Auckland cruises past Knight Riders

Updated October 16, 2012 07:59:24

Auckland defeated Kolkata by seven wickets in the Champions League T20, with former Pakistan international Azhar Mahmood starring with both bat and ball.

Mahmood took 3 for 16 as the Knight Riders posted just 6 for 137 in their 20 overs in Cape Town.

Mahmood then guided his New Zealand side to victory with an unbeaten 51 off 42 balls.

Auckland joins the Daredevils and Titans on four points in Group A, while the Knights Riders have lost both their matches.

Tags: cricket, sport, twenty20, south-africa, new-zealand, india

First posted October 16, 2012 07:59:24

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Indian cricket star Tendulkar awarded AM

By South Asia correspondent Michael Edwards, staff

Updated October 16, 2012 20:11:38

Indian cricket great Sachin Tendulkar is to receive an Order of Australia (AM) for his contribution to the sport.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard made the announcement during a visit to a Delhi cricket clinic.

"I'm also very pleased we're going to confer on Sachin Tendulkar membership of the Order of Australia, an AM," she told reporters.

"This is a very special honour, very rarely awarded to someone who is not an Australian citizen or an Australian national.

"He is away playing cricket - surprise, surprise - but the award will be conferred on him by Minister [Simon] Crean when [he] visits India.

"So a very special honour and a very special recognition of such a great batsman."

Ms Gillard is in India on a three-day visit, during which she will meet prime minister Manmohan Singh and other senior ministers to trade and cultural ties and the likely opening up of uranium sales.

In the sporting arena, however, she could not be persuaded to pick up a cricket bat.

"I wasn't tempted to showcase my skills. Number one, because I don't really have cricketing skills. So that would be a problem," she said.

"Number two, whilst I didn't agree with prime minister [John] Howard's policies in many respects, I watched and learned from his prime ministership and a key lesson is never to pick up a bat in India in front of our friends from the media."

There was no immediate comment from Tendulkar, who is in South Africa representing the Mumbai Indians team in the Twenty20 Champions League.

Tendulkar has scored a world record Test (15,553) and one-day (18,426) runs and has also compiled an unprecedented 100 international centuries.

West Indies batting great Brian Lara was honoured with the membership of the Order of Australia in 2009.

Former attorney-general Soli Sorabjee is the only other Indian to have received the award.

Tendulkar's popularity in Australia was cemented when legendary cricketer Don Bradman said he was reminded of his own batting after watching the Indian play.

Part of Ms Gillard's mission to Delhi is to improve Australia's image in India after a spate of attacks on Indian students.

ABC South Asia correspondent Michael Edwards has spoken on PM about how much of this might play into the decision to give an award to a famous cricketer.

Tags: awards-and-prizes, federal-government, cricket, australia, india

First posted October 16, 2012 15:19:24

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Worrall revels in chance to make impact

By Neil Cross

Updated October 16, 2012 10:32:25

Dan Worrall is proof cricket is indeed a funny game.

Two years ago the Victorian paceman was playing third grade at the Melbourne Cricket Club. Life revolved around studying for a commerce and law degree, a game or two on the green and a beer or two afterwards.

Even six months ago Worrall's plans were pretty simple and they didn't involve playing state cricket.

As little as three months ago he thought about heading to England next winter to "play some village cricket and drink beer".

Then Darren Berry came calling.

The South Australian coach was looking to add to the Redbacks' bowling stocks and heard good reports about 21-year-old Worrall and his ability to swing the ball.

Worrall was given a rookie contract after playing less than a dozen first-grade games for Melbourne. After one grade cricket game in Adelaide, he made his debut in the Redbacks colours last weekend.

"It was kind of surreal," Worrall said of the moment when he stood at the top of his run-up, ready to bowl for the first time for South Australia.

"It was like I've won a competition at school where I've got to come out and play with the Redbacks."

He settled in and managed to bowl a maiden over first up.

"I knew that all I had to do was bowl at the top of off," Worrall said.

"It's a simple game really, run in on the angle and hit the top of off and tell the batsman how good he isn't and simple as that really."

Actually, it's the art of the sledge that caught Berry's attention as much as anything. In a squad that has struggled for two years to win a Sheffield Shield match, Berry wanted a bowler with a bit of confidence and the ability to back-up his verbal barbs.

Worrall's first confrontation with Tasmanian captain Tim Paine was clear evidence the young quick was not shy to state his thoughts.

"It depends on the situation of course but I like to go out there and be competitive," he said.

"That's what we're out there to do. We're not out there to make friends, we're out there to compete and beat the guy at the other end at the end of the day.

"It's just a bit of banter out there in the middle, it's part of the game I think and, in my opinion anyway, it's part of the game and come off and have a beer afterwards."

The affable Worrall has worked on another game in the past year - acting.

Former Australian spinner Ray Bright approached him during a game last season and declared "You look like my old mate Mick Malone, would you like to be an actor?"

Worrall was asked to play former Australian swing bowler Mick Malone in the Australian TV mini-series Howzat, which chronicled the formation of World Series Cricket in the late 1970s.

While he had never seen footage of Malone bowling, Worrall not only bore a physical resemblance to the West Australian but his delivery action was similar. It was certainly noticed by television commentators Mark Waugh and Damien Fleming when they first saw him approaching the crease.

"Funnily enough Mark Waugh mentioned that I bowled a bit like Mick Malone and then Damien Fleming brought up the fact I was actually cast as him," Worrall said.

Away from the small screen, his first experience of state cricket left Worrall with figures of 2/68 from 13 overs, a duck when he batted and a Redbacks loss to Tasmania by three runs. Not an outstanding start, but certainly encouraging and one he is determined to build on.

"I think I just need to keep a level head and continue my hard work and dedication and if I happen to get a game, I happen to get a game," he said.

"I'll make sure I firstly get that game and then make an impact when I play."

Given Worrall's story of recent months, there is every chance of a few more interesting chapters as he makes his way through the summer of state cricket.

Tags: cricket, sport, human-interest, sa, adelaide-5000, australia

First posted October 16, 2012 09:38:44

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Henriques sparks Sixers' T20 win

Updated October 15, 2012 13:46:56

Moises Henriques produced a remarkable all-round performance to carry the Sydney Sixers to a 14-run win over Chennai Super Kings in their Champions League T20 tournament opener in Johannesburg.

Henriques (49 not out off 23) produced a breathtaking batting cameo as the Sixers scored 5 for 185 after being sent in.

Henriques, who has started the Australian domestic season in scintillating fashion, smashed five fours and three sixes in an exhilarating exhibition of uninhibited hitting.

With the Super Kings threatening at 4 for 141 in the 17th over, Henriques (3 for 23) removed danger men Suresh Raina (57 off 33) and MS Dhoni (8) in the space of three balls.

He got help from Steve Smith taking a great overhead catch at long-on just inside the boundary to dismiss Raina and Josh Hazlewood snaffling a grass cutter at deep mid-wicket to remove Dhoni.

Henriques had previously ended a 55-run partnership between Raina and Subramaniam Badrinath (6)

Blistering innings from Henriques and Shane Watson (46) set up the testing target.

Watson, the player of the recently concluded World Twenty20 tournament, carried his hot batting form over to South Africa.

The big-hitting right-hander was murderous on anything short, thrashing five fours and two sixes in an opening stand of 50 with Englishman Michael Lumb (18).

Watson's innings ended in unexpected fashion when he was run out by a long-distance direct hit from deep extra cover from compatriot Ben Hilfenhaus (1 for 26).

The big Tasmanian quick also pouched a superb catch to dismiss Sixers' captain Brad Haddin (20) off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (2 for 32).

When Nic Maddinson (12) was bowled by Ashwin, the Sixers were 4 for 110 in the 14th over.

Enter Henriques, who added 75 in six-and-a-half overs with Smith (26 off 17).

When Chennai batted, Starc (3 for 31) struck an early blow, firing a ball through the defence of Murali Vijay (1) in the second over.

Faf Du Plessis (43) plundered the bowling of the young Sixers pacemen before lofting a catch to Starc off Pat Cummins (1 for 42).

Michael Hussey (16) slogged a catch to Lumb at deep mid-wicket off spinner Stephen O'Keefe (1 for 16) in the very next over.

Raina lashed some exceptional boundaries through the covers and muscular shots to the legside, but Chennai lost 5 for 30 starting with his dismissal.

In the morning's other match, South Africa's Lions beat the Mumbai Indians by eight wickets thanks to a sterling century partnership between Neil McKenzie (68 not out) and Quinton de Kock (51 not out).

Mumbai had set the Lions a total of 6 for 157 to chase after Australia's Mitchell Johnson top-scored with 30 off 29 balls, and looked to have the home side in trouble at the Wanderers.

Gulam Bodi (19) and Alviro Peterson (14) were dismissed cheaply, but with the Lions stuttering at 2 for 37, de Kock and McKenzie combined with a 121-run partnership to expertly steer their side home.

