The much talked about the Decision Review System (DRS) came under more scrutiny during the first Test match between South Africa and Australia at Gabba in Brisbane.
Factbox on the third Test match between Australia and India, which starts on Friday.
Ben Hilfenhaus limped off the Bellerive Oval during the first Test against Sri Lanka on Sunday to almost certainly leave Australia a pace bowler short for the second time in three matches.
Following the retirements of Chris Rogers, captain Michael Clarke and all-rounder Shane Watson, Smith will lead a team in transition into the three-match series which wraps up with cricket's first day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval.
Australia have resisted the temptation to go with four seamers for this week's first Test against Sri Lanka on what is expected to be a lively wicket at the Bellerive Oval.
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.
Australia all-rounder Moises Henriques is in line for his first Test in three years after being named in the squad for their three-match tour of Sri Lanka in July and August.
Australia cricket suffered a major blow on Friday when Craig McDermott decided to step down as bowling coach after just a year in the job because of the demands of touring with the side.
Australia captain Michael Clarke praised his bowlers for knocking over India's potent batting line-up to win the first Test in Melbourne on Thursday and paid tribute to their ability to cobble together runs after the hosts' batsmen failed to fire.
The first Test got spicier as Indian opener Virender Sehwag was on Tuesday involved in an altercation with Australian pacers James Pattinson and Peter Siddle during the visitors' first innings.
Australia captain Michael Clarke described his team's batting as "disgraceful and unacceptable" after they were bowled out for 47 in the first Test against South Africa on Thursday.
Australia called up uncapped paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile for the first Test against West Indies on Tuesday as a replacement for left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc, who was ruled out of the series due to a broken foot.
As many as 144 players, including Indian Test batsman VVS Laxman, pacer S Sreesanth and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, will go under the hammer at the players' auction for the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League in Bangalore on February 4.
Australian pacer Ryan Harris has pleaded with the team management to retain him for the fourth and final cricket Test against India amid speculation that one fast bowler will be dropped to make space for off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Australia have been harping that the dot balls and maidens they have been stringing together against India is a reason for their dominance in the ongoing Test series but statistics are not as conclusive as it would appear.
Top order batsman Shaun Marsh was called into the Australia squad for the third Test against New Zealand on Wednesday along with pace bowler James Pattinson and left arm spinner Steve O'Keefe.
Images from day four of the second Test between India and Australia in Sydney, on Friday.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni gave a frank assessment of his team's fourth day collapse to lose the first Test against Australia, saying the Melbourne Cricket Ground wicket was benign enough to reel in the victory target.
Kevin Pietersen is not the only one trying to work out why he is unwanted by England's cricket selectors.
Australia narrowly avoided scoring the lowest ever Test total as they capitulated to 47 all out against South Africa following an extraordinary second day of the first Test on Thursday.
The pressure of expectations surrounding his 100th international century will definitely be playing on Sachin Tendulkar's mind as the milestone once again eluded the champion batsman, said former Australia fast bowler Merv Hughes.
Images from Day 2 of the first Test between India and Australia, in Melbourne, on Tuesday.
The uncapped pair are the newcomers in captain Steven Smith's 15-man squad, which includes 10 players with less than 10 Tests, as Australia look to rebuild following a string of retirements after the Ashes defeat in England.
Images from the first day of the fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England at Leeds, on Friday.
Jacques Kallis became the fourth leading run-scorer in tests as South Africa reached 213 for four at tea after winning the toss on the first day of the second and final Test against Australia at the Wanderers on Thursday.
Images from the second One-Day International between India and Australia in Nagpur on Wednesday.
With injuries to regular fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, Australia have included a uncapped duo Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser in their squad and recalled veteran Peter Siddle for the two-match series next month.
Kumar Sangakkara remained unbeaten on 61 in his 100th Test to launch a strong Sri Lankan reply to Australia's first innings total of 316 on the second day of the third and final Test on Saturday.
A guitar-strumming rocker when not keeping wickets, Australia's Peter Nevill will hope to hit the right note when he makes his surprise Test debut against England in the second Ashes match on Thursday.
Steve Smith continued his outstanding Ashes form, striking an unbeaten 60 as Australia recovered from another failure by their openers to reach 170-3 at the close of the rain-affected first day of the fourth Test against England.
Hitting out at the Australian players for their mindless sledging during the Perth Test, former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff described it as "outright abuse".
Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of this week's third Test against India in Melbourne with uncapped batsman Joe Burns coming into the 13-man squad to replace him.
Under-pressure Australia batsman Usman Khawaja is "frustrated" after failing to convert a number of starts in the Ashes series but insists his batting is in a good place as he looks for form in the tour match against Derbyshire on Thursday.
Rajneesh Gupta presents the interesting numbers from the second day of Kingston Test between West Indies and India
Attack will be the best form of defence for Team India against a rampaging Australian pace battery when the two sides square off on the dreaded green-top wicket of WACA in the do-or-die third Test starting on Friday.
Steve Smith was on 80 when he was hit on the neck by Test debutant Jofra Archer.
Images from the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final between Australia and England, in Centurion, on Friday.
Australia have named left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty ahead of off-spinner Nathan Hauritz in the team for the first of seven One-Day Internationals against England.
Australia have resorted to guided missile technology to reduce injuries to their fast bowlers as they seek to reclaim the Ashes from England next year.
South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel has revealed that a lot of green smoothies have helped him improve his fitness.
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