Debutants Finch, Hughes to open for Australia

Updated January 10, 2013 22:50:42

Australia will field debutants in its top three batting spots in Friday's one-day series opener against Sri Lanka in Melbourne, but captain George Bailey denied it was a second-string side.

Bailey said on Thursday that Aaron Finch and Phil Hughes would open the batting, with left-hander Usman Khawaja coming in at number three.

Bailey will bat at number four in an inexperienced line-up that also includes all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who has only played four ODIs.

David Hussey and Brad Haddin add some experience to the middle order.

The selectors resisted naming a fourth debutant, leaving quick Ben Cutting out of the bowling attack.

That leaves Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Clint McKay to fill the pace spots with Xavier Doherty the specialist spinner, supported by Maxwell and Hussey.

Bailey rejected claims he will lead a B-team into the opening match of the five-match series.

"For these two games this is the best side that Australia can put out," Bailey said.

Selectors on Sunday announced a 13-man squad for the first two ODIs.

"I've got no doubt that if guys perform well, for sure there'll be a few debutants in this game.... I think you'll see these guys a lot more in one-day cricket, I think you'll see some of them play Test cricket."

Bailey added that it was the perfect occasion for the debutants to shine.

"It's a huge opportunity and a great one.... What you want from your top four, top five (batsmen) in one-day cricket is for them to score the bulk of the runs and to win you the game," he said.

"Whether it's your first game or your 50th game, that expectation doesn't change."

Underlining the Australian team's relative inexperience, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene (386) has played more one-dayers than Australia's entire XI (366).

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, sri-lanka

First posted January 10, 2013 12:55:05

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New batting coach vital for Australia

Updated January 07, 2013 19:11:48

The person Australia chooses to fill the vacant role of full-time national team batting coach could be the most important selection of the year with the Ashes looming.

This summer, Australia's batting resources have been rocked to the core both on and off the field.

Nearly 250 matches worth of Test experience have been drained from the line-up by the retirements of Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey.

Not to mention the huge loss of batting mentor Justin Langer, and now the departure of his successor Stuart Law announced by Cricket Australia on Sunday.

With an Indian series beginning next month before the Ashes tour starts in July, the timing of the mass exodus could not be worse.

Captain Michael Clarke has already made it clear there is no way of replacing the intellectual property that has been lost.

But the next best thing CA can do is handpick a batting coach capable of bringing the best out of a new generation of batsmen.

Australia knew they were losing one of their most valuable assets when Langer left to take up the coaching role at Western Australia, but the loss of the former Test opener has been compounded by the retirements of Ponting and Hussey.

The batting line-up heading into India and the Ashes is almost entirely unsettled.

However, the right batting coach can help ensure young and inexperienced players build their skills, handle their new responsibilities and avoid being caught in the headlights when under pressure.

A permanent specialist is yet to be decided upon, but Dean Jones will work with the side for the first two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka starting this week.

Other former greats are likely to help out throughout the rest of the ODIs.

"We're yet to finalise the broader batting coach role so this opportunity to have some former players with us as specialists during the (ODIs) will be invaluable for our young squad," said coach Mickey Arthur.

"I thank Stuart (Law) for his outstanding contribution over the past six weeks - we are disappointed he is not in a position to consider the full-time role.

"We have quite a young ODI squad at the moment with a firm eye on the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, so to have the knowledge of one of Australia's best ever one-day players (Jones) with us for a couple of games will be invaluable for the group."

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, australia

First posted January 07, 2013 19:11:48

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Australia, Sri Lanka remember Tony Greig

Updated January 03, 2013 15:00:59

Australian and Sri Lankan players paid their respects to Tony Greig in a moving farewell to the former England captain before the start of play in the third Test on Thursday.

A minute's silence was observed by players wearing black armbands and fans in honour of Greig, who died at the weekend aged 66 from a heart attack while battling lung cancer.

A trademark Greig sunhat was placed symbolically on the stumps at the Sydney Cricket Ground before being taken away by his sons, Mark and Tom.

The sons embraced and headed from the ground before the start of play.

Greig's family and the Channel 9 commentary team were invited by opposing captains Michael Clarke and Mahela Jayawardene to join the players and officials on the playing arena before the match started.

His wife Vivian was overcome by the cricket community's response.

"I just wish he could have seen it," she said.

"I'm so grateful, truly grateful.

"For Channel 9 and Cricket Australia to organise this tribute to him is truly touching."

Greig worked for Australia's Nine Network for decades and his long-time colleagues Richie Benaud, Bill Lawry and Ian Chappell were among the television contingent standing alongside the Australia team at the pre-match tribute.

Broadcasting doyen Benaud said it was a sad day but "we will get on with it as he would have wished. And at the end of the day we will raise a glass to our gifted colleague and friend forever."

"He was so strong in every way, a man I always liked to have on my side," he said.

Organisers had urged fans to wear Greig-style wide-brimmed hats, and thousands responded under sunny skies.

Australian captain Clarke also wore a neckerchief, in Greig style, as a personal tribute, as he led the Australians onto the field.

"He was an inspiration to cricket," Clarke said.

"The game owes Greigy a hell of a lot. If not for the great Kerry Packer and Tony Greig, the game wouldn't be where it is today."

South African-born Greig, a swashbuckling middle-order batsman and medium-fast bowler who had recently been diagnosed with cancer, died shortly after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Sydney home.

He was instrumental in the formation of late Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer's breakaway World Series Cricket contest staged from 1977-79, which left a lasting legacy on the game, including improved financial rewards for players.

Greig played 58 Tests for his adopted country England between 1972 and 1977, scoring 3,599 runs with eight centuries at 40.43 and capturing 141 wickets at 32.20.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted January 03, 2013 14:49:25

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Australia names Bird in Test squad

Updated December 19, 2012 08:33:18

Australia has included injured skipper Michael Clarke in a 12-man squad for the second Test against Sri Lanka starting on Boxing Day at the MCG.

Pace bowler Ben Hilfenhaus has been ruled out with a side strain after breaking down on Sunday during Sri Lanka's first innings in the first Test in Hobart.

Uncapped Tasmania paceman Jackson Bird comes into the squad while former Test number three Usman Khawaja has been placed on standby for Clarke.

Clarke, who retired hurt on 57 after injuring his right hamstring while batting on Monday, fielded at first slip on Tuesday as Australia claimed victory by 137 runs.

