Steve Smith ended his century drought and Marnus Labuschagne struck his first Test hundred abroad to steer Australia to 298/5 on day one of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Friday.
Travis Head scored an unbeaten half-century on his home debut to give Australia hope of reeling in India's first innings lead at the close of day two of the first Test on Friday.
Australia remain optimistic about their Twenty20 World Cup campaign despite being shown up in all facets by India in the opening two matches of their current series. With Steve Smith leading an advanced party to New Zealand for the forthcoming ODI series, the Australians have made more changes to their XI, with Shane Watson to lead the side after skipper Aaron Finch suffered a hamstring injury in Friday night's second T20 defeat. In-form top-order batsman Usman Khawaja comes into the squad as Finch's replacement, and will likely open the batting alongside Shaun Marsh. Finch is awaiting scan results and the Australia camp is bullish he will be able to return before the start of the World Cup in India on March 8.
India has lost three finals and on four occasion it bit dust at the semifinal stage. It also made an exit at the preliminary stage of the 2021 T20 World Cup.
David Warner has called upon Cricket Australia to "open their doors" and discuss overturning his lifetime leadership ban, saying he is looking forward to having an "honest conversation" with the board.
Ahead of the WTC final between India and Australia, Ricky Ponting picked Australia's playing XI.
Australia's selectors sprung a major surprise on Friday by naming uncapped fast bowler Joe Mennie in a 12-man squad for the first two matches of a three-test series against South Africa beginning in Perth next week. Mennie was part of an inexperienced bowling attack that was humbled by the Proteas batsmen in the recent one-day series in South Africa, which the hosts won 5-0. Despite accumulating figures of 0-82 on debut, the 27-year-old was preferred to Jackson Bird, who toured New Zealand and Sri Lanka as part of the Australian test squad.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the second Test against Australia in Adelaide?
A crowd of more than 22,000 at his home Sydney Cricket Ground rose for a final ovation as Warner left the field.
Rising Pune Supergiants have roped in former Australia captain George Bailey to replace Faf du Plessis, who was forced to cut short his Indian Premier League campaign due to a finger injury.
Factbox on the five-Test Ashes series between England and Australia
Nathan Lyon said there was enough recovery time for Warner before the third Test beginning on March 1.
Images from Day 2 of the third Ashes Test on Friday.
The southpaw hit a match-winning 57 as Australia successfully chased down 130 to beat Pakistan to claim the third Test by eight wickets, on Saturday, and take the series 3-0.
After a nail-biting finish to the opening stage of their World T20 campaign, and the latest injury to Yuvraj Singh, India will have to look at their team composition going into the semi-final against West Indies on Thursday.
Buttler said he was asked by the on-field umpires whether he intended to appeal but decided to let the moment pass.
Rather than sweeping the ball, Australia's batters mainly attempted the front foot defence against the spinners besides stepping out to hit down the ground.
Australia have kept their bowling options wide open for India tour
The 25-year-old, a leg-spinner like his father, moved to Australia to play for in 2016 and is hoping to become a citizen in 2020 and represent his adopted nation in the Twenty20 World Cup later that same year.
Since 2011, England have managed to eke out just a single draw in 13 Ashes Tests over three tours and their last two Tests in Sydney have resulted in humiliating defeats.
Travis Head hammered a solid ton at the Oval as Australia dominated the proceedings over India on Day 1 of the WTC Final.
IMAGES from Day 5 of the 2nd Ashes Test played at Lord's on Sunday
Images from Day 1 of the first Test between South Africa and Australia in Durban on Thursday.
Australia coach Justin Langer has urged the struggling batsmen in his team to step up and deliver when the fifth and final Ashes Test against England starts at The Oval on Thursday.
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.
As the prestigious Ashes gets underway, here's a look at the milestones that can be achieved.
The hosts then raced to 199-6 in 31 overs, effectively batting West Indies out of the contest, before declaring their second innings.
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.
Marnus Labuschagne was bowled off an inside edge but Ravindra Jadeja had overstepped, before India erred by not opting for a DRS against the Australian right-hander.
A survivalist's mindset sees Indian batsmen fail again on the first day of the SCG Test.
'Joe is currently undertaking a treatment period of rest and recuperation'
David Warner will play in the Big Bash League (BBL) for the first time in 10 seasons around the new year in a major coup for the Australian competition in an increasingly crowded Twenty20 marketplace.
The hosts, who had a put up a massive first innings score of 598-4 before declaring, opted not to enforce the follow-on and reached 29-1 at stumps.
ICC Hall of Famer and former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting feels that batter Cameron Bancroft is leading the race to succeed David Warner and Usman Khawaja at the top of Australia's Test batting.
Images from the Australia-Bangladesh World Cup match in Nottingham, on Thursday.
Images from Day 4 of the third Test between Australia and Pakistan in Sydney, on Friday.
Captain Steve Smith raised a composed century to push Australia to a 22-run first innings lead in the second Test against Pakistan but the home side's hopes of pushing their advantage were washed away by rain on day four on Thursday.
Opening batsman David Warner enjoyed a gift-wrapped century after being reprieved on 99 as Australia endured a meandering first day of the Boxing Day Test against England on Tuesday.
The tourists were left on 20-2 after seven overs going into the second day.
