England will have to conjure something special to deny Australia a 4-0 lead in the five-test series and Thorpe said the batsmen should take a leaf out of Bairstow's brave first-innings hundred despite a thumb injury.
Day 1 of Ireland's inaugural Test vs Pakistan rained off.
A new three-day lockdown in Brisbane has put Cricket Australia in a spot of bother as it makes desperate efforts to hold the fourth and final Test against India in the Queensland state capital from January 15
India made two changes to their side with opener Virender Sehwag recalled for Praveen Kumar and S Sreesanth replacing Munaf Patel.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first in their tri-series one-day international against Sri Lanka.
At the close, after 75 overs were squeezed in around two lengthy rain interruptions, the West Indies were 207 for six with Denesh Ramdin on 23 and Carlos Brathwaite not out 35 after winning the toss.
The veteran posted his 38th Test hundred (154 not out) to guide India to a massive 532, 69 more than Australia's first innings score of 463.
Andrew Symonds scored an unbeaten 137 as Australia rallied from 134-6 to 376-7 at stumps on the first day of the second Test against India.
The second one-day international between Australia and New Zealand was abandoned due to heavy rain after only six overs on Sunday.
Bollywood actress and Virat Kohli's girlfriend Anushka Sharma was spotted at the Sydney Cricket Ground to support her beau in the World Cup semi-final between India and Australia on Thursday.
Bumrah endured a tough and unrewarding day on the field during the third Test at the SCG.
The 27-year-old all-rounder scored 40 off 22 balls late in the match as South Africa won the third ODI by three wickets.
Rain played spoilsport as the tri-series match between India and Australia was abandoned with the two teams sharing the points, which left the visiting side in with a chance to make it to the final.
AB de Villiers now owns the records for fastest 50, 100 and 150 in the 50-over game and second fastest century in World Cup cricket.
Manish Pandey believes a coming-of-age performance in Australia has provided a boost to his international career and he hopes to build on the exploits Down Under in the upcoming three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka. Some thought Pandey will stay on with team for the T20s after hitting an unbeaten 104 in the fifth and final ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground, giving India their first win of the tour. That did not happen but he has been rewarded with a T20 call-up for the upcoming Sri Lanka series that is regarded as a rehearsal for the ICC World T20 to held in March in India. "Getting a hundred at the international level is always a big achievement and it was my first one. So somewhere I have an idea (of what I have done). "Looking at the bigger picture, I would say it is a very good start to my international career," Pandey told PTI.
New South Wales and South Australia will play a Sheffield Shield match in honour of Phillip Hughes near to the former Test batsman's home next year.
Australia's David Warner breathed life into the rain-ruined final Test with a pulsating ton as the match meandered to a draw against the West Indies on Thursday. Warner, determined to finish an undistinguished series on a high, reached his 16th Test century off 82 balls before a small Sydney crowd. The buccaneering opener had a highest score of 64 in the two previous Tests as team-mates helped themselves to six centuries against the tourists' innocuous bowling attack.
Shane Warne immortalised himself with the 'Ball Of The Century' on June 4, 1993 during the first Ashes Test against England at Old Trafford in Manchester.
Australia have typically struggled in sub-continent conditions and a pitch which could assist the spinners is expected at the SCG, keeping in mind the upcoming tour of India in February.
There was a lot of buzz about the Sydney Cricket Ground pitch for the high-octane India versus Australia semi-final on Thursday.
The fast bowler dropped to the ground after being hit on the head on Saturday as he tried to stop opener Warner's cracking drive off a half volley and was immediately treated by the Australian medical staff.
'There's a difference between a captain who consults and one who is uncertain; dithering is a bad look for a captain. There are times in Australia when a captain has to be imaginative in order to force the issue and this is not one of Root's strengths.'
Rossouw determined to continue his roller-coaster ride
"Sometimes as a bowler, a batter is able to take his chances against you and get success. I saw videos with our bowling coach and my line and length were good, except for one ball. Sometimes, you get beat on good balls. But if you keep thinking about this, you will never make a comeback," he added.
The two players were reported guilty by the umpires during the second match of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy against Australia.
Here is a how the late Phillip Hughes fought for his life after the fatal knock on the head during a domestic match on Tuesday...
Australia batsman Marnus Labuschagne is looking forward to the return of David Warner for the third Test against India in Sydney as he believes the the hosts will benefit not just from his batting but also the 'terrific energy' he will bring to the field.
After his third successive Test century at the Sydney Cricket Ground, VVS Laxman on Thursday said he had a special relationship with the venue which helped him produce his best on the famous turf.
Australia paceman Peter Siddle has wasted little time throwing a psychological dagger at India's stand-in skipper Virat Kohli, saying the batsman could expect a harsh reception from players and fans on tour Down Under.
"If you get beaten playing your best cricket, then you certainly have to accept that. Today was a little bit disappointing. There were some good bits but we thought we had a defendable total if we were to be on our game,"
'We have had champions, we have had legends, but we have never had another Sachin Tendulkar and we never will.'
This period saw big stars of the likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev fade into the sunset while it was witness to the birth of slew of young Indian cricketers that made their mark home and abroad.
South Africa are considering playing uncapped spinner Johan Botha in the final Test against Australia in a last-ditch gamble to salvage a drawn series.
Former India skipper Anil Kumble also honoured the late cricketer.
Check out the images from Day 1 of the fourth Test between Australia and India played at Sydney Cricket Ground.
India's vice-captain is banking on his spinners to get early wickets and put pressure on the Aussies.
