SYDNEY: Brad Haddin once again rode to Australia's rescue with a quickfire 59 to help drag his side from 97 for five just after lunch to 201 without further loss at tea on the opening day of the fifth Ashes test on Friday.

BHUBANESWAR: Cricket lovers of the country may miss out on some matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year as the seventh edition of the league is likely to clash with the 2014 general elections.

BANGALORE: Out of the Indian team for nearly two years, pacer Praveen Kumar, who is recovering from a shoulder injury which he suffered while bowling at the India 'A' net session here in September, has set his sights on the Vijay Hazare limited overs tournament this season to return to competitive cricket.

DURBAN: The light kept falling as M Vijay continued to shine. The Chennai opener has been under a bit of pressure of late, but his unbeaten innings of 91 might just act as the perfect breather.

MELBOURNE: Australia opener Chris Rogers was left bleeding from the head from a Stuart Broad delivery but recovered to post a fighting half-century and push Australia to 96 for three at tea on day two of the fourth Ashes Test on Friday.

DURBAN: Ravi Shastri pointed out some amazing stats on Thursday morning. Jacques Kallis' batting average is 55.12 in 165 Tests, which is higher than Rahul Dravid's (52.23 in 164 games), while in bowling he averages 32.53 — the same as that of Zaheer Khan (32.56). While Kallis has taken 292 Test wickets, Zak completed his 300 the other day.

MELBOURNE: A miserly Australian attack captured two wickets to leave England 135 for three at tea on the opening day of the fourth Test in Melbourne on Thursday but suffered a blow when all-rounder Shane Watson limped off the ground with a groin injury.

MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia says a world record crowd of 90,831 has attended day one of the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

There is a touch of preposterousness to the recent alchemy of the Kingsmead pitch. Once considered the fastest in the country, the pitch has shred all its devilry in the recent times. Some now call it the slowest wicket in South Africa.

 England captain Alastair Cook believes the fourth Ashes Test starting in Melbourne on Thursday is the perfect stage for his battered side to salvage some pride and work towards ending what has been a miserable series on a high.