Team Australia | DD News

January 14, 2026 6:31 PM

Australia’s Josh Hazlewood ‘on track’ to start T20 World Cup after Ashes absence

Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood expects to be ready for the start of the Twenty20 World Cup next month after sitting out their Ashes series victory against England through injuries, the 36-year-old said. The right-arm quick missed Australia's 4-1 Ashes victory with a hamstring strain. He subsequently suffered Achilles soreness in his rehabilitation, but was confident he would be ready for Australia's tournament opener against Ireland in Colombo on February 11. "Everything's going to plan,...

January 13, 2026 5:14 PM

Australia captain Alyssa Healy to retire after upcoming India series

Alyssa Healy, a mainstay of Australia's dominant women's cricket team for 15 years and latterly its captain, has announced that she will retire from the game after the upcoming multi-format series against India. The 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batter was part of two one-day international World Cup triumphs and six successful T20 World Cup campaigns before taking over as skipper after the retirement of Meg Lanning in late 2023. "It's with mixed emotions that the upcoming India series will be my la...

January 5, 2026 4:46 PM

Joe Root says offering thanks, not bidding farewell, after Sydney century

England's Joe Root paused as he left the field to salute all four corners of the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday after making a fine 160 in the fifth Ashes test, but the 35-year-old does not want to consider if this is his final bow in Australia. Root showed all of his qualities of composure, technique, timing and patience to compile his second century of this series having headed out to Australia never having made three figures in the country. Asked about his gesture to the crowd after he was...

January 5, 2026 4:44 PM

Ashes 5th Test: Root ton fires England before Head strikes back for Australia

Joe Root contributed a magnificent 160 to England's first-innings tally of 384 but Travis Head drove Australia to 166 for two in response on the second day of the fifth and final Ashes test on Monday. England's hopes of winning the urn are long gone after defeats in the first three tests of the series but they continued to show the spirit, lacking in previous beaten touring sides, that was evident in their victory in Melbourne last week. Until Australia took the second new ball, Root looked in...

January 4, 2026 4:23 PM

Ashes: Harry Brook finally shows the patience and control his critics have demanded

England batsman Harry Brook struck his highest score of the Ashes series on Sunday, ending the first day of the fifth test on 78 not out after showing the kind of patience and discipline that he has too often lacked on a disappointing tour. Brook still rode his luck at times, particularly when he was tempted into pull shots by Australia's short-pitched bowling, but his 154-run partnership with fellow Yorkshireman Joe Root left England in a good position at 211 for three when bad light and rain ...

January 4, 2026 12:58 PM

Ashes: Root, Brook lift England to 211/3 as bad weather forces early stumps on Day 1 at SCG

England enjoyed one of their better days of the Ashes series on Sunday when a 154-run stand between Joe Root and Harry Brook drove them to 211 for three before the opening day of the fifth test was brought to a premature end at Sydney Cricket Ground. Play was stopped for bad light 20 minutes before tea with storm clouds threatening, and abandoned to boos from the remnants of the 49,574 crowd some 90 minutes before the scheduled close of play. At 3-1 down in what has been a mostly miserable ser...

December 31, 2025 12:33 PM

Australia’s Travis Head hopes Ashes rivals meet for post-series drinks

Opening batsman Travis Head hopes Australia and England will share a drink after the Ashes winds up in Sydney to revive a tradition that fell by the wayside after the 2023 series. Players and staff from both teams routinely meet for drinks at the end of an Ashes series but extended farewells for several England players and staff prevented it at The Oval after the fifth test in 2023. Australia batter Head said he looked forward to the prospect of post-series drinks at the Sydney Cricket Ground,...

December 29, 2025 4:40 PM

MCG pitch rated ‘unsatisfactory’ after chaotic Ashes test

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) pitch for the Boxing Day test between Australia and England has been given an "unsatisfactory" rating after 20 wickets fell in the first three sessions and the match was wrapped up inside two days. England won the low-scoring fourth Ashes test by four wickets on a minefield of a pitch, with the premature finish leaving Cricket Australia (CA) millions of dollars out of pocket. "The MCG pitch was too much in favour of the bowlers," match referee Jeff Crowe said...

December 29, 2025 11:57 AM

Ashes: Travis Head backs Jake Weatherald as Australia opening partner

Australia batter Travis Head has endorsed Jake Weatherald as an opening partner following the South Australian's rough start as a test cricketer in the Ashes. Weatherald's batting average is a tick under 21 since his test debut in the Ashes opener in Perth, dragged down by scores of 10 and five in the four-wicket defeat to England on a tough pitch in the fourth test in Melbourne. "He showed a lot of glimpses over his first four tests, and it's not always going to go your way," Head said on Sun...

December 29, 2025 3:10 PM

Ashes: Australia’s Usman Khawaja confirmed for Sydney test

Australia head coach and selector Andrew McDonald has confirmed Usman Khawaja will play in the fifth Ashes test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground amid media speculation it could be his last international. The oldest player in an ageing squad, the 39-year-old lefthander's spot in the line-up is under scrutiny following his demotion down the batting order and as selectors look to the future. With the promoted Travis Head taking his opening spot, Khawaja batted at number four in the th...