Fast bowler Ryan Harris made quick work of dismissing three of Sri Lanka's top batsmen to put Australia in command on the third day of the first Test in Galle and make the home team's task of chasing down 379 runs look even more daunting on Friday.
Leg spinner Amit Mishra recorded the first hat-trick of the season as Deccan Chargers crushed Kings XI Punjab by 82 runs to dash their hopes of making the Indian Premier League play-offs in Dharamsala on Saturday.
Australia's fast bowling stock took another significant blow before next month's World Cup in the subcontinent with paceman Clint Mckay being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his left foot.
Instead of panicking and making knee-jerk changes after losing the Ashes to England, spin legend Shane Warne feels Australia should accept that it is no longer the top Test side it used to be and needs a "long period of reflection".
Perfectionist Ryan Harris was still not happy with his bowling despite ending England's resistance to give Australia a comprehensive victory in the third Ashes Test at the weekend.
Ryan Harris claimed six wickets for 47 runs as Australia beat England by 267 runs in the third Ashes Test at the WACA on Sunday to level the series at 1-1 with two matches remaining.
The fast bowler has no appetite to be eased in, however, and hopes to play all five Tests in a repeat of the 2013-14 series on home soil which Australia won 5-0.
Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting and Ryan Harris led Australia to a comfortable 78-run victory over England in the fourth One-day International at the Oval on Wednesday.
Australian Adam Gilchrist blasted 85 off 35 balls to lead Deccan Chargers into the Indian Premier League final with a six-wicket victory over Delhi Daredevils on Friday. The Deccan captain reached his half-century off just 17 deliveries, an IPL record beating the previous mark of 21 balls set by Yusuf Pathan of the Rajasthan Royals last year.
The event technical committee of the Twenty20 World Cup has approved Ryan Harris as replacement for injured Brett Lee in the Australian squad for the tournament which begins in the Caribbean on Friday.
Fast bowlers Nathan Bracken and Stuart Clark and batsmen Brad Hodge along with David Hussey and wicketkeeper Graham Manou have been dropped from the new contract list announced by Cricket Australia in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson on Tuesday returned to the 13-member Australian squad while Shane Watson and Doug Bollinger were rested for the last two One-Day Internationals against Pakistan in Perth.
Somdev Devvarman's struggle on the ATP circuit continued as the fifth seed Indian crashed out of the Zagreb Challenger event after suffering a first round defeat against unseeded Yuri Schukin.
Ryan Harris was instrumental in Australia's clinical show in New Zealand almost three weeks back. Three weeks later, he carried his bowling form on to the Indian Premier League, helping Deccan Changers a convincing six-wicket win against Chennai Super Kings.
Images from the Indian Premier League match between Chennai Super Kings and Deccan Chargers on Saturday
T Suman's brisk half-century and three wickets from Ryan Harris saw Deccan Chargers outclass Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in the Indian Premier League in Nagpur, on Saturday. Suman top-scored with 55 from 44 balls and Andrew Symonds hit a quick to take Deccan to 139 for four in 19.1 overs after being a set a modest 139 for victory.
Australia registered a tense 12-run win over New Zealand in the second one-day international at Auckland.
Australia on Sunday crushed West Indies by 113 runs in the first One-day International at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Australia continued their domination over Pakistan in the five match ODI series, as they crushed the visiting team by 135 runs in the fourth One-Day Ineternational at the WACA Ground in Perth.
Australia beat Pakitsan by 40 runs in the third one day international at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
All-rounder Ryan Harris returned to the Australia squad for the fourth ODI of the Commonwealth Bank series against South Africa replacing injured left-arm pacer Nathan Bracken.
Left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson will replace rookie Ryan Harris in the 13-man Australian squad for the remaining three one-day international cricket matches against South Africa.
Captain Steven Smith took a sharp catch to snare India's first wicket after scoring a big century to fire Australia to a mammoth first innings total of 530 on day two of the third Test in Melbourne on Saturday.
Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris, who bowled his country to a series victory in South Africa last week, is hoping knee surgery will prolong his Test career through the 2015 Ashes at least.
Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of this week's third Test against India in Melbourne with uncapped batsman Joe Burns coming into the 13-man squad to replace him.
Ryan Harris claimed the last two wickets at the fag end of the match as South Africa were bowled out for 265 and lost the third and final Test by 245 runs at Newlands on Wednesday. Australia won the series 2-1.
Dale Steyn produced a ferocious spell of fast bowling to inspire South Africa to a crushing 231-run victory over Australia in fading light on day four of the second Test on Sunday.
England still blinking after perfect Ashes start.
ICC's proposal to introduce four-day Tests has met with stiff opposition
The side, led by Jason Sangha, also includes Will Sutherland, son of Cricket Australia's (CA) chief executive James Sutherland. Sutherland Jr is the vice-captain of the side.
Batsman Shaun Marsh struck a fighting half-century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday to drive Australia to a commanding 326-run lead over India at the close of day four.
- 'I honestly think Michael will be back after this hamstring surgery' - 'Thanks for all the well wishes. Surgery went really well'
Australia will take the same 12-man squad to Perth for the third Ashes Test this week after humbling England by 218 runs to win the second match in Adelaide on Monday.
Australia captain Michael Clarke is fit to lead the side into the first Test against India on Tuesday and his return is a "huge boost" for the hosts, fast bowler Mitchell Johnson said.
Australia fast bowler Ryan Harris has declared himself a certain starter for the first Test against India but cannot say the same for all of his team mates a day after Phillip Hughes' funeral.
Australia have named Michael Clarke in a 12-man squad for the first Test against India starting in Brisbane next week, but the hamstrung captain must prove his fitness in a tour match starting on Friday.
Recently retired Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has named No 1 ranked AB de Villiers as the most difficult batsman he had faced during his glorious international career.
Former England batsman Graeme Hick and bowling coach Troy Cooley will pit their wits against the tourists when they mentor a Cricket Australia XI in a four-day Ashes tour match in Townsville next month.
Tasmanian batsman Alex Doolan could be in line for a test debut pending the fitness of all-rounder Shane Watson after being named in Australia's 14-man squad for the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney.
Andre Russell and Eoin Morgan's power-hitting will be the focus of all eyes when the in-form Kolkata Knight Riders taken on Delhi Capitals with an aim to light up the Sharjah skyline in what promises to be another six-hitting IPL contest in Sharjah on Saturday.
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