The second Ashes Test between England and Australia is scheduled from August 14 to August 18 at Lord's Cricket Ground.
Australia's top cricketers are effectively unemployed.
With their backs to the wall after conceding a big first innings lead, the top-order faltered again as India 'A' scored 265 for 6 against Australia 'A' by the end of third day's play in the second unofficial 'Test', in Chennai, on Friday.
Former Australia captain Ian Chappell feels the potency of Australia's pace attack in English conditions gives them the edge in next month's World Test Championship final against India, who could be "badly affected" by the absence of injured Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant.
A lot of focus is on how Australia will cope with the dangerous Ravichandran Ashwin on turning tracks in India.
Smith was ruled out of the third Test due to concussion and Hohns said the form of his replacement, Marnus Labuschagne, would be a factor in finalising the batting order.
Following is a fact box on the second Test of the four-match series between Australia and India:
Former pacer Laxmipathy Balaji feels the Indian fast-bowling attack has been in impressive form in the run-up to the ICC World Twenty20 especially veteran Ashish Nehra, who has made a fine comeback into the squad. "India has prepared well for the ICC World Twenty20 and have got the combinations right in the last three tournaments against Australia, Sri Lanka and the Asia Cup. The seniors as well as the juniors are doing well. The fast bowling department has been looking great especially in the death overs," said Balaji. "Ashish Nehra and Bumrah are bowling very well now. Ashish has made a very good comeback. It's not easy to do coming back after six years to a new Indian team. He has had his ups and downs. I rate Ashish very high," he added in praise of Nehra, who was out of the team for a long period after being part of the victorious 2011 World Cup squad.
Adam Zampa and Ashok Dinda claimed three wickets each as Rising Pune Supergiants outclassed Delhi Daredevils by 19 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain-hit match in the Indian Premier League, in Visakhapatnam, on Tuesday.
It will be a battle for survival for struggling Rising Pune Supergiants when they lock horns with formidable title-contenders Sunrisers Hyderabad in Tuesday's Indian Premier League match in Visakhapatnam.
The southpaw became the first to score a hundred in a session at the Gabba, propelling Australia to a 196-run lead over England.
Ashton Turner took an experienced Indian attack to the cleaners with some unbelievable hitting, helping Australia chase down a record breaking target of 359 runs and level the five-match series.
South Africa in trouble at 58-4 in 'Boxing Day' Test
With the Ashes set to get underway, Australian players reflected on the prestigious series and their aim for the upcoming tournament.
A scrappy India will have to lift their game by several notches against an improving Australia when the two fierce rivals clash in a virtual quarter-final cricket match of the ICC World Twenty20, in Mohali, on Sunday.
Australia concluded their World Cup preparation on an emphatic note
The pitch offered some variable bounce but did not pose too many problems for the batters till the final hour of play.
The 25-year-old with the signature slingshot action helped rout Australia for 151 soon after tea in their reply to India's declared first innings total of 443 for seven..
Captain Virat Kohli became the second fastest to 25 Test centuries before Usman Khawaja helped Australia extend their lead to 175 runs to give the hosts a slight upperhand at stumps on Day 3 in Perth on Sunday.
IMAGES from the 1st ODI played between India and Australia in Hyderabad on Saturday
The Indian Playing XI will also have Bhuvneshwar Kumar on Sunday as he replaces Mohammed Shami, who was hit on the leg in his follow through during the third match.
The Virat Kohli-led team ticked all the boxes in their opening win of the series Australia on Saturday.
Hosts Australia will pull on a classic uniform from the 1980s featuring green strip on bright gold top and pants when they take on India in the three-match ODI series.
Former captain Rahul Dravid, on Saturday, hailed the current Indian bowling attack and said its ability to take 20 wickets in a Test has given a huge fillip to the team.
Scroll down to see the list of other awardees and cricketers who glamed up the night in their sartorial best.
Australia's players will boycott an 'A' team tour of South Africa later this month unless a new pay deal is struck with Cricket Australia beforehand, the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) said on Sunday.
Di Venuto said Australia's batting plans were working well till a dramatic collapse saw them lose eight wickets for 28 runs.
Following is a fact file on the first Test match between Australia and India in Adelaide and how the teams have performed at the Adelaide Oval over the years:
Australia opener Marcus Harris, on Saturday, rued missing out on a hundred and said batsmen unable to convert starts have left his team with a mountain to climb in the fourth Test against India.
India captain Virat Kohli, on Sunday, criticised the Decision Review System, saying 'it is not consistent at all and becoming a talking point in every game'.
Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch and Travis Head all made half-centuries but none of them was able to really put their foot down on the gas as India pegged the Australians back on a grassy, drop-in wicket that occasionally played a few tricks.
Sohail and Asad Shafiq (80) put on 150 for the fifth wicket on a placid track at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium as Australia's bowlers toiled in the intense heat.
How do India and Australia's teams stack up? Rajneesh Gupta presents all the numbers.
'(Jasprit) Bumrah we know is a very good new ball bowler and I'm sure he'll mix it up and bowl some short stuff and some full stuff'
A confident and wiser Australia are well-equipped to take the fight to India in a series that could literally be decided by a coin-toss, according to former Test bowler Ryan Harris.
Sri Lanka, who had conceded a 109-run lead, were bowled out for 113 in their second innings
Recently recruited New South Wales spin bowler Manjot Singh, a car salesman who was coached by Sydney Sixers wicketkeeper Daniel Smith, has described his representing the Blues as proof cricket was a game that embraced all.
The Indian skipper said the innings was so "special" that everything kept coming off while he admitted to being under pressure.
Australia all-rounder James Faulkner is in line to make his Test debut after replacing Usman Khawaja for the fifth and final Ashes Test, starting at The Oval on Wednesday.
Azhar Ali hit his fourth Test ton against Australia as Pakistan piled on 476-4 before declaring
