Australia won the toss and chose to bat in the second Test against South Africa in Adelaide as the Proteas were forced to make a late change to their team on Thursday.

Paceman Vernon Philander was ru

South Africa are targeting prolific Australian skipper Michael Clarke as they aim to break a five-decade winless drought in the Adelaide Test and seize the initiative in the three-match series.

The

Senior batsman Ricky Ponting plans to step up sprint work to prove his fitness from a hamstring injury ahead of Friday's opening Brisbane Test against South Africa.

Ponting withdrew during last week'

Talismanic all-rounder Shane Watson has become Australia's latest injury scare ahead of next week's Test against South Africa after pulling up with a sore calf during a Sheffield Shield clash.

Watson

Australian batsman Ricky Ponting was pulled out of a Sheffield Shield game Friday with a hamstring injury, just days before the in-form veteran is due to line-up against South Africa in the first Test

Matthew Wade was named Monday as Australia's wicketkeeper for the opening clash against South Africa in Brisbane next week, suggesting Brad Haddin's Test career could be at an end.

Haddin, 35, has be

Veteran Australian batsman Ricky Ponting smashed an unbeaten 162 Wednesday in the Sheffield Shield as his fine form continued ahead of the first Test against South Africa.

The 37-year-old, who was du

Ricky Ponting could break Steve Waugh's record as Australia's most-capped Test cricketer in front of his home fans at Hobart after the international summer schedule was announced on Thursday.

Just-married Australia captain Michael Clarke has said that he will quit cricket before he passed his mid-30s, unlike many of his predecessors.

Clarke said he won't continue to play on into his late

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting overtook India's Rahul Dravid to become the second highest test run scorer on Monday during the opening day of the third test against West Indies.

Ponting, who