Australia at least on paper, can't be rated ahead of India and England during this edition of the tournament.
The never-ending speculation surrounding Mahendra Singh Dhoni's retirement, Virat Kohli's 16-year-itch, the second chance that life has offered Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma's bleeding heart will make for intriguing sub-plots in the annual carnival called the Indian Premier League starting on Friday.
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings in Kolkata on Friday.
Shami also became the joint-third fastest ever to take 150 ODI wickets
After defeats in their opening two matches, Australia came roaring back, winning their next nine games in succession
Australia's pacer Josh Hazlewood says he saw a 'few cracks' while rattling their top-order in their World Cup league clash last month.
Australia's preparations for the second Twenty20 international against India later on Sunday have been upset with fast bowler Mitchell Starc released for the remainder of the series on compassionate grounds.
England were spared the ignominy of the follow-on but Australia appeared on course for victory after dominating day three of the day-night second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Pat Cummins took 10 wickets to lead Australia to Pakistan series triumph
India launched their home World Cup campaign with a six-wicket victory over Australia after Virat Kohli and KL Rahul guided them through a jittery run chase on Sunday.
Giving a strong indication of him turning up in India's World Cup opener against Australia in Chennai on Sunday, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin went through an engaging net session on Thursday.
Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood hopes to play in at least three Ashes Tests after declaring himself fit.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index after 37 World Cup 2023 games.
Cites 'being in rhythm' as factor for success
Rather than sweeping the ball, Australia's batters mainly attempted the front foot defence against the spinners besides stepping out to hit down the ground.
The major highlights from the deadline day as teams announced their retention list for IPL 2024.
Another tough choice India need to make is in the wicket-keeping department.
Lyon surprised virtually everyone in the ground when he hobbled out to bat at number 11
Here are a slew of records that were scripted on Wednesday...
Australia's pacemen Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins ripped out England's top order with a masterclass of textbook bowling to put their side in sight of a 2-0 Ashes lead on Saturday.
Starc had wiped out the entire top order in powerplay
Travis Head struck a belligerent half-century to give Australia the upper hand on day one of the series-opening Test against South Africa after the home side's bowlers dominated on a green Gabba wicket on Saturday.
The opening day of the first Test between India and West Indies belonged to senior Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
On Tuesday, Warner, one the finest all-format players, became the 10th man in Test cricket's history to score a century in his 100th match, and the second to score a double ton.
Suryakumar Yadav has managed just 16 runs from his first three games in IPL 2023.
The left arm pacer had dismissed Virat Kohli with a snorter on day two. With the pitch playing tricks, he felt he got lucky.
'It's going to have take something pretty serious to have me miss a game.'
Heading into the third and fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australia will see a series of changes and Peter Handscomb discusses whether the side will benefit from the withdrawals.
India have already secured the Border-Gavaskar trophy and they will now be playing for a record-extending 16th straight series win at home
Mitchell Starc's first ball of the match was as good as Steve Harmison's was poor, a full yorker which went behind the legs of hapless England opener Rory Burns and swung into the base of his stumps
'That's a standard we want to keep going with for the rest of tournament.'
Mitchell Starc is likely to link up with skipper Pat Cummins in Australia's pace attack for the second Test against India.
Former ICC elite umpire Simon Taufel said people cite the 'spirit of the game' when they don't like a dismissal under the laws of cricket.
Pat Cummins' side stayed in control at the end of Day 2 of the WTC Final.
Australian batter Steve Smith on Thursday said his bowlers reaped the benefits of relentlessly targeting the off stump.
It's been more than a decade since India lost a Test series at home - they had lost to England 1-2 in 2012.
Navigating their way through extreme pressure moments in their tournament opener, India will be eyeing a perfect game against a sprightly Afghanistan in the ODI World Cup match in Delhi on Wednesday.
Australia declared their first innings on 556 for nine and then skittled out Pakistan for 148 to seize control of the second Test in Karachi on Monday.
India has lost three finals and on four occasion it bit dust at the semifinal stage. It also made an exit at the preliminary stage of the 2021 T20 World Cup.
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