Cowan says he's getting better at Tests

Updated January 02, 2013 09:26:05

Australian opener Ed Cowan believes he is a better player now than he was just over 12 months ago when he scored four consecutive centuries to knock down the door for Test selection.

Cowan has averaged a modest 34.10 in 12 Tests since his debut in last summer's Boxing Day Test, but feels he is not far from more consistent big scores at the top level heading into Thursday's dead-rubber third Test against Sri Lanka in Sydney.

The 30-year-old said he has wasted opportunities to add to the maiden Test century he scored in Brisbane against South Africa in November.

He was disappointed he could not regain his concentration in Melbourne last week after he was involved in a run-out with Phil Hughes. Cowan was dismissed a short time later for 36.

Looking back at his first year in the job, Cowan says the Test caper is harder than it looks but he feels he is learning from mistakes.

"Those four hundreds in a row which capped off being picked last year, I don't think I'm playing any worse now," he said.

"I just think sometimes the game rolls with you a little bit and luck plays its part.

"Looking back at the dismissals, none are really screaming 'you're out of form or technically you're in trouble', so I think that's a good thing.

"It doesn't feel like I don't know where my next run is coming from, it's just a question of getting my head down for a bit longer."

Cowan said he was enjoying the prospect of redemption in the SCG Test, after last year failing against India.

Born and raised in Sydney, Cowan was unwanted by NSW, before moving to Tasmania to build his case for Test selection.

Cowan says he feels at ease in his home town rather than believing he has an axe to grind.

"It was disappointing last year to sit and watch all those runs (SCG centuries by Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey)," he said.

"But at the same time it was a great learning curve as to the hunger required on a good wicket in Sydney and if you do get in to really go big.

"It's just nice to go to your parents' home and have a cup of tea and just a bit of normality and get away from it all."

Australia will hold a light training session on Wednesday morning and captain Michael Clarke is likely to finalise his line-up.

Glenn Maxwell is tipped to make his debut filling the all-rounder boots of the injured Shane Watson (calf), while Mitchell Starc is favoured to come back into the fast bowling rotation at the expense of Jackson Bird.

Another option is to play Johnson as the allrounder over Maxwell and Bird retain his place following an impressive debut last week.

Clarke is thought to be a certain starter despite hamstring trouble.

AAP

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

First posted January 02, 2013 09:26:05

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Cowan delights at 'work in progress' with Warner

Updated December 24, 2012 12:53:53

Ed Cowan believes his partnership with swashbuckling left-hander David Warner at the top of the order is a work in progress which could turn out to be a long and fruitful one for Australia.

Cowan, who has opened in 11 Tests alongside Warner, said the two were still trying to understand each other's approach to the game better.

"We're learning to bat with each other and that's part of it," the left-hander told reporters on Sunday ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka starting on Boxing Day.

"Just understanding when he's going, not to rein it in on my behalf, but when to feed him strike or to try and keep him away from strike if he's getting a little too excited."

Cowan, who has scored a century and five half-centuries in tests, said partnerships were key for openers and it was all about providing the team with solid starts.

"Cricket isn't about how many runs I get or how many runs he gets," he said.

"I know if I don't get any runs, (the media) are going to fire a few bullets or, if he doesn't get runs, you're going to fire bullets.

"But it's about partnerships. If he's 60 and I'm five and we've had a 65-run partnership, we're doing a fantastic job."

Left-handers Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer forged a very successful opening partnership in Tests which helped Australia dominate world cricket for over a decade.

The Warner-Cowan duo has also earned rich accolades in 2012 but Cowan, 30, thinks there was a lot of room for improvement.

"If you asked us what we thought, we'd probably say we're going OK," Cowan said.

"It feels as though there is lots of upside there. Hopefully if we both keep improving the way we are, then it can be a long-term thing."

Cowan feels he was a different player from Warner, who has his own theory of batting.

"He's a feel player," Cowan said. "I'm a thinking player and he's a feel player.

"You just let him go and bat. He's analytical in his own way but one of his strengths is, when he's playing well, he's very clear in how he plays well."

