Australia

Mitchell Starc has been officially ruled out of the first Test against India in Nagpur but has still been named Australia’s 18-man touring squad for the four-Test series on Wednesday which features four spin options including uncapped Victoria offspinner Todd Murphy. Starc suffered a finger tendon injury during the Boxing Day Test against South Africa

Usman Khawaja believes the stability in Australia’s Test squad puts them in a strong position to challenge India next month as they look to win a series in the country for the first time since 2004. Australia will announce their squad on Wednesday and the fact only a handful of positions are really up for

David Warner claims Cricket Australia’s decision to only offer Justin Langer a six-month contract was a “kick in the face”, while admitting the coach lost several key players in the team. The build up to and fallout of Langer’s exit as coach last year is a key focus of the second season of The Test

Using three frontline quicks remains an option for Australia on their tour of India with Pat Cummins keeping an opening mind about the balance of the side that they will need. The last time they won in India, on the 2004 tour, their bowling attack was based around the three-pronged pace of Glenn McGrath, Jason

Norma Johnston , the Australia Test cricketer, has died at 95. A middle-order batter and medium-pace bowler, Johnston (nee Whiteman) played seven Tests from 1948 to 1951. Until her passing, Johnston was the oldest Australian Test cricketer alive. “Everyone across Australian Cricket will be saddened to hear of Norma’s passing,” Cricket Australia chief executive Nick

Pat Cummins says there has to be a better way for the third umpire to adjudicate on catches after Richard Kettleborough was forced to make three contentious decisions during the third Test. Sydney match umpires lodged reviews for three catches taken low to the ground in the slips at the SCG. On each occasion, third

It was a pair of spinners who played the decisive hand on the final day at the SCG, but not the two Australia had hoped for. The defiance shown by Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, while not saving the follow-on, took enough time out of the game that Australia could not force a result with

South Africa’s Khaya Zondo has questioned whether the light was suitable for play to be continuing at the time of his dismissal in the Sydney Test and also believed he got an inside edge on the yorker from Pat Cummins. Zondo, who fought hard for his 39 after coming in with South Africa 37 for

The chief executive of the Australian Cricketers’ Association has called for the term ‘Mankad’ to be removed from the sport’s language and said that the players have a key role in removing the stigma around the dismissal. “I don’t think it’s a debate, think it’s very black and white, it shouldn’t be the word Mankad,”

Australia have two days left of their home Test season to push for the victory that would give them a clean sweep of the summer and, barring extreme points deductions, secure a place in the World Test Championship final at The Oval in June. However, regardless of having their spot booked before heading to India

For the third time in three Test innings Usman Khawaja was able to celebrate a century at the SCG and, though he will have spent two nights unbeaten 195 and hoping for the chance for a maiden double-ton, he was relieved to convert into three figures in a frustrating season. Khawaja had made consistent contributions

On the day Steven Smith went past Don Bradman with his 30th Test century, he admitted to being uncertain about how long his international career will continue. Smith’s 104 in Sydney was just his second hundred against South Africa in 12 matches – for an opponent he has played more than twice he holds his

Australia allrounder Cameron Green has revealed he is “touch and go” for the first Test in India following finger surgery but he has allayed any doubts over his bowling availability in the IPL. Green broke his right index finger during the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Melbourne. He was able to bat in

Belinda Clark, the former Australia captain, has been unveiled as the first statue of a female cricketer in the world with the sculpture part of the SCG precinct. The bronze statue stands alongside Richie Benaud, Steve Waugh, Stan McCabe and Fred Spofforth among the cricketers at the ground. Clark played 15 Tests and 118 one-day

Matt Renshaw has tested positive for Covid shortly after being recalled to Australia’s Test side but for now will continue to take part at the SCG. Renshaw stood separately from team-mates during the anthems after reporting feeling unwell and was then seen sat away from the dugout on the boundary edge. “Australian batter Matthew Renshaw

Toss Australia chose to bat vs South Africa Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood and Matthew Renshaw have been named in a new-look Australia line-up as captain Pat Cummins elected to bat against South Africa in the third Test at the SCG. On a dry pitch, Australia selected a four-pronged attack and will field two spinners for

