Former captain Kevin Pietersen believes the form of three players will be key to England's hopes of beating Australia to regain the Ashes in their Test series starting in Cardiff on Wednesday.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is under pressure to produce a pitch that delivers a fairer contest between bat and ball in the Boxing Day Test
But the top seed targeted world number 68 Niemeier's serve to grab the decisive break and with it the opening set, before surrendering serve early in the next only to hit back from 2-0 down to level at 5-5 before going on to seal the victory.
Under-fire England head coach Chris Silverwood has tested positive for COVID-19 while quarantining in Melbourne with his family but he is expected to join the team ahead of the fifth Ashes Test in Hobart.
Tasmanian batsman Alex Doolan could be in line for a test debut pending the fitness of all-rounder Shane Watson after being named in Australia's 14-man squad for the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney.
'I'd like to thank the ACA for negotiating on behalf of the players and I'm excited that we can all start working together again to continue to grow our great game'
An emotional Frances Tiafoe promised to one day hoist the US Open trophy after his Cinderella story came to a premature end on Friday with a semi-final loss to Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz.
Following the match on Sunday, Cricket fans were quick to comment on the issue.
Australia Test captain Tim Paine was "devastated" to hear of Will Pucovski's latest concussion but has nominated Marcus Harris to step in should the opener prove unfit for the Ashes.
There was general consensus in Australia on Wednesday that retaining the Ashes this year got a little bit harder after the appointment of wily compatriot Trevor Bayliss as England's new head coach.
Australia's run-machine Marnus Labuschagne has displaced England captain Joe Root to claim the world's number one Test batter spot following a run of big scores in the ongoing Ashes series.
Batsmen Ian Bell was named on Sunday in England's 13-man squad for the third Ashes Test against Australia, starting at Edgbaston on Thursday. The 27-year-old right-hander, who has not played international cricket since February, comes into the side after Kevin Pietersen was ruled out of the rest of the series following surgery on an Achilles tendon injury.
With no standout favourite in the women's field, it could provide an ideal stage for American Serena Williams to finally end her quest for an elusive 24th Grand Slam title.
Ian Bell guided England to an eight-wicket victory over Australia in the third test at Edgbaston on Friday to put the hosts 2-1 up in the series with two matches to play.
Food in India has fled the confines of the kitchen and become a national adventure... Food shows, now even on news channels, have transformed restaurateurs from humble khansamas to courted celebrities.
He thinks Australia can capitalise on England's weakness against quality spin bowling.
The Aussie paceman identified Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss as his two 'bunnies'.
Ricky Ponting's men have stretched their lead to 21 points over England and their 135 points is the highest rating since a modified format was introduced in 2003.
Mooney struck a match-winning unbeaten 74 as Australia claimed their sixth Women's T20 World Cup title
Images from Day 4 of the 5th and final Ashes Test between Australia and England at the SCG in Sydney on Sunday
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 Five of the third Test between England and Australia at Old Trafford, Manchester on Monday.
'Whenever Mani sir says Ash, I am like, 'Do I die in the end? Do I get her?'
The women's Grand Slams were all won by different players for a fifth straight year in 2021
Injured Rohit Sharma's availability for the second Test against Bangladesh, starting in Mirpur from December 22, will be known in a day or two, stand-in India captain KL Rahul said on Sunday.
Photos from Day 3 in the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.
The reaction has exposed a split between current players, who have been silent on his departure, and several former teammates who have fiercely defended Langer.
Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has questioned Joe Root's comments about England's bowlers during the Ashes and said that as captain of the touring side the onus is on him to make changes when needed.
'I am delighted that he has accepted, and he is ready for the added responsibility and the honour'
England must treat every Test match like an Ashes series decider as part of their red-ball reset, former captain Nasser Hussain said.
The four-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy that promises a lot of twists and turns, engrossing sub-plots and probably career-defining performances.
Michael Vaughan and the England team need to reproduce the form displayed during the Ashes to beat Pakistan in the final Test.
The incident happened on Monday at a mass meeting held before the immersion of the ashes of Gurjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla in the Pushkar lake.
Allan Border opened up on the team's selection and said Australia overthought during the first Test in Nagpur.
Australia's mindless aggression backfired on a low and slow Kotla track.
Root said he wanted to keep the focus on salvaging some pride from the remainder of the tour
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) will reveal plans to build a retractable roof over the centre court at Arthur Ashe Stadium as part of major changes to the U.S. Open venue in Flushing Meadows.
Peter Nevill has got the nod ahead of Brad Haddin as Australia's wicketkeeper for the third Ashes Test against England at Edgbaston, captain Michael Clarke confirmed on Tuesday.
Paine was set to lead Australia into the home Ashes series last year until the sexting allegations became public. He stepped down and was replaced by Pat Cummins.
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