Reuters

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

First posted December 24, 2012 08:12:41

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Cowan backs Bellerive wicket for Test

Updated December 13, 2012 08:16:27

Australian opener Ed Cowan expects the Hobart pitch he has "conquered" to play well in the first Test against Sri Lanka.

The Bellerive strip has had its fair share of critics this Sheffield Shield season after a succession of low totals.

A wicket dubbed "The Incredible Hulk" during last summer's Test loss to New Zealand has seen Western Australia skittled for 67 and Tasmania knocked over for 95 in 2012.

But Cowan, who has played only one Shield game on the ground this season against South Australia, says the wicket suits his game.

"I think it will be a pretty good batting wicket," he said on Monday.

"Some of the Shield wickets over the last couple of years have been good to bat on if you're willing to bat time, and that suits my game.

"It feels like a wicket that I've conquered probably over the last couple of years in bowler-friendly conditions."

The Bellerive surface was re-laid during the off-season and has taken time to settle.

Cowan says first innings scores of 360 from Queensland and 448 from Tasmania in the last two Shield matches show it can be tamed.

"It's been a wicket that has almost accelerated the game in reverse," he said.

"There are grounds ... that deteriorate as the game goes on.

"This probably gets better to bat on and history suggests that.

"To get results in Shield cricket the game has had to move forward at some stage and it's probably moved forward at the start of the game rather than the end."

Spinners have been rarely used in Shield matches but Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath said he expected there would be something in the wicket for the tweakers late in the match.

"It looks 50-50 but I don't know what's the weather (forecast) from the 14th," he said.

"I'm sure there'll be some turn and bounce for the fourth and fifth (days)."

AAP

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

First posted December 10, 2012 15:44:37

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Cowan, Ponting fail in Test warm-up

Updated November 01, 2012 22:13:16

Test opener Ed Cowan's lean Sheffield Shield season has continued after he was bowled for just 6 in the first innings of Tasmania's clash with South Australia at Bellerive.

In his final hit-out before the crucial series against world number one side South Africa beginning next week, Cowan played on to Redbacks paceman Daniel Worall late on a rain-delayed day one.

The left-hander is yet to pass 50 in six Shield innings this season, with a top score of 42, but did make 74 in the Tigers' one-day loss to Victoria last weekend.

The pressure is mounting from in-form ex-Australian opener Phil Hughes, who has been plundering runs in both tournaments, even before Cowan plays his first Test of the season.

Ricky Ponting's Test preparation also did not last long when he was caught behind for just 5, although he stood his ground at a decision he clearly did not like.

At stumps, the Tigers were 3 for 63 after scuttling struggling South Australia for just 112 with left-arm quick James Faulkner bagging a superb 5 for 23.

Skipper George Bailey (24 not out) and Aiden Blizzard (17 not out) were at the crease at the close, while opener Mark Cosgrove made a duck.

Earlier, Test paceman Ben Hilfenhaus bowled 13 overs and took 2 for 25 in his first red-ball game in six months.

The Tasmanian quick snared Redbacks opener Sam Raphael (22) and key man Callum Ferguson (5) as South Australia collapsed from a decent 1 for 51 after the visitors were sent in in tough conditions.

Faulkner bagged his third Shield five-wicket haul, while Hilfenhaus, Luke Butterworth (2 for 14) and an out-of-sorts Jackson Bird (1 for 46) leant support.

A collapse looked on the cards when the left-armer grabbed two scalps in the 26th over, leaving the visitors 4 for 51.

He later grabbed the key wicket of Dan Christian, trapping him lbw for 8, for South Australia to find itself 6 for 68.

"We've had a massive focus with our bowling group to bowl in partnerships so there's going to be days when players take a bag of wickets and there's going to be days when you bowl really well and don't take any," Faulkner said.

"I was just lucky that it was my turn today."

In a telling sign for the struggling Redbacks, it was left to the debuting Raphael to equal top score with skipper Johan Botha.

"He showed all of us how you can play on that wicket, that it is possible, but you just have to hang in there," Botha said.

