Cricket Australia on Thursday announced separate 12-man squads for the first two One-dayers against Pakistan so that more national players could turn up for their domestic sides in the finals of the Big Bash tournament.
Not impressed by Australia's dominance in the summer of 2015 with Test wins against New Zealand and a lackluster West Indies, former pacer Geoff Lawson believes that India will make "tougher opponents" in the upcoming ODI series starting January 12.
In the recently held Asia Cup in the UAE, India were criticised for their bowling depth (or lack of it) in the absence of Bumrah while Pakistan boasted of bowlers who rattled the batters with their express pace.
Injury-prone fast bowler Brett Lee on Monday failed to make a comeback to international cricket after being overlooked by the selectors for Australia's one-off Twenty20 tie against Sri Lanka.
Australia coach Tim Nielsen says the three-match ODI series is a mere formality for his team and an opportunity to try out youngsters.
'What we are about to watch in Australia is a mid-table contest -- 3rd versus 5th in the ICC Test championship table.' 'Both teams seem full of flaws.'
Australia coach Tim Nielsen said the cramped schedule is hurting his team with injuries to key players but stayed short of criticizing the administrators for introducing new formats of domestic Twenty20 tournaments.
India have set an aggressive tone to the ongoing four-match Test series.
Injured captain Michael Clarke has been named in Australia's 15-man squad for the World Cup in February and March.
Keen to perform well against India in the upcoming tour, Australian fast bowlers have started their preparations by practicing with SG balls, which will be used in the two-Test series in September-October.
India's batsmen came good on a flat track to put up 369 for 5 on Day 3 of the first Test against Australia in Adelaide on Thursday. Wriddhimaan Saha (1) and Rohit Sharma (33) were at the crease at the draw of stumps. Images from the day's play.
A handful of leading Australians, including Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson, turned down the offer to focus on their international careers.
Factbox World Cup match between Australia and England at the MCG.
The opener was left out because of a hamstring strain from the Australian squad for the Twenty20 match against India.
Australia reduced England to 203 for six to move to the brink of a consolation victory on the third day of the final Ashes Test at The Oval on Saturday.
Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait has said that his team's fast bowlers would use 'reverse swing' to good effect during the 50-over World Cup, starting in the Indian sub-continent from February 19.
Mitchell Starc's send-off celebration after dismissing Indian opener Murali Vijay did not find approval from captain Steven Smith.
Captain Ricky Ponting, his deputy Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Jason Gillespie and Cameron White are the Australians who have joined the IPL.
With the second Test set to start on Wednesday, here is a quick fact check on how both teams stand at the Gabba.
Shane Watson is not embarrassed by his on-field antics but Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is and will talk to his players about their on-field behaviour. The third Test between Australia and the West Indies was marred by a few ugly incidents, involving players from both the sides.
The second day's play in the third Test between Australia and the West Indies at the WACA on Thursday was marred by an ugly confrontation between Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and Windies bowler Sulieman Benn.
Rahul Dravid was a satisfied man after his marathon innings of 191 and more so because he had been able to get rid of the few technical glitches he had developed in his batting of late.
Pacer Stuart Clark's elbow injury kept him out of Australia's practice session in Mohali on Wednesday and team physio Alex Kountouris will assess him on Thursday to find out if he could be fit in time for the second Test against India starting on Friday. In case Clark fails to recover in time, either Peter Siddle or Doug Bollinger is virtually assured of winning their first Test cap.
Gujarat Titans successfully acquired Johnson for Rs 10 crore
England collapsed spectacularly to 82 for five in their second innings to leave Australia on the brink of victory in the fourth Ashes Test in Leeds on Saturday. Marcus North's patient century guided Australia to a commanding total of 445 on the second day and Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Johnson claimed five wickets in 44 balls to leave England's hopes in tatters.
Pakistan scrambled the 40 runs they required to beat Australia by three wickets in the second Test at Headingley on Saturday to level the series at 1-1.
Mitchell Johnson claimed two wickets as England's top order was dismissed in the morning session on the opening day of the first Ashes Test.
Shane Watson scored a quick fifty and Mitchell Johnson claimed three wickets as Australia beat Bangladesh by 38 runs in an ICC World Twenty20 warm-up game in Nottingham on Monday.
- 'It's always our goal to take 20 wickets' - 'It backfired at the Gabba with them trying to get stuck into us and Mitch fired back'
After his second century in the CB tri-series, Gautam Gambhir leads the list of Most Valuable Players.
South Africa will pin much of their batting hopes on a new opening pair in the third and final Test against Australia which starts on Thursday. Imraan Khan has been brought in for his debut and opens with the recalled Ashwell Prince, who normally operates in the middle-order. They come in for captain Graeme Smith (broken finger) and Neil McKenzie (dropped).
Glenn Maxwell missed his maiden ODI century but his career-best 95 helped Australia win the tri-series
Former New Zealand captain John Reid feels some members of the Australian cricket team are "idiots" who need to be reined in.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni revealed there was some 'unrest' in the dressing room before the start of fourth day's play in the second Test in Brisbane, on Saturday.
Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson's contributions in both Tests and ODIs in the last 12 months have helped him win the Allan Border medal on Monday.
South Africa got off to a sedate start after Michael Clarke's sterling century and some spectacular rearguard action powered Australia to 445 in their first innings on day two of the third and final Test in Sydney on Sunday. In reply, South Africa lost Neil McKenzie (23) to Peter Siddle and Graeme Smith (30 retired hurt) to injury before reaching 125 for one at stumps.
Pacer Doug Bollinger and all-rounder Andrew McDonald will make their Test debut as Australia on Friday named one of its most inexperienced teams in decades for the third and final Test match against an unchanged South Africa, starting in Sydney on Saturday. Along with 27-year-old Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle, 24, McDonald and Bollinger will make up one of the youngest and the most inexperienced Australian pace attack.
Peter Siddle took three wickets to give Australia the upperhand as South Africa were reduced to 198 for seven at stumps on day two of the second Test at the MCG in Melbourne on Saturday. Captain Graeme Smith scored a fine 62 but kept losing wickets at regular intervals in reply to Australia's first innings score of 394.
