Mark Steketee

Australia fast bowler Michael Neser is set to miss the upcoming tour of Pakistan next month after suffering a side strain and will be replaced by uncapped pacer Mark Steketee, Cricket Australia said on Wednesday.

In-form all-rounder Cameron Green and leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson were on Wednesday included in the 12-member Australia A squad for the day-night practice game against the visiting Indian team, beginning at the SCG here on Friday.

Australia fast bowler Michael Neser has been all but ruled out of next month's tour of Pakistan after his domestic team Queensland said on Wednesday that the 31-year-old had suffered a side strain, with no date set for his return.

In the form of a sedate half-century, Wriddhiman Saha got himself some invaluable batting practice ahead of the first Test against Australia, but his other famed Indian colleagues failed to bat long as their warm-up game against Australia A concluded in a draw here on Tuesday.

Potentially in line for a Test debut against India, Australian batsman Will Pucovski suffered a concussion after being struck on the helmet by pacer Kartik Tyagi during the warm-up game against India A here on Tuesday and was ruled out of the second tour game starting December 11.

Cricket laws have always been a centre of debate. And Brisbane Heat's Michael Neser took a stunning catch against Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League on Sunday to open a debate yet again.

Matthew Wade was axed Wednesday for Australia's Test series in South Africa after failing to fire against India, while under-pressure Tim Paine retained the captaincy.

Brisbane Heat wicket-keeper Jimmy Peirson will officially become the club's latest on-field leader with the announcement on Wednesday that he will take on the captaincy full-time for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL).

In a never-seen-before turn of events, an unprepared Melbourne Stars no.11 batter Haris Rauf rushed out to the middle to bat without the pads and helmet and gloves in his hands during their BBL clash against Sydney Thunder in Albury on Saturday.

Australia's Test cricket selectors have called on aspiring openers Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, and Matt Renshaw for a crucial warm-up match against Pakistan. The trio, along with three other Test-experienced players, will join the Prime Minister's XI for the four-day red-ball encounter in Canberra next month. Warner's retirement from the longer format after the three-Test series against Pakistan signals his retirement from the longer format. This leaves a potential vacancy for Usman Khawaja in the subsequent two Tests against the West Indies.

No. 11 batsman Conway, who was peppered with a barrage of bouncers by the four-pronged Indian pace attack, was hit on head late in the evening of the opening day's play at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman who had tested positive for coronavirus while in mandatory hotel quarantine joined the Brisbane Heat squad on Saturday after being released from a Gold Coast hospital.

Test skipper Tim Paine has been named in Australia A's 13-member squad for the practice match against India A, set to begin on Sunday, December 6.

Cummins is confident that Australia's fringe spinners will be ready to face Pakistan if called upon. Ashton Agar and legspinner Mitchell Swepson will tour alongside first-choice Nathan Lyon for the three-Test series.

Australia's national selector Trevor Hohns on Wednesday said that Will Pucovski can also bat in the middle-order if the situation arises in the longest format of the game. Hohns' remark came as Australia announced the squads for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand and the Test series against South Africa.

Australia captain Pat Cummins says he feels fine after a quad strain prevented him from bowling in the fourth innings of his side's win over the West Indies in the first Test, but admits he must prove his fitness before the next Test starts on Thursday.

KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel join India A for the second unofficial Test against Australia A at the MCG, starting Thursday. Rahul seeks to regain form after being dropped from the Indian team, while India A aims to bounce back from a heavy defeat in the first game.

Opener Marcus Harris has been left out of the Australia squad for the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in June and July, although he will have a chance to press for a return as part of the "A" team also touring.

Australia are likely to play two spinners as they go in search of a win in the second Test in Karachi, beginning Saturday, after Pakistan batted their seamers into the ground in the draw at Rawalpindi.

The National Selection Panel has announced Australia's ODI squad for the upcoming series against Pakistan and the Australia A squad for matches against India A. Chair of Selectors George Bailey highlighted the squad's preparation for the Champions Trophy and the Test summer, emphasizing the importance of players' domestic performances. Australia are set to play three ODI matches against Pakistan next month, followed by three T20 games, with the T20 squad to be announced in due course.

Beginning a tour of the sub-continent with a draw is a result perfectly acceptable to most visiting captains but Australia skipper Pat Cummins knows the task gets significantly tougher for his team in the second Test against Pakistan on Saturday.

The prodigiously talented pair of Will Pucovski and Cameroon Green were among five uncapped players picked Thursday in a 17-member Australian Test squad for the big-ticket four-match series against India, starting December 17.

A second spinner in Kuldeep Yadav or an additional batsman in Hanuma Vihari will be India's prime concern during their day/night first-class game against Australia A from Friday which would be the dress rehearsal for the 'Pink Ball Test' in Adelaide, starting December 17.

Ashes-winning Australia will face unfamiliar conditions, heavy security and unpredictable, but talented, opponents when they begin their first Test in Pakistan for 24 years on Friday.

Test skipper Pat Cummins said on Friday his team were "comfortable" with security arrangements and excited by what lies ahead, as Australia prepare to jet into Pakistan on their first tour since 1998.