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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Heroic stand gives India life

Updated December 15, 2012 22:50:12

A magnificent partnership of 198 between Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni brought India back into its must-win fourth Test on the third day against England in Nagpur, but late wickets kept the tourists in the driving seat.

Kohli scored his third Test century, while the Indian skipper heartbreakingly was run out for 99 chancing a single to his opposite number Alastair Cook at mid off.

India finished the day on 8 for 297, 33 runs behind England.

The 507-ball partnership ended when Graeme Swann trapped Kohli (103) leg before.

Scoring at a strike rate in the mid-thirties Kohli showed once more that he is capable of being the leader of the new Indian middle order

Dhoni, who came into the match under massive pressure, displayed his big game temperament evidenced before in World Cup and IPL finals, but in a very different manner.

The Indians began the day on 4 for 87 after James Anderson had decimated the top order the previous evening

Two more wickets fell towards the end of the day with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (12) on debut dismissed lbw to James Anderson and Piyush Chawla (1) bowled by Swann.

Tags: sport, cricket, india, england

First posted December 15, 2012 22:50:12

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Home comfort gives Aussies the edge: Warne

Updated October 23, 2012 13:52:08

Shane Warne has backed Australia to win the upcoming Test cricket series against the Proteas, but only because it is the home team.

The leg spin legend said on Tuesday there is very little separating Australia, South Africa, England and India - and perhaps Sri Lanka as well when it plays at at home.

The three-Test series against South Africa starts on November 9 at the 'Gabba in Brisbane.

"When you're at home, you're expected to win," Warne said.

"There's no real standout side for me.

"Anyone can beat anyone and when it's at home, I would expect Australia to beat South Africa.

"It will be a great contest - it will be the bowlers who are on display for both teams, they will really test the batsmen's techniques.

"Young (James) Pattinson is really on fire here at the moment."

Warne expects Victorian Matthew Wade to be named wicketkeeper for the first Test, but said there could also be room in the side for fellow gloveman Brad Haddin.

"Brad Haddin is a good friend and he's done well, but maybe there's a spot for him as a batsman," Warne said.

"Whichever way the selectors go will be fine, but I think Matthew Wade will probably get the nod."

While Jon Holland is out with a shoulder injury, Warne also predictably called on selectors to pick a spinner in the first Test team.

"I mean, c'mon, you always play a spinner no matter what the conditions are," he said with a grin.

Warne added it was a shame Holland could be a long-term casualty because of his shoulder injury, which might need surgery.

"Jon Holland is a big loss, I had him pencilled in about 12-18 months ago that he and Nathan Lyon would be on the Ashes (tour) next year," he said.

"I was hopeful that both would play, especially with the balance of the team when you have guys like Shane Watson, Mitchell Marsh who could play as all-rounders.

"It's a real big loss to lose 'Dutchy' (Holland), he's really improved."

Warne called for patience with the current crop of Australian spinners, saying it would take time for them to develop.

He said the strength of Australia's pace bowling meant the spinners could bide their time.

"When the times comes, when the pitches start to 'rag' ... then that's when it's pay day for them," he said.

But Warne is unimpressed about the lack of wrist spinners coming through Australian cricket, blaming it on impatience at junior level.

"I don't want to bang my chest ... it would be a long conversation, but to try to have it in a minute or two - it's hard," he said.

"You need encouragement and sometimes the captaincy at junior level that I found with a lot of the kids ... they get smacked around the park, they bowl a few double-bouncers, the encouragement's not there."

Meanwhile, the 43-year-old, who will captain the Melbourne Stars in this year's Big Bash, admitted he has no idea when he will pull up stumps.

"I have to 'never say never', because in 2007 I said I'd never play cricket again," he said.

"I think I've retired nine times.

"But 18 months later the IPL came up, so that was something that interested me, to captain coach and do it the way I always thought it should be done.

"It's the way it all panned out.

"I do love cricket, I'm passionate about the game and if I can help Australian cricket in any way, shape or form then I will."

