Maxwell could return for dead rubber

Updated September 10, 2012 07:29:38

Australian cricket selectors have named a 12-man squad for the third and final Twenty20 clash with Pakistan, with all-rounder Glenn Maxwell pressing for a return to the side.

Maxwell was 12th man for game two which ended in a tie before Pakistan won the single-over eliminator by one run to take a two-nil lead in the series.

The 23-year-old Victorian made his one-day international debut last month against Afghanistan and hit an unbeaten 56 in Australia's victory in game three of the one-day international series against Pakistan in Sharjah.

However he was dropped after making four runs and taking 0 for 25 off two overs on his Twenty20 International debut in game one against Pakistan in Dubai last week.

Maxwell could take the place of fellow all-rounder Dan Christian although middle-order batsman David Hussey, who also bowls some handy offspin, is another candidate to make way.

The Australians need to regain winning form although middle-order batsman Cameron White insists that fine-tuning ahead of the World Twenty20 is the team's main focus.

White admits victory in game three (starting 2:00am Tuesday AEST) would be a confidence-booster ahead of the World Twenty20 which starts in Sri Lanka next week.

Australia's first game in the tournament is against Ireland on September 19 in Colombo.

George Bailey's men have suffered the embarrassment of dropping to 10th on the world rankings, below the semi-professional Irish side, although victory against Pakistan would allow Australia to rise one spot.

White says they have shown improvement after being bowled out for 89 in game one and scoring 8 for 151 in game two to level the totals before losing the tie-breaker.

"We know where we're ranked," said ex-skipper White, whose 2-4 record as captain in 2011 has been matched by Bailey.

Australia has won four of 13 matches since the current rankings period began on August 1, 2010.

"Things can change around quickly," White said.

"If we start winning in that (World Twenty20) tournament we can easily shoot back up and if we win it, there's no arguments to say that we're not number one in the world."

Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore says leg-spinner Shahid Afridi is unlikely to return from a thumb injury while offspinner Saeed Ajmal is expected to play despite a sore left shoulder.

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

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, united-arab-emirates

First posted September 10, 2012 07:29:38

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Sprinters could turn Big Bash into a novelty: Inverarity

Updated August 16, 2012 14:08:18

Cricket Australia National Selector John Inverarity has urged organisers of the Twenty-20 Big Bash to ensure it doesn't turn into a novelty event.

Inverarity made the comments following reports that Jamacia's sprinting stars Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake have both expressed interest in playing in the Twenty-20 tournament this summer.

Olympic 100 and 200m champion Bolt has had discussions with Shane Warne about joining the Melbourne Stars.

Sydney Sixers chief executive Stuart Clark is pursuing the idea of recruiting Bolt's training partner and rival Yohan Blake.

Both played cricket in the Caribbean as juniors before concentrating on track careers.

Inverarity says organisers need to be careful when luring athletes from other sports, but admits recruiting a sporting celebrity such as Bolt would have benefits.

"He'd certainly be a drawcard, I'd be hesitant to run two if you hit one just wide of him to the boundary," Inverarity said.

"I can imagine he'd throw very well too, but I think we've got to be careful that it just doesn't become a novelty event."

Blake, who won Olympic silver medals behind Usain Bolt in the 100m and 200m before taking gold in the 4x100m relay, is a more accomplished cricketer than his sprint rival and reportedly took 4 for 10 for Kingston Cricket Club in the domestic Jamaican Twenty20 competition earlier this year.

Clark insists signing the 'Beast' would be not be a gimmick.

"For one he is a great athlete, and yes he would be a marketer's dream, but from all reports he can actually play cricket and that's better than anything else," Clark told The Daily Telegraph.

"If he can do what he says he can do, and I have no reason to disbelieve him, Yohan would be a marquee player for me to sign. I would definitely be considering it.

"I will need to see some footage of him bowling, but he has been saying he can bowl 90 miles per hour (145kmh), very few people in the world can do that.

"Usain Bolt is a great showman and entertainer, but he can't play cricket as far as I'm aware, to the standard necessary. Yohan Blake can, it seems."

