Cricket Australia

"What the BCCI is working to do is to move the entire cohort out of India where they will wait until it's possible to return to Australia," Hockley told reporters in a press conference in Sydney. "The BCCI has been working on a range of options. That's now narrowed down to the Maldives and Sri Lanka. The BCCI is committed not only to the first move but also to putting on a charter to bring them back to Australia," he further said.

After the end of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on May 30, India are scheduled to travel to England to play the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand at the Rose Bowl in Southampton from June 18. In the wake of the alarming surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in India, Australia have banned flights from the country until May 15.

New Zealand were dealt with early blows in their chase, with opener Lauren Down falling for a duck and captain Amy Satterthwaite being dismissed for six runs. Hayley Jensen and Amelia Kerr then managed to take the hosts to 76 after which Australia made it difficult for New Zealand to score runs. Kerr remained New Zealand's highest scorer with 47 runs.

"It's been a long 10 months in bubbles and quarantine at different times, so I decided to have a rest from cricket and spend some time at home and in Australia in the next two months," Hazlewood told cricket.com.au.

"Just because Cummins isn't out there saying I should be the next captain and I'm ready... it doesn't mean he's not a good leader," Clarke told Big Sports Breakfast. "I've made it clear what I think about Pat Cummins. I think he's shown he's fit and strong enough to play all three formats now, he's done that for the last few years. His captaincy I've watched tactically for New South Wales he's been pretty good," said Clarke.

Last week, Australia indefinitely postponed its tour of South Africa where the two teams were scheduled to play three Test matches in March citing an "unacceptable" level of risk because of the Covid-19 pandemic. As per the report, CSA has not lodged a formal complaint and sent its letter as a means of opening the door to communication about how best to manage the international cricket schedule during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The wicketkeeper-batsman's tactics were questioned particularly during the third and fourth Test and he admitted that the pressure got to him which led to blunders behind the stumps.

The Indian team had apprised match referee David Boon of racial abuse of players -- Jasprit Bumrah and Siraj -- by a section of the SCG crowd at the end of the third day's play during the Sydney Test. The incident again took place on the next day following which six people were evicted from the stand just before Tea during Australia's second innings on Day Four of the Test match.

The ICC had asked CA to submit a report on the incident within 14 days. CA believes the Indian players were subjected to racial taunting from beyond the boundary on the fourth day of the Test. Play was stopped for more than 10 minutes when India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj complained to the on-field umpires of the racial taunts coming from the stands in front of which he was fielding.

England will be taking on India in a four-Test series beginning February 5, followed by five T20Is and three ODIs. The Virat Kohli-led side would be high on confidence following their recent memorable Test series win over Australia in their own backyard.