The big story: Brathwaite gives Windies consolation win

Kraigg Brathwaite became the first opener in Test history to remain unbeaten in both the innings of a Test as West Indies saved face with a rare away win, clinching the dead rubber against Pakistan in Sharjah by five wickets. This was their first Test win outside the West Indies and Bangladesh since 2007 and also their first in 14 matches.

Pakistan still went on to win the series, though, and the loss was a rare blip in what was memorable two months for them, registering whitewashes in the Twenty20 Internationals and the One-Day Internationals.

Other top stories

  1. Australia battered South Africa with the bat and ball on day one of the first Test in Perth. Mitchell Starc, coming back after an injury layoff, got the early breakthroughs and the pace spearhead's efforts were backed up admirably by Josh Hazlewood and spinner Nathan Lyon. South Africa recovered from 32/4 to get to 242 after Faf du Plessis chose to bat first. David Warner blazed away to an unbeaten 73 at the close of play. Australia reached 105/0 after batting for just 21 overs.
  2. With less than a week to go before the start of the India-England series, the Board of Control for Cricket in India and England Cricket Board have not yet signed a Memorandum of Understanding, a standard agreement that chalks out the various details of the series, reported ESPNcricinfo. The reason for the delay is because the BCCI is still awaiting directions from the Lodha committee on various financial transactions.
  3. In an attempt to revive their fortunes, Sir Ian Botham was appointed as the new chairman of English county side, Durham, who were relegated last season. The side almost declared themselves bankrupt and their old board was sacked in its entirety last season.
  4. After another inquest on Phillip Hughes' death, the players and umpires during the 2014 encounter were cleared of all charges. Recently, there were reports that stated that pacer Doug Bollinger had uttered the words "I'm going to kill you" to Hughes and batting partner Tom Cooper, and also that the left-hander was targeted as he faced 20 out of the 23 bouncers that day.
  5. Punjab batsman Abhishek Sharma will captain the India U-19 side that will play in the Youth Asia Cup between December 13 and 24. Mumbai batting prodigy Prithvi Shaw, who had scored a record-breaking 546 in 2013, is also a part of the side. 
  6. The International Cricket Council general manager, Geoff Allardice, praised Indian coach Anil Kumble's role in getting the Board of Control for Cricket in India to agree to use the Decision Review System during the upcoming home series against England.