Steve Smith has no ambition to be Australia's full-time captain again, the 33-year-old said after leading the team to a nine-wicket victory in the third Test against India.
Rohit Sharma's men are playing all their matches in Dubai, and even the final will be held there if the team goes the distance, while the rest of the teams have to criss-cross Pakistan for their matches.
Australia's historic pedigree in cricket's biggest tournaments will count for nothing when they run into an Afghanistan side that is fast cementing its place in the game's top table in the Champions Trophy match in Lahore on Friday.
Before Sunday's game, Australia's Captain Pat Cummins said he wanted to silence the spectators at the Narendra D Modi stadium, and by jove! that's what his team did.
The 92,000 odd spectators watched Travis Head pummel the Indian bowlers taking his team to the brink of a memorable triumph in silence.
'We still prepare the pitch the exact same way every time to try and get the same good carry, pace and bounce that the Gabba is known for.'
Legendary Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy has urged the Aussie pace attack to target Virat Kohli's front pad and body in order to get him out in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Healy believes the Australian quicks should exploit any insecurity in Kohli's form, which has been inconsistent in recent months. He suggests targeting Kohli's front pad with seam deliveries and then resorting to "body bashing" if the first tactic fails.
Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur led India's spirited fightback, but Australia were sitting in control after stretching their lead to 296 runs at stumps on Day 3.
'We have seen both teams not having played Test matches for a couple of months. So, it is a one-off. Anything can happen. I will sit on the fence'
Simon Helmot, Sunrisers Hyderabad's assistant coach, on how the team demolished Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2, and plans for Sunday's final against Kolkata Knight Riders.
While the whole batting unit faltered, the spotlight fell firmly on seniors Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, whose lean patches in recent times have become a matter of concern.
Indian cricket has produced a generational superstar in Yashasvi Jaiswal and will remain in good health even when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma decide to call time on their careers, said former Australia World Cup winner Darren Lehmann.
'How we play the game reflects who we are as people and for the most part, the Aussie team is a pretty relaxed bunch, we like a bit of a laugh, so let's see what happens in this series.'
Josh Inglis slammed a brilliant century as Australia completed the highest chase in an ICC men's tournament against England in Lahore on Saturday.
Australia paceman Pat Cummins is eager for banned duo Steve Smith and David Warner to rejoin the national side, saying it feels like they have already spent "five years in cricketing isolation".
Learning from playing in Sri Lanka, Pakistan will help us in India, says Cummins
Teenager Konstas to make debut in fourth Test against India
Australian pace spearhead Pat Cummins believes if hosting the ICC T20 World Cup amidst raging COVID-19 pandemic is a drain on Indian resources or is 'unsafe', it would be prudent to shift the event to the United Arab Emirates.
Check out the mood in the stands at the M A Chidambaram stadium.
MI will hope Jasprit Bumrah returns to his menacing best, which is essential for them to stop an explosive Sunrisers Hyderabad batting unit in its tracks.
The hands that broke records and redefined batting deserve to hold and present the trophy named in his honour. To ignore such a legend during the trophy presentation is an affront to his legacy and diminishes the value of the trophy itself, asserts veteran cricket writer K R Nayar.
Pat Cummins said Australia are fired up to perform against teams that they have done well against in the recent past.
'I've been bowling here for the Melbourne Stars, I know the pitch, I know the length.'
Allowing India to play all their matches in Dubai robbed Pakistan of the honour of hosting the final and disrupted the schedule of the knockout matches.
After shouldering the bowling attack and now stepping up to bat, he's proven himself to be an all-round hero.
Pant's batting lacked its usual spark. While his 44 runs off 35 balls hinted at his talent, fluency and explosiveness were noticeably absent.
World champions Australia will hope to round off one of the nation's most successful seasons in cricket with victory in a rare Test series in New Zealand starting at Wellington's Basin Reserve on Thursday.
A look at statistics and aspects which have made SRH's 2024 season such a memorable one:
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2025 after Game 68.
Mayank Yadav is set to walk into the IPL 'Million Dollar Club' after making his international debut in the first T20 International against Bangladesh.
Rohit Sharma fires again as Mumbai Indians pulverise hapless Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets.
When you are defending to save a game, a loose delivery comes along and you suddenly opt to play an attacking shot, you are unlikely to hit as well as if you were playing your naturally aggressive game all along. First Pant, then Jaiswal, found that out the costly way, observes Prem Panicker.
Jhye Richardson will replace injured paceman Josh Hazlewood but opener David Warner has been cleared to play against England in the second day-night Ashes Test.
Australia bowled out West Indies for 188 at Adelaide Oval on Day 1 of the first Test on Wednesday.
Images from Day 4 of the second Test between Australia and South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Australia lead the two-Test series against West Indies 1-0 after beating the Caribbeans by 164 runs in Perth.
With 539 scalps in 134 matches at an average of 30.39 and best figures of 5/39, Lyon is the seventh-highest wicket-taker in Tests and has 24 five-wicket hauls and five ten-wicket hauls.
The good news is the team management has enough time on hand to think through the defeat and to find answers to the questions Adelaide has thrown up, around both its batting and bowling before the next test begins.
Australia announced a 16-member squad on Thursday with several fresh faces added to the group that played India in the fifth and final Test at Sydney last week. Australia won the marquee series 3-1.
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