Jon Holland

Australian selectors included three new faces while leaving out batsman Brad Hodge in the preliminary squad of 30 for the ICC Champions Trophy.

Cricket Victoria on Thursday named its squad for its opening Marsh One-Day Cup fixture and Marsh Sheffield Shield clash against New South Wales next week.

With Michael Clarke nursing a back injury, Australia appointed Michael Hussey as the vice-captain of its 15-member squad for the ODI series against India.

Left arm spinner Jon Holland has been recalled to Australia's test squad for their tour of South Africa in March, while fast bowler Jhye Richardson has been named for the first time.

The spin bowler, who had been undergoing rehabilitation in an effort to be ready for the second Test, has been replaced in the squad by Jon Holland.

The Australian cricket team led by Ricky Ponting is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on October 20 afternoon for their seven-match ODI series against India commencing at Vadodara on October 25.

Victoria Bushrangers have roped Ross Taylor as a last-minute replacement for Sohail Tanvir to play in the domestic Twenty20 Big Bash.

Batting let Indians down as they suffered a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Australian Institute of Sports in their 50-over match of the Emerging Players tournament.

All-rounder Mitchell Marsh was on Wednesday named skipper of a star-studded Australia A squad for the four-day games during their tour of India later this year while Travis Head will lead the one-day side.

Australia's openers survived a torrid 13 over spell to finish on 30 without loss after Haris Sohail's maiden century guided Pakistan to 482 on the second day of the first Test in Dubai on Monday.

India recorded a comfortable seven-wicket victory against Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in a one-day match of the Emerging Players' Meet on Friday.

"They're picking their mates. Smith shouldn't be a selector. (Ashton) Agar's been pushed through and Cartwright's still there. We saw (Nic) Maddinson get selected (he's) a mate, he's one of Steve Smith's mates. You can't pick bloody mates," Rodney Hogg said.

India A will need to score another 199 runs on the final day in their pursuit of a target of 262 against Australia A in the first 'Test' of the two-match series. At stumps on Day 3, India A were 63/2 with Mayank Agarwal batting on 25 in company of Ankit Bawne (6*).

Ankit Bawne's patient 91 enabled India A to recover from a middle-order collapse before taking a slender first innings lead against Australia A on the second day of the opening 'Test'.

Melbourne Renegades on Tuesday confirmed the signing of South African batsman Rilee Rossouw for the upcoming edition of the Big Bash League (BBL).

Skipper Mitchell Marsh batted responsibly for his unbeaten 86 as Australia A scored 290 for six on the opening day of the second unofficial 'Test' match.

The Australian team took off for India to play a seven-match ODI series with skipper Ponting conceding that despite their Champions Trophy debacle, MS Dhoni's men would be hard to beat in home conditions.

Australia captain Steve Smith admits the team has its work cut out after their 3-0 Test series loss to Sri Lanka, but says it'll be a different ball game on home soil against South Africa.

Glenn Maxwell could make a shock return to Test cricket next week after the injury-plagued Australians added the white-ball star to their squad to face Sri Lanka. With Travis Head in doubt and Ashton Agar all but ruled out of the Test series opener in Galle on Wednesday, Maxwell is in the mix to wear his Baggy Green for the first time in five years as per cricket.com.au.

Melbourne Renegades on Thursday confirmed the signing of two overseas stars-- Imran Tahir and Noor Ahmad for the upcoming edition of the Big Bash League (BBL).