Cape Town, Mar. 16: Australia’s chief selector Andrew Hilditch has lauded Ricky Ponting''s "inspirational" leadership.

There was time when Ponting was roundly criticized after a 2-1 Test series belting at home by Graeme Smith''s Proteas.

Now, fortunes have changed. Australia heads into the third and final Test of the return series at Cape Town with a 2-0 lead.

There''s even talk of a "Ponting legacy" to rival his predecessors as captain.

Cape Town (South Africa), Mar. 16 : Australia will play South Africa every summer under plans being negotiated by the two cricket boards, but in future the visitors will never be seen at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Boxing Day.

The teams will play a three-Test series in one country one year and a one-day series in the alternate country the next, the Daily Telegraph reports.

South Africa''s desire to host cricket on Boxing Day every second year has been an issue in the discussions and means it will almost be impossible to schedule four Test series.

Brisbane (Australia), Mar. 16: Injured Australian fast bowler Stuart Clark has signed a six-week deal to play English county cricket with Kent in the hope of making it back to the national squad for the Ashes this year.

Clark had elbow surgery at the start of the summer then was forced to miss the South African tour because of another flare-up.

Desperate to churn through some overs ahead of the opening Ashes in Cardiff in July, the 33-year-old Clark said the brief stint with Kent was the perfect chance to reignite his ambitions.

Cape Town (South Africa), Mar.16 : Victorian leg spinner Bryce McGain could make his Test match debut in South Africa in Cape Town on Thursday.

The Newlands pitch is traditionally flat and turns, the series is in the bag and there is talk the side needs to see how McGain bowls before the Ashes.

However, McGain, who turns 37 next week, is not confident about finding a place in the side.

"I think with a winning team at the moment and clinching a series win (it is not likely)" McGain said.

Auckland (New Zealand), Mar. 16 : Kiwi pacer Iain O''Brien is looking forward to playing Test cricket.

New Zealand''s most successful bowler during the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy stalemate in Australia last month, O''Brien was brought down to earth with a bang against India.

A batting card fronted by Virender Sehwag dominated the five-match series until a surprise eight-wicket loss in Auckland last night.

After snaring 10 wickets at 25.30 across the Tasman O''Brien, like every New Zealand bowler, was punished by Sehwag''s flailing blade.

Auckland (New Zealand), Mar. 16: The Black Caps are fighting for credibility against India, and new recruit Mark Guptill, is expecting to do his bit for the cause in a calm and steady manner during the Test series that gets underway from Wednesday, the New Zealand Press Association says in a report.

New Zealand rushed to complete a morale-boosting one-day cricket victory over India at Eden Park but a scintillating run chase still represented quality time in the middle for Martin Guptill.