Except in the IPL, the Australians have not had a good look at Varun Chakravarthy's bowling and that could spell trouble for Steve Smith and Co.
Having succeeded Mahendra Singh Dhoni as India's Test captain, "King Kohli" overhauled India's approach to turn the team into a ruthless juggernaut that did not rely anymore on designer dustbowls to win Test matches.
Starc's withdrawal comes after pace stalwarts Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were ruled out due to injuries.
Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel has reportedly been removed as the interim head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) by the Trump administration in the US, which has replaced him with Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, the Washington Post said on Thursday.
Glenn Maxwell's hopes of reviving his Test career may be over after the all-rounder missed out on selection in Australia's much-changed squad for the Sri Lanka tour.
Leg spinner Adam Zampa was the most experienced bowler for the Aussies, having played 111 ODIs.
Star India opener Shubman Gill has been named the ICC Men's Player of the Month for February, following his impressive performances, including his contributions to India's Champions Trophy title win. Gill beat out competition from Steve Smith (Australia) and Glenn Phillips (New Zealand) for the award.
Alex Carey reckons Australia might need to put at least 400 runs on the board if they bat first against South Africa
'Especially in the middle overs. That's going to be a key challenge.'
Cheteshwar Pujara will get a chance to sneak peek into Steve Smith's preparations ahead of the high-profile World Test Championship final, starting June 7, as the former Australian skipper gears up to play three English county games for Sussex this month.
Their pre-tournament decision to fill the squad with five spinners drew a lot of flak from all corners, but it is now proving to be a masterstroke on the slow pitches in Dubai.
Virat Kohli: The one who forced Gen-Z to fall in love with Red and Whites
Skipper Steve Smith said the opener, who suffered the quad injury while fielding but struggled on to scored 20 runs from 15 balls before the game was washed out, is unlikely to be fit to face India or New Zealand on Tuesday or Wednesday.
India has expressed concern over the situation in Gaza and called for the supply of humanitarian assistance to the affected people as Israel resumed bombing in conflict-hit Palestinian territory, shattering a fragile ceasefire with Hamas. India also underlined the need to release all hostages held by Hamas. The country's comments came as Israel pounded Hamas targets in Gaza, triggering uncertainty over the ceasefire that came into effect on January 19. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 400 people were killed in the Israeli bombing.
Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta was taken to hospital with a head injury after a collision with Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts.
Virat Kohli may have stepped away from Test cricket, but he leaves behind a faster, leaner, hungrier Indian team.
Smith's unbeaten 120 is his second successive hundred of the series while Carey made a career-best 139 not out hitting 22 fours and three sixes between them.
Gill hit a purple patch in the three-match series against England, scoring 87 (in Nagpur), 60 (in Cuttack), and 112 (in Ahmedabad) as he was adjudged the 'Player of the Series' in the hosts' 3-0 clean sweep.
Australian batter Steve Smith is "focussed" on taking them all head on in the game beginning in Adelaide on Friday.
This is Sri Lanka's biggest victory over Australia in ODIs in terms of runs.
Australia's historic pedigree in cricket's biggest tournaments will count for nothing when they run into an Afghanistan side that is fast cementing its place in the game's top table in the Champions Trophy match in Lahore on Friday.
The most powerful man in world cricket today himself retrieved the ball from amidst the seats and threw it back onto the field. It was then that everyone realised Jay Shah is a left-hander.
India playing at one venue has been a hot topic for debate among former cricketers and some sections of fans. There has hardly been any press conference where questions haven't been raised about tournament scheduling.
Australia's stand-in captain Steve Smith hailed his side's resounding innings and 242-run victory over Sri Lanka in Galle on Saturday as "near flawless" after the visitors retained the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy.
'He is one guy that India will really want back in the dressing room very quickly.'
United States President Donald Trump's special envoy for Russia-Ukraine negotiations, Keith Kellogg, has been excluded from high-level discussions aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, according to a report in NBC News.
Trump's comments have been met with fierce criticism, with Rep. Daniel Goldman labeling it an "escalation in his clear effort to take over the government and dismantle our democracy." Goldman urged Congressional Republicans to oppose Trump's ambitions.
Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts has had his suspension for a high-footed challenge on Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta extended to six matches, the FA said on Friday.
If Smith is ruled out, then the left-hand batter Travis Head will lead the squad as he is the vice-captain of the side.
Patel has previously worked at the justice department as a trial attorney for three years before taking on roles at the National Security Council, the office of the director of National Intelligence, and the department of defence, the report said.
Dimuth Karunaratne's Test career ended in a whimper as Sri Lanka's most prolific Test opener fell caught behind to Kuhnemann after making 14.
ODIs will remain relevant because World Cup is Olympics of cricket: Steve Waugh
Josh Inglis slammed a brilliant century as Australia completed the highest chase in an ICC men's tournament against England in Lahore on Saturday.
Mohammed Shami has taken 13 wickets in five matches in ICC ODI knockout games -- the third most wickets by an Indian bowler.
Vaniya Agarwal says Friday April 11 will be her last day at Microsoft
'He likes to feel the weight, but he likes to close his eyes, and yeah, that's how he does it.'
As he closes the most revered chapter of his career, here are some of his best Test knocks:
Having scored his 33rd ton in Brisbane, Smith equalled Sunil Gavaskar's then world record of 34 hundreds on the second day of the fourth Test at the MCG on Friday.
Both teams have struggled in the ODI format recently. World champions Australia lost to Sri Lanka (0-2) and Pakistan (1-2) in their last two series, while England, now coached by Brendon McCullum in all formats, haven't won an ODI series since their disastrous 2023 World Cup campaign.
Australian batters have been focussed on tackling the spin threat
