The hosts also have concerns over the fitness of new sensation Scott Boland, who hurt his ribs after a crashing to the turf on the final ball before the tea break on the third day.

The weather bureau says a severe thunderstorm that threatened parts of Melbourne with giant hailstones of more than 5 centimetres in diameter has now moved beyond the metropolitan area as it tracks east.

The world No.1 dropped just one point on first serves throughout the match and finished with 17 aces in a clinical performance.

The Federal Treasurer said he was experiencing symptoms and was isolating with his family.

As pressure mounts on the young all-rounder, let’s not forget it took Steve Waugh 42 Test innings to make his first century. From there, he went on to become a champion.

The venue faces fines of up to $250,000 and the possibility of losing its liquor license.

Daniil Medvedev or Alexander Zverev can take over as world No.1 if Serbian champion Novak Djokovic is unable to play at the Australian Open.

Sydney hospitals are starting to treat COVID and non-COVID patients in the same wards, as the state prepares for a hospitalisation peak of 4700 people with the virus this month.

The government agency that oversees the Great Barrier Reef has warned it is at risk of another summer of coral bleaching as the major parties prepare for an election campaign clash over management of the natural wonder.

Coronavirus hospitalisations have jumped 50 per cent in a week, with the vast majority of the ill filling general hospital wards after passing through congested emergency departments.

The long slow grind had worked for Stokes at Headingley in 2019 and he was bent on following the template here.

Young people who have been in the care system are grossly over-represented among users of the most costly acute government services. But there is another way.

A defiant 128-run partnership between Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes may have saved the fourth Test in Sydney for England.

Despite rainy conditions and rising COVID-19 cases, the crowd at the SCG lost none of their fervour for the McGrath Foundation on Friday.

The week in photos from the award-winning Sydney Morning Herald and Financial review photographers.

With retail stock difficult to find, Cheavy Taing found another way to make sure his customers could get tested for COVID-19.

England will need to spend plenty of time at the crease on day three at the SCG after Australia declared their first innings on 8-416.

Travellers planning to enter WA or residents trying to get back in after borders open will not get an approval through Good 2 Go until an unspecified date.

New restrictions have been announced in NSW including a ban on singing and dancing in hospitality venues, Victoria has introduced new indoor density limits and tennis star Novak Djokovic spent a second day in immigration detention.

The Australian star implored the public to treat Djokovic “better”, marking a change in tone following his feud with the world No. 1.

Jonny Bairstow reacted angrily to a crude sledge during the tea break then let his bat do the talking in the final session, hitting a courageous counter punching century.

Sydney and Melbourne households are in a shadow lockdown with spending activity now similar to what they were during government-mandated lockdowns.

Pat Cummins entered the Australian captaincy determined to create an environment in which all players could succeed.

Pop’s most depressing star drops his latest, a concept album set in purgatory, featuring Jim Carrey (yes, that Jim Carrey).

The number of protesters rallying outside Carlton’s Park Hotel dwindled as heavy rain drenched much of Melbourne.

Everything you need to know to find a winner on the 10-race program.

Police are investigating the crash that occurred in Moreton Bay on Friday morning.

Novak Djokovic, the King of Melbourne Park, is embroiled in a royal mess. Here’s how a saga many months in the making reached a dramatic climax ahead of the Australian Open.

Ex-Soviet allies have deployed troops to quash the uprising. The President now says calm has been restored to all regions in the country.

Modelling suggests the Omicron wave will peak just as Queensland schools are meant to go back, forcing authorities to look at contingency plans.

The National Gallery’s Know My Name 2 is full of strong works by Australian women artists and clever juxtapositions. But for tougher stuff, try Anne Marsh’s book on feminist art.

Kelly Wilson has seen and done it all in the WNBL but admits she can’t be certain when her record-breaking 400th game will arrive, hopeful her Canberra Capitals and the Melbourne Boomers can play on Saturday to see her to the record.

The news of the day as interpreted by our talented artists, illustrators and cartoonists.

As case numbers surge, NSW Health has prohibited singing and dancing in public hospitality venues and will require people to register positive home results in the Service NSW app.

A worker at a publisher in London has been arrested and charged, accused by the FBI of defrauding famous authors.

Rick Hore-Lacy, one of the industry’s most colourful characters, died recently after a career with thoroughbreds that, in some aspects, verged on genius.

Inga Simpson’s post-apocalyptic novel takes a refreshingly different approach to the tired genre.

Louise Erdrich’s latest novel moves deftly from the personal to the political.

Acclaimed novelist and essayist David Grossman’s latest novel is emotionally taut and intense.

Federal Labor MP Andrew Leigh says it’s important for politicians to read. He casts an eye over books of the past year to offer ministers some tips.

Playing Albus in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was the precursor to a transformation that cemented Eva Rees’ playwriting debut with he/r.

Writers are the same as many of us when it comes to new year’s resolutions.

Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen and Steven Carroll cast their eyes over recent fiction and non-fiction releases.

Eric Constantinidis, the son of Al Constantinidis, says he was not aware of the allegations against Mr Papas or the freezing orders over his assets when he received the large payments.

The task of the congressional committee remains difficult, not least because the clock is ticking towards the midterm elections.

For the first time this century, the top five highest selling books in a calendar year were all by local authors.

Will Pucovski wants to go on the Test tour to Pakistan and has been reassured of his place in Australia’s long-term plans following the latest in a string of concussion setbacks.

WA’s mask mandate will end at 6pm in most settings, after the state recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 on Friday.

Australia’s ambassador to Serbia has been hauled in to face demands that Novak Djokovic be moved to a nicer hotel while he is in immigration detention.

The continent is destabilised by conflicts in Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan. Beijing hopes its new envoy will help end them.