January 31, 2026 4:29 PM

Injured Cummins out of T20 World Cup, Dwarshuis in Australia squad

Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins was ruled out on Saturday for next month's Twenty20 World Cup after failing to recover from a nagging back injury, and Ben Dwarshuis will replace him for the global showpiece. Cummins played just one of the five Ashes tests against England, but Australia kept him in the provisional World Cup squad hoping for his availability in the Super Eight stage of the tournament to be played in India and Sri Lanka. Matt Renshaw also replaced fellow batter Matthew Short bu...

January 6, 2026 12:25 PM

Ashes: Steve Smith moves up in record books with 37th Test ton

Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith notched his 37th Test century on Day 3 of the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), climbing further up the record books on Tuesday. Smith brought up his hundred by running three off a shot to fine leg off Jacob Bethell, prompting rapturous applause from the SCG crowd. The milestone came at a venue that has long been a happy hunting ground for the right-hander, who removed his helmet, raised his bat and acknowledged the cheers,...

December 8, 2025 4:00 PM

Ashes: Australia captain Steve Smith laughs off fiery exchange with Jofra Archer

Australia captain Steve Smith downplayed his fiery exchange with Jofra Archer at the Gabba as "good banter" after letting his bat deliver the final riposte in the first major flashpoint of the Ashes on Sunday. Australia cruised to an eight‑wicket victory to take a 2-0 lead in the series, but a frustrated Archer added spice to the final session with a verbal clash with the man he floored at Lord's with a short ball two years ago. After Smith missed an attempted ramp-shot at the Gabba, Archer ...

November 21, 2025 4:33 PM

Mayhem in Perth as 19 wickets crash on Ashes opening day; Stokes leads England’s recovery

Australia trailed England by 49 runs on 123-9 at the end of an extraordinary opening day of the Ashes series on Friday at Perth Stadium, where bowlers had very much the upper hand and a remarkable 19 wickets fell. Mitchell Starc, spearheading the home attack in the absence of the injured Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, took a career-best 7-58 as Australia dismissed the tourists for 172 before tea. The large visiting contingent in the crowd of 51,531 were soon in full voice, however, as England...

November 20, 2025 12:51 PM

Composed Steve Smith ready to lead Australia into Ashes fire

Steve Smith cut a relaxed figure when he named the Australia team for the opening clash in his ninth and possibly final Ashes series on Thursday, a far cry from the perpetual angst that used to be his hallmark at the crease. An injury to Pat Cummins means Smith will captain his country in a stand-in capacity for the seventh time since losing the permanent job in 2018 for his part in the Newlands ball-tampering scandal. Smith will undoubtedly face jibes over that incident from the travelling En...

November 19, 2025 1:56 PM

England eye rare Ashes chance against depleted Australia

England head into Friday’s Ashes opener in Perth with a spring in their step and a golden opportunity to strike the first blow in the five-test series against an Australian team rocked by key injuries. England have not won a first Ashes test in Australia in nearly 40 years, nor beaten the hosts in Perth since 1978, but their opponents are vulnerable without front-line quicks Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Not in selectors’ darkest nightmares would the home side ever face the first “Bazb...

October 27, 2025 12:39 PM

Pat Cummins to miss first Ashes Test, Steve Smith to lead Australia in Perth

Australian skipper Pat Cummins is set to miss the first Ashes Test in Perth due to a back stress injury, the International Cricket Council (ICC) stated on Monday. In his absence, star batter Steve Smith will lead the side for the opening Test, with Cummins now aiming to regain fitness ahead of the second Test in Brisbane, scheduled to begin on December 4. Cummins has been managing a back injury in recent weeks, and Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed that he will not recover in time to take part ...

October 21, 2025 9:29 AM

Steve Smith says ‘door open’ if Konstas wants advice

Steve Smith has offered to mentor embattled teammate Sam Konstas as the young opener fights for runs and his place in Australia's Ashes plans. Despite flashes of talent, Konstas' domestic form -- marked by erratic shot choices and a lack of consistent runs -- has intensified debate over Australia's opening options before the five-test series against England starts in Perth on November 21. The New South Wales batter was bowled for 20 as he attempted to ramp Victoria paceman Cameron McClure in a...

July 6, 2025 11:16 AM

Australia seize control vs West Indies as Smith’s masterclass extends lead to 254

Steve Smith's magnificent 71 guided Australia to 221 for seven at stumps on day three of the second test against West Indies in Grenada on Saturday, helping the tourists to build a commanding 254-run lead despite late wickets and persistent rain interruptions. Australia, who began the day two wickets down after losing Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja on Friday, made it to lunch at 69 for three and appeared vulnerable on a pitch offering variable bounce and seam movement. Nathan Lyon's nightwatchm...

July 2, 2025 12:35 PM

Australia’s fit-again Steve Smith set to play second test vs West Indies

Australia are set to be reinforced by Steve Smith's return to their top order but may miss his reassuring presence in the slip cordon in the second test against West Indies in Grenada this week. Smith missed Australia's victory in the series opener in Bridgetown with a dislocated finger in his right hand, an injury suffered during the World Test Championship final against South Africa last month. The 36-year-old has reunited with the squad at the National Cricket Stadium and is likely to repla...