"It's not too bad. I'll be having plenty of treatment and I'm confident I'll be right for Boxing Day," Clarke told his post-match news conference on Tuesday night.

Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), Ed Cowan, David Warner, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson, Mike Hussey, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson, Jackson Bird. (Usman Khawaja on standby for Clarke).

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, sri-lanka

First posted December 18, 2012 19:27:38

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Australia to go into 'quarantine' before Boxing Day

Updated December 20, 2012 01:45:54

Australia have put their squad into 'quarantine' before next week's second Test against Sri Lanka to make absolutely certain there are no additions to their already lengthy casualty list, according to coach Mickey Arthur.

Captain Michael Clarke and pace bowler Ben Hilfenhaus were injured in the first of the three matches against the tourists, which Australia won by 137 runs in a dramatic finish at the Bellerive Oval on Tuesday.

Clarke and Arthur are confident the captain will recover from his hamstring injury for the Melbourne Test, which begins on December 26, but Tasmanian Hilfenhaus' side strain means he will miss out.

Mitchell Johnson, who should replace Hilfenhaus in the starting line-up, and Usman Khawaja, brought in as back-up for Clarke, were withdrawn from matches in the Big Bash League Twenty20 competition when they were called up to the Test squad.

"That's always going to be a conundrum for us, who do we play? Who don't we play?" Arthur told reporters.

"We feel the Test match on Boxing Day is massively important, we want to quarantine the 13 players. We're sitting with enough injuries as it is.

"We just think it's in the best interests of those 13 players to get ready for Boxing Day."

Hilfenhaus joins young quick bowlers Pat Cummins, James Pattinson and John Hazlewood in the treatment room, resulting in Tasmanian paceman Jackson Bird getting his first call-up to the Australia squad.

"All I can say is we've had a list of bowlers leading into our summer, and we're well down the list at the moment," Arthur said when Hilfenhaus was first injured.

Bird is the highest wicket-taker in Sheffield Shield cricket this season but Arthur indicated he was likely to be the fast bowler to miss out, with Michell Starc and Peter Siddle certain starters after taking five-wicket hauls in the opener.

"We've got a week to freshen up, which is important," he said. "And then to have the quality of Mitchell Johnson back. He was perhaps unfortunate to miss out here, it was touch and go whether he played or not.

"And then we get an opportunity to have a look at a new face, and that's always exciting. It brings a freshness and really looking forward to catching up with Jackson and seeing what he can offer.

"I haven't seen enough of him play ... but if he's bowling consistently at 140 (kph) then he's got huge potential."

More good news for Arthur was that his top order looked solid in Hobart with Phil Hughes returning after a year in the wilderness to hit a solid 86 in the first innings.

Clarke, the most prolific runmaker in the world this year, has been the mainstay of Australia's team but Arthur said that if he was not fit, Khawaja had earned his right to a recall.

"I don't think we would have picked him if we didn't think he was showing that continued improvement that we wanted from him," he said.

"Uzzy's done well, it's no coincidence that Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja are one and two in the amount of Shield runs.

"They've thoroughly deserved their chance to come back after losing their place in the side here a year ago."

Australia would be facing a very different run-up to the second Test had they failed to take six wickets in the final session and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

"You really want to win close games, we thought we played really good cricket over the five days so to finally get the reward was massive for the side," Arthur said.

Reuters

Tags: sport, cricket, australia

First posted December 20, 2012 00:28:40

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Test win in Australia spurring Sri Lankans

Updated December 11, 2012 21:13:03

Sri Lankan superstar Kumar Sangakkara says the possibility he could be on his last trip to Australia is a massive motivator for tasting a Test match victory.

The 35-year-old international cricketer of the year joins fellow old guard members Mahela Jayawardene (35), Tillakaratne Dilshan (36) and Thilan Samaraweera (36) on the Lankans' so far elusive quest to win a five-day game in Australia in 11 attempts.

They will get the first of three chances this summer at Bellerive from Friday.

"When you do get older, you do look for achievements where you haven't really tasted victory so, here and in India, (there are) Test matches still to win," he told reporters on Tuesday.

"That's a great motivator for guys like Dilshan, Mahela, myself and Samaraweera.

"We're the older brigade. But whether we get it or not, the key is to really contribute to the side."

Sangakkara, who averaged 60 in Tests in the period leading up to his ICC award, wouldn't be drawn on whether this would be his last trip down under.

"I'm not sure when the next tour is," he said. "I wouldn't be able to give you a direct answer.

"But I'm 35 now - hopefully a few more years left in me.

"It just depends on me and how I perform. Everyone's got an expiry date. It's no use worrying about when that comes or when that is.

"It's about really enjoying your cricket."

In the last Test played between the two nations in Australia in 2007, the hosts won by 96 runs at Bellerive.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, hobart-7000, tas, sri-lanka, australia

First posted December 11, 2012 16:24:19

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Australia hobbled but favourite to win

By Andrew McGarry

Updated December 17, 2012 21:45:04

Australia are in a strong position to win the first Test against Sri Lanka going into the final day, but the team's depth in personnel is looking more precarious, with Shane Watson a chance to lead Australia in the Boxing Day Test after Michael Clarke was sent for scans on an injured hamstring.

Sri Lanka were 2 for 65 at stumps, requiring another 328 runs on day five for an unlikely victory at Bellerive Oval.

The overall target of 393 would beat Australia's highest-successful run chase at the venue of 369 against Pakistan in 1999.

Clarke retired hurt after making a quick-fire 57 in the afternoon session during Australia's second innings, before taking his place in the fielding side for the remainder of the day.

Australian coach Mickey Arthur told Grandstand he still expected the captain to take his place on the field for day five.

"He'll go for a scan tonight, he has got a hamstring problem," Arthur said.

"But the extent of that I'm not quite sure. He'll go straight off and have that scanned, and we'll get more news on that tomorrow.

"I imagine he would be (back for day five), Michael wants to be involved in everything ... he wants to marshal the troops hopefully to a Test win, so I'm pretty sure he'll be out there."

However the coach later told reporters that if Clarke did not recover in time for the second Test, vice-captain Watson was the obvious contender to lead Australia.

"It is a distinct possibility. I think it will be a really good challenge for Shane," Arthur said.

"We'll learn a lot about Shane and we'll learn a lot about his leadership ability. I'm confident he'll come through that very well."

Arthur also had bad news relating to Hilfenhaus, who has not bowled since going off in the morning session of day three with a side strain - although like Clarke he fielded in Sri Lanka's second innings.

