Warne cops one-match ban after Samuels incident

Updated January 07, 2013 14:49:38

Shane Warne says he has been handed a "pretty harsh" penalty following his altercation with Marlon Samuels in Sunday night's Big Bash League match at the MCG.

Warne was banned for one match and fined $4,500 for his heated exchange with Samuels during the match between the Stars and the Renegades in front of a record crowd of 46,681.

Warne and the Melbourne Stars have decided against appealing the penalty and he will miss his side's clash with Sydney Thunder on Tuesday night.

Angry at Samuels for having obstructed team-mate David Hussey running during the Stars' innings, Warne grabbed at the West Indian's shirt during the Renegades' run chase and the pair exchanged angry words.

Moments later Warne, in an apparently deliberate act, hit Samuels with the ball when fielding near the batsman.

This led Samuels to throw his bat in the air and invite Warne to engage in an extended physical exchange.

Warne was charged with four alleged breaches under Cricket Australia's (CA) code of behaviour, although his fine only related to three offences.

He was fined $3,000 for engaging in inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with another player and $1,000 for using obscene and offensive language.

A $500 sanction was also handed down for showing dissent at an umpire's decision but he was cleared of a charge of throwing a ball at a player in an inappropriate or dangerous manner.

Warne briefly appeared before the media on Monday and expressed his displeasure with the sanctions handed down by CA.

"I'm very conscious about the image of the game and I'm disappointed in some of my actions last night," he said.

"But I'm also pretty disappointed with the severity of the penalties. I think that was pretty harsh."

The Stars will consider their legal and appeal options in regard to the sanctions.

Samuels has been handed two alleged breaches, including participating in "unbecoming behaviour".

He is still to face his disciplinary hearing.

Warne's Stars team-mate Cameron White was also charged with showing dissent at an umpire's decision and given a suspended $1,000 fine.

After the match Warne attempted to play down the incident, preferring to focus on the result with the Stars having suffered a nine-wicket loss to their cross-town rivals.

"I tried to throw the ball to (wicketkeeper) Bobby Quiney and the next minute I decided to get out of the way of that bat," Warne told Fox Sports.

"I'm more disappointed that we lost, that was just a heat of the moment thing.

"That's just the way it goes, I hope he's OK."

The latest incident has again put Samuels in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.

Adelaide Strikers coach Darren Berry will face a CA disciplinary hearing for an argument he had with with Samuels prior to last Wednesday night's match between the two sides.

Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann was given a suspended $3,000 fine and a reprimand for doubting the legality of Samuels' bowling action last month.

Samuels was forced to retire hurt on 17 against the Stars after a top edge from a Lasith Malinga short-pitched delivery hit his helmet.

He left the field bleeding under his eye socket and is set to miss the remainder of the tournament.

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, melbourne-3000

First posted January 07, 2013 09:40:31

View the original article here

Khawaja in Test reckoning after Thunder withdrawal

Updated December 18, 2012 17:33:42

Usman Khawaja looks the favourite to replace Michael Clarke in Australia's batting line up should the Test captain fail to prove his fitness in time for the Boxing Day Test.

Khawaja's Big Bash side the Sydney Thunder has withdrawn the left-hand batsman from its squad for its upcoming match against the Adelaide Strikers on Thursday.

The Pakistan-born 25-year-old is expected to be added to an extended Test squad for the second Test of the three-match series against Sri Lanka, with Australian selectors looking to give Clarke as much time as needed to recover from his hamstring strain.

More to follow.

Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, sri-lanka

First posted December 18, 2012 17:32:34

View the original article here

Pietersen back in England fold after apology

Updated October 03, 2012 21:12:19

Kevin Pietersen can return to the England fold after making peace with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in a row over "provocative" text messages.

The ECB released a statement outlining Pietersen had apologised to former England captain Andrew Strauss and could potentially return to the squad for the tour of India later this year.

"Agreement has been reached concerning a process for his re-integration into the England team during the remainder of 2012," the statement said.

"Upon completion of the program, the England selectors will consider Kevin for future matches.

"Kevin Pietersen has apologised to Andrew Strauss and wishes to express to all those who support England his regrets at the impact the recent controversies have had on the England team.

"He now wishes to put the events of the summer behind him and to focus on regaining his place in the England team."

Pietersen, who has averaged nearly 50 in 88 Test matches, was dropped in August after admitting sending messages to members of the opposing South Africa squad, which he conceded were provocative but denied were derogatory about Strauss.

He said he had deleted those messages and the ECB claimed the issue had been "successfully concluded through a binding assurance provided by Kevin".

Pietersen has been commentating on the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, england, united-kingdom

First posted October 03, 2012 21:12:19

View the original article here

T20 organisers ditch water after players get bug

Updated September 25, 2012 21:36:26

A local drinking water supplier strongly defended its product on Tuesday even as World Twenty20 organisers jettisoned their bottled water after several players, including Australia's Mitchell Starc and Brad Hogg, went down with stomach flu.

LAUGFS Aqua System said they had asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) for samples of suspect bottles of water, but got no immediate response except a statement that their product was off the table.

"We have done our own tests and confirmed that there is nothing wrong with our water," LAUGFS general manager Chaminda Wijesinghe said.

"We asked the ICC to give us water samples but we have got no response yet."

He said players and officials may also have consumed bottles from other suppliers rather than LAUGFS mineral water while staying at Sri Lankan hotels.

"We don't know what caused the problem but I can tell you it is not our water," Wijesinghe said. "I am drinking it all the time."

Several players from New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa and Australia have reportedly been treated for stomach bugs since their arrival in Sri Lanka, with Kiwi Tim Southee even requiring hospital treatment for dehydration.

An ICC spokesman said on Monday that the brand of bottled water used by players and officials had been replaced.

Players were supplied with a locally-produced American branded mineral water during training on Tuesday.

Since last Thursday, there had been no reports of any player coming down with stomach flu.

"Although there is no evidence to suggest that water was the cause of any illness, the product supplied for use in the tournament has been replaced," the spokesman for tournament organisers said.

A Sri Lankan source connected with the tournament said public health inspectors had checked the food given to the players and found nothing untoward.

"If an entire team, or at least a majority, go down, we can understand that there is something wrong with the food and beverages department," the source said. "Just a few players have been affected."

No official complaints had been lodged by any of the teams, he added.

Among players who went down with gastro trouble over the past two weeks were New Zealand's Daniel Vettori, Mitchell Starc and Brad Hogg of Australia, and Paul Stirling and George Dockrell of Ireland.

The 12-nation tournament, Sri Lanka's biggest sporting event, opened on September 18 and runs until October 7.

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, sri-lanka, australia

First posted September 25, 2012 21:36:26

View the original article here

Blues on top after Shield day one

Updated September 18, 2012 21:42:01

New South Wales appeared to be on top after a rain-affected opening day in the Sheffield Shield clash with Western Australia at the WACA Ground.

At stumps, the Blues were 0 for 2 in reply to the Warriors' 217, the visitors having won the toss and chosen to bowl first.

It was the earliest start ever to a domestic first-class season and there were a couple of rain delays before play was abandoned due to bad light with 9.1 overs still to be bowled.

Peter Nevill was on two and Scott Henry was yet to score.

Nevill got an early fright when he edged a Mitchell Johnson delivery in the first over of the innings, but the ball felt short of second slip.

Not surprisingly, Western Australian captain Marcus North was reluctant to leave the field, as the early finish denied his bowlers the chance to utilise the bowler-friendly conditions late in the day.

There were no such problems for the Blues, with captain Michael Clarke having no hesitation inserting the home side when he called correctly at the toss.

Under leaden skies, with a grassy wicket and strong breeze blowing, Clarke gave his seamers first use of the conditions and they made the most of it, with all five bowlers used claiming wickets.

The Blues claimed the key scalps of former Test batsmen Shaun Marsh (one) and Marcus North (12) cheaply in the opening session, and the home side never really recovered after being 3 for 48 before lunch.

The only sustained resistance for the Warriors came from the richly talented Mitchell Marsh, who made 67 in 211 minutes at the crease.

Marsh, coming off a flashy 78 in a one-day match on Sunday, received little support from his teammates, although veteran Adam Voges made 44.

Voges and Marsh added 69 for the fifth wicket to steady the Warriors innings, but the former fell just before tea, trapped LBW by Copeland (2-54).

Marsh was the ninth batsman to fall, trapped LBW by Doug Bollinger, having survived a confident shout earlier in the same over.

Bollinger bowled with good pace and finished with 3-55, after taking four wickets in a man-of-the-match performance on Sunday.

The former Test paceman claimed the important wicket of national hopeful Shaun Marsh, batting at number three, when the left-hander chased a wide delivery and edged the ball to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

North was guilty of sacrificing his wicket cheaply, top edging an attempted scoop around the corner to Bollinger at deep fine leg from the bowling of Josh Hazlewood.

Despite the presence of nine Test cricketers and the Australian captain, a threadbare crowd of 331 was in attendance for the first day of play.

More rain is forecast for the next three days of the match.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, perth-6000, wa, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted September 18, 2012 16:21:23

View the original article here

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

View the original article here

Pomersbach bailed after denying charges

Updated May 19, 2012 15:35:42

Luke Pomersbach has received an interim bail after being arrested for allegedly molesting a woman and beating up her fiance in New Delhi.

