

Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris insists that he is on track to overcome his hip problem to play in the two-Test series against New Zealand.

Australian batsman Ricky Ponting has said that he is not thinking of retirement and is determined to play in the upcoming Test series against New Zealand.

Australian captain Michael Clarke said Wednesday he was excited at the appointment of Mickey Arthur as new head coach while throwing his support behind the under-pressure Ricky Ponting.

Australian coach Mickey Arthur finds an uncanny similarity between teen sensation Pat Cummins and South African fast bowling star Dale Steyn.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq expressed his hope on Tuesday that there could soon be a resumption of Test matches between his country and India, stalled after the terrorists attacks on Mumbai in 2008.

After going through the grind on the first day of his Test debut against West Indies here Tuesday, India's fast bowler Varun Aaron said he needs to work hard to get wickets at the top level.

Australian captain Michael Clarke has thrown his support behind under-pressure Ricky Ponting, saying the former skipper still has a future at Test level despite a dismal run of form.

Cricket Australia medical staff today provided an update on the fitness of Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson following scans in Johannesburg today.

Spinner Ajantha Mendis and fast bowler Dilhara Fernando are back in Sri Lanka's test squad for the tour of South Africa next month, the selectors announced on Tuesday.

Australia batsman Michael Clarke has reckoned that pace bowler Pat Cummins should not be used in all formats of cricket to ensure he has a long career.

In-form Kirk Edwards and Darren Bravo capped an impressive West Indies batting performance with unbeaten half-centuries on the opening day of the third and final Test against India on Tuesday.

South Africa has slipped to third on the Reliance ICC Test Championship table following its drawn home series against Australia, which concluded in dramatic circumstances in Johannesburg on Monday.

Ajit Wadekar, former India captain, will be the recipient of the BCCI's Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award.

Australian captain Michael Clarke praised the courage and character of some of his under-pressure players after they chased down a target of 310 to share their two-match Test series with South Africa here on Monday.

Cricket Australia has appointed former South Africa and current West Australia coach Mickey Arthur as Australia head coach, a role that also involves him acting as a national selector.

Australia beat South Africa by two wickets in the second and final Test to draw the series after a gripping fifth day at the Wanderers on Monday.

Senior batsman VVS Laxman on Monday said that although they are keen on winning the series 3-0, the primary focus will be on playing to the best of their potential rather than thinking about the end result.

The Pakistan Cricket Board selection committee headed by Mohammad Illyas made only one change in the Test squad that recently played against Sri Lanka in the UAE with young pacer Mohammad Talha replacing Riaz for the tour starting from 26 November.

New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson has said that he is up for the challenge of facing Australia in a Test series in Australia.

Former South African swing bowler Fanie de Villiers is ready to help out-of-form Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson.

A year ago Pat Cummins was playing grade cricket. Now, at 18, he has emerged as Australia's next great fast bowling hope.

Teenage fast bowler Pat Cummins took six wickets on his debut as Australia kept alive their hopes of squaring the series on the fourth day of the second and final Test against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.

Imran Tahir broke a menacing partnership between Ricky Ponting and Usman Khawaja with what turned out to be the second last ball of the day at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Sunday to leave the second Sunfoil Test balanced on a knife edge.

India are looking to keep the pressure on the beleaguered West Indies in the third and final Test of their series starting in Mumbai on Tuesday as they seek to seal a 3-0 series whitewash.

Opener Phil Hughes has said that Australia is capable of chasing down any total put up by the South Africans in the second Test against South Africa, despite the fact their 30-run lead should have been more.

Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers shared an unbeaten century partnership as South Africa regained the initiative on the third day of the second and final Test against Australia at the Wanderers Stadium on Saturday.

Former Australian fast bowler Nathan Bracken, who is suing Cricket Australia over a career-ending injury, believes Australia must consider adopting a rotation policy to get the best out of Ryan Harris, tyro tearaway Pat Cummins and other pacers.

