Plays of the Day for the fourth day of the second Test between Australia and South Africa in Adelaide

Pain from an unusual side and rib injury that has ruled James Pattinson out for the rest of the Test summer was so acute that Ricky Ponting revealed the 22-year-old fast bowler "could hardly breathe" after bowling on the third day in Adelaide

Ricky Ponting may have only one more Test to prove his worth to Australia's 2013 Ashes campaign and Rob Quiney's brief moment in the sun appears to be over

By varying his offbreak, Nathan Lyon can bowl six different balls without perceptible change of hand of wrist action. It is a skill that was vital for Australia in this match.

James Pattinson, the Australia fast bowler, may have broken down again with serious injury after he complained of side pain when taking the second new ball on the third morning of the second Test against South Africa in Adelaide

Plays of the Day for the second day of the second Test between Australia and South Africa at Adelaide Oval

The cricket on day one was unbelievable; the play on the second day was more sober and conventional

Adelaide Strikers have delved deep into Australian cricket's spin bowling archives in their search for a left-arm spinner to replace the injured Jon Holland, trialling the long forgotten slow bowling of Brad Young and Mark Higgs

Michael Clarke, after his unbeaten double-century in Adelaide, has said it's his formula of "counter-attack, being positive, playing my natural game" that has helped him succeed

David Warner's counterattacking innings seized the advantage for Australia on day one in Adelaide, and his team-mates then built fabulously on the platform he had set up

Australia will play the fewest home ODIs in 34 years during the 2013-14 Ashes summer, as Twenty20 takes a more prominent place in the schedule ahead of the tiring 50-over format

Australia is building a support system in place for offspinner Nathan Lyon, to ensure his path of advice is defined

Adelaide Oval is under reconstruction at present and it will look markedly different when the Ashes Test comes around next year. Ricky Ponting has mixed feelings about the changes

Australia's captain Michael Clarke has denied the saga surrounding Shane Watson's futile attempt to be fit for the Adelaide Test is a distraction for the team as they attempt to claim a 1-0 lead in the series against South Africa

Mitchell Starc is edging closer to a place in the XI for the second Test in Adelaide starting from Thursday, his speed, swing and height augmenting the natural variety provided by his left arm

Saeed Ajmal and the Adelaide Strikers will be the chief beneficiaries of the Pakistan board's decision to allow their players limited participation in the BBL

Ricky Ponting: "I've been around enough and played in enough high-pressure situations, whether it's a big game or a game where you're under pressure because you haven't scored runs yourself."

Shane Watson chugged through a second fitness test in 24 hours at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday, trying his tender calf through jogging, running and near enough to sprinting over 30 minutes under the unblinking morning sun

Shane Watson and those around him are finding out that you can't always get what you want

Don't be surprised if South Africa rethink their tactics to Michael Clarke after his Gabba double-century and send down more bouncers in Adelaide