The 27-year-old batsman, who has one Twenty20 cap for Australia, denies the charge.

The Western Australian is signed up in the Indian Premier League for the Royal Challengers Bangalore team, which took on the Delhi Daredevils on Thursday night.

He faces up to three years in jail after being charged with molestation, assault and house-breaking after allegedly groping a 27-year-old American woman during an after-game party at the ITC Maurya Hotel, a police statement said.

"We have arrested Luke Pomersbach for assaulting a woman and beating up the fiance who objected to his action," police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said.

The powerfully built cricketer, wearing a heavy bandage on his right arm, later appeared in a central Delhi court where he fainted. He was granted bail until Saturday.

"My client is denying the charges against him," Pomersbach's lawyer Ajay Bhargava said. "We have received interim bail and my client has to appear in court tomorrow."

Pomersbach has battled depression and drug problems and narrowly avoided a jail sentence in Australia after admitting to assaulting a police officer who was trying to arrest him for drink-driving in 2009.

The alleged victim told the Times Now news channel that Pomersbach had "tagged along" with her and her Mumbai-based fiance and had suddenly grabbed her while they drank together in their hotel room.

"My fiance said, 'hey listen, you shouldn't treat any girl like that. Why don't you just leave...'

"When he said that, he (Pomersbach) turned around and started hitting him. He hit him so many times, punched him on his face, that his ear, he got injured in his ear."

The man is in a stable condition in a private New Delhi hospital, but was complaining about losing hearing in his left ear, doctors said.

Royal Challengers Bangalore team manager Avinash Vaidya declined to comment on the incident.

Pomersbach has not featured for Bangalore in this season's IPL, which has again hit the headlines for the wrong reasons and is being dubbed the "Indian Problem League" by some commentators.

Earlier this week, five Indian players signed to IPL teams were suspended after an undercover TV report alleged they were prepared to take money for spot-fixing, an illegal practice in which parts of the game are fixed.

On Wednesday night, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who is co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise, was involved in an ugly late-night row with officials at Mumbai's main cricket stadium.

The annual IPL tournament also faces allegations of massive corporate corruption, money-laundering and tax evasion, as well as secret deals to hide teams' real owners and even links to India's criminal underworld.

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, india, wa

First posted May 18, 2012 23:07:49

View the original article here

Clarke hails belief after Caribbean comeback

Updated April 12, 2012 17:08:48

When times are tough in next year's bid to regain the Ashes in England, Australia's cricketers can draw on their comeback win over the West Indies in Barbados to show nothing is impossible.

From 8 for 258 in reply to the Windies' first innings of 9 for 449 declared on the fourth morning in Bridgetown, Australia rose from nowhere to stun the home team and complete a three-wicket win in the evening gloom.

Australia's three-wicket win on the fifth and final day completed a remarkable five-session turnaround at Kensington Oval, chasing down 192 runs in 47 overs.

Earlier, Australia claimed the five Windies' second-innings wickets in the morning session to dismiss the hosts for 148.

Victory was achieved through Ryan Harris's match-turning 68 not out, Michael Clarke's bold decision to declare while still 43 runs behind in the first innings - the first time an Australian team has declared behind and won the match with all 11 players available to bat - and then a devastating three-wicket spell by Ben Hilfenhaus to gut the Windies' top order.

Clarke said the victory is the sort of effort which his team can draw upon in the challenges that lie ahead - particularly next year's Ashes campaign in England.

"As a player individually, I guess you realise and experience the thought of things not going to plan at the start of the game but you can still win - you can turn it around," he said.

"It gives every single player in the team confidence that if they back their own ability, whether it be with bat or with ball, you can have success at this level, in any conditions, even if your back is to the wall."

The back-from-the-dead nature of the win harked back to Australia's turnaround in the 2006-07 Ashes Test in Adelaide where England posted 6 for 551 declared only for Shane Warne and Michael Hussey to lead Australia to a stunning win on its way to a 5-0 series whitewash.

That team was of a more-experienced nature than Clarke's line-up but, with five straight Test wins under their belt, Clarke is hopeful a new winning mentality based on unwavering self belief is being developed.

"I remember Warney telling me back then that with a day and a half left in the (Adelaide) Test match, that we would win the game and I was trying to work out how," Clarke said.

"At best, surely, we'd get a draw but he had no doubt in his mind. For me as a young player, I thought 'righto, that's my attitude - I'm going to win'.

"A few years on and I'm in the change rooms telling the boys we're going to win this Test match. Hopefully, a few of them believe me the way I believed Warney back then.

"It shows, if you have that self belief ... that you find ways.

