Cricket Australia

It is seen from Ashwin's 226 scalps out of 449 wickets in Test cricket being of left-handed batters. Australia's in-form left-handed opener Usman Khawaja, who recently won the Shane Warne Men's Test Player of the Year Award in Australian Cricket Awards, is aware that his battle against Ashwin will be one of the most decisive match-ups in the series starting from February 9 in Nagpur.

Among them were the support staff of the Australian men's cricket team who were following the match because the Aussies are scheduled to play the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Series 2023 at the VCA Stadium from February 9-13. The pitch at the VCA Stadium for that match turned out to be a spinners' paradise as Vidarbha won the match by 18 runs despite getting bowled out for 74.

In place of injured duo Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green, who sustained finger injuries during Australia's win by an innings and 182 runs at the MCG, Australia have given a call-up to Matthew Renshaw and Ashton Agar, with the latter widely expected to be partnering with premier off-spinner Nathan Lyon. With the hosts' already holding an unassailable 2-0 lead heading into the final? Test of the series at Sydney, there is a unique opportunity for Australia, the current World Test Championship toppers, to look into options ahead of touring India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The win in four days follows their humiliating 6-wicket thrashing within two days at the hands of the hosts in the first Test at Brisbane. The third and final Test will be played in Sydney from January 4. Australia have boosted their chances of appearing at next year's ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final and put a big dent in South Africa's hopes with a dominant victory over the Proteas in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

Green was struck on the finger by a rising Anrich Nortje delivery while batting late on the second day of the ongoing second Test against the Proteas and was forced to retire hurt. Scans have revealed that Green has a small fracture to his right index finger and Australia won't take any risks with the in-form 23-year-old ahead of a hectic upcoming schedule.

After 34 wickets fell in six sessions as Australia won by six wickets on an overly seaming pitch at the Gabba, match referee Richie Richardson gave a rating of below average' to the pitch and gave a demerit point to the venue, something which has been accepted by CA.

Batting first, Australia posted 172 for 8 in 20 overs. In reply, India were restricted to 151 for 7 despite a 41-ball 52 by Shafali Verma. Chasing a challenging total, last game's star performer Smriti Mandhana struggled to get going before she got out to Darcie Brown for 1 off 10. After her wicket, Shafali and Jemimah Rodrigues struck regular boundaries to maintain the required run-rate.

"Pat Cummins is experiencing some mild right sided quadricep soreness. "He will continue to be monitored by team medical staff and his availability to bowl in the second innings will be assessed on an ongoing basis," said Cricket Australia in a statement on Saturday. Smith had captained Australia during last summer's Ashes Test against England in Adelaide.

McGrath also praised Cummins for deciding to skip the next season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), and added that proper rest was a must to be built into the pace bowlers' schedules. The below-par performance of the trio in the ICC T20 World Cup at home has raised questions on whether they should be persisted in all formats or Cricket Australia (CA) should look to the future with the 2024 T20 World Cup in mind.

Langer, a former Australia opener, had raised eyebrows recently by criticising unnamed 'cowards' in the Australian setup for leaking information against him while he was in-charge of the side. Langer was coach of the side between 2018 and early 2022 when he was given just a six-month contract renewal by Cricket Australia (CA), thus riling him.