"The latest there is that Hilfy's got a side injury, and it will definitely rule him out of the Boxing Day Test and we'll just see where that takes us," he told Grandstand.

Australia began day four on 0 for 27 with a lead of 141.

Ed Cowan and David Warner pushed their opening partnership to 132 before Warner was caught by Mahela Jayawardene off Herath for 68.

Cowan was out soon after for 56, bowled by Chanaka Welegedara, before a middle-order mini-collapse where Shane Watson (5), Phil Hughes (16) and Matthew Wade (11) were out in quick succession, leaving the Australians at 5 for 181.

Michael Clarke then produced an entertaining cameo of 57 runs off 46 balls - including five fours and a six - before retiring.

The Sri Lankans took care of the tail, bowling Australia out for 278. Spinner Rangana Herath took 5 for 96, giving him 60 Test wickets for the calendar year, one ahead of his nearest rival, England spinner Graeme Swann..

Sri Lanka were set 393 for victory, but the tourists were forced to bat for survival after losing Dimuth Karunaratne for 30 and first-innings centurion Tillakaratne Dilshan for 11.

The pitch looked to be deteriorating rapidly, with various balls swinging, skidding low and taking off on the batsmen.

It was left to two of Sri Lanka's veterans, Mahela Jayawardene (5 not out) and Kumar Sangakkara (18 not out), to keep the innings afloat.

The pair will need to bat long into the final day to give their team a chance of saving the match, although Australia will again be a bowler down without Hilfenhaus.

"I thought we were very good today, we obviously tried to put the foot down a little bit and get as many as we could to give ourselves the maximum amount of time to bowl them out," Arthur told Grandstand.

"I thought we bowled really well the last session, so I'm happy where we're at at the moment.

Asked if Sri Lanka could still win the Test, Arthur said it was possible, but a difficult ask.

"It's going to be tough - we saw the minute we wanted to up the (scoring) rate, it became quite tough to score on that wicket," he said.

"It was ok to survive, but to try and score as well made it pretty difficult.

"Nothing's impossible, but we'd like to say we'd be able to bowl them out or restrict them."

Herath told Grandstand that his team was by no means giving up on the chase.

"What we needed is get some runs without losing wickets," he said.

"Unfortunately we lost a couple of wickets, but we will stick with the same game plan in the morning.

"If we can get through the first session without losing wickets, we (will be in) a good position to win the game."

He said he expected the pitch to take more turn and variable bounce on day five.

ABC / AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, australia, tas, hobart-7000, sri-lanka

First posted December 17, 2012 19:16:59

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Super Siddle gives Australia the edge

By Andrew McGarry

Updated December 17, 2012 09:52:02

Australia's batsmen need a strong start to day four to set up a first Test victory, according to paceman Peter Siddle, who broke through the Sri Lankan batting order on day three at Bellerive Oval.

Australia was 0 for 27 at stumps, a lead of 141 with two days to go, after the Sri Lankans were dismissed in the final session for 336.

Siddle made the difference for Australia with another lion-hearted performance, taking 5 for 54 off 25.3 overs.

The Victorian paceman helped tie down the Sri Lankan batsmen, raising the pressure on the tourists with 11 maiden overs.

He was critical at the end of the innings, taking three wickets in 12 deliveries to blast out the Sri Lankans for 336, still 114 behind on first-innings.

As it happened: First Test, Day Three

His performance was even more important following the injury to Tasmanian quick Ben Hilfenhaus, who took no further part in the Sri Lankan innings after suffering a side strain in the opening session.

Siddle told Grandstand he expected to be bowling again some time on day four in search of victory in the first Test.

"I think to get a good result, and give ourselves enough time to get them out, I think so (declaration on day four)," he said.

"At the other end, of course, you've got to get a good enough score to defend, so it depends how we go about in the morning, I guess.

"Tomorrow's going to be hard work for the batters, so tomorrow morning's going to be the big key, that first hour to see if we can get through that and see where we go from there."

Despite getting through a solid workload in the first innings, Siddle told Grandstand he would be looking forward to getting another shot at the Sri Lankan batting.

"We know it's going to be tough ... that's why we play Test cricket, we want to get out there and have a crack at the second innings - that's where you win matches for your country and that's what we'll be doing," he said.

Siddle said accuracy was the key to success on the Bellerive pitch.

"I think when we were batting it showed that there was a bit of variable bounce, and ... we knew we had to bowl in the right areas," he said.

"It probably took us some time this morning to find those areas, but after lunch once we got it together from both ends, we got the rewards."

Sri Lanka had recovered from 4 for 87 at the start of the day, thanks to a 161-run partnership between Tillakaratne Dilshan (147) and Angelo Mathews (75).

Siddle broke the partnership with Mathews' wicket, then Starc dismissed Dilshan with the score on 289.

Siddle then went through Prasanna Jayawardene (40), Rangana Herath (0) and Chanaka Welegedara for a duck to close the innings. Nathan Lyon took the other wicket, dismissing Nuwan Kulasekara for 23.

The Sri Lankan bowlers then came out and put the Australian openers under real pressure in a difficult session before stumps.

In particular Kulasekara posed serious questions, moving the ball both ways in an impressive spell.

He should have had a wicket with the score on 0 for 11, when a top delivery hit Ed Cowan in front but was given not out. Inexplicably the tourists failed to refer the decision and replays showed Cowan was plum leg before.

Australia survived until stumps, with Cowan not out on 16 and Warner not out on 8.

Dilshan told Grandstand he was happy with his 147, which included 21 boundaries.

"It's my first century on Australian soil, against a great attack, so I'm happy," he said.

He said his team would gain confidence from the partnership between him and Mathews when chasing a total on the final day, but said the first target was to make inroads into Australia's batting line-up on day four.

"I think it's important in the first session tomorrow if we can get a couple of wickets, and put Australia on the back foot," he said.

"Then we can see what the target is, whether it's gettable or not."

Tags: sport, cricket, hobart-7000, tas, australia

First posted December 16, 2012 19:32:06

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Australia v South Africa: Memories of madness

Comment by Daniel Keane

Updated November 09, 2012 18:12:00

In one of those small coincidences that cricket tragics savour, the second day of the First Test between South Africa and Australia at The Gabba will mark exactly a year since day two of the Cape Town test in which both sides were bundled out for less than 100 in an afternoon of madness.