Conditions did not help the visitors, who were sent in by Tigers skipper George Bailey, with the morning session lost to persistent drizzle and the temperature in Hobart hovering below 10 degrees Celcius.

AAP

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

First posted November 01, 2012 19:48:13

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Ponting, Cowan fail against Blues

Updated September 27, 2012 18:03:53

Test batsmen Ricky Ponting and Ed Cowan both missed out in their first domestic innings of the season, against a New South Wales team inspired by a career-best effort from Moises Henriques.

Henriques blasted an unbeaten 161 against Tasmania, as the Blues recovered from a sickly 3 for 7 to post 442 in the Sheffield Shield match at Bankstown Oval.

Cowan (17) and Ponting (9) perished quickly, as the Tigers reached 3 for 111 when bad light ended play on day two around 40 minutes early.

Mark Cosgrove (73 not out) headed the Tigers' chase, striking several powerful boundaries.

Fellow opener Cowan, who appeared for Australia A and English county Gloucestershire during the off-season, looked set before leaving a ball from Trent Copeland (1 for 28) that crashed into his stumps.

Ponting received a warm welcome from the home spectators after Alex Doolan (5), was caught in the slips by Steve Smith off Doug Bollinger (1 for 26).

The former Test skipper faced 12 balls and struck a couple of sublime boundaries through cover and mid-on before playing around a delivery from Josh Hazlewood (1 for 36).

Ponting, whose last innings was in the third Test against West Indies five months ago, should get another three first-class hit-outs with the Tigers before the opening Test against South Africa in November.

The Blues were dismissed shortly after lunch, but not before Henriques and Copeland (55) each recorded highest first-class scores.

Their 124-run union represented the Blues' highest Sheffield Shield eighth-wicket stand against the Tigers.

They batted through the entire morning session, but the Blues innings closed when they lost 3 for 17 from the time of Copeland's dismissal.

Henriques, who had made nine first-class half-centuries, almost doubled his previous best first-class score of 82, made for Australia A against Pakistan A in Townsville in 2009.

The Australia one-day and Twenty20 representative smashed 15 fours and four sixes in his impressive 229-ball innings.

Copeland notched his second first-class half century, eclipsing his previous best of 53 against Queensland at Blacktown in the 2010/11 season.

Six bowlers claimed wickets for the Tigers, but only former Bankstown and Blues second XI paceman Jackson Bird (3 for 75) took more than one dismissal.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, bankstown-2200, hobart-7000

First posted September 27, 2012 18:03:53

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Proteas bowlers may struggle in Tests: Cowan

Updated September 23, 2012 14:09:59

Ed Cowan sees South Africa as clearly the best Test team in the world but is not convinced its bowlers will be as potent in Australia as they were in England.

Cowan led an Australia A side in two rain-affected, drawn Tests against the England Lions last month, top-scoring for his side in both matches to consolidate his place alongside David Warner in the Test lineup.

The Proteas defeated England's first XI 2-0 at the same time and, though impressed with what he saw, Cowan feels their form in the northern hemisphere gives little indication as to how they will fare in the upcoming three-Test series in Australia.

"They're obviously the best team in the world," Cowan told Grandstand. "I've thought that for a while.

"It was nice to get close hand experience of watching them closely.

"But the conditions are very, very different in Australia than they are in England.

"Their bowlers bowled well in English conditions. The challenge for them is to come here and do the same."

Though the Gabba and WACA pitches would appear suited to Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, Cowan said there is also a high-risk factor, as well as potential great reward, on these tracks.

"They're both wickets that you need to bowl in the right areas," Cowan said. "The margin for error is smaller.

"If you get it right it can be very dangerous for the batsmen but if you get it wrong the ball can go all round the park.

"There's more margin for length error in England than there is on those two wickets.

"The ball spun for (Imran) Tahir which might not happen here - he cleaned up the (English) tail because of it.

"It's a new tour, they haven't seen a lot of our Test cricketers before and I think they're going to be really pushed by an Australian team that's been playing some strong cricket."

