'When Nathan Lyon was bowling I saw two or three balls without any drift. So, I thought of taking on Lyon so that we get some quick runs.'
Rauf said had Hardik Pandya or Dinesh Karthik hit him like that, he would have felt 'hurt'.
India opener Shafali Verma said her no-holds-barred approach goes well with Smriti Mandhana's elegance.
The Segway scooter claimed another victim at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday when it clean bowled former Australia wicketkeeper Ian Healy shortly before the third day of the first Test against India.
All eyes will be on star India batter Virat Kohli, who is perhaps battling the biggest form crisis of his career.
Australia were 133 for six at stumps on Day 3 of the second Test against India in their second innings, a lead of two runs, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
'Going into Brisbane, India need a tight strategy for Travis Head and they need to get Akash Deep in and maybe Ravindra Jadeja for Ashwin.'
Saiyami Kher shares her travel diaries from her recent trip to Australia.
CA's head of scheduling Peter Roach acknowledged said they are not averse to idea of hosting on tri-series ODI, involving India and Pakistan, like it happened back in 1999-2000 season, though he admitted that it will be difficult to squeeze in a series in an already choc-a-bloc calendar.
He doesn't enthral with his willow anymore, but Sachin Tendulkar got the loudest cheer at the presentation ceremony of the ICC World Cup final as he shared the dais with administrative bigwigs.
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.
Australia wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey is not interested in specialising in long-form work, although he is hoping for another Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) hundred when hosts take on Pakistan in the second Test, saying that "plenty of ODI and T20 cricket is still left in him."
'Personally, I think I'm really happy for a few reasons... the one main reason is it is the best that I felt like I have bowled for a little while'
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is in danger of losing its annual Boxing Day Test this year because of delays with redevelopments at the ground.
Sri Lanka beat Australia by nine runs to book a berth in the tri-series finals in Melbourne on Friday. Chasing Sri Lanka's modest total of 238, the home side was bundled out for 229 in 49.1 overs.
'In terms of Boxing Day, it's one of the most iconic events in the Australian sporting calendar, and we are working full steam ahead'
Spin great Shane Warne will soon have himself immortalized in a bronze statue outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground, joining 10 other Australian sports stars.
Local newspapers pulled no punches after Australia's 'worst cricketing day for 100 years'. England bowled the hosts out for 98 in front of 84,000 fans at the MCG and then scored 157 without loss on the opening day of the fourth Ashes Test.
Lyon emphasised that the World Test Championship format removes the possibility of "dead rubbers" in individual series, ensuring that every match remains important and competitive, with every point carrying weight within the two-year cycle.
While the classy band of Mark Taylor, Michael Clarke and Ian Healy went about their job on a routine day of cricket, they were left surprised when Hollywood's Australian and heartthrob of women the world over, Hugh Jackman dropped into the commentary box at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test played between Australia and New Zealand at the MCG on Friday.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the first Test against Australia in Perth?
Cheteshwar Pujara struck a classy century and combined with captain Virat Kohli (82) to put India in control on the second day.
As the fans world over eagerly await Sachin Tendulkar's 100th international ton, punters Down Under have placed the bets on the Master Blaster getting to the elusive mark in the series-opener against Australia, starting in Melbourne on December 26.
The dawn of a new era had begun under Sourav Ganguly's aggressive leadership. With Ganguly and Coach John Wright at the helm India had transitioned into a force to be reckoned with.
His banter with Virat Kohli became a talking point in the Perth Test and Australian captain Tim Paine was at it again from behind the stumps with Rohit Sharma at the receiving end, during Day 2 of the third Test in Melbourne.
Former England cricketer Nasser Hussain showered praise on Kohli.
Those three wickets for six runs, in a manic final 15 minutes of the day's play, undid all the good work that had gone before, asserts Prem Panicker.
Photographs have emerged of Australian cricketers Michael Clarke and Phillip Hughes drinking at a Melbourne bar well into the night on the eve of their humiliating Ashes series defeat at the MCG.
rediffGURU Dr Karthiyayini offers expert advice on how you can manage your overall health and fitness.
At this point it is still anyone's game, with a draw also an option, says Prem Panicker in his analysis of Day 4.
A few bruised egos will eye redemption when India square off against Australia in the second Test in Melbourne from Saturday, ready to bounce back in skipper Ajinkya Rahane's hour of reckoning after their batting debacle in the series opener in Adelaide.
'I am not against technology in the game. But if it brings doubt and confusion, it is not acceptable. Some decisions were not understandable. The ball hitting the stumps is always out. I will never understand why there is an umpire's call.'
The Australian skipper celebrated Christmas with wife Becky Boston and their son Albie.
MCG moved to improve the playing surface after receiving the negative rating from ICC following last year's drawn Test against England, when only 24 wickets fell in five days.
India turned in a fine all-round show to beat Australia by 27 runs in the second Twenty20 International and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, on Friday.
History has not seen a cricketing rivalry as fierce as this this century, every ball bowled every run taken, coming with no quarter given. Ahead of India's five Test tour of Australia, Norma Astrid Godinho/Rediff.com takes a walk down memory lane, recounting India's sojourns Down Under from 1947 to 2021, in a 4-part series.
Batsman Shaun Marsh struck a fighting half-century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday to drive Australia to a commanding 326-run lead over India at the close of day four.
Maxwell battled cramps and severe pain to score a scintillating double century