ABC/AAP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, south-africa, india, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted October 15, 2012 07:03:16

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Elementary to keep Watson fit, selectors say

Updated October 16, 2012 13:32:50

Australian selectors say they have learnt their lesson and are not willing to risk Shane Watson's fitness as Australia enters a gruelling, year-long Test schedule.

Watson has been ordered to return home from the Sydney Sixers' Champions League T20 campaign in South Africa after three games to prepare for the three-Test home series against South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Cricket Australia high performance manager Pat Howard said the experience of last summer, where Watson missed nearly the entire summer through injury, was very fresh in selectors' minds as they prepared to name the Australian side to take on South Africa in Brisbane.

The all-rounder's last Test was in the West Indies in April, after breaking down with a hamstring injury on the tour of South Africa.

Watson scored 46 in his opening match against the Chennai Super Kings but is expected to return home shortly to rest and prepare for the Test series.

"Shane is an important cog for the selection panel," Howard said.

"You can't play every game in all the tournaments all the time. The fact is he is an all-rounder.

"Shane's pretty unique, he's had a fairly unique history.

"He missed a lot (of cricket) last summer, (and) he played Champions League - we know his history, and we're trying to avoid the same mistakes we made last year."

Howard said there was a possibility of Watson playing for Australia A or the New South Wales second XI to tune up for the Gabba Test starting on November 9.

"It depends how he recovers. He's done a significant amount of flying - UAE, Sri Lanka and South Africa.

"We'll see how he goes ... but he will need some red-ball cricket."

Chairman of selectors John Inverarity said the team would be announced on October 30 or 31.

Inverarity said selectors were happy with their pace bowling options for Brisbane, where the pitch is likely as always to aid the quicks.

"I think of all the selections that take place for the first Test in Brisbane, (the pace attack) is pretty obvious," Inverarity said.

"We're just delighted we've got the pace bowling on tap that we have."

He indicated that Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson were in good form, Ben Hilfenhaus was testing himself in South Africa in the Champions League, while young Patrick Cummins was a great prospect who had to be managed well.

"With Pat Cummins coming back ... the obvious question in Brisbane is do we play three pace bowlers, Shane Watson and a spinner, or do we play four pace bowlers and use Michael Clarke's spin?

"The early season Shield matches ... the pace bowlers have dominated."

Inverarity said there was a good chance that Australia would play four pace bowlers.

He gave little away on the key wicketkeeper position, saying that it would come down to Matthew Wade and Brad Haddin.

"We're fairly advanced in our thinking... it's a very close decision and we'll have to make a final decision toward the end of this month," Inverarity said.

"We're aware of all the factors. The facts are that Matthew is 24 and rising, Brad turns 35 about now.

"Matthew is more for the future, but we are focused on who deserves it and who will do better against South Africa.

"In the end we will have to make a decision, it will be a very close decision, and in the end we will go one way or the other."

Coach Mickey Arthur said the series was first and foremost about Australia regaining the number one Test ranking, currently held by the Proteas.

"We have a massive opportunity to get back to number one in the world and that's what this series is going to be about," he said.

"It's definitely the two best pace attacks in the world going head to head.

"It is going to be about the batters, which top six can adapt better.

"I think for the top six it will be a real baptism of fire ... it's a great opportunity for them to test themselves against two world class bowlers.

"If they can come through that, if they can come out on top they can look forward to a really good long Test career."

Tags: sport, cricket, australia, south-africa

First posted October 16, 2012 12:34:52

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Aussies target return to top, says Clarke

Updated October 16, 2012 08:57:16

Captain Michael Clarke expressed his confidence Australia can reclaim cricket's world number one ranking in a gruelling schedule of 20 Tests in the year ahead.

Australia, currently ranked third, begins its quest to return to the top of world cricket in the first of three Tests against the top-ranked South Africa at the Gabba on November 9.

That will be followed by three Tests at home against Sri Lanka in December-January, a four-Test tour to India in February-March before back-to-back Ashes series away and home.

After dominating world cricket since 1995, Australia's fortunes dived following the retirement of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, culminating in a 3-1 Ashes defeat at home in the 2010/11 season.

But Australia showed signs of a revival with a 4-0 whitewash of India last summer at home and the emergence of a new generation of rising stars - David Warner, James Pattinson and Pat Cummins.

"I make no bones about the Australian team getting back on top," Clarke told the official launch of the Australian cricketing summer in Sydney on Monday.

"It's a really exciting 12-15 months, as big a time that I will have in my career.

"I can guarantee you it certainly won't be lack of work ethic that lets the Australian cricket team down."

Clarke said Australia had good foundations to build from their thrashing of India which, only months before, was ranked as the world's leading Test side.

"We started well against India and we are wanting to build on that," Clarke said.

"It is a really exciting time for this young side."

Back-to-back Ashes series will be played for the first time next year in a bid to avoid a scheduling conflict with this year's London Olympics and the 2015 World Cup in Australia.

Clarke said while there was mounting anticipation ahead of the Ashes in England next July-August his side needed to first prove their character against a battle-hardened South Africa.

"We have some really tough opposition in South Africa, the number one side in Test cricket, coming to Australia very soon and our main focus is on that," he said.

"England is always a tough series over there, the Ashes away and the Ashes at home, a very exciting 15 months.

"South Africa are as good a team as there is in the world. They are not only strong with the ball but they have a lot of batting. It is really important for us to stay focused on them and not to look too far forward."

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, australia

First posted October 16, 2012 07:31:19

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Watson to head home amid burnout fears

Updated October 15, 2012 21:31:21

All-rounder Shane Watson is set to return home from the Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa amid fears of burnout and a lack of activity in the longer form of the game, Cricket Australia said on Monday.

Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland said Watson's situation was being monitored closely ahead of the Test series with the top-ranked South African team, which begins on November 9.

Sutherland said he expected Watson to return home this week to give him a rest and possibly have a four-day Sheffield Shield game for New South Wales, before tackling South Africa in the opening Brisbane Test.

"We are reviewing his load and circumstance very closely ... I think it's reasonably well known that it's likely he won't see the (Champions League) tournament out," he said.

"We're concerned about Shane. His injury record is unfortunate and what that tells us is that we need to monitor him and manage him very carefully and we are."

Watson made a dashing 46 for the Sydney Sixers T20 side against the Chennai Super Kings in Johannesburg in the Champions League on Sunday, and will travel to Cape Town to face Yorkshire on Tuesday before he is expected to fly home.

The 31-year-old has been prolific for Australia with the bat and ball in all formats of cricket together with being a star of the Indian Premier League.

"I don't know the specifics but the priority will be for him to get himself right as possible," Sutherland said.

"That's one, to give him a little bit of a break, then give him a little bit of therapy and whatever else he needs.

"But then also to really focus on getting him right to play Test cricket which he hasn't played for a long time and give him the opportunity to play a Shield game and at least play with the red ball.

"He's a fantastic player ... he's the sort of player who can win series and certainly win Test matches for Australia."

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, south-africa, australia

First posted October 15, 2012 21:31:21

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Redbacks fall painfully short of Tigers' total

Updated October 14, 2012 22:34:58

Dan Christian put up some impressive resistance but South Australia went down to Tasmania by three runs in their one-day cup clash at Adelaide Oval on Sunday evening.

Off-spinner Jason Krejza followed a batting cameo with a star showing with the ball.

Chasing 222 to win, the Redbacks were bowled out for 218 with one ball remaining.

Krejza claimed four wickets after earlier smacking three sixes in a vital 33 in the Tigers' 9 for 221 from 50 overs.

Krejza's return with the bat was the second-highest contribution in Tasmania's innings behind Ricky Ponting's top score of 47.

But Krejza's feats with the ball, taking 4 for 35 from 10 overs, proved match defining despite a sterling knock from South Australian all-rounder Christian.

Christian made an unbeaten 81 but could not conjure victory when needing 11 runs from Ben Laughlin's final over.

South Australia was in relative comfort at 1 for 71 in the 16th over only to lose five wickets in the next 20 overs.

But from 6 for 143 in the 37th over, Christian paced the chase despite frequently losing partners, only to ultimately fall short.

Earlier, Ponting was in fine touch before falling to a freakish catch when just short of a half-century.

The ex-Australia captain drove a Jake Haberfield delivery straight, hard and head high, and the paceman instinctively stuck out his right hand on his follow through.

The ball whacked into Haberfield's hand, popping out of his initial grasp before lobbing up and falling softly into his hands.

Ponting stood bewildered for about 30 seconds - either in disbelief at the catch, or at bunch of bees surrounding Haberfield as he delivered the wicket ball.

Ponting, who struck three boundaries and two sixes in his 63-ball knock, was the sole batsman in Tasmania's top six to pass 20.

The Tigers instead relied on handy late order contributions from Krejza and James Faulkner (32).

Redbacks skipper Johan Botha claimed 3 for 43 and paceman Daniel Worrall took two wickets on debut for South Australia.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, hobart-7000, tas, australia

First posted October 14, 2012 21:57:54

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Scorchers fall to Titans

Updated October 14, 2012 09:29:23

South Africa's Titans posted a comfortable 39-run victory over Perth Scorchers in their opening Champions League Twenty20 match at Centurion.