Tags: sport, cricket, australia, tas

First posted September 23, 2012 13:09:09

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Cowan overlooked for CA contract

Updated June 22, 2012 17:28:08

Test opener Ed Cowan was a notable omission from Cricket Australia's (CA) 2012/13 list of contracted players.

Cowan could not find a place amongst the 17 chosen by CA, which is based on the form of players over the previous 12 months, despite being an incumbent Test opener.

The 30-year-old made his Test debut against India in Melbourne in the traditional Boxing Day fixture last year and went on to play all four matches in the series.

He also played the entire three-Test series away to West Indies earlier this year and from his seven appearances in the five-day arena he has posted three half-centuries at an average of 29.83.

Mitchell Johnson retained his contract, despite not playing at the Test level since Australia's tour to South Africa last November because of injury.

Other notable exclusions from the contracted 17 include Tasmanian captain George Bailey and his team-mate Jackson Bird, the Sheffield Shield player of the year. Queensland Australian representatives Peter Forrest and Clint McKay plus South Australia's Dan Christian also were overlooked.

Contracted players:

Michael Clarke, Patrick Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Shane Watson, David Warner

The squad of contracted players has been reduced from 25 to 17. Players excluded have the opportunity to earn a contract during the season as they earn points for representing Australia.

To offset the reduced number of Cricket Australia contracts there will be an increase in the number of State contracts offered.

Under a new five-year memorandum of understanding reached with the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA), players with CA contracts earn a minimum retainer of $230,000.

The match fee for a Test appearance increases to $14,000. Those not in the Test XI earn a squad fee of $11,667.

Match fees have increased for all forms of the game with the one-day international fee rising to $5,600 and the T20 fee increasing to $4,200.

A significant feature of the new deal is the incentives in place for players.

Bonuses will be available for match and series wins, International Cricket Council (ICC) event wins and for finishing first and second in the ICC rankings.

The ACA will receive 26 per cent of net 2015 World Cup revenues to assist with a past player and game development legacy program.

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

First posted June 22, 2012 14:53:49

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Cowan completes collective Aussie effort

Updated April 27, 2012 07:59:05

When the post-mortem on the Australia tour of the Caribbean is concluded after the third Test, one of the positives is sure to be the ability of the team's top-line batsmen to all make a key contribution at some stage.

Left hander Ed Cowan joined the club, a little belatedly, in the second innings as he helped the team towards an imposing 310-run lead.

While West Indies, whose opening pair have just one-half century performance between them, have struggled to find the batting displays to back up their improved bowling, Australia has shown it has a solid collective unit with the bat.

There may not have been a single dominating figure in the top order, but each of the top seven have come up with at least one half-century during the tour.

Left-hander Ed Cowan's' 55, was a timely one given the questions in some quarters about his inability on this tour to get beyond the twenties and thirties.

"I'm satisfied to overcome that hurdle of mid 20s, a nothing score, to get a 50 on what is a bloody challenging wicket," he told reporters.

"Fifty for me feels like a really good contribution and I'm really happy that I feel like I've been improving certain aspects of my game and haven't got the rewards and today I got some reward for a lot of hard work."

Cowan batted with an injured wrist, picked up when he was struck by the ball in a close catching position on Tuesday and faced a surface that was turning sharply and bouncing, particularly from the off-spin of Shane Shillingford.

"Fifty on a wicket like that can be as good as 100. Sure the runs don't show in the scorebook but over 300 to chase is a hell of a lot of runs and I think the contributions from guys have been huge," he said.

Cowan, who made his debut against India last December, is only in his seventh Test but it is clear he had been feeling a little pressure having not passed 50 since he scored 74 in Perth in January.

"I try not to read too much of it but if you're in the Australian cricket team and you're not consistently getting big scores, of course you are going to be under pressure. You don't need to be a genius to work that out," he said.

"The only disappointing aspect is I think guys here on the ground would appreciate how hard batting has been through the series but people, because of the time zone, probably haven't watched a lot of cricket but they click on a link to see the score in the morning and they go '28, oh, Ponting 30, these guys are struggling'.

