Travis Head scored his second successive hundred while veteran Steve Smith wore the opposition down with a statement century to put Australia in control
Shubman Gill's thumb fracture is certainly a "jolt" for India ahead of the series opener against Australia
Australia vice captain Travis Head backed on Thursday the idea of playing the entire Test series against India in a 'bio-secure' Adelaide Oval to ensure the lucrative fixture goes ahead later this year. Cricket Australia (CA) is banking heavily on the series, reportedly worth A$300 million ($195 million) in revenue, to help it cope with a financial crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.
Key players, such as pacer Mitchell Starc, are hitting form at the right time, while star batter Steve Smith is facing early setbacks in his preparations.
'It's a hugely important series and after the year everyone had it is going to bring a huge amount of joy to cricketing fans.'
'Guys like Rishabh Pant have got a muscle memory and the thirst for victory.' 'He was such a key player last time he played there and the Australian public loved him as well, because of the nature of the way he played his game.'
Images from Day 4 of the third Test between Australia and India in Brisbane on Tuesday.
All eyes will be on star India batter Virat Kohli, who is perhaps battling the biggest form crisis of his career.
Virat Kohli is well aware of the obsessive focus on him in Australia right now
Premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah was on Friday named vice-captain of India for the upcoming three-match home Test series against New Zealand, strongly indicating his possible elevation to the leadership role when the team travels to Australia from next month.
The blockbuster five-match Test series between India and Australia will get underway at Perth's Optus Stadium on November 22, the venue replacing Adelaide Oval as the national cricket board's preferred choice for the season opener.
In case Rohit misses a Test match in Australia, the in-form Abhimanyu Easwaran is likely to be his cover although Shubman Gill and KL Rahul are also players with enough experience in the opening slot.
Ashwin's legacy, marked by his intellect and dominance on the field, will resonate for years to come.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli thwarted Australia in a diligent partnership to push India to a position of strength and a 166-run lead at the close of day three of the first Test.
Cricket Australia still in the dark over Australia vs India day-night Test
Wriddhiman Saha's superior glovework may be given preference over Rishabh Pant's blazing blade in India's opening day-night Test against Australia, starting at the Adelaide Oval from Thursday.
2024 saw some of the most competitive and captivating cricket being played on the field.
Australia have lost their last four Test series against India, including two successive defeats at home.
Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Steve Smith in his first over, caught in the slips as the right-hander edged the delivery which went straight on, on Day 2 of the first Test.
If one has to analyse Ashwin the cricketer, it is very difficult to ignore Ashwin, the person, who had a very independent mind and a brain that probably ticked 24x7. He believed in de-construction of his art and became craftier one ball at a time.
India will be under tremendous pressure when they face an equally circumspect Australia in a battle of two out-of-form batting units in the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth
Officials in Australia said they were worried after a modest 23,802 turned out for the opening day of the Test series in Adelaide on Thursday, the lowest day-one attendance since the venue was redeveloped in 2013. 'We hope that the sentiment from fans is something India can see'
Two games at the makeshift Nassau County Cricket Stadium, including India's opening fixture against Ireland, have got an "unsatisfactory" rating from the game's governing body which remains bullish on promoting cricket in the United States.
Aryna Sabalenka claimed her third Grand Slam title after winning the Australian Open twice.
'He has not played in Australia, or at least he has not played in Perth in a Test match on a wicket that bounces.'
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.
'It'll be very much a battle again between the very good pace bowling attacks of both sides and how well the top order players of both sides can deal with the ball that will bounce, seam and probably swing a little bit more in the day-night game in Adelaide.'
The pitch in Guyana has favoured the bowlers in the past by slowing down as the game goes on.
'When we go to Australia, they play India only at five Test centres. They don't play us in Canberra. They don't play us at any of the other venues where they won't be very familiar with the conditions. So do England'
Legendary Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist believes Nepal and the Netherlands could surprise teams like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Going into the final Test against South Africa, Australia are staring at the lowest ebb in their 140-year cricketing history.
India captain Virat Kohli questioned his team's batting mindset in the second innings after their embarrassing capitulation inside three days of the opening day-night Test against Australia on Saturday.
"... they're (India) up against a really talented young Australian cricket team who have got plenty to prove'
Mayank Yadav should be on the plane to Australia if Mohammed Shami is not available for selection, asserted Brett Lee, one of the most destructive fast bowlers of all time, who has high hopes from the Indian pace sensation on the true, bouncy wickets Down Under.
'We are expecting him (Dhoni) to be 100 percent in the next few days.' 'It's a big moment for me personally'
'We only felt that it has never happened before, I don't think it will ever happen again. It was a freak inning'
Should India bolster its batting by including Rohit Sharma at No 6? Pick India's playing XI for the first Test.
Reader Sumit Mahajan sent us this picture from Adelaide.
Ricky Ponting advised star batters Virat Kohli and Steve Smith to stop trying hard to rediscover their best and pushing themselves too hard and just focus on watching the ball and scoring runs.
No sooner had the match ended, social media was abuzz with congratulatory messages for the team.