The Titans reached 4 for 163 from their 20 overs with opener Jacques Rudolph impressing with a 59-ball 83, an innings that included three sixes and nine fours.

Fellow opener Henry Davids was also prominent on the scoreboard with 54, the pair having put on a 109-stand for the first wicket.

Nathan Rimmington was the most productive of the Scorchers' bowlers with figures of 2 for 20.

The Scorchers made little impact during their run chase, making 7 for 124.

All-rounder Mitchell Marsh played an almost lone hand with 52 from 41 deliveries.

Cornelius de Villiers proved a thorn in the side of the Scorchers' batting line-up, taking 3 for 16.

Tags: cricket, sport, south-africa

First posted October 14, 2012 09:29:23

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Pacemen impress in Gabba wicket-fest

Updated October 10, 2012 20:07:14

As happy as Queensland coach Darren Lehmann would have been after the Bulls' day one fightback in their Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria at the Gabba, national selectors probably wore the biggest grins on Wednesday.

Barely a month before they are expected to combine at the same venue in the first Test against South Africa, quicks Peter Siddle (3 for 36) and James Pattinson (2 for 29) tore apart the Bulls top order before John Hastings (4 for 41) cleaned up the tail as Victoria routed the hosts for 149.

And selectors were given a not so subtle reminder of Australia's bowling depth when Ben Cutting - 12th man at last summer's Gabba Test - helped the Bulls roar back with 2 for 16, reducing the Bushrangers to 6 for 103 by stumps.

Alister McDermott (2 for 18 off 11 overs) did the early damage for Queensland, ably supported by Luke Feldman (2 for 28) who claimed the prized scalp of David Hussey (7) before Cutting's heroics.

In an indication of how tough batting was on a day 16 wickets fell, the unbeaten 35-run seventh wicket stand by Matthew Wade (38 not out) and Siddle (12 not out) was the highest of the match to date.

Wade was a rock for Victoria - an impressive feat considering the diminutive keeper had just returned from international Twenty20 duty in Sri Lanka along with fellow Bushrangers Cameron White, Clint McKay and Hussey.

"You had to fight pretty hard out there for your runs," Wade said.

"We were under pressure but I have confidence in getting a couple of partnerships and first innings points."

Their international quartet's return and Siddle's injection ensured Aaron Finch was named 12th man - days after his record 154 inspired Victoria's 190-run one-day win over the Bulls.

"He understands why we have gone in with an extra bowler," Wade said of Finch.

"We reckon we have some bowlers who are a really good chance of playing the Gabba Test so that's why they were picked."

Cutting would also count himself a chance after making up for lost time on Wednesday.

Surprisingly not introduced until the 22nd over of Victoria's first innings, Cutting claimed White (13) lbw with just his fourth ball and in his fourth over had Hastings (4) caught behind as the visitors slumped to 6 for 68.

It was an impressive comeback by Cutting who finished with 2 for 101 in Sunday's one-day loss to the Bushrangers at the Gabba - the most expensive figures in domestic 50-overs history.

Siddle and Pattinson sparked Queensland's first innings batting collapse - at one stage the hosts lost 3 for 5 in 12 balls.

In all, Queensland lost 7 for 64 after lunch with Usman Khawaja top scoring with 28.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted October 10, 2012 19:20:14

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Bushrangers embarrass Bulls

Updated October 07, 2012 22:37:03

Victoria posted a crushing 190-run win over Queensland in their one-day cup encounter in Brisbane on Sunday evening.

The Bushrangers clobbered the Bulls' bowling attack to all parts of the Gabba en route to posting 2 for 379 from their 50 overs, openers Aaron Finch and Rob Quiney each impressing with centuries.

Finch smashed five sixes on his way to 154 from 141 balls and Quiney cleared the boundary rope on three occasions during his 119 from 111 deliveries, the pair putting on 226 for the opening wicket.

The Bulls' run chase never got out of second gear, especially after they slumped to 2 for 9 inside three overs with the loss of Usman Khawaja (4) and Peter Forrest (duck).

The hosts were eventually all out for 189 in the 39th over.

Quiney felt Finch deserved much of the credit for getting the Bushrangers away to a flying start.

"I'm really happy for Aaron Finch at the moment," he told Grandstand.

"He is hitting the ball so well at the moment and his game is really coming together ... hopefully you will hear some big things from Finchy."

Statisticians were kept on their toes after the Bushrangers won the toss and elected to bat.

Finch kept the Bulls bowling attack honest in a remarkable debut as Bushrangers one-day captain.

Not satisfied with a state-record opening stand with Quiney, Finch spanked 14 fours in addition to his sixes to notch the highest score by a Victorian batsman in the 50-over game.

Marking his maiden one-day ton in style, Finch surpassed Brad Hodge's previous record mark of 144 set against New South Wales last season.

It ensured the Bushrangers reached their highest one-day total and the competition's third biggest of all-time behind the Bulls (4 for 405 against Western Australia in 2004).

Finch's aggression also led to another entry in the record books, much to Ben Cutting's frustration.

The Bulls quick finished with 2 for 101 off 12 overs, the most expensive domestic one-day figures ever.

It was a ton Cutting did not want to rack up just days after his maiden first-class century helped inspire the Bulls to a Shield win over South Australia at the same ground.

In draining heat, the Bushrangers openers saved their legs by smashing a total of 24 fours and eight sixes in their brutal opening stand.

The pair piled on the fourth-highest opening partnership in domestic one-day history but it was not that far behind unlikely record holders, Blues toilers John Dyson and Rick McCosker's 253 set way back in 1981.

And there was no let-up when the pair finally departed - former Test opener Chris Rogers (64 not out off 37 balls) and Will Sheridan (28 not out off 12 balls) maintained the rage to ensure yet another record.

It was the most one-day runs conceded by the Bulls, surpassing the Warriors' 6 for 340 set against the Bulls in 2006/07.

The odds were against the Bulls in their run chase from the outset.

Only Joe Burns (50) and Chris Hartley (36 not out) showed some fight as spinner Jon Holland (3 for 49) helped rout the hosts.

ABC/AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted October 07, 2012 21:03:38

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Proteas deny they baited Pietersen

Updated October 09, 2012 07:44:58

South Africa has rubbished claims its players provoked the text message row that led to England axing batsman Kevin Pietersen.

Pietersen was dropped for the final Test and a one-day international series against South Africa and the World Twenty20 tournament after allegedly criticising England captain Andrew Strauss in texts to South African players.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive David Collier claimed Sunday in a radio interview that the Pietersen texts were a response to messages from the opposition.

But Cricket South Africa (CSA) acting chief executive Jacques Faul poured scorn on the claims by Collier, labelling them "absolute rubbish" in a statement.

"This is absolute rubbish. What is particularly disappointing is that I had a face-to-face meeting with Collier when in London for the Lord's Test and he did not raise this allegation with me then.

"I would have thought, as a matter of courtesy and decency, that he would have spoken to me about it before going public in the media," said the South African official.

"It is not the way CSA goes about its business and it is not the way the ECB has done business with us in the past. It is very disappointing because our relationships have always been cordial and constructive.

"This is an internal ECB matter in which we do not wish to be involved. It served as a distraction to our players that we did not need during the Test series."

South Africa-born Pietersen will be in the country this month as part of the Delhi Daredevils squad competing in the fourth edition of the Champions League Twenty20 competition.

Pietersen apologised last week for sending the messages and signed a new central contract with the ECB after the two sides agreed "a process for his re-integration into the England team".

Collier said Pietersen, a 32-year-old native of KwaZulu Natal capital city Pietermaritzburg, was only replying to Blackberry Messenger messages sent by the opposition.

"That is our understanding," Collier told the BBC Radio Five Live Sportsweek programme during an interview. "I have not seen those messages and no one has kept those messages.

"These were responses to messages from certain members of the South Africa team and I would not condone an England player doing it if it was the other way round. I certainly think they (South Africa) provoked the situation."

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, south-africa

First posted October 09, 2012 07:44:58

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Former Zimbabwe all-rounder Curran dies

Updated October 11, 2012 11:33:29

Kevin Curran, the former Zimbabwean all-rounder and coach, has died in Mutare at the age of 53 after collapsing on a morning run while preparing his franchise team for a domestic game.

Curran made his international debut aged 20 and was an integral part of the Zimbabwe team at the 1983 and 1987 World Cups but played the majority of his cricket for English counties Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire and for Natal in South Africa.

He was known throughout his playing career for his physical fitness and stamina and retired in 1999 after a first-class career spanning over two decades.

"He was the epitome of good health ... we are still coming to terms with this tragic loss, we are in shock," said Zimbabwe Cricket's managing director, Wilfred Mukondiwa.

Curran returned to Zimbabwe in 2004 to take up a full-time position as director of the national academy and coach of the under-19 team but assumed the role of national coach a year later following the departure of West Indian Phil Simmons.