Indian star Sachin Tendulkar says he is not weighed down by expectations over his 100th century as he headed home to Mumbai for next week's final Test against the West Indies.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Saturday paid tribute to the life of Basil d'Oliveira who has passed away in England at the age of 80. His health had been deteriorating for some time.

Dale Steyn was the architect of another Australian batting collapse as South Africa ended the second day of the second test on Friday trailing by just 30 runs with all 10 second-innings wickets intact.

India's veteran batting pair of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have both made significant gains in the latest Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen following yet more impressive performances in careers that show no signs of slowing down.

The Cricket Australia National Selection Panel (NSP) has today announced a 12-man Australia A squad to face New Zealand in a tour game at Allan Border Field next week.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is gung-ho at former West Indies stumper Jeffrey Dujon calling him an 'all-round package' but hopes that he will be a specialist some day.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni Thursday expressed happiness with the performance of his bowlers, saying the team has a balanced attack.

New Zealand captain Ross Taylor admits that the upcoming tour of Australia is going to pose a pretty stern test for the Black Caps.

Darren Bravo, the young West Indies batsman, took several steps forward in his international career on Thursday as he made a masterful 136 in the second innings of the second Test at the historic Eden Gardens.

Jacques Kallis became the fourth leading run-scorer in tests as he passed 12,000 runs but South Africa ruined the party by being bowled out for 266 on the first day of the second test against Australia on Thursday.

Dashing left-hander Yuvraj Singh has been left out of India's squad for the third and final Test against West Indies to be held in Mumbai.

On this week's ICC World Radio Show, former Pakistan captain and one of the most destructive openers Saeed Anwar reflects on his career in which he scored 12,904 international runs, including 31 centuries and 68 half-centuries.

England Test captain Andrew Strauss is one of several players stepping up preparations for England's forthcoming Test series against Pakistan by joining England Performance Programme (EPP) camps in South Africa and India throughout December.

Cricket Australia today confirmed fast bowler Ryan Harris will return to Australia today after failing to prove his fitness ahead of the second Test against South Africa in Johannesburg.

Pragyan Ojha dismissed Darren Bravo after lunch to trigger a West Indies collapse as India claimed an innings and 15-run victory in the second test on Thursday to take a decisive 2-0 lead in the three game series.

West Indies' batsman Adrian Barath blamed the early morning start and the batsmen's poor application for the batting collapse in the first innings.

India's young left arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, who captured his 50th Test wicket Wednesday, is enjoying his partnership with offie Ravichandran Ashwin and says they complement each other.

Australia face a selection dilemma ahead of the second and final Test against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium starting on Thursday, although there are not many options for the touring team.

South African bowling coach Allan Donald expects the conditions at the Wanderers for the second Test against Australia to be different from the Cape Town pitch, and says that his bowlers would need to adapt accordingly.

The Wanderers Test in Johannesburg, the second of Australia's current tour of South Africa, will have added colour as it turns pink in support of the McGrath Foundation and the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA).

Uncapped fast bowler Trent Boult was included in the New Zealand cricket squad Wednesday for two tests against Australia next month.

Australia captain Michael Clarke has said that Mitchell Johnson is running out of last chances, as the left armer is all set to get a reprieve in the second Test in Johannesburg.

India strengthened their chances of winning the second Test and the series despite the West Indies' improved batting show after a first-innings collapse on the third day on Wednesday.

South African fast bowler Dale Steyn will find the "Bull Ring" at Johannesburg the ideal spot to try and equal Dennis Lillee's record for the fastest man to 250 Test wickets from Thursday.

India's stylish batsman V.V.S. Laxman showered praise on cricketing genius Sachin Tendulkar, who completed 22 years in international cricket Tuesday, saying it was an honour and privilege for him to play with the batting maestro.

New Zealand Cricket today announced a 13-man Test squad for the upcoming tour of Australia.

Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins says that he is looking forward to making the most of his Test debut, if he is chosen to play in the second Test against South Africa at Johannesburg from Thursday.

The Proteas expect Australia to come back hard at them in an effort to level the series at the Wanderers after the tourists came crashing down in a remarkable Test match in Cape Town last week.

