Australian media hailed Pat Cummins' batting heroics as the final blow of a "rope-a-dope" strategy that delivered a thrilling two-wicket win over England
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 lead Sri Lanka by 407 runs with nine second innings wickets in hand on the third day of the second Test. The Australians had the option of making the Sri Lankans bat again after bowling them out for 246 -- 296 runs behind the home side's first innings total of 542 for five declared.
Harbhajan Singh was left out of the Indian line-up because of an injury he sustained during the nets on Friday evening.
IMAGES from the ICC Champions Trophy Group B match between Afghanistan and England at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Wednesday.
Cummins had no qualms in admitting that his team was thoroughly outplayed in the series opener but he promised to bounce back in Adelaide
Australia's pacemen Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins ripped out England's top order with a masterclass of textbook bowling to put their side in sight of a 2-0 Ashes lead on Saturday.
'Hopefully the weather holds off, and then tomorrow it's just about coming in, having a crack, and see where we get to.'
The home team bowlers did not put a foot wrong but the pitch "surprisingly" dried up quite quickly at the Optus stadium on the second day, eventually helping the Indian batters, reckons Australia head coach Andrew McDonald.
It took Australia seven attempts but under Aaron Finch they finally laid their hands on a maiden Twenty20 World Cup title on Sunday with an eight-wicket triumph over New Zealand.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the opening Ashes Test played between England and Australia at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham on Saturday.
Images from Day 5 of the first Ashes Test between England and Australia at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham on Tuesday.
When you are defending to save a game, a loose delivery comes along and you suddenly opt to play an attacking shot, you are unlikely to hit as well as if you were playing your naturally aggressive game all along. First Pant, then Jaiswal, found that out the costly way, observes Prem Panicker.
It still left Australia in possession of a sizeable lead of 88 and Lyon wrecked India's top order before the home side could erase their deficit.
At this point it is still anyone's game, with a draw also an option, says Prem Panicker in his analysis of Day 4.
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.
Australia took 90 minutes to complete formalities, with Michael Neser and Mitchell Starc sharing five of the last six West Indies wicket.
'When Nathan Lyon was bowling I saw two or three balls without any drift. So, I thought of taking on Lyon so that we get some quick runs.'
Sri Lanka were dismissed for their lowest test total of 42 after South Africa's Marco Jansen produced bowling heroics to help the hosts take a firm grip on the first Test.
Steve Smith scored an unbeaten 85 to guide Australia to 339/5 as England wasted favourable bowling conditions on the first day of the second Ashes Test.
The former South African quick explained the pre-set plan against Head, though it eventually fell flat on its back.
Scorecard of the one-off Test between Australia and England in 1882 which gave birth to the Ashes.
Ryan Harris claimed six wickets for 47 runs as Australia beat England by 267 runs in the third Ashes Test at the WACA on Sunday to level the series at 1-1 with two matches remaining.
'When we go to Australia, they play India only at five Test centres. They don't play us in Canberra. They don't play us at any of the other venues where they won't be very familiar with the conditions. So do England'
'...He kept bowling to his strength and we kept falling to his strength.'
Only once in the history of Test cricket has a team bounced back to win after being bowled out for less than 50.
Australia bowled out South Africa for a below-par 212 despite David Miller's defiant 101 but the chase was not as straightforward as Pat Cummins and his team would have liked.
For India's current head coach, the Test series defeat against New Zealand at home, a first in 12 years and after 18 victories on the trot, would be a bitter pill to swallow.
Usman Khawaja smashed the first century by an Australia batter in the current series against India to steer the tourists to 255/4 after the opening day of the fourth and final Test.
Solid knocks from openers Shane Watson (89) and Simon Katich (99), who put on a stand of 132, and Mike Hussey (81 not out) gave the hosts early command of the match despite skipper Ricky Ponting being forced to retire hurt on 23 after being struck on the arm by Kemar Roach.
Shubman Gill smashed a career-best 128 and Virat Kohli regained his form to fuel India's robust reply
After the bowlers restricted Australia, a patient knock from KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja saw India clinch a five-wicket win over the visitors.
India would be pressing for a decisive first-innings lead in the contest when play resumes on Friday.
With this, Surya is now just behind Virat Kohli, who leads the pack with six awards.
Babar Azam fell one run short of his maiden century as Pakistan set Australia a mammoth victory target of 538 on day three of the second and final Test.
Images from the fourth T20 International between India and England in Pune on Friday.
Runaway Rohit roars back into form ahead of semis
It was a proper Test innings, it was of the highest class, and given the circumstances it came in, it was one of the best innings by an Indian batsman in recent memory, applauds Prem Panicker.
Images from Day 1 of the third Test played between India and Australia at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Wednesday
