Tuesday's Ashes gossip column - Australia v England

Captains Ponting and Clarke are both still under fire from the Australian media

Former Australia captain Ian Chappell believes the injured Ricky Ponting has played his last Test as Aussie skipper - and should not have been in the dressing room on the first day of the Sydney Test, out of fairness to his deputy Michael Clarke.
Full story: Brisbane Times

Australia debutant Usman Khawaja "has already done enough to show why he should bat above Ponting and Clarke" after scoring 37 in his first Test innings.
Full story: The Australian

Another former Aussie skipper, Steve Waugh, admits that Khawaja's debut success will mean a "tough call" for the selectors over whether they reinstate injured skipper Ponting at number three when he recovers from his fractured finger.
Full story: Sydney Morning Herald

And stand-in skipper Clarke may be "walking the tightrope between becoming Australia's next full-time captain and Test discard" after his latest failure with the bat.
Full story: Courier Mail

Having handed debuts to Khawaja and Michael Beer in this Test, chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch has admitted that Australia are facing a period of rebuilding.
Full story: Daily Telegraph (Sydney)

Former England captain Mike Atherton feels Australia opener Phillip Hughes has "turned the corner" and that the hosts "should stick with him". (Times - subscription required)

However, the jury is still out on Hughes among some of the Australian media.
Full story: Herald Sun

Former England all-rounder Derek Pringle says James Anderson has opted for "Glenn McGrath-like consistency over all-out attack" under the tutelage of bowling coach David Saker.
Full story: Telegraph

Kevin Pietersen is once again guilty of opting for glory over England's overall team situation following his late dismissal on day three at Sydney.
Full story: Daily Mail

Meanwhile, Anderson believes umpire Billy Bowden was right to ask for Michael Beer's dismissal of Alastair Cook to be referred to check if, as proved the case, it was a no-ball.
Full story: The Guardian

AND FINALLY...

Among the SCG crowd on day one was Ashley Kerekes, an American whose Twitter name (@theashes) resulted in her being bombarded with hundreds of unwanted cricket messages, after a sponsor paid for her to fly from the United States and watch her first cricket match. She sat next to Steve Waugh, and tweeted that she found the Barmy Army "very entertaining".
Full story: The Independent

Legendary sledger McGrath mischievously speculated that the Ashes series would continue on the same pattern with Australia coming back from defeat to record a victory, as they did in Perth.
Full story: The Guardian

After Michael Beer's dramatically reviewed no-ball denied him a maiden Test wicket, Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson claims the front line of the popping crease is not a major concern to him during net practice.
Full story: Telegraph

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This story is updated throughout the day.