'The pitch should have enough for the bowlers to be interested on all days of the Test.'
The selection committee of the Cricket Board (BCCI) will meet in New Delhi on Saturday to pick the Indian team for the upcoming limited-overs tour of Australia, starting January 12.
Many pundits have tipped India to end their 70-year wait for a first Test series triumph in Australia
Glenn Maxwell fights to secure Australia's number six batting spot for the Ashes series.
Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had made it clear to their Bangladesh counterparts that it will not host them on a neutral venue during the upcoming home series in January-February.
Young spinner Steven Smith won a national call up after a promising Twenty20 debut against Pakistan recently, while Mike Hussey and Nathan Hauritz have been rested for the final ODI.
Tempers flared during the second One-dayer of the ongoing cricket tri-series when Indian opener Rohit Sharma and Australian batsman David Warner got involved in a verbal exchange at the MCG, on Sunday.
Michael Clarke still has fitness tests to pass to meet his deadline to be ready for the second group match against Bangladesh.
Images from the Under-19 World Cup final between India and Bangladesh, at Potchefstroom, on Sunday
Owning property in Gurgaon is set to become more expensive with the Gurgaon Municipal Corporation planning to impose property tax.
In their bid to help the players combat with trying match situations, the Indian team management is all set to rope in noted sports psychologist Sandy Gordon with the third cricket Test against Australia starting at the MCG.
Australian openers Shane Watson and Simon Katich fell agonisingly short of centuries, but their side was in a commanding position against Pakistan on the first day of the first Test of the series at the MCG in Melbourne.
India's opener Shikhar Dhawan and vice-captain Virat Kohli have recovered from their injuries sustained during the second Test against Australia and are fit to play the third match beginning in Melbourne on December 26.
Suspended Pakistan fast bowler Rana Naved ul Hasan has rubbished reports that he deliberately 'underperformed' in the Twenty20 match against Australia at the MCG during the winless tour earlier this year.
Australia stand-in skipper David Warner has admitted that he is usually the main 'culprit' whenever there is sledging going on but added that he understands the responsibility that comes with his new role.
Australia were disappointed to miss out on the prized wicket of Virat Kohli on a tough opening day of the third Test
Australia captain Michael Clarke was left to thank his bowlers and centurion Chris Rogers for the hosts' escape in the fourth Ashes Test on Sunday, having risked his team's winning streak by opting to bowl first after winning the toss.
Australia recovered from a top order collapse in their second innings to end Day 3 in the first Test 307 runs ahead of Pakistan at the MCG on Monday. After dismissing Pakistan for 258 just before tea for a first-innings lead of 196, they were 111 for 3 at stumps.
Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan has been signed by Australian domestic club Victorian Bushrangers to play in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash competition for the 2009-10 season.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has been awarded Sir Richard Hadlee medal, the country's highest cricketing honour, for his inspirational leadership and exemplary batting at a glittering ceremony in Auckland.
With reports suggesting that the pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) would offer some help for the spinners, Pakistan are mulling over the option of playing two spinners in the first Test against Australia starting December 26.
A young Alyssa Healy grew up batting in a backyard where hitting windows meant getting out. Now, she just breaks glass ceilings. Healy is the latest in Australia's most storied cricketing lineage, with all the pluck and expectation that comes with it.
Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney struck the highest scores in ICC Women's T20 World Cup final history as record-breaking Australia secured a famous fifth title on home soil, in Melbourne, on Sunday. A record-breaking attendance for a women's cricket match of 86,174 watched on as Australia downed first-time finalists India by 85 runs at the MCG, with the openers setting the tone for a clinical performance.
Australia made it to the ICC women's T20 World Cup final, coming through a nerve-shredding semi-final against South Africa in Sydney on Thursday. They'll face India at the MCG on March 8 - International Women's Day. India's semi-final against England was abandoned without a ball bowled.
This movie does a good job of embracing the mythology of the franchise so while fans won't be disappointed, even newbies should be able to find satisfaction in the mayhem that unfolds onscreen.
Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait said that his focus on short, sharp spells is the factor behind his speed and he is confident of pushing the radar gun further.
Nathan Hauritz claimed his maiden five-wicket haul as Australia beat Pakistan by 170 runs in the first Test at the MCG on Wednesday. The off-spinner, whose previous best was four for 86, bagged two wickets in his first over after lunch to finish with 5-101 as Pakistan, chasing a world-record 422, crashed to 251 in their second innings.
Pakistan, chasing 422 to win the first Test against Australia, were 170 for 3 at stumps on Day 4. Shane Watson finally scored his first Test century, but it came only after he was dropped on 99.
Peter Siddle claimed the key wicket of Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf with the second last ball of the day to leave Pakistan struggling on 109 for 4 at stumps on Day 2 of the first Test at the MCG on Sunday.
Australian opener Simon Katich has taken some blame in the run-out that denied his partner Shane Watson a century, but insists it wasn't mind tricks that cost him his own ton on Boxing Day.
Jasprit Bumrah's form and fitness will be one of India's primary concern during the World Cup in England and the Gujarat pacer may get some well deserved rest for a few games during the twin ODI series against Australia and New Zealand.
No Indian bowler has had a better debut year in Test cricket than the young lad from the Gujarat and Mumbai Indians teams.
Ahead of their departure, the skipper shared a picture on Twitter and captioned it as: "Next stop, New Zealand."
Australia captain believes the result could have been different had Steve Smith and David Warner been available for the home side in Melbourne.
Hanuma Vihari's role as an opener is a stop-gap one and he will be given enough opportunities in his preferred middle-order spot should he fail at the top, assured chairman of selectors MSK Prasad.
Nathan Hauritz will replace fellow off-spinner Jason Krejza in Australia's playing eleven for the crucial second Test against South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne starting on Friday.
Australia has rested pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood for the remainder of the home international season which includes the remaining three ODIs of the five match series and the following three T20 internationals. The home side is already missing their premier fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Patt Cummins owing to injury, with senior paceman Mitchell Johnson announcing retirement. Pacer John Hastings has been retained as Hazlewood's replacement for the third ODI, set to take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday.
'But I will say that Australia played better cricket than us and they played more consistently. That's why then won the match. Beyond that, I don't think I need to over-analyse this game'
Australia captain Steven Smith defended his decision to declare late and concede a draw four overs early in the third Test on Tuesday, saying India had contributed to the non-result with their tactics in the morning.
