Australia is fielding a B team. It means nothing.

NO! They are fielding the best team they have at this point in time. It doesn't become a B team simply because a few players are injured.

....... or having a rest ....Ok. Lets call it something different.

Well, I don't have a dog in the fight, so I just enjoy a good close battle without caring who wins.

I wonder if it will help at all, with the first test against India in less than 3 weeks.

Should be an interesting test series.

That's what we are all hanging out for. It shall be very interesting. Certainly don't expect a win but one would hope Australia has been doing a bit of homework for this one.

I was going to write something about humiliation on the sub-continent prior to the Ashes but England (and Ireland) aren't much better.

Cricket really is a weird game when it comes to home advantage.

In other news, Captain Cook steps aside ... Root incoming?

.... and KP

Well, South Africa back on top in the ODI Rankings after whitewashing SL 5-0.

A tougher challenge awaits them in NZ.

Excellent effort by the Aussies; India's last 20 tests at home, 17 wins, 3 draws and no losses. It's looking like the sequence will be broken barring a miracle. Nice pitch for Ashwin and Jadeja - and O'Keefe!

And they just demolished NZ again today. 😊

So are India really crap or has Australia improved immensely?

Both.

Great scenes in Pune.

India's 18 test record comes to an end.

Indeed, and the first Australian win in India since November 2004. Almost 13 years!