He had been head coach at the Harare-based franchise, Mashonaland Eagles, and was about to start a game against the Mountaineers. The match was postponed.

"He was a great believer in the future of Zimbabwe Cricket and he came back to this country to help the rebuilding and restructuring process," said former captain and ZC's director of cricket, Alistair Campbell.

"He will be desperately missed by everyone, not least by his son, Sam, who was Zimbabwe's junior cricketer of the year last year. He had a father he can be proud of for the rest of his life."

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, zimbabwe

First posted October 11, 2012 07:25:13

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Tigers dominate Redbacks on day one

Updated October 09, 2012 21:47:38

Centuries from Mark Cosgrove and Alex Doolan handed Tasmania complete control of South Australia on Tuesday's opening day of the Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide.

The Tigers were 2 for 354 at stumps with Doolan unbeaten on 141 and Ricky Ponting not out 60.

Cosgrove was run out for a stylish 104 while Test opener Ed Cowan made 35.

Cosgrove says his stylish innings is sweet - but not any sweeter because the Redbacks dumped him in 2010.

"You always want to make runs no matter where you are," he said.

"I have played here for most of my career so it's always nice coming back to Adelaide Oval.

"I know the pitch and know the conditions pretty well, it just makes it a little bit easier."

Cosgrove and Doolan featured in a 166-run partnership for the second wicket against the Redbacks, whose new captain, South African Johan Botha (1 for 63), was the sole successful bowler.

Cosgrove and Doolan cashed in after being dropped - Botha turfed a difficult chance from Cosgrove when the left-hander was 47, and Doolan was a dropped by Chadd Sayers when on 37.

Both missed chances came from Nathan Lyon's bowling, with the Test off spinner ending the day with 0 for 93 from 29 overs.

Ponting also received a let-off when dropped at second slip by Phil Hughes from Sayers' bowling three overs before stumps.

South Australia also lost three fielders to injury with Tom Cooper suffering a suspected broken finger when stopping a Cosgrove drive, Travis Head struck in a shoulder by a ball when fielding close to the wicket, and paceman Gary Putland also injuring a finger.

The injuries were not expected to prevent Cooper, who did not return to the field, and Head, who came back after a two-hour absence, from batting in South Australia's innings.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, hobart-7000, tas, australia

First posted October 09, 2012 19:04:11

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Watson wins player of tournament award

Updated October 08, 2012 10:19:25

Australia's Shane Watson was presented with the World Twenty20 player of the tournament award after dominating the event with bat and ball.

The opener topped the run-scoring list with 249 at an average of 49.80, including three half-centuries.

Watson also claimed 11 wickets at 16.00, second on the bowling list behind Sri Lanka spinner Ajantha Mendis (15 victims at 9.80).

"Although we didn't quite reach our team goal of winning this tournament, on a personal note it's an honour to be named as the player of the tournament," Watson said.

"To be recognised for your achievements is always a nice feeling but I certainly know it would have felt a lot better if we had also been able to lift the trophy."

The star all-rounder's form tapered off in Australia's last two games of the tournament, scoring 15 runs and taking only one wicket.

Australia lost to eventual champions West Indies in the semi-finals.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, australia

First posted October 08, 2012 08:04:04

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Redbacks collapse against Tigers

Updated October 10, 2012 22:05:53

Ricky Ponting hammered South Australia before Tasmanian paceman Luke Butterworth turned the screws on Wednesday's second day of the Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide.

Ponting cracked seven sixes in an unbeaten 85 as the Tigers amassed 3 (declared) for 403.

Butterworth then sliced through wafer-thin batting resistance from the Redbacks, who crashed to 7 for 93 at stumps.

Butterworth claimed 5 for 29 and South Australia, winless in its past 17 Shield matches, lost 5 for 10 in a spectacular collapse.

Strokeplayer Callum Ferguson (48) and second-gamer Sam Miller (23) were the only batsmen to reach double-figures.

They came together after Butterworth took two wickets in four balls to leave the home side 2 for 9.

Butterworth's first victim was South Australia recruit Phil Hughes, who made 3 before being caught at third slip in identical fashion to the dismissals which curtailed his Test career last summer - an angled fend across his body producing a nick to the cordon.

Butterworth then trapped Tom Cooper lbw for a third-ball duck before Ferguson and Miller steadied with a 63-run stand.

But Butterworth returned for a second spell to have Miller caught behind - the first of five wickets in a seven-over span.

All-rounder James Faulkner took the other two wickets as Tasmania seized complete control, despite almost three hours of play being lost to rain on the second day.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, hobart-7000, tas, australia

First posted October 10, 2012 19:39:02

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Redbacks mentally weak: Botha

Updated October 12, 2012 18:06:44

In one Sheffield Shield match as Redbacks captain, Johan Botha has seen enough.

The South African says the Redbacks have a culture of losing and forecast swinging a selection axe.

South Australia's winless Shield streak extended to 18 games on Friday when crunched by an innings and 30 runs by Tasmania in Adelaide.

"I would say it's in the head," Botha said.

"From two or three years or probably even longer, the guys just haven't done it.

"That is the only thing you can point at, it's a mental thing ... that could be stuff from the past that is creeping in, but we have got to find a way soon."

The Redbacks last triumphed in a Shield game in late November 2010.

And there are only six longer winless sequences in Shield history - three of them by South Australia.

But the Redbacks' current winless streak is well shy of the longest ever - Tasmania went 40 Shield games without a win from 1984 to 1988.

Botha missed South Australia's outright loss to Queensland last week while on Twenty20 World Cup duties with his native South Africa.

And his initial match as captain produced a familiar sorry tale: Tasmania batted first, plundered 3 for 403 declared, then skittled the Redbacks twice, for 224 and 149.

Paceman Luke Butterworth took 10 wickets for the match, including 4 for 40 in the second innings.

"There is no excuses, it's just not good enough as a team," Botha said.

"It's not just this game or the previous game, it has come for a few seasons now.

"Talk is cheap - talking is not going to help us now, we need to start performing and that is how simple it is.

"We have spoken for hours and still haven't changed it.

"Now, there is going to be changes, we can't keep going with the same team ... that is the reality, that some guys could go."

Botha, like most of his new team-mates, was largely ineffectual in his Shield debut, taking 1 for 63 from 15 overs and making a duck and 5.

"It's not the start I would have liked," he said.

"But you don't always want the easy job ... I'm up to the challenge."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, tas, australia

First posted October 12, 2012 12:28:52

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Kumble to head ICC committee

Updated October 11, 2012 22:28:08

Former India captain Anil Kumble has been named the new head of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) cricket committee, replacing former West Indies skipper Clive Lloyd.

The 16-member committee meets twice a year to consult on playing matters and offer recommendations to the ICC on technical aspects and rules of the sport.

In a separate reshuffle, committee member Ian Bishop did not seek an extension to his term and the former West Indies paceman was replaced by England's Andrew Strauss, who retired from all forms of cricket at the end of August.

The 41-year-old Kumble also heads the Indian cricket board's technical committee and remains the country's most successful bowler, claiming 619 Test and 337 one-day international wickets with his leg spin.

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, india

First posted October 11, 2012 21:34:54

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ICC suspends umpires in TV corruption sting

Updated October 10, 2012 20:02:44

Cricket authorities have suspended six umpires at the centre of claims by an Indian television program that they could be bribed to make favourable decisions during games.

An undercover investigation by the private India TV channel allegedly found that the umpires, including one on the international circuit, were willing to give biased decisions or provide inside information in return for payment.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the suspensions after a meeting in Colombo, where the West Indies defeated host Sri Lanka in the final of the World Twenty20 tournament on Sunday.

"The ICC and its relevant Full Member Boards have agreed not to appoint any of the umpires named in a sting operation recently conducted by India TV to any domestic or international cricket matches," it said in a statement.

Three of those named were from Sri Lanka, while two were from Pakistan.

The sixth was Nadir Shah, one of two Bangladeshi members of the ICC's international panel which officiates in matches around the world.

None of the umpires was involved in the tournament in Sri Lanka.

Grainy footage appeared to show Shah, who has stood in 40 one-day internationals and a number of Twenty20 internationals, saying he was willing to give decisions on demand.

An India TV transcript of the sting said Shah allegedly offered to give incorrect lbw, run-out and inside-edge verdicts.

"If the umpire is shown a favour, the umpire can do anything," Shah was quoted as saying in the transcript.

The video does not show any cash being exchanged nor did the channel broadcast any proof of the umpires delivering decisions or information.

Shah and the other umpires have rejected the allegations.

Sri Lanka Cricket said Wednesday it had scheduled a formal hearing with the three local umpires.

"We will officially inform them tomorrow that they are being suspended pending a full investigation," ARM Aroos, the head of Sri Lanka Cricket Umpires' Committee told AFP.

"We will hold a formal inquiry."

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, bangladesh, pakistan, sri-lanka

First posted October 10, 2012 20:02:44

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Rain ends day two at Gabba

Updated October 11, 2012 17:11:02

Rain has forced an early end to day two of Queensland's Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria at the Gabba.

