Centurion VVS Laxman said India are back into the second Test and have the self-belief they can win just a week after their 337-run loss in Melbourne.
Pragyan Ojha bagged an impressive five-wicket haul as India 'A' dismissed Australia 'A' for 268 before extending their lead to 154 runs by the end of the third day's play in the first unofficial cricket Test, at the M A Chidambaram stadium, in Chennai, on Friday. At the close of play, the hosts were 121 for 3 in their second innings.
Australia captain Michael Clarke said helping his team when they were under pressure was the best part of his century on the opening day of the first Test against South Africa on Wednesday.
Virat Kohli's woeful form continued as India 'A' were shot out for a paltry 135 by Australia 'A' in the second unofficial 'Test' in Chennai on Wednesday.
Why Kumar Sangakkara is counted alongside Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid, Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid?
Michael Clarke scored a defiant unbeaten 73 to save Australia the blushes as he steered his team to 267 for six on a keenly contested opening day of the third and final Test against South Africa in Sydney on Saturday.
Six times a men's singles champion Down Under, the Serbian will be joined in making a return at MelbournePark by 2008 women's champion Maria Sharapova, who missed last year's tournament because of a doping ban.
Captain Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting ground the hapless Indian bowlers with a huge partnership to help Australia to a mammoth first innings total of 604-7 (declared) on the second morning of the fourth and final Test in Adelaide on Wednesday. India were at a shaky 61 for 2 in reply.
Top seed Caroline Wozniacki will play 107th-ranked local Anastasia Rodionova in the first round of the Australian Open when she begins her bid for a maiden Grand Slam title.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting insists he is the right choice to lead the team for Ashes despite critics calling for his head after the Test series debacle in India.
The veteran leg spinner added more drama to Sourav Ganguly's retirement script, saying the first Test against Australia in Bangalore would also be his last match in front of home fans.
Australia paceman Pat Cummins has backed opening batsman David Warner to carry his blistering Test form into the One-day arena at the cricket World Cup.
Images from Day of the tour match between Cricket Australia Chairman's XI and the touring Indians, in Canberra.
Images from Day 1 at the Australian Open, in Melbourne, on Monday.
The bets have been placed and punters Down Under have picked India as the favourite to win the eagerly-anticipated Test series against Australia that gets underway from December 26.
Karachi has long been a volatile city with a spate of militant violence since the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
Senior batsman Rahul Dravid feels that the nightmarish tour of England is a thing of past now and a full-strength Team India would certainly do well in the upcoming Test series in Australia.
Australian coach and selector Darren Lehmann believes that his team displayed a shoddy fielding performance on account of lack of confidence during the Melbourne Test against India despite having a good practice session.
Lauding Michael Clarke's leadership, Indian Test captain Virat Kohli congratulated the retiring Australian skipper for his 'magnificent cricket journey' which would end with the fifth and final Ashes Test against England.
"I think that he deserved it," said Warner of the reception Clarke received on the first day of the fifth Test on Thursday.
'India have got a great side and have great momentum going.'
India suffered a humiliating 319-run defeat at Nottingham. This was despite the fact that India gained first innings lead of 67! The margin is the biggest ever in Test history for a side that conceded first innings lead.
Australia's pace bowlers took eight quick wickets to skittle out Sri Lanka for 174 runs on day one of the second Test in Kandy on Thursday, as the home team struggled against fast bowling from the start of the innings. Australia were 60 without loss at stumps. Shane Watson was unbeaten on 36, and Phil Hughes on 23.
Playing two medium pacers on a drab Chennai wicket didn't make sense. Australia at least could say pace is their strength, but for Team India it made no sense.
'With a lead of 260 going into the day session, we're in the drivers' seat'
Australian cricket, in contrast, has been dogged by structural reform in the wake of the ball-tampering saga in South Africa in March and it has resulted in turbulence on the field as well.
Sri Lanka selectors left out batsman Thilina Kandamby, the vice-captain in the one-day international series against England, from the pool of 20 players for next month's ODI and Twenty20 home series against Australia.
Australia coach Mickey Arthur on Monday said that his men will "hammer down" the visitors in next month's One-Day International tri-series as well once all-rounder Shane Watson comes back into the team.
Muttiah Muralitharan, with the wicket of Yuvraj Singh in the first innings, completed his 100 wickets against India. He is the first bowler in Test history to accomplish this feat.
The ICC asked India to commit to the Australia series as the world body will not be held to ransom over the Harbhajan Singh issue.
Manoj Tiwary staked his claim for a maiden call-up to the Test squad with a timely century before Australia's spinners bowled out India A for 451 on the second day of the warm-up match in Chennai on Sunday.
Lewis Hamilton is confident McLaren can close the gap on Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull after staging a stunning turnaround to finish second behind the world champion at the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.
Eugenie Bouchard will spend Monday 'cramming' for one of the toughest exams of her fledgling career when she faces second seed Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open quarter-finals.
Djokovic is clubbed with Federer, Juan Martin Del Potro, David Goffin and Alexander Zverev.
Photos from Day 1 of the Australian Open matches played at Melbourne Park on Monday
Bairstow replaces jaded Buttler in England squad while Australia rope in Hastings, and call-up Handscomb after injury glut
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Tuesday
