Australia's Peter Siddle claimed an outstanding hat-trick to sink England further on the first day of the first Ashes Test on Thursday.
Australia named a 17-man squad on Monday for the first Ashes Test against England in Brisbane as selectors looked to keep their options open after injuries and poor form struck some of their key players.
India will have to beat Australia in the three-match ODI series, starting on Sunday, to retain second place in the ICC rankings. While Australia sits pretty at No 1 with 132 ratings points, India, South Africa and Sri Lanka are locked on 115. However, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side is placed second by a fraction.
India's master batsman Sachin Tendulkar moved into third position in the latest Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen, which were released on Wednesday. The 37-year-old from Mumbai scored 98 and 38 in the Mohali Test, which India won by one-wicket on Tuesday.
Oozing in confidence following consecutive victories, Rajasthan Royals will be looking for a hat-trick of wins and inch closer to a playoffs spot when they take on an underperforming Chennai Super Kings in an IPL match in Jaipur on Thursday.
Australia included uncapped pacers Josh Hazlewood and Peter George, while opener Phillip Hughes made a comeback from injury, for the upcoming Test series against India.
Australia are seeking an eighth consecutive Test victory this week but captain Ricky Ponting said the current team would never compare with the more illustrious sides he has played in.
Australia set Pakistan a world record 440 to win the first Test at Lord's after they were dismissed for 334 in their second innings on the third day on Thursday.
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is set to start a new innings after marrying childhood friend Shakshi Singh Rawat in Dehradun on Sunday night, continued to top the ICC ODI batsmen chart released in Dubai.
England survived a late assault by the Australian fast bowlers on Sunday to win the third One-day International by one wicket with five balls to spare and clinch the five-match series against the world champions 3-0.
Eoin Morgan kept up his purple patch of form and Paul Collingwood achieved an England landmark in a four-wicket win over Australia in the second one-day international in Cardiff on Thursday.
Uncapped New South Wales batsman Usman Khawaja was named on Tuesday in Australia's 14-man squad on Tuesday for next month's two-Testseries against Pakistan in Britain.
Michael Clarke retained the captaincy of Australia's Twenty20 squad, while fit-again batsman Shaun Marsh returned to their one-day fold for a tour of The British Isles starting June 17.
Determined to clinch the only trophy missing from their cupboard, formidable Australia face potential giant-killers Bangladesh in their second and final Group A match for a place in the Super Eight stage of the Twenty20 World Cup in Barbados on Wednesday.
New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor's century failed to provide any momentum for the home team, as Australia took a two run lead with ten wickets in hand when bad light stopped play on Day two of the second Test at Hamilton's Seddon Park.
New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori and fast bowler Tim Southee claimed four wickets each to bundle out Australia for 231 on day one of the second Test at Hamilton's Seddon Park.
Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke, who has returned home from New Zealand for personal reasons, was included into the 14-member squad for the two-match Test series against the black caps commencing from March 19.
Star all-rounder Shane Watson and pacer Doug Bollinger on Wednesday returned to Australia's 13-member squad after a brief break for the first two One-Day Internationals of a five-match series against the West Indies starting on February 7.
Left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson on Tuesday returned to the 13-member Australian squad while Shane Watson and Doug Bollinger were rested for the last two One-Day Internationals against Pakistan in Perth.
Australia thrashed Pakistan by 140 runs in the second one day international at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Cameron White blasted a quickfire century as Australia secured a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the opening One-Day International of the five-match series in Brisbane on Friday. Australia looked in trouble after being reduced to 84 for 3 but White stepped in and threw the opposition off the perch with his 85-ball innings -- inclusive of eight fours and four sixes -- that was instrumental in the hosts overhauling Pakistan's total of 274 in the 49th over.
A summary of the players' auction for the third edition of the Indian Premier League in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Ex-Kiwi pacer Shane Bond may play for either the Delhi Daredevils or the Kolkata Knight Riders in the third edition of the Indian Premier League, the auction for which gets under way on Tuesday.
Set an improbable 438 to win, after Australia declared their second innings closed at 5-219 shortly after lunch, Pakistan were struggling at 4-103 when rain ended play an hour before the scheduled close.
Cricket Australia on Thursday announced separate 12-man squads for the first two One-dayers against Pakistan so that more national players could turn up for their domestic sides in the finals of the Big Bash tournament.
Injured batsman Simon Katich retained his place, while Australia's national selection panel picked an unchanged 13-man squad for the inconsequential third and final Test against Pakistan, commencing on January 14 in Hobart.
Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi, Kiwi paceman Shane Bond and Caribbean batting sensation Kieron Pollard are among 51 cricketers, who have been shortlisted by the Indian Premier League for its January 19 player auction.
Pakistan took command of the second Test against Australia on Monday, amassing a lead of 204 runs by close on the second day at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Replying to Australia's paltry first innings toal of 127, the tourists, who resumed the day on 14 without loss, were 331 for 9 when stumps were drawn for the day.
Mohammad Asif claimed a career-best 6 for 41 and Mohd Sami 3 for 27 as Australia were shot out for a paltry 127 on Day 1 of the second Test against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Pakistan, chasing 422 to win the first Test against Australia, were 170 for 3 at stumps on Day 4. Shane Watson finally scored his first Test century, but it came only after he was dropped on 99.
Australia recovered from a top order collapse in their second innings to end Day 3 in the first Test 307 runs ahead of Pakistan at the MCG on Monday. After dismissing Pakistan for 258 just before tea for a first-innings lead of 196, they were 111 for 3 at stumps.
Peter Siddle claimed the key wicket of Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf with the second last ball of the day to leave Pakistan struggling on 109 for 4 at stumps on Day 2 of the first Test at the MCG on Sunday.
Shane Watson is not embarrassed by his on-field antics but Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is and will talk to his players about their on-field behaviour. The third Test between Australia and the West Indies was marred by a few ugly incidents, involving players from both the sides.
Pacer Peter Siddle's hamstring injury notwithstanding, Australia announced an unchanged 12-member squad for the third and final Test against the West Indies, starting December 16 in Perth.
Michael Clarke top-scored with an unbeaten 61 as Australia dug out a draw against the West Indies on the fifth and final day of a dramatic second Test in Adelaide on Tuesday. Chasing 330 for victory, Australia went through several anxious moments before finishing on 212 for 5 when stumps were drawn.
Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn claimed his career-best figures of 5-155 to help the West Indies secure a first-innings lead after bowling Australia out for 439 on Day 3 of the second Test in Adelaide on Sunday.
Openers Shane Watson and Simon Katich gave Australia a bright start to their first innings in the second Test against the West Indies at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday as they closed play on 174-0, trailing by 277 runs.
West Indies made a formidable 336 for six on the first day of the second Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.
Cricket Australia has picked Doug Bollinger ahead of fellow pacer Stuart Clark for a spot in the 12-man squad for the first Test against West Indies at the Gabba starting next week.
Australian pace legend Jeff Thomson believes Shane Watson's surprise role as a Test opener is an insult to opening batsmen across the country.
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