On a frustrating evening for players and spectators alike, the second Twenty20 International between England and South Africa was abandoned as a no result with just five more balls required to confirm a legitimate match.
This came despite the game being reduced to nine overs per side following a prolonged spell of rain that delayed the start by two hours, after which South Africa reached 77 for five.
After much deliberation, it has been decided that Mohammad Hafeez is this week's Cricket World Player of the Week. At first glance, it may not be an obvious choice, but, in each of the matches that Pakistan played last week, Hafeez made a more than useful contribution.
The opening Twenty20 International between England and South Africa followed a similar pattern to that which the final One-Day International had on Wednesday. England posted a much below par total after batting first; took three early wickets to provide false hope; and then watched as South Africa plodded home with time and wickets to spare.
A cricket video for Cricket World TV about the latest cricket news as we discuss the upcoming Twenty20 Internationals this weekend which see Australia, Pakistan, England, South Africa, India and New Zealand all in action.
South Africa and England tied their One-Day International series 2-2 after South Africa pulled off a seven-wicket win in the fifth and final match at Trent Bridge.
After England batted poorly to be bowled out for 182, they hit back with three quick wickets but Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers guided South Africa home with an unbroken 172-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Jonathan Trott has a fracture to his right hand that will rule him out of any further cricket in the 2012 season, including the conclusion to Warwickshire's season.
He suffered the injury during the fourth One-Day International against South Africa and was rested for the final match. X-rays came back all clear but an MRI scan revealed the fracture.
A cricket betting video for Cricket World TV about the latest cricket betting odds as John Pennington and Alastair Symondson look ahead to the England v South Africa 5th One-Day International at Trent Bridge and the three-match Twenty20 International series that follows.
England will finish the series as the number one ranked ODI side in the world but they will be looking to finish with a flourish, and on the back of strong performances from Steven Finn, Ravi Bopara, Eoin Morgan and Ian Bell, stand a good chance of taking the series at Trent Bridge.
It is the absorbing second Test match between New Zealand and India in Bangalore that provides this week's winner. Ross Taylor hit a sublime 113 in the visitors' total of 365, but that effort was bettered by Virat Kohli, who scored 154 runs across two innings to help India to a series clean sweep.
John Pennington assesses some of the arguments he's seen surrounding the identity of Andrew Strauss's successor at the top of the order. South Africa measure their rate of progress and development between cycles of series between them and Australia. Increasingly, England are being forced to rebuild after each home Test series against the Proteas. In 2003, Michael Vaughan took over as captain following Nasser Hussain's retirement and five years on it was Pietersen who took over when Vaughan stepped aside.
England completed a six-wicket victory over South Africa to move into an unassailable 2-1 lead in the One-Day International series at Lord's.
Another impressive performance in the fourth match saw them hold South Africa to 220 for eight at the home of cricket before chasing down their target with more than three overs to spare.
A batting collapse cost South Africa a par score in the second ODI at The Oval. England then chased down the 212 that they needed for victory with relative ease to retake the number one ranking.
South Africa had got off to an excellent start after winning the toss and electing to bat, with Hashim Amla, again in fine form, and Graeme Smith putting on 50 for the first-wicket. Amla played the dominant hand and was at his fluent best, and while he and Smith were at the crease South Africa looked like they could make 300.
The retirement of Andrew Strauss announced in a press conference today will inevitably spark questions about the door opening for Kevin Pietersen's reintroduction to the international set-up; a door which had previously appeared closed for the significant future, writes John Pryor.
A brilliant century from Hashim Amla gave South Africa their second number one ranking in as many weeks as they beat England by 80 runs in Southampton. Robin Peterson and Wayne Parnell starred with the ball as South Africa successfully defended their total of 287 for five, which had been built upon an opening stand of 89 between Graeme Smith and Amla.
Not for the first time in Cardiff, the weather intervened to frustrate England and South Africa as the opening One-Day International was abandoned.
After several delays and recalculations, England reached 37 without loss in 5.3 of 23 overs before the rain returned and the officials simply ran out of time and the game was called off.
This week John Pryor looks back through time at some of the most famous dropped catches in cricket history. The number one Test match ranking changed hands in dramatic fashion this weekend; needing to win the final match of the series versus South Africa in order to hold on to top spot England went into the final day still needed 329 runs with only eight wickets remaining. Sadly for the home side it was not to be and they fell just 51 runs short of their target. Understandably, areas in which England failed to perform have been highlighted within the England setup and in the media.
The touring South Africans beat Gloucestershire by three wickets in a one-day game as part of their preparations for the One-Day International series against England.
Gloucestershire were bowled out for 261 with Dan Housego scoring a century but South Africa reached their target with an over to spare.
England have named their squads for the World Twenty20, which begins on 18th September, and for the One-Day International series against South Africa, which begins on 24th August.