"I know it's tough. I know we're tired. I know there's going to be issues of the foot marks. I know it's going to be a tough run chase but find a way.

"Credit to the boys, they certainly found a way."

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, australia, barbados

First posted April 12, 2012 16:52:09

View the original article here

Windies declare after Chanderpaul ton

Updated April 09, 2012 10:07:48

An unbeaten hundred from Shivnarine Chanderpaul has put the West Indies in a strong position in the first Test against Australia in Barbados.

The veteran batsman made 103 not out as the Windies scored 9 for 449 declared in its first innings at Kensington Oval, his 25th Test hundred and fifth against Australia.

In reply, Australia had reached 0-44 at stumps on day two with openers Ed Cowan (13 not out) and David Warner (27 not out) putting together a good counter-attack in 9.5 overs before bad light stopped play.

Australia's new number three, Shane Watson, believes it is key the Australian batsmen continue to score quick runs on day three.

"We're going to have to bat well and score quite quickly as well to keep the game moving forward," Watson said.

"There's potential for the wicket to break up in some way, balls might stay a bit lower and maybe there might be a bit of spin if the footmarks dust up a little bit.

"The way these wickets can work if the game peters along for three or four days the result can turn around pretty quickly with a good session.

"We've got to put ourselves in that position by batting well."

Chanderpaul's 248-ball epic took in most of the second day's play after he started with Darren Bravo with the Windies with the overnight score on 3 for 179.

Bravo went on to make 51, joining Kirk Edwards (61) and Kraigg Brathwaite (57) as top-order half-century makers for the Windies.

The hosts' innings was sparked by a 36-ball 41 from Darren Sammy which included three sixes as well as being felled by a Shane Watson bouncer.

But while Sammy's belligerent innings was over in a flash, unflappable Chanderpaul batted on, adding 28 with last man Devendra Bishoo (18 not out) to reach three figures.

The left-hander also had to survive a close leg before decision, which was reviewed, on 85.

Chanderpaul believes Bishoo could be a key man with the ball, tipping the leg-spinner to make life difficult for the Australian batsmen.

"It depends on how well we bowl," he said.

"There's still some rough out there for the spinner.

"If he (Bishoo) pitches in the right areas, there's some spin in the wicket and things can happen for us."

Australia's bowlers were made to toil through 153 overs with only Ryan Harris (2 for 83) and part-timer Warner (2 for 45) taking multiple wickets.

Peter Siddle (1 for 83) bowled well without luck, while Nathan Lyon toiled through 31 overs for 1 for 94.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, barbados, australia

First posted April 09, 2012 06:50:38

View the original article here

Scorchers to host final after downing Stars

Updated January 22, 2012 00:46:15

A fine all-round display from Mitch Marsh led Perth Scorchers to the Big Bash League final after an 11-run victory over the Melbourne Stars at the WACA ground.

Marsh hit 41 off 22 balls to give the host team to 3 for 174 and then took 2 for 17 and two catches as the Stars failed to chase it down.

But the Stars were in good shape after cruising to 2 for 88 after 10 overs before Perth Scorchers paceman Ben Edmondson bowled the over of his life

In a double-wicket maiden, Edmondson snared the key scalps of Luke Wright (33 off 25) and David Hussey (golden duck) in consecutive balls, dramatically swinging the match Perth's way.

Edmondson (2 for 32 off four overs) failed to snare the hat-trick, but the damage was already done as the Stars limped to 8 for 163 in reply to the Scorchers' 3 for 174.

"That over really did change the game and changed the momentum of the game," Marsh said of Edmondson's double-wicket maiden.

"It's a credit to him. He's been great for us all tournament."

Although it was Edmondson's over that changed the match, former Test spinner Brad Hogg was also influential, taking 2 for 17 off his four overs to the delight of the 15,225 fans on hand.

Perth's triumph secures them a home Big Bash final at the WACA Ground next Saturday, where it will meet the winner of Sunday's clash between Hobart and Sydney Sixers.

But perhaps more importantly, the Scorchers' semi-final win earned them automatic qualifications into this year's lucrative Champions League.

The Stars were made to pay for some elementary errors in the field as Scorchers opener Herschelle Gibbs (71 off 46 balls), Paul Collingwood (31 off 25) and Marcus North (23) helped set up the challenging total.

Gibbs was on 19 when fieldsman Luke Wright, with an age of time to prepare, dropped a skied chance on the boundary.

North was dropped on 3, although James Faulkner could hardly be blamed for putting down the tough return catch low to the ground.

And Collingwood received a massive reprieve on 2 when he charged and missed a Shane Warne delivery, only for wicketkeeper Matthew Wade to fumble what should have been the easiest of stumpings.

Warne (0 for 29 off four overs) was the best of Melbourne's bowlers and did his best to rein in the Scorchers after their hot start.

