Root: England great chases elusive century in Australia
Joe Root heads into the Ashes, beginning on Friday in Perth, ranked as the world's best batsman with a colossal 39 Test hundreds to his name... but still waiting for his first ton in Australia.
Joe Root heads into the Ashes, beginning on Friday in Perth, ranked as the world's best batsman with a colossal 39 Test hundreds to his name... but still waiting for his first ton in Australia.
England's fast bowling cartel are relishing playing in Australian conditions with star quick Jofra Archer in a "happy place" and brimming with confidence while Mark Wood is "full of energy".
Australia was dealt a huge blow Saturday with Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the first Ashes Test against England, leaving their pace stocks precariously thin with Pat Cummins and Sean Abbott also sidelined.
Steve Smith believes England may have picked the wrong bowlers for the Ashes, suggesting Australian wickets will be better suited to seam and swing than an all-out pace attack.
Pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood was cleared to continue his preparations for the first Ashes Test against England after sending a scare through the Australian camp on Wednesday when he went for a hamstring scan.
Skipper Ben Stokes hailed Joe Root as England's greatest batsman Wednesday and backed him to fire in the Ashes against Australia, while hyping up his team's vaunted pace attack.
India claimed a 2-1 win in the five-match T20 series against Australia after the final match was abandoned due to rain after just 4.5 overs in Brisbane on Saturday.
Bangladesh closed the group stage of the Hong Kong Sixes with a 14-run victory over Sri Lanka in Mong Kok on Friday.
India took a 2-1 lead in their T20 series against Australia with a 48-run demolition of the home side on Queensland's Gold Coast on Thursday.
Injured Australia captain Pat Cummins hinted on Thursday at a comeback for the second Ashes Test, a day after the side unveiled its squad ahead of this month's opener.
Uncapped opener Jake Weatherald was named Wednesday in Australia's squad for the first Ashes Test against England, with Brendan Doggett and Sean Abbott included as back-up fast bowlers.
Australia's Marnus Labuschagne slammed a fifth century in eight innings, firing an ominous warning shot ahead of the Ashes with some of the richest form of his life.