Australia paid homage to late cricketer Philip Hughes, who died after being struck on his neck by a bouncer five years ago, with former captain Steve Smith saying that the game seemed irrelevant the day the tragedy took place.
The four-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy that promises a lot of twists and turns, engrossing sub-plots and probably career-defining performances.
Peter Siddle has been brought into Australia's squad while uncapped fast bowler Kyle Jamieson has been called into the New Zealand squad.
FIXTURES (Start at 14.40 local, 0910 IST, 0340 GMT)
One fan has got a mural painted on the wall of his home in Dalgaty Lane as a mark of tribute. And little wonder, it is slowly turning into a tourist destination.
In the cold light of defeat and without Smith's large shadow, Australia's batsmen have nowhere to hide and most head to Old Trafford in dire form.
Pat Cummins' girlfriend wants to buy dog toys with his hefty IPL pay cheque
Following is a fact box on the second Test of the four-match series between Australia and India:
The 44-year-old Ponting will work with Australia's batsmen for the May 30-July 14 tournament, with current batting coach Graeme Hick preparing the side for the Ashes tour in England, starting in August.
Warne finished his career with 708 wickets in 145 Tests
The amazing high of confidence and the sober knowledge of cricket mortality have combined to inspire Australia batsman Adam Voges to the astonishing feats of his golden summer, according to his coach Justin Langer.
Senior pacer Mitchell Starc claimed his maiden Allan Border medal, while Ashleigh Gardner became the first indigenous person to win the Belinda Clarke award, the top two honours at Cricket Australia (CA) Awards.
Former captain Ricky Ponting has become the third ex-international to take on an interim coaching role with the Australian Twenty20 team next month.
The T20 World Cup is set to be played in October-November, with Australia beginning their title defence
Napoli brush aside lowly Crotone to go third in Serie A.
Australia's World Cup squad will stop at Gallipoli in Turkey on the way to England to draw inspiration at the World War One battle site where thousands of Australian soldiers died in the ill-fated campaign.
Australia will not stay silent during their one-day series in England, the first tour since the ball-tampering scandal that rocked world cricket, captain Tim Paine said.
Following Chris Silverwood's exit, England are now on the hunt for their third head coach since 2019
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Kevin Roberts has told staff that the governing body faces a financial crisis and would not have been able to pay its bills at the end of August without layoffs, local media reported on Saturday. Cricket Australia announced plans to lay off almost 80% of staff on Thursday, putting them on 20% pay until June 30 when it is hopes more will be known about how long government curbs put in place to control the coronavirus will last.
Aaron Finch has matured immensely as a cricketer and filled the "void in terms of captaincy" in limited overs cricket, believes Australia's stand-in coach Andrew McDonald. What also helped Finch evolve as a skipper is the continuity in team selection, he pointed out.
'And I think Pat really hit that home. Let's be calm. Let's go do the basics really well and when our chance comes let's be ruthless.'
Chief selector MSK Prasad told reporters last month that most of the players in the current India side pick themselves and it was a matter of finalising a couple of slots before the World Cup in England and Wales.
Australia's one-off Test against Afghanistan and one-day series against New Zealand have been postponed to the 2021-22 season, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Friday.
Starc will travel to Adelaide with several other members of the Australian side and the Indian team on a charter flight
Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis revealed the key to getting his side over the line in a nervy Super 12 run chase against South Africa in the ongoing T20 World Cup was keeping his cool under pressure.
Former Australia batsman Mark Waugh believes the International Cricket Council should consider appointing a neutral doctor to assess players hit on the head and make the decision regarding concussion substitutes.
Later, India captain Virat Kohli said Jadeja, who was subsequently ruled out of the remainder of the series, was dizzy after the head knock.
Chahal took the field as Jadeja's concussion substitute after the left-hander was hit on the helmet while batting during India's innings at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.
Five-time World Cup winners Australia were whitewashed 5-0 by hosts England in the ODI series which concluded last month, extending their poor ODI run having won only 16 of their last 18 matches.
The England fast bowler took six wickets and scored a century for county side Sussex's second XI last week.
The problems in the hotel didn't for once affect their focus on the Test match ahead.
West Indies legend Brian Lara will team up with some of Australia's finest players like Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Justin Langer and Glenn McGrath for the Australian Legends XI, which will take on Big Bash League champions Perth Scorchers in the Festival of Cricket match in Perth on Friday.
SCG curator Adam Lewis said there is grass cover which will help pacers go hard at the batsmen.
Australia have drafted in wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade as replacement for injured Usman Khawaja ahead of Thursday's Cricket World Cup semi-final against England, the International Cricket Council said on Wednesday.
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.
Steve Smith is not expected to return to training until at least Wednesday.
Australia will start favourites in Thursday's clash but a passionate Bangladesh are expected to make life tough for the holders.
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.
'We have all played enough cricket to know what we need to do to best prepare ourselves for these sorts of tournaments.'
