Australia named five uncapped players in a raw tour squad to play Pakistan in a Test series in the United Arab Emirates, while recalling pace veteran Peter Siddle for the first time in two years and dropping middle order batsman Peter Handscomb.
Opener David Warner brushed aside any doubts about his Test match pedigree on Thursday with a brutal 164-run assault on Pakistan's bowlers.
Ishan Kishan jumps 10 places to 23rd, Hooda re-enters top 100
IMAGES from the match between Australia and The Netherlands, played in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Windies were restricted in their second innings by economical seamer Josh Hazlewood (3-23) and spinner Nathan Lyon (3-42).
With the return of Smith and Warner, and the presence of the solid Labuschagne, the Australian captain reckons 'we'll be a different kettle of fish'.
Kuldeep showed signs of return to peak form when he bamboozled the Australian batters
Australia batsman Steve Smith has had plenty of ups and downs in his career which probably prepared him for when his evening plans were ruined on Thursday after being trapped in an elevator between floors for 55 minutes before he was rescued.
Stuart Broad picked up the final two wickets in his last appearance for England to guide the hosts to a series-levelling 49-run victory in the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia.
'...there'll be nerves and a bit of pressure, but that's all part of it, and I'm just excited to see what it all brings.'
Former Australia player Shane Watson said star all-rounder Cameron Green has all the means to succeed as a Test opener.
India were struggling at 128 for 5 in their second innings, still trailing Australia by 29 runs at stumps on day two of the day-night Test.
Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne put on 116 for the third wicket before the latter was bowled by a beautiful delivery from Craig Overton for 67.
Rohit Sharma's 119 laid the foundation for India's chase
IMAGES from Day 2 of the 1st Test played between New Zealand and Australia in Wellington on Friday.
Usman Khawaja hit an unbeaten century to give Australia the upper hand on Day 1 of the fourth and final Test against India in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
Poor batting was at the heart of the debacle.
'It's really frustrating. I'm not really a big no-ball bowler'
All-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis have been excluded from a 25-player squad for an intra-Australia clash that will go a long way to deciding the makeup of Tim Paine's Ashes side.
Bumrah removed Australia openers Joe Burns and Matthew Wade for eight runs apiece in quick succession before tea, however, and Ashwin (4-55) drove home the advantage after the break.
Celebrating his 28th century, Kohli dedicated the monumental feat to his wife Anushka Sharma.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the second Test against Australia in Adelaide?
Australia dominated the proceedings on the opening day of the ICC World Test Championship final at the Oval.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the opening Test played between Australia and Pakistan in Perth on Saturday.
Australia's batter Mitchell Marsh said he has no desire to open the innings in Test cricket once David Warner retires.
Maxwell has starred with bat and ball in Australia's white ball teams since coming back from his broken leg last year.
India's Ravindra Jadeja also remained on top of the all-rounders' table.
India's injury woes deepened on the opening day of the fourth Test against Australia at the Gabba on Friday as pacer Navdeep Saini was forced to come off the field after lunch following an apparent groin issue.
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.
World champions Australia will hope to round off one of the nation's most successful seasons in cricket with victory in a rare Test series in New Zealand starting at Wellington's Basin Reserve on Thursday.
Images from Day 3 of the first Test between India and Australia, at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur, on Saturday
Travis Head's counter-attacking hundred and his unbroken 251-run stand with Steve Smith put Australia in charge on 327/3 on the opening day of the WTC final against India.
By avoiding the follow-on and standing firm against Australia's aggression, India ensured that they stayed alive in the series.
All-rounder Marco Jansen shone with bat and ball as South Africa won the fifth and final One-Day International against Australia by 122 runs.
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.
The third and deciding one-dayer will be played in Bengaluru on Sunday.
Maxwell battled cramps and severe pain to score a scintillating double century
Australia bowled the West Indies out for 333 on Sunday in the second session of Day 5 to register a thumping 164-run victory in the first Test at Perth Stadium and a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Skipper Rohit Sharma would fancy a perfect culmination to Indian team's World Cup preparations as hosts eye a rare clean sweep of Australia in the third and final ODI in Rajkot on Wednesday.
On the eve of their World Cup match against New Zealand, at a venue whose outfield is in focus, Australian skipper Pat Cummins expressed hope that his teammates would be cautious while fielding.
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