Pacer Josh Hazlewood claimed career-best Twenty20 international figures of 4-12 to guide Australia to a 20-run victory over Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday, in a rain-affected opener of the five-match series.
Australia's hopes of winning back respect and moving on from a ball-tampering scandal that plunged the team into disgrace face their first test on Sunday when Tim Paine's rebuilding side meet Pakistan in the series-opener in Dubai.
With Marsh forced to sit out the opener of a three-match series, Australia called uncapped batsman Ashton Turner into the squad as cover for Saturday's Sydney Cricket Ground conTest.
Australia's new squad member Peter Handscomb will be thrust into the cauldron of Thursday's World Cup semi-final against England as replacement for Usman Khawaja, coach Justin Langer has said. Langer also confirmed that all-rounder Marcus Stoinis had passed a fitness test and was ready for Edgbaston while refusing to guarantee the mercurial Glenn Maxwell a place in the team.
The report states that a white-ball tour of England is yet to be officially confirmed but Australia's pace bowlers are 'building up their workloads for a return to play in September'
India tour is not final marker for World Cup hopefuls, says Langer
The problems in the hotel didn't for once affect their focus on the Test match ahead.
Langer's side secured their spot in the last four with a 64-run win over hosts England at Lord's on Tuesday and return to the famous north London ground on Saturday to face neighbours New Zealand in their penultimate round-robin tie.
Australia coach Justin Langer on Tuesday said India have been distinctly well-planned and disciplined, especially in bowling, so far even as his side races to address its batting woes ahead of the third match starting in Sydney on Thursday.
SCG curator Adam Lewis said there is grass cover which will help pacers go hard at the batsmen.
A groin injury has ruled David Warner out of at least the first Test against India and Australia coach Justin Langer says the temporarily vacant opening slot will go to the one who performs well for Australia 'A' in the upcoming tour games against the visitors.
Australia coach Justin Langer wants off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who has dismissed Virat Kohli seven times in Tests, to continue his good record against the India captain.
The Indian and Australian teams will continue to train in Melbourne for few more days
The third Test venue has been the subject of debate after a new community outbreak emerged in Sydney's northern beach suburbs late last week.
Langer also made it clear that his team will focus more on the skill part and look for ways to get Kohli out instead of needlessly engaging with him.
Despite the pair making certain of selection, doubts remain in other areas of captain Tim Paine's team, with opener Matt Renshaw picking up a head injury after being struck by the ball during the tour game that ended on Tuesday.
Steve Smith is not expected to return to training until at least Wednesday.
Australia's ill-tempered tour of South Africa exploded in a ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town two years ago, leading to a review of the team culture among other measures.
Former Test fast bowler Jason Gillespie was, on Thursday, appointed as Australia assistant coach for the three Twenty20 internationals against Sri Lanka in February.
Aggressive Australia all-rounder Marcus Stoinis is confident he could become the ultimate floating batsman in limited overs cricket after a successful stint opening in the Indian Premier League.
Wade could get a look in as Australia bring Handscomb; Stoinis fit for semi-final
Former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie has held talks with the England and Wales Cricket Board about coaching the national team, he said on Saturday.
Though dominating Pakistan on home soil, Australia have not beaten them away since the 2002/03 series played in Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.
According to Cricket Australia, Sachin Tendulkar and West Indies bowling great Courtney Walsh will coach the star-studded Ricky Ponting XI and Shane Warne XI teams in a charity cricket match
"We should certainly be talking about it," said Australian batting great Ricky Ponting
The MCC once again clarified that if a bowler attempts to run out a batsman at the non-striker's end, the bowler was well within his rights and it was the batter who was at fault.
'I was there, I know the truth, they were talking about Chris Rogers who was here four years ago and that is actually the truth'
The ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2009, Gambhir went on to thank his family, friends and current Australia coach and former opener Justin Langer for helping him with his batting in 2015.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke will get his first taste of coaching at the elite level against Sri Lanka later this month after being put in charge of the Prime Minister's XI for a Twenty20 match in Canberra.
Pat Cummins' girlfriend wants to buy dog toys with his hefty IPL pay cheque
His loss for even part of the series would be a huge blow to a team already missing so much batting experience because of the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal.
'I've said for years I'd like to see players and coaches take more responsibility in running the game.'
The ICC has confirmed that the Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 has approved Peter Handscomb as a replacement player for Shaun Marsh in the Australia squad for the remainder of the tournament.
Australia's rising star Will Pucovski has deactivated his social media accounts to stay away from the hype and intense speculation over his selection in the playing XI for the Test series opener against India next month.
Former Australia opening batsman Matthew Hayden said he has "dodged a bullet" after suffering a fractured bone in his neck and serious facial injuries while surfing at the weekend.
Australia's dashing all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is set to miss the beginning of the IPL after an elbow injury on Tuesday ruled him out of the upcoming ODIs and T20 Internationals in South Africa. The tour of South Africa starts on February 21. Maxwell will undergo surgery on his left elbow and will be replaced by D'Arcy Short in both squads.
Tendulkar and Courtney Walsh are set to coach the star-studded Ricky Ponting XI and Shane Warne XI, respectively, in the match organised to raise funds for victims.
David Warner may play the third Test against India even if he is short of full fitness as Australia look to the veteran opener to strengthen the top order, assistant coach Andrew McDonald said on Thursday.
Australia pace legend Glenn McGrath termed himself a traditionalist and said he is dead against the idea of shortening the five-day game to a four-day affair as proposed by the ICC. The International Cricket Council is considering introduction of four-day Tests as part of the World Test Championships from 2023, an idea which is supported by Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts.
'India were on top of their game, they deserved to beat us for the first time in their history. But our guys are two years better and a lot of the Indians are the same, more experienced. I can't wait to see them go. Can't wait.'
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