Rahul Dravid praises 'phenomenal' Virat Kohli for bringing 'culture of fitness, success'

Right before the big series against South Africa and amidst off-field controversies surrounding him, India’s captain Virat Kohli has earned word of high praise from the coach Rahul Dravid, who has been witness to Kohli’s emergence at the international level and then also rise to the top of the world.

Dravid has lauded Kohli’s decade long career as a “phenomenal” journey for both him and the Indian team and commended him for overhauling the Indian cricket team with a “culture” of fitness and success as a side.

“I was there when Virat Kohli made his test debut, it has been phenomenal, 10 years later, to see how he has grown as a cricketer and as a person, the match-winning performances, the way he lead the team – he has driven a culture of fitness, success and more,” he said on BCCI.tv.

Dravid was the first captain to lead an Indian team to a win in the longest format in South Africa in 2006. This time he has come to the rainbow nation in a different role but the objective is entirely the same as the men in blue are eager for an elusive Test series win in the country for the first time.

The series will take off on December 26 in Centurion and India although the hosts South Africa have a resounding record at the venue, the Virat Kohli-led side will not be short on any confidence and would believe they can conquer the hosts in their conditions.

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First ODI between USA & Ireland cancelled after Covid-19 case

The first ODI between USA and Ireland was cancelled after there was a Covid-19 positive case in the umpiring team, according to a Cricbuzz report. The clash was scheduled to take place on Sunday (December 26, 2021) in Florida. Apart from this, a net bowler who wasn’t a part of the squad has also tested positive from the USA camp. “The first One Day International in the Dafabet USA v Ireland Men’s International Series scheduled for Boxing Day has unfortunately been cancelled this evening due to a positive COVID case in the umpiring team of Match Officials during the ongoing testing as part of the series’ COVID managed environment,” a USA Cricket release said on Saturday (December 25). "Cricket Ireland will continue to work closely with USA Cricket, alongside the ICC, to ensure the remainder of the series can continue, if safe to do so," it added. The other three members of the umpiring have returned negative tests but have been ruled out because of being in close contact with the positive case. The remaining two matches will go ahead as scheduled (December 28 & 30) with an alternative match official group if required.

The Ashes | England make four changes ahead of third Test

England have made four changes in the playing XI ahead of the third Ashes Test in Melbourne. Jonny Bairstow, Jack Leach, Zak Crawley and Mark Wood have come in place of Ollie Pope, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns and Chris Woakes. “The Three Lions make four changes for the Boxing Day Test from the side that lost the second Test in Adelaide. Jonny Bairstow, Zak Crawley, Jack Leach and Mark Wood will replace Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Ollie Pope and Chris Woakes,” the ECB said in a release. The visitors have faced issues with their batting in the last two matches. Pope has only one double-figure score in the four innings that he has played so far in the series while Burns too hasn’t been impressive in the first two games and has 0, 13, 4 and 34 to his name. Broad on the other side, who played the pink-ball Test managed to pick two wickets in the match while Woakes has picked three wickets in four innings. In fact, he gave away more than 100 runs in the first innings of the Day-night Test in Adelaide. England are trailing the five-match series 0-2. England XI for third Ashes Test: Haseeb Hameed, Zak Crawley, Dawid Malan, Joe Root (c), Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wk), Mark Wood, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, James Anderson.

The Ashes | 3rd Test: Scott Boland set to make Test debut for Australia

Scott Boland is set to make his Test debut for Australia during the third clash of the Ashes series in Melbourne. Captain Pat Cummins who missed the pink-ball Test will also return to the side. Cummins had come in close contact with a Covid-19 positive person at a restaurant and needed to be isolated for seven days. The inclusion of Boland and return of the regular skipper Cummins will mean that Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser will miss out. "We earmarked him as a chance for here and the SCG in particular, we think his record is really well suited," said Cummins on Saturday (December 25). "His record speaks for itself here in domestic cricket. Home ground, having someone fresh like him who can perform straightaway were the big factors. He's really excited obviously - it's a dream for him to wear the Baggy Green, packed MCG on Boxing Day, it doesn't get any better." In 79 FC matches, Boland has bagged 272 wickets at an economy of 2.77 and an average of 26.03. The home side is presently leading the five-match series 2-0. Australia XI: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

Inspired of Proteas' glorious past against India, Dean Elgar looks to stop 'best side in the world'

South Africa skipper Dean Elgar is aware of the challenges his side are up against come the home Test series against India but he is not losing his sleep over their dream run in the format and their stature as a side in the last few years. Moreover, he has taken comfort in South Africa’s unbeaten record against them at home and said that playing in their own backyard gives them a competitive advantage. "I think it's pretty even-Stevens and playing at home gives us a slight advantage," Elgar said. They're the number one-ranked side in the world and we can't look past that. They've been there for quite a while and you have to give them credit for that. They are the best side in the world and there's a ranking system for a reason, but playing in our backyard gives us the upper hand,” Elgar said. There have been reports about the pace-friendly pitch at Centurion for the first Test but Elgar is not dismissive of the strengths and offerings that the left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj brings to the table. Elgar recognised the versatility of Maharaj and said that the spinner is quite capable of performing a dual role of both container and wicket-taker based on match situations and nature of the pitch and backed him to play an important role in helping South Africa. "I'm still a fan of playing a spinner and I think Keshav has performed a wonderful job for the team. He deserves his spot in the Test side and also the conditions here have actually changed and turned for the spinners. It is my home-ground and we don't have to worry about the ball not turning on the first three days,” Elgar said. “We have to set the game up for the last two days where one hopes the wicket will deteriorate and the spinner comes into play. Kesh has shown he can attack and contain and when the right time allows him, he can be a strike bowler.” South Africa cricket has been mired in various off-field controversies and Elgar would hope his players will rally around him to start off the series on a promising note. They have an indomitable record at SuperSport Park in Centurion and Elgar would hope their dominance over both India and at the venue will remain intact after the end of the series.