Australia's mouthwatering clash with India sees the two behemoths of the modern game go head-to-head in five tests over six weeks with the tourists eyeing a third straight series triumph Down Under.
'Hopefully the weather holds off, and then tomorrow it's just about coming in, having a crack, and see where we get to.'
Travis Head has been a thorn in India's side, hitting three centuries and two fifties in his last seven innings against them.
He warned the players that failure to follow his game plans would result in them being dropped from the team.
Virat received medical attention for a possible knee niggle.
Cricket Australia was just 10 balls away from potentially saving itself more than Australian 1 million in refunds.
As the team prepares for the Test series, it's clear they're making the most of both their training and the local sights.
Senior batter KL Rahul and reserve keeper Dhruv Jurel will be flying to Australia for the second 'unofficial Test' between India A and Australia A starting November 7
Star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has called for an improved performance from India's batting unit in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, saying the lack of runs from the top-order builds pressure on the lower-order.
He added that it is amazing to watch Head, who wants to play at the peak of his powers and at the moment.
'Some of these guys come up, grow up through IPL cricket and there's no fear or there's the expectation to be very good from the get-go and they're quality players from the time they get into international cricket no matter what their age is.'
'I guess the thinking going into the last Test, we wanted to strengthen the batting'
Despite tight security measures, dedicated supporters climbed trees and brought ladders to catch a glimpse of Virat Kohli during his practice session.
Will India drop Rohit for the Sydney Test and put Kohli on notice? Or will the team management grant the senior pros a final chance to redeem themselves?
Since 2022, he has scored 514 runs in Tests from 12 matches (21 innings) at an average of 25.7, having registered three half-centuries and a century.
Du Plessis backed Kohli, his one-time teammate at Royal Challengers Bangalore, to come back stronger from the struggles, and said retirement is a "very personal" choice.
To K L Rahul, a decade-long journey in international cricket has felt like 25 years in which he has had to overcome 'mental challenges' of being a floater in the Indian set-up.
Forgettable Sunday for Indian cricket as men, women and U-19 sides suffer defeats
Hayden shared his views on how to dismiss the Australian batters at Gabba.
'He has not lived up to expectations.' 'If this was Shubman Gill from Tamil Nadu, he would have been dropped.'
An all-format bowler, Bumrah took five for 30 in a memorable first-innings display and three for 42 in the second innings to guide India to a 295-run win in the Perth Test recently.
Selectors have recalled pace stalwart Hazlewood for the second ODI after he missed the MCG match to play Sheffield Shield cricket.
'He is putting in the hard yards, he is putting in the effort.'
Australia's bowling was of the highest quality on the final day and there were positives in the batting, too, throughout the third Test in Melbourne.
Pat Cummins has never been part of a victorious Test series campaign against India, and the Australian captain wants to erase that blemish from his CV
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With more than five months to go for the next Test series, many in the BCCI believe that there is no need to take a decision right away.
Sunil Gavaskar said if India captain Rohit Sharma misses the first Test against Australia, then Jasprit Bumrah should lead the side for the entire five-match series.
Key players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja are expected to consider stepping away from the Test format to make way for a new generation of talent.
Virat Kohli's refusal to make changes in his batting to overcome a weakness outside the off-stump has seen his average drop from the 50s to 48.13, says former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar.
The difference between the bowling averages of Jasprit Bumrah and his seam-bowling teammates stood at 21.76, suggesting Bumrah operated as India's one-man army with the ball.
The introduction of Webster was the only change to the side, with Mitchell Starc included despite struggling with a back niggle during the fourth Test.
India's assistant coach also Ryan ten Doeschate also lauded Starc for his excellent display with the pink ball.
The Adelaide Oval is set to host a thrilling day-night Test match between India and Australia, starting on Friday December 6th.
'Bumrah's 2024 exploits were a masterclass in skill, precision, and relentless consistency,' ICC said in a statement.
As India continues to struggle in the series, the pressure is mounting on Rohit to rediscover his rhythm and lead from the front.
The 22-year-old expressed his feelings after being selected for the BGT 2024-25 series.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the second ODI against England on Sunday?
There'll be some deterioration, grass will stand up during the game and offer that variable bounce, but in terms of big snake WACA cracks, unfortunately I don't think the weather is going to get us there, says pitch curator Isaac McDonald.
The tickets for the opening day of the fourth Test of the between India and Australia at MCG have been sold out.
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