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.
After being left out of the XI for the second Test in Brisbane, Lyon had a point to prove in Adelaide, making an instant impact by removing Ollie Pope (3) to go level with McGrath on 563 wickets.
With Australia in control after the opening two matches, England face a daunting task and must win all three remaining Tests to keep their hopes of reclaiming the Ashes alive.
Pat Cummins returns for the third Test, while Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the remainder of the series. England, meanwhile, will be without Mark Wood for the rest of the tour.
Wood will be missing the next three games in the ICC World Test Championship series due to a recurring left-knee injury.
Khawaja did not open in Australia’s first innings during the Perth Test after a back issue kept him off the field for an extended period while England batted.
