Scenes from the post triumph celebrations after Australia won its first T20 World Cup championship at the Dubai international cricket stadium on Sunday.
It took Australia seven attempts but under Aaron Finch they finally laid their hands on a maiden Twenty20 World Cup title on Sunday with an eight-wicket triumph over New Zealand.
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.
Shane Watson also named in T20 squad to be captained by Aaron Finch
Big test for India, Eng; minnows likely to shake applecart
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to bat first against Australia in their World Twenty20 Super 10 match at Dharamsala on Friday. The Kiwis are on a high after beating hosts India in their Group Two opener and a second win against their trans-Tasman rivals will put them on course for a place in the semi-finals. After their brave gamble to pick three specialist spinners paid off against India, New Zealand decided to bolster the pace attack, dropping off-spinner Nathan McCullum to accommodate Mitchell McClenaghan. "It's nice to get a win early and hopefully we can make an adjustment again on a new wicket," captain Kane Williamson said. Australia captain Steven Smith said he too would have liked to bat first on a dry wicket at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index after 29 World Cup 2023 games.
The game on Friday had enough positives for India, mainly the performance of Mohammad Shami and Suryakumar Yadav, but few questions still need to be answered ahead of the World Cup, beginning October 5.
James Pattinson will replace fellow-quick Mitchell Starc in the Australia team for this week's opening test against West Indies, captain Steve Smith said on Wednesday, reviving a promising career that had stalled because of injury.
The hard-hitting 27-year-old becomes the fifth Australia player to leave the Indian Twenty20 tournament early following the departures of captain Steve Smith, John Hastings and Mitchell and Shaun Marsh
Images from Day 4 of the 5th and final Ashes Test between Australia and England at the SCG in Sydney on Sunday
On the ICC ODI Team Rankings, No.1 ranked Australia has moved up from 118 points to 120 points, while New Zealand has dropped behind India in fourth position. New Zealand had started the series on 112 points, but the 3-0 defeat has meant it has dropped to 109 points.
Delhi Capitals will expect more from their batters after an underwhelming display in their previous outing, while Lucknow Super Giants are eager to shrug off overdependence on skipper KL Rahul when the teams clash in the IPL match in Mumbai on Sunday.
On preparing for next two matches against Afghanistan and Bangladesh, two sides he has not played much in ODIs, Smith said that both teams have some quality spinners and it is important that the team bats well in middle overs against them.
Concerns that senior players would pull out of the tour due to security issues after both England and New Zealand withdrew from tours of Pakistan late last year have proven unfounded.
'The more all-rounders are there, the better it is for any team in T20s'
Steve Smith will lead Australia against India in the upcoming three-match ODI series as regular captain Pat Cummins, who lost his mother recently, will not return for the white-ball contest.
Former Australia captain Ian Chappell feels even though he backs the hosts to win the series 3-0, India should field five specialist bowlers including two spinners in the final cricket Test, starting January 6.
Batsman Daniel Hughes, returning from an ankle injury but still visibly restricted, top-scored with 42 before being run-out by Marsh, triggering a collapse which resulted in the side being bowled out for 92.
Architect of India's six-wicket win over Australia, wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul has a solid all-round game and provides stability in the middle-order, said bowling coach Paras Mhambrey.
Riyan Parag revealed that he was struggling with ill-health for the last three days.
'...there'll be nerves and a bit of pressure, but that's all part of it, and I'm just excited to see what it all brings.'
Shaun Marsh will replace injured Australia captain Michael Clarke for the second Test match against India, starting at Brisbane from December 17, Cricket Australia said on Saturday.
Following is a fact box on the second Test of the four-match series between Australia and India:
Veteran Sourav Ganguly marked his belated return to the Indian Premier League with a gutsy batting display as Pune Warriors notched a comfortable six-wicket victory over Deccan Chargers in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
Glenn Maxwell missed his maiden ODI century but his career-best 95 helped Australia win the tri-series
He also said the team was awaiting the arrival of the experienced David Warner, Mitchell Marsh and Jonny Bairstow, who are presently involved in a limited overs series in England.
Delhi Capitals are at the bottom of the 10-team league with 2 points from 6 matches SunRisers Hyderabad are 9th with 4 points from 6 matches.
Images from Day 3 of the first Test between South Africa and Australia in Durban on Saturday.
Images from the fifth One-Day International between Australia and India in Sydney, on Saturday.
Opener David Warner, who set up a crucial victory for Australia with a whirlwind century in the ongoing World Cup on Friday, credited the IPL for working as a learning platform where he perfected the art of pacing an ODI innings.
Images from Day 4 of the second Test between South Africa and Australia in Port Elizabeth on Monday.
Images from Monday's IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and SunRisers Hyderabad, in Dubai.
Kohli has always led from the front but he knows his search for a maiden title will remain incomplete if the team doesn't perform in all departments.
How do India and Australia's teams stack up? Rajneesh Gupta presents all the numbers.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index after 33 World Cup 2023 games.
IMAGES of the T20 World Cup match played between Australia and New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday
They have looked more comfortable setting targets than chasing one though, and they will expect more penetration from their bowlers against a resurgent Australia.
Skipper Rohit Sharma would fancy a perfect culmination to Indian team's World Cup preparations as hosts eye a rare clean sweep of Australia in the third and final ODI in Rajkot on Wednesday.
Uncapped Inglis joins Australia stars in T20 World Cup squad.
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