Rising Pune Supergiants have roped in former Australia captain George Bailey to replace Faf du Plessis, who was forced to cut short his Indian Premier League campaign due to a finger injury.
Australian all-rounder Steven Smith has replaced compatriot Mitchell Marsh in the Pune Warriors India squad for IPL-5, which kicks off on April 4.
Ponting, who coached Delhi Capitals in the currently-suspended Indian Premier League, said one of the reasons for Australia not having a good finisher was that all of the best batsmen of the country bat in top four in Big Bash League.
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.
Following is a fact box on the second Test of the four-match series between Australia and India:
Images from Day 3 of the first Test between South Africa and Australia in Durban on Saturday.
Australia's hopes of winning back respect and moving on from a ball-tampering scandal that plunged the team into disgrace face their first test on Sunday when Tim Paine's rebuilding side meet Pakistan in the series-opener in Dubai.
South Africa continued their recent dominance of Australia in this format having won 11 of their last 12 ODI meetings dating back to 2016.
Jason Holder took 3-33 in four overs, which helped restrict Royals to a below par 154 for 6 in their 20 overs, which was easily overpowered by Sunrisers Hyderabad with eight wickets in hand and 11 deliveries to spare.
Janneman Malan, who was out to the first ball of the match on debut on Saturday, anchored the South African reply, taming his usual swashbuckling style to score 129 not out from 139 balls and lead the home side to victory with nine balls to spare.
Marsh, a pace-bowling all-rounder, struggled with the shoulder injury throughout Australia's home summer and was ruled out of Australia's remaining two Tests in India last week.
Ashton Agar and Usman Khawaja are the other two names doing the rounds, as the visitors grapple with injury issues ahead of the third Test starting in Ranchi on Thursday.
Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) have acquired the services of Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) pacer Shardul Thakur for the 10th edition of the Indian Premier League.
Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh is aware that he's no Jacques Kallis but would like to bat well and contribute to the team's win in the World Twenty20, something the legendary South African is known for.
Virat Kohli's tourists are the second ranked ODI side in the world and will be looking to get into their groove in the three 50-over and three Twenty20 matches that precede the four-match Test series around the new year.
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.
Experienced Australian left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has been left out of the national T20 squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa, while Victorian batsman David Hussey loses his spot in the One-day lineup.
RCB will be strengthened further when the immensely-talented Devdutt Padikkal makes the team after his recovery from COVID-19.
Images from Day 3 of the 3rd Ashes Test played at the WACA in Perth on Saturday
'Show us your visa' chants heard at MCG; spectators warned against racism
Srikar Bharat's splendid hundred and his century stand with Kuldeep Yadav put India A in command over Australia A in the second unofficial Test at Alur, Bengaluru, on Monday.
Following is a fact file on the first Test match between Australia and India in Adelaide and how the teams have performed at the Adelaide Oval over the years:
In a bid to discourage youngsters from joining the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), Cricket Australia is mulling over increasing their contract values, according to a report.
Australia's troubled Ashes tour of England continued when they drew with county side Northamptonshire on Sunday.
Following the retirements of Chris Rogers, captain Michael Clarke and all-rounder Shane Watson, Smith will lead a team in transition into the three-match series which wraps up with cricket's first day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval.
Former India opener Gautam Gambhir believes his former IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders doesn't have enough back-up options and the team management could have gone for all-rounders in the players' auction to provide the squad more depth. Gambhir said KKR don't have the bench strength to deal with any injury crisis in the top order.
Ahead of Thursday's Indian Premier League player auction, Royal Challengers Banglore captain Virat Kohli assured the fans that they will cover all bases and pick a strong team for the next edition of IPL. Ahead of this year's IPL auction, RCB had released 12 players from their squad, while retaining 13.
The 24-year-old, who played his last Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong in September, has been included alongside regular spinner Nathan Lyon for the Jan. 4 match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
SunRisers Hyderabad skipper David Warner praised leg-spinner Rashid Khan after his superb showing with the ball against Kings XI Punjab on Thursday, saying it is great to have a bowler like him in the team.
Former Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson has labelled the Decision Review System (DRS) as a `failure` after all-rounder Mitchell Marsh's controversial leg before dismissal during the opening Test of the three-match series against South Africa at the WACA Ground in Perth. The incident took place on the fifth day of the first Test when Marsh was originally given not out after he was struck low on the pads of a Kagiso Rabada delivery. However, the decision was over-turned when the ball-tracking technology showed it to be hitting more than 50 per cent of Marsh's leg stump and he was sent back to the pavilion.
Former Australia captain Greg Chappell feels that Steven Smith is a worthy candidate to lead the national cricket team but adds he is not the only choice if Michael Clarke decides to step down some day.
How do India and Australia's teams stack up? Rajneesh Gupta presents all the numbers.
11 other players have quoted the highest base price for this year's auction to be held on February 6 in Bangalore.
Shreyas Iyer stroked his way to an unbeaten half-century in an otherwise unimpressive batting display by India 'A' in reply to Australia's first-innings total of 469 for seven declared on the second day of the three-day practice game in Mumbai.
Jason Holder's superb all-round skills helped Sunrisers Hyderabad out class Royal Challengers Bangalore by six wickets in the IPL Eliminator match in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Shane Watson also named in T20 squad to be captained by Aaron Finch
Australia all-rounder Moises Henriques is in line for his first Test in three years after being named in the squad for their three-match tour of Sri Lanka in July and August.
SunRisers Hyderabad skipper David Warner praised the team's middle order after victory over Rajasthan Royals, saying the batsmen showed they can build a platform 'for us to get across the line'.
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.
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.
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