Pat Cummins may be undecided about his future as Australia's One-Day International captain after the World Cup but few of his compatriots will be urging him to stand down after his efforts in India.
Bumrah removed Australia openers Joe Burns and Matthew Wade for eight runs apiece in quick succession before tea, however, and Ashwin (4-55) drove home the advantage after the break.
'We wish (England) well, see what unfolds. It's out of our hands but we'll be watching on with interest.'
Pace bowler Umesh Yadav claimed three wickets but Cameron Green hit an unbeaten century to give Australia A the lead on Day 2 of the three-day practice match against India A at the Drummoyne Oval, in Sydney, on Monday.
As vice-captain, 28-year-old fast bowler Pat Cummins would be the obvious choice to replace Tim Paine. His appointment would enable a rapid transition with the start of the Ashes series against England only three weeks away.
The 21-year-old is now level with Englishman Jack Russell (vs South Africa at Johannesburg in 1995) and South Africa's AB de Villiers (vs Pakistan at Johannesburg in 2013).
'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.'
On Wednesday, the 31-year-old took to Twitter, to ask help from fellow teammate Rishabh Pant.
'We do the necessary checks (and) Will's good to go, so we're hopeful that he'll be fine all the way through.'
With the Sydney Cricket Ground reliably Australia's most spin-friendly wicket, the hosts may find it tough going to manufacture a face-saving victory and square the series.
Can this Indian side, which has shown character and courage after the debacle in the first Test at Adelaide, stun the Aussies at their favourite hunting ground?
Although India's hopes to nab the big one went unrealised, it was heartening to see filmmaker Payal Kapadia and her globally acclaimed creation All We Imagine As Light, among the nominees for Best Non-English Film and Best Director. Aside from that disappointment, the Golden Globes remain a ho-hum affair livened up by occasional display of wit and wildness.
Australia appear confused by picking wicketkeeper Tim Paine for the Ashes squad against England as he is not even the first choice selection for his state side, retired leg-spinning great Shane Warne said.
Australia have left masterblaster batsman Glenn Maxwell out of their squad for the five-match one-day international series against England that follows this week's fifth Ashes Test.
'He just laughs all the time. He doesn't really say much, he's just always laughing at you. I don't know what's so funny, it must be my batting.'
'The pitch should have enough for the bowlers to be interested on all days of the Test.'
Ajinkya Rahane's India have a mountain to climb, even if a draw would be enough to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy two years after their breakthrough 2-1 win in the 2018/19 series in Australia.
Australian captain Tim Paine said a 'proud' cricketing nation like India is not going to roll over in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne like they did in the series opener in Adelaide and singled out KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant as potential threats.
Handling the spotlight and the probing questions from the fourth estate can be difficult for first-time international players and Cricket Australia prefers not to leave anything to chance.
Steve Smith is back in the Test squad along with David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, the other two players hit with long bans for their involvement in the Cape Town scandal in March, 2018.
New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee will undergo thumb surgery on Thursday and a decision on his participation in the upcoming World Cup in India will be taken next week.
Australia have left no stones unturned in their preparation as they chase their first Test series win in over a year, captain Tim Paine said.
Kings XI Punjab captain heaped praise on Glenn Maxwell and Thisara Perera after the five-wicket win against Hobart Hurricanes in Mohali and promised his team will get better in the Champions League T20.
Kohli earns more from brand endorsements and IPL appearances than he does playing for India.
'If there were ever a PR exercise to fix the seemingly irreparable image of Australian cricket in the aftermath of the most notorious on-field scandal in recent memory, then this is it,' observes Dhruv Munjal.
Three years after his ignominious exit as Australia's captain in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal, Steve Smith has said he is keen and ready to lead the national side again if an opportunity came his way.
Langer said Australia are going with the same playing XI for the second Test unless and until something happens over the next few days.
Australian great Allan Border is mighty impressed with Pat Cummins' captaincy but said the upcoming four-Test series against India will be his real "acid test and the final frontier".
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Kevin Roberts has told staff that the governing body faces a financial crisis and would not have been able to pay its bills at the end of August without layoffs, local media reported on Saturday. Cricket Australia announced plans to lay off almost 80% of staff on Thursday, putting them on 20% pay until June 30 when it is hopes more will be known about how long government curbs put in place to control the coronavirus will last.
Following are the statistical highlights of the group A Champions Trophy match between India and Australia which was abandoned due to rain.
Marnus Labuschagne rode his luck to a home-ground century as Australia exploited India's injury woes and punished their poor fielding to reach 274 for five at the close of a steamy opening day of the series-deciding fourth and final Test, in Brisbane, on Friday.
While taking questions about his first round victory, the World No 2 spotted a journalist snoozing away in the corner of the room.
Australia has a mandatory 14-day quarantine for international arrivals to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Archie, who suffers from a heart ailment, dreams of captaining Australia and it has been confirmed he would co-captain Tim Paine
Australia vice-captain and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been dropped for the first Test against India as selectors backed the team's three specialist seamers to bowl a full workload at Adelaide Oval.
Captain Joe Root said conditions at Old Trafford should suit the 6 foot five tall Craig Overton.
Australia captain Tim Paine graciously admitted that they were outplayed by the Indians.
Australia's wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine on his success story thus far.
Ashwin responded to Prithi's tweet by saying that it brought him to tears and thanked her for being there with him.
Aaron Finch sustains painful blow in nets ahead of first Test against India
