Australia captain Michael Clarke was in reflective mood on the eve of his final Test match against England at The Oval as he plotted a consolation victory to finish the series on a high.
A former pace bowler, James Sutherland helped turn the game into a commercial powerhouse in Australia's crowded sports market.
James Pattinson has the full support of the Australian team in his battle against over-stepping and they expect him to come out and "blow the game apart" in New Zealand's second innings, according to off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Jonathan Trott followed Graeme Swann, Kevin Pietersen and Matt Prior into the international wilderness on Monday to leave England desperately short of experience ahead of this year's Ashes series against Australia.
Resolute rearguard action by Peter Handscomb and Shaun Marsh helped Australia escape with a remarkable draw against India on the final day of the third Test in Ranchi on Monday.
Australia coach Darren Lehmann dismissed Virat Kohli's allegation that his team repeatedly sought DRS inputs from the dressing room, insisting that the second Test was played the right way.
Justin Langer was the foundation rock upon which Australia erected towering piles of runs during a golden era of success.
Mitchell Marsh's spot in a rebuilding Australia side is assured for at least the Boxing Day Test against West Indies but the all-rounder is feeling some heat to score runs to shore up his place.
A selection of musings from around the cricket World Cup.
'There are lots of positives and messages that we can take out of it (the series) and it'll be good to get home, have a rest and think about it' 'A lot of us have to step up and take the slack, but I think Australia has got the talent, we just have to harness it properly and if we do we will be OK'
A distraught David Warner issued an abject apology for his role in the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal on Saturday and said he has resigned to the prospect of never playing cricket for Australia again after his 12-month ban.
It will be difficult for Australia's besmirched cricketers to reclaim their reputations when the dust settles on the ball-tampering scandal but the episode is nonetheless a chance for the team to reclaim some of its lost principles and values, feels former batsman Michael Hussey.
Cameron Bancroft may have got away with his now infamous attempt to alter the condition of the ball in the third test against South Africa at Newlands had he not panicked and stuffed the evidence down his trousers.
Pace bowler Billy , who stands 2.04 metres tall and has been in fine form in the Big Bash League (BBL) for the Adelaide Strikers, is likely to make his debut if Australia opt to play three pacemen at the Gabba.
India have set an aggressive tone to the ongoing four-match Test series.
Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of this week's third Test against India in Melbourne with uncapped batsman Joe Burns coming into the 13-man squad to replace him.
Cricket Australia (CA) instead sent two security experts and a manager to meet with top Bangladesh security and intelligence officials.
Bowling coach Craig McDermott, who rejuvenated Australia's pace attack before resigning last year, will return to the role for the Test team in a major boost for the hosts ahead of the Ashes series against England.
Australia's selectors have responded to the threat of a first ever Test series sweep on home soil by dropping five players from their squad for the third match against South Africa, which begins in Adelaide on Thursday. Joe Burns, Adam Voges and Callum Ferguson, as well as wicketkeeper Peter Nevill, paid the price for a string of batting collapses, while seamer Joe Mennie was also axed after the innings defeat in the second Test in Hobart.
Peter Nevill has got the nod ahead of Brad Haddin as Australia's wicketkeeper for the third Ashes Test against England at Edgbaston, captain Michael Clarke confirmed on Tuesday.
Former Australia coach Mickey Arthur has come to a financial settlement with Cricket Australia (CA) following his sacking from the national team last month, the two parties said in a joint statement on Wednesday.
Alastair Cook faces his biggest ever challenge as England captain when he leads his young team into this year's home Ashes series against Australia.
Denouncing Virat Kohli's comments that the spiteful Test series has ended his friendship with the Australian cricketers, legendary batsman Mark Taylor says the India captain should not hold any grudges since it's just a game in the end.
Factbox on the fifth Ashes Test match between Australia and England, which starts on Thursday:
Australian great Glenn McGrath says the handling of the 'homework gate' saga during the team's tour of India earlier this year was "pretty poor" and felt it "all blew up" in the middle of the 0-4 Test series drubbing.
Since an acrimonious series defeat at home to South Africa a year ago, Australia have won nine of their past 13 Tests.
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 keen to take down Australia for perfect end to season.
Having spent much of the home summer suffering 'pad rash' from waiting to bat, Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has put the pent-up energy to good use when thrown the ball.
England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow said the tourists were "content, relaxed, excited" as they arrived in Brisbane on Sunday ahead of this week's opening Ashes Test.
Top-order batsman Shaun Marsh has been dropped from Australia's side for their second Test against West Indies, despite scoring 182 in the comprehensive first Test victory in Hobart.
Australia's players said they had saved their best performance until the end of the tournament.
Mickey Arthur feels his reputation took a big hit when he was sacked as head coach of Australia three years ago but the Pakistan mentor says he is not on a "revenge mission" as he prepares to take on his former charges.
Anil Kumble was re-appointed as Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee for a three-year term.
Newly appointed Australia coach Justin Langer will charge his players with winning back the 'respect' of the cricket world after a ball-tampering scandal left the team's reputation in ruins.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland rejected clarion calls for a formal review and said the game is in "good shape" despite the Test team's fifth successive defeat.
Tasmanian batsman Alex Doolan could be in line for a test debut pending the fitness of all-rounder Shane Watson after being named in Australia's 14-man squad for the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney.
Australia fast bowler Ryan Harris has declared himself a certain starter for the first Test against India but cannot say the same for all of his team mates a day after Phillip Hughes' funeral.
Australia coach Daren Lehmann has called on his top order to hammer home the Ashes pain for a dispirited and depleted England in the fourth Test starting on Thursday as they chase a 5-0 whitewash.
Australia cricketer Phillip Hughes remains in an induced coma on Thursday after spending a second night in a Sydney, with the local ambulance service now under scrutiny for their response to the accident.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances