Andrew Wu writes on cricket and AFL for The Sydney Morning Herald
The head of Channel Ten's Big Bash League broadcast has weighed into the club versus country debate, saying the addition of Australia's international stars to the Twenty20 competition would make only a "marginal" difference to TV ratings.
Sydney Sixers paceman Sean Abbott is putting forward a compelling case for a recall to the Australian side after emerging as one of the players of this summer's Big Bash League.
The Sydney Sixers have booked a ticket to Brisbane for the semi-finals after coming back from the brink of elimination to beat an undermanned Melbourne Stars at the MCG on Saturday night.
As Steve Smith's team count down the days before its embarks on one of the toughest assignments in world cricket, 30 years ago an Australian side landed in India also with nobody giving it much chance of success. Australia had not won a Test series in four years and had been beaten in their last five one-day international tournaments.
Steve Smith responded to the challenge laid by coach Darren Lehmann by creaming a match-winning century as he and Peter Handscomb mastered Pakistan's spinners to propel Australia to a commanding seven-wicket victory in Perth.
The man who led Australia to their only series victory in India in nearly 50 years, Adam Gilchrist, has highlighted the importance of defence over aggression as Steve Smith's men prepare for mission impossible.
Australia's bowlers are preying on Pakistan's frailties against pace and bounce as they aim to regain the series lead in the third one-day international in Perth on Thursday.
Selectors have left the door ajar for a shock call-up of pace duo Pat Cummins and James Pattinson in India, to safeguard against injury to their senior quicks.
Australia's plans for the tour of India have already hit a snag with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh battling a shoulder injury that has ruled him out of the rest of the one-day series against Pakistan.
On the day the touring party for India was named, Australia were given a sobering reminder of their weakness against spin as Pakistan's long drought ended on Sunday at the MCG.
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