Australia's historic pedigree in cricket's biggest tournaments will count for nothing when they run into an Afghanistan side that is fast cementing its place in the game's top table in the Champions Trophy match in Lahore on Friday.
Head smashed a swashbuckling hundred to fetch Australia a first innings lead of 157 at his home ground the Adelaide Oval.
'Right now I think Finchy (Aaron Finch) is doing a great job, Painey is doing a great job. So, that gives Pat Cummins the opportunity to learn and watch and sit back and see how he feels about that role and experience a few different things'
Jasprit Bumrah was left frustrated after missing out on another chance to bowl on the "spiciest wicket of the series". However, India's premier pacer emphasized that sometimes it becomes imperative for a player to respect his body.
Selectors have recalled pace stalwart Hazlewood for the second ODI after he missed the MCG match to play Sheffield Shield cricket.
'Obviously everyone is still really keen for it to go ahead, but the priority is to minimise risk of (the virus) spreading.'
Josh Inglis slammed a brilliant century as Australia completed the highest chase in an ICC men's tournament against England in Lahore on Saturday.
Josh Hazlewood, who was recalled after recovering from a side injury that ruled him out of the second Test, did not start on the ground on day four at the Gabba on Tuesday and bowled only one over before chatting to a team physio during a drinks break.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, is the other Indian giving Bumrah company in the top-10, having climbed a spot to be joint-ninth.
Starc dismantled SRH's top order with sheer pace, while Kuldeep's control in the middle overs ensured there was no way back for the batting side.
After being bundled out for 150 in their first innings, India staged a sensational fightback to humble Australia by 295 runs in the first Test in Perth on Monday
The seeds of India's defeat were sown in Melbourne, where Bumrah had to bowl 53.2 overs -- 24.4 in the second innings on the back of 28.4 in the first innings. With just three days to recover, that was an inhuman burden on a bowler who had bowled 151 overs in this series.
Uncapped McSweeney to open with Khawaja in India series
The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is likely to see bowlers playing a crucial role in the success of teams.
Australia's world number one pacer Pat Cummins finds India's middle-order mainstay Cheteshwar Pujara the toughest batsman to bowl at in Test cricket and called him a "pain in the back" for his team. With his solid batting at number three, Pujara had played an influential role in India's historic Test series triumph in Australia in 2018-19.
Tim Paine said he was living with 'his head in the sand' before the Black Lives Movement
India might move away from having three different captains for three formats. Instead, the selectors are leaning towards a structure similar to Australia's, where Pat Cummins leads the Test and ODI teams while being supported by a strong vice-captain.
"One stat stands out: 375,000 people coming through the gates in that Melbourne Test match, beating the record set 90 years ago of 350,000," Shastri said.
India's Abhishek Sharma has surged to the second spot in the ICC Men's T20I Player Rankings for batters after a stunning 135-run innings in the fifth and final T20I against England.
Pujara could get the selectors' nod if Ajit Agarkar and his team decide to fall back on his experience.
Steve Smith became the 15th member of Test cricket's 10,000-run club as he and opener Usman Khawaja smashed hundreds to help Australia rack up 330/2 on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka.
Australia pacer Pat Cummins believes that players tend to learn a lot from playing the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The ban on travellers from India by Australia had added "anxiety" for its cricketers after the Indian Premier League's suspension, Australia vice captain Pat Cummins said, as players isolated in the COVID-ravaged Asian nation on Wednesday.
He added that it is amazing to watch Head, who wants to play at the peak of his powers and at the moment.
Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey has backed Mitchell Starc to be ready for the decisive fifth and final Test of the series against India when it starts in Sydney on Friday despite doubts over the fast bowler's fitness.
Ishan Kishan made a dream start at his new IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad with a match-winning century against Rajasthan Royals.
Cummins was left to look on anxiously as the Australian side assembled near the pitch to watch the medical team attend to Karunaratne, who was stretchered off the ground and taken to hospital in a neck brace.
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.
Images from Day 1 of the first Test between Australia and India in Perth, on Friday.
Selectors will likely opt for another batter to cover for all-rounder Green in the India series and possibly an opener if Steve Smith is restored to the number four spot.
Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is on the cusp of making history after he went level with former spinner Bishan Singh Bedi for most wickets in an overseas Test series for India.
David Warner has been ruled out of the remainder of the limited-overs series against India while Pat Cummins has been rested as part of his workload management.
Paul was ruled out due to an injury in his left ankle and will remain in Antigua to continue his rehabilitation.
'I was just doing my gloves when I got the little shoulder charge, but it happens in cricket.'
Images from Day 1 of the fourth Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.
He warned the players that failure to follow his game plans would result in them being dropped from the team.
If the humiliation of India being able to declare their second innings on 487/6 reflected poorly on the bowling unit, it was the Australian batting line-up dismissed for 104 in their first innings that bore the brunt of the blame.
'Especially in the middle overs. That's going to be a key challenge.'
Cummins said a player is always under pressure to perform in professional cricket.
Their pre-tournament decision to fill the squad with five spinners drew a lot of flak from all corners, but it is now proving to be a masterstroke on the slow pitches in Dubai.
