30-year-old Michael Clarke was injured to his hamstring in the last over agaisnt India, which Australia has lost the fourth ODI in Adelaide last week. Clarke, who also missed the 6th ODI agaisnt Sri Lanka on Friday 17th February at Sydney Cricket Ground, where Australia made 158 runs in 41 overs. Clarke said he had a little bit in his hamstring strain and working hard to recover soon from injury along with team physio Alex Kountouris from couple of days.

Clarke said he is likely to return back into the team for the 9th ODI against Sri Lanka on 24th February at Bellerive in Hobart. Former Australia Captain Ricky Ponting will lead the side agaisnt Sri Lanka on Friday ODI at Sydney Cricket Ground, Australian Cricket Board chief selector John Inverarity said after several meetings in the selections panel, who was asked Ricky Ponting to lead the team in the 6th ODI in the Michael Clarke’s absence.

John Inverarity the Australian selection panel has appreciates Ricky Ponting’s, who was ready to take the charge in the CB series. He added Clarke is expected to be fit for the Brisbane ODI, schedule to play on Sunday against India. Inverarity feels several players are showing signs of tiredness after Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 cricket. Australia fast bowler Brett Lee and senior batsman Mike Hussey has return back into the team agaisnt Sri Lanka, while Ryan Harris has been rested.

The 20-year-old Australia all-rounder Mitch Marsh, who has been pulled of the CB series agaisnt India and Sri Lanka, he was suffering from lower-back stress fractures. Marsh has complained of lower back pain in training session at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday afternoon and will undergo further MRI scans to determine the injury.

Australian Cricket Board has selected Opener David Warner, as the team vice-captain in the absence of all-rounder Shane Watson. Inverarity insist Watson is going to play in the domestic Shield cricket this weekend to prove his 100 percent fitness from a hamstring injury. David Warner is having the ability to lead the side and gaining precious experience under Michael Clarke’s leadership.

Teams:

Australia:

David Warner, Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Hussey, Peter Forrest, David Hussey, Matthew Wade (wk), Daniel Christian, Brett Lee, Mitchell Starc, Xavier Doherty, Clint McKay

India:

MS Dhoni(c), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(c)(k), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Vinay Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Praveen Kumar, Parthiv Patel, Irfan Pathan, Rahul Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, Manoj Tiwary

Indian Skipper, MS Dhoni has guided the men in blue to victories in the last two games of the Commonwealth Bank series against Australia and Sri Lanka. Dhoni, earlier on Sunday has batted till the end to secure India’s first victory against Australia in ODI and later on Tuesday, he guided the team to tie-up the match with Sri Lanka with his half-century.

Australian Skipper, Michael Clarke while speaking with the sources has said that, Dhoni is a class player and added that, he is a very good striker of the ball and you saw that in the last over with that six he hit off McKay, which reveals his stats in finishing the matches.

While, the Lankan Skipper, Mahela Jayawardene has reported after their draw against India in the fifth ODI said that, one inch here and there and a guy like Dhoni could take you apart and Jayawardene also stated that, Dhoni is a great finisher, he is cool and calm and backs himself. He is a strong character.

According to the Dhoni’s ODI record, he was unbeaten being not-out in 30-matcehs from India’s 40-victories and has a scoring runs at an average of 105 in those 30 innings.

Australia conquered the world of cricket for about 15 years but following the retirement of some key players, their results had been poor. However, this victory over India has restored pride in the Aussie fans, and confidence in the Australian cricket team.

Cricket Australia decided to wring in the changes after the debacle of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. Australia failed to defend the title as they lost to India. Clarke replaced Ricky Ponting as captain, and the results of the team have improved since.

Australia is currently behind England, South Africa and India in the Test rankings and Clarke admits that his team has to work very hard in the future as well to regain the lost number one position. The Aussie captain claimed that there is a brilliant team spirit in the dressing room and the players are backing each other.

