It is not only a chance to bid farewell to one of the greats but also another opportunity to play in one of the toughest Test match battles, says Justin Langer.
With Steven Smith now helming the Australian affairs, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni returning from injury, the 2nd Test at Gabba, starting Tuesday, will shed light on the mindset of the two leaders.
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Penpix of Australia's 2005 Ashes Test squad for the series which starts on July 21.
'I felt Test cricket is just beyond my reach.' 'And slowly, slowly, I started doing well.' 'In the second Test against Pakistan, I scored a fifty and when we went to Sialkot I played a series-saving innings, which was a game changer for me.' 'At that stage that was the most important innings of my life.'
Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq steadied the Pakistan second innings with an unbroken 113-run stand after their team appeared to be heading for a heavy defeat by losing three quick wickets in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Dubai on Friday.
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His open style of leadership has fetched Australia 10 victories in 13 Tests he has led the team.
Australian captain Michael Clarke believes the Ashes series against England starting next month will be played in the correct spirit, even if some players come close to crossing a line.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's uncharacteristic outburst against a controversial umpiring decision led to the Chennai Super Kings captain being fined 50 percent of his match fee in Thursday night's Indian Premier League match in Jaipur.
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India's captain said the batting track was good and scoring runs was not a big ask.
The legendary fast bowler said it is the worst he has ever seen in the West Indies.
It has taken India 10 years to finish a Test in 3 days.
Recalling some of his fiercest battles with Sachin Tendulkar, legendary Australian bowler Glenn McGrath has said it ended 50-50 between them but the Indian batting genius was really furious when he was declared out after a low bouncer hit his shoulder. McGrath said he spends a lot of time in India, has got a lot many friends there and always catches up with Tendulkar when he is in Mumbai, but many Indians still tell him they have not forgiven him for getting Sachin out in the 2003 World Cup final.
The itinerary for the Indian cricket team's 82-day tour of Australia.
Less than three months ago, Aaron Finch, alarmingly down on form and confidence, actually feared he might not be chosen for the Australian squad that he was due to lead. Now, he's atop the scoring charts at the World Cup.
Gilchrist, himself skeptical at the helm, may never be a full-time leader for Australia, but in the limited opportunities that he got, he's proved to be a diligent captain.
Cricket Australia (CA) has come in defence of skipper Steve Smith who has been under fire post the series whitewash in Sri Lanka, followed by defeat against South Africa in the opening Test in Perth, going 0-1 in the three-match series. The debacle didn't end there as the Aussies came out with a dismal batting performance in the Hobart Test as they were bowled out for 85 on Day One itself within the second session. But CA chief executive James Sutherland has backed Smith, citing his age and inexperience, and adding that they have full faith in the latter as a leader.
Tillakaratne Dilshan's 104 helped Sri Lanka score 352 for six on the second day of the first Test against Australia.
'We have got the ability to look at either a pace bowling attack backed by a spinner, or a spin bowling attack backed by pace or a combination of both,' says Aussie coach John Buchanan.
The Indian vice-captain, he says, 'is on a roll; he's the rock.'
"Dravid has the skills, the temperament, the respect of his teammates, his ethic is unquestionable and more over he has EARNED the position of captain," says Kiran.
Former Australian captain Steve Waugh said he expected the Indian team to be all fired up and ready to take on the world champions in the forthcoming Test series in October-November.
Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar joined another elitist club when he completed 10,000 runs during day 1 in the second Test against Pakistan.
The Indian captain is keen to play for another four to five years and help India scale new heights.
"The start was crucial today, and once we saw the first hour, the match was won," said Ricky Ponting.
Australia Test skipper-in-waiting, however, said India does have the ability to be a top side.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India, in a statement on Thursday, mourned the death of Australia cricketer Phil Hughes.
Australia coach Darren Lehmann will have a 'private chat' with Usman Khawaja after the top order batsman publicly criticised selectors for dropping him during the Sri Lanka tour. Khawaja and opener Joe Burns were omitted for the third and final test in Colombo, which Australia lost to slump to a 3-0 series whitewash. Although both the Queenslanders struggled for runs, Khawaja told local media over the weekend he felt they were unfairly singled out.
The December 19-21 match will be India's final preparation for the third test against Australia starting in Melbourne on December 26.
The Indian captain said the 'insatiable hunger for success' of the little master has acted as a constant source of inspiration for the side.
Australia's LOI captain was unbeaten on 137 with Test captain Steve Waugh on 43 when rain forced an early end to the second day of the second Test against Zimbabwe.
