Phil Hughes scored his first century in more than a year to help New South Wales to within touching distance of outright victory over Western Australia at tea on the final day of the Sheffield Shield match at the SCG.

New South Wales has a chance to push for Sheffield Shield final hosting rights after Western Australia slipped to 5 for 116 in its second innings at tea on day three of the match at the SCG.

Phil Hughes was out for 54 as New South Wales made a racy start to be 1 for 109 in pursuit of Western Australia's 382 by tea on day two of the Sheffield Shield match at the SCG.

Western Australia captain Marcus North fought to justify his decision to bat first against New South Wales as the visitors reached 4 for 180 at tea on day one of the Sheffield Shield match at the SCG.

Western Australia appears on track to post a solid first innings score largely on the back of 82 from Luke Pomersbach with the Warriors moving to 6 for 225 at tea on day one of the Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia at the WACA ground.

Western Australia's batsmen battled Tasmania's bowlers and Hobart's fickle weather to put their side back in a competitive position at tea on the second day of their Sheffield Shield match at Bellerive Oval.

Tasmania was well and truly on top of Western Australia at tea on the first day of their Sheffield Shield clash at Bellerive Oval on Friday.

Western Australia's brittle batting line-up has crumbled against a New South Wales bowling line-up led by Doug Bollinger and Nathan Hauritz, the Warriors falling to 7 for 131 at tea on the second day of the Sheffield Shield match at the WACA ground.

A steady hand from opener Wes Robinson guided Western Australia to 3 for 146 at tea on the opening day of its Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the MCG on Wednesday.

England was chasing an unlikely victory at tea on the third and final day of its opening tour match against Western Australia at the WACA ground.

Western Australia recovered from 3 for 42 at lunch to be 4 for 156 at tea in the three-day match against England at the WACA ground.

Sri Lanka vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene admits the absence of Australian pace ace Shaun Tait from Sunday's Twenty20 clash at the WACA has eased his team's worries.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and paceman Peter Siddle will make their international returns from injury in Sunday's Twenty20 match against Sri Lanka at the WACA ground after being named in the 12-man Australian squad.

After dismissing Victoria for a mammoth 529, Western Australia had battled to 1 for 22 at tea on day two of their Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA.

Western Australia was made to pay dearly for a dropped catch as Victoria moved to 2 for 188 at tea on day one of the Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA Ground.

A Perth Magistrate has dropped charges against a Sri Lankan asylum seeker, accused of taking part in a riot at the Christmas Island detention centre last year.

A magistrate will travel to Christmas Island this week to inspect the detention centre where eight Sri Lankan asylum seekers are alleged to have taken part in a riot.

A new study has revealed tea tree oil may be used as a safe and effective treatment for non-melanoma skin cancers.

86 asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Iran, have spent their first night at a former mining camp in the Goldfields town of Leonora.

Talented Western Australia batsman Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of the upcoming Australia A series against Sri Lanka due to a serious ankle injury.

Western Australian scientists hope new techniques to trace the origins of tea leaves will help fight the global drug trade.

What does a cup of tea have to do with fighting the global heroin trade?

Five Sri Lankan asylum seekers are missing and presumed drowned after attempting to swim for help when their vessel ran out of fuel, food and water off the West Australian coast.

The Government's decision to suspend asylum seeker claims from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will not stop the boats, the Coalition says.

The Federal Government has announced an immediate suspension of asylum seeker claims from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, as news emerged that an asylum boat with 70 people on board sank off Christmas Island early this morning.