Australia have rested their frontline fast bowlers from a Sheffield Shield clash in Perth to keep them fresh ahead of the four-Test home series against India, starting early next month.
Paceman Mitchell Starc took pain-killing injections for his strained ankle to bowl through Australia's opening Ashes defeat in Cardiff but is confident he will be fit for the second match at Lord's, captain Michael Clarke has said.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 1st Test between Australia and Sri Lanka on Thursday
Australia vice-captain David Warner found it "bizarre" that pundits and fans continue to criticise the team despite winning their last two Test matches after a run of five losses.
Virat Kohli is in the form of his life with several former players like Brett Lee comparing him to India's batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, but the hero of India's T20 triumph in Australia was full of praise for the master blaster. Kohli, who started playing in 2008 when Tendulkar was still in his pomp called the Mumbai batsman his 'main inspiration' to take up the game. Speaking to Australian power-hitter Glenn Maxwell for Cricket Australia's website cricket.com.au, Kohli said, "I started playing cricket because of him (Tendulkar) and I was inspired to do the things that he did playing for the country. "He really helped me with little things that I could improve on in my game. If he saw
After escaping a 39-run victory over Pakistan in the Gabba Test, Australian skipper Steve Smith on Monday said the "game was a bit close for his liking". The hosts struck Pakistan's last two wickets quickly to clinch win before tea on day five of the opening day and night Test of the three-match. "I've lost all my fingernails, I think," Smith was quoted as saying by news.com.au. "It was a bit too close for my liking. Some game of cricket wasn't it?"
A relieved Australia captured Pakistan's last two wickets to win a captivating first day-night Test in Brisbane by 39 runs on Monday but the touring side won huge admiration for their dogged fourth innings resistance.
We saw how the pitch is playing and told ourselves we are going to dig deep, but unfortunately, myself, Travis and Shaun couldn't bat long as long as we should have'
