Steve Smith said Sunday he felt obligated to step up and replace David Warner as Australia's Test opener, but also admitted it suited him because he got bored waiting to come in at four.

Former Bangladesh batter Hannan Sarker reminisced a harrowing experience he had 22 years ago when he visited the Potchefstroom, South Africa today.

“This is like sending lambs to slaughter,” Dujon told the Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner

Smith got a rousing endorsement from teammate Marnus Labuschagne, who believes Smith would average in the 60s as an opener

“After a few sleepless nights wondering if I am making the right decision, I have decided to retire from red-ball cricket,” Klaasen said in a statement

Warner, who hit a 57 in his final Test innings, received a rousing goodbye from the thousands of Australians present at the SCG

Bangladesh's position in the rankings remained unchanged at ninth

South Africa captain Dean Elgar won the toss and elected to bat first in the second and final Test against India amid glorious sunshine at Newlands on Wednesday as the hosts seek a series sweep against the top ranked side in the world.

Pat Cummins took a five-wicket haul for the third successive innings as Australia dismissed a defiant Pakistan for 313 on the opening day of the third Test on Wednesday to allow David Warner a brief evening cameo with the bat in his final match.

On the eve of his 86th and final Test match, Dean Elgar said he was "sad" South Africa would be sending a weakened team to play two Test matches in New Zealand in March.

The third Test, which begins on Wednesday, will see the debut of 21-year-old opener Saim Ayub

Cricket South Africa (CSA) named seven uncapped players, including skipper Neil Brand, for next month's two-Test tour of New Zealand

Bangladesh’s previous highest tally of Tests in a calendar year was in 2022, when they played 10 Tests

David Warner has been given the hometown farewell from Test cricket he craved after the opening batsman was named in an unchanged Australia line-up for the third and final Test against Pakistan in Sydney next week.

South African fast bowler Gerald Coetzee has withdrawn from the second Test against India after developing pelvic inflammation during the first test win in Centurion this week.

Pakistan coach Mohammad Hafeez said technology was "putting a curse" on cricket after seeing Mohammad Rizwan dismissed following a lengthy review in the visitors' 79-run defeat to Australia in the second Test on Friday.

A fired-up Pat Cummins bagged five wickets and 10 in the match to earn Australia a nail-biting 79-run win in the second Test and clinch the series against a battling Pakistan Friday.

Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon put Australia in the driving seat of the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday to leave Pakistan tottering at 194-6, still 124 runs behind on day two.

The start of play was delayed by 30 minutes because of damp patches on the pitch

Former South Africa captain Dean Elgar is set to retire after the two-match Test series at home against India.