Australia's test performances since then have allowed the memory of that day to fade quicker than it might otherwise have done. Last summer, Australia demolished a star-studded India so emphatically it was hard to believe that India had held the number one test ranking seven months earlier and that Australia had not occupied top spot for more than two years.

In the 4-0 clean sweep, Michael Clarke became the first Australian batsman since Bradman to score a double and triple century in the same series. (Bradman actually accomplished the feat twice, in England in 1930 and 1934). Ricky Ponting also launched his own resurgence, scoring a century in Sydney and a double century in Adelaide. By that time, day two at Newlands, Cape Town seemed an era away.

Only the most insane of soothsayers would have predicted anything like what happened that afternoon. An astonishing 23 wickets fell as both sides were bundled out in successive sessions. After taking nine South African wickets for 47 runs after lunch, Australia was all out for 47 after tea. The word 'collapse' was barely adequate. Australian cricketers are famously superstitious about the number 87. For a moment it seemed the number 47 might come to be held in similar awe.

The Cape Town test was rightly described as extraordinary. In truth, though, South Africa's collapse would have been staggering on its own. At 3 for 73, they were 12 runs behind the follow on target. A few overs later, they were still behind, but nine wickets down. They were eventually dismissed for just 96.

And then Australia batted. At three for 13, the situation was dire but not yet hopeless. Sides have staged fightbacks from similar positions. At nine for 21, however, it was no longer hopeless but gobsmacking.

The ABC's commentary team was clearly bewildered, caught between the urge to laugh and lament, but remained as insightful as ever. Jim Maxwell called the game a "statistician's banquet" because of all the strange facts it yielded: Australia's third lowest total, its lowest in more than 100 years. One of the few occasions in which a number 11 has top scored, the last pair has made more than the rest of the team combined and parts of all four innings have been played on the same day. The decision review system was used nine times. The third umpire can rarely have been called upon so often in a day's play.

It was as if everyone on the field had been gripped by a temporary but terrible insanity. Perhaps strange forces were at work. Geoff Lawson wondered out loud: "Is it high tide at the moment?" 47 seemed almost respectable when you consider Australia's fall of wickets. To be four for 13, five for 16, six for 18, seven for 21, eight for 21, nine for 21 is, in the modern era, unheard of.

Michael Clarke missed out on the opportunity to enforce the follow on by 12 runs, but if he'd had the chance he should have taken it. While captains have in recent times hesitated from putting their opponents back in (the lingering effect of Eden Gardens, Calcutta, 2001?) making South Africa bat again would not have merely allowed Australia's players to press their advantage and perhaps precipitate a second collapse. It would have protected them from themselves, from their own nihilistic thoughts. Batting again after bundling South Africa out so brilliantly and unexpectedly, Australia was not so much afflicted by a crisis of confidence than a case of losing the plot. After scoring 284 in their first innings, Australia's batsmen suddenly felt a dangerous lack of purpose. They were so far in front they didn't know how to move forward. 188 ahead with three and a half days to play and a kind of numb complacency set in.

Brad Haddin was singled out for criticism because of the reckless shot that cost him his wicket. But is it irresponsible to charge a fast bowler with the score on 5 for 18, just as Haddin did? You could argue both sides. "Grossly irresponsible," you might say, "because he was the team's last hope." Alternatively, you might answer "No, because at 5 for 18, there's probably not a lot to lose." On replay, Haddin's dance down the pitch seemed an attempt to restore sanity by doing something mad. It was as if he was trying to break the spell that had descended on the ground by acting rashly. "If I can hit this for four," he was probably thinking, "I'll show them who's in control. We'll reassert ourselves and be back on top." But he too fell victim.

At the time, some pundits tried to portray Australia's abysmal collapse as proof of the nation's further descent into cricket's doldrums, coming as it did after the humiliating Ashes defeat earlier that year. Others blamed the corrosive effect of Twenty20 cricket on batting techniques. The most cavalier and careless form of the game is, after all, about throwing your wicket away in the service of slogging. But maybe it's safer to say that the Cape Town test was just so extraordinary that it wasn't indicative of anything at all. Perhaps the most sensible stance is that the twin disintegrations, first South Africa's and then Australia's, are proof not of declining standards but of the old truism that cricket is a 'funny game,' with its strange momentum shifts and psychological subtleties. Odd things can happen when you're in the middle. Batsmen become trapped by self-defeating thoughts.

The Russian orchestral conductor Valery Gergiev once chided musicologists who heard in the symphonies of Soviet composer Dmitri Shostakovich evidence of a politically tortured soul. Shostakovich's life overlapped the era of Stalin, and the former's neurotic music is often thought to reflect the madness of the latter's reign of terror. Gergiev rejects this interpretation. "It is time to find more music in this music," he drily remarked. The reasons for this judgment are worth reflecting on. Despite the overwhelming secularism of our age, a metaphysic abides. Everything has to mean something. Nothing can be 'just so.' Every event, occurrence, utterance is a mine of hidden meaning. Words and situations are sifted obsessively in order to get to concealed truth. But, as with Gergiev and the music of Shostakovich, maybe we shouldn't read too much into the Newlands test. Maybe we should just shrug our shoulders and nonchalantly mutter that "cricket is just... cricket." The anniversary of day two at Cape Town is similarly meaningless - it is certainly no omen of what to expect this summer. But in a game that seems to encourage the statistician's attention to details, it is a date certainly worth marking.

And the Cape Town test has not entirely lost its relevance. It showed that while cricket is a team game, from a batsman's point of view it's still a very lonely one. It's sometimes said that cricket is an 'individual's team game' - a clumsy remark, but one that happens to be true. As Matthew Engel wrote in Wisden:

"The guiding myth of cricket is that it is a team game. The ethos is always that the individual must subordinate himself to the collective: celebrate a victory even if he has contributed nothing and faces the chop, or pretend that his own century is meaningless if it failed to secure the team's objective. That applies on the village green just as it does in a Test match. But this misrepresents cricket's appeal, both to the player and the spectator. It's a game of character and personality - individuals operating within the team framework, like wheels within wheels."

Cricket is a team game, but when you're in the middle it's still you against the bowler. That doesn't mean a collective mindset cannot take hold of a batting line-up. On that afternoon in Cape Town, Australia's players were perhaps surprised to have dismissed South Africa so cheaply and quickly that they lost sight of the bigger picture. "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; mere anarchy is loosed upon the world." Maybe Australia's batsmen laughed nervously to themselves at the absurd prospect of repeating South Africa's collapse. Maybe they thought: "Surely, we can't go the same way," and by thinking it, made it happen.