There are no major surprises in either squad, with Kevin Pietersen missing out due to the ongoing fall-out from the text affair and Stuart Broad being rested for the ODI series against South Africa. Luke Wright and Michael Lumb return to help defend the World T20 which they helped win in 2010.
South Africa gained the number one ranking in Test cricket by beating England by 51 runs on the final day of an enthralling third and final Test at Lord's.
England did not let the symbolic mace disappear from their grasp lightly, half-centuries from Jonathan Trott, Jonny Bairstow and Matthew Prior ensuring the Proteas fully earned their deserved victory.
Strauss is known to be a wine lover and Laithwaite’s Wine worked with the Professional Cricketer’s Association (PCA) to choose wine styles he would particularly like. Laithwaite’s provided 50 bottles of white wine – a Limited Edition Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011, which Strauss enjoyed at a recent Laithwaite’s Wine tasting and 50 bottles of a Bordeaux red – Chateau le Coin 2010. Laithwaite’s Wine also supplied 22 bottles of Laithwaite’s Premier Cru champagne – a celebratory bottle for each century scored and for his 100th cap.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has received an apology from Kevin Pietersen and an admission that he did send "provocative" text messages to members of the South African team.
Kevin Pietersen has said in his apology: "I did send what you might call provocative texts to my close friends in the SA team. I apologise to Straussy and the team for the inappropriate remarks at the press conference and for the texts. I truly didn't mean to cause upset or tension particularly with important games at stake."
The farce surrounding Kevin Pietersen's omission from the third Test at Lord's has reached a new level with the news that Stuart Broad has released a statement denying any involvement with the parody Kevin Pietersen Twitter account.
In the statement, he accepts to being a friend of the creator of the account, but denies playing "any role in the creation of this account or providing any information regarding Kevin Pietersen".
Former England international Paul Nixon has been enjoying a busy summer promoting his autobiography Keeping Quiet, but he has also found time to work hard as one of a number of ex-players involved in the Andrew Flintoff Cricket Academy camps.
Backed by Activate Sport and Co-Operative, they are providing youngsters with the opportunity to try out the game, learn new skills and benefit from the wealth of knowledge that Nixon and the likes of Flintoff, Luke Sutton and Dean Headley can offer from their experience within the game.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) Team Manager Dr Mohammad Moosajee has released a statement distancing his team from the Kevin Pietersen text message controversy.
Pietersen has been left out of England's Test squad for the third and final game at Lord's amid allegations that he sent text messages criticising England players and management staff to South African players during the second Test at Headingley.
As Arnold Schwarzenegger and most of the world watched Mo Farah clinch his second Olympic gold medal in a week at London's Olympic Stadium, Kevin Pietersen chose that precise moment to announce that he would be back, writes John Pennington.
In a video posted to YouTube, he announced he would be making himself available once again for all three formats of international cricket, responding to plenty of speculation that came about following remarks he made in a press conference at Headingley.
Kevin Pietersen has been axed from England's squad for the third Test match at Lord's which begins on Thursday, with Jonny Bairstow recalled.
The main sticking point appears to have been Pietersen's failure to prove that he did not send disparaging text messages about his England team-mates to South African players during the Headingley Test match.
Kevin Pietersen has announced in an interview posted to YouTube that he is now available for England selection in all forms of the game.
In an unexpected move and on the eve of the announcement of England's squad for the third Test at Lord's, Pietersen said, "I want to commit to all forms of cricket for England because I love playing for England. Money is not everything to me. I love winning for England. I loved the runs I scored at Headingley."
The bowlers prospered on the second and final day of the South Africans' tour match against Derbyshire at the County Ground. The tourists made 365 for four before declaring in their first innings yesterday, but opted to give their lower order a run out today and shook hands at 168 for seven in their second innings.
AB de Villiers retired on 97, while JP Duminy was caught and bowled by former Yorkshire all-rounder David Wainwright for 69. Faf du Plessis then marked his South African red-ball debut with a characteristically aggressive unbeaten 76-ball 68, while Albie Morkel added an equally aggressive 49 off 57 balls before the declaration came with the tourists on 365 for four.
John Pryor highlights and discusses a range of the most entertaining and controversial tweets of the week by cricketers and cricket pundits. This week's range of subjects includes Kevin Pietersen, the Olympics and more Kevin Pietersen.
Twitter this week was dominated by reactions to Kevin Pietersen's controversial statement that the next Test Match at Lord's might well be his final one for England.
England and South Africa drew the second Test in Headingley after an enthralling final day in which both sides pushed hard for the win but were ultimately foiled.
South Africa advanced to 258 for nine before declaring, setting England a target of 253 in 39 overs. England then closed the day on 130 for four having given the target serious thought before realising that discretion was the better part of valour on this occasion.
