SYDNEY, Jan 1 (Reuters) - England pace bowler James Anderson has described as "ridiculous" accusations that he was involved in tampering with the ball during the drawn fourth Ashes test against Australia in Melbourne last week.

CAPE TOWN, Jan 1 (Reuters) - Dale Steyn has been close to the milestone for more than a year now but, at the age of 34, time is running out for the speed merchant to become South Africa’s most prolific wicket taker.

CAPE TOWN, Dec 30 (Reuters) - India feel they have the right balance in their squad to break new ground and win a series in South Africa for the first time, to underline their top ranking in test cricket, captain Virat Kohli said on Saturday.

NEW DELHI, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Steve Smith helmed Australia's successful Ashes mission and India proved impregnable at home but it was cricket exiles Pakistan who had the most memorable year in 2017.

MELBOURNE, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Steve Smith and an unresponsive pitch combined to dash England's hopes of a first win of the series on Saturday, but captain Joe Root praised his team's "character" for rallying in the wake of their meek surrender of the Ashes in Perth.

MELBOURNE, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A short captains' conference saw the fourth Ashes test drawn with more than an hour to play on Saturday, but such was Steve Smith's gluttony for runs that the home skipper would have gladly kept batting until the final ball and beyond.

Dec 30 (Gracenote) - Scoreboard at close of play on the fifth day in the fourth Test between Australia and England on Saturday in Melbourne, Australia Australia 1st innings 327 (D. Warner 103, S. Smith 76, S. Marsh 61; S. Broad 4-51) England 1st innings 491 (A. Cook 244no, J. Root 61, S. Broad 56; P. Cummins 4-117) Australia 2nd innings (Overnight: 103-2) C. Bancroft b Woakes 27 D. Warner c Vince b Root 86

MELBOURNE, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Australia captain Steve Smith frustrated England with his third century of the series to guide the hosts to safety as the fourth Ashes test ended in a draw on day five at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.

MELBOURNE, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Steve Smith frustrated England's bowlers in a stubborn fifth-wicket partnership to push Australia to 225 for four at tea on day five of the fourth test on Saturday, with the tourists' hopes of a pride-salvaging victory all but extinguished.

Dec 30 (Gracenote) - Scoreboard at tea on the fifth day in the fourth Test between Australia and England on Saturday in Melbourne, Australia Australia 1st innings 327 (D. Warner 103, S. Smith 76, S. Marsh 61; S. Broad 4-51) England 1st innings 491 (A. Cook 244no, J. Root 61, S. Broad 56; P. Cummins 4-117) Australia 2nd innings (Overnight: 103-2) C. Bancroft b Woakes 27 D. Warner c Vince b Root 86 U. Khawaja

MELBOURNE, Dec 30 (Reuters) - England denied David Warner a second successive century and grabbed another late wicket to leave Australia vulnerable at 178 for four at lunch on day five of the fourth Ashes test on Saturday.

Dec 30 (Gracenote) - Scoreboard at lunch on the fifth day in the fourth Test between Australia and England on Saturday in Melbourne, Australia Australia 1st innings 327 (D. Warner 103, S. Smith 76, S. Marsh 61; S. Broad 4-51) England 1st innings 491 (A. Cook 244no, J. Root 61, S. Broad 56; P. Cummins 4-117) Australia 2nd innings (Overnight: 103-2) C. Bancroft b Woakes 27 D. Warner c Vince b Root 86 U. Khawaja

MELBOURNE, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar has been recalled to Australia's squad for the fifth Ashes test in Sydney as the hosts ponder a twin-spin attack against England for the dead rubber.