AAP

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

First posted October 23, 2012 13:45:40

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Mendis magic gives Sri Lanka perfect start

Updated September 19, 2012 07:37:25

Spinner Ajantha Mendis took a record six wickets for just eight runs as hosts Sri Lanka humbled Zimbabwe in the opening match of the World Twenty20 overnight.

Mendis, 27, marked his international return after an eight-month injury lay-off with the devastating haul to dismiss Zimbabwe for 100 in 17.3 overs in the Group C match in Hambantota.

Zimbabwe could never cope with Mendis's unreadable deliveries and collapsed like a pack of cards in pursuit of the daunting target of 183 set by Sri Lanka at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium.

Sri Lanka, which lost the toss and was sent into bat, owed its total of 4 for 182 to Kumar Sangakkara (44) and Jeevan Mendis (43 not out), who shared a 94-run stand for the fourth wicket.

"It's tough paying a team like Zimbabwe," Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene said.

"You can't take anything for granted. We had to make sure we played to our potential.

"It's a good wicket, just needed to get used to it a little bit. Our guys batted really well, and the bowlers then did a super job."

Mendis struck two blows in his first over, removing Vusi Sibanda (11) and Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor (0) off successive deliveries. He next had Zimbabwe's top-scorer Hamilton Masakadza (20).

He returned for his second spell and took four more wickets to end any lingering Zimbabwean hopes -- and improve his own international Twenty20 record figures of 6 for 16, set against Australia at Pallekele last year.

Jeevan Mendis took 3 for 24 to cap a great all-round performance.

"We are a better side than what we showed," Zimbabwe's captain Taylor said.

"Credit goes to Sri Lanka. They showed why they are one of the favourites to win the tournament.

"We have played enough cricket to go back from today, rethink and come back a better side."

Sangakkara, the newly crowned ICC player of the year, hit a 26-ball 44, studded with a six and two boundaries, while Jeevan Mendis smashed four boundaries and a six during his unbeaten 43 off 30 balls.

Both the left-handers lifted Sri Lanka from 3 for 82 after the hosts were put into bat.

Tillakaratne Dilshan hit five boundaries during his rapid 39 before he fell caught behind by Taylor off legspinner Graeme Cremer. Jayawardene was run out for 13 while debutant Dilshan Munaweera made 17.

Twelve teams competing in the event are divided in four groups, with the top two teams advancing to the Super Eight stage, which will decide the four semi-finalists.

Sri Lanka is bidding to end its 16-year wait for a second major title after winning the 50-over World Cup in 1996.

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, sri-lanka

First posted September 19, 2012 07:37:25

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Taylor ton gives Black Caps advantage

Updated January 26, 2012 17:05:18

An unbeaten century by captain Ross Taylor gave New Zealand the upper hand after the first day of the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Napier.

At stumps on Thursday, the Black Caps were 5 for 331 in their first innings, with Taylor on 112 and BJ Watling on 15.

Taylor has hit 13 fours and two sixes, and his century is his sixth in Tests and his second at McLean Park.

He and former captain Daniel Vettori shared in an 82-run fifth-wicket partnership that helped to steady the ship after the Black Caps lost two quick wickets to be 4 for 196.

Both sides had expected the pitch to be bowler-friendly and it was no surprise when Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor elected to field when he won the toss.

But there were few apparent terrors as openers Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill put on a century stand against an attack that lacked penetration.

The pair reached 124, before the tourists made a double breakthrough.

Guptill, on 51, was the first to go when he was caught behind for debutant seamer Shingirai Masakadza's first Test wicket.

Kane Williamson, on four, was then run out in a mix-up with McCullum.

McCullum and Taylor consolidated to get New Zealand to 2 for 195 before Zimbabwe again struck twice in quick time.

McCullum, who had hit eight fours and two sixes, was on 83 when seamer Kyle Jarvis trapped him LBW.

Jarvis should have had new batsman Dean Brownlie in the same over as well, but Brendan Taylor spilled a chance at second slip and wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu could not grab the rebound.

Brownlie's luck ran out in the next over when he edged a ball from medium-pacer Hamilton Masakadza to Taibu for a duck.

