Pucovski rode his luck and Marnus Labuschagne showed resolve as the duo hit half-centuries to put Australia in a dominating position in a rain-curtailed opening day at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Third Test will be played in front of a crowd of some 10,000 to allow social distancing in a ground that can hold 48,00
In a bid to save its New Year fixture between India and Australia, the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust has offered to host the Brisbane Test too, if the Queensland government refuse to grant exemptions to the teams returning from New South Wales.
A ten-man Mohammedan Sporting withstood sustained pressure from Sporting Clube de Goa in the National Football League.
Australia thrashed Pakistan by 140 runs in the second one day international at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Australia's T20 wicketkeeper Mathew Wade also spoke in favour of Tim David. He said that no doubt he will play for the Australian side and has the potential to be anything.
Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting invited severe criticism for opting to bat on a green Sydney Cricket Ground pitch on the first day of the second Test against Pakistan.
Smith, considered one of the best batsmen in international cricket, could managed just 10 runs in the four innings he has played so far in the series and Moody said he is overdue for a big score.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has slammed sections of the SCG crowd for booing India skipper Virat Kohli when he walked out to bat on the opening day of the fourth Test, in Sydney, on Thursday.
Can this Indian side, which has shown character and courage after the debacle in the first Test at Adelaide, stun the Aussies at their favourite hunting ground?
Langer feels that spinner Nathan Lyon will have a role to play on the final day of the Pink Test as the wicket will support spin on Monday.
Play was halted for a few minutes after India pacer Mohammed Siraj complained of racial abuse from a section of the crowd
Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar reckons that ground conditions will dictate which spinners are to be played in the XI.
Matt Renshaw says he will try to make a 'good impression'
The dead rubber New Year's Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground at least offers a chance for New Zealand to reset
Knocked out of the quarter-final race, the England cricket team ended its World Cup campaign with a consolatory nine-wicket triumph over debutants Afghanistan in a rain-curtailed pool A match in Sydney.
With Smith at the non-striker's end during the Australian second innings at the Gabba, Rohit decided to do some shadow batting at the crease.
When play resumed after the lunch break, Australia were dismissed for 300 after Kuldeep picked his second five-wicket haul in Test cricket, with figures of 5 for 99.
Former cricketers Mohammad Kaif and Wasim Jaffer hailed pacer Siraj for his commitment towards playing for the country.
The coach also launched a book 'India's 71-Year Test: The Journey to Triumph in Australia'.
Australia has been battling hundreds of huge bushfires for several weeks with the resultant thick smoke regularly casting a pall over the country's cities.
England must treat every Test match like an Ashes series decider as part of their red-ball reset, former captain Nasser Hussain said.
Australia to open T20 World Cup defence against New Zealand.
Factbox on the fifth Ashes Test match between Australia and England, which starts on Thursday:
Cricketing great Ian Chappell feels a sportsman 'doesn't necessarily' need a crowd to be 'spurred on' but he acknowledges the eeriness of empty stands at SCG where Australia thrashed New Zealand in Friday's ODI. The astute former Australia captain also spoke about the positive side of watching a cricket match without cheering fans.
Here are some of the memorable celebratory moments...
Ajinkya Rahane hailed Ravindra Jadeja's contributions in the longest format
Smith roared back to form as his 131, single-handedly steered Australia to 338
Images from day one of the second Test between India and Australia in Sydney, on Tuesday.
Australian Cricketers Association chief Todd Greenberg has assured the country's cricketers that he will travel to Pakistan
England fast bowler Stuart Broad has also endorsed Warner's views.
Check out the images from Day 2 of the fourth Test between Australia and India played at Sydney Cricket Ground
Images from the fifth One-Day International between Australia and India in Sydney, on Saturday.
Carlos Brathwaite shone briefly for West Indies but the rain was the only real winner on Monday as wet weather washed away all but 11.2 overs of play on the second day of the third Test against Australia.
All the injuries that happened to top Indian cricketers prior to and during the Australia series along with their current status.
'It is not good that you compare a legend with a youngster'
India's batting ace Hanuma Vihari responded to Babul Supriyo's outrageous tweet in his trademark style.
The BCCI had confirmed that the all-rounder will be consulting a hand specialist in Sydney before he returns to India.
'Non-striker leaving the crease early is the actual unfair play in this whole scenario, not the bowler running them out.'
The Australian media is gripped with Tendulkar-mania with the newspapers going overdrive on his meticulous preparation for the second Test starting in Sydney on Tuesday, with the anticipation of his 100th international century at the SCG, his "favourite ground" outside India.
