Star Zimbabwe batter Gary Ballance was ruled out of the decisive second Test against the West Indies in Bulawayo on Sunday due to a migraine headache.

The world number one side were crushed by an innings and 132 runs inside three days on a bone-dry pitch

West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul became the first opening pair to bat in excess of 100 overs in an innings in the 21st century during the first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Monday.

Australia's injury concerns continue to mount ahead of the first Test against India with key pacer Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the opening match in Nagpur.

Australia opener Usman Khawaja missed the team's flight to India on Wednesday for their four-test tour due to a visa delay, Cricket Australia (CA) said.

Australia opener David Warner has expressed concern for the future of Test cricket, with emerging players focusing on "short term" interests as lucrative T20 leagues proliferate globally.

South Africa dug deep to deny Australia a 3-0 series sweep with a battling draw in the rain-disrupted third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday, finally finding some fight on the final day of a miserable tour.

Australia closed in on winning the second Test and the series against South Africa on Wednesday after Alex Carey struck a maiden century to leave them in a commanding position.

Babar Azam knocked a fighting hundred and the recalled Sarfaraz Ahmed hit a half century to guide Pakistan to a healthy 317-5 on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand in Karachi on Monday.

India batter Virat Kohli gifted his jersey to Bangladesh all-rounder Mehedi Hasan Miraz at the end of the second Test in Mirpur on Sunday.

Australian seamer Scott Boland was Sunday confirmed to start the Boxing Day second Test in Melbourne ahead of an "underdone" Josh Hazlewood, while South Africa suggested they could shake up their batting line up.

Australia opener David Warner has hinted he will quit Test cricket after next year's Ashes series in England but plans to continue playing white-ball cricket at least until the 2024 Twenty20 World Cup.

Opening batsman Marcus Harris was Tuesday recalled to Australia's Test squad for two clashes against the West Indies, while Travis Head retained his place despite poor recent form.

West Indies all-rounder Roston Chase and middle-order batsman Shamarh Brooks were on Saturday recalled to the squad for their two-test series in Australia, while former captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul's son Tagenarine earned his maiden call-up.

Bangladesh quick Rubel Hossain took to social media to announce his retirement from Test cricket today.

Ollie Robinson returned his best England figures before South Africa hit back in the third and deciding Test at the Oval on Saturday after cricket paid its respects to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.

Evergreen James Anderson took three wickets as England's seamers steered their side to victory over South Africa by an innings and 85 runs just before the close of the third day of the second Test at Old Trafford on Saturday.

South Africa skittled England out for 149 on Friday to win the first Test by an innings and 12 runs inside three days at Lord's and go 1-0 up in the three-match series.

Spinner Jack Leach says England will continue to play their positive brand of cricket despite a late flurry of runs from South Africa that moved the touring side into a commanding position on the second day of the first Test at Lord’s.

Former India captain Kapil Dev has called on cricket's governing body (ICC) to take steps to protect the Test and one-day international formats amid the global growth of lucrative domestic Twenty20 competitions.