Australia’s Test cricket squad won’t be training until Tuesday but there’ll be plenty of action before then.

Ricky Ponting made a controversial first-ball duck as Australia suffered a 51-run loss to New Zealand in Saturday’s dead-rubber fifth one-day international.

Australia’s full Test squad of 14 with gather in Wellington over the next two days as Ricky Ponting’s side prepare for Friday’s first Test against New Zealand.

Spin bowler Nathan Hauritz says the hostile barracking of Kiwi cricket fans has given the Australian team further motivation to finish off their one-day series with another crushing win.

Yesterday’s news that the Western Bulldogs will be seeking two home games at Basin Reserve in the New Zealand city of Wellington, possibly as early as next year, is a positive for the game.

Ricky Ponting praised the leadership qualities of Cameron White after the pair scored half-centuries to guide Australia to a series-clinching win in the fourth one-day international against New Zealand on Thursday.

Michael Clarke’s immediate cricketing future seems no clearer than his romantic future, despite being named in Australia’s Test team to play in New Zealand next week.

Marcus North is just hanging on, Phil Hughes and Steve Smith are ready to pounce and Ryan Harris should prepare for the Ashes after Cricket Australia (CA) named a 14-man squad for next week’s two-Test series against New Zealand.

New Test tourist Steven Smith says words probably wouldn’t be adequate to explain achieving a childhood dream if he gets the chance to strut the five-day stage in New Zealand.

The heinous farce that was the Australian cricket summer has now continued in the current New Zealand tour. The news of Michael “Pup” Clarke returning home to support his fiancée has many fans trembling with disappointment.

It has now been confirmed that Michael Clarke left the tour of New Zealand to return home and comfort his fiancée, Lara Bingle, who is involved in the nude photo scandal engulfing the press. But the question must be asked: was this an appropriate decision from a player earmarked as the next Test captain?

Australia have clicked into gear and will be hard to stop in the remaining two games of the Chappell-Hadlee series against New Zealand, says pace bowler Ryan Harris.

Brad Haddin’s second one-day international century powered Australia to an easy six-wicket win over New Zealand in the third one-day international in Hamilton.

Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke is expected to be named in the Test squad to face New Zealand despite the continuing dramas surrounding his fiancee Lara Bingle.

Surprised new Australian one-day squad member George Bailey says his call-up is the kind of breakthrough that has sparked international careers.

Vice-captain Michael Clarke has quit Australia’s cricket tour of New Zealand and is heading home to Sydney for personal reasons.

Former ICC Match Referee John Reid says some members of the Australian team are “idiots” but Australian coach Tim Nielsen says Reid isn’t a current player and he wouldn’t know.

Daniel Vettori says his New Zealand side should feed off their home-crowd support as much as possible because next time they tour Australia things are bound to get ugly for the Black Caps.

When the selectors sit down and select the squad for the Test matches versus New Zealand, Marcus North’s name should appear in the number six spot.

The Wellington Phoenix are kicking and screaming for their very existence, and doing a damn good job of it. A sell-out crowd of 32,792 watched them defeat Newcastle 3-1 in extra-time to book their place in the preliminary final against Sydney FC for the right to face Melbourne Victory in the Grand Final.