England have announced a 15-member squad for their South Africa Test tour, with Joe Root as captain. Liam Patterson-White earns his maiden call-up after an impressive County Championship season, while Jacob Bethell returns from injury. Shoaib Bashir and Ollie Pope miss out, while Dan Lawrence returns. The three-Test series begins in Johannesburg on December 17.

Smriti Mandhana will captain India across all three formats on their December tour of South Africa, featuring one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is. Deepti Sharma will be vice-captain in Tests and ODIs, while Shafali Verma will deputise in T20Is. Vaishnavi Sharma replaces Sneh Rana in the ODI squad, while three young players feature in T20Is.

The Mumbai Cricket Association has appointed Suryakumar Yadav as captain for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. SKY will aim to regain his place in the Indian team with strong performances. Shardul Thakur returns after recovering from a finger fracture, while Shivam Dube features in the squad. Suryansh Shedge and Tanush Kotian will miss the tournament due to India A duty.

KL Rahul’s batting position sparked debate after India’s second ODI against New Zealand, as Krishnamachari Srikkanth criticised sending Axar Patel ahead of him. Axar managed just seven runs, while Rahul looked comfortable. Srikkanth called it unfair to Rahul, but Sunil Gavaskar defended the move, explaining that promoting a left-hander can disrupt bowlers’ rhythm.

Mushfiqur Rahim has made history by becoming the first Bangladeshi batsman to cross the 7,000-run mark in Test cricket. This memorable feat was achieved during the ongoing second Test match against West Indies in Sylhet. Known for his remarkable consistency, Rahim's journey since debuting in 2005 showcases his dedication, making him the most seasoned Test cricketer for Bangladesh with a total of 107 appearances.

David Warner has shown unwavering support for Usman Khawaja in light of fresh discussions surrounding the notorious 2018 Sandpaper Gate scandal. Khawaja's forthcoming autobiography suggests that more team members were involved in the ball-tampering scandal than initially admitted. Warner has voiced concerns over the integrity of the investigation, particularly since Khawaja was not interviewed, despite his presence during the incident.

Ryan ten Doeschate opened up about a thoughtful exchange with Virat Kohli focused on refining his batting technique. After Kohli faced difficulties during the challenging Australia tour, ten Doeschate cautiously approached him to discuss areas for improvement. Despite no immediate breakthroughs, the dialogue underscored the significance of mindful coaching communication, showcasing how subtle guidance can impact player development over time.

New Zealand's batting coach Luke Ronchi expressed admiration for India's young pace bowlers during the ongoing ODI series. He noted their ability to adapt their bowling techniques to challenging conditions that help them excel. Ronchi emphasised the importance of maintaining a calm mindset among batters in such difficult situations. He pointed out that scoring rates should not overshadow the need for strategic adjustments.

KL Rahul's adaptability has made him India's dependable middle-order pillar in ODIs. From rebuilding innings to accelerating against different bowling attacks, the wicketkeeper-batter has mastered the art of switching roles. As India prepare for the challenges in South Africa, Rahul's ability to thrive across conditions and batting positions offers the team a crucial sense of stability.

Sunil Gavaskar recently commented on Virat Kohli's pursuit of 100 international centuries during an ODI match. Kohli contributed significantly to India's victory but fell short of his century with a score of 74 runs. Gavaskar suggested a teammate might help Kohli reach his milestone without affecting the team's chances of winning. He emphasized that Indian cricket fans are eager to see Kohli achieve this landmark.

Team India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Monday revealed that the management is also considering keeping Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar and Auqib Nabi back for the Test camp, and head coach Gautam Gambhir will soon make the final call. Kotak and bowling coach Morne Morkel will go with the Test team, whereas Gambhir will stay back with the ODI team.

New Zealand are experiencing significant challenges regarding player injuries ahead of the third ODI against India. Lockie Ferguson is ruled out of the final two ODIs due to a calf injury he sustained previously. Blair Tickner is also unable to play immediately and must follow a stand-down protocol after being hit while batting. Kristian Clarke has been included in the squad to provide additional fast bowling options.

If India see the keeper-bat as their World Cup No. 5, the time to give him ownership of that position is now instead of using Axar Patel

Marnus Labuschagne has been excluded from Australia's upcoming Test series against New Zealand following a series of disappointing performances. Chief selector George Bailey highlighted Labuschagne's challenges, noting his lengthy dry spell without a century in 49 innings. The selection for the initial Test will follow the Sheffield Shield matches, but Labuschagne's international journey still holds potential for resurgence in the future.

India has decided to retain pacers Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, and Auqib Nabi for Test preparations. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak stated that the ODI series conditions have been beneficial for the upcoming Test matches. A preparatory camp for Test players is scheduled to begin on November 11, which will help them get ready. Meanwhile, India leads the ODI series against New Zealand 2-0 after a close win in Wellington.