Tags: cricket

First posted November 08, 2012 19:17:31

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Steyn finds early form against Australia A

Updated November 02, 2012 20:19:43

South African fast bowler Dale Steyn sent an ominous warning to Australia's Test batsmen with an impressive display of bowling against Australia A on day one of the tour match at the SCG.

The world number one one fast bowler had the Australia A batting order rattled at 3 for 44 before opener Rob Quiney steadied the ship with the support of the middle order to finish the day at 7 for 325.

Steyn took 3 for 48 from 18 overs showing he is in good form ahead of next week's first Test at the Gabba.

A a 122-run effort between opener Rob Quiney (85) and Steve Smith (67) dragged the home side back into the contest, though both were dismissed in quick succession.

That sparked another mini-collapse as Australia A slumped to 6 for 185 before another sturdy partnership of 133 between Glenn Maxwell (64) and Alex Doolan (76 not out) saw them through until late in the day.

What started as a positive day for the South African pace battalion slowly descended into another long day in the field.

While Steyn was the pick of the bowlers, fringe Test bowler Rory Kleinveldt toiled hard for his 2 for 45.

Imran Tahir perhaps deserved better than his figures of 2 for 114 suggest.

It was a forgettable day for third paceman Vernon Philander, the number two-ranked bowler in Test cricket, who failed to take a wicket and finished with 0 for 76.

Maxwell was the aggressor after tea, feasting on the spin trio of Tahir, JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis as he smashed nine fours and one six before being caught behind off Steyn.

Quiney slapped 13 boundaries during the heat of the day to top-score on day one.

Steyn produced the pick of the wickets, clean-bowling opener Liam Davis (10) with a gem of a delivery that pitched on middle and beat the bat before clipping off stump.

Phil Hughes (5) and captain Andrew McDonald (0) went cheaply before the home side's first fightback.

Quiney looked sharp before he was brought undone by Steyn, who enticed an edge which was snapped up by Graeme Smith at first slip, while Steve Smith (67) lasted just three more overs before he became Tahir's second lbw victim of the day.

Jacques Kallis, recovering from a chest infection, and Morne Morkel are being rested from an otherwise full-strength South African team, though Kallis came on as a replacement fielder late in the day.

ABC/AAP

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

First posted November 02, 2012 18:59:07

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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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Australia, Pakistan squeeze into T20 semis

Updated October 03, 2012 08:24:10

Australia and Pakistan have squeezed into the World Twenty20 semi-finals as India and South Africa packed their bags after a topsy-turvy last round of Super Eight matches.

On an evening when run-rate calculations were paramount, Australia lost to Pakistan but still went through, while former champions India headed home despite eking out a narrow, one-run win over South Africa.

Pakistan, the 2009 winners, will take on Sri Lanka in Thursday's first semi-final at Colombo's Premadasa stadium, while Australia clash with the West Indies on Friday at the same venue.

The final will be played on Sunday.

In Tuesday's first match, Australia, the dominant team in group two with two successive wins, crashed to a surprise 32-run defeat to Pakistan after a five-man spin attack restricted them to 7 for 117 on a slow wicket.

India's victory over winless South Africa later left it level with Australia and Pakistan on four points each, but a poor net run rate ended the 2007 champions' campaign.

India, which scored 6 for 152, needed to keep South Africa below 122 to go ahead of Pakistan's run rate, but the Proteas rode on a 38-ball 65 from Faf du Plessis to make 151 all out.

George Bailey's Australia took the top spot in the group with a net run rate of 0.46 against Pakistan's 0.27, while India was third at 0.29.

Pakistan's prolific spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed 3 for 17, but it was 20-year-old Raza Hasan who was declared man of the match against Australia for conceding just 14 runs and taking two wickets in four overs of steady left-arm spin.

"I am grateful to see the effort put up by the boys today," Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez said.

"It was a big game for us and we needed to be at our best against a side like Australia.

"Once we got a good total, we knew we will do well because there was going to be help for the bowlers. Raza Hasan was brilliant, a great find for us."

Australia, which has never won the World Twenty20 despite taking four World Cup titles in the 50-over game, had breezed through four consecutive matches in the tournament before being halted by Pakistan.

"Pakistan outplayed us," Bailey said.

"The ball turned a lot more than before and they used spin against us very well.

"The challenge for us now will be to get the winning form back in the semis."

Mike Hussey was Australia's mainstay with an unbeaten 54 off 47 balls, as none of the other batsmen managed to cross 15 against the rampaging spinners.

Australia, which needed to make 112 or more to qualify, achieved the target when Hussey cut seamer Umar Gul to the fence off the first ball of the final over.

Gul's two overs at the end were the only ones by a seamer as the spinners shared 18 overs between them.

Pakistan's innings revolved around left-hander Nasir Jamshed's 55 off 46 balls, which contained six boundaries including two sixes.

Indian captain MS Dhoni said the nine-wicket defeat in the rain-affected game against Australia cost his team dearly.

"If you take that Australia game out, we performed brilliantly," he said.

"Overall I am quite happy with how the team performed, but there were instances when we should have had 10 to 15 runs more on the board."

South African captain AB de Villiers was devastated by the loss of all three games in the Super Eights.

"Disappointed is not the word to describe it. We've had a poor tournament," de Villiers said.

"We've let the country down and that's what hurts the most.

"We did all the preparations possible, we thought we were ready, but the guys didn't click."

AFP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sri-lanka, australia, pakistan

First posted October 03, 2012 05:46:58

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Australia and South Africa beat the rain

Updated September 23, 2012 07:21:03

Australia qualified for the Super Eights round and South Africa earned bragging points as rain ruined two key matches in the World Twenty20 on Sunday (AEST).

Australia beat the West Indies by 17 runs according to the Duckworth-Lewis method after rain cut short the group B game that appeared headed for a keen finish in Colombo.

South Africa outplayed hosts Sri Lanka by 32 runs in a group C match reduced to seven-overs-a-side in Hambantota due to rain.

The match held only academic interest since both South Africa and Sri Lanka had already qualified for the next round with wins over Zimbabwe, the third team in the group.

Australia, chasing a challenging target of 192, were 1 for 100 in 9.1 overs when heavy rain forced the match to be called off in front of 18,000 fans at the Premadasa stadium.

The Aussies, who were ahead of the par score of 83 at that stage, recorded their second successive win following a seven-wicket win over Ireland on Wednesday.

