Following the retirements of Chris Rogers, captain Michael Clarke and all-rounder Shane Watson, Smith will lead a team in transition into the three-match series which wraps up with cricket's first day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval.
Manchester United and Chelsea secured places in the Champions League with wins on the final day of the Premier League season while Watford and Bournemouth were relegated along with bottom club Norwich City.
The United fans, who celebrated the victory at the end of the game with the manager and players, have not been the source of criticism of Solskjaer -- indeed the Norwegian has enjoyed strong backing from supporters who attend games at Old Trafford and those who travel away.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Glenn Maxwell earned the nickname 'Big Show' for his exciting but often irresponsible shot-making and was often criticised for throwing away his wicket while going for boundaries too early in his innings.
Manchester United eased the pressure on manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a 3-1 win at Everton in the Premier League on Saturday with Bruno Fernandes scoring twice and Edinson Cavani grabbing his first for the club.
With the year sprinting to a close, we bring you, in pictures, some of the best action from the sports world.
David Warner hit a sparkling 145 from 163 balls before India captured a flurry of late wickets to reduce Australia to 354 for six at stumps on Day 1 of the first Test in Adelaide.
Here's a look at some of the weirdest photos from out there!
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday
Australia's David Warner and India duo Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli were found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the fourth day's play in the first cricket Test, which the hosts won by 48 runs.
Their pride bruised following disastrous campaigns, Kings XI Punjab and Rising Pune Supergiants will look for a graceful exit from the ninth edition of the IPL when they square off against each other for one last time in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. Supergiants are coming into the contest after a victory over Delhi Daredevils at the same venue, their home ground, while Punjab have lost their last two outings -- against RCB and table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad. Punjab's fourth and last win this season had come at this very ground, when they had got the better of Mumbai Indians.
Come 2024 Paris Olympics, field hockey will be played on a turf that doesn't require watering, International Hockey Federation (FIH) Chief Executive Officer Thierry Weil said, in New Delhi, on Saturday.
Le Clos, however, was only able to clinch gold in the 50m butterfly in the first final of second day's programme and faded over the last leg to finish seventh in the 200m freestyle. South Africa finished sixth in the 4x100m relay.
Glenn Maxwell blasted a splendid 83-ball 96 to lift Australia to a three-wicket victory against India that also helped the hosts seal the five-match ODI series 3-0, in Melbourne, on Sunday.
The Adelaide Oval was 'under virtual siege' as Indian fans took complete control of the city, outnumbering their Pakistani counterparts in Sunday's marquee clash between the arch-rivals in the ICC World Cup.
'We'll let them go play the game as they normally would' 'You don't want to clone them all into little choir boys'
IMAGES from Day 5 of the Australian Open in Melbourne, on Friday.
Chilling at home after coming back from a coronavirus-forced "hotel arrest" in Pakistan, South African pacer Dale Steyn believes it's a pity that sporting events are being cancelled en masse due to the crisis. Steyn, who returned from Pakistan due to the virus outbreak, said it's indescribable how the situation changed in a matter of hours.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon claimed seven wickets (7-152) to help the Aussies win the first Test at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Former coach Arthur calls out Aus cricket's hypocrisy, deteriorating culture
Australian fans in Cape Town dismayed at actions of scandal-hit team
Australia will want to steer clear of another defeat at the hands of India when the teams lock horns in the 4th ODI in Bengaluru, so it will only be prudent if they bring in Faulkner for the faltering Richardson and give Agar the boot, says Norma Godinho.
Emotional embraces, tears of joy and an overwhelming message of equality washed over Australia after a majority of 61.6 per cent voted in favour of legalising gay marriage. Thousands of 'Yes' advocates erupted at the designated areas throughout the country.
'But I suppose that's why I can be quite proud... Going to the well again and delivering a performance like that was pleasing.'
Anirban Lahiri's victory at the Venetian Macau Open on Sunday edged him closer towards the Order of Merit summit while giving him a huge boost on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
The 92nd Annual Academy Awards hardly had any surprises up its sleeves. Here's a quick look at the winners.
After a close season in which he said he wanted to leave the club but ended up staying at Old Trafford, all eyes were on Paul Pogba as Manchester United began their Premier League campaign on Sunday. Yet following a 4-0 home win over Chelsea, in which the French midfielder set up the third and fourth goals, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was full of praise for the former Juventus star.
"All the players have played there before (and) played IPL (Indian Premier League) there. Whatever team is selected, that will be the right team for those conditions and I really do think this could be one of our best chances to win the Twenty20 World Cup.
Sally Hawkins, we think, will pip Frances McDormand.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday
India's batsmen have gone about their job efficiently, posting big totals on the board but the bowlers have been ordinary at best, allowing the hosts to chase down those tall scores in each of the first three ODIs of the five-match series.
It will be a battle for survival for struggling Rising Pune Supergiants when they lock horns with formidable title-contenders Sunrisers Hyderabad in Tuesday's Indian Premier League match in Visakhapatnam.
Rohit Sharma's sizzling century went in vain as Australia survived a few anxious moments before pulling off a tense four-wicket win over India in a cricket tri-series ODI match in Melbourne.
Former Australia left-arm spinner Brad Hogg has said India, with three consecutive wins so far, have gotten over the setback of their disappointing Australia tour that preceded the World Cup.
In order to raise the dwindling number of spectators in the stadium, the Board of Control for Cricket in India last week said it is all set to host its first-ever day/night cricket Test with the pink ball against New Zealand in October.
Former Australia captain Steve Waugh is annoyed in the manner a section of people are being critical of Michael Clarke's captaincy.
Justin Langer was the foundation rock upon which Australia erected towering piles of runs during a golden era of success.
Mumbai Indians have won three out of the four IPL finals they have been part of, including the two against CSK in 2013 and 2015.
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