Australia captain and man-of-the-match Steve Smith praised his team's character after they saw off some stiff England resistance before trouncing the tourists by 10 wickets on day five of the series-opening Ashes Test.
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald hinted at a rejig in the top order after misfiring in the World Test Championship final defence against South Africa at Lord's.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur was at a loss for words after her team stormed into the Women's ODI World Cup final but she did make a point to say that the players have already set their sights on the summit clash and are determined to "give their best" against first-timers South Africa.
Australia have released batsman David Warner from the Ashes tour of England to join up with their A squad in Zimbabwe and South Africa, Cricket Australia said on Wednesday.
Irfan Pathan has added fresh fuel to it with a stinging remark aimed at Jasprit Bumrah, using Pat Cummins' Ashes-first approach as an example of how elite pacers should handle their schedules.
Back from a long injury lay-off, on the eve of the Women's Ashes, Healy confirmed that she would be ready to take on the wicketkeeping duties.
The three are in their mid-30s and with Cummins dealing with a lumbar bone stress injury, and Starc taking international retirement from T20s, there is a feeling the end of an era is not too far.
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.
The Bellerive Oval is one ground where the side boundaries are smaller in size, hence hitting the right lengths would be paramount considering anything short would be flying over cover, point, square leg or mid-wicket on either side of the fence.
The last time an Ashes in Australia started away from the Gabba was in 1982 when the historic foes drew at the WACA in Perth.
Daryl Mitchell's runs had steered the hosts to their victories in Tauranga and Hamilton and when he departed for 44 to leave his team still 27 runs from their target on 196-8, the English scented an unlikely victory.
England captain Andrew Strauss has advised his Australian counterpart Ricky Ponting that their usual Ashes mind games would be futile this time around.
Deepti jumps two places to 5th, Mandhana continues to hold top spot in ODI rankings
Marsh was nonetheless retained in Australia's list of contracted players released on Tuesday for the 2025/26 season in an endorsement by selectors.
Bowling coach Craig McDermott, who rejuvenated Australia's pace attack before resigning last year, will return to the role for the Test team in a major boost for the hosts ahead of the Ashes series against England.
Australia Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey termed India's thrilling win over England in the fifth Test as 'spectacular'.
The victorous Indian team sung a new victory anthem to celebrate winning their first World Cup.
Australia retained the Ashes after the fourth Test at Old Trafford was drawn on Sunday with no play possible on day five due to rain, leaving England trailing 2-1 in the series with one match to play.
Speaking about Pant, Wood highlighted the wicketkeeper-batter's fearlessness as his biggest strength.
Australia's success has been compared with some of the nation's great Test teams led by Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.
'That's great for our team and in a way Ashes are bloody hard to win. It's not going to be easy but if we were to win it, that is legacy defining stuff.'
'He should be blooded into the senior team immediately, like Sachin was all those years ago.'
Australia will also play a three-match ODI series against India ahead of the 50-over showpiece event.
'To get someone with Ashwin's credentials to come over here for the BBL will be great at so many levels.'
Stylish opener Smriti Mandhana inched closer to reclaiming the world number one spot in the ICC Women's ODI batting rankings
Legendary Brian Lara said the struggling West Indies would "find a way" in getting their act together in Test cricket if they really had "cricket at heart".
'If I wasn't going to be in the frame for 2027 then I didn't want to hold up the spot. I still feel like I've got plenty to offer that ODI team.'
David Warner will have a big Ashes and have backed him to deliver at the top of the order.
Australia retained the urn after no play was possible on day five at Old Trafford due to the wet weather
Adam Zampa wants new heroes to emerge from the Australian squad at the Champions Trophy to cover the "big loss" of the team's champion pace trio.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the fourth Ashes Test between England and Australia at Old Trafford in Manchester on Wednesday.
Former captain Michael Vaughan feels England panicked on the final day of the fifth Test against India in the absence of inspirational skipper Ben Stokes.
England batted with positive intent to take control of the final Ashes Test at The Oval on Saturday, moving on to 389-9 at the close on the third day with a 377-run lead over Australia.
Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood hopes to play in at least three Ashes Tests after declaring himself fit.
Former champion Iga Swiatek kicked off her US Open campaign with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Colombia's Emiliana Arango on Tuesday as the Pole aims to keep her hot streak on track in New York.
Former captain Heather Knight was on Thursday named in a 15-member England squad for the upcoming ICC Women's World Cup and the duo of Sarah Glenn and Danni Wyatt-Hodge also returned to the side after missing the recent series against India.
Sonny Baker's dream moment turned into an absolute walking nightmare after he went at the top of an unwanted record
Both teams have struggled in the ODI format recently. World champions Australia lost to Sri Lanka (0-2) and Pakistan (1-2) in their last two series, while England, now coached by Brendon McCullum in all formats, haven't won an ODI series since their disastrous 2023 World Cup campaign.
England's torrid run in the 50-over format has plunged to alarming depths after they lost their first ODI series to South Africa since 1998.
Australia led England by 12 runs at the end of a tense and fluctuating second day to leave the final Ashes Test at The Oval on a knife-edge on Friday.
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