South Africa have been beset by injuries to three of their top-order batsmen with Graeme Smith, Alviro Petersen and Jacques Kallis all struggling during the ongoing second Test against England at Headingley.
Petersen has a grade one hamstring strain, Smith jarred his knee fielding on day three and Kallis has suffered a recurrence of lower back spasms.
Albie Morkel has been ruled out of the second Test against England, which begins on Thursday at Headingley, with an ankle injury. He was unlikely to come into contention for selection in any event as South Africa will be loath to change their team from the one that won so convincingly at The Oval. Fellow all-rounder Faf du Plessis has been called up as cover
England have made one change to their squad from that which lost the first Test against South Africa at The Oval so comprehensively. Ravi Bopara has been ruled out for what the ECB describe as "personal reasons" with former Leicestershire and current Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor called into the 13-man squad for Headingley.
Worcestershire ended their match against the South Africans by having had the better of the draw as they went past the tourists' first innings and then reduced them to 67 for four in their second before the teams shook hands.
The tourists had had the better of the day's opening exchanges, however, as Worcestershire resuming on 70 for three, lost Neil Pinner for the addition of only ten runs to a short ball from Vernon Philander.
In his latest column, Daniel Grummitt writes that England's bowlers were down on pace at The Oval and asks whether the punishing international schedule is to blame.
South Africa have rested all-rounder Jacques Kallis and included Dean Elgar in their 15-man squad for the five-match One-Day International series against England which begins in Cardiff on 24th August.
There can only be one possible winner of this week's award following South African batsman Hashim Amla's record-breaking 311 not out in the First Test against England. He was the first South African to make a Test triple hundred, going past AB de Villiers' previous best of 278, and made the highest score in a Test in England since Graham Gooch hit 333 not out against India in 1990.
South Africa underlined their dominance of the final four days of the opening Test against England at the Kia Oval by completing an innings-and-12-run win before tea on day five.
England, who resumed on 102 for four in their second innings, were dismissed for 240, failing to make South Africa bat again despite Ian Bell scoring a half-century.
This infographic, provided by bingo.ladbrokes.com, nicely sums up the battle between England and South Africa to become the world's number one Test side.
Today's Investec Test Match at the Kia Oval is Graeme Smith's 100th Test Match and to mark the occasion Gunn & Moore has presented Graeme with a specially engraved GM cricket bat.
The presentation took place on the outfield below the dressing rooms at The Kia Oval just before the toss and was made by Gunn & Moore Managing Director Peter Wright.
In his weekly column, Cricket World editor John Pennington tries to work out whether players, boards and fans can ever be happy with the amount of cricket that is being played in light of recent comments made by Kevin Pietersen.
To retire, or not to retire, or to retire from some forms of the game but not others, is the question. Cricket is unique in offering players three different formats to play in, so allowing opportunities to specialise in certain formats or stop playing certain formats in a bid to prolong a career.
Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and Jacques Rudolph all hit half centuries as South Africa's middle-order took the opportunity to find some form ahead of next week's first Test. Kent hit back later in the day, taking the last five wickets to fall for just 49 runs, with their openers then impressing against the tourists' new ball attack.
England have recalled Ravi Bopara and James Anderson to a 13-man squad ahead of the first Test against South Africa, which begins on 19th July at the Kia Oval.
Bopara replaces Jonathan Bairstow, who played all three Tests against the West Indies, while Anderson returns having missed the final Test at Edgbaston with a thigh injury.
John Pryor highlights and discusses a range of the most entertaining and controversial tweets of the week by cricketers and cricket pundits.
Twitter was a place of both celebration and sorrow this week...
Play was abandoned for the day shortly after lunch on the second day of the South Africans' final warm-up match ahead of the first Test. The tourists faced 22 overs and progressed from their overnight 31 for one to 108 for two.
The South Africans fought back following a difficult first session to bowl Kent out for 210 on the first day of their second warm-up match ahead of Thursday's first Test at The Oval. Stand-in Kent captain Sam Northeast and England Under-19 opener Daniel Bell-Drummond added 81 for the first wicket and played some delightful shots against what is expected to be the tourists' bowling attack for the opening Test match. They were parted shortly before lunch, with Northeast falling for 35 to Dale Steyn.
South Africa have been forced to withdraw fast-bowler Marchant de Lange from their squad for the three Test matches against England. He sustained a lower back injury during the Twenty20 tri-series in Zimbabwe last month and has not recovered as quickly as was originally hoped.
Former Cricket South Africa (CSA) President Ali Bacher has paid tribute to Mark Boucher, who was forced to retire from international cricket due to injury earlier this week.
Boucher suffered a serious eye injury during South Africa's tour game against Somerset and talking to CNN World Sport, Bacher says the wicket-keeper will go down as one of South Africa's 'greatest ever cricketers'.
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