Team India, set for a gruelling tour of Australia, looked in top gear as they practiced diligently during a nets session on the eve of the first Test in Adelaide on Monday.
Rohit Sharma has now led India to the third global final in last 12 months.
Former Australian paceman Geoff Lawson feels Ricky Ponting is self-indulgent and says the batsman should have announced his retirement from after the Adelaide Test against India last month.
Lleyton Hewitt opened 2008 in convincing fashion on Tuesday as he cruised past Israeli Dudi Sela 6-2 6-2 in the first round of the Adelaide International.
Paine has also been recently announced as an assistant coach for Australia A ahead of their upcoming series against New Zealand A which is set to begin next week.
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.
The 37-year-old spat blood and was feeling his jaw before leaving the ground.
Reader Amith Uppal sent us this picture from Chennai.
Just outside the Oval, a combination of Indian origin fans gathered to honour their heroes. There was a combination of Indian style dances and Bollywood music played on the stage as the crowd waited for the team to arrive.
Australia's iconic Adelaide Oval is to undergo a A$535 million ($585 million) redevelopment into a multi-purpose stadium that its custodians hope will be finished in time for England's next Ashes tour.
Temporary drop-in pitches prepared by Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough will be used for the upcoming T20 World Cup games in the USA with the ICC building a temporary seating gallery of 34,000 capacity for the marquee game between India and Pakistan in New York on June 9.
The result in the first Test against Australia was expected, if one takes a look at India's recent, or overall, record overseas. What was unexpected, though, says Bikash Mohapatra, was the Virat Kohli-led side's change of attitude.
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 on Saturday.
The Adelaide Oval was 'under virtual siege' as Indian fans took complete control of the city, outnumbering their Pakistani counterparts in Sunday's marquee clash between the arch-rivals in the ICC World Cup.
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.
Apart from Renshaw's inclusion in place of Warner, there are no changes to the squad which beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the third and final test to sweep the series 3-0 last week.
The raucous chants Jeetega bhai Jeeetega Hindustan Jeetega was met with the counter Jeetega bhai jeetega Pakistan Jeetega.
The top seed was overpowered 6-4, 6-2 by Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals of the Adelaide International.
Rain threatens high-voltage India-England semi-final clash
In a groundbreaking move, the ongoing season of the Big Bash League unveiled the 'Electra Stumps'.
Tommy Paul led a parade of seeded players into the quarterfinals on Wednesday at the Adelaide International in Australia.
'I'm pretty sure all the fans across various teams are quite excited and looking forward to this tournament. And also as players (we) can't wait to get started.'
Sue Redfern is poised to make history as the inaugural ICC-appointed female neutral umpire
The departed cricketer was named his national team's '13th man' as the first Test between India and Australia started in Adelaide on an emotional note.
'I'm looking forward to the challenge, and I've got some confidence going into the game definitely.'
South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis silenced the boos of the Adelaide crowd with a defiant century before declaring on 259 for nine and giving his bowlers a crack at Australia in the final hour of the opening day of the day-night third Test on Thursday.
Flamboyant all-rounder Glenn Maxwell actually lost consciousness and did not respond to efforts to wake him up before he was rushed to hospital after a late night drinking session in Adelaide last week, according to a report.
Shamar Joseph dismissed the formidable Steve Smith with his very first delivery in Test cricket.
Third umpire Nigel Llong made an incorrect call after using video technology to review an appeal during the day-night test between Australia and New Zealand in Adelaide, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Tuesday.
India were facing with a herculean task of preventing a 'whitewash' after conceding a huge first innings lead of 332 runs in the fourth and final Test in Adelaide on Thursday. India folded up for 272 in the first innings. Australia were 50 for three in the second innings enjoying an overall lead of 382 to further consolidate their poistion and push for a 4-0 rout.
Indian paceman Ishant Sharma may be dropped for the Adelaide Test as the side may opt for two spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha and two seamers.
A confident and well-adjusted India would look to capitalise on an unpredictable Pakistan during Sunday's T20 World Cup match.
The 123-match veteran, affectionately nicknamed 'The GOAT'
'USA Cricket continues its instrumental work in supporting our national players and equipping youth and local communities with the tools they need to succeed in this sport.'
The Nassau County ground's pitch in New York has become a concern in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
IMAGES from the semi-final match between India and England played at the Providence Stadium, in Guyana on Thursday.
It is usually a sign of a day with few redeeming features when a coach rather than a player faces the media after play and Sunday's appearance of England's Trevor Bayliss was no exception.
Australia paceman Ryan Harris will be holding nothing back in the second Ashes Test against England this week even if his injury track record suggests he will struggle to play all five Tests in the series.
