A straight bat: Handscomb's cricketing journey to the MCG

Peter Handscomb says he cannot begin to count the number of people who have given him advice on his batting technique. The first was his father, John, on their driveway at home. And it's his words that will resonate when Handscomb makes his MCG debut on Boxing Day.

Does Maddinson deserve another chance?

Have we seen enough of embattled rookie to rule that he is not yet ready for the level?

Australia in the pink, in the dark, at home

It was all over on Saturday, but thanks to doughty and then brazen Pakistani resistance and the muggy, mercurial Brisbane weather, the shouting will go on into Monday afternoon. But after an ahem or two, shouting it will be, ultimately. Suddenly, Perth and Hobart seemed what they are, long ago and far away. But so is India.

Australia cruising as it goes the long way around

Once Australia declined to enforce the follow-on, this became a daylong exercise in delaying the inevitable.

Smith, rookies make for winning brew

The first day of a new series is like a test tube, where all the ingredients are mixed to see how they react to one another and what they make, but hopefully to avoid an explosion.

Amir did time, now his time has come

The last time Mohammed Amir appeared in Australia, he became the second-youngest man to take five wickets in a Test innings. He was 17. He returns aged 24, with only 15 more Tests to his name.

Carbine Club opens its doors to women

Another bastion of male exclusivity has fallen. On Tuesday, the Carbine Club voted to break with 55 years of tradition to admit two women. They are Peggy O'Neal, the president of Richmond football club, and Nicole Livingstone, an Olympic silver medalist in swimming and now a media figure.

Time, not money, the reason for split with Nine: Brayshaw

Now that James Brayshaw has hung up his two most prominent caps, at Channel 9 and as chairman of North Melbourne, he admits that having several of them jammed on his head at once took a toll that he hopes he can remediate.

The truth is out there Mr Bogut, you just have to look

• COMMENT

Andrew Bogut is a formidable basketballer, who played a manful role in Australia's gallant tilt at the windmills in Rio. He is also, more than most sportspeople, socially engaged. I could say, quirkily, doubtfully, provocatively engaged, but he would say the same of my world view.