Ishant Sharma, the 19-year-old from Delhi, might have played his part as India dismissed Australia cheaply in the first innings of the Perth Test (with two for 34) and might have to play a bigger role if India have to secure a historic first win at WACA, but Manoj Prabhakar, the bowling coach of the Delhi Ranji Trophy team, which Sharma plays for, feels he can do better.
Chasing 413 for victory, Australia were 65 for 2 in their second innings at close on Day 3 of the third Test.
India bowled Australia out for 212 then added 52 runs for the loss of one wicket, reaching stumps on day two with an overall lead of 170.
India recalled Virender Sehwag for Yuvraj Singh and dropped spinner Harbhajan Singh for paceman Irfan Pathan.
Captain Anil Kumble said India are also toying with adding an extra seamer for the notoriously fast WACA pitch.
Andrew Symonds smashed an unbeaten 85 to lead Australia to a comfortable 54-run win over New Zealand in their Twenty20 international at the WACA in Perth on Tuesday.
Following is a factbox on the first Test match between Australia and England, which starts on Thursday:
India's star batsman Virat Kohli took time off from his preparations for the crucial World Cup quarter-final against Bangladesh to watch the latest Bollywood release NH10, starring his girlfriend, Anushka Sharma.
So here is why India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is our player of the day!
India's premier batsman and team's vice-captain Virat Kohli suddenly lost his cool after the training session in Perth on Tuesday as he hurled abuses at a journalist before the side's group league game against West Indies at the WACA.
The Kiwis posted a record total of 318 for 7 on a perfect batting pitch before winning the tri-series match 58 runs.
Monty Panesar captured five wickets on his Ashes debut to help England bowl out Australia for 244 on the opening day of the third Test.
Looking back at his India career, Pathan fondly recalled the moments when he delivered for the team.
Australia beat New Zealand by eight runs a high-scoring tri-series ODI.
Umpires should invoke cricket's laws and protect England's tailenders from Australia's relentless 'bodyline' bowling in the ongoing Ashes series, former England captain Michael Atherton has said.
Former England spinner Graeme Swann was critical of England's senior players who have done 'next to nothing' as Australia regained the Ashes in Perth on Monday.
Scans on England paceman Stuart Broad's injured right foot revealed no sign of a fracture and he could return to the bowling attack for the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Monday.
Cricket spectators in Sydney have been warned that they will be thrown out of grounds if they indulge in racist behaviour against fellow spectators or players.
The Aussie wicketkeeper reached hundred off 57 balls in the third Ashes Test against England on Saturday.
Australia are 119 for one in their second innings, 148 runs ahead of England on day two.
The two teams have been trading insults in the lead-up to the first Test starting at the WACA in Perth on Friday and the ICC was not impressed.
equally surprised to see the amount of interest in the game at WACA.
Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Anurag Thakur says the issue of Virat Kohli abusing a journalist in Perth was misunderstanding and should be put to rest immediately to let the team focus on the World Cup.
Australia are perhaps fortunate that there is such a short gap between Tests given the navel-gazing that is likely to follow their first defeat in the opening test of a home Summer for 28 years.
Jacques Rudolph's unbeaten innings of 104 helped South Africa to draw the first Test against Australia
The South African all-rounder is doubtful for Friday's Test because of a painful elbow.
South Africa collapsed to 164 all out to lose their opening tour match against Western Australia by an innings and 48 runs.
Australia's captain promised a strong fightback on day 2 of the second Test.
The second Test between Australia and New Zealand fizzled out in a draw on Tuesday but not before Mitchell Johnson gave one last reminder of his bowling prowess on the day he announced his retirement from international cricket.
'Ponting would have been dropped had he not retired in 2012'
Praising the Indian team, Former West Indies captain and chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd has said that the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side has "all-round strength" with players like in-form Shikhar Dhawan and the ever-consistent Virat Kohli.
On a roll after three successive wins in the ongoing cricket World Cup following today's nine-wicket spanking of minnows UAE, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said his "complete unit" has been doing well with consistent performances in all departments of the game.
Attributing his brilliant World Cup form to a calm mind and hard work, Indian batsman Shikhar Dhawan has said he managed to come out of a lean patch by sticking to his strong work ethic.
Both teams are considering adding extra pacemen to their bowling stocks in anticipation of a speed war in the first Test at Perth.
The Australian leg-spinner broke Dennis Lillee's world record for the most wickets in a calendar year on the second day of the first Test.
Pakistan's stand-in captain Mohammad Hafeez hit a fighting fifty to set up a comprehensive six-wicket victory against Australia in the second one-day international on Sunday that levelled the five-match series.
Australia captain Steve Smith said the all-rounder would be included, probably for Peter Handscomb, if the WACA track is not quick enough.
The former Zimbabwe batsman was reported for making detrimental comments about his country's selection policy.
Fast bowler Mohammed Shami has apparently recovered from his knee injury and is available for India's next ICC World Cup league match against West Indies on March 6.
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