"Well, it's bloody hard work and you need to see the ball spitting and turning the way it is to appreciate that.

"And if you're just judging people's form by looking at the scorecard, then you're not doing the game full justice."

Reuters

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First posted April 26, 2012 13:23:11

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Bring Watto back but don't cut me: Cowan

Updated January 20, 2012 12:03:57

In-form Test opener Ed Cowan says Australian selectors must find a place for a fit-again Shane Watson in the upcoming Tour of the West Indies but is determined to make sure it will not be at his expense.

Cowan has made a solid fist of his call-up to the national team, scoring 166 runs at 41.5 in three matches against India, including 74 in last week's demolition in Perth that handed Australia a 3-0 series lead.

With Watson in line to make his long-awaited return from injury for the Sydney Sixers in Sunday's Big Bash League semi-final, selectors will have to weigh up how - or if - he will be used in the West Indies in March-April.

And while Cowan continues to earn plaudits for his promising opening partnership with David Warner, the 29-year-old believes he needs a strong performance in next week's fourth and final Test, starting in Adelaide on Tuesday, to consolidate his spot.

"He (Watson) is probably the best player in the country so they certainly do have to fit him in," Cowan told reporters in Sydney this morning.

"It's no different to any other team, when guys are coming back you've got to hold your place in the team through weight of runs.

"How I see my job is to make it so difficult for the selectors, that Shane Watson has to bat somewhere else in the batting order.

"That's simply done by me going out and making runs and the rest takes care of itself.

"If they're having a discussion 'should Shane Watson be opening the batting' then I'm not doing my job."

Cowan gave himself a "pass mark" for his performances so far in his first Test series.

"Two 50s in three games... that's OK, that's a pass, but it's not brilliant," he said.

"That's why there's excitement for this Test as well, to really cement that spot and make that a really difficult conversation for the tour of the West Indies."

Cowan insisted Australia were not lacking in motivation for the fourth Test, despite having the series wrapped up.

"It's exciting that we're on the verge of something special as a team," he said.

"Four-nil would be an absolute drubbing of the second best team in the world."

AAP/ABC

Tags: cricket, sport, australia

First posted January 20, 2012 12:03:57

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Cowan succeeds with traditional technique

By Dan Lonergan

Updated December 26, 2011 17:36:14

I started following cricket as a six-year-old in the mid-1970s and the game has certainly changed constantly since then, although in my opinion Test cricket is still the best form of the game.

One of the many changes in Test cricket, which could be described as a by-product of one-dayers and Twenty20, is the role of the opening batsmen.

Both more often than not tend to be attacking players able to dominate a game from the start like arguably the greatest opening pair of all time - West Indians Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes.

Australian Matthew Hayden was the same as is the most attacking and exciting opener of them all, Virender Sehwag, whose idea of taking the shine off the ball is not to defend and block like the past, but hit or clear the fence.

That style of batting is obviously great to watch, but I've always been a great believer you need an attacking opener and one to offer support by providing the sheet anchor.

Keith Stackpole and Bill Lawry were a good opening pair for Australia in the late 1960s and early 70s, with 'Stacky' attacking from the first ball and 'The Phantom' gaining a reputation of being a corpse with pads, but the association worked.

Geoff Boycott, the star English opener, was always criticised for being boring in taking all day to make 50, but he had that pure Test match technique that made him hard to get out.

Another Englishman, Chris Tavare, would prefer to block than score runs.

But he had a job to do and was very effective along with John Edrich, a fine English player who played with Boycott throughout the 60s and 70s and had a reputation of being the best leaver of the ball.

Test teams couldn't afford to have two players opening who were both defensively orientated, however one of each is perfect.

It's early days, but maybe Australia has found that pair in David Warner and Ed Cowan.

They opened for the first time on Boxing Day at the MCG against India and Cowan, who replaced the technically-flawed Phil Hughes, did a Edrich and left many balls just outside off stump going through long periods without scoring.

He spent 36 minutes on 2, while Warner hit boundaries and a six before being dismissed for 37.

After Shaun Marsh went for a duck, Ponting joined Cowan and the former New South Welshman, now Tasmanian, continued to absorb pressure and had to wait 46 minutes to get off 7.

He was 14 not out at lunch after two hours and 24 overs, an excellent example of taking the shine off the new ball.

Cowan has a solid technique perfectly suited to Test cricket and although he was more attacking after lunch, he still left many balls and punished the bad ones to pick up a half-century on debut.

Despite taking more than three hours to pass fifty, it was wonderful to watch and thoroughly deserved.

Tags: sport, cricket, melbourne-3000, vic

First posted December 26, 2011 16:29:10

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Man charged after Cowan family siege

Updated December 24, 2011 14:38:29

Bail has been formally refused for a man charged over a siege at the Sydney home of parents of cricketer Ed Cowan.

Police say Jack Tou Tou Unji was armed with a knife when he broke into the house at Darling Point on Thursday, just a day after the cricketer was picked in the Australian team for the first time.

A neighbour allegedly saw the 36-year-old climbing through a window armed with a knife. He was allegedly leaving when officers showed up.

He then allegedly locked himself inside and threatened self harm, sparking a three-hour operation involving dozens of emergency services officers.

The man was released from hospital into police custody last night and ordered to face court today.

He will appear in again court in early 2012.

Cowan is in line to make his Test debut on Boxing Day.

Tags: law-crime-and-justice, cricket, darling-point-2027

First posted December 24, 2011 11:29:44

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Cowan to make Test debut, Watson injured

Raman Goraya

Updated December 21, 2011 15:45:17

Opener Ed Cowan will make his Test debut on Boxing Day after he was named in Australia's 13-man squad at the expense of the injured Shane Watson.

Watson, who has failed to train at Australia's pre-Test batting camp due to calf soreness, was joined on the injury scrapheap by paceman Ryan Harris (hip), while Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja were dropped from the squad.

Also named was all-rounder Dan Christian who, according to national selector John Inverarity, will battle it out with Shaun Marsh for a spot in the XI to take on India at the MCG.

Marsh, who missed the recent New Zealand series with a back injury, has participated in the nets over the last two days and has until matchday to prove his fitness.

But Christian, who has taken just 10 wickets at an average of 49.7 this domestic season for South Australia but made 475 runs at 59.37, may have the inside running with Australia likely to require a fifth bowler against the star-studded Indian batting line-up.

Ben Hilfenhaus was also thrown a Test lifeline and either he or Mitchell Starc will be named in the pace attack on the morning of the Test.

The 28-year-old Hilfenhaus has not played a Test since being axed after Australia's Ashes loss, while Starc is eyeing his third Test apperance after a less-than-convincing start to his career in Brisbane and Hobart.

Inverarity said selectors have been considering Hilfenhaus' selection for some weeks.

"He is in very good form. He has had a few body concerns and his action deteriorated a little bit last year and he seems to have got that back," he said after naming the squad.

"He is a strong, durable, experienced bowler and he is in the the squad to provide an option because of that."

Cowan has played his way into a baggy green with an outstanding year with the bat.

The 29-year-old scored 109 for the Chairman's XI against India on Tuesday, following up his 145 versus New Zealand for Australia A last month, as well as two big Sheffield Shield centuries for Tasmania to take his 2011 first-class average to 54.12.

"Ed has been a very good cricketer, he's in a rich vein of form. He knows his game well. I think we need a bit more steadiness and we're looking for him to provide that," Inverarity said.

"He's played very well in recent weeks. One is fortunate if one gets selected when you one is in good form... The stars have aligned for Ed.

"He's a fine young man and he's playing very well... I think it's a very obvious selection."

Cowan said he received the call last night while at dinner with his godparents.

"My instant reaction was shock. The hairs on your arms stand up and it doesn't quite sink in and it still hasn't," he said.

"I had a sleepless night last time but hopefully when I meet up with the team and get in a routine it will settle the nerves a bit.

"It's something you dream of from when your a kid to play in a Boxing Day Test.

