Australia trail 1-0 in the five-Test series against India after being thrashed in the Perth opener by 295 runs.
Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood hopes to play in at least three Ashes Tests after declaring himself fit.
Cowper played 27 Tests for Australia between 1964 and 1968, scoring five centuries including a 12-hour 307 off 589 balls
Karun Nair has managed only 131 runs across six innings at a below-par average of 21.83, in the first three Tests against England.
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.
England Test captain Ben Stokes hopes he can become a dominant force with both bat and ball again when the all-rounder returns from hamstring surgery.
Australian wicketkeeper-batsmen Matthew Wade announced his retirement from international cricket and a move into coaching on Tuesday.
Atkinson, who is playing his first Test of the series following a hamstring strain, said that he is "ready to push the limits" in case Woakes does not take any further part.
With 10 centuries in just 54 innings over the past two and a half years, Root has gone past Sir Alastair Cook as England's highest Test run-scorer.
A "devastating" omission after below-par performances in the Border-Gavaskar series notwithstanding, opener Nathan McSweeney has not given up hope of returning to Australia's Test setup, saying he will try his luck as a long-term replacement for Usman Khawaja once the batting stalwart retires.
List of Wimbledon women's singles champions after Iga Swiatek beat Amanda Anisimova in the final on Saturday:
The spotlight in the World Test Championship Final is on the electrifying duel between Australia's batting mainstay Steve Smith and South Africa's pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada.
The ground brought sanity to the wild, soaring numbers for the batters in the series. The wicket had grass, and it made the batters struggle.
This series begins a potentially era-defining period for Stokes and England coach Brendon McCullum, having enjoyed plenty of highs and lows over the past few years, with the Ashes series in Australia next up in the Test format, starting in November.
While defending totals of 350 or more in 59 Tests, India have won 42, with their sole defeat coming against England at Edgbaston in 2022.
The twin retirements mean India will not only have a new captain at the helm but will be without two of their most experienced players.
Pat Cummins could win the Ashes in England if Australia emerge victorious in the second Test, feels pace legend Glenn McGrath.
Australia finished second in the league table during the 2023-25 WTC cycle, behind South Africa, having claimed 67.54 per cent of the points on offer to them.
The five-match Test series against India at home will be a massive Test for England's 'Bazball' brand of cricket under skipper Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.
Former England captain Vaughan said Australia should consider having Mitchell Marsh open with Khawaja.
Images from Day 3 of the second Ashes between England and Australia at Lord's.
Australia's capitulation in Perth triggered damning assessments of the team's performance in home media.
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen on Saturday rated Protea opener Aiden Markram's measured hundred against Australia in the World Test Championship final as the "best innings" by a South African batter in Test matches.
The five-match Test series against India at home is a massive test for England's 'Bazball' brand of cricket under skipper Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.
England have named two uncapped players in Essex duo Sam Cook and Jordan Cox in the squad for the one-off Test match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge later this month.
Former England skipper Alastair Cook backed Ollie Pope to retain the No. 3 spot in the batting line-up ahead of Jacob Bethell during the upcoming five-match Test series against India.
Images from Day 1 of the fifth and final Ashes Test between England and Australia at The Oval in London on Thursday.
Limping Bavuma, Markram lead South Africa to brink of history.
Former opener Justin Langer offered an interesting hypothesis on Australia's Ashes debacle, saying the visitors came a cropper against England because of their pace bowlers' lack of height.
India ended an 11-year-long ICC Trophy drought, beating South Africa by seven runs to claim the ICC T20 World Cup title for the second time on June 29 last year, in Barbados.
It was crucial for Shubman Gill to score truckload of runs to call the shots as skipper, former India batter Dilip Vengsarkar said in Mumbai on Wednesday.
If history is anything to go by, Leeds always has room for a little magic.
Australia's mouthwatering clash with India sees the two behemoths of the modern game go head-to-head in five tests over six weeks with the tourists eyeing a third straight series triumph Down Under.
Australia's Khawaja reins in 'Little Uzzie' to set up Ashes run chase
The interest is huge and we have to recognise that, says CA chief Bob Merriman.
'What hurt me was when I met his daughter and I was talking to her with a lot of love and she said, "I don't want to talk to you. You hit my father".'
Ex-coach Lehmann unhappy with Australia not playing tour games ahead of WTC final, Ashes
Australia's pacemen Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins ripped out England's top order with a masterclass of textbook bowling to put their side in sight of a 2-0 Ashes lead on Saturday.
The 33-year-old Stokes had surgery on his left hamstring in December after suffering a tear during the third Test against New Zealand, which ruled him out of action for a prolonged period.
'We cannot say suddenly that Crawley and Pope have solved the technical and mental issues that have dogged their careers because the Zimbabwe bowling was so average.'
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances