As Australia and India prepare for battle in the Boxing Day Test, this much is clear: the stakes have never been bigger for both teams

As Australia and India prepare for battle in the Boxing Day Test, this much is clear: the stakes have never been bigger for both teams

For a about a week now, the pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground has been the subject of such intense scrutiny and speculation that had it made of less sterner stuff, it would have started cracking by now

For a about a week now, the pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground has been the subject of such intense scrutiny and speculation that had it made of less sterner stuff, it would have started cracking by now

By resisting a purge in the fast bowling department, the Australian national selectors have stuck to a principle that has served them well: reward comes from faith

By resisting a purge in the fast bowling department, the Australian national selectors have stuck to a principle that has served them well: reward comes from faith

Harbhajan Singh, whose injured right-hand middle finger was operated upon yesterday, has been officially ruled out of competitive cricket for five months

Asked to rate his innings a couple of days ago, Rahul Dravid had responded with the realism that is a feature of his persona

Asked to rate his innings a couple of days ago, Rahul Dravid had responded with the realism that is a feature of his persona

Sambit Bal, editor of Wisden Cricinfo in India and Wisden Asia Cricket, was in Adelaide biting his nails as India began their run-chase on the final day

Shane Warne got back to bowling, for the first time in ten months, and man in charge of putting his career back on track says that the process has begun at just the right time, in order to get Warne ready for international cricket by February 10, the

Shane Warne got back to bowling, for the first time in ten months, and man in charge of putting his career back on track says that the process has begun at just the right time, in order to get Warne ready for international cricket by February 10, the

There are about 70 of them in a crowd of 17,000, but take my word for it, they have been raising a storm

In the beautiful words of Peter Roebuck, Waugh's Australians have played cricket by their own lights

In the beautiful words of Peter Roebuck, Waugh's Australians have played cricket by their own lights

To the second-last ball of the third day's play, Rahul Dravid played a checked straight-drive and sprinted expectantly

One of the misfortunes of greatness is that it has to bear greater scrutiny and harsher examination

Just after Rahul Dravid had square-driven Brad Williams for his first four, Shane Warne took his eyes off the television set on which he has been following golf, and bellowed, as if to exhort Steve Waugh, "come on, bring on Stuart MacGill." There

Just after Rahul Dravid had square-driven Brad Williams for his first four, Shane Warne took his eyes off the television set on which he has been following golf, and bellowed, as if to exhort Steve Waugh, "come on, bring on Stuart MacGill." There

The Indian team management has dealt in so much intrigue in the last couple of days that it would have been enough stuff for a mystery novel, had it not been amateurishly comical