Australia have dropped Test skipper Tim Paine from their one-day squad for next month's series against South Africa and named opening batsman Aaron Finch as captain in his place.
'No doubt it's their best preparation to be in those exact conditions, playing in probably the strongest domestic T20 tournament in the world.'
Australia captain Tim Paine lost a referral when third umpire Aleem Dar upheld the decision after reviewing video replays from several angles.
India have never won a Test series on Australian soil, but go into the series-finale starting Thursday with a 2-1 lead. The visitors need only a draw to claim a piece of history.
Marcus Harris will be the only change to the 11, with opener David Warner cleared to play after struggling with his groin strain in Sydney.
Cricket Australia is open to the idea of shifting the Boxing Day Test to Perth, where the situation is under control.
New South Wales paceman Abbott and Queensland veteran Neser are the reserve quicks behind regulars Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson.
Images from Day 2 of the fourth Test between Australia and India, at the Gabba, on Saturday.
Warner was left stranded at 335 not out when Australia skipper Tim Paine declared the innings on Saturday.
Archie, who suffers from a heart ailment, dreams of captaining Australia and it has been confirmed he would co-captain Tim Paine
Ajinkya Rahane brought calmness in the dressing room in the absence of regular captain Virat Kohli, spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said on Tuesday after India recorded an epic series-levelling win in the second Test, in Melbourne, on Tuesday.
Australia batsman Matthew Wade may decide to keep his lip zipped during the Test series against India over the home summer as he says Virat Kohli's team thrive on verbal confrontations. Wade said chirping at India during the four-Test series, which starts in December, might backfire.
According to the report, Cricket Australia will determine whether Smith can return to captaincy at its next meeting.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 2nd Ashes Test played in Adelaide on Thursday.
Australia vice-captain and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been dropped for the first Test against India as selectors backed the team's three specialist seamers to bowl a full workload at Adelaide Oval.
Bandon Mein Tha Dum is about a team that hits rock-bottom, loses key players, has its global reputation shrink overnight, but despite all the setbacks, pulls off one of the greatest comeback victories in the history of international cricket, applauds Shailesh Karkera.
'Right now I think Finchy (Aaron Finch) is doing a great job, Painey is doing a great job. So, that gives Pat Cummins the opportunity to learn and watch and sit back and see how he feels about that role and experience a few different things'
Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc along with spinner Nathan Lyon played all four Tests against India. While Cummins and Hazlewood starred with the ball, Starc and Lyon had to toil hard for wickets.
Former West Indies captain Brian Lara will be in the same team as Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer in the upcoming Bushfire relief fundraiser match. Ponting's side, which will be coached by former India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, also comprises of lethal pacers such as Brett Lee and Wasim Akram. On the other hand, Gilchrist side's has a solid top-order comprising of Yuvraj Singh, Shane Watson and Andrew Symonds.
Australia have left no stones unturned in their preparation as they chase their first Test series win in over a year, captain Tim Paine said.
Images from Day 2 of the 2nd Ashes Test played at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday
Australia appear confused by picking wicketkeeper Tim Paine for the Ashes squad against England as he is not even the first choice selection for his state side, retired leg-spinning great Shane Warne said.
Oz media hails India's historic Test series win.
Top order batsman Usman Khawaja has been omitted from Australia's annual list of 20 elite, contracted players in 2020 after falling out of favour with selectors midway through last year's Ashes. The 33-year-old lefthander has not played for the Test side since being dropped after the third match against England in Leeds last August.
During last India Test series in Australia, Smith was banned for ball tampering and missed out on challenging one of his favourite opposition.
Melbourne will host the traditional Boxing Day Test before the final match is played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3.
Images from Day 3 of the fourth Test between Australia and India, at the Gabba, on Sunday.
Spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav left Australia reeling on 236/6.
Aaron Finch sustains painful blow in nets ahead of first Test against India
While ODI captain Aaron Finch said the team backed Justin Langer "100%", reports of players being put off by the coach's "grumpy" temperament have continued to surface.
Alex Carey is content being Australia's preferred white-ball wicketkeeper but hopes to be 'good enough' one day to break into the Test squad. His limited-overs duty has somewhat restricted his first class experience and Carey said shifting from one format to another was not easy.
Australians can expect a backlash from the top ranked Test side in the world, according to former captain Ricky Ponting.
'But I will say that Australia played better cricket than us and they played more consistently. That's why then won the match. Beyond that, I don't think I need to over-analyse this game'
Australia need five wickets in the second Test to secure a series-levelling victory with India's daunting run chase on a menacing pitch teetering at stumps on day four on Monday.
Australia romped to a three-wicket victory in the fourth one-day international at Adelaide Oval on Friday after threatening to dismiss England for the lowest score in the history of the format by reducing the tourists to eight for five inside seven overs.
Young opener Shubman Gill and pacer Mohammed Siraj will make their Test debuts in the second Boxing Day Test against Australia, starting in Melbourne, on Saturday.
Images from Day 2 of the second Test between Australia and India, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, on Saturday.
Jofra Archer took six wickets as England's bowlers gave their side a handy lead on the second day of the final Ashes Test, reducing Australia to 225 all out in reply to their own first innings score of 294.
'It'll test us out, no doubt, against a good Indian outfit .... They beat us out here last time and they're a very good side'
How do India and Australia's teams stack up? Rajneesh Gupta presents all the numbers.
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