Venkatsai Laxman and Mahendra Singh Dhoni led India's run-spree with superb centuries to put their team in command on the second day of the second Test against a hapless West Indies on Tuesday.

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar yet again failed to get the much awaited 100th international ton Monday, prompting West Indies coach Ottis Gibson to say that the high expectations of the Indian fans were putting pressure on him.

Indian batting great Rahul Dravid Monday surpassed England batsman Ian Bell to become the most prolific scorer in Tests played so far this year.

South African captain Graeme Smith has confirmed that leg-spinner Imran Tahir would not be dropped for the second and final Test in Johannesburg.

In rollicking form this season, India's star batsman Rahul Dravid Monday gave credit to coach Duncan Fletcher for helping him with good suggestions which have worked and said it was great to have the Englishman in the dressing room.

Australian assistant coach Justin Langer acknowledges that the country's Test cricket is nearing rock bottom after the team was bowled out for 47 in the Cape Town Test against South Africa. "When I made my debut in 1993 I came into a team of very senior players.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat announced on Monday that the inaugural World Test Championship will be held in 2017.

Rahul Dravid cracked a brilliant 119 to put India on course for a big total on the opening day of the second Test against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday.

The West Indian cricketers took to the field wearing black armbands in the second Test against India today as tribute to the victims of an accident in St Lucia where a minibus plunged off a cliff into the ocean killing 17 people.

The Sydney Cricket Ground will become only the third venue to host 100 Test matches when Australia play India in January.

Australian cricketing great Greg Chappell has advised the national selectors it is time to blood New South Wales batsman David Warner in Tests after the national squad's humiliation against South Africa at Newlands.

South African captain Graeme Smith has said that the schizophrenic nature of the first Test against Australia indicates that his team is yet to fully utilize their potential.

India gets off to a good start

The West Indies team has come out to support the ongoing polio eradication drive in India called "Bowl Out Polio".

India's lanky fast bowler Ishant Sharma is all buoyed up with his present role as the senior bowler of the team that has now three speedsters capable of striking up a pace of over 90 miles per hour.

Cricket Australia's National Selection Panel (NSP) today named New South Wales batsman David Warner as a replacement player in the Australian squad for the second Test against South Africa which begins in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Australian cricket team vice captain Shane Watson has said that the national squad is desperate to redeem themselves in the eyes of the cricket loving public after the humiliation in the first Test.

South Africa debutant Vernon Philander, who destroyed Australia with a phenomenal 5-15, which gave him overall figures of 8-78 for the match and left the tourists all out for 47, was inspired by none other than Shane Watson.

Fidel Edwards gets excited every time he prepares to step onto the field for the West Indies.

South Africa's Dale Steyn has become only the 20th bowler in history to break the 900-point mark barrier in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers after claiming six wickets in his side's eight-wicket win against Australia in Cape Town on Friday.

Adrian Barath is thinking long-term as he looks to get back on track after recovering from an injury sustained last month in Bangladesh.

The West Indies Cricket Board today announced the schedule for the Digicel Series 2012 and the picturesque Arnos Vale Cricket Ground will host the first three Digicel One Day Internationals when West Indies take on Australia in March and April next year.

India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, who is recovering from a hamstring and ankle injury, admits he can't go to Australia without any match practice like happened during the series in England.

Newlands pitch curator Evan Flint cannot be held culpable for creating any sort of "monster" in his surface for the first Test between South Africa and Australia, according to former South African fast bowler Craig Matthews.

Former Australian captain Mark Taylor couldn't believe that Australia were bowled out for 47 in the second innings against South Africa in the first Test at the Newlands in Cape Town.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday said Mohsin Khan will continue as interim coach for this month's tour of Bangladesh as a permanent replacement for Waqar Younis is yet to be finalised.

South African captain Graeme Smith ended a period of personal torment and hailed "one of the great comebacks in Test cricket history" after South Africa sealed an eight-wicket win by lunch on the third day of the first Test against Australia at Newlands on Friday.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla led their country to a remarkable comeback victory against Australia when the hosts won the topsy-turvy first test by eight wickets on Friday.

