Australia stormed to the top of the ICC World Test Championship 2025 standings with a thumping 10-wicket victory over India in the second Test at Adelaide.
If the humiliation of India being able to declare their second innings on 487/6 reflected poorly on the bowling unit, it was the Australian batting line-up dismissed for 104 in their first innings that bore the brunt of the blame.
Be warned, Tim Paine and Co, the Indians are here!
Hough had kept an extra layer of grass to increase the durability of the pink ball in the day-night Test and he doesn't see the need for a change in the red ball Test beginning in Adelaide on Thursday.
In his 13th pink ball Test since 2015, the 34-year-old Australian pacer has taken 72 wickets at an average of 17.
Australia's winning streak in day-night Tests was ended in January by the West Indies, who won a cliffhanger by eight runs at the Gabba.
Cricket Australia are expected to announce over the next few days that the fifth Test, scheduled for Jan. 14-18 at Perth Stadium, will be switched to another city because of Western Australia's hard line on quarantine.
Resurgent Australia had enigmatic paceman Mitchell Johnson to thank for their crushing win over England in Brisbane and will put their hopes on another unknown quantity when the coin is tossed for the second Ashes Test in Adelaide.
Mitchell Johnson took three wickets as Australia defeated India by 50 runs in a low-scoring tri-series one-day international at Adelaide Oval on Sunday to move closer to a place in the tournament finals.
Those players not involved in the Indian Premier League, as well as coaching and support staff, will make the Adelaide Oval their home once the white-ball tour of England concludes following Wednesday's third ODI in Manchester.
Images from Day 2 of the 2nd Ashes Test played at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday
The fifth match of the Commonwealth Bank series between India and Sri Lanka in Adelaide ended in a thrilling tie on Tuesday. While the bowlers helped India stay on course for a third straight win by restricting Sri Lanka to 236 for nine on a placid Adelaide Oval wicket, the batsmen paid the price for leaving too much for the end.
Batsman Kevin Pietersen labelled groundstaff at Australia's Adelaide Oval "pathetic" after England's practice session was forced indoors due to rain just two days before the start of the second Ashes Test.
Vice-captain Brad Haddin is hopeful of Michael Clarke leading the Australian outfit in the first Test against India starting December 9 after the hamstrung skipper reported to training at the Adelaide Oval.
'I like it when opposition guys try to attack me and try to whack me out of the attack.'
Rohit emphasised the importance of keeping net sessions private to maintain focus and strategise effectively.
India's mind games played a pivotal role in the dismissal of Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne.
India's matches were largely uninterrupted by rain and chances of a wash out are miniscule in the semi-final too.
'Hopefully there is a little bit in it early, it's going to be good to bat on, and then take a little bit of spin and some inconsistency later in the game'
Don Bradman wore the "baggy green" cap during India's first tour of Australia as an independent country in 1947-48, scoring 715 runs in six innings at an average of 178.75.
'I guess the thinking going into the last Test, we wanted to strengthen the batting'
Rohit Sharma is set to bat down the order in the second Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval.
He is the first Indian to achieve the feat of scoring a century in all three formats in international cricket at a single venue.
After his unbeaten century on day one of the fourth and final Test against India at Adelaide on Tuesday, Ricky Ponting now aggregates more runs than any other batsman against India in Test cricket.The former Australia captain, who was unbeaten on 137 in his team's total of 335-3 when stumps were drawn for the day, now aggregates more runs than any other batsman against India in Test cricket.
Hazlewood's inclusion is the only change to the home side who will look to take a 2-1 lead in the five-Test series.
Virat Kohli is well aware of the obsessive focus on him in Australia right now
King Kohli is the man for the big occasion and that's why Kohli is called the Kohinoor of India by his fans.
The six-day lockdown in South Australia to contain COVID-19 cases has improved Adelaide's chances of remaining the venue of the first day-night Test between India and Australia from December 17 even though the situation remains fluid
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.
With only couple of days left for India to open their cricket World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan, the team had a gruelling training session in Adelaide on Thursday in preparation for the high-voltage contest.
Opener Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson will all play their first Tests at Adelaide Oval after selectors wielded the axe following the Hobart humiliation, which gave South Africa an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
A look at India's narrowest victories by run margin -- games that tested nerves, showcased grit, and etched unforgettable drama into Test history.
Australia are aiming for a whitewash but that is easier said than done as skipper Michael Clarke on Monday conceded the conditions at Adelaide Oval are more of India's liking even though he expects reverse swing to play a crucial role during the fourth and final Test starting on Tuesday.
With tempers expecting to reach the ugliest limits during the India-Pakistan World Cup match, the Adelaide administration has issued a 85-point "code of conduct" for spectators - one that specifically bars religious messages and anti-national chants.
While the whole batting unit faltered, the spotlight fell firmly on seniors Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, whose lean patches in recent times have become a matter of concern.
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.
Hazlewood missed the 10-wicket win over India in Adelaide on Sunday with the latest in a series of side strains that have blighted his career.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the 2nd Ashes Test Day-Night Test at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
The 31-run victory in Adelaide was India's first series-opening win on Australian soil.
