Australia have maintained their unbeaten Test status at home this summer and closed in on booking a spot at next year's World Test Championship final with a decisive six-wicket victory over a disappointing South Africa in the first Test in Brisbane on Sunday
The win sees Australia move further ahead at the top of the World Test Championship standings, while South Africa are overtaken by India and drop to third as a result of the loss
The victory margin looks big but the hosts Bangladesh gave a tough fight scoring 324 runs in the second innings the Indian team kept their intensity high and managed to win the match as well as take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
India moved to the third spot in the ICC World Test Championship table with this win as Bangladesh succumbed to the brilliant blowing of India's spinners losing their four wickets within an hour of the first session of the fifth day.
The news that Cummins will be able to participate in the match, which gets underway on Saturday in Brisbane, after having recovered from a quad injury is encouraging for the home team.
Labuschagne has consolidated his position at the top of the ICC Men's Test Player Rankings with a career-best 937 rating points after compiling his third three-figure knock in the two-match ICC World Test Championship (WTC) series against the West Indies.
Beginning on Wednesday, the men in blue will play two Test matches in Bangladesh. If they succeed there, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy competition that follows might end up being one of the biggest in recent memory.
Australia are currently at the top of the standings. They are in a good position to reach the finals but there are at least four other teams in contention.
The BCCI would probably aim to finish up the IPL by the end of May because England and Ireland will play one final Test at Lord's from June 1 to 4. The second ICC World Test Championship final will take place at The Oval a few days later.
Labuschagne, who was just two points behind Root before the two ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Tests completed over the past week, now enjoys a healthy lead at the top even as Root has slipped to fourth place behind Steve Smith and Babar Azam.