Two teams with fault lines in their batting, up against two of the best bowling sides in the game today -- the question that determines the outcome is, is your weakness greater than mine?
'I think if you asked us at the start of the day if we'd take losing the toss and India being 9 for 250 at stumps, I think we'd bite your arm off'
Australia have cut opening batsman Ed Cowan and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade from their list of 18 centrally-contracted players, but handed opener Phillip Hughes another chance to establish himself in the national set-up.
Usman Khawaja said it was "really frustrating" for players to lose their match fees despite delivering entertaining matches.
Australia's Khawaja reins in 'Little Uzzie' to set up Ashes run chase
'A year ago, if you told me we were coming here I would have been very confident, they were struggling a fair bit, the batting looked like they weren't really sure how to go about it.'
Uncapped Australian batsman Usman Khawaja has been brought into the squad for this week's first Ashes test after vice captain Michael Clarke failed to train because of a bad back on Monday.
Australian opener Ed Cowan, middle-order batsman Usman Khawaja and IPL's million-dollar man Glenn Maxwell will be eyeing to get some batting practice in their first two-day warm-up match against the Board President's XI, in Chennai, on Tuesday.
IMAGES from Day 5 of the 5th Ashes Test played between England and Australia at The Oval, London, on Sunday.
Abdullah said they are claiming that terrorism is over but the ground situation shows that it has increased in otherwise peaceful Jammu region.
Cricket's decision review system was further dragged through the mire on Thursday after another controversial decision in the third Ashes Test with the irate Australian board and even Prime Minister Kevin Rudd weighing in.
Lyon celebrates 500 wickets as Australia thrash Pakistan by 360 runs
'It's going to have take something pretty serious to have me miss a game.'
All-rounder Cameron Green thwarted New Zealand with a sparkling, unbeaten century after the hosts' seamers threatened to dominate the opening day of the first Test against Australia in Wellington on Thursday.
Three fielders on the off and three on the on, all close to the stumps, designed to intimidate the batter and get him out.
Images from Day 3 of the first Test between Australia and India in Perth on Sunday.
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.
Images from Day 1 of the second Test between India and Australia, at the Arun Jaitley stadium, in Delhi, on Friday.
Cameron Green brought up his half-century in the first over of the second day's play as his attacking knock continued to frustrate the Indian bowlers in the fourth and final Test.
Australia captain Aaron Finch will miss the third and final T20 International against India in Sydney on Sunday because of a left hamstring injury he suffered, on Friday, and he will be replaced in the squad by Usman Khawaja.
'A few of them throwing out some pretty big allegations and I just called them up on it and they kept going.'
Usman Khawaja showed enough in his first Test match innings for Australia on Monday to suggest he may be around for quite a while, even if he is convinced he is only keeping a place warm for Ricky Ponting.
'A fast bowler that is bowling 124 (kmph) and he's got a mouth from the south'
Kohli was seen gifting his India kit to Australia batter Usman Khawaja and wicket-keeper Alex Carey.
David Warner became a bit 'weary' after being knocked on the head by a Mohammed Siraj bouncer on day one of the second Test.
Opener David Warner brushed aside any doubts about his Test match pedigree on Thursday with a brutal 164-run assault on Pakistan's bowlers.
Usman Khawaja is not comfortable at being called the first Muslim to play Test cricket for Australia but has no issues if he is known as the first Pakistani-born player to wear the baggy green cap.
Images from Day 3 of the second Ashes between England and Australia at Lord's.
Images from Day 5 of the first Ashes Test between England and Australia at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham on Tuesday.
David Warner made 34 in what is likely to be his penultimate innings in the long form of cricket as Australia reached 116 for two on the rain-disrupted second day of the third Test against Pakistan on Thursday.
Ed Cowan will open the batting on his debut for Australia in next week's first Test against India after being included in an extended squad announced on Wednesday.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the opening Test played between Australia and Pakistan in Perth on Saturday.
Australia's bowlers struck twice in quick succession in a devastating spell against England at Edgbaston on Sunday, before heavy rain prevented any further play.
'It's certainly there, the way that they want to play, this bold new approach to Test match cricket, trying to make bold decisions at any stage in the game where they can.'
Australia bowled out West Indies for 188 at Adelaide Oval on Day 1 of the first Test on Wednesday.
Shoaib Bashir, who is of Pakistani heritage, is one of three uncapped players named in the England squad for the Test series in India.
Apart from Renshaw's inclusion in place of Warner, there are no changes to the squad which beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the third and final test to sweep the series 3-0 last week.
Ponting called for an investigation into the ball change and now the owner of Dukes' ball is set to launch an internal probe into the row.
The touring side under Pat Cummins is not scheduled to play any tour games in between Tests, and Healy thinks that could hurt Australia's chances in the crucial series.
Former Australia player Shane Watson said star all-rounder Cameron Green has all the means to succeed as a Test opener.
