Australia cricket suffered a major blow on Friday when Craig McDermott decided to step down as bowling coach after just a year in the job because of the demands of touring with the side.
Daniel Vettori helped steady New Zealand's innings at 176-5 after Australia's inexperienced bowling attack had earlier threatened to skittle the tourists on the rain-curtailed opening day of the first Test on Thursday.
A rejuvinated Sri Lanka will look to exploit the injury problems and bowling woes of Australia when the two teams clash for the title in the third and last final of the cricket tri-series to be played in Adelaide on Thursday.
In a big setback to Australia, skipper Michael Clarke and fast bowler James Pattinson have been ruled out of the series-deciding tri-series final against Sri Lanka on Thursday.
Sri Lanka's nail-biting nine-run victory over Australia in the crucial last league match of the ODI tri-series in Melbourne on Friday meant India bowed out of the tournament.
Australia have been harping that the dot balls and maidens they have been stringing together against India is a reason for their dominance in the ongoing Test series but statistics are not as conclusive as it would appear.
Australia's embattled cricket board has defended its player management practices in the face of withering criticism following a raft of injuries that have gutted the team's bowling unit.
Images from day four of the second Test between India and Australia in Sydney, on Friday.
He has played just three Tests for his country, but young fast bowler James Pattinson has already been tipped to become Australia's most destructive paceman in future.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni gave a frank assessment of his team's fourth day collapse to lose the first Test against Australia, saying the Melbourne Cricket Ground wicket was benign enough to reel in the victory target.
He is touted as Australia's next big pace sensation who will make life difficult for Indian batsmen in the upcoming Test series but not too long ago, James Pattinson was nothing more than a fringe player even for his IPL team -- the Kolkata Knight Riders.
The second Ashes Test between England and Australia is scheduled from August 14 to August 18 at Lord's Cricket Ground.
Former Australia captain, Steve Waugh feels that teen pace sensation Pat Cummins, who will miss part of the home Test series against India due to a heel injury, would have tested the likes of veterans Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.
Debutant pacer James Pattinson ripped through New Zealand's top order in a brilliant morning spell to fire Australia to an emphatic victory by nine wickets on the fourth afternoon of the first Test on Sunday.
Following is the list of players who have been released by the different franchises ahead of the auction for the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League.
Top order batsman Usman Khawaja has been omitted from Australia's annual list of 20 elite, contracted players in 2020 after falling out of favour with selectors midway through last year's Ashes. The 33-year-old lefthander has not played for the Test side since being dropped after the third match against England in Leeds last August.
Australia have named 18-year-old paceman Patrick Cummins in their 15-man Test squad for their two-match series in South Africa, while retaining Mitchell Johnson despite the mercurial paceman's struggles in Sri Lanka.
Australia speed merchant Brett Lee will return to bolster Kolkata Knight Riders' attack ahead of their Indian Premier League match against Rajasthan Royals on Friday.
Mumbai Indians pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah says there is nothing that the bowlers have to change drastically following the hammering they received from Rajasthan Royals in the previous game.
Tearaway fast bowler James Pattinson, who is recuperating from an injury, could be back in the team for the later stages of the ongoing triangular series, Australia coach Mickey Arthur said in Perth on Wednesday.
Cricket Australia has drawn up a three-year plan to ease the workload on teen pace sensation Pat Cummins and protect him from injuries.
Australia captain Michael Clarke exuded confidence on his fast bowlers, saying whether there is a four-pronged pace attack or not, it is good enough to take the wickets in the third Test against India, at the WACA in Perth, beginning Friday.
Despite being ruled out of the last two Tests against India due to a foot injury, Australia's new pace sensation James Pattinson is hoping to return to the team for the triangular One-day series also involving Sri Lanka.
Australia move on to the third Test against India in Perth this week with a 2-0 series lead, a captain in the form of his life and a fiercesome bowling attack salivating at the prospect of a lively wicket at the WACA.
Left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc's inclusion, in place of injured fast bowler James Pattinson, is the only change, in the 12-man Australian squad for the third Test against India in Perth, starting on January 13.
Australia included three uncapped bowlers in their 15-man squad named on Tuesday for three Tests against Sri Lanka in an overhaul of the unit which was hammered by England in the Ashes debacle.
On the back of some great all-round performance, Australia thumped New Zealand by 247 runs to win the Boxing Day Test and take a 2-0 series lead. Images from Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test played at the MCG on Sunday.
Australia's pace sensation James Pattinson on Tuesday termed his dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar as a lucky one at the Sydney Cricket Ground but said that it was a special feeling nevertheless.
Images from day one of the second Test between India and Australia in Sydney, on Tuesday.
Pace legend Glenn McGrath foresees Australia complete a 4-0 whitewash over India in the ongoing Test series. McGrath makes this claim following the top-class performance of the home team's pace bowling attack, especially the young James Pattinson.
Impressed with young pace sensation James Pattinson's performance in the opening cricket Test against India, Australian fast bowler Brett Lee has urged him to retain his aggression.
James Pattinson is relishing the success against a star-studded Indian batting line-up as his superb bowling effort resulted in Australia's comprehensive win in the first Test, in Melbourne, on Thursday.
Images from day four of the first Test between India and Australia in Melbourne, on Thursday.
Rookie pacer James Pattinson has immense respect for the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid but says that he will not be intimidated by the reputation of the star visiting batsmen in the Test series starting, in Melbourne, on December 26.
Australian pace sensation James Pattinson can't wait for the four-Test series against India later this month as he feels there is no better challenge for him than their famed batting line-up.
Paceman James Pattinson claimed a five-wicket haul in a second successive match as Australia barged New Zealand out for 150 in their first innings to bring up tea on the opening day of the second Test on Friday.
Australia are likely to start the second Test against New Zealand unchanged after uncapped all rounder Dan Christian was added to the squad in place of injured 12th man Ben Cutting on Monday.
Captain Michael Clarke rode his luck to score 139 and help steer Australia to a 132-run first innings lead over New Zealand with a total of 427 on the third day of the first Test on Saturday.
Captain Usman Khawaja and his opening partner, Joe Burns, smashed scintillating centuries as Australia 'A' thrashed a hapless India 'A' by 119 runs in the second tri-series match in Chennai on Friday.
Fined for dissent in Sheffield Shield match
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