Only 18 overs in 80 minutes were allowed on Thursday morning before the heavens opened almost half-an-hour before lunch.

Showers washed out the remaining two sessions with the Bushrangers at 6 for 174 - holding an overall lead of 25 - thanks to an unbroken 106-run stand by Matthew Wade (70 not out) and Peter Siddle (51 not out).

Resuming on Thursday at 6 for 103, the pair defied the gloomy bowler-friendly conditions on what seemed a juicy Gabba deck after overnight rain to ensure first innings points for the visitors.

Wade was dropped on 40 off Ben Cutting (2 for 36), while Luke Feldman (2 for 40) and Alister McDermott (2 for 33) also enjoyed no luck.

It was still a solid display by the Bushrangers pair who came together at 6 for 68 late on Wednesday.

Their stubborn stand was in stark contrast to day one when 16 wickets fell.

Siddle (3 for 36) and fellow Test quick James Pattinson (2 for 29) knocked over the Bulls' top order before John Hastings (4 for 41) cleaned up the tail as the hosts fell for 149 in their first innings.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, brisbane-4000, melbourne-3000

First posted October 11, 2012 17:01:51

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Windies win T20 World Cup

Updated October 08, 2012 12:23:48

West Indies captain Darren Sammy hailed Sunday's World Twenty20 triumph as the start of a new golden chapter for Caribbean cricket.

The West Indies secured a 36-run victory over Sri Lanka in a dramatic final in Colombo, its first world title since the 50-over World Cup triumph under Clive Lloyd in 1979.

"This is just the start, we will go far," Sammy said.

The West Indies, restricted to 6 for 137 after electing to bat, hit back to bowl the hosts out for 101 in front of 35,000 spectators at the Premadasa stadium that included Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse.

Sammy's men handed Sri Lanka their fourth defeat in a major final since 2007.

"This is the start of something special for the West Indies team and the fans back home," said Sammy.

"I will always cherish this moment. The team has been through a lot in the past few years, but there was belief amongst us that we could win the World T20.

"Today we were down and out, but our never-say-die attitude came out. We expected Sri Lanka to come hard at us and they did, but we never gave up and that helped us win."

Sammy said people back home will celebrate the win wildly because they had craved for years for a success like this.

"From Jamaica to Guyana the party must have started," he said. "And I tell you we know how to party. I am sure they will need a lot of bartenders out there tonight."

Sammy showered praise on middle-order batsman Marlon Samuels, who engineered the victory with a superb 78 off 56 balls that included six sixes and three boundaries.

"He has been brilliant in this tournament and lived up to our expectations," said Sammy of Samuels, who served a two-year-ban from 2008 to 2010 for alleged links with bookmakers.

Samuels' brilliant strokeplay, which earned him the man of the match award, helped the West Indies add 105 runs in the last 10 overs after it was reduced to 32-2 from the first 10.

He was particularly severe on Lasith Malinga whose four overs went for 54 runs.

Sri Lanka lost opener Tillekeratne Dilshan for a duck to a superb swinging delivery from Ravi Rampaul, but with Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara at the crease the hosts looked well capable of victory.

After a stand of 42, in the space of three overs Sangakkara holed out to Kieron Pollard off Samuel Badree and the skipper was caught by his opposite number Sammy when reverse-sweeping Sunil Narine.

In between these dismissals, Sammy (2 for 6), who earlier contributed a crucial 26 off 15 balls, bowled the dangerous Angelo Matthews for one.

With these three gone the Sri Lankan cause was effectively lost.

Defeat was especially harsh on spinner Ajantha Mendis who took 4 for 12 to finish the tournament as the leading wicket-taker.

AFP/ABC

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, sri-lanka

First posted October 08, 2012 06:57:11

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Hair unsurprised at umpire allegations

Updated October 09, 2012 14:42:17

Retired Australian cricket umpire Darrell Hair says he is not surprised at some international umpires being accused of taking bribes.

The International Cricket Council has launched an "urgent investigation" into claims by an Indian television station that several umpires were willing to fix matches for money.

India TV broadcast footage of a sting operation by reporters in August and September that allegedly exposes six ICC umpires from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

"I was wondering how long it would take before some umpire did some stupid things," Hair said on Tuesday.

"There have been rumours going around for ages, since the IPL started, that umpires were involved.

"It all comes down to two things: opportunity and greed.

"If you're the type of person and you're given the opportunity, the greedy part of you will say 'yeah, I'm in'."

India TV identified the umpires in the sting and said three of them agreed to give favourable decisions, including in warm-up matches for the Twenty20 World Cup which ended on Sunday.

One of the named umpires was a reserve umpire for Australia's warm-up game against England on September 17, alleged to have shared information on the pitch and playing line-ups.

The ICC said none of the six umpires - three from Sri Lanka, two from Pakistan and one from Bangladesh - officiated in the Twenty20 World Cup.

Hair, an international umpire for 16 years until he resigned in 2008, wasn't shocked by the allegations.

"In my whole career, there had always been word that certain umpires were on the take here or there," he said.

"But to be fair, all the guys I umpired with at international level I think were pretty much above board.

"But I don't doubt that there have been others around, probably in a lesser environment, trying to make a quick buck.

"People like that have just got no bloody morals or values about the game."

After retiring, Hair was executive officer at the New South Wales Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association until last year.

"When I was working back at Cricket NSW, some of the Australian guys had been over there (the subcontinent) coaching and they just expressed surprise at things that were going on in that IPL," he said.

"They couldn't nail anything - it's a bit difficult when they are talking in a different language.

"Some games were going along perfectly well and then all of a sudden all hell breaks loose, there is a flurry of wickets and all of a sudden you have lost a game that you were comfortably winning."

Hair held little faith in the ICC defeating corruption.

"The ICC are completely reactive in their way of doing things," he said.

"They say they don't have the legal powers that police have got for phone taps and that sort of thing, but I don't buy that.

"If you're an international organisation - they employ retired coppers and detectives in their anti-corruption unit, so what's the difference?.

"I reckon the ICC should be above any law if they want to tap phones to ensure that the game is clean.

"If I was in charge ... I'd be putting bloody phone taps on virtually everyone involved - if they knew that, nothing could go wrong."

Video clips of the interviews conducted by undercover reporters with umpires, mostly over Skype voice and webcam calls, were still featured on India TV's website on Tuesday.

Press Trust of India reported the umpires involved had denied the allegations, while the Bangladesh Cricket Board issued a statement saying the allegations would be part of a detailed inquiry.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, australia

First posted October 09, 2012 13:59:46

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Ponting perfectly placed for Proteas

Updated October 11, 2012 14:49:06

Australia's greatest Test run-scorer says he is refreshed mentally and physically primed for the Test series against world number one South Africa starting next month.

Ricky Ponting did not pick up a bat for almost four months following his last Test, in the West Indies last April.

The 37-year-old then underwent a gruelling training regime to prepare for the three-Test series against the Proteas.

"You're not in the gym at 6am every morning in the middle of winter without a big clear picture in mind.

"And that to me was to be in the best physical shape and mental shape for the start of the season," said Ponting on Thursday, a day after hammering seven sixes in an unbeaten 85 in Tasmania's first innings against South Australia at Adelaide Oval.

"I have got myself in a good state now, and feeling good about everything, so I am right where I want to be."

Ponting said it was "weird" having a winter off, given he's not in the national one-day or Twenty20 outfits.

"I made the most of the break for the first couple of months," he said.

"I gave my body and mind a bit of a rest because I bashed myself up pretty much during the summer last year.

"I trained incredibly hard to get my game back and finished off the season really well.

"So after the West Indies I had a couple of months off with nothing and then about 12 weeks where I just trained myself into the ground really, physically.

"I got myself in good physical shape. I'm a few kilos down again at the start of the season and feeling really good and feel like I'm moving really good."

Ponting said he knew what would be coming from the South Africans.

"They're the number one team in the world and they are that for a reason," he said.

"They have got probably the best fast bowling attack going around ... they bat really low as well ... they're an exceptionally well-balanced side.

"But saying that, we have had some great contests against them since I have been playing for Australia.

"They have never really dominated us and the series have been great contests.

"We know that if we do everything as well as we can in Australia this year, they will find it hard to beat us."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, australia, south-africa

First posted October 11, 2012 14:36:28

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Southern Stars win World Twenty20

Updated October 08, 2012 06:11:36

Jess Cameron's show with the bat and Lisa Sthalekar's all-round skills have helped Australia retain the Women's World Twenty20 title with a close four-run victory over England.

Put in to bat, the defending champions made 4 for 142 from their 20 overs, riding on a strong opening partnership.

England lost wickets at regular intervals during their chase and required 16 off the last over but managed 11 to reach 9 for 138.

Danielle Hazel needed to hit a six off the last ball for a victory but she could get just a single sparking widespread celebrations in the Australian camp.

"So proud of this team," an emotional Australian captain Jodie Fields said during the prize distribution ceremony.

"I love this jersey. Whenever you put this jersey on, you have to fight hard.

