While the team battles it out on the field, the duo is focused on improving their performance, with the Indian pacers, including Prasidh Krishna, providing tough challenges in the nets.
The good news is the team management has enough time on hand to think through the defeat and to find answers to the questions Adelaide has thrown up, around both its batting and bowling before the next test begins.
Images from Day 4 of the fourth Test between Australia and India at the MCG on Sunday.
Senior pacer Mitchell Starc claimed his maiden Allan Border medal, while Ashleigh Gardner became the first indigenous person to win the Belinda Clarke award, the top two honours at Cricket Australia (CA) Awards.
Sri Lanka fined 40 percent of match fee for slow-over rate in second T20 against Australia
Mohammed Siraj charges down the wicket towards his teammates, without checking the umpire's decision when he thinks that he has got a batter out, said former Australia captain Mark Taylor.
'They have won everything but the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and they know that, they've spoken about that, this is the one they want to tick off.'
India will be accorded a tough welcome to Australia as the Optus Stadium pitch for the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been prepared to offer "good bounce and pace"
The entire Australian top-order that is feeling the "pressure" despite the series-levelling win in Adelaide
Thirteen-year-old India U-19 cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi from Bihar is the youngest among the lot at Rs 30 lakh base price.
Images from Day 2 of the fourth Test between Australia and India at the MCG on Friday.
Legendary Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy has urged the Aussie pace attack to target Virat Kohli's front pad and body in order to get him out in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Healy believes the Australian quicks should exploit any insecurity in Kohli's form, which has been inconsistent in recent months. He suggests targeting Kohli's front pad with seam deliveries and then resorting to "body bashing" if the first tactic fails.
At this point it is still anyone's game, with a draw also an option, says Prem Panicker in his analysis of Day 4.
Australia are already without another regular all-rounder in Cameron Green, who was ruled out of the India series after opting to have surgery on a stress fracture in his lumbar spine.
With 765 international scalps in his bag, Ashwin is the second-highest wicket-taker from India after Anil Kumble.
Will India drop Rohit for the Sydney Test and put Kohli on notice? Or will the team management grant the senior pros a final chance to redeem themselves?
'Hopefully the weather holds off, and then tomorrow it's just about coming in, having a crack, and see where we get to.'
Starc will travel to Adelaide with several other members of the Australian side and the Indian team on a charter flight
The Perth Test marks Bumrah's second stint as a stand-in captain, having also led his country against England in 2022, and he could not have been dealt a tougher hand.
Sean Abbott and Beau Webster, seasoned domestic cricketers, remain on the fringes of Australia's Test squad
'Shami has been India's best bowler for a while. He may not get the amount of wickets Jasprit Bumrah gets, but he's the full package and is more consistent than the rest.'
'I've been bowling here for the Melbourne Stars, I know the pitch, I know the length.'
Paine, who coached Australia A in the recent series against India A, witnessed Jurel's exploits in the second 'unofficial' Test where the 23-year-old scored an 80 and 68 at Melbourne.
Pakistan's ODI series victory in Australia showcased the raw pace and skill of their fast bowling attack, spearheaded by Haris Rauf.
Selectors have recalled pace stalwart Hazlewood for the second ODI after he missed the MCG match to play Sheffield Shield cricket.
Pat Cummins defends team behaviour, terms Travis Head 'a big boy' who can speak for himself
Ponting said the ball does move around in South Africa and if Starc is able to reclaim the swing he will be more lethal in the series.
Shreyas Iyer-led KKR crushed Sunrisers Hyderabad in Sunday's final by eight wickets to win their third IPL title.
'We feel slightly behind the game now but there certainly won't be any letting up and certainly won't be any surrendering.'
Konstas, Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft among others are looking to get into the Australian XI as Khawaja's opening partner in the series against India.
With only five matches in the group and just the top two progressing to the semi-finals, Australia will need to hit their stride in their tournament opener against the Proteas in Abu Dhabi next Saturday, Starc added.
Starc, who bagged a $ 1.8 million (Rs 9.4 crore) contract with KKR ahead of the 2018 IPL, couldn't play a single match due to a right leg injury.
Pujara could get the selectors' nod if Ajit Agarkar and his team decide to fall back on his experience.
'His capacity for hard work, relentless application and focus, allied to his God-given gifts, has made him a champion every Indian can be proud of.'
KKR lorded over Sunrisers Hyderabad in Sunday's IPL final, winning the lopsided title clash by eight wickets.
The fond memories of 2015 came rolling back for Mitchell Starc after beginning his World Cup campaign in near-identical fashion to his crowning moment.
Ramandeep Singh showed great composure to settle under a high catch for the key wicket of SRH's Rahul Tripathi.
Both Pant, who played a key role in India's series victory last time, and Carey are known for their aggressive brand of cricket.
Starc took the help of orthopaedic surgeon Russel Miller, who said the injury was "complex and multifactorial" but "it is likely, on the balance of probabilities, that at specific injury occurred on 10/03/2018 which was associated with extreme physical activity including bowling on a pitch with uneven footmarks'."
After several losses in the early years of the new century, a resurgent India notched up two consecutive series wins in Australia to become the Aussies' nemesis.
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