Vettori showed a willingness to play his strokes, hitting seven fours in reaching 38, but fell to a slick stumping by Taibu off leg spinner Graeme Cremer.

Hamilton Masakadza had the best figures of the Zimbabwe bowlers, with 1 for 33 off 16 overs.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, new-zealand

First posted January 26, 2012 16:57:30

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Sharma gives fans the bird in Perth

Updated January 11, 2012 07:57:04

India captain MS Dhoni's decision to give his players an extra day off training on Monday ended in more drama with pace bowler Ishant Sharma giving a one-finger salute to a fan at a Perth go-kart session.

Dhoni felt it would be good for the tourists to get away from cricket ahead of Friday's third Test in Perth, with India trailing 2-0 in the four-match series.

Sharma was greeted by a fan at the go-kart centre in the Perth suburb of Belmont as the fan asked: "Why don't you go learn how to bat and bowl before you go go-karting. It will be three-nil mate."

Sharma responded, as captured on the back page of Tuesday's edition of the The West Australian newspaper, with a one-finger salute as he turned his back to get back on the bus.

India's Virat Kohli was fined half his match fee during the second Test in Sydney last week for flipping the "bird" one-finger gesture in response to taunts from the crowd.

India batting great Sunil Gavaskar has criticised the side following the Sydney Test, saying they need to work more, not less.

Gavaskar said the tourists would be better off having a two-day warm-up game in Perth to help prepare for the fastest pitch in the country.

"The attitude has to be there. You have to go there and practise cricket," Gavaskar said.

But Dhoni said it was important to "de-stress a bit".

"There may be a few individuals who want to spend a bit more time on the field but I feel it's always important to switch off in cricket," he said.

India is due to train at the WACA ground in Perth on Tuesday ahead of Friday's third Test.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, perth-6000, wa, australia

First posted January 10, 2012 11:16:37

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Hazlewood gives Blues the edge

Updated December 06, 2011 20:29:11

Two late wickets to Josh Hazlewood has tipped the ledger ever so slightly in New South Wales' favour on the opening day of its Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania at Manuka Oval.

Tasmania won the toss and reached 6 for 267 at stumps, aided by the big-hitting Alex Doolan, who finished with 82 and Ed Cowan's 65.

Doolan helped Tasmania to 4 for 241 late in the session before Hazlewood (2 for 49) kept the Blues in touch by trapping him and James Faulkner (44) LBW in quick succession.

The pair had enjoyed a 92-run stand, including 12 fours from Doolan.

Matt Johnston remains unbeaten on 15 and Tom Triffitt is on 7.

Earlier in the day it was Cowan who led the charge against his former state, bagging 11 fours in his breezy knock before Blues young gun Josh Lalor sent him packing shortly after lunch.

Lalor (3 for 62) then went on to take another two wickets, dismissing skipper George Bailey for 18 and Mark Cosgrove for 10, which had Tasmania under pressure at 4 for 145.

But Doolan steadied the ship before Hazlewood's late breakthrough.

"A couple of good overs in a row and all of a sudden you've got the momentum on your side, so it's just a matter of building that pressure and putting a couple of sets together," Hazlewood said.

"I'm bowling pretty well and have been for most of the season.

"It was a good game last week picking up a few wickets ... getting a couple again so it's just a matter of staying on the path and keeping fit and bowling well."

Tasmania's top-scorer Doolan said he expects spin to play a bigger role as the four-day match rolls on.

"We probably would have liked to be a few more wickets less, and maybe a few more runs, but not knowing what the wicket's going to do, we're not too sure how it's going to play out," he said.

"We'll go into the innings with our eyes wide open."

The fifth-placed Blues (eight points) could vault as high as second place on the Shield ladder with a victory against the defending champions.

But Tasmania has momentum, enjoying victories against Victoria and South Australia in its past two hit-outs.

A win against the Blues would allow the Tigers to shore up second spot behind pacesetters Queensland (30 points) ahead of the Christmas break.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, canberra-2600, sydney-2000, hobart-7000

First posted December 06, 2011 18:49:23

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