Melbourne Renegades 141 for 7 (Havey 32*, Boult 2-32) beat Melbourne Stars 108 for 9 (Larkin 48*, Rogers 5-16) by 33 runs Fired-up quick Tom Rogers shrugged off an attempted run-out by Adam Zampa at the non-striker’s end, to then take five wickets as Melbourne Renegades claimed the bragging rights over crosstown rivals Melbourne Stars

Pat Cummins expects there to be a “huge connection” between the conditions for the Sydney Test against South Africa and what Australia will face on the upcoming tour of India, with their focus on the present but also the challenges ahead. Through a combination of factors, Australia have some tricky decisions to make over the

The BBL will be reduced to a 43-game season under a new $AUS1.512 billion broadcast deal Cricket Australia has secured with existing partners Channel Seven and Foxtel, on a new seven-year term. As part of the deal, confirmed on Tuesday, Seven will end their legal battle which they brought over a perceived lack of quality

Hobart Hurricanes 178 for 3 (Jewell 54, McDermott 53) beat Adelaide Strikers 177 for 6 (Lynn 87, Short 38) by seven wickets Hobart Hurricanes overcame a brutal knock from a resurgent Chris Lynn to notch a crucial win over Adelaide Strikers. Lynn hit a 58-ball 87 on Monday night at Blundstone Arena, his highest score

Josh Hazlewood is confident Australia’s pace-bowler hierarchy remains intact despite him only playing three Tests since the start of the last home season but admits it’s been a frustrating period during what should be his prime years as a fast bowler. Through a combination of two side injuries in consecutive seasons alongside the conditions presented

Australia can book a spot in the World Test Championship final with a win over South Africa in Sydney. But for one of the rare times during this WTC cycle, Australia’s selection is very much an unknown. They have added Matt Renshaw and Ashton Agar to the squad in place of the injured pair Cameron

Ashton Agar and Matt Renshaw have been called up for the final Test against South Africa in Sydney as Australia prepare for the possibility of playing two spinners. Australia will have at least two changes at the SCG as they look to complete a 3-0 series win and all-but secure a place in the World

David Warner admitted he had some doubts about his ability to continue at Test level prior to his drought-breaking double-century against South Africa, but said he has not lost the hunger to play Test cricket and is as motivated as ever to try and win in India and England. Warner was the big talking point

Mitchell Starc admits he could be touch and go for the early part of the four-Test tour of India starting in February, while Pat Cummins has declared injured allrounder Cameron Green as close to irreplaceable as Australia are hit with a rare injury crisis as they try to qualify for the World Test Championship final.

Australia 575 for 8 dec (Warner 200, Carey 111, Smith 85, Green 51*, Head 51) beat South Africa 189 (Jansen 59, Verreynne 52, Green 5-27) & 204 (Bavuma 65) by an innings and 182 runs Australia claimed a first home series win against South Africa since the 2005-06 summer with a crushing triumph in the

Australia allrounder Cameron Green defied a fractured finger that will rule him out of the Sydney Test next week with an unbeaten half-century on the third day at the MCG. It was confirmed on Wednesday morning that scans on Green’s right index finger had revealed the small fracture after he was struck on the finger

David Warner believes his gutsy MCG double century, coming in his 100th Test, was probably the best knock of his glittering career. Warner produced a stunning turnaround against South Africa on Tuesday, ending an-almost three-year century drought by smashing 200 in oppressive conditions. The 36-year-old opener retired hurt after reaching his milestone, suffering heat stress

Tea Australia 575 for 8 dec (Warner 200, Carey 111, Smith 85, Green 51*, Head 51) lead South Africa 189 by 386 runs Alex Carey scored his first Test hundred as Australia piled on the runs against an increasingly exhausted opposition attack. The lead swelled to 386 before Australia declared shortly before tea after scoring

Australia face the prospect of pressing for victory against South Africa at the MCG with a depleted bowling attack after allrounder Cameron Green joined Mitchell Starc with a finger injury, but David Warner is expected to be able to resume his double century on the third day after he retired hurt with cramp. Green was