Faulkner (38 off 27) top-scored in the Stars' innings and Wade (37 off 17) unleashed some brutal strokes at the end, but the visitors failed to recover after Edmondson's 11th over heroics.

Stars skipper Cameron White rued his side's inability to execute their skills in key moments of the game.

"I think across the course of the game there were little moments that we didn't get right, and that's why we finished 11 runs short," White said.

"Like me they (my team-mates) will be thinking about things across the course of the game they didn't get right and disappointment about not winning.

"But you can't sit around and cry about it, you just move on."

AAP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, perth-6000, wa, australia, melbourne-3000, vic

First posted January 21, 2012 23:57:50

View the original article here

Warner feeling fine after dizzy spells

Updated January 18, 2012 12:29:51

Australian opener David Warner believes he should be fine to play in next week's fourth Test in Adelaide against India despite some worrying dizzy spells.

The explosive left-hander was hit in the head during his stunning 180 in Australia's first innings against the Indians in Perth last week and has suffered moments of grogginess in the past few days.

But the 25-year-old is confident he will be fine to line up at the Adelaide Oval when the fourth Test begins on Tuesday.

"I think I'm over it," Warner told reporters on Wednesday.

"It's a day-by-day thing. I've got to speak to Alex (Kountouris, physiotherapist) about how I'm feeling.

"At the moment, I feel quite fine."

Warner missed the Sydney Thunder's loss to the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League on Tuesday night due to the dizziness, meaning he only lined up once for the franchise this summer.

Despite barely playing in the domestic Twenty20 competition, Warner has emerged as a possible captain of Australia's T20 team with current skipper Cameron White struggling throughout the summer.

But Warner said he backed White to line up when the first Twenty20 international is played at Sydney's Olympic stadium in Sydney on February 1.

"Cameron's a world-class player. We've seen many times with Cameron that he can come out and fire," he said.

"With Cameron's ability to clear the fences with the bat, we're backing him 100 per cent."

AAP

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

First posted January 18, 2012 12:29:51

View the original article here

Smith hits out after Proteas win

Updated January 07, 2012 09:42:44

Captain Graeme Smith hit back at the critics of his senior players after South Africa smashed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the third and final Test at Newlands.

The win gave Smith's men a 2-1 triumph, their first series win at home in three years.

South Africa's defeat in Durban had prompted media speculation that Smith, all-rounder Jacques Kallis and wicketkeeper Mark Boucher should step down.

Kallis, though, was man of the match in Cape Town, scoring 224 with the bat, claiming 3 for 35 with the ball in Sri Lanka's second innings and taking a record-equalling six catches in the game.

Boucher did not bat but dropped two catches while Smith scored 16 in South Africa's first innings of 4 for 580 declared.

"Someone's head always seems to be on the chopping block ... but we haven't lost too many Tests at home, we've just lacked a killer punch and the second-Test defeat in Durban was a big disappointment for us," Smith said.

"There's no problem with Boucher and it was the first time I've seen him drop a catch in ages.

"As a gloveman he's been excellent for us, ultra-reliable. When we go to England, having a reliable wicketkeeper will be crucial.

"As far as my own game goes, I feel I'm batting well, as well as I have in a long time.

"I got out stupidly here but the whole summer I've battled hard, scoring a hundred against Australia and a half-century against Sri Lanka."

Smith praised his attack after it bowled Sri Lanka out for 239 and 342.

"That was our best bowling performance of the summer," he said.

"Each guy bowled well in his spell and created pressure because we worked well together in partnerships."

Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan blamed his team's lack of consistency and domestic structure for the series defeat.

"We have to correct our domestic structure," he said.

"We have 15 clubs and just six of them are strong.

"We have promising under-19 players but when they come to the clubs it's not that strong at that level and then it's a huge difference when it comes to international cricket.

"If we get the domestic structure right we might be able to produce some good cricketers. Our bowling and batting is also not consistent, that's the other reason we lost the series."

Kallis, playing his 150th Test, took four catches to equal the South African record for the most catches by an outfielder in an innings as well as the mark of six catches in a Test set by Albert Vogler in 1909/10 and matched by Bruce Mitchell in 1931/32.

South Africa's win brought to an end a run of four winless series at home dating back to 2008/9.

The Proteas were held up on the fourth day by the determined Thilan Samaraweera, who scored a defiant 115 not out in 325 minutes off 215 balls.

Angelo Mathews scored 63 and the tail-enders had some fun as well as they helped the experienced Samaraweera to prolong South Africa's time in the field to nine minutes after the scheduled tea break.