Clarke said, we are currently ranked fourth in the world. We’ve got a hell of a lot of work to do to get back to where I see this team going and would love to see this team going. But we’ve played some fantastic cricket. We’ve shown a lot of people around the world that we’re on the way up, which is a really positive sign.

Putting the victory in perspective, Clarke was all praise for the performance of his bowlers. The likes of James Pattinson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle did a great job for Australia in the series against India and said that, I think there’s still a lot of improvement needed in all of our games. I don’t want to take any credit away from our bowlers. I think they should be very proud of what they’ve achieved.

Earlier in day, Australian Skipper, Michael Clarke has given India a mammoth 500 chase to declare their second innings at 167 for 5 just after the lunch interval.

Day’s first session has been brilliant with Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke to demolish the opponents by hitting boundaries and scoring some quick runs with Indian taking just 3-wickts on day-3.

Clarke showed aggressive intent and went at a healthy strike rate to reach to 37 before he was scooped up by Umesh Yadav – caught behind the stumps by wicket-keeper, Wriddhiman Saha.

Michael Hussey kept ticking the scoring rate and added 15 before he was adjudged lbw off pacer, Ishant Sharma. Lunch arrived with both camps now waiting anxiously on the inevitable decision of declaration but Australia came back on again. However, this time they added 13 more runs to their second innings total before the skipper called Punter and Brad Haddin, who reached to an unbeaten 11, off the park.

After the Lunch, Second innings was started with Kangaroos bowlers have made a brilliant start picking the Gautam Gambhir wicket on 3 and later fired against Indian batsmen’s, as they now struggling with 166/6 ins second innings of the fourth and the finals test.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting scored his 41st Test century, just after completing his 13,000 Test runs. There by Ponting have become the 3rd batsmen after Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid to reach the 13,000 run landmark Test cricket. Ponting has now scored a century in all three of the Test he has played against India in Adelaide, including 242 in a losing cause in 2003.

Australia continued to pound India after their early losses they continue to dominate in each session. Ponting and Clarke certainly reached their centuries, for the second time in the series. Aussie dictated the terms after tea as the runs came by even easier than they had post-lunch.

Earlier in the second session, Australia had been on the back foot after losing top three wickets. But Ponting and Clarke grabbed the upper hand as they added 116 runs. Both looked in good touch from the start, displaying excellent foot movement to negate any seam or spin in a flat Adelaide track.

India’s pace bowlers tried everything they could to dismiss Australian duo, but they completely dominated them throughout the day. Umesh Yadav had a day to forget as he was smashed all over the park by the Australian batsmen. Clarke had a lucky escape on 39 as edge went flying from middle of keeper and second slip surprisingly 1^st slip was missing.

Hayden while speaking with the sources has said that, after going through a lot of changes in his personality, Clarke is a grown up player and that he hopes the Kangaroos would continue their dominance under his captaincy.

40-years old also said that, I think we’ve seen some variation in his personality and that’s just what growing up means and added that, Clarke came into the set-up as a round little 21-year-old in the West Indies tour, full of life, full of spunk…he sort of put a lot of faith in behind him, as did the rest of the team.

Clarke has taken the captaincy from Rickey Ponting in April last year following Ashes and World Cup shambles.

Meanwhile, Clarke’s personal form has remained outstanding since he took over captaincy. The century in Sydney was his fourth ton as captain. Hayden said that the painstaking innings of Clarke at SCG showed he has matured as player.

It’s been a long time coming. He is grown up in the set-up, and there are not a lot of guys, who do that, said Hayden, whose own record of 380 runs was under threat from incumbent Aussie skipper.

Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey have ended the day-3 play without losing any of their wickets, as the Australia Skipper has entered into the record book, after scoring his first triple century in his career.

Australian has declared their first innings at 4 for 659 with a massive lead of 468, as Clarke partner, Michael Hussey, had just reached 150. Despite, Clarke scoring an unbeaten 329 and is just away from 71-runs to break Brian Lara’s individual record of 400 in history of test cricket.

