England batsman Kevin Pietersen will miss the last Test against New Zealand and the Indian Premier League due to a knee injury which may sideline him for up to eight weeks, officials said Wednesday.

Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey ruled out shock comebacks to the Australian Test ranks for the Ashes tour of England after the team's troubled series in India.

New Zealand and England face off in a winner-takes-all third and final Test this week, with both sides vowing to press for a series-clinching victory at Auckland's Eden Park.

Australian pace bowler Mitchell Starc will have surgery later this week on an ankle injury as he races the clock to be fit for the Ashes series against England.

Speculation about the Test future of Australian vice-captain Shane Watson ended Monday with an announcement that he will return to India after serving a one-match ban.

Speculation about Australian vice-captain Shane Watson's Test future was put to bed with an announcement that he will return to action after serving a one-match ban.

England off-spinner Graeme Swann faces up to two months' rehabilitation after surgery on his injured elbow, officials said on Friday, raising hopes he will be fit for this year's Ashes double-header.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has backed Shane Watson as a team player and said the Cricket Australia official who suggested he was not would live to regret his comments.

England great Ian Botham revealed he was relishing Australia's woes in India after four players were suspended for indiscipline, mocking the "wellness reports" they are forced to complete.

Australian vice-captain Shane Watson has denied any rift with skipper Michael Clarke and strongly rejected suggestions he is not a team player after being axed for one Test for indiscipline.

Australia coach Mickey Arthur said a team culture including unacceptable "back-chat" and "attitude" forced him to controversially axe four players for the next Test in India.

Australian vice-captain Shane Watson has denied any rift with skipper Michael Clarke and strongly rejected suggestions he is not a team player after being axed for one Test for indiscipline.

Australia's preparations for their Ashes double-header against England have been plunged into turmoil after four players were axed for not doing a "homework" assignment during the tour of India.

Cricket Australia general manager Pat Howard said that the door was still open for Shane Watson to play Tests after the vice-captain returned home following his axing from their next India match.

Australia's Test team has been plunged into crisis after four players were axed for not doing a self-criticism assignment during the tour in India as an Ashes double-header looms against England.

Fawad Ahmed's cricketing journey began in a graveyard in his village in northwest Pakistan but could yet culminate in an Ashes Test for Australia at the home of cricket, Lord's.

As Australian cricket struggles to recapture former glories, the sport's chiefs are painfully aware of the need to widen the net to reflect the country's burgeoning cultural diversity.

Pakistani asylum-seeker Fawad Ahmed, who was granted a permanent Australia visa in November, wants to play in the Ashes against England, and his state coach believes he is good enough.

Michael Vaughan and Geoffrey Boycott both slammed the performance of England's batsmen following their embarrassing start to the Test series in New Zealand.

England off-spinner Graeme Swann faces a race against time to be fit for this year's Ashes double-header after injury forced him out of the Test series against New Zealand.