Ashley Mallett played 38 Tests from his debut against England in 1968, taking 132 wickets at an average of 29.84.

Ravichandran Ashwin has 176 wickets from 32 Tests. He also is the highest wicket-taker in 2015 with 62 scalps in 9 matches.

The WACA received its first setback when it was excluded from next summer's four-match Test series against India. Despite pressure from Channel Nine, Australia's official cricket broadcaster, and the Indian board, the CA decided against holding matches here due to poor facilities, reports Sydney Morning Herald.

At stumps Australia were 326-6 with Steve Smith unbeaten on 103 and Mitchell Johnson on 39, further loosening England's grip on the trophy at 2-0 down and three to play.

Ryan Harris has been a crucial part of the attack that has fired Australia to a 2-0 lead over their arch-rivals, but he reported stiffness during the second Adelaide Test.

Ryan Harris bowled at full pace in the nets on Thursday and didn't appear to be troubled by the knee soreness. Faulkner, who has been 12th man for the first two Tests, was hit on the right hand during a net session and taken for scans.

The 31-year-old George Bailey, who made his Test debut only last month, is looking to improve on the 53 he made on the batting-friendly Adelaide wicket in the second Test when he was dismissed just before stumps on the first day.

Australian media blasted the national team's 309-run defeat in the third Test against South Africa while lamenting the end of former skipper Ricky Ponting's illustrious career.

Ricky Ponting said the failure continued a frustrating recent inability to deliver in big moments that led him to retire. "I have put a lot of pressure on myself to perform, it has always been about big games and big series for me. I haven't been able to deal with (pressure) as well of late as I would like to," he said.

South Africa also became the first team to win back-to-back series in Australia since the terrifying West Indies side in 1988-89 and 1992-93. The South Africans achieved it with sporting good grace after forming a highly unusual honour guard for Ricky Ponting, 37, Test cricket's second highest run-scorer, as he emerged for his final innings.