The opening day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground saw its share of thrilling moments, the stump mic provided a unique insight into the intensity within the Indian camp.
Pat Cummins has promised to inundate Indian batters with bouncers at "some point" of the third Test
'DC changed things around tonight by bowling with pace, taking pace off and varying it nicely, we weren't able to deal with that'
Steve Smith smashed an unbeaten half-century to power Australia to a seven-wicket victory against Pakistan in the second T20 International in Canberra on Tuesday.
Smith's career was thrown into turmoil in March for his role in the incident that took place in South Africa and earned the former Australia captain a 12-month ban from national and state teams. However, the suspension does not extend to domestic tournaments outside his home nation.
With the series locked at 1-1, Brisbane could well decide the course of the rubber and whether Rohit's men would continue to be the master of their fate in the ongoing World Test Championship.
Smith (900 points) is placed second behind New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (919).
The two players were eligible for Aaron Finch's national side after their 12-month suspensions for ball-tampering ended last month.
Billy Wright, Derek Dougan and Steve Bull are among those already inducted in the club's Hall of Fame, which was established in 2008.
Wasim Jaffer heaped praised on Steve Smith and said that he is one of the best batsmen in the world.
Smith said the team trusted the security arrangements in place.
'As big a thing as it became, you never want to see anyone go through that because I have known David and I have known Steve as well'
Former Australia fast bowler Rodney Hogg has accused skipper Steve Smith of favouritism in team selection, and also ripped apart the selectors for the run of losses in the ongoing ODI series against India.
Pat Cummins' side stayed in control at the end of Day 2 of the WTC Final.
Former Australia wicket-keeping great Ian Healy has questioned the tactical acumen of Cooper Connolly, saying he was "angry" with the way the opener handled India's pace spearhead Mohammed Shami in the Champions Trophy semi-final in Dubai.
Artherton's successor and former England captain Nasser Hussain believes Kohli transformed the way India plays Test format with his "aura, swagger, and passion".
Images from Day 4 of the first Test between Australia and India in Perth on Monday.
Smith said he expects the Indian attack to pose a stiff challenge irrespective of the combination they go with.
Former captain Ricky Ponting felt Cricket Australia left the door ajar for Smith but any move to reinstate him in that role would need to take account of public opinion.
Chappell said the upcoming five-match Test series in Australia "will be as much a battle of wits and endurance as it will be of skill, with each player needing to summon the drive and adaptability of their younger selves."
Australia bowled out West Indies for 188 at Adelaide Oval on Day 1 of the first Test on Wednesday.
Lavishing praise on young Sam Konstas, former opener David Warner has urged Australia's senior players to adopt a similar aggressive approach when facing Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah
While Sheffield Shield game for South Australia on a bouncy track would have been ideal preparation for Perth, Head feels that he will relax bit before resuming training for the India series.
'He's come back and he's taken his opportunities, got himself into the squad and now he's obviously likely to bat in the top-four throughout the World Cup.'
Chappell questioned why Smith is eligible to captain Australia again while David Warner has a lifetime leadership ban. He said Smith's "crime" in the ball-tampering scandal was greater than that of Warner, his deputy at that time.
Fans can expect a wide open tournament in the absence of an overwhelming favourite in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
Rohit Sharma's decision-making has come under intense scrutiny, especially after the team's failure to contain Australia's innings in the first session of Day 2.
The in-form Steve Smith is looking 'pretty scary' for the opposition teams, gushed Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell after his team-mate hammered his second successive century against India, in Sydney, on Sunday.
Sam Konstas had the Indian camp in disbelief with his bold ramp shots off Bumrah
Langer has weighed in on the Steve Smith-Virat Kohli debate
Australia bowled out Sri Lanka for 231 in the hosts' second innings and then chased down the target of 75 losing the lone wicket of opener Travis Head.
'I would have picked Ashwin for his batting, let alone his bowling. That is why I can't believe he isn't playing because he has got five Test centuries as well. It is very strange.'
'My job is to fix it if our top order doesn't come off'
Former skipper Ricky Ponting predicted that the Baggy Greens will dominate the Rohit Sharma-led side in the five-match series.
Aiden Markram scored an unbeaten century as South Africa edged tantalisingly close to an unlikely success in the World Test Championship final, needing 69 runs to dethrone Australia after reaching 213-2 at stumps on the third day at Lord's on Friday.
With Paine, at 36, reaching the fag end of his career, a fresh captaincy discussion has started.
Kusal Mendis' battling half-century salvaged a difficult day one for Sri Lanka as they reached 229/9 in the second Test.
Harry Brook matched the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's career-high of 898 rating points in the ICC Test batting rankings.
With Australia wobbling at 76 for four on day two, Smith dragged his side back from the brink over eight-and-a-half hours of gut-busting graft and strode off the Gabba after tea on day three with an unbeaten 141 from 326 balls.
Images from the ICC Champions League Group B match between Afghanistan and Australia in Lahore, on Friday.
