Australia head into Sunday's game with a 1-0 lead after winning the opening T20 in Brisbane on Wednesday by four runs.
Australian pace legend Jeff Thomson believes Shane Watson's surprise role as a Test opener is an insult to opening batsmen across the country.
The 35-year-old had put together a record partnership of 307 runs for the sixth wicket with Brad Haddin before the wicketkeeper was caught by Paul Collingwood off the bowling of Graeme Swann for 136.
tung by the defeat in the series opener despite putting up a big score, India will have to plug their bowling loopholes when they take on Australia in the second One-Day International on Friday, fully aware that any slip-up will make their task of bouncing back difficult.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 1st Test between Australia and Sri Lanka on Thursday
Simon Katich fell eight runs short of a century as Australia finished Day 1 in the opening Test against the West Indies on 322 for 5, in Brisbane, on Thursday.
The West Indies will take on Australia in the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane without the services of key middle order batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan, who suffered a training mishap.
Cricket Australia has picked Doug Bollinger ahead of fellow pacer Stuart Clark for a spot in the 12-man squad for the first Test against West Indies at the Gabba starting next week.
Brad Haddin equalled the record for most dismissals in a Test innings by an Australian wicketkeeper during India's first innings score of 408 in the ongoing second cricket Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on Thursday.
West Indies coach Phil Simmons says it will be very tough for his side to perform in the day-night Test against Pakistan as the players do not have enough experience of playing with the pink ball.
The Barmy Army, also paid homage to the late left-hander by chanting "There's only one Phillip Hughes" to the tune of 'Winter Wonderland' during the opening session of the fifth day of the match.
Pakistan Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq has brushed aside the impression that he will take retirement from international cricket after the upcoming Australia tour, saying he is still fit and will continue to play for the country until his side needs him. "I will continue to play for Pakistan until my team needs me and there are no issues with my fitness level as I am quite fit," the Dawn quoted Misbah as saying. Meanwhile, Misbah also called on his side to put up a great performance against the Steve Smith-led team in the three-match Test series beginning at the Gabba on December 15.
The Indian team management, headed by coach Ravi Shastri, intimated the Committee of Administrators that the team will take at least 18 months to prepare for the Day-Night Test.
A defiant West Indies captain Chris Gayle has said that that he won't quit Test captaincy despite his team's humiliating innings and 44 run defeat to Australia in last week's Gabba Test.
Captain Ricky Ponting has promised to maintain Australia's aggression against the West Indies in the team's quest to climb back to the top of the ICC Test world rankings.
Mitchell Johnson's double blow left West Indies reeling at 134 for five at close of play on Day 2 of the first Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, on Friday.
Australia appear confused by picking wicketkeeper Tim Paine for the Ashes squad against England as he is not even the first choice selection for his state side, retired leg-spinning great Shane Warne said.
Ricky Ponting's woes continued as Australia were dismissed for just 214 on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand at the Gabba (Brisbane), on Thursday.
Dhawan was forced to cancel a trip to hospital for X-Rays on the injury and returned to the middle to resume his innings.
Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood said the five-wicket haul against India in his debut Test at the Gabba in Brisbane will give him "massive confidence" going ahead in his international cricket career.
England fast bowler Steven Finn has been ruled out of the Ashes series against Australia after scans showed he has torn his left knee cartilage, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Tuesday.
England will be begin their defence of the Ashes in Brisbane in November next year in the first Test of a five-match series, the England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket Australia said on Wednesday.
Factbox on Saturday's World Cup match between Australia and Bangladesh.
Maxwell closer to return, trains with Victoria
India have complained about the uneven bounce on the practice pitches at the Gabba nets after Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli were injured warming up for the fourth day of the second Test against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday.
'I do think, though, that Twenty20 cricket should become franchise dominated'
Australian coach Darren Lehmann praised his team for enduring a tough opening day of the second cricket Test at the Gabba but said he expects them to come up with a better showing against India on Thursday.
Bolstered by the return of regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India will look to regroup and fight their way back into the four-match series when they face Australia on a lively Gabba wicket in the second cricket Test starting in Brisbane on Wednesday.
- 'As a captain, I think first and foremost I'll try to lead from the front with my performance on the field' - 'It's a different kettle of fish (leading) Australia, but I'm really looking forward to the challenge'
Australia were 221 for 4 at close of play, in response to India's 408, on Day 2 of the second Test at the Gabba, on Thursday. Check out some images from the day's play.
Mitchell Johnson claimed his maiden five-wicket haul as Australia beat New Zealand by 149 runs in the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on Sunday morning. Johnson finished with five wickets for 39 runs to claim his maiden five-wicket haul. His impressive match figures of 9 for 69 earned him the man-of-the-match award as the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.
Simon Katich's unbeaten century helped Australia take control of the first Test against New Zealand at the Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday. The left-hander was left stranded on 131 as Australia were bowled out for 268 in 81.2 overs in their second innings setting New Zealand a stiff target of 327 to win the match.
Persistent rain on Friday washed out a second day's play in England's tour match against Australia A in Hobart, frustrating the tourists' hopes of getting maximum batting practice in the lead up to the first Ashes test in Brisbane.
Emotions were still too raw in the wake of the death of Phillip Hughes to make a decision on whether to go ahead with next week's first Test against India, Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said on Friday.
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will be staged in Australia and New Zealand from February 14 to March 29, and India will begin its title defence against traditional rivals Pakistan in Adelaide on February 15, the International Cricket Council announced on Tuesday.
Australia paceman Mitchell Starc is in doubt for the return Ashes series against England after suffering a stress fracture in his lower back.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first in their tri-series one-day international against Sri Lanka.
India had made an impressive total of 267 from their 50 overs but Sri Lanka never got the chance to reply as the heavens opened.
'I think personally the home country should have the right to schedule matches as it sees fit and start them at whatever time of day they want'
Young India pacer Khaleel Ahmed is learning everyday on his maiden tour of Australia and getting the much needed help from senior pro Bhuvneshwar Kumar on how to bowl on the hard and bouncy tracks Down Under.
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