Reuters

Tags: sport, cricket, south-africa, sri-lanka

First posted January 07, 2012 08:34:41

View the original article here

Aussies hold advantage after pace blitz

Raman Goraya

Updated January 03, 2012 20:53:48

Michael Clarke and predecessor Ricky Ponting helped Australia make the most of yet another dominant performance by its rampant pace trio on the opening day of the second Test against India in Sydney.

Thirteen wickets fell in an eventful start to the SCG's 100th Test match, with India knocked over for just 191 after winning the toss before the hosts finished the day at 3 for 116.

Australia was precariously placed at 3 for 37 in the afternoon session following a Zaheer Khan-led revival, but a much-needed 79-run union between Clarke and Ponting helped steady the ship.

While Clarke and Ponting have spent very little time at the crease together of late - only three stands of more than 50 runs in their past 10 - Australia's bowling partnerships continued to shine on a bright Sydney morning.

First Test man-of-the-match James Pattinson led the way once again with figures of 4 for 43 while Ben Hilfenhaus (3 for 51) and Peter Siddle (3 for 55) also cashed in against the fragile Indian batting line-up on a pitch offering little assistance.

"Pretty early on there was more swing than seam," Pattinson told Grandstand, describing the pitch as a new-ball wicket.

"Obviously when the ball is swinging you can get the ball up there, pitch it up, and get some nicks."

The tourists failed to go over 300 runs for the 11th consecutive time away from home - a new unwanted record - and their susceptibility would have been further exposed if not for an unbeaten 57 by skipper MS Dhoni and 41 from Sachin Tendulkar.

Pattinson removed four of India's top five, including opener Gautam Gambhir for a duck with the third ball of the morning, as well as dangermen VVS Laxman (2) and Tendulkar, who both boast formidable records at the SCG.

Tendulkar averaged a mammoth 221.33 in Sydney before this match, while Laxman (481 runs at 96.20) has cracked three centuries in as many matches.

But it was the 21-year-old Victorian quick, playing his first first-class match at the iconic venue, that came out on top as Australia took regular wickets.

Tendulkar, still searching for an elusive 100th international ton, looked comfortable enough after lunch following a brisk start to his innings.

The 38-year-old played his patented uppercut for a couple of boundaries, but he dragged onto his stumps with a false cover drive to reduce the tourists to 6 for 124.

"When I was bowling to Sachin today he played some pretty unbelievable shots, and I was doubting a little if I could match it with him," Pattinson said after extending his Test record to 24 wickets at an incredible average of 14.45 in four matches.

"But it was great to get him out. That's a massive scalp for me and something I will hold really close to my heart."

Pattinson continually gnawed away at a perfect line and length, further enhancing his reputation as a complete Test paceman and showing off the intelligence of the Aussie quicks to dismantle the star-studded Indian line-up.

"My length is probably a little bit fuller from when I was stringing a few Shield games together," he said.

"With a bit of help from [bowling coach] Billy McDermott, I've probably been a bit more consistent with my lines and pitching the ball up there."

Siddle claimed the scalps of Rahul Dravid (5), Virat Kohli (23) and finally number 11 Umesh Yadav (0) for his 100th Test wicket in 29 matches.

Hilfenhaus overcame an unlucky start, when he had Virender Sehwag (30) dropped by Ponting at second slip, to clean up the tail.

In response to India's poor total, Australia started its innings shakily with David Warner (8) falling in the first over and Shaun Marsh registering his third duck in four innings.

Both were victims to the brilliant Khan (3 for 26) who then trapped Ed Cowan in front for 16 to have the hosts' nerves jangling at the prospect of yet another capitulation with the bat.

But captain Clarke and Ponting stood tall with some vintage stroke play and cracked 58 runs in the final 11 overs of the day as a defensive India dragged their feet to stumps.

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

First posted January 03, 2012 19:43:31

View the original article here

Dhoni asks for more after big names 'flop'

Updated December 30, 2011 11:09:31

Skipper MS Dhoni said India's big-name batsmen flopped as his team came up well short in their run chase to comprehensively lose the opening Test to Australia.

Set an imposing 292 runs for victory, India fell apart to finish all out for 169 off 47.5 overs late on the fourth day.

It was India's fifth consecutive loss in away Tests and conjured memories of its wretched series in England earlier this year when it relinquished its top ranking in a 4-0 thrashing.

Sachin Tendulkar was India's top scorer with 73 in the first innings and just 32 in the second.

Dhoni, who now has the task of lifting his team of batting superstars for next week's second Test in Sydney, said the tourists had to show more consistency to get back into the four-Test series.

"Our batting flopped in both the innings. We have to show more consistency," Dhoni said after the defeat.

"We need to score more runs. Otherwise, it would be very difficult for us to win. We need to apply ourselves a lot more and if we do that I have no doubt that we would come back strongly."