"England played a really good match but we had the belief in our team."

Jess Jonassen picked up 3 for 25, while Sthalekar and Julie Hunter shared four wickets between them as Australia dropped a number of catches.

Skipper Charlotte Edwards (28) top-scored for England and kept the team in the hunt with four boundaries and a six, but the 2009 champions lost their way after her dismissal.

"Last 18 months we have worked towards this. It didn't go our way, but congratulations to Australia," Edwards, who was adjudged the player of the tournament, said.

"We didn't bowl well up front and just couldn't pin them. I wouldn't change the decision to bowl first. Our bowling is good, the wicket is still good.

"It still came down to six off the last ball. It wasn't to be a fairytale, but hope we have done the country proud."

Meg Lanning (25) and Alyssa Healy (26) notched up 51 for the opening wicket for Australia to build a solid platform and then Cameron (45) and Sthalekar (23 not out) added another 51 for the third to set England 143 for a win.

Reuters

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, sri-lanka, england, united-kingdom, australia

First posted October 07, 2012 23:03:34

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Part of Adelaide Oval ready for cricket

Updated October 08, 2012 13:51:00

Part of Adelaide Oval is being reopened for a Sheffield Shield game this week.

The Stadium Management Authority has opened the first stage of the redeveloped oval, where South Australia will play Tasmania from Tuesday.

The Oval's northern mound has been transformed as part of the $535 million redevelopment and has now decking shaded by Moreton Bay fig trees.

The Authority said there would be enough room for 2,800 seated and 3,500 standing spectators.

Authority CEO Andrew Daniels believed the heritage value of the oval had not been compromised by the work done: "To effectively extend the hill out and around these famous Moreton Bays, to really bring the famous scoreboard even more into play into this Adelaide Oval and also to have people have the opportunity to have this sort of chill-out area up here on top of the hill looking out over these beautiful trees and the Adelaide parklands."

Tags: urban-development-and-planning, cricket, sa, adelaide-5000

First posted October 08, 2012 11:35:12

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Watson, Starc among T20's best

Updated October 08, 2012 21:12:16

Australians Shane Watson and Mitchell Starc were named in the ICC's team of the World Twenty20 tournament on Monday following West Indies' victory over host nation Sri Lanka in the final.

Outgoing Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene was named skipper of the ICC's side, having announced his decision to give up the captaincy after the hosts lost by 36 runs on Sunday.

It was Sri Lanka's fourth successive defeat in a World Cup final, in front of a disappointed full house at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

A five-member ICC panel selected three Sri Lankan players and two each from the new champions and Australia in the 11-man team, the governing body said in a statement.

Chris Gayle and all-rounder Watson, the player of the tournament, were named openers while India's Virat Kohli, Jayawardene, England's Luke Wright and explosive West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels filled up the middle-order slots.

Young Australian seamer Starc and limited-overs specialist Lasith Malinga were the two fast bowlers in the team, while experienced Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal and Ajantha Mendis of Sri Lanka were named as the two slow bowlers.

Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum was selected as the wicket-keeper, while South Africa was the only major cricketing nation without a representative in the team.

Team: Chris Gayle (West Indies), Shane Watson (Australia), Virat Kohli (India), Mahela Jayawardena (Sri Lanka - captain), Luke Wright (England), Brendon McCullum (New Zealand), Marlon Samuels (West Indies), Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka), Mitchell Starc (Australia), Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan), Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka).

Reuters

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, sri-lanka

First posted October 08, 2012 21:12:16

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Pattinson steers Vics to Shield win

Updated October 12, 2012 20:12:24

Career-best bowling figures by James Pattinson set up a remarkable 10-wicket Sheffield Shield win by Victoria over Queensland at the Gabba.

In what would warm the national selectors' hearts ahead of next month's first Test against South Africa at the same venue, Pattinson (6 for 32) was at one stage on a hat-trick as the Bulls lost 7 for 32 to be routed for 125 in their second dig late on day three.

Set just 48 for victory, the Bushrangers shot down the target in just 9.3 overs, with Rob Quiney not out 25 and Chris Rogers unbeaten on 21.

It was the unbeaten Bushrangers' second 10-wicket victory in as many Shield matches.

Pattinson - who had match figures of 8 for 61 - showed no mercy as the Bulls at one stage lost 5 for 9.

Remarkably it was Pattinson's first five-wicket haul in Shield cricket.

His only other bags of five were in Tests, both against New Zealand last summer.

And he continued his love affair with the Gabba - he picked up 5 for 24 against the Black Caps on Test debut at the venue last year.

He lodged a compelling case to line up alongside Bushrangers team-mate and mentor Peter Siddle in the opening Test against the Proteas.

The modest Pattinson refused to believe a Test berth is a mere formality but he did admit to enjoying bowling at the Gabba.

"It's a fantastic wicket for a fast bowler, it's fast and it offers a bit of seam movement as well," he told Grandstand.

"So it's a fantastic start here and I'm pretty lucky that the first Test is here if I'm selected ... so hopefully that can give me the confidence heading into that first Test that I can perform well for Australia."

Siddle is expected to chime into the Test pace attack with fellow hard-hosed quick Ben Hilfenhaus against the Proteas with selectors tipped to rotate young speedsters Pattinson, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc throughout the summer.

Siddle was nursed through the Shield clash, finishing with match figures of 4 for 57 off just 20 overs.

But he also did plenty of damage with the bat - he hit 54, his second-straight half century, in a 112-run seventh-wicket stand with Matthew Wade (89) that ensured the Bushrangers claimed first innings points.

Pattinson landed body blows by striking just before lunch and tea, but the Bulls still had no idea what hit them when the young quick ran amok after the home side emerged for day three's final session at 4 for 93.

Only three Bulls batsmen made double figures in the second innings - patient opener Wade Townsend (42), Joe Burns (30) and Peter Forrest (26).

Pattinson was ably supported by John Hastings (2 for 36).

Earlier on Friday, Wade was denied a century before the Bushrangers were bowled out for 227 in their first dig.

Siddle joined Wade at the crease with the Bushrangers battling at 6 for 68 late on day one in reply to the Bulls' first innings of 149.

They resumed on Friday at 6 for 174 after rain all but washed out day two.

Luke Feldman (3 for 66), Alister McDermott (3 for 45) and Ben Cutting (3 for 47) impressed with the ball for the Bulls.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, brisbane-4000, melbourne-3000

First posted October 12, 2012 18:58:17

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Tigers on track for victory

Updated October 11, 2012 20:11:28

Paceman Luke Butterworth set Tasmania on course for victory against strugglers South Australia on Thursday's third day of the Sheffield Shield match at Adelaide Oval.

Forced to follow-on, the Redbacks were 6 for 103 in their second innings at stumps, still 76 runs behind the Tigers.

The Redbacks' batting mainstays Phil Hughes (37), Callum Ferguson (22) and Tom Cooper (14) were all dismissed, the latter two falling caught behind to rash slashes outside off stump.

Tigers paceman Jackson Bird (2 for 29) did the early damage while Butterworth (2 for 18), who took six first innings wickets, claimed the prized scalp of Hughes in the Redbacks' second dig.

Butterworth later added Redbacks captain Johan Botha to his collection of eight victims for the match.

The Redbacks' winless Shield streak appears certain to extend to 18 matches, as the Tigers eye their first outright triumph this season following a draw against New South Wales last week.

Earlier, the Tigers enacted the follow on after bowling the Redbacks out for 224 in their first innings.

Butterworth's career best first-class figures of 6 for 49 were supported by two wickets each to James Faulkner and spinner Jason Krejza.

Career-high scores from wicketkeeper Tim Ludeman (85) and tailender Chadd Sayers (38 not out) could not save the Redbacks from the follow-on.

Ludeman and Sayers put on 107 for the ninth wicket, a Shield record for the Redbacks against the Tigers, and the highest partnership of the innings.

But the Redbacks were bowled out some 179 runs behind the Tigers' first innings total of 3 for 403 (declared).

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, adelaide-5000, hobart-7000

First posted October 11, 2012 19:56:40

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Perry set for two-sport weekends

Updated October 10, 2012 18:08:33

Dual sporting international Ellyse Perry is preparing for a hectic mix-and-match summer which is likely to see her play both football and cricket on the same weekend.

Perry returned from Sri Lanka on Tuesday morning following Australia's four-run win over England in Sunday's World T20 cricket final and was due to resume training with her W-League club Sydney FC on Wednesday afternoon.

Sydney - which on Wednesday announced Matildas star Kyah Simon as its captain - expects to have Perry available for all but two of its 12 W-League regular season games.

The domestic T20 and one-day competitions - like the W-League - are conducted between October and January, inevitably causing fixture clashes with Perry's cricket team, New South Wales Breakers, and her new soccer team.

Asked if Perry could play both sports on the same weekend, Sydney FC coach Alen Stajcic said "that's a possibility".

"They (Breakers) tend to have a triple-header, they tend to play Friday, Saturday, Sunday, so it will just depend on which is the bigger game.

"But we've already mapped it out and she will be available for ten out of the 12 games at the moment.

