Bird a confirmed starter for South African tour

3:33pm Fast bowler Jackson Bird is a confirmed starter for the tour of South Africa, but batsman Shaun Marsh is yet to be cleared.

Hodge gets call-up for Twenty20 international

Chloe Saltau, Jesse Hogan 8:10pm The Australian batting line-up that pummelled England’s bowlers could be significantly altered for the World Twenty20, with Brad Hodge a legitimate candidate to be selected.

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'Borderline' Ahmed citizenship was questioned

STATHI PAXINOS 10:24am The rushed process in giving Australian citizenship to promising cricketer Fawad Ahmed has been brought into question.

Rixon slams high-performance chief

11:00am Outgoing national team assistant coach Steve Rixon has taken a parting shot at Cricket Australia and Pat Howard, saying of the high-performance chief and former Wallaby: "I hope he was a good rugby player".

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Nations' unrest over ICC's radical reforms

CHLOE SALTAU Fear persist that radical governance changes will spell erosion of international cricket as we know it.

Steve Rixon has 'little respect' for Cricket Australia after being axed

Chris Barrett and Andrew Wu You get the impression Steve Rixon knows he will not be in the queue for a job at Cricket Australia any time soon.

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Batsmen face tougher test of clearing ropes at MCG, ANZ

ANDREW WU After watching some of their best work disappear into Bellerive Oval's construction site, Australia and England's bowlers might have a better chance to show their skills for the final two Twenty20 matches of the series.

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Rixon takes long handle to CA and high-performance chief

CHRIS BARRETT You get the feeling Steve Rixon knows he won't be in the queue for a job at Cricket Australia.

South Africa left stranded by Australia, says cricket association

Cricket Australia has been accused of betraying South Africa on the eve of their series.

Southern Stars keen to finish on a high

Australia's women's cricket team is still hoping to send a message to England.

Walking lightly, still standing tall

PETER HANLON 'Invincible' Neil Harvey is about to receive due recognition, writes Peter Hanlon.

Ashton Agar banned for showing dissent over umpire's decision

It's been a big fall for last year's Ashes hero after being suspended for breaching code of behaviour.

Cricket Australia right to help Fawad Ahmed become an Australian citizen

CHLOE SALTAU A key backer of Fawad Ahmed's refugee claim has denied Cricket Australia helped him out because of a desire to find the next Shane Warne.

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England captain Stuart Broad slams Hobart's short boundaries

ANDREW WU Stuart Broad was less than impressed by the small boundaries at Blundstone Arena.

Jackson Bird cleared to play South African tour

Fast bowler Jackson Bird is a confirmed starter for the tour of South Africa.

Phil Hughes gets the nod for Test recall

CHRIS BARRETT 9:26pm Phil Hughes is off to South Africa after all, his Test career resurrected after Shaun Marsh was unable to recover from a calf strain in time to make his own return against the world No.1 Proteas.

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Sydney Sixers want dispensation for absences

ANDREW WU 7:08pm The Sydney Sixers are at loggerheads with Cricket Australia over a bid to allow a last-minute addition to their squad as they battle a player drain that has left them with a threadbare roster heading into a $802,000 semi-final next week.

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Meg Lanning's brilliant innings outdone by Charlotte Edwards as England retain Ashes

Jess Hogan It was going to take an exceptional performance to relegate Meg Lanning's unbeaten 78 to the second best captain's innings. Charlotte Edwards did exactly that - and sealed England's retention of the Ashes in the process.

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Steve Rixon happy to go as Darren Lehmann continues coaching shake-up

CHLOE SALTAU Veteran assistant , 59, had intended to finish up when his contract expired after World Twenty20.

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New game, but England still bashed from pillar to post

JESSE HOGAN Australia withstands a late Ravi Bopara flurry to cruise to a 13-run win in the first T20.

• Six-fest has Stuart Broad questioning Bellerive
• As it happened