Australian batsman David Warner is confident he will be fit to face Pakistan in next week's first Test despite suffering a groin injury in the final one-day international in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
The dry and flat surface could increase the chances of the defending World champions in the second semi-final against India.
Shiv Kapur and Arjun Atwal staged a fine comeback on the back nine to take a share of the lead into the final round of the inaugural Dubai Open.
Rubbishing those claims, Clarke said 'The players are as tight as any team I've been a part of'
Just hours after his team surrendered the Ashes in abject fashion, Australia cricket coach Darren Lehmann has come under fire for turning to Twitter in search of tickets to an English Premier League soccer match.
Stuart Clark took five wickets to help Australia win the first Test against West Indies on Monday by 95 runs after bowling out the hosts for 191 at Sabina Park.
All-rounder Shane Watson has credited coach Darren Lehmann for bringing the fun factor back to the Australian dressing room and allowing the team to enjoy playing cricket once more in the 5-0 Ashes series thrashing of England.
Besides the Australian fans at Lord's Cricket Ground, most of the players had support in the form of their families and spouses.
With two confident teams going head-to-head in a blockbuster World Cup semi-final on Thursday, it could be the tiniest mis-judgement, the smallest detail that decides whether Australia or India emerge triumphant.
Australia coach Darren Lehmann added fuel to the fiery Ashes series by urging Australia fans to keep the heat on England and said he wants his own team to continue playing "aggressive, in-your-face" cricket.
Australia railed at suggestions their team resembled a 'Dad's Army' but the evidence supplied by the first four Ashes Tests against England suggests it was not an unfair moniker.
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.
Australia's dramatic collapse against South Africa at the weekend has drawn inevitable comparisons with their previous Test defeat but vanquished coach Darren Lehmann says the two losses were vastly different.
Less than a week after England sealed a 3-0 Ashes win, Australians are turning their attention to the return visit of Alastair Cook's side by painting fast bowler Stuart Broad as a cartoon villain.
Australia's cricketers have returned home from their triumphant tour of India with an unexpected problem over the make-up of their team.
West Indies kept the pressure on Australia on day three of the first Test in Bridgetown, Barbados on Monday with the tourists restricted at the close to 248 for five in 95 overs.
Australia's coach Darren Lehmann believes that a happy high-heeled WAGs makes a happy cricketer.
Peter Nevill has got the nod ahead of Brad Haddin as Australia's wicketkeeper for the third Ashes Test against England at Edgbaston, captain Michael Clarke confirmed on Tuesday.
England striker Danny Welbeck made the most of a rare start for Manchester United with a first-half double in a 3-0 win at Aston Villa on Sunday as the champions ended a run of four Premier League games without victory.
Australia won the third and final Test against West Indies by 75 runs on Friday to secure a 2-0 series win despite a valiant second innings effort from the home side.
Wives and partners of team members cheering on their men.
Factbox on Saturday's World Cup match between Australia and Bangladesh.
Steven Smith will lead Australia in Friday's tri-series match against England in absence of suspended George Bailey, Cricket Australia said on Tuesday.
Aus coach Darren Lehmann refused to blame selection errors and concedes being outplayed by England
There was general consensus in Australia on Wednesday that retaining the Ashes this year got a little bit harder after the appointment of wily compatriot Trevor Bayliss as England's new head coach.
Mickey Arthur is demanding 3.6 million dollars in compensation or reinstatement as Australia's cricket coach following his sacking last month, according documents seen by the country's Seven News TV station.
Lehmann accepted ultimate responsibility for the culture of the team.
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has warned his team to beware a backlash from a wounded Australia in the second and final Test in Abu Dhabi starting on Thursday.
Clarke has the chance to become the first Australian captain to win an Ashes series on foreign soil since Steve Waugh in 2001.
Australian coach Darren Lehmann wrote an inspiring and emotional email to his players before what is sure to be a special first Test.
Australia coach Darren Lehmann admitted his players have been watching videos of Virat Kohli and his team mates for months but are yet to work out how to combat the India skipper.
Australia's head cricket coach Darren Lehmann hopes the test team can avenge the Wallabies' Rugby World Cup final defeat by the All Blacks with a victory in the series opener in Brisbane starting this week.
Australia's Triple M radio station will pay the fine imposed on national cricket coach Darren Lehmann for disparaging comments he made about England's Stuart Broad in an interview with the broadcaster.
The former Test batsman clearly played a part in trying to cover up the cheating by getting word to Bancroft that his use of some tape to try and scuff up one side of the ball had been spotted by the television cameras.
A more team-oriented US Ryder Cup squad took care of business on Sunday, completing a 17-11 thumping of Europe to snap a losing streak and validate changes in their approach to golf's top team competition.
With Steven Smith now helming the Australian affairs, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni returning from injury, the 2nd Test at Gabba, starting Tuesday, will shed light on the mindset of the two leaders.
Australia great Shane Warne accused selection chief Rodney Marsh of "panic" and poor decision-making during the Ashes campaign against England.
Australia named an unchanged squad on Monday for the second and final Test against New Zealand in Adelaide which starts on Friday.
Australia have defied expectations with their fight in India but with all to play for in the final Test in Dharamsala, Steve Smith's team would not leave happy with a drawn series, according to former wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist.
'We hope the boys can find the inner strength to play the game in the way Phillip would have wanted in Adelaide' 'We left a bit of heart in Macksville yesterday'
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