"steve-smith"

The hosts are under fire for Paine's sledging and Smith's scuffing up the crease

Paine's captaincy has been questioned after he launched an ugly verbal tirade at India's Ravi Ashwin and Smith was accused of foul play after appearing to scuff up batsman Rishabh Pant's guard at the crease

"I have been quite shocked and disappointed by the reaction to this. It's something I do in games to visualise where we are bowling, how the batter is playing our bowlers and then out of habit I always mark centre," Smith said.

However, going into the last two days, former Australian cricketer Ponting felt the likes of Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins will pose big threat to the Indian batting lineup.

Brilliant Jadeja, Gill lead India's fightback on Day Two of SCG Test

Having just managed to score only 10 runs in the first Two Tests, Smith roared back to form as his 131, single-handedly steered Australia to 338, their first innings total

Smith, who was batting on 130 and was in a mood to slog every ball in company of No.11 batsman Josh Hazlewood, couldn't beat a direct throw from Jadeja

The four-match series between India and Australia currently stands levelled at 1-1 and the third Test is slated to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 7.

There is a lot of variation and has kept the Australians guessing with intelligent bowling: Shivlal

Both Labuschagne and No. 4 Steve Smith, the mainstays of Australian batting, have struggled to get going in the series with the latter aggregating just 10 in four innings

Williamson had briefly occupied the top spot towards the end of 2015 but either Smith or Kohli have been number one since then. This year too, Smith was at the top for 313 days and Kohli for 51

If today the team has dominated the world cricket then the credit should go to this bowling coach, says MSK Prasad

With the series level at 1-1 heading into the third Test in Sydney, Cummins parried talk of crisis and said batters like Steve Smith would rediscover their touch

Smith has been enduring a horror run in the ongoing Test series against India, failing to play any knock of significance so far

India ended the second day at 277 for five for a handy 82-run lead after bowling out Australia for 195 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

Personally I'd love Sydney to happen, I love playing at the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground), it's my home ground, said Smith

I have been interested in the IPL for a long time, and how the teams are going. I really want to be involved in the IPL at some stage but I think the time will come when I’m ready for that opportunity.

Labuschagne now set his sights on the shortest format of the game in India IPL. He said he always follows IPL and wants to be a part of it. “I have been interested in the IPL for a long time, always following and how the teams are going.

Yes, given the importance of the wicket at that stage, I enjoyed it a lot. I feel It was a big wicket and I felt very happy, said the off-spinner

'The start of the series is important and we have to do well in Adelaide'