Michael Clarke likely to play in third Test vs Sri Lanka

Australia captain Michael Clarke is likely to play in the third Test against Sri Lanka beginning Thursday after completing a lengthy fitness test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

Usman Khawaja is on standby in case Clarke's hamstring problems rule him out of the match. Australia have already clinched the three-match series with victories in the first two Tests at Hobart and Melbourne. 

Paceman Peter Siddle said the third Test would be an emotional one because of the death of former England captain and commentator Tony Greig last Saturday, and also the imminent Test retirement of Michael Hussey.

PCB may stop Pak players to participate in BPL

Furious after Bangladesh refused to tour Pakistan citing security fears, the PCB has hinted that it will not release its players for the Twenty20 Premier League there.

In a statement issued Monday night, the Pakistan Cricket Board indicated that Bangladesh's refusal to send its team to Pakistan has affected relations between the two boards.

"Now for the 2013 edition of BPL, we have to see the commitments and engagements of our players before releasing them for the tournament. To associate the release the Pakistani players with Bangladesh tour to Pakistan does not hold any merit," the statement said.

Cricket Australia rejects criticism of rotation system

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has strongly backed the controversial rotation system.
Speaking to News Limited, Sutherland said that there was a need to understand why rotation was necessary and beneficial.
"It's there to provide sustained success for the Australian cricket team," he claimed.
Sutherland said that Cricket Australia is always looking at the bigger picture.
According to the Age, he said that it is extremely important to keep the bowlers fit and give them their breaks in a timely manner.

South Africa seek to build on top spot

South Africa will seek to consolidate their top place on the world Test rankings when they play New Zealand in a two-match series starting at Newlands on Wednesday.

The series shapes up as a mismatch, with eighth-ranked New Zealand hit by injuries and the withdrawal of former captain and star batsman Ross Taylor, but coach Gary Kirsten said the South Africans would not take victory for granted.

Virat Kohli only Indian cricketer named in 'Fairfax 2012 World Team of Year'

Virat Kohli is the only Indian cricketer to find a place in the final XI of Fairfax Media team of 2012.

Just four nations have been represented in the final XI of the team of 2012.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, just one player from India, cricket's commercial and political heartland, has been selected, because of that country's slide into complacency when it comes to Test cricket.

South Africa's adaptable Faf du Plessis made the list for his end year surge against Australia in the recently concluded Test series.

Sri Lanka motivated by winless record in Australia

Sri Lankan cricketers have said they will go into the third and final Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) this week motivated by the fact that they have another chance to claim a historic first Test win in Australia.

Sri Lanka are walking wounded and could be forgiven for losing interest ahead of the third and final Test after suffering an innings and 201-run thrashing at the MCG to go 2-0 down.

Pakistan calls Bangladesh decision 'inappropriate'

Pakistan on Tuesday criticised Bangladesh's decision to abandon a planned cricket tour over security fears and threatened to bar its own players from playing in a Bangladeshi league.

The two nations were scheduled to play a Twenty20 and a one-day international in Lahore this month, albeit pending security clearance.
But on Monday Bangladesh shelved what would have been the first international cricket tour of Pakistan since militants wounded seven members of the Sri Lankan team and their assistant coach in Lahore in 2009.