"That's a pretty good scenario, any player can miss one or two games for any reason.

"She's committed to that and if anything else happens, we'll just play it by ear."

Perry had effectively been forced out of her former W-League team Canberra, club officials telling her she had to choose between the two sports because she could not always commit to soccer.

Several months later she came to a deal with Sydney FC, which allowed her to continue to play cricket as well.

Perry - who will play at either right or left back - and skipper Simon will be among eight Matildas in Sydney's W-League squad.

One of Sydney's other major recruits is 19-year-old Matildas forward Sam Kerr.

"I'd been in Perth for a while and I just wanted a new challenge and I thought Sydney was the place to do it," said Kerr, who has recently returned form an ACL injury.

New Zealand internationals Emma Kete, Hannah Bromley and Annalie Longo have been added to the squad, which lost some players to the new Western Sydney Wanderers.

With 12 teenagers in his squad of 20, Stajcic said his emphasis was on performances ahead of results.

He expected 2011-12 grand finalists Brisbane and Canberra would be up there again and said Perth had improved and Western Sydney would be strong.

AAP

Tags: a-league, soccer, cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted October 10, 2012 17:59:34

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ICC to investigate umpire allegations

Updated October 09, 2012 08:11:43

The International Cricket Council has launched an investigation into match-fixing allegations made by an Indian television channel against international umpires.

Footage screened on India TV appeared to show umpires from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka negotiating deals with under-cover reporters to spot-fix matches.

The channel showed footage of Pakistan's Nadeem Ghauri, Nadir Shah of Bangladesh, part of the ICC international panel of umpires, and Sagara Gallage of Sri Lanka agreeing to give favourable decisions in exchange for umpiring contracts and money.

"The ICC and its relevant members have been made aware of the allegations made by India TV this evening and calls on the station to turnover any information which can assist the ICC's urgent investigations into this matter," the governing body said in a statement.

"The ICC re-iterates its zero-tolerance towards corruption whether alleged against players or officials. The ICC confirms that none of the umpires named were involved in any of the official games of the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka."

In the sting operation, conducted in July and August, the reporters said they belonged to a sports management company and promised the umpires assignments in different events around the world, largely domestic Twenty20 leagues.

While Ghauri and Shah appeared to agree to give wrong decisions, Gallage was ready to pass on information about the toss, the pitch and weather conditions in a match before it was available to the public.

Shah flatly denied the allegations made against him.

"This is a plot to malign my character. I was taken to Delhi by a Bangladeshi agent to sign a contract for umpiring in the Sri Lanka Premier League," he said.

"But when I saw these people are corrupt, I changed my decision and did not conduct any match in the SLPL.

"I was never involved in anything like fixing."

In May, the same television channel's sting operation prompted the Indian cricket board to ban one uncapped cricketer for life and hand out lesser punishments to four others for involvement in corruption in domestic cricket.

Last year, Pakistan players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were jailed in Britain following a sting operation for their role in a spot-fixing scandal relating to a test match against England at Lord's in August 2010.

Reuters

Tags: sport, cricket, india, pakistan, bangladesh

First posted October 09, 2012 07:26:33

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Siddle warns of bowling fireworks

Updated October 08, 2012 20:29:59

Meat is off the menu for converted vegetarian Peter Siddle but the wicket-hungry paceman is ready to tuck into a large serve of South African batsmen in next month's potentially explosive Gabba Test.

The Proteas return to the Gabba for the first time in 49 years armed with the fastest bowler on the planet, Dale Steyn, heading their scary pace battery and world cricket's most feared all-rounder Jacques Kallis (12,600 runs and 280 wickets) still terrorising top-shelf bowling attacks at age 37.

Siddle, who has fond memories of the pacey Brisbane ground where he snared a magical Ashes hat-trick against England in 2010, warned Australia would deliver some fireworks of its own in the November 9-14 showdown, the first of three Tests between the first- and third-ranked countries in world cricket.

"It's obviously our home turf and we (bowlers) want to show them who's boss in that sense," declared a leaner Siddle, who has turned vegetarian to help lose weight to accommodate a slightly modified bowling action.

"It's the force we (bowlers) can have when blokes come in and out of the side.

"Mitch Starc came in, Patrick Cummins earlier on, James Pattinson along with Ryan Harris, Hilfy (Hilfenhaus) and myself.

"If we can get firing again this summer and really give it to them we can really push to be that number one bowling attack in the world.

Siddle, who has reportedly given up alcohol for six months, says things could get "very aggressive" between the bowlers.

"The last two series against South Africa it has got pretty fired up. The bowlers do tend to go at each other pretty fiercely and I don't that that will change," he said.

"We like to have a crack at them and they like to have a crack."

Siddle and swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus are strongly fancied to lead Australia's bowling with input from young guns James Pattinson, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.

"We all know about the workload issues and the injuries we've had in the past so it'll be good to be able to keep the bowling line-up fresh, strong and fiery for a big 18 months coming up," he said.

Siddle, who posted a career-high 87 runs in Victoria's 10-wicket Shield win against Western Australia last weekend, said the grit and experience of seasoned hands Ricky Ponting and David Hussey would be vital against such an intimidating pace attack.

"They worked well the last few years under the constant pressure of what going to happen to their careers," he said.

"Punter (Ponting) showed last summer under all the media pressure and speculation that he can perform and Hussey is in great form."

Siddle will use this week's Shield clash with defending champion Queensland to fine-tune his action for the Test.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, australia

First posted October 08, 2012 20:29:59

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Clarke steps back to grade cricket

Updated October 10, 2012 16:02:57

Michael Clarke will become the first Australian captain to play Sydney grade cricket in nearly a decade when he lines up for Western Suburbs at Pratten Park on Saturday.

Clarke missed the opening day of Wests' clash with North Sydney last Saturday but has been named on the team sheet for day two action this weekend.

Steve Waugh was the last Australian skipper to play Sydney club cricket when he played for Bankstown in 2003 against Wests.

Clarke will also play a Twenty20 match for his club side against Gordon on Sunday.

Western Suburbs are celebrating 100 years of cricket at their home ground Pratten Park.

Fans of Clarke's might not have to wait long to see him in action with the right-hander named at number five for Wests, who are 1 for 12 in reply to Norths' total of 9 for 382 declared.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, ashfield-2131, nsw

First posted October 10, 2012 15:54:15

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Proteas call up uncapped Kleinveldt for Australia tour

Updated October 11, 2012 09:41:32

Uncapped all-rounder Rory Kleinveldt has been called up to the South Africa squad for the three-Test series in Australia, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Thursday morning.

The 29-year-old Kleinveldt has played two Twenty20 internationals but has yet to make a Test appearance for South Africa.

Kleinveldt, who has taken 208 first-class wickets at an average of 28.57, replaces left-arm seamer Lonwabo Tsotsobe who was part of the squad that toured England earlier this year but did not play in any of the tests.

"We have given a fully deserved vote of confidence to our Test XI that did so well on the recent tour of England and we have just tweaked our reserve strength slightly to suit expected conditions and the tactical situation," CSA selection convener Andrew Hudson said in a statement.

"It is tough luck for Lopsy (Tsotsobe) to miss out but we just feel that Rory's ability to hit the deck hard will give us a valuable option, particularly at Brisbane and Perth. He also adds batting depth to the lower order."

Wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile has also been included in the 15-man squad with AB de Villiers, who kept wicket during the England series, battling with an ankle and back injury that forced him to withdraw from the Champions League Twenty20.

"Thami Tsolekile will again be our back-up wicketkeeper and provide cover for AB in the event of injury or if the tour selectors decide to lighten his workload," said Hudson.

Tsolekile made his Test debut in 2004 but has played in just three Tests.

South Africa, the world's top-ranked Test nation, plays the first Test against Australia on November 9 in Brisbane before moving on to Adelaide and Perth.

Proteas squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Jacques Kallis, Rory Kleinveldt, Morne Morkel, Alviro Petersen, Robbie Peterson, Vernon Philander, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn, Thami Tsolekile

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, south-africa, australia

First posted October 11, 2012 09:34:56

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Hodge to lead Aussies in Hong Kong sixes

Updated October 10, 2012 13:24:48

Brad Hodge will captain and coach the Australian squad for the Hong Kong Sixes tournament later this month.

Meyrick Buchanan, Cameron Borgas, Travis Birt, Tim Armstrong, Theo Doropoulos and Steve Paulsen have also been named in the squad.

It is a surprise return to the green and gold for Hodge who was consistently overlooked for Australian selection from 2008 onwards despite scoring heavily in domestic cricket and averaging 55.88 in Tests.

"I'm excited about the tournament, especially because it's been a long time since I've put on the Australian colours," Hodge said.

"I'll be taking on a bit of a mentoring role as coach and captain and I look forward to sharing my knowledge with the guys, particularly with someone like Meyrick Buchanan, who's still only a teenager but has been very impressive so far.

"I think it will be a great learning experience for all of us and a good opportunity to find a bit of form before the start of the Big Bash League."

