Sports Minister Greg Hunt says the federal government is prepared to provide mediation between Cricket Australia and players over the pay-dispute stalemate.

Australia captain Steve Smith has played down a tense stand-off in pay negotiations between the players' union and the national cricket board, saying his team is highly motivated to cut a deal and play the Ashes against England.

Australia's cricket board gambled that greed would motivate top players into accepting a pay offer and while that bet has backfired the parties are likely to thrash out a deal in time to avert an Ashes boycott, former captain Ian Chappell says.

National coach Darren Lehmann admitted Thursday a bitter pay dispute will be a distraction for Australia at next month's ICC Champions Trophy, but played down a boycott of this year's Ashes series.

Australia's cricket board has warned players will not be given alternative contracts if they fail to agree to a new collective bargaining agreement in an escalation of a protracted and increasingly bitter pay dispute.

The new Perth Stadium will not be finished in time for the third Ashes test between Australia and England in December and the match will therefore be hosted at the traditional WACA ground, Cricket Australia confirmed on Wednesday.

Joe Root knows just how damaging a rampaging Australian pace attack can be having experienced first-hand the devastation wreaked on England by Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris during his maiden Ashes tour in 2013-14.

Former Australia firebrand Brett Lee says the current crop of "once-in-a-generation" pace-bowling talent will put the fear into England's batsmen come next summer's Ashes.

Discussions over whether Australia will host England in a first day-night Ashes cricket Test next year are taking place but nothing has been decided yet, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Thursday.

Ian Botham has hit out at the "appalling" prospect of a first day/night Test in England, saying the "ridiculous" plan risks damaging cricket's flagship format.

Bangladesh is facing a critical moment in its history - certainly its cricketing history - is apparent.

Cricket Australia says it has extended the contract of head coach Darren Lehmann until October 2019 to keep him in place during the next Ashes.

Darren Lehmann has extended his contract as Australia's head coach until 2019 to cover the World Cup and the Ashes series in England that year.

Former England batsman Michael Carberry has been diagnosed with cancer, his county side Hampshire announced

England's next Ashes series in Australia may have a day-night Test match, Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland says on Monday.

Australia must stifle their attacking instincts in the subcontinent and "bore" batsmen into giving up their wickets, captain Steven Smith has said.

Australia opener David Warner has been ruled out of the tour of Bangladesh in October because of the broken thumb.

Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has retired from Test cricket.

Shane Watson's endlessly enigmatic Test career for Australia is over.

Since it is considered to be the most minionly of an umpire's many minion tasks, checking no-balls is mistakenly assumed to be an easy job.