Home Tests against an undermanned Pakistan may struggle to excite even the most ardent Australian cricket fan but angst over David Warner's farewell tour has given the series a much-welcomed boost.
'All the venues are high-scoring venues. So what you need is pace.' 'You really want someone to come there and control the flow of runs in the death overs, whether you are setting a target or setting a target.' 'It is going to be the fast bowlers because at how many venues have you seen spinners bowling the death overs?'
Having got off to a start so typical of themselves in the Indian Premier League, Mumbai Indians will hope for a quick turnaround when they take on defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai on Monday.
Taking on Star Sports show "Follow The Blues", former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar provided insights on Rohit facing left-arm pace in the nets while preparing for the key battle against Shaheen Afridi on September 2, 2023.
West Indies spinner Sulieman Benn was on Friday handed a two-ODI ban while Australia's Brad Haddin and Mitchel Johnson were let off with fines after being found guilty of conduct contrary to the Spirit of Cricket.
Australia heaved a sigh of relief on Tuesday when it was learnt that all-rounder Mitchell Johnson could yet play in the second ODI against India at Nagpur on Wednesday. The pacer was initially ruled out of the match after sustaining an injury in his left ankle, but coach Tim Nielsen said there is a possibility that he may play.
David Warner took over from Mitchell Johnson as South Africa's tormentor-in-chief as the Australian opener blitzed a quickfire century to extend his team's huge lead on the third day of the first Test on Friday.
Glenn Maxwell produced a stellar all-round performance and Mitchell Johnson returned to terrorize England as Australia clinched the one-day tri-series with an emphatic 112-run victory over their Ashes rivals on Sunday.
It was a track where batters made merry after LSG put on 238 for 3 before KKR fell just four runs short as over 400 runs were scored.
Katich agrees that if Mitchell Marsh isn't contributing with the ball, then Australia's National Selection Panel will need to have a look at the combination considering the all-rounder's poor returns with the bat.
Australia's Test regulars will skip the three-match series against Pakistan in November as they prepare for the blockbuster clash against India.
Both teams have struggled in the ODI format recently. World champions Australia lost to Sri Lanka (0-2) and Pakistan (1-2) in their last two series, while England, now coached by Brendon McCullum in all formats, haven't won an ODI series since their disastrous 2023 World Cup campaign.
In between the lows and highs in England and Australia in 2014, India's captain Virat Kohli had sought help from the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, after which he became "absolutely fearless" while facing the likes of Mitchell Johnson.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has cautioned against repeating the mistakes made in the aftermath of leg-spinner Shane Warne's retirement when long-standing opener David Warner finally calls time on his Test career.
Australia's nervous players rushed to check on India captain Virat Kohli after he was hit by a Mitchell Johnson bouncer on day three of the third Test in Adelaide.
After edging out Rajasthan Royals in a nail-biting IPL game, Kings XI Punjab captain Virender Sehwag said his side won't rely on luck the next time.
The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is likely to see bowlers playing a crucial role in the success of teams.
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka led by example and smashed a belligerent hundred to set up a 49-run victory over a depleted Australia.
Australia's second-string pace attack produced a first-rate display to sink Pakistan with a comprehensive 29-run win in the weather-truncated first T20 International on Thursday.
Australia will take the same 12-man squad to Perth for the third Ashes Test this week after humbling England by 218 runs to win the second match in Adelaide on Monday.
Although Steve Smith was named man of the match after scoring 273 runs it was Australia's rejuvenated pace bowlers who made the biggest statement in their side's brutal mauling of England in the second Ashes Test.
Australia captain Pat Cummins lavished praise on Mitchell Starc as the rangy left-arm paceman joined the 300 wickets club in style on Sunday during the first Test win over South Africa.
After a high-scoring first Test in Adelaide, which India lost by 48 runs to trail the five-match series, a green-top awaits the visitors at the Gabba, starting December 17.
Mitchell Johnson electrified a world record Test crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with a searing new ball spell to capture two late wickets and leave England a rocky 226 for six at the close of the opening day of the fourth Test on Thursday.
Rajneesh Gupta explains the numbers that led to the world's cricket cognoscenti to vote Ravichandran Ashwin as the ICC Cricketer of the Year 2016 and the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2016.
Cricket legend Sir Viv Richards has backed Kohli to continue playing aggressive form of cricket, saying that it brings the best out of him.
India's struggles against left-arm pacers continued in their high-octane clash against Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2023 at Kandy.
Selectors have recalled pace stalwart Hazlewood for the second ODI after he missed the MCG match to play Sheffield Shield cricket.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni broke the world record for most number of stumpings in international cricket after he effected his 134th dismissal on Day 2 of the third cricket Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.
Australia's three most talented players made significant contributions to take their team to a 49-run victory in the deciding final one-dayer against England on a chilly evening at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on Monday.
Australia last won an Ashes series in England in 2001 and captain Michael Clarke is expecting five hard Tests.
Mitchell Johnson believes England's batsmen repeatedly pulling away just before the ball is delivered during the Ashes series is a deliberate ruse to unsettle Australia's pace bowlers.
Usman Khawaja along with three others was suspended for one Test during Australia's tour of India in 2013 for not submitting a 'homework' assigned by the coach.
Pace legend Glenn McGrath, who has often predicted results of Australia's Test rubbers, forecast yet another 5-0 clean sweep by his country against England in the upcoming Ashes series.
Former Australian Test great Ian Healy is of the opinion that the bad blood between Australia and India in the ongoing Test series has gone too far.
Uncapped in T20Is, Fraser-McGurk was included in Australia's World Cup squad as a reserve player but never got a chance to shine on the global stage.
Steady rain forced the umpires to call off Wednesday's third One-Day International between England and Australia at Edgbaston in Birmingham after only 15.1 overs.
IMAGES from the Group B Champions Trophy match between Australia and England in Lahore on Saturday
Maxwell battled cramps and severe pain to score a scintillating double century
Younus Khan led Pakistan's fightback with a dogged century after the hosts made a terrible start to the first Test against Australia in Dubai on Wednesday. After opting to bat first, Pakistan put up 219 for four wickets at stumps on the first day, with captain Misbah-ul-haq (34) and Asad Shafiq (9) at the crease.