National talent manager Greg Chappell selected the team for the tournament at the Kowloon Cricket Club, which begins on October 27, and said there is the incentive of other limited over cricket honours for players who perform well.

"We have a good mix of youth and experience in this squad and the younger squad members will benefit from Brad Hodge's presence as captain/coach," Chappell said.

"Australia has a good record in Hong Kong and this tournament has exposed the talent of the likes of David Warner in the past. No doubt Brad will be keen for his team to acquit themselves well."

David Warner and Glenn Maxwell were both in the side when Australia won the 2010 tournament.

According to the tournament rules, each team fields six players with each game consisting of a maximum of five six-ball overs bowled by each side. This is increased to eight-ball overs in the final.

Tags: sport, cricket, hong-kong, australia

First posted October 10, 2012 13:24:48

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Gayle goes Gangnam-busters to dump Aussies

Updated October 06, 2012 13:38:33

Chris Gayle smashed an unbeaten 75 off 41 balls as the West Indies stormed into the World Twenty20 final with a record 74-run demolition of Australia in Colombo.

The left-hander pounded six sixes and five fours as the Windies piled up the tournament's highest total of 4 for 205 after electing to bat on what was regarded as a slow pitch unsuited to aggressive batting.

The Australians found the huge target too intimidating and folded for 131 in 16.4 overs at the Premadasa stadium in front of 28,000 awe-struck spectators still reeling from the West Indies innings.

The biggest Twenty20 win for the West Indies, surpassing their 70-run victory over Ireland in 2010, was celebrated by the entire team performing an energetic version of global hit "Gangnam Style" in the middle.

Skipper George Bailey played a lone hand for the Aussies, making 63 off 29 balls with four sixes and six boundaries after adding 68 for the seventh wicket with Pat Cummins.

Darren Sammy's men take on hosts Sri Lanka in Sunday's final with both sides looking for their first World Twenty20 title.

"To be honest it was a slow track, but it was important not to panic," said man-of-the-match Gayle.

"I waited for the bad balls and when they came in my slot I hit them. Frankly we did not expect this big a total. We were looking at 140-150, but we got 50 runs as a bonus.

"We had to get the top three Australians early and that helped to win the game."

Bailey admitted Australia was outplayed and the West Indies deserved to be in the final.

"Were we helpless? Probably Chris Gayle can do that to you. When he did go, he went beautifully," Bailey said.

"In hindsight you can do things differently, but the fact is that we just got outplayed.

"There are no excuses. The best team absolutely won the game tonight. There is a gap between your best and worst cricket, and we did not play good cricket at all.

"Anything can happen in this game. You can bowl full tosses and get hit down mid-wicket's throat, or the good ball will go for a six."

Bailey said once his side failed to dismiss Gayle early, they knew they were in danger.

"The plan always was to get Chris out early. His record speaks for itself, so the key is to get him out early," he said.

Asked who will be his favourites to win Sunday's final, Bailey said: "If Sri Lanka can get Gayle out for under 20, they will win. But if they don't, the West Indies will prove too strong.

"With the West Indies attack, you can chase down 160. I am sitting on the fence a bit. But the two best teams got into the final."

Gayle, who lost his opening partner Johnson Charles in the third over, plodded for nine balls to make 4 before swinging Shane Watson for a six over long-off.

That opened the floodgates for an onslaught as Marlon Samuels and Gayle smashed left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty for a six each in one over and Brad Hogg was greeted into the attack with another six from Samuels.

Samuels contributed 26 in a second-wicket stand of 41 with Gayle when he was bowled by Cummins attempting another big hit.

Gayle, who faced just 18 balls in the first 10 overs, still managed to bring up his half-century off 29 deliveries with the help of four sixes and three boundaries.

All-rounder Dwayne Bravo (37) helped Gayle add 83 for the third wicket from just 51 deliveries to propel the innings at a brisk pace.

Kieron Pollard hit 38 off 15 balls as the West Indies plundered 55 runs in the final three overs, including 25 off the last six deliveries by Doherty.

Doherty was the most expensive Australian bowler with 1 for 48 from three overs, while Watson went for 35 runs in four unsuccessful overs.

Australia never recovered after opener David Warner (1) was bowled by spinner Samuel Badree with the sixth delivery and crashed to 6 for 43 by the eighth over.

Badree took two of those wickets and seamer Ravi Rampaul chipped in by removing Cameron White (5) and the recalled David Hussey (0) in the space of three balls.

Pollard dismissed Bailey and Cummins (13) off successive deliveries in the 14th over to end Australia's resistance.

AFP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, sri-lanka, jamaica, australia

First posted October 06, 2012 07:12:13

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Southern Stars through to World Twenty20 final

Updated October 06, 2012 09:42:07

Defending champions Australia will face England in the women's World Twenty20 final after cruising past West Indies by 28 runs in Colombo.

Seamer Julie Hunter claimed 5 for 22 as the Southern Stars, restricted to 7 for 115 after electing to bat, shot West Indies out for 87 in the semi-final at the Premadasa Stadium.

Lisa Sthalekar marked her 50th Twenty20 international with a top score of 23 and then conceded just six runs in her four overs to help Hunter fashion the Southern Stars' emphatic win.

The Southern Stars take on arch rivals England in Sunday's final looking to avenge a seven-wicket defeat during the league phase in Galle.

"We have great belief in the team," Southern Stars captain Jodie Fields said.

"It would have been nice to get 140, but we knew 115 was enough with the bowling we have.

"We can't wait for the final."

The Southern Stars began the match on the wrong foot when Alyssa Healy was dismissed off the second ball and Jess Cameron fell in the third over, both wickets going to left-arm spinner Shanel Daley.

Sthalekar was supported in the recovery by Alex Blackwell (21), while Fields boosted the total with an unbeaten 19.

West Indies collapsed to 4 for 28 before Juliana Nero (31) and Daley (25) revived their hopes with a fifth-wicket stand of 48. But the last six wickets fell for 11 runs.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, sri-lanka

First posted October 05, 2012 22:52:46

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England out as Sri Lanka, Windies reach semis

Updated October 02, 2012 07:27:10

Sri Lanka sent defending champions England packing at the World Twenty20 as it booked a spot in the semi-finals along with the West Indies after a dramatic night of action.

Sri Lanka's 19-run win over England, thanks in large part to Lasith Malinga's career-best 5 for 31, put the hosts into their third successive World Twenty20 semi-finals as they hunt their first major title in 16 years.

Earlier the West Indies snatched victory from New Zealand in a thrilling super over finish after they were tied on 139.

Despite New Zealand scoring17 off its extra over, West Indies smashed 19 with a ball to spare.

England's reshuffled team may regret sending Sri Lanka in to bat after the hosts posted a challenging 6 for 169.

In reply, at a packed Pallekele stadium, England managed 9 for 150 and only briefly threatened to pull off an unlikely win.

The chase was in trouble from the start as England was rocked by Malinga, who took the first three wickets in his first over.

It needed a fourth-wicket stand of 55 between Samit Patel (67) and Eoin Morgan (10) to repair the early damage, but England lost wickets at regular intervals.

Patel added 51 with Graeme Swann (34) for the eighth wicket as hope fluttered. But Malinga bowled Patel in the penultimate over to snuff out the danger and improve on his previous best of 3 for 12 against New Zealand in 2010.

"The guys played really well. Lasith is unbelievable, both with the new ball and with the old ball. It would be fantastic if we can win it (the title) but the focus is to keep our feet on the ground," said captain Kumar Sangakkara.

In the earlier match, New Zealand started with a bang as they bowled out the West Indies for just 139 in 19.3 overs, with Tim Southee (3 for 21) and Doug Bracewell (3 for 31) doing the damage. Chris Gayle's 30 was the innings' top score.

Ross Taylor was the mainstay of New Zealand's reply with an unbeaten 62.

New Zealand needed 14 off the last over, bowled by Marlon Samuels, and Taylor hit a six off the fourth delivery but managed just a single on the penultimate ball.

Bracewell hit the final delivery but was run out while taking a second run, tying the match as New Zealand closed on 7 for 139.

Taylor scored an impressive 17 for New Zealand in its super over off the bowling of Samuels. But the all-rounder then stepped up for West Indies to hoist the winning six off Southee.

"Samuels is my go-to man in pressure situations, he's suffering from a bad shoulder so that's why he doesn't bowl more," said captain Darren Sammy.

"It was a great fight-back and I am very happy at that."

A disappointed Taylor rued New Zealand's missed opportunity but admitted that the West Indies' super over was "pretty awesome".

"We probably should have won it in normal time. Credit to West Indies, to score 18 off five balls is pretty awesome. When the first ball is a no-ball that goes for six, it ruins the over," said Taylor.

"That's cricket and we're going home now."

On Tuesday, Pakistan plays Australia and India faces South Africa in Colombo to decide the semi-finalists from group two. The semi-finals will be played on Thursday and Friday, and the final is on Sunday.

AFP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, sri-lanka

First posted October 02, 2012 07:23:28

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