"After a brief moment of reflection you want to contribute to the team. So it will be down to the grindstone until the series is done when you can reflect on what hopefully is a positive outcome."

Inverarity hinted Watson, who missed the entire New Zealand series, will push for a return in Sydney where it is likely he will play just as a batsman.

"The word from Shane Watson was that he is not fit to play. He's had ongoing troubles with his calf," he said.

"His situation is improving and we hope he's in contention for the second Test. It is an option for him to bat down the order."

Hughes' dropping was unsurprising after scores of just 20, 4, 7 and 10 in the New Zealand series while the promising Khawaja, who has also failed to bed down a spot with a big score, has seemingly made way for the retention of veterans Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey.

"They've been tremendous cricketers and contribute a lot to the side," said Inverarity of Ponting and Hussey.

"All the selection panel are keen for them to do well.

"We're hoping they have a breakthrough in the next week or two."

Australian squad:

Michael Clarke (capt), Brad Haddin (vice-capt), Dan Christian, Ed Cowan, Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Hussey, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.

Tags: cricket, sport, australia, india

First posted December 21, 2011 13:13:30

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Cowan reaps rewards for state switch

Ciaran Baynes

Updated December 22, 2011 07:31:15

Ed Cowan used to answer calls from cricket selectors with trepidation.

But on Tuesday night he did not hesitate to answer the phone and hear he had fulfilled his lifelong ambition of playing for Australia.

Cowan points to his switch from New South Wales to Tasmania as the catalyst behind his leap from fringe state cricketer to Test opener.

The 29-year-old opener, who will replace Phil Hughes as David Warner's opening partner in the Boxing Day Test, revealed he has been in regular contact with the Australian selectors throughout the summer.

"John Inverarity's number popped up on my phone and I thought 'I'd better answer that one'," Cowan said.

"I've had calls a few times when the chairman of selectors from various teams has phoned and you don't want to answer the call. This time I thought it would be a positive outcome.

"Their communication has been great. Maybe with a different selection panel this wouldn't have come to fruition.

"When we had the A game with New Zealand they were really positive and communicated well to me there was a job at the top of the order if I could prove I was the man for the job. If I could keep scoring hundreds.

"I said 'my job is to make your job as hard as possible', they said 'we look forward to you doing that'."

Although he has put up superb numbers this season, Cowan was quick to point out this is just a continuation of the form he has been in for Tasmania since 2009.

"I've got nine first-class hundreds in the last two-and-a-half years. It's been years of trying to dominate state cricket and I've hit form at the right time," he said.

"It doesn't feel [like] my form has changed technically over the last four weeks. But the stars have aligned and I've got greedy when I've got in.

"I think it started when I moved to Tasmania and I got more consistent and was picked more consistently.

"I loved playing cricket for New South Wales but I wasn't getting the most of myself and the system there wasn't getting the most out of me. Since then I felt I've had a point to prove.

"I feel I left at the right time and I see my career as one of two halves.

"First in New South Wales when I was in and out of the team for various reasons - injury, form and a great depth of young players - and my career in Tasmania which has been pretty successful."

Cowan's call-up came at the expense of fellow New South Welshmen and friends Usman Khawaja and Hughes, but he insists the situation has brought no edge to their relationship.

"I had a great chat with Usman last night. He found out he was dropped. Being friends we chatted in the room for an hour while the Big Bash was going on," Cowan said.

"Friendships go beyond the boundary. I've been friends with these guys for years.

"So it was nice to have my moment but at the same time I had to be a friend to a guy who was pretty disappointed.

"Phil, when he found out this morning, was the first person to come and look me in the eye and shake my hand. There's no animosity there.

"They're both brilliant cricketers and will both no doubt have great careers for Australia but, at this moment, it's my time."

Whether he was picked or not, Cowan was always going to be at the MCG on Boxing Day.

"Quite humorously my best mate is having his bucks day at the Boxing Day Test," Cowan said.

"I was scheduled to fly out on the morning of Boxing Day and sink a few tinnies watching the Test in Bay 13. Unfortunately, I've had to put the bucks day on hold.