Selection Committee chairman K Srikkanth on Thursday lauded the youngsters, particularly the spin duo of R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha, for their good show in the first Test against the West Indies, and said retaining them in an unchanged squad is a reward for their performance.

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram praised Indian off-spinner R Ashwin for his excellent Test debut against the West Indies, in which he finished with a nine-wicket haul, but warned him against becoming complacent.

South African fast bowler Dale Steyn says that his World No.1 Test bowler ranking meant nothing when he ran up to bowl and he still had to earn his wickets.

South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher has become the first player to take 500 catches in Test cricket.

Australia's last wicket pair saved their team from being bowled out for the lowest total in Test history as both teams collapsed on an extraordinary second day of the first Test against South Africa at Newlands Thursday.

The India national selectors on Thursday retained the squad for the second Test against West Indies starting in Kolkata on Monday, 14 November.

Cricket Australia has appointed Rod Marsh and Andy Bichel as selectors.

England batting legend and batting coach Graham Gooch has received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from the University of East London, despite leaving school early to do an engineering apprenticeship and admitting that he was "never particularly academic as a youngster".

After six years in the wilderness, West Indies wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh is enjoying a new lease on his international career.

Australian captain Michael Clarke has said that the team's bowlers need to hit the right areas and the fielders need to hang on to the catches to stay alive in the first Test against South Africa at Cape Town.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy said the players are still in good spirits as they look ahead to the second Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Australian captain Michael Clarke hit an aggressive century to cancel out some superb fast bowling by South Africa's Dale Steyn on the first day of the first Test at Newlands here on Wednesday.

Australian batsman Ricky Ponting reckons that off-spinner Nathan Lyon can be the long-term answer to the country's spin-bowling dilemma.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy Wednesday said he was happy with the performance of his young team despite losing the first Test against India.

Soon-to-be-married Ravichandran Ashwin was delighted with his nine-wicket haul that helped India win the first Test against the West Indies on Wednesday.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni Wednesday requested the media not to put pressure on Sachin Tendulkar for scoring his 100th international century and said the milestone was round the corner.

Sachin Tendulkar slammed a solid 76 to help India score a comfortable five-wicket victory over the West Indies on Wednesday in the first test, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-game series.

New Zealand cricketer Jesse Ryder has decided to keep his bowling ambitions on hold, and is hoping to return to the pitch as early as next week.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who became the second best Indian debutant, said the Ferozeshah Kotla track didn't help him bagging a match haul of nine for 128 against the West Indies in the first Test here Tuesday.

Sachin Tendulkar of India on Tuesday became the first batsman in history to score 15,000 Test runs even as he moved towards his 100th international century.

South Africa finds itself in a must-win situation in the much-awaited two-Test series against Australia, starting in Cape Town on Wednesday, if it wants to retain its number-two position in the Reliance ICC Test Championship table.

A lack of first-class preparation shapes up as a major challenge for South Africa ahead of the first of two Test matches against Australia, starting at Newlands on Wednesday.

All great careers must come to an end, but former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has the opportunity to bow out on a high during the current two Test match series against South Africa.

Debutant Ravichandran Ashwin grabbed six wickets and Sachin Tendulkar completed 15,000 Test runs to boost India's hopes of winning the opening Test against the West Indies on Tuesday.

Australia are ready to seize on any rustiness in South Africa's recently inactive set-up in the first match of a two-Test series that both recognize as a challenging obstacle in their advance into a new era.

Australian opening batsman David Warner's push for a baggy green took a crucial step on Sunday when he scored a century in his first Sheffield Shield appearance of the season for New South Wales.

Australian batsman Michael Hussey has said that the team's warm-up win over South Africa A in Potchefstroom last week was the ideal preparation for the first Test, which starts in Cape Town on Wednesday.

South Africa A coach Vincent Barnes reckons that the Michael Clarke-led Australian team is "undercooked" for the two-match Test series against South Africa.