Ed Cowan

Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke declared himself fighting fit as he left for India, saying the line-up for the first Test since the retirement of Michael Hussey was "very open".

Australia will send an advance party of eight players to India this week to help acclimatise to the playing conditions ahead of the four-Test series later this month, Cricket Australia said on Monday.

Australia will take four spin-bowling options to India for their four-Test tour, with Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith named in a 17-man squad alongside Nathan Lyon and Xavier Doherty.

Australia will take four spin-bowling options to India for their four-Test tour, with Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith named in a 17-man squad alongside Nathan Lyon and Xavier Doherty.

Mike Hussey bowed out of Test cricket as he guided Australia to a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, giving the home side a clean sweep of the three-match series.

Mike Hussey bowed out of Test cricket as he guided Australia to a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, giving the home side a clean sweep of the three-match series.

Sri Lanka made a great start in defending a slender 140-run lead with the big wicket of David Warner in Australia's second innings on the fourth day of the final Test in Sydney.

Run outs continued to haunt Australia's batting as they edged 48 runs ahead of Sri Lanka with four first innings wickets remaining on the second day of the third Test in Sydney on Friday.

David Warner and Phil Hughes missed out on centuries before veteran Mike Hussey came out to bat in his farewell Test for Australia in the third Test against Sri Lanka in Sydney on Friday.

David Warner went on the charge as Australia made a lively run-a-minute response to Sri Lanka's below-par 294 first innings score on the second day of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss and sent Sri Lanka into bat on the opening day of the third and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.

Sri Lanka were fighting to avoid a humiliating defeat inside three days after a horror start to their second innings in the Melbourne Test against Australia, on Friday.

Australia skittled out Sri Lanka for 156 and trailed by just six runs at stumps after an eventful opening day saw 13 wickets fall in the second Test in Melbourne.

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat against Australia in the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

Australian quick Jackson Bird will make his debut in the Boxing Day Test against Sri Lanka, selectors said on Monday, while skipper Michael Clarke was given more time to prove his fitness.

Australia were eight wickets and Sri Lanka a more improbable 328 runs away from victory in the first Hobart Test after a see-sawing fourth day.

Sri Lanka will chase 393 runs to win the first Test in Hobart after bowling Australia out for 278 on the fourth day.

Australia pushed their lead out to 260 runs with eight wickets in hand with a declaration looming later on the fourth day of the first Hobart Test against Sri Lanka on Monday.

Tillakaratne Dilshan led a fighting counter-attack with an gutsy century as Sri Lanka trailed Australia by 141 runs with two days to play in the first Hobart Test on Sunday.

Australia took the upper hand against Sri Lanka following half-centuries by Phil Hughes, David Warner and Michael Clarke on the opening day of the first Test in Hobart.