A cricket video for Cricket World TV about the latest cricket news looking back at two major stories - Australia's fine start to the fourth and final Test against India in Adelaide and the changes sweeping through Sri Lanka Cricket.
There are two main contenders for this week's Cricket World Player of the Week. Saeed Ajmal and AB de Villiers have each turned in exemplary performances for their teams this week to help Pakistan and South Africa record victories over England and Sri Lanka respectively.
Mahela Jayawardene will begin a second term as captain of Sri Lanka during the upcoming One-Day International tri-series in Australia.
Jayawardene captained his country between 2006 and 2009 and has been appointed to lead again after Tillakaratne Dilshan's resignation.
Tillakaratne Dilshan has unexpectedly resigned the captaincy of his country, according to a statement from Sri Lanka Cricket.
He was appointed ahead of the tour of England last summer, also leading his side against Australia, Pakistan and more recently South Africa.
Kumar Sangakkara scored a century before Sri Lanka beat South Africa by two wickets with one ball to spare in a thrilling fifth and final One-Day International in Johannesburg.
Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers both scored centuries for the home side as they posted 312 for four but they still ended up on the losing side as Sri Lanka reached 314 for eight.
Sri Lanka capitalised on a series of uncharacteristic slips from South Africa to win the fourth One-Day International in Kimberley by five wickets.
Although AB de Villiers hit an entertaining 96 as his side posted 299 for seven, they allowed Sri Lanka back into the game as their batting failed to kick on and they missed chances in the field as Sri Lanka closed on 304 for five.
South Africa scrapped their way to a four-run victory on the Duckworth/Lewis method over Sri Lanka in the third One-Day International in Bloemfontein.
They closed on 179 for five in 34 overs when the rain prevented any further play after Sri Lanka had reached a competitive 266 for nine.
Half-centuries from Hashim Amla and JP Duminy guided South Africa to a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second One-Day Internaitonal in East London.
Amla made 55 and Duminy' an unbeaten 66 as South Africa closed on 237 for five after Sri Lanka had reached 236 for six from their 50 overs.
AB de Villiers made the perfect start to his career as South African captain as his side demolished Sri Lanka by 258 runs in the first One-Day International in Paarl.
After South Africa scored 301 for eight, Sri Lanka were bowled out for a paltry 43 - their lowest ODI score and the fourth lowest of all time as the contest quickly descended into a one-sided affair.
With the last three Cricket World Player of the Week awards going to bowlers, it was only going to be a matter of time before the batsmen fought back, and they certainly did so last week.
Michael Clarke, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers (160 not out), Mike Hussey (150 not out), Ricky Ponting (134), Thilan Samaraweera (115 not out) and Alviro Petersen (109) all reached three figures.
Thilan Samaraweera stroked a defiant unbeaten century but his efforts were in vain as South Africa wrapped up a ten-wicket win over Sri Lanka on day four of the third and final Test in Cape Town to seal a 2-1 series victory.
South Africa ended their wait for a first home series win since 2008 by dismissing Sri Lanka for 342 despite Samaraweera's 115 before Alviro Petersen hit a Dammika Prasad no ball for a single to end proceedings.
A cricket video for Cricket World TV about the latest cricket news looking back at day two in the two New Year's Test matches - Australia vs India in Sydney and South Africa vs Sri Lanka in Cape Town.
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) World Cricket Committee is to meet in Cape Town on 8th and 9th January and the meeting will be chaired for the first time by incoming chairman Mike Brearley.
He replaces Tony Lewis and the committee hope to welcome Kumar Sangakkara as the newest member although is attendance will be subject to team duties during his country's ongoing tour of South Africa.
A cricket video for Cricket World TV about the latest cricket news looking back at the opening day's play in the two New Year's Test matches - Australia vs India in Sydney and South Africa vs Sri Lanka in Cape Town.
2011 Cricket World Player Of The Year Sachin Tendulkar missed out on his latest chance to score his 100th international century before Australia's quick bowlers - including fast-improving James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus - bowled India out cheaply.
Sachin Tendulkar remained the man to beat in the 2011 Cricket World Awards - as voted for by Cricket World viewers, listeners and followers.
Following his dual success in being crowned Player of the Year and Batsman of the Year in 2010, the 'Little Master', held on to the main award by gaining 19 percent of the total votes cast, although he did have to share the Batsman of the Year gong with team-mate Virender Sehwag.
Sri Lanka have named a 15-man squad for the series of five One-Day Internationals against South Africa which begins on 11th January.
Fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara makes his return from injury having missed the series defeat to Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.
With both Boxing Day Test matches ending inside four days, it is no surprise to find that it is a bowler who takes the first Cricket World Player of the Week award of 2012. Indeed, there were five different bowlers who took five-wicket hauls last week, whereas only two batsmen - Kumar Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera - reached three figures.
A combination of vicious spin from Rangana Herath and impressive bounce from Dilhara Fernando helped Sri Lanka level the three-match series by bowling South Africa out for 241 on the fourth day in Durban.
The victory represented Sri Lanka's first since the retirement of the talismanic Muttiah Muralitharan, and extended the home side's losing streak at Durban to four matches.
Financial problems continue to plague Sri Lanka's cricket, with the board's head of cricket operations Ashley de Silva announcing today that the country's first-class competition, which was due to begin on Wednesday, has been postponed indefinitely.
A cricket video for Cricket World TV about the latest cricket news from http://www.cricketworld.com looking ahead to the final two Test matches of the year - Australia vs India in Melbourne and South Africa vs Sri Lanka in Durban.
