Monty Panesar captured five wickets on his Ashes debut to help England bowl out Australia for 244 on the opening day of the third Test.
England declared their first innings on 551-6.
Australia's senior cricketers are playing down suggestions they might retire en masse if they win back the Ashes.
The focus will be on K L Rahul's form and fitness when he returns after a quadriceps injury lay-off to lead Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL 2024 opener against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on Sunday.
Current Board member Baird has received the unanimous endorsement from fellow CA directors and state chairs to take up the charge next February, making him the fourth chair in less than 18 months.
FIXTURES (Start at 14.40 local, 0910 IST, 0340 GMT)
Australia rode on Phil Jaques's maiden Test century to post a handsome 242 for 3 on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka.
Australia's Phil Jaques will replace the retired Justin Langer in the first Test against Sri Lanka.
Australia Test skipper Tim Paine has tipped Marnus Labuschagne to be a future captain and says the top-order batsman's natural leadership qualities make him a great fit for the role.
The match is being held in Perth. This is Zimbabwe's first Test in Australia.
Justin Langer is sweating over the fitness of David Warner but insists he will take no chances over the health of his opener. Australia kick off their ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 campaign against Afghanistan in Bristol on Saturday, with Warner hoping to shake off an injury to his glute muscle.
Australia put up a convincing performance against Northamptonshire in the tour game to sound a warning to their Ashes opponent
Australia could find it difficult to retain their dominance in world cricket when the current squad retires, according to Test opener Justin Langer.
The 37-year-old Australian opener said he still has more to achieve and must keep scoring runs.
The ace leg spinner claimed 5-39 as England collapsed to 159 all out on the first day of the fourth Test.
All-rounder Andrew Symonds retained his place along with seamer Mitchell Johnson, who was the 12th man in Perth.
Australia are 119 for one in their second innings, 148 runs ahead of England on day two.
Australia beat England by six wickets with 19 balls to spare on an extraordinary final day to win the second Test and take a 2-0 lead in the Ashes series.
"Make 700 and bowl them out for under 150 on the last day," Buchanan told a news conference when asked about his team's strategy.
Australia's cricketers have scoffed at suggestions their ageing team is too old to win back the Ashes from England.
Jacques Kallis became the first South African batsman to top the PricewaterCooper list in their latest ratings of Test cricketers.
Pakistan were struggling on 18 for one in their second innings, chasing 564 to win after Australia declared their second innings at 361 for five.
Pakistan were bowled out for 174 in their second innings as they lost to Western Australia by 10 wickets.
Justin Langer said the contest would likely be an exciting one thanks to the two teams being evenly-matched.
Australia ended day 1 of the second Test against South Africa on 228 for five
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After restricting the Proteas to 296 in their first innings, Australia were 38 for 1 in their second essay.
The prospects of any further play were gloomy with thunderstorms forecast for the afternoon.
Australia were 229 for three in their first innings, trailing West Indies by 176 runs
Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden put Australia in a strong position at lunch on day two of the second Test against Bangladesh.
The more Shane Warne demons we can get in England's dressing room the better, said Justin Langer