In reply, the Indians lost opener, Virender Sehwag early in the second innings. However, Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid shared a fighting standing of 82 to fight back against the mighty Australians.

Later in the, Dravid was bowled by Ben Hilfenhaus at 29 as Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar held nerves to end the day on 114 for 2, still trailing by 354 runs.

Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir has looked solid in second innings by making his first half-century scoring 68-unbeaten of the tour after scores of 3, 13 and 0.

Stay Tuned for all the updated on Day-4 between Australia Vs India.

India Vs Australia 2^nd Test day 2

Early in the morning the Australians resumed the day two with the overnight score of 116-3 and as the day started to progress the Australian batsmen, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, started to play more aggressively and dictated the terms while Indian bowlers have no answers to them.

Skipper Michael Clarke brought up his maiden double century in Test cricket, and looking still strong, while veteran batsman Ricky Ponting scored 40th Test century as Australia powered to 482 for 4 at stumps, 291 runs ahead with six first-innings wickets in hand, after the visitors were bowled out for 191 on the opening day of the 2^nd Test.

The Indian bowlers led by Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, bowling in excess of 140 kmph but never seemed to threaten the Aussie batsmen, as they playing very calm and watchful.  Ponting then brought up his first century in two years, after 38 innings and silenced all his critics and prove them he still has something to offer of Cricket Australia. Ponting got to century with a risky single where he had to dive for it, if Zak able to hit the stumps Ricky was a goner, but his hard efforts ensured him he score his 40^th ton.  Ricky Ponting last century came against Pakistan in Hobart in January 2010 when he made 209.

Clarke-Ponting put on 288 run stand where it is the highest ever by any batsmen for Australia against India. Finally, Ishant Sharma got rid of Ricky Ponting and provided much needed break for India. Meanwhile, Skipper Michael Clarke got his maiden double ton, Michael Hussey also looking in good touch, as he already past his half-century. Indians are in deep trouble, they need some magical turnaround for Indians if they need to pull a victory form here, which seems to be impossible.

Three members have been added to the team with two-opener have been included with Shaun Marsh and Ed-Cowan and pacer, Ben Hilfenhaus has been called back team Australia.

Opener, Cowan and Marsh have been replaced by the Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja, who have been in playing XI, as Australia were defeated by New Zealand in Hobart.

Meanwhile, Shane Watson and Ryan Harris unable to be fit for the first test against India, as Watson was still being recovered calf problem.

The team Australian will be leaded by the captain, Michael Clarke along with the experienced players with the likes of Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey.

John Inverarity, the national selector has stated that, Ed Cowan would open the batting with the David Warner and Shaun Marsh may be playing at No.3.

The 13-members Australian Squad for the Boxing day test against India, which is scheduled to be held from Dec 26-30, 2011 at Melbourne are:

Australia Test squad:

Michael Clarke (capt), Ed Cowan, David Warner, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Daniel Christian, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon

New Zealand started off the day-2 with Daniel Vettori and Dean Brownlie has provided a good plat form giving a partnership of 158. However, the former Skipper, Vettori was disappointed, after being out of 96 in hurry to take a quick single.

The tail-lander could not perform much better, as the New Zealand was all-out for 295 with Brownlie not out at 77.

Ricky Pointing has played a huge role along with Usman Khawaja giving Australia a partnership of 66. The former skipper, pointing has continued his marvelous show with an vital half-century in his previous test against South Africa, which has guided the team to level the 2-macth series with 1-1.

Pointing, who has not scored a century from the past two-years is looking good and is aiming to score an century at his home ground in Australia. Ponting showed some of his classic drives and pulls among his 11 boundaries to look back in scoring 67 runs.

Skipper, Michael Clarke has scored 23 and build a unbroken 63-run partnership along with his Pointing.

Ponting is still waiting for a century from the past 28 Test innings and is under pressure to keep his place, survived a few close calls to have Australia in good shape at 154 for three by the end of day-2 at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, December 2, 2011.