Newsmen Sports Desk

Head's standout performances in various formats have caught Ponting's eye, notably his remarkable innings during this year's World Test Championship final against India at The Oval, where he scored a stellar 163 in the first innings.

However, Brazil, previously holding the third position, experiences a shift down to fifth place due to consecutive defeats against Colombia and Argentina.

Following Australia's victory against hosts India in the ODI World Cup title clash, a picture surfaced on captain Pat Cummins' Instagram showing Marsh with his feet placed on the trophy, sparking a social media uproar.

With the IPL's media rights surging from INR 6,000 crore to INR 48,000 crore, it has secured its place as the second-most lucrative sporting league globally, following the National Football League (NFL).

While Marsh has considerable experience playing Big Bash League (BBL) games at the Optus Stadium for Perth Scorchers, this Test match marks his inaugural appearance in the 60,000-seater stadium for Test cricket, particularly on a drop-in pitch.

Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli requested a break from the white-ball leg of the tour, opting to participate solely in the two Tests scheduled from December 26-30 at Centurion and from January 3-7, 2024, at Cape Town.

Warner had earlier considered retiring after the third Test against Pakistan in January 2024, aiming for a farewell match at the SCG.

This setback prompted Stokes, aged 32, to participate solely as a specialist batter in the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup held in India, where he returned from his retirement from the format.

Remarkably, Williamson reached this landmark in his 95th Test match, completing the feat in 16 innings fewer than Kohli, who accomplished his 29 Test centuries in 111 innings against West Indies. Notably, Williamson's achievement also puts him on par with the legendary Don Bradman, who had amassed 29 centuries from 52 Test matches at the time of his retirement.

Kohli has communicated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he won't be participating in the white-ball matches during the South Africa tour. The tour kicks off with a three-match T20I series, followed by a three-game ODI series, culminating in the Boxing Day and New Year Tests at Centurion and Cape Town.