Number 11 Ashton Agar made an astonishing record 98 on debut as Australia seized control of the first Ashes Test against England on a wildly fluctuating second day at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
Australia, who are searching for their maiden T20 title, enter the tournament on the back of a horrific run, losing bilateral series to Bangladesh, West Indies, New Zealand, India and England.
'T20 is a hard format. We are excited for what is to come.'
Media reports have said pace spearhead Pat Cummins, opener David Warner and several others might miss the tours after returning home following the abrupt suspension of the Indian Premier League last month.
Ahead of the second test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series, Australian skipper Pat Cummins admitted that it has been a bit of an adjustment and the spinners were struggling.
If picked in the final 15-man team, the 21 year old will be the first Indian origin cricketer to represent Australia in the World Cup.
With the Sydney Cricket Ground having a history of assisting spin from third day onwards, Australian left-arm orthodox Ashton Agar is hoping to get picked in the XI and play his part in the fourth and final Test against India starting January 6.
'It's hard for me not to think, you know, as a man of faith, that there's not someone else pulling the strings.'
Images from Day 1 of the third Test between Australia and South Africa at the SCG on Wednesday.
The two teams last met in the ODI World Cup in 2023. It was in Mumbai where Glenn Maxwell had played a once-in-a-generation knock to notch up a sensational double hundred while battling cramps all over his body, with Pat Cummins in tow who provided sturdy support from the other end.
IMAGES of the T20 World Cup warm up match played between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane on Monday
Australia will aim to secure a Super Eight berth when they face lower-ranked Namibia
He is all of 19 and has an accumulated experience of just two first-class matches but teen spinner Ashton Agar could get a Test debut for Australia in the upcoming four-match series against India starting February 22 in Chennai.
Opener David Warner and all-rounder Mitch Marsh will be rested for the five-match Twenty20 International series against Sri Lanka next month to prepare for the upcoming tour of Pakistan.
On Thursday afternoon, class XI student Sameer Khan was making life difficult for the 6'4" tall Marcus Stoinis during Australia's net session ahead of the opening ODI against India.
The seat will be put up for auction. After the game, Maxwell signed the seat so it can be auctioned off for charity.
Australia paceman Mitchell Starc is being monitored by medical staff after being hit by a ball just above his knee during training ahead of their T20 World Cup match against Sri Lanka, the team said on Thursday.
Poor application and their failure to build substantial partnerships was the reason for India's downfall while chasing a target of 270 in the third ODI against Australia, said captain Rohit Sharma.
Though dominating Pakistan on home soil, Australia have not beaten them away since the 2002/03 series played in Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.
A washout in England-Namibia game in the same group will see Scotland go through.
Australia's cricketers are getting help from sprint legend Usain Bolt to boost their running between the wickets for the upcoming Ashes Test series against England.
A controversial incident involving England's Stuart Broad was played down by players from both sides after a gripping third day of the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge on Friday.
Will Rohit Sharma get one final opportunity to salvage his Test career?
Australia coach Darren Lehmann has accused England's Stuart Broad of "blatant cheating" and called on fans to send the fast bowler home from the return Ashes series in tears.
If, as many anticipate, off-spinner Nathan Lyon returns to the Australia side for the third Ashes Test against England this week it would be just the latest unlikely chapter in a career which already has the flavour of a tale of the unexpected.
Former West Indies bowler Michael Holding has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ban England's Stuart Broad for his refusal to walk after being caught out on the day three of the first Ashes Test.
Former Australian spinner Shane Warne is currently in Las Vegas with girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley and has tweeted his support for Australian debutant Ashton Agar, even as the cricketer spent most of his time beside the pools and poker tables of Vegas.
Collingwood 'amazed' by questions about Root's captaincy
'I'd really like to see Alex Carey bat at six and Australia pick five bowlers'
England's Stuart Broad has defended his decision not to walk in the most controversial incident of the first Ashes series this year, suggesting the huge row blew up because Australia had "wasted" their two referrals.
Images from the Champions League T20 match between Mumbai Indians and Perth Scorchers in Delhi, on Wednesday.
The four-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy that promises a lot of twists and turns, engrossing sub-plots and probably career-defining performances.
Struggling Australia have turned to Shane Warne to help their spinners ahead of the make-or-break third Ashes Test at Old Trafford.
England will be looking to bounce back from a rain-affected opening match and solidify their T20 World Cup campaign
Australia have won only four Test series in India in three quarters of a century of touring the country, the last coming in 2004.
Pat Cummins will not play the third Test against India in Indore starting March 1
Tanveer Sangha, the son of Indian immigrants, shot into the World Cup selection frame with a stellar, four-wicket debut for Australia.
Australia's opener Matt Renshaw tests positive for COVID-19, will feature in Sydney Test against South Africa
Steve Smith and David Warner's first batting partnership on home soil since their ball-tampering suspensions helped Australia to a series-sealing nine-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Brisbane.
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