Having worked back into the team following a switch from New South Wales to Queensland, Khawaja believed his Test career was over when he was dropped during the 2019 Ashes. But his appetite for runs and his desire to represent Australia never diminished, with Khawaja piling on the runs in domestic cricket as his mental strength and resilience grew.

Usman Khawaja, who was left out after losing his place after experiencing back spasms in the first Test, replaces Steve Smith in the Australia XI in Adelaide.

Usman Khawaja replaced the unwell Steve Smith moments before the toss, guiding Australia through early trouble to reach 94-2 at lunch on day one of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide

Steve Smith has learned his fate for the Boxing Day Test after the superstar batter was a late withdrawal at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday, replaced by Usman Khawaja.

Pat Cummins says Steve Smith is a "little bit unwell" as Usman Khawaja makes a shock return to Australia's Test team.

The third Ashes Test between Australia and England got underway today at the Adelaide Oval. Both teams had announced their playing XIs well before the match but the hosts suffered a blow as their premier batter Steve Smith missed out on the morning of the Test.

Williamson's rendition came as shockwaves from the Bondi shooting continued to reverberate. Adelaide Oval's flags flew at half-mast; Australian and England cricketers wore black armbands as the freshly-dubbed 'Christmas Test' began as anything but a celebration.

Adelaide: Steve Smith was withdrawn from the third Ashes Test in Adelaide just before the start of play after experiencing vertigo-like symptoms, prompting a late change to Australia’s playing XI.

Former Sri Lankan leg-spinner D. S. de Silva, a distinguished member of Sri Lanka’s inaugural Test cricket team in 1982, has passed away at the age of 83. His family confirmed that he died in London. D. S. de Silva was a member of Sri Lanka’s first-ever Test cricket team and went on to captain the national side in two Test matches.