India promised to fight back hard after a devastating innings and 32 run defeat to South Africa when they meet again in the second, and last, test of their short series next week.

Mitchell Marsh scored 96 in a partnership of 153 with Steve Smith to dig Australia out of a deep hole and help steer them to a lead of 241 over Pakistan at the end of the third day of the second test.

Two mouth-watering clashes in and around Mumbai this month involving the “Big Three” have whetted the appetite for more test matches in the women’s game and at least one cricket administrator has said he is pushing the idea.

Cricket got a glimpse into its future during a momentous 2023 but its present continues to be dominated by Australia, who bagged the test and 50-overs world titles under Pat Cummins’s inspiring leadership.

The freedom of impending retirement from the test arena allowed South Africa opener Dean Elgar to produce one of his best innings as his unbeaten 140 handed the hosts an 11-run lead over India after day two of the first test at Centurion.

Pakistan threatened to take charge of the second test after dismissing Australia for 318 and were making a good start to their reply but were reduced to 194 for six at stumps after the intervention of home skipper Pat Cummins.

South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada shrugged off any ring rust after a long absence from the test arena to claim a five-wicket haul and put South Africa in a strong position against India in the first test.

Australia opener Usman Khawaja has again accused the International Cricket Council (ICC) of double standards after being refused permission to display a dove of peace on his bat during the Boxing Day test.

Australia named an unchanged XI for the Boxing Day test against Pakistan, but the touring side replaced veteran stumper Sarfaraz Ahmed with Mohammad Rizwan for the second match of the three-test series.

England have appointed former West Indies captain Kieron Pollard to their coaching set-up for next year’s T20 World Cup.

India secured their first Test win over Australia with an eight-wicket victory in a one-off match in Mumbai.

India go in search of history when they face hosts South Africa in two tests starting in Pretoria, hoping to claim a first ever series victory in a country where they have come close before only to fall agonisingly short.