Cricket fans paid tribute to the late Test batsman Phillip Hughes on the first anniversary of his death.
Dashing opening batsman David Warner won his third Allan Border Medal, while Ellyse Perry claimed her second Belinda Clark Award at the Australian Cricket Awards, in Melbourne, on Monday.
Pakistan-born Fawad Ahmed is likely to make his full Australia debut over the next month after being named as the specialist spinner in the squad for six one-day and two Twenty20 internationals against England on Thursday.
The Australian batsman hurt himself in the second over of the first day while fielding.
Australia named all-rounder Andrew Symonds in place of the retired Damien Martyn in their team for the third Ashes Test against England.
Former Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds says the 'monkeygate' incident during the home series against India in 2008 triggered his downfall in international cricket and even led to bouts of 'binge drinking'.
Phil Jaques scored another century as New South Wales amassed 325 for 5 on the first day of the tour match against England.
The former Aus leg-spinner then went on to place a bet with Ganguly, asking him to buy him dinner and wear the Australian jersey if the Aussies would win the June 10 ICC Champions Trophy match against England and he in turn would wear the England jersey if the Poms won.
"One player's absence won't make much of a difference. The rest will also have to bowl well," the cricketer-turned-commentator said before flying to Australia for the ICC World Cup commencing on Saturday.
Michael Clarke still has fitness tests to pass to meet his deadline to be ready for the second group match against Bangladesh.
The right-hander said Australia will have to be at their best to beat the West Indies in the ICC Champions Trophy final.
The victory virtually guaranteed Australia a place in the series finals. They have 18 points, while Sri Lanka have nine and South Africa have eight.\n\n
Former Australian captain Ian Chappell feels New Zealand are the dark horses even though India and South Africa will challenge Australia for the trophy.
The out-of-form middle-order batsman was omitted after regular opener Justin Langer was cleared to return from injury.
Damien Martyn was named Test player for the year and Andrew Symonds the best one-day player.
The International Cricket Council confirmed on Wednesday that it will conduct a trial during the forthcoming One-Day International series between Australia and South Africa whereby communication between the on-field and television umpire during decision-making will be available to the host broadcaster, the Nine Network, to put to air.
He might have copped a lot of criticism for his uninspiring leadership in overseas Tests but Mahendra Singh Dhoni has got a supporter in Michael Clarke who said the wicket-keeper batsman has done a "wonderful job" as India captain.
Clarke, like most of the visiting batsmen, has struggled in the English conditions and is averaging 18 compared to his Test career average of almost 50.
The departed cricketer was named his national team's '13th man' as the first Test between India and Australia started in Adelaide on an emotional note.
From outcast to hero, Steven Finn rediscovered the zing that made him England's youngest bowler to take 50 Test wickets by ripping through Australia and boost the home side's hopes of regaining the Ashes.
Australian coach Darren Lehmann wrote an inspiring and emotional email to his players before what is sure to be a special first Test.
The right-hander said the pitch was much as the same as Thursday, when 17 wickets fell in a frenetic day.
Australia captain Michael Clarke said he could not have asked for a better performance from his team following their 405-run mauling of England in the second Ashes Test at Lord's.
Australia bundled out England for a paltry 103 in their second innings to win the second Test match at Lord's on Sunday by a massive margin of 405 runs on the fourth day.
A bizarre standoff between Michael Clarke and selectors over the Australia captain's hopes of playing the first Test against India next week remained unresolved on Tuesday after the nation's cricket board dug in its heels.
The Aussies beat Bangladesh by six wickets in the last group match of a triangular series.
Michael Clarke's fitness for the Test series against India fading fast.
Chris Rogers fell for 95, failing to turn a half-century into a hundred for the seventh Test innings in a row as Australia ended the second day of the first Test on 264 for five, 166 behind England on Thursday.
Sri Lanka scored an upset 22-run win over Australia in the first one-day final at Adelaide Oval on Friday.
Captain Michael Clarke was frank about Australia's struggles to read the spin off the slow Dubai wicket but declined to criticise his team mates after his second dismissal to slow bowling in the first Test against Pakistan.
Pakistan's spinners scythed through Australia's top order in the second innings to get them close to victory in the first Test after twin centuries from Younus Khan and youngster Ajmal Shehzad helped the hosts set an improbable target.
Captain Stephen Fleming, however, may return to the side after having surgery to remove a tumour from his face.
Australia beat New Zealand by two runs in a thrilling one-day international to win the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.
Steve Smith continued his sizzling form with an unbeaten century as Australia laid a strong foundation on the first day of the second Test .
The dumped Australian Test batsman was given a day off by New South Wales to "clear his mind".
Australian captain Michael Clarke has told Ricky Ponting that he has his number and he should call him if there is anything worth talking about as the pair wrestle publicly over comments in the former captain's book.
The 24-year-old though said he would not adopt a conservative approach to batting
Brad Hodge was named 12th man while Michael Clarke moved up the batting order to four for the ICC Super Test.
