Australia dominated with bat, ball and in the field to post their second successive innings victory over Pakistan
The middle-order batsman was added to the squad for the first Ashes Test against England as cover for injured all-rounder Shane Watson.
West Indies brought back fast bowlers Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards in place of Marlon Samuels and Corey Collymore.
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.
"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 Australian batsman hurt himself in the second over of the first day while fielding.
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 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.
Australia named all-rounder Andrew Symonds in place of the retired Damien Martyn in their team for the third Ashes Test against England.
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.
Phil Jaques scored another century as New South Wales amassed 325 for 5 on the first day of the tour match against England.
The right-hander said Australia will have to be at their best to beat the West Indies in the ICC Champions Trophy final.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Australian coach Darren Lehmann wrote an inspiring and emotional email to his players before what is sure to be a special first Test.
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.
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 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.
Michael Clarke's fitness for the Test series against India fading fast.
Rajneesh Gupta presents interesting numbers at the start of India-Australia Test series.
Steve Smith continued his sizzling form with an unbeaten century as Australia laid a strong foundation on the first day of the second Test .
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.
The right-hander said the pitch was much as the same as Thursday, when 17 wickets fell in a frenetic day.
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 Aussies beat Bangladesh by six wickets in the last group match of a triangular series.
One of international cricket's fiercest rivalries resumes after six weeks when Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 'Men in blue' battles it out with Michael Clarke's team at the Sydney Cricket Ground for a place in the final of the ICC's showpiece event against New Zealand, who beat South Africa by four wickets in a thriller in Auckland on Tuesday. A factfile on the teams.
The ICC on Tuesday confirmed that TV umpire communications during decision-making will be put to air for the knock-out stages of the World Cup.
Sri Lanka scored an upset 22-run win over Australia in the first one-day final at Adelaide Oval on Friday.
Maxwell was both mocked and praised after video emerged of him making a 'choking' gesture.
Pre-tournament favourites Australia currently occupy third spot in Pool A.
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