It was a miserable effort on Thursday from the Indian batsmen with Virender Sehwag (7), Gautam Gambhir (13), Rahul Dravid (10), VVS Laxman (1) and Virat Kohli (0) showing little appetite for the fight.

Australia converted a 51-run innings lead into a challenging 291 advantage heading into the fourth innings and India was soon back-pedalling, left at 6 for 81 by Tendulkar's crucial dismissal by Peter Siddle.

"We thought if we could get them out for 240 or 250-odd runs that's a very gettable score but I felt 290-odd runs was also a score we should have achieved, the wicket was pretty good," Dhoni said.

"It's not like there was too much wear and tear in the wicket."

But Dhoni was not concerned by his star batsmen's feeble showing and expected a better effort at the SCG.

"They are very experienced batsmen," he said.

"You have to give credit to Australia bowlers for the way they bowled. They kept a nagging line outside the off-stump and that's why they got us.

"Our bowlers brought us back in to the game. We were short by 50-odd runs in the first innings. Their lower-order scored some runs, if we had got them (out) earlier, we would have had 50-60 runs less to chase.

"We need to find way to get their lower-order out cheaply."

India has yet to win a series in Australia after nine previous tours over 64 years.

Test cricket's greatest runscorer Tendulkar will get another chance to claim his elusive 100th international century in Sydney, where he has scored three hundreds including an unbeaten 241, and averages 221.33 in seven innings.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, india, australia

First posted December 30, 2011 10:50:00

View the original article here

India to go after Lyon

Updated December 29, 2011 08:58:55

Flashy India opener Virender Sehwag predicts pace will be Australia's route to success if it is to win the first Test at the MCG on Thursday.

The ten Indian wickets were shared by Australia's three quicks in the first innings, with off spinner Nathan Lyon managing 0 for 66 from 17 overs.

Sehwag said there was little sign of wear or spin in the pitch and Lyon was unlikely to be much more of a threat in the second innings.

He said the bigger danger to India would come from sideways deviation and uneven bounce when the pacemen were bowling.

"I don't think there's much spin in the wicket," Sehwag said.

"When the ball is new, seam movement is important. I don't think Australia rely on spin, they rely on seam bowling.

"We are good against spin bowling so we surely would look to attack spin bowlers."

Sehwag described the pitch as "spongy" but predicted India could chase down anything under 300 in the final innings.

Australia led by 230 with two wickets in hand at stumps on Wednesday.

With no team in the past 49 years having successfully chased down a final-innings target of greater than 237 at the MCG, it will be a tough challenge regardless of how many runs Australia's tail adds on Thursday morning.

But while 15 wickets tumbled on Wednesday, both teams credited the bowlers rather than any great terrors in the pitch.

Australia's Ricky Ponting said his side's bowlers were exceptional, while Sehwag was even more complimentary of India's attack.

"This is India's best bowling attack I have ever played with," he said.

AAP

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

First posted December 29, 2011 08:58:55

View the original article here

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

View the original article here

Harris feels ready after Big Bash hit-out

Updated December 21, 2011 10:30:32

Australian quick Ryan Harris feels he has given himself every chance of playing in the Boxing Day Test after coming through his first game for the Brisbane Heat unscathed.

Harris bowled four overs for 31 runs in last night's Big Bash League match and then exerted himself when batting, running furiously between the wickets during his unbeaten 25 that could not prevent his side losing to Shane Warne's Melbourne Stars by eight runs.

If Cricket Australia is confident he can handle the duress of Test cricket, the 32-year-old is likely to come in for Mitchell Starc against India.

But reports on Wednesday morning indicate Ben Hilfenhaus is set for a recall with Harris and opening batsman Shane Watson left out due to their respective injury concerns.

"I reckon I'm fit," Harris told ABC Grandstand at the Gabba on Tuesday night.

"I was pretty good when I bowled. I was a little bit stiff in between spells but once I got going I was fine.

"I am [exhausted] to be honest. I've got to learn to hit more balls over the fence so I don't have to run those twos.

"Running at the end I was fine. I didn't feel anything but I've got a bit of bowling to do.

"This was the high intensity workout I wanted."

Harris admitted to being disappointed with his figures of 1 for 31, highlighting the different skills required to bowl in Twenty20 compared to Test cricket.

"You could see I hadn't bowled for a while," Harris said.

"I probably bowled a bit too much of a Test-match length.

"I guess I was pretty happy the way I came back to bowl yorkers. I haven't practised them much in the nets but they came out alright."

