Australia has been battling hundreds of huge bushfires for several weeks with the resultant thick smoke regularly casting a pall over the country's cities.
Vaughan said one can argue but for him, the India opener is the next big thing in the longest format of the game.
Australia coach Justin Langer says playing cricket without fans in the stadiums is an option worth considering if it helped get the game going again after the worst of the coronavirus crisis has passed. As with most sports, efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have forced the shutdown of cricket around the world and Langer thinks teams would be keen to play in empty stadiums upon resumption if the alternative is a longer furlough.
India go into the third Test of the series in Sydney starting January 7 at 0500 IST.
'But we'll savour this for a couple of hours at least and then it'll be recovery for the next few days.'
The man wearing an Indian team jersey went down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend who was wearing a Socceroos jersey.
The 24-year-old, who played his last Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong in September, has been included alongside regular spinner Nathan Lyon for the Jan. 4 match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Australia's David Warner was taken to hospital for scans on a groin strain on Sunday, prompting a nervous wait for the hosts ahead of the start of the Test series against India in Adelaide on December 17.
Unbeaten India take on England in the first of Thursday's semi-finals at the SCG and would progress to Sunday's final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) if a minimum of 10 overs a side were not possible because of the weather.
In a world scarred by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ODI series between Australia and India saw the return of spectators with restrictions.
Images from Day 2 of the 5th and final opening Test between Australia and England at the SCG in Sydney on Friday
On Day 1 of the Sydney Test on Friday, Rohit 'opted to rest' himself from the fifth and final Test against Australia after a string of underwhelming performances, marking a rather dramatic start to the series finale.
'That is how he developed his concentration and focus.'
The tour will include a 14-day quarantine-cum-training period in Sydney starting November 12 for the Indians who will fly in after the IPL final on November 10.
Play was halted briefly at the Sydney Cricket Ground when the pitch was invaded by two protesters.
England brought an end to their miserable World Cup campaign with a nine-wicket victory over Afghanistan under the Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain-disrupted final Pool A match at Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.
If Rahane's side can go 2-1 up and ensure the retention of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, it will be one of the finest hours in the history of Indian cricket
Australian opener David Warner's impassioned appeal for the return of his missing baggy green cap for his final Test has been successful with the rucksack containing the iconic headwear discovered at the team hotel in Sydney.
Left arm quick Mitchell Starc will replace injured seamer Mitchell Johnson in Australia's lineup for the fourth and final dead rubber Test against India starting on Tuesday.
Key players, such as pacer Mitchell Starc, are hitting form at the right time, while star batter Steve Smith is facing early setbacks in his preparations.
Australia opener David Warner will miss the second Test against India this week because he left a biosecure bubble to receive treatment for a groin injury that would have ruled him out of the match in any case.
Home Tests against an undermanned Pakistan may struggle to excite even the most ardent Australian cricket fan but angst over David Warner's farewell tour has given the series a much-welcomed boost.
Images from Day 5 in the fourth Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday.
FIXTURES (Start at 14.40 local, 0910 IST, 0340 GMT)
Mitchell Starc and Steven Smith believe that Virat Kohli is an Australian in the way he thinks, acts, and has the desire to perform in big games.
Opening batter Mohammad Rizwan was awarded the 'Man of the Match' for his half-century in the semi-final against New Zealand.
'Seriously guys? We felt so bad at that time. We are in the same bubble. But you get into the lift and you can't share the space with another person staying in the same bubble. It was too difficult for us to digest.'
The 45 games in the T20 World Cup 2022 will be played in Geelong, Hobart, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald on Saturday showered praise on David Warner and said that he is probably the greatest all-format Aussie player.
Australian great Greg Chappell believes technology, specially artificial intelligence, will make cricket "slicker" and "unpredictable", changing how it is practiced, played and consumed in the future.
Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma ignore each other on match eve
Despite the challenging build-up, Gambhir said he is "extremely confident" of retaining the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The players will hope to be as confident as they prepare for the fight to keep their World Test Final chances alive.
The part-time spinner must now have his bowling action tested within 14 days but can continue to bowl at the international level until the test results are out.
Australia appealed for a catch off Cheteshwar Pujara's inside edge at short leg by Matthew Wade, off the bowling of Nathan Lyon, which was turned down by umpire Wilson following which the hosts opted to take the review.
'Cricket is one of the many bonds that connect India & Australia.'
Images from Day 3 of the fourth Test between Australia and India at the MCG on Saturday.
Rohit Sharma is certain to replace Mayank Agarwal at the top of the order against Australia in the third Test, starting in Sydney from Thursday.
Is it really a 'home advantage' for Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground?
Green was attended to by the medical team and was able to walk off the field.
