Australia captain Tim Paine on Tuesday hinted that opener David Warner could play the third Test against India, while the young Will Pucovski is also not far from returning to competitive cricket.
Australia opener David Warner will miss the second Test against India this week because he left a biosecure bubble to receive treatment for a groin injury that would have ruled him out of the match in any case.
Images from Day 2 of the Pink-ball first Test between Australia and India, in Adelaide, on Friday.
Images from Day 4 of the third Test between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney on Monday.
Following the retirements of Chris Rogers, captain Michael Clarke and all-rounder Shane Watson, Smith will lead a team in transition into the three-match series which wraps up with cricket's first day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval.
Kohli gained two points for his half-century to get to 888 while Smith (911) lost 10 points in the table after scoring 1 and 1 in his two innings.
Joe Burns said India have a skillful bowling attack, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, and they have to 'start well' against them.
There is an uncanny resemblance between Wade and Jackson's 'gravity-defying tilt'.
India fast bowler Umesh Yadav hobbled off the field after suffering an injury during the third day of the second Test against Australia, in Melbourne, on Monday.
Opening batsman David Warner tore an adductor muscle in the leadup to the four-Test series and was ruled out of the Adelaide opener as well as the ongoing 'Boxing Day' Test in Melbourne.
Australia's Marnus Labuschange struck another half century to pile on the runs and the misery over New Zealand on Day 3 of the day-night Test in Perth on Saturday. Earlier, Starc picked a five-wicket haul.
Joe Burns and Steve Smith capitalised on perfect batting conditions to score centuries as Australia reduced New Zealand's lead to just seven runs at the end of day two of the second test on Sunday. Neil Wagner dismissed both batsmen in identical fashion in the final half-hour to give his side some late reward for a day of toil under a cloudless Christchurch sky. Burns, who had been dismissed early in his innings only to have the decision overturned on review, was well caught low down by Martin Guptill at square leg for 170, his highest test score and third century. Smith also fell to a short ball in Wagner's next over for 138, his 14th test century, caught by the same fielder. Adam Voges was on two with nightwatchman Nathan Lyon on four as the visitors ended the day 363 for four, having all but mowed down New Zealand's first innings 370.
Australia, who won the toss and batted in the day-nighter, reached 248 for four at stumps with Labuschagne 110 not out and Travis Head unbeaten on 20.
Images from Day 3 of the second Test between Australia and India, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, on Monday.
Images from Day 1 of the second Test between Australia and India, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, on Saturday.
With Kane Williamson likely to miss the Test, New Zealand will have a lot of work to do in the 3rd Test in Sydney.
Check out the early reaction of fans on Day 1 of the second Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.
There are still many questions over Australia's opening partnership for the second Test against India but one thing is all but certain -- Joe Burns will face the new ball at the Melbourne Cricket Ground later this week.
With the wickets of Wriddhiman Saha and Ravichandran Ashwin again in a single over, Hazlewood became the 18th Australian bowler to reach 200 Test scalps.
Images from the opening day of the second Test between Australia and Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.
Australia opening batsman David Warner has been ruled out of next week's series-opening Test against India in Adelaide and will target a return for the second Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, Cricket Australia said on Wednesday.
IMAGES from the tour match played between Australia A and India at the SCG in Sydney on Sunday.
David was ruled out of the rest of the white-ball series on Monday
Chappell still believes that Australia might have a slight edge in Test matches
Australia should stick with Joe Burns as David Warner's opening partner for next month's first Test against India
Hardik Pandya hasn't featured in Tests since 2018 and has only recently recovered from a career-threatening back injury.
Warner has been racing to be fit for the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) Test
The speculation around the mood inside India's dressing room became a subject of ridicule for Australian skipper Steve Smith, who said the home team does not need to sedge the tourists as they are busy "whingeing among themselves".
'I tended to agree with the gamble in that I didn't see an obvious replacement with Pucovski out, I was hoping he'd be fit to play.'
Smith was forced to skip Tuesday's training session but Paine said he thought his predecessor as captain would be ready to go
Tom Latham led New Zealand out on the field in Sydney on Friday in the absence of unwell Kane Williamson. Australia won the toss and decided to bat first. IMAGES from Day 1 of the 3rd Test between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney on Friday
Before the two teams face off in a much-anticipated four-Test series starting on December 17, Australia A are scheduled to play two three-day tour games against India A, which features Test specialists.
Batsmen Usman Khawaja, Adam Voges and Joe Burns have been rewarded for their strong form over the past 12 months by being awarded central contracts by Cricket Australia on Friday.
Batsmen Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh were all dropped from the squad that lost a home Test series against India for the first time.
'Joe is currently undertaking a treatment period of rest and recuperation'
Australia's batsmen must balance aggression with discipline to combat India in the third Test in Sydney after being pinned down by their bowlers in the first two matches, number three Marnus Labuschagne said.
Matthew Wade said he would be happy to remain at the top of Australia's order for the rest of the series
Australia's selectors have responded to the threat of a first ever Test series sweep on home soil by dropping five players from their squad for the third match against South Africa, which begins in Adelaide on Thursday. Joe Burns, Adam Voges and Callum Ferguson, as well as wicketkeeper Peter Nevill, paid the price for a string of batting collapses, while seamer Joe Mennie was also axed after the innings defeat in the second Test in Hobart.
After picking two wickets earlier, Bumrah capped an eventful day by facing 11 balls as the nightwatchman, ducking cleverly and blocking confidently to end with his wicket intact at stumps on Day 2.
The Australian Test squad had a Christmas Day Luncheon at Crown Entertainment Complex in Melbourne. Here's a look at a few moments from the event
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