Nathan McAndrew

India A, despite Dhruv Jurel's second consecutive fifty (68), lost the second unofficial Test against Australia A by six wickets. Australia A chased down the target of 168 with Sam Kontas (73 not out) and Beau Webster (46 not out) guiding them to victory. This win sealed the two-match series 2-0 for Australia A.

South Australia clinched a dramatic two-run victory over Tasmania in a Sheffield Shield thriller. Chasing 429, Tasmania needed four runs off the final ball but a run-out on the last delivery sealed a remarkable win for South Australia. The match witnessed a tense finish with Tasmania losing four wickets for just four runs in the final nine balls.

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.

Abhimanyu Easwaran's hopes of securing a spot as an opener in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy have been dealt a blow after a string of poor performances in the unofficial Test series against Australia A. Despite being named in the Indian squad, Easwaran struggled to make an impact, managing just 36 runs in four innings.

Steve Smith's tactical decision to deny Babar Azam a single during a crucial power surge ultimately paid off as Smith smashed a record-breaking 32 runs in the subsequent over. Despite Babar's visible frustration, Smith's aggressive batting secured a five-wicket win for the Sydney Sixers, with Smith going on to score a century.

Abhimanyu Easwaran, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Prasidh Krishna's performances will be pivotal in India A's match against Australia A. Easwaran could replace captain Rohit Sharma if needed, while Krishna aims to regain form post-injury. Ruturaj Gaikwad leads India A's strong contingent.

Babar Azam's rare on-field frustration during a BBL clash was overshadowed by Steve Smith's record-breaking century. Smith's explosive Power Surge and unbeaten 110 guided the Sixers to a thrilling five-wicket victory, eclipsing David Warner's earlier ton. Babar's dismissal and subsequent bat smash drew criticism, but Smith's historic knock stole the show.

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.

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.