"They'll still be there probably with a banner saying 'Cowan was meant to sit here' or something ridiculous."

Tags: cricket, sport, australia, tas

First posted December 21, 2011 15:38:37

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Cowan makes his mark with century against India

Updated December 21, 2011 10:27:08

Ed Cowan scored 109 for the Chairman's XI against India in Canberra on Tuesday, and now he will play the waiting game and see whether Australian selectors call on him to face the same opposition on Boxing Day in Melbourne.

Cowan was well in the frame for a Test debut before the tour game and after the opener contributed more than half of the Chairman's stumps score of 7 for 215 from 59 overs, he walked off satisfied he could not have done much more to press his case.

This score came on the back of his 145 against New Zealand playing for Australia A last month, two big tons for Tasmania and a heaving first-class average of 54.12 this year.

Cowan believes his positive experience against the touring sides have given him the best platform possible to make the leap from Sheffield Shield cricket to opening the batting on Boxing Day.

"As a state cricketer that's the pinnacle, to see international superstars to play against them and to benchmark yourself against them," Cowan said.

"To be able to score some runs has been a big confidence boost to know you're not that far off the running.

"The biggest challenge is being able to make the game a bat on ball contest and block out 90,000 people and the occasion of having grown up watching Boxing Day, the ritual which is so very Australian.

"That would be the biggest challenge. I would be very confident about the batting stuff but you don't know until you try it."

Cowan's chance of playing on the biggest stage seems to rest on the fitness of Shane Watson. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Wednesday morning that Watson did not take part in the first day of Australia's pre-Test batting camp.

If Watson is fit it seems likely Cowan will miss out as Australian coach Mickey Arthur hinted at Dan Christian as a suitable addition to the batting line-up.

Cowan deserved a ton from 154 balls faced, but in the end he should not have got one after he was clearly run out for 95 when he attempted a single to cover.

Rohit Sharma came up with a direct hit, but Cowan either intentionally or by a brilliant accident ran behind where umpire John Ward had positioned himself and the man in white had no idea where the left-handed Tasmania batsman was.

He was caught a metre short and India remonstrated in disbelief, but lady luck seems to be on Cowan's side at the moment and within a couple of overs he wound his bat around like a windmill after notching his fourth century of the season.

Usman Khawaja is under some pressure to hold his spot batting three for Australia, and was again neither here nor there with 25 from 49 balls.

The NSW left-hander would have been hoping to bat through for a big score, after a Test career dominated by solid starts that have not been capitalised on.

The fact Phil Hughes was demoted to number four suggests he is dead man walking in Australian colours and after moving pretty comfortably to 20, he attempted a sweep too far outside his body and popped one up to be out just before tea.

David Warner's dream run of back-to-back tons came undone in the first over of the innings when he was clean bowled by Abhimanyu Mithun, while century maker from the first Chairman's game Tom Cooper made 38.

Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was the sole shining light for the Indian attack, and finished with 4 for 52 from 14 overs.

India was all out for 269 during its first innings and aside from a Virat Kohli's 132, there was not much to write home about.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, canberra-2600, act, australia, india

First posted December 20, 2011 18:04:47

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Man arrested after siege at Cowan family home

Updated December 22, 2011 23:46:40

Police have arrested a man after a siege at the home of the parents of cricketer Ed Cowan in Sydney's east.

The man allegedly broke into the Darling Point unit just before 1:00pm (AEDT) on Thursday.

When police arrived they saw him walking out of the apartment, so he went back inside and locked himself in a room.

He was armed with a knife and threatening self harm.

After three hours of negotiations, police entered the unit and arrested the man.

Ed Cowan is in line to make his Test debut on Boxing Day against India.

The cricketer's father, Richard Cowan, told the Seven Network the man had barricaded himself inside.

"To have this happen has spoiled the day, but that's life," he said.

ABC/AAP

Tags: crime, law-crime-and-justice, cricket, darling-point-2027, nsw, australia

First posted December 22, 2011 19:46:25

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