The West Indies and Ireland will clash on Monday, with the winner taking the second Super Eights spot from the group.

The weather ruined a keen finish with Australia edging ahead, needing 92 more from 65 balls with nine wickets in hand.

David Warner hit 28 in an opening stand of 30 with Shane Watson, before Mike Hussey joined Watson to add 70 in 42 balls for the unbroken second wicket.

Watson, who was unbeaten on 41 off 24 balls with three sixes and two boundaries, was declared the man of the match.

Hussey made 28 not out with three fours and a six.

Earlier, the West Indies posted 8 for 191 following attacking half-centuries from Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels.

Left-handed Gayle smashed 54 off 33 balls and Samuels plundered 50 from 32 balls after the West Indies elected to bat in their first match of the tournament.

Sri Lankan fans were treated to a flurry of strokes as Gayle hit four sixes and five boundaries and Samuels chipped in with four sixes and three fours.

"The weather ruined a very exciting game," said West Indies captain Darren Sammy. "Everybody was looking forward to it.

"The batsmen did what was required of them. We knew Australia would come back hard, but we took too long to respond."

Australian captain George Bailey was relieved at gaining full points from the match.

"There was some good stuff but there was some ordinary stuff as well," he said. "The challenge is to lessen the gap between the good and the ordinary stuff.

"Watson and Warner did the job, Hussey was good too. But we are disappointed with the rain, because an exciting finish was set up."

In Hambantota, South Africa piled up 4 for 78 in seven overs with skipper AB de Villiers smashing two sixes and a four during his 13-ball 30. Hashim Amla (16) and Faf du Plessis (13) were the other main contributors.

Sri Lanka managed only 5 for 46 in reply, having lost the star duo of Tillakaratne Dilshan (0) and skipper Mahela Jayawardene (4) in the first two overs.

Dale Steyn was South Africa's best bowler with 2-10.

Heavy rain had delayed the start by two-and-a-half hours, disappointing a sell-out crowd of 35,000 in the southern port town.

De Villiers said his team was ready for the next round.

"Beating Sri Lanka is nice because they are one of the top teams and now we are ready for the Super Eights," the South African captain said.

"We did not take anything for granted. It was nice to win again."

AFP

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

First posted September 23, 2012 06:13:16

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Australia coming to terms with T20: Bailey

Updated September 19, 2012 11:44:44

Australia is finally coming to terms with the demands of Twenty20 cricket after failing to take the shortest form of the game seriously, World Cup captain George Bailey has said.

The four-times 50 overs World Cup champions' best performance in the T20 game has been reaching the final of the 2010 tournament against eventual winners England in the West Indies.

Australia lost that final by seven wickets.

"My personal opinion is, I think, is that it has taken a little while for Australia to take Twenty20 seriously," Bailey told reporters.

"For many years we beat teams with guys who hadn't played international cricket. We have changed that team a lot. I think we are trying to get there."

Australia plays Ireland in its opening game on Wednesday morning (AEST) and Bailey says a lengthy pre-tournament campaign has helped his side prepare.

"It's been really good the last couple of weeks just to have that time together," Bailey said.

"It's the longest that we've had this Twenty20 group together and I think we've certainly seen some benefits of that."

With youngsters Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummins vying with veterans David Hussey and Clint McKay for a starting role, Bailey says there is plenty of healthy competition for places throughout the squad.

"We've seen individuals contribute, we've seen guys really starting to form some partnerships with bat and ball," he said.

"I think we've got all bases covered and I really like the mix we've got."

Australia is currently ninth in the world rankings and was recently ranked below Ireland after losing back-to-back games to Pakistan.

But Bailey says the rankings will mean little once the competition gets under way.

"I can't imagine teams will be taking it easy against us based on the fact where we are ranked and I can certainly assure you we won't be taking teams based on their rankings as well," Bailey said.

"Particularly in a World Cup, rankings go out the window. What matters is performance."

Reuters/ABC

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

First posted September 19, 2012 11:37:28

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Australia goes down to England in T20 tune-up

Updated September 17, 2012 18:02:53

Australia still has some work to do ahead of the World T20 after the team went down by nine runs to England in their last lead-up game in Colombo.

England made 6 for 172 off their 20 overs, with Alex Hales making 52 and Luke Wright 35. In reply, Australia finished with 6 for 163 off their full allocation of overs.

Australia's bowling accuracy left a lot to be desired, with the team gifting England more than two free overs with a total of 14 wides. Brad Hogg (2-32) and Mitchell Starc (2-39) were the best of the Australian attack.

The Australians were always behind in the run chase losing David Warner for a duck in the first over.

Shane Watson and Mike Hussey steadied the ship with a 74-run partnership before Watson went for 37, bowled by Graeme Swann.

Cameron White was stumped off the spin of Danny Briggs for nine, and when Hussey went lbw to Stuart Broad for 71 in the 17th over, the task became even more difficult.

Captain George Bailey was bowled by Tim Bresnan the following over for 3, leaving Australia in deep trouble at 5 for 145.

The target got down to 27 runs off the last two overs, with Dan Christian and Glenn Maxwell doing the chasing, but Maxwell was caught behind by Jonny Bairstow off the bowling of Steve Finn for 18 with nine balls left.

The Australians needed 22 off the last six balls, but Bresnan restricted them to just five runs off the first five deliveries, before Matthew Wade ended the game with a big six off the final ball.

Australia's first Cup game will be against Ireland on Wednesday night (AEST) in Colombo.

England 6-172 (20 overs) - Hales 52, Wright 35, Hogg 2-39, Starc 2-32

Australia 6-163 (20 overs) - M Hussey 71, Watson 37, Finn 2-26, Bresnan 1-32

England won by nine runs

Tags: sport, cricket, sri-lanka, australia

First posted September 17, 2012 17:58:30

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Australia floors Pakistan in final Twenty20

Updated September 11, 2012 09:54:25

Australia brought Pakistan down to earth with a thumping 94-run defeat in the third and final Twenty20 international at Dubai Stadium on Tuesday morning (AEST).

Chasing a daunting 169-run target, Pakistan was all out for 74 - the joint lowest by a Test playing country in all Twenty20s - for its biggest defeat in the history of the shortest form of the game.

Only Nasir Jamshed (17), Yasir Arafat (15) and Abdul Razzaq (13) could reach double figures as Australian pacemen Mitchell Starc (3 for 11) and Pat Cummins (3 for 15) ran through the Pakistan batting line-up.

