New Zealand strike bowler Tim Southee will miss the upcoming One-Day International series against Australia but Blackcaps coach Mike Hesson is optimistic the seamer would recover from a foot injury in time for the subsequent Test series.
A dominant Australia looked firmly on course for a 5-0 Ashes series sweep when they reached 140 for four, a lead of 311, at close of play after skittling England for 155 on the second day of the fifth Test on Saturday.
Pace bowler Jackson Bird has been recalled by Australia for the first Test against New Zealand after James Pattinson was deemed not quite ready to stand up to the rigours of a full workload, captain Steve Smith said on Thursday.
Not since the days when Merv Hughes marauded on the test stage and David Boon hunkered down at the crease will so much facial hair be on display as at the upcoming Ashes series between England and Australia.
David Warner punished a depleted and dispirited England with a brilliant century to help drive Australia to 235 for three and a dominant lead of 369 after the third day of the third Ashes Test on Sunday.
Australian debutant pacer Peter George says claiming Sachin Tendulkar as his maiden Test wicket was a relief.
Australia registered their fourth consecutive three-Test series whitewash against Pakistan on Monday, when the hosts dismissed the visitors for 206, giving them a massive 231-run victory.
Left arm quick Mitchell Starc will replace injured seamer Mitchell Johnson in Australia's lineup for the fourth and final dead rubber Test against India starting on Tuesday.
Victoria produced a disciplined all-round performance to inflict a humiliating eight-wicket defeat on Wayamba and keep their hopes alive of reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League twenty20 in Centurion on Monday.
Captain Muhammad Yousuf on Wednesday came in for some scathing criticism by former cricketers after Pakistan's stunning defeat against Australia in the second Test at Sydney.
Images from Day 4 of the fifth Ashes Test between Australia and England on Thursday.
Australian quick Pat Cummins has not played a first class match for two years but is confident his body will hold up to the rigours of Test cricket should he get the call during the Ashes series against England.
Factbox on the four-Test series between Australia and India, which begins on Thursday
The mood in the Indian camp was summed up best by the skipper after a green pitch was unveiled on eve of the maiden Test at the new facility.
Kane Richardson will take his place in the 15-man squad for the tour, which starts with two Twenty20 matches later this month and is being used a warm-up for their World Cup title defence in England.
Australia captain Michael Clarke is fit to lead the side into the first Test against India on Tuesday and his return is a "huge boost" for the hosts, fast bowler Mitchell Johnson said.
Australia have named Michael Clarke in a 12-man squad for the first Test against India starting in Brisbane next week, but the hamstrung captain must prove his fitness in a tour match starting on Friday.
Ian Bell and Stuart Broad shared an unbroken century partnership to lift England to 326 for six on a compelling third day of the first Ashes Test against Australia on Friday.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 5th Ashes Test played between England and Australia on Thursday.
Swing and seam friendly conditions, a lack of truly scary Australian bowlers and New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum's retirement are all themes that will resonate when the first Test gets underway in Wellington on Friday.
Left-handed opener Phillip Hughes is eager to take part in this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) after he made himself available for the January 19 auction despite Shiv Sena's threat to the Australian cricketers.
Australia, with Steve Smith back in their line-up, will retain the Ashes with victory in the fourth Test, while a win for England would set up a decider at the Oval next week.
Batsmen Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh were all dropped from the squad that lost a home Test series against India for the first time.
Former Australian captain Greg Chappell wants the national team and Cricket Australia to consider a rotation system to reduce the pressure on fast bowlers.
Australia, thirsting for revenge after their home defeat by South Africa, could include three debutants in the first Test starting on Thursday.
Having dismissed Australia for a paltry 145 in their first innings, Pakistan stretched their lead to a daunting 281 by stumps on day two with Zaman's 66 and an unbeaten 54 by Ali taking them to 144-2.
Hashim Amla's blistering stroke-play and Morne Morkel's fearsome bowling put South Africa in control of the second Test against Australia as they closed the third day on 192 for four on Saturday.
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.
Images from the India vs Australia, 5th ODI in Hyderabad on Thursday.
Australia captain Steve Smith will seek an explanation from match referee Chris Broad over a Decision Review System malfunction during his team's march to victory over West Indies in the second Test on Tuesday.
Test opener Phillip Hughes was among seven new players awarded contracts with Cricket Australia for the 2009-10 season.
Despite the pair making certain of selection, doubts remain in other areas of captain Tim Paine's team, with opener Matt Renshaw picking up a head injury after being struck by the ball during the tour game that ended on Tuesday.
England slumped to 307 for eight in their first innings on the opening day of the fifth Ashes Test at the Oval on Thursday through a combination of indifferent shots and disciplined Australian pace bowling.
Peter Siddle claimed the key wicket of Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf with the second last ball of the day to leave Pakistan struggling on 109 for 4 at stumps on Day 2 of the first Test at the MCG on Sunday.
Top class left-armers are in short supply and chief selector Rod Marsh joked that he had mulled telephoning Johnson to see whether he might like to come out of retirement.
Paine's batting lineup has been rated the worst Australia has ever, so the bowlers could well be under pressure
Australia pacer Doug Bollinger, who destroyed India in the sixth ODI in Guwahati, with a five-wicket haul, says the ongoing series is a good learning experience.
There was more pain for Australia after the crushing 99-run loss to India in the second One-Day International at Nagpur on Wednesday when wicketkeeper Tim Paine was ruled of the remainder of the seven-match series with an injury.
Australia, replying to England's first innings of 102, ended Day 1 in the fourth Ashes Test on 196 for 4, a lead of 94 runs.
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.
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