Shafali Verma, only Indian among ICC Player of the Month for December nominees
Shafali’s inclusion comes after a sensational run against Sri Lanka, where the 20-year-old set the tone at the top of the order with fearless strokeplay.
Shafali’s inclusion comes after a sensational run against Sri Lanka, where the 20-year-old set the tone at the top of the order with fearless strokeplay.
On the final morning, Khawaja led the Australian team onto the field on Day 5 as his teammates instinctively held back, allowing him to take in the occasion.
With Usman Khawaja set to retire after the Sydney Test and Nathan Lyon already sidelined through injury, Smith is set to become the oldest player in the Australian XI alongside Scott Boland in the Ashes 2025–26 finale.
Spin has largely been a peripheral factor across the first four Tests, with England opting not to play frontline spinner Shoaib Bashir and Australia’s veteran Nathan Lyon restricted before being ruled out through injury.
Australia currently lead the series 3-1 and have already retained the urn, sealing their fifth consecutive Ashes triumph.
McDonald confirmed that Khawaja is currently taking a short break with his family and remains firmly in Australia’s plans for the Sydney Test.
Subsequent scans confirmed the extent of the injury, forcing Atkinson out of the remainder of the tour. Australia currently lead the five-match Ashes series 3-1 heading into the final ICC World Test Championship fixture.
England captain Ben Stokes labelled the Boxing Day Test win at the MCG a “pretty special feeling” after his side finally brought an end to a 15-year wait for a Test victory on Australian soil.
Despite 94,199 fans turning up on day one and another sell-out expected on day two, Greenberg acknowledged the growing concern within Cricket Australia over the financial impact of Tests that end too quickly.
Steve Smith was generous in defeat after England produced a stirring four-wicket win over Australia in the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, ending the hosts’ long unbeaten run at home against their traditional rivals.