Pakistan, which won the first match by seven wickets and the second in a super-over, never looked the same side as it lost wickets at regular intervals, the first five falling by the sixth over with the score on 19.

Razzaq and Arafat shared the highest partnership of the innings with 20, taking Pakistan past the lowest total in all Twenty20 - 67 by Kenya against Canada in Belfast in 2008.

Pakistan's previous biggest defeat in Twenty20 internationals was by 48 runs, against England at The Oval in 2009.

India was also dismissed for 74 by Australia at Melbourne in 2008.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez termed the defeat as a wake-up call.

"Unfortunately we couldn't do well in the last match," Hafeez said.

"It is a wake up call ahead of the World Twenty20 and we now must realise our duties but full credit to Australia as they came back strongly."

Australian captain George Bailey praised his openers, David Warner and Shane Watson.

"The openers set the foundation for us and then the bowlers backed that with some good performances," Bailey said.

Earlier Warner made a 34-ball 59 with six sixes and a four and Watson hammered five sixes and a boundary during his 32-ball 47 to put on Australia's best opening stand of 111 in all T20s after they were put into bat.

The Australian openers went berserk from the eighth over when Watson hit Shoaib Malik for three towering sixes and from the other end Warner hit left-armer Raza Hasan for as many sixes in the ninth.

Even the successful Saeed Ajmal was hit for two sixes as Australian openers hit nine sixes in the space of 19 balls, bringing the second fifty off just 15 balls.

Paceman Arafat, who replaced Sohail Tanveer as the only change to the line-up, had both the openers in successive overs to put brakes on the Australian innings, finishing with 2 for 30.

Glenn Maxwell chipped in with a 20-ball 27 with three fours and six.

Ajmal finished with 2 for 19, taking his tally to 60 wickets -- the most by any bowler in Twenty20 cricket.

The two teams now head to Sri Lanka where the fourth edition of the World Twenty20 begins from September 18.

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, united-arab-emirates, australia

First posted September 11, 2012 07:40:11

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Australia rings changes for second T20

Updated September 07, 2012 11:29:30

Australia cricket selectors have recalled all-rounder Dan Christian, spinner Brad Hogg and paceman Mitchell Starc for Friday night's crucial second Twenty20 International against Pakistan.

The changes follow Australia's heaviest ever loss by the margin of balls remaining after Pakistan overhauled Australia's total of 89 with seven wickets and 31 deliveries in hand.

Glenn Maxwell, Ben Hilfenhaus and spinner Xavier Doherty have been dropped.

Maxwell made four runs batting at number eight and took 0-25 off two overs after being asked to open the bowling in his T20 debut.

Wednesday night's total of 89 was Australia's second-lowest ever and Christian is expected to slot in at eight in Maxwell's place.

However skipper George Bailey wants the runs to come from the top four primarily, with pressure on openers David Warner and Shane Watson plus Mike Hussey and Bailey himself to lift the side to a more respectable total.

Bailey says the Dubai pitch is playing slow and taking turn and he feels a score of approximately 140 would be a handy total.

And the skipper is not giving up on his side's Twenty20 World Cup hopes in Sri Lanka later this month despite their awful start to the three-game series against Pakistan.

Ninth-ranked Australia could fall even further - below Ireland - if Pakistan sweep the three-match series.

"But in terms of the group we've got together and what we're capable of, it certainly hasn't altered my thoughts that we can still be a very good team," Bailey said defiantly after the loss.

"I still think we can win it. I certainly don't think we'd win if we played like we did today."

Vice-captain Watson says the introduction of Hogg, 41, is a boost to the side.

"He certainly is a wicket-taking bowler," Watson said on Thursday.

"There's no doubt the wicket is only going to turn more."

Starc was player of the one-day series against Pakistan which ended earlier this week and was rested from Thursday's (AEST) T20 clash.

Game two is scheduled to start at 2am on Saturday morning (AEST).

Australia: George Bailey (capt), Shane Watson, David Warner, Mike Hussey, David Hussey, Cameron White, Matthew Wade, Dan Christian, Brad Hogg, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, united-arab-emirates, australia, pakistan

First posted September 07, 2012 09:46:21

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Pakistan thrashes Australia in first T20 clash

Updated September 06, 2012 10:56:24

Australia suffered a humbling defeat to Pakistan in the first Twenty20 international losing by seven wickets after being bowled out for 89, its second-lowest ever total in the shortest form of the game.

In response, Pakistan comfortably chased down the Australian total, Kamran Akmal leading the way with 31 not out.

The target was surpassed with 31 balls to spare, the earliest any Australian side has been beaten in Twenty20 internationals.

"I'm very disappointed and there's plenty to go away and work on," Bailey said.

"You don't ever want to be setting those sorts of records.

"But in terms of the group we've got together and what we're capable of, it certainly hasn't altered my thoughts that we can still be a very good team.

"I still think we can win it. Definitely. Absolutely," he added.

"I certainly don't think we'd win if we played like we did today."

Bailey said he couldn't pinpoint one reason for the team's batting collapse.

"It's just one of those things. It's hopefully just a bad performance and one that you won't see again," he said.

"Even if we gained a tiny bit of momentum, we gave it back by losing a wicket."

Bailey's side narrowly beat Australia's record-low score of 79 against England in Southampton in 2005.

Opener David Warner (22) was the only batsman to reach 20 in a terrible display of shot-making by the Australian side just two weeks shy of their opening Twenty20 World Cup clash with Ireland in Sri Lanka.

Pacemen Sohail Tanvir (3 for 13) and Umar Gul (1 for 17) always looked threatening while spinners Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal and Raza Hasan, on debut, claimed two wickets each.

Gul and Shane Watson had both been rested from the one-day international series and it was the Pakistan paceman who began in better form, trapping the Australian vice-captain lbw for eight with his fifth delivery after coming on to bowl the third over.

Mike Hussey, fresh from two consecutive ODI half-centuries, was caught at cover for one.

Warner continued his modest form against Pakistan as he popped a return catch to Hafeez on 22 after scoring a total of 50 in the ODI series.

But his score was made to look good by his teammates.

David Hussey (three) and Bailey (14) were both caught on the leg-side boundary and Matthew Wade (six) and Glenn Maxwell (four) followed in the same fashion.

Ajmal dismissed Maxwell and Cameron White (bowled for 15) in successive deliveries but tailender Xavier Doherty was at least able to deny the spin genius a hat-trick.

