India's Shubman Gill said it was a "huge honour" to lead his side for the country's 600th Test when they face Sri Lanka Saturday in the opening match of a two-Test series.

Australia captain Pat Cummins has confirmed the XI his side will use for the opening ICC World Test Championship contest against Bangladesh in Darwin.

According to Cricinfo, the next WTC cycle is likely to feature all 12 full members in a single division after plans to split nations into two tiers failed to gain widespread support.

Former England captain Michael Atherton said "everyone knows the WTC in its present guise is flawed".

The 30-year-old Rabada can resume playing for his country in June, after being named in South Africa's squad for the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's from June 11 to 15.

Only once before in their history have South Africa won more Tests in succession, when they claimed nine victories on the trot between 2002 and 2003.

Australia surged into a June showdown against South Africa at Lord's with a six-wicket victory in the fifth Test against India in Sydney on Sunday.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan, speaking on Fox Cricket, claimed that South Africa reached the final "on the back of beating pretty much nobody."

South African coach Shukri Conrad brushed off criticism about the uneven scheduling of the World Test Championship after his team qualified for the final.

The Test had a finish more like that of a Twenty20 match as the tailenders delivered success after South Africa had slumped dramatically before lunch and seen Pakistan on the verge of success.

Dane Paterson took five for 61 -– his second five-wicket haul in successive Tests -– and debutant Corbin Bosch took four for 63.

The pink-ball Test in Adelaide between Australia and India saw tempers flare during a high-stakes five-match series with significant World Test Championship implications.

Since David Warner retired in January, no firm contender had emerged to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order in the blockbuster series starting in Perth on November 22.

India now trail Australia, and their percentage points (PCT) is dangerously close to Sri Lanka and New Zealand, who are in third and fourth spot respectively. With a five-Test series against Australia in Australia coming up, India's place in the top two could be in jeopardy.

The first Test will begin on Jan. 29 and the second will commence on Feb. 6. The teams will also meet in a One-Day International on Feb. 13 at an as yet unnamed venue.

Through three World Cup titles, two World Test Championship (WTC) finals, and a 12-year Test series winning streak on home soil, Kohli and Sharma, often together, have been integral to every major Indian success of the last 17 years.

Part of the World Test Championship (WTC), Bangladesh’s first of the two-Test series against hosts India will begin at 10:00 am.

It will be the first time Lord's will host the one-off test played between the two highest-ranked sides in the five-day format, with previous finals taking place at Southampton's Rose Bowl and The Oval in London.

In addition, Shakib Al Hasan was fined 10% of his match fee and a demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct. Shakib threw the ball at Rizwan in the 33rd over of the second innings after the latter had backed away.

Despite starting the cycle with back-to-back Test wins, over Afghanistan and New Zealand respectively, Bangladesh are going to need everything to go their way if they are to reach a first World Test Championship final.