"It is great to spend time in the middle," Buttler said. "I was a bit scratchy for the first few balls but I managed to come through that period and really enjoyed it. It was great to be back out there.

Bangladesh take on Afghanistan in the series-deciding third and final ODI in Sharjah today in the absence of a few key players and their senior-most statesman Mahmudullah Riyad searching for runs.

Chasing a target of 183 to win, England opener Salt guided the tourists home with 19 balls to spare after a dazzling unbeaten 103 in Bridgetown.

The two teams will play the series decider on Monday.

Bangladesh will be hoping to avoid their second straight series defeat in ODIs against Afghanistan when they take on the opponents in the second match of the three-match series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE today.

Bangladesh’s weakness against quality bowling attacks once again came to the foray on Wednesday in the first ODI against Afghanistan, in which despite having the upper hand for the majority of the contest, they ended up losing by 92 runs in Sharjah.

“You know, when you look at (Babar’s) numbers, it's been a bit like the stuff that we were talking about with Virat [Kohli] earlier on,” Ponting said

Replying to the visitors' total of 263 for eight, King and Carty featured in a second-wicket stand of 209, the duo making light of what could have been a daunting task following the early loss of Evin Lewis.

Australia quick Josh Hazlewood is concerned that New Zealand's stunning series sweep of India might "awaken a sleeping giant" when Rohit Sharma's touring party arrive Down Under for their blockbuster five-Test series.

India must start planning for Rohit Sharma's successor if the team do not play well in their five-Test series in Australia as the captain could well retire from the longest format, former skipper Krishnamachari Srikkanth has said.

With Australia looming large, the form of 37-year-old Rohit and superstar batsman Kohli, 35, is of particular concern to Indian cricket fans.

Skipper Pat Cummins kept his cool under pressure with a gritty unbeaten 32 to steer Australia to a nervy two-wicket defeat of Pakistan in the first of three one-day internationals on Monday.

Mitchell Starc took 3-33 as Australia dismissed Pakistan for 203 in the first game of their three-match one-day international series on Monday at the MCG.

Ajaz Patel said helping New Zealand wrap up a 3-0 series sweep in India on Sunday was even more special than his spectacular outing at the Wankhede Stadium three years ago when the Mumbai-born spinner picked up 10 wickets in one innings.

After India's batting frailties were brutally exposed in a 3-0 home series defeat by New Zealand, captain Rohit Sharma said it was important that his players get in the right frame of mind for what promises to be a challenging tour of Australia.

India now trail Australia, and their percentage points (PCT) is dangerously close to Sri Lanka and New Zealand, who are in third and fourth spot respectively. With a five-Test series against Australia in Australia coming up, India's place in the top two could be in jeopardy.

After a disastrous Test series against South Africa, Bangladesh are now bracing themselves for a new challenge, this time in the ODI format, when they take on an in-form Afghanistan in a three-match series scheduled to start in Sharjah on November 6.

Tom Latham's New Zealand completed a 3-0 Test sweep of India after the tourists won the third match by 25 runs in Mumbai on Sunday.

Pakistan has announced its playing XI for the opening One Day International (ODI) against Australia, set for Monday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Rishabh Pant scored an unbeaten 53 as he nursed India to 92-6 at lunch on Sunday in their chase of 147 to deny New Zealand a 3-0 Test series sweep.