Australia's innings ended with three balls remaining in the 20th over when Ben Hilfenhaus was caught behind for a duck.

ABC/AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, united-arab-emirates, australia, pakistan

First posted September 06, 2012 05:04:06

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Pakistan beat Australia after super over

Updated September 08, 2012 11:45:04

Pakistan beat Australia in an extraordinary second Twenty20 international that came down to a super over after both sides hit 151 runs from their 20 overs.

The victory seals a series victory for Pakistan with one match to play and means Australia slips below Ireland to tenth in the Twenty20 rankings.

After the disappointment Australia will take positives out of this match which must rank as one of the greatest in the history of the shortest format of the game.

Australia hit 11 from its super over bowled by Pakistan's death bowler specialist Umar Gul, a total Pakistan surpassed from its final ball.

Gul speared in trademark yorkers which Aussie openers Shane Watson and David Warner struggled to get the ball away initially before the latter came down the wicket for the fourth ball and flicked for four to fine leg.

After a wide, Warner holed out to long on and George Bailey, who earlier hit 42 from 27 balls, came in for the last ball and hit two runs to deep midwicket.

Pat Cummins was given the responsibility for Australia and was feasted on by Umar Akmal and Abdul Razzaq.

After hitting an air-shot first up, Akmal flat-batted the second ball past Cummins for four. Following a single, Razzaq smashed the ball over point for another boundary.

Razzaq then miss-hit the next ball and was fortunate to see the ball drop just before David Hussey at mid on.

Cummins' attempted bouncer was then called a wide and Akmal, needing only to block the last ball due to his side scoring more boundaries in the super over, scampered through for a single to seal victory.

"I was always very confident and all the time I had belief in the boys that we would win," Pakistan captain Mohammed Hafeez said.

"It's a great sign for me that everyone is responding so well, especially under pressure, and it's very pleasing for me as captain. Everyone's getting confidence and I'm very proud."

Bailey said the Australian players should take heart in their performance.

"Whenever it's so close you run things through your mind and there are a lot of what-ifs," he said.

"We can take a lot of positives from the match and in terms of a spectacle it was a terrific match."

On two occasions during regular play it seemed Australia would comfortably wrap up victory.

At the mid-point of its innings, with Shane Watson and Mike Hussey at the crease and the score at 1 for 79, Saaed Ajmal - who earlier took the wicket of Warner following his blistering 31 off 19 balls - came back into bowl and trapped Watson leg before.

Cameron White was run out in the next over swinging the game back in the balance.

Despite Mike Hussey falling to Gul for 23, Australia was well on the way to victory when Bailey during a super captain's knock hit consecutive boundaries in the penultimate over leaving Australia needing 12 off nine balls. A series-equalling victory seemed there for the taking.

Matthew Wade was then run out superbly by a direct throw from long leg by substitute fielder Yasir Arafat and then Bailey holed out from the first ball of the last over - bowled by Razzaq's first ball of the series.

Again Arafat was the key fielder running in from long leg after Bailey miss-hit Razzaq's slower bouncer.

After three successive singles it seemed that Pakistan would wrap up victory only for Cummins, who famously guided Australia to Test victory in Johannesburg last year, to hit a towering six over long on.

Then needing one run to win off the last ball, Cummins holed out to mid off.

Pakistan posted 4 for 151 - one it will have been confident of defending after Australia was bowled out for 89 in game one.

After winning the toss the Pakistan skipper led the way with a hard-hitting 45 while Nasir Jamshed also smashed 45 and Kamran Akmal was unbeaten on 43 from 26 deliveries.

Dan Christian claimed one of the greatest catches in Twenty20 history to dismiss Jamshed off the bowling of Cummins.

Christian ran back with the flight of the ball at mid-off and lunged full length to complete a miraculous catch in the fingertips of his left hand.

Jamshed fell at 2 for 89, coming to the crease with the score on 13 after debutant Mitchell Starc bowled Imran Nazir for a duck. Starc returned the tidy figures of 1 for 17 off four overs.

Mike Hussey dropped a simple chance at deep cover off David Hussey's bowling when Jamshed was on 13.

Hafeez, who appeared to be lbw to Cummins in the opening over but was given the benefit of the doubt, eventually holed out to long-on from the bowling of Watson.

Umar Akmal scored 13 before being caught on the boundary off Christian's bowling in the final over.

Spinner Brad Hogg, who was recalled for Xavier Doherty, had a nightmare return to the line-up and finished with 0 for 38. Paceman Cummins (1 for 37) was also expensive.

ABC/AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, united-arab-emirates, pakistan, australia

First posted September 08, 2012 06:12:59

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Australia set 245 to win ODI and series

Updated September 04, 2012 04:43:47

Pakistan's batsmen suffered through stifling heat and humidity to put the pressure on Australia to chase 245 to win the third and deciding one-day international in Sharjah.

Paceman Mitchell Starc was again the star for Australia with 4 for 51 from his 10 overs, giving the left-armer nine wickets for the series despite failing to make a breakthrough in game two in Abu Dhabi last weekend.

Pakistan finished on 7-244 after being invited to bat by Australia captain Michael Clarke who was keen to avoid his side having to bowl second in the late-night dew which has made gripping the ball difficult.

Even so, Australia still managed to bowl 13 wides after conceding 20 in game two bowling second.

Starc's fellow left-armer Mitchell Johnson (2 for 33 off nine) was also a fine performer, although given the slow outfield the target will be a difficult assignment.

Mohammad Hafeez (78) and Nasir Jamshed (48) shared a partnership of 129, which was 12 runs shy of the highest opening stand by Pakistan in an ODI against Australia. Mudassar Nazar and Mohsin Khan put on 141 at the MCG in February 1985.

Jamshed was caught behind from an attempted pull shot off the bowling of Johnson in the 27th over.

Johnson struck again in his next over as Pakistan's decision to promote Shahid Afridi to number three backfired when the all-rounder was caught at deep square leg for seven.

Pakistan had lost 3 for 26 after a weary Hafeez was lbw to spinner Clarke at 3 for 155.

Asad Shafiq (27) and gifted strokeplayer Umar Akmal (duck) fell in the 39th over as Starc made two key breakthroughs.

Starc's dream run at Sharjah continued in the 47th over when Misbah-ul-Haq (25) holed out to long-off and Kamran Akmal (two) was bowled three balls later.

Azhar Ali was unbeaten on 27.

AAP

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First posted September 04, 2012 04:43:47

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