Tags: cricket, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted December 21, 2011 10:20:52

View the original article here

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

View the original article here

Pakistan eyes win after Younis double ton

Updated December 12, 2011 09:41:06

Younis Khan cracked an unbeaten double-century and Asad Shafiq made his maiden international hundred as Pakistan closed in on victory after three days in the first Test against Bangladesh.

Younis smashed a solid 200 not out and Shafiq an impressive 104 as Pakistan posted 5 for 594 declared in its first innings in reply to Bangladesh's 135 in Chittagong.

The hosts faltered against spin before reaching 4 for 134 in their second innings at stumps, with debutant Mohammed Nazimuddin and Shakib Al Hasan both unbeaten on 41, still trailing by 325 runs.

Pakistan declared in the afternoon session immediately after Younis turned left-arm spinner Shakib to square-leg for two runs to complete his double-century, his third score of 200 or more in 72 Tests.

Younis dominated the Bangladeshi attack with rich strokeplay, hitting three sixes and 18 fours in his 290-ball knock.

"I'm very happy with the double-century and credit goes to the coaches and management of Pakistan's team. I dedicate this double-hundred to my family," said Younis.

Off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez, who was pressed into Pakistan's attack after only five overs, struck with his fifth delivery after the tea break when he bowled opener Tamim Iqbal for 15.

Bangladesh lost three wickets in the space of six runs after Nazimuddin and Shahriar Nafees added 50 for the second wicket, with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman and paceman Aizaz Cheema doing the damage.

Nafees made 28 and Nasir Hossain three while Mohammad Ashraful failed to open his account before Nazimuddin and Shakib added 54 for the unbroken fifth-stand stand to steady the innings.

"Our batting has not been up to the expectations, maybe the confidence is a bit low at the moment. But still there was some positive batting from Shakib and Nazimuddin," said Bangladeshi left-arm spinner Elias Sunny.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, bangladesh, pakistan

First posted December 12, 2011 08:13:04

View the original article here

Welegedara lifts Sri Lanka after Younis ton

Updated November 06, 2011 08:41:48

Paceman Chanaka Welegedara took two wickets with the second new ball, including that of centurion Younis Khan, to give Sri Lanka the edge in the third Test against Pakistan at Sharjah stadium on Sunday morning.

The 30-year-old left-arm paceman dismissed Younis (100) with the first delivery of the second new-ball and then had Asad Shafiq (16) in the same spell to leave Pakistan at 6 for 282 at the close on the third day.

Sri Lanka, who scored 413 in its first innings, still leads by 131 runs and is seeking a big first innings lead to give itself a chance of levelling the series after losing the second Test by nine wickets in Dubai.

The first Test in Abu Dhabi ended in a draw.

With just two overs to go left-arm spinner Rangana Herath removed Adnan Akmal lbw for 7 to leave Sri Lanka on top.

At the close, skipper Misbah-ul Haq, who reached his 13th half-century in the penultimate over, was unbeaten on 50 and Abdul Rehman was 3 not out.

The first two sessions had belonged to Pakistan as Younis added 98 for the third wicket with Azhar Ali (53) and another 100 with Misbah for the fourth wicket but Welegedara's double strike slumped Pakistan from 3 for 233 to 5 for 258.

Younis had completed his 18th Test hundred with a sharp single off Welegedara in the last over before tea, taking 188 balls which included eleven fours and a six.

Misbah was mostly blocking before hitting the 53rd delivery he faced for his first boundary, ensuring Pakistan did not lose sight of winning 2-0 if it wants to replace Sri Lanka at number five and jump one place up the current Test rankings.

After tea, both the batsmen upped the tempo as Younis hit a boundary and six off Herath to take Pakistan past the follow-on mark of 213, before notching another four off a reverse sweep as Sri Lanka delayed the second new ball until the 91st over.

The new ball was effective as Welegedara struck with the first delivery, bowling Younis with a sharp incoming delivery. Younis hit 12 boundaries and two sixes during his 211-ball knock.

Welegedara, who finished with 3 for 62 off 25 overs, then had Shafiq caught behind.

Sri Lankan bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake praised Welegedara's bowling.

Earlier in the morning, Sri Lanka was a bowler short after frontline paceman Dhammika Prasad injured a muscle and was unable to bowl after Pakistan resumed at 2 for 35.

That helped Ali, who scored his maiden hundred in the last match in Dubai, and Younis to bat out the first session taking Pakistan to 2 for 126 by lunch.

Younis, on 30, survived a close leg-before shout against Herath who extracted some spin out of an otherwise batting-friendly pitch.

Ali reached his 11th Test fifty soon after lunch but was bowled by medium pacer Kosala Kulasekara's delivery in the sixth over after lunch, for the debutant's first Test wicket.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, united-arab-emirates, sri-lanka, pakistan

First posted November 06, 2011 08:41:48

View the original article here