Images from Day 2 of the Pink-ball first Test between Australia and India, in Adelaide, on Friday.
The dead rubber New Year's Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground at least offers a chance for New Zealand to reset
England all-rounder Moeen Ali has no sympathy for Australia's banned cricketers and finds the whole team "rude".
Australia captain Steve Smith brushed off concerns about his fitness on the eve of the fifth and final Ashes Test against England on Wednesday before Mitchell Starc's return to spearhead the pace attack was confirmed as the only change to his team.
Virat Kohli and Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara held on to their second and seventh position respectively
Australia's Marnus Labuschange struck another half century to pile on the runs and the misery over New Zealand on Day 3 of the day-night Test in Perth on Saturday. Earlier, Starc picked a five-wicket haul.
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc picked up his second five-wicket haul in the match to lead Australia to a comprehensive 366-run victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka and a 2-0 series win.
The Australian bowlers took the honours on a sunny day at the Gabba.
Following is a factbox on the first Test match between Australia and England, which starts on Thursday:
Batsmen Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh were all dropped from the squad that lost a home Test series against India for the first time.
Australia made a stuttering start to coach Justin Langer's tenure as they lost by three wickets to England in the opening match of the one-day series at The Oval.
Australia batsman Usman Khawaja on Thursday hinted he could bat in the middle order in the upcoming four-Test series against India, starting in Adelaide on December 6.
'It hasn't been easy for the batters throughout the series'
India retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy with a historic three-wicket win over Australia in the fourth and final Test, in Brisbane, successfully chasing a 328-run target to seal the four-match series 2-1.
Former captain Smith, who has endured boos from the home crowds for his role in last year's ball-tampering scandal but has responded by piling up 671 runs in five innings, said it was incredibly special to retain the Ashes in England, something Australia have not done for 18 years.
Siddle said he was keen to see his friends back on the field but that by serving their bans in full they would be helping clean up the game.
Steve Smith continued his outstanding Ashes form, striking an unbeaten 60 as Australia recovered from another failure by their openers to reach 170-3 at the close of the rain-affected first day of the fourth Test against England.
Seamer Morne Morkel claimed his 300th career wicket as South Africa edged ahead in the third Test on Friday when they reduced Australia to 245 for nine at the close on the second day, still 66 runs behind their hosts' first innings score at Newlands.
After resuming on 384-4, the hosts declared their first innings closed after lunch. Kurtis Patterson, in just his second Test innings, was unbeaten on 114 after posting his maiden century and captain Tim Paine was 45 not out.
Images from Day 4 of the second Test between South Africa and Australia in Port Elizabeth on Monday.
"Out on the field Jofra has clearly made a big impact," England captain Joe Root said.
What the media said after Australia breached 'fort' Edgbaston to take a 1-0 lead in the Ashes Test series
'They showed a lot of discipline and overall if I had to analyse the performance of these bowlers, I would say they bowled pretty well. It's a good pitch still. This is a great experience for them bowling against the best batters, and test themselves'.
India gave wings to their ferocious ambition of winning a maiden series Down Under, beating Australia by 31 runs in the opening Test with an irresistible fusion of self-belief, hunger and talent in Adelaide.
Australia fought back with two late wickets to restrict England to 196 for four and leave the Ashes series-opener in Brisbane delicately poised on Thursday after the tourists' unheralded batsmen threatened to dominate an intriguing first day.
There will certainly be some distinct home advantage for Australia along with the experience of playing more Day/Night Tests.
Shaun Marsh is determined to grasp what he admits is probably a final chance to establish himself as a regular member of the Australia Test side after earning an Ashes recall.
Banned former Australian captain Steve Smith, on Wednesday, said Cricket Australia executives James Sutherland and Pat Howard played a key role in spreading the toxic 'win at all costs' culture
Australia opening batsman Aaron Finch has declared himself fit for the Boxing Day Test against India in Melbourne and said his injured finger would need to be cut off to prevent him from playing in front of his home state's fans.
The seemingly invincible Kolkata Knight Riders will start outright favourites when they square off against Australia's Hobart Hurricanes in the semi-finals of the Oppo Champions League T20 in Hyderabad.
Hobart Hurricanes produced a professional performance as they beat Barbados Tridents in convincing manner to enter the semi-finals of the Oppo Champions League T20, in Mohali.
Kings XI Punjab captain George Bailey 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.
'The past few days I have found something ... I have found my hands which I am extremely excited about.'
Signed playing shirts from the Boxing Day Test will be auctioned online from Thursday, with all proceeds also going to the Australian Red Cross.
Chasing a record 468 for victory, New Zealand were teetering at 31 for two at the break with Tom Latham 10 not out and Ross Taylor unbeaten on five. Images from Day 4 of the first Test between Australia and New Zealand in Perth on Sunday.
India and Australia play their opening T20 match In Ranchi on Saturday. And, although the visitors have added fresh faces to their squad for the three-match series, India are clearly the dominant side in this match-up.
Australia maintained their perfect record against the south Asians on home soil and continued their recent good form in Tests since retaining the Ashes in England.
The tourists were left on 20-2 after seven overs going into the second day.
Not a single Indian features in the ICC's Elite Panel of Umpires right now and the celebrated Simon Taufel doesn't foresee anyone making the cut in near future either.
Everything happened so quickly that no one could make any sense of it," Kohli was unable to fathom what hit his team, said Kohli after his team were bundled out for 36 - India's lowest score in Test cricket.
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