India reached 311 for the loss of four wickets at stumps on the first day of the second Test against Australia, which started in Brisbane on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka claimed a commanding 87-run victory in the seventh One Day International (ODI) against England, played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo to win the series 5-2.
Australia traditionally begin their home summer at the 'Gabba in Brisbane, as it's their fortress, but tragedy this year has seen it pushed back a bit, and now they will contest the second match against India there.
The West Indies have made it to South Africa. They've played some warm-up cricket and haven't gone home, which will be a relief for ticket holders heading to the first Test at Centurion on 17 December, where the Proteas have lost only one Test in 14 years.
The Big Bash League has grown in popularity with both fans and overseas players in the four years since it began, and this year's edition promises some exciting clashes, with big names from around the globe adding to the appeal.
The 'Gabba is a fortress for Australia, as they have not lost here since 1988 when they faced those fearsome West Indians. The deck is suited to pace more than Adelaide was, so we can expect a strong pace attack.
The Proteas have a formidable record here, with a run of 13 Tests without defeat only broken by the extreme pace of Mitchell Johnson. Given the sides' recent form, it's not outlandish to think the Proteas could avoid day five's rain altogether.
Pakistan won the third ODI against New Zealand by 147 runs in Sharjah on Sunday, with a century from Ahmed Shehzad providing the backbone for the nearly-400 the hosts posted.
Australia pulled off a massive victory, by 48 runs, in the first Test against India in Adelaide, taking all 10 Indian wickets on day five thanks to a seven-fer by Nathan Lyon, negating Virat Kohli's century.
The Cape Cobras lost only one of their ten league matches and made no mistake in proving their dominance of the 2014/15 Ram Slam Twenty20, as they downed the visiting Knights by 33 runs.
Kumar Sangakkara played his final ODI at his home ground of Pallekele on Saturday, judging from the prolonged waving to the fans, and he did so on the back of a century that gave his side the win by 90 runs.
New Zealand successfully chased down 252 in the second ODI in Sharjah to complete a four-wicket victory over Pakistan and square the five-match series 1-1.
Sri Lanka extended their ODI series lead over England to three-one on Sunday, winning the fourth ODI by six wickets in Colombo thanks to an all-round effort from their top order.
Day four of the first Test between Australia and India lost the feeling of goodwill that had characterised the first three days, as tensions erupted a few times as Australia built a lead of 363 by stumps.
A century from India's stand-in skipper, Virat Kohli, kept his side in the hunt on day three of the first Test against Australia in Adelaide, though still 148 runs behind.
The fifth ODI between England and Sri Lanka will continue on Thursday after play was called off with Sri Lanka having been dismissed for 239 in the first innings.
Jos Buttler and Joe Root combined in a vital partnership to lead their side to a five-wicket win in the third ODI against Sri Lanka, pulling the series back to two-one.
Australia batted with resolve and aggression on day one of the first Test against India in Adelaide, reaching stumps on 354 for six thanks to a century from David Warner and an unbeaten half ton from Steve Smith.
Haris Sohail and Shahid Afridi kept things tight with the ball before combining for a superb seventh-wicket stand as Pakistan beat New Zealand by three wickets in the opening ODI in Dubai.
The morning of day one in Adelaide will likely have a sombre, yet anticipatory, air about it, as the teams pay tribute to Phillip Hughes while also looking to play good, aggressive cricket on his home ground.
This venue is a good one for batting first, as long as you make the most of it. Toss winners rarely choose to bowl, with skippers keen to get the runs on the board before the deck slows down. But by 'slow' we don't mean sub-continental.
Pakistan and New Zealand have not faced each other in a One Day International in nearly four years, the last time was at the World Cup in early 2011, so this series could be an interesting barometer for the next event.
The pace of Sohail Tanvir and Mohammad Irfan, combined with the batting prowess of Sarfraz Ahmed, saw Pakistan to a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the first T20 in Dubai on Thursday.
