Cricket

The cricket world mourns after the death of English batting great Robin Smith in his Perth home.

The last time Australia played a Test with the pink ball, the brilliance of Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland turned the game into a farce.

Australia will be without veteran opener Usman Khawaja for the second Ashes Test after the 38-year old was ruled out due to an ongoing back problem.

England captain Ben Stokes and several teammates have been spotted in Brisbane riding e-scooters without helmets ahead of the second Ashes Test.

Day-night Test cricket provides Australia with one of the most potent home advantages in the history of the sport. Ten years into its existence, these are the numbers behind the format, its best performers and the ways England could spring an upset in Brisbane.

Travis Head says he has no qualms if he is shifted back down Australia's batting order following his exploits as an opener in the first Ashes Test.

Australia's Ashes domination in Brisbane is almost total, with England winless at the Gabba since 1986. It wasn't always like this though, with the first visit to Brisbane resulting in the heaviest defeat in cricket history.

Australia star Ellyse Perry hits an unbeaten 77 as the Sixers down the Thunder by six wickets in the Sydney Smash.

Former Australia captain Meg Lanning hits 73 not out to help the Stars to a convincing 45-run derby victory over the Renegades, while the Hurricanes down the Scorchers.

Captain Ben Stokes responds to England's critics in the wake of the defeat to Australia in the first Test, maintaining his squad will not step back from its aggressive approach.

Usman Khawaja may face a sanction for labelling the first Ashes Test surface a "piece of shit", with Cricket Australia understood to be disappointed by the remarks.

After rain falls for most of the Sydney Thunder's innings, umpires decide to call off their WBBL clash against the Strikers with Phoebe Litchfield one swing away from ending the game.

Australia will go into the second Ashes Test against England in Brisbane next week with an unchanged line-up, meaning there is no place for captain Pat Cummins.

All-rounder Deepti Sharma fetched the highest price at the Women's Premier League (WPL) auction, while Australia captain Alyssa Healy, one of the marquee players up for grabs, went unsold.

Perth have survived a dramatic collapse to beat the Melbourne Renegades by four wickets, denying the Renegades a share of top spot on the WBBL ladder.

England are unlikely to tinker with their side for the second Ashes Test against Australia starting in Brisbane next week despite being thumped in the opening match, former fast bowler James Anderson has said.

Suggestions the pitch at Perth Stadium was not up to scratch for the first Ashes Test have been well and truly put to bed as the ICC hands down its assessment of the playing surface.

Matt Renshaw is gunning for a spot in Australia's Test side, but does not want it to come at the expense of Australia's veteran opener Usman Khawaja just yet.

The Melbourne Stars will carry solid momentum into Saturday's big WBBL local derby, easily beating top side Hobart by 37 runs.

South Africa has clinched its first Test series win in India in 25 years with a crushing 408-run win in the second Test, claiming a 2-0 series sweep.