'He has not played in Australia, or at least he has not played in Perth in a Test match on a wicket that bounces.'
West Indies pace sensation Shamar Joseph, who single-handedly won a Test against Australia last month, was on Saturday roped in by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for the upcoming IPL season as replacement for England's Mark Wood.
After several losses in the early years of the new century, a resurgent India notched up two consecutive series wins in Australia to become the Aussies' nemesis.
If one has to analyse Ashwin the cricketer, it is very difficult to ignore Ashwin, the person, who had a very independent mind and a brain that probably ticked 24x7. He believed in de-construction of his art and became craftier one ball at a time.
'I remember the 1992 India-Australia World Cup game in Brisbane, which India lost by one run, and I actually remember that I cried the entire night.'
Ravichandran Ashwin said that the players will follow what the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will decide.
'That's one we need to tick off, definitely, in particular at home... we should pretty much win every series here at home.'
Such was the pain from his injury that Shamar almost didn't turn up at the ground for day four.
Australia paceman Mitchell Starc has been fined half of his match fees for throwing a ball at New Zealand batsman Mark Craig during the final day of the first Test at the Gabba.
After a high-scoring first Test in Adelaide, which India lost by 48 runs to trail the five-match series, a green-top awaits the visitors at the Gabba, starting December 17.
Images from Day 1 of the first Test between Australia and Pakistan, in Brisbane, on Thursday.
With the second Test set to start on Wednesday, here is a quick fact check on how both teams stand at the Gabba.
Mitchell Starc and Steven Smith believe that Virat Kohli is an Australian in the way he thinks, acts, and has the desire to perform in big games.
Shocked by India's criticism of the practice pitches here, Gabba's chief curator Kevin Mitchell has said that no other touring cricket team has ever complained about the tracks and insisted that they are just fine for net sessions.
Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant must remain injury-free and in top form if India are to achieve a historic hat-trick of series wins in Australia, said former captain Ian Chappell.
Ricky Ponting feels that left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed could be a valuable addition in the Indian squad
After the accident and the kind of rehabilitation that he had to go through, this knock will be right up there, says Rishabh Pant's coach Devender Sharma.
Ricky Ponting advised star batters Virat Kohli and Steve Smith to stop trying hard to rediscover their best and pushing themselves too hard and just focus on watching the ball and scoring runs.
Australia's injury woes deepened on Wednesday when a hamstring problem forced all rounder Mitchell Marsh from the pitch for treatment.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane
The Caribbean side will back themselves to spoil James Anderson's farewell Test after breaching Australia's fortress, The Gabba, earlier this year.
Lyon emphasised that the World Test Championship format removes the possibility of "dead rubbers" in individual series, ensuring that every match remains important and competitive, with every point carrying weight within the two-year cycle.
Former Australian coach John Buchanan on Thursday congratulated Jay Shah on becoming the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman and expressed hope that the incumbent Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary will be able to make all three formats of international cricket a priority for all in the age of T20 franchise cricket.
Starc currently stands as the fifth-highest wicket-taker for Australia in Test cricket, with 351 wickets to his credit.
Ashwin retains No 1 spot, Bumrah moves to 4th in ICC rankings
'The world is yet to watch him, show his prowess as a batter, but given the chance he will do a great job.'
Here are some photographs from the nets session held on Sunday...
Pant said the win against Australia in the fourth Test is one of the biggest moments of his life.
England paceman James Anderson raised concerns about potentially 'dangerous' short-pitched bowling at the tourists' tail-enders during the first Ashes Test, but his captain Joe Root said the lower order would just need to learn to 'deal with it'.
In case, Brisbane can't host the Test or Indians refuse to travel, Sydney will be the back up venue.
'There will be a lot of spice to the contest -- there is a reason India is the only team other than England against whom Australia is keen to play a five Test series.' 'I'll watch, as I suspect most fans will -- but this one time, I'll watch with considerable trepidation and, from a fan's point of view, with the hope that the team finds its feet and that right quick,' notes the distinguished cricket commentator Prem Panicker.
Any of these match ups could influence the outcome of the Perth Test.
The tourists were 11-0 off 6.1 overs when rain stopped play.
New Zealand cricketers said they were victim of crowd abuse during the first Test against Australia at the Gabba, where they were called "faggots".
Australia captain Steven Smith has no qualms about playing another day-night Test at Adelaide Oval but is wary of how the pink ball will perform in the humid conditions expected at Brisbane later this year.
England are relishing the prospect of ending Australia's 22-year unbeaten run at the Gabba in the first Ashes Test to make the best possible start to their campaign to retain the urn, captain Andrew Strauss said.
Reports of the impending demise of Mike Hussey's Test career proved a little premature on Friday when he hit 81 not out to keep Australia in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Images from Day 1 of the second Test between India and Australia played at the Gabba on Wednesday
The Ashes series will open to a packed house at the Gabba with less than 100 first-day tickets remaining on sale.
Legends Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Matthew Hayden will return to the field to launch the 2009-10 season in an All Star Twenty20 match at the Gabba in Brisbane, Cricket Australia and the Australia Cricketers' Association announced on Wednesday.