Blake certainly has the confidence he could be a competitive force in cricket and claims it is his favourite sport, even over track and field.

"I want to show you that I am better at cricket than running, I am a really talented batsman," Blake said last week.

"You guys need to see me in action. I am a bowling machine that can bat all day.

"Cricket, that's my love, that's my passion. When I was growing up I watched cricket with my father. I have grown up to love the sport even more than track and field. Big ups to Ricky Ponting and the Australian cricket team. I love those guys."

Tags: sport, cricket, athletics, jamaica, sydney-2000

First posted August 16, 2012 09:02:11

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Hussey feels SCG could suit spin

Updated January 01, 2012 12:28:48

Australian batsman Mike Hussey believes this year's SCG Test pitch could see a return to the drier, more spin-friendly wickets of the past.

Captain Michael Clarke was pondering omitting spinner Nathan Lyon in favour of a four-man pace battery featuring the returning Ryan Harris on what was anticipated to be a seaming deck.

But after having a first look at the pitch ahead of Tuesday's start, Hussey seemed to suggest sticking with Lyon might be the best option.

"Just from walking across the ground it looks a lot less green than it has been the last few years," Hussey said ahead of the 100th Test to be played at the ground.

"Certainly in the last few years I think the Sydney pitch has changed texture from when it used to be a real dustbowl and helped the spinners.

"The last few years have been really seamer friendly and there's been overhead conditions to help that as well ... [it's been] particularly tough for batting, especially early in the match.

"(Now) it looks definitely a lighter colour and generally that's the way it's gone over here, it has slowed down a little bit and helped the spinners as the game's gone on."

Curator Tom Parker said he is focused on preparing a pitch that is fair, rather than one that assists Australia's rampant pace attack.

"I think it will be somewhat similar to the Ashes pitch we had last season," he said.

Slow bowlers captured just three out of 30 wickets in last summer's Ashes Test at the SCG and have taken only 12 of 57 Shield wickets there this season.

Parker acknowledged the SCG wickets have been just as likely to help the quicks as the spinners.

"It depends on the conditions of the day," he said.

"If you get overcast conditions, the ball does swing around, move around through in the air a bit.

"But as the game goes on, the pitch here at the SCG, it always turns at some stage.

"I think the first couple of days of the Test it's clear and then from day three there's supposed to be some showers coming, but at this stage we're looking at a nice clear run."

Coach Mickey Arthur suggested yesterday it would be unlikely that Australia would go in with four pacemen.

"I'm pretty loath to go into any Test match without a spinner," Arthur said.

"Obviously conditions will determine that but the SCG has normally got a history of favouring spin down the line."

He said he had seen enough of India's batting order in Melbourne to formulate new plans of attack for Sydney.

"I do think we've got a lot of information out of the Melbourne Test match that we can use in the series in terms of batting strengths, where we need to be," Arthur said.

"So we'll alter our game plans slightly to four of their top six.

"Pressure is the name of the game in Test cricket.

"If we can dry the Indian batters up for long periods of time like we did at times in Melbourne, we showed that they all had chinks in their armour."

The SCG has invariably produced a result wicket in recent Tests, with only one of the last 18 there finishing in a draw.

The last eight all produced a winner, with the last draw coming in 2004 against India, which amassed 7 for 705 declared in its first innings thanks to Sachin Tendulkar's unbeaten 241 and VVS Laxman's 178.

Both teams trained at the SCG this morning and will be guests of Prime Minister Julia Gillard this afternoon for an afternoon tea function at Kirribilli House.

AAP/ABC

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

First posted January 01, 2012 12:05:07

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T20 could haunt Aussie Test hopefuls

Updated December 22, 2011 23:38:17

National selector John Inverarity admits the timing of Australia's domestic Twenty20 competition could compromise the preparation of players vying for a Test berth this summer.

The Big Bash runs from December 16 to January 28, meaning a player called up for the fourth Test against India in Adelaide on January 24 may have gone more than six weeks without a first-class hit-out.

Usman Khawaja and Phil Hughes, who were both dropped for the Boxing Day Test against India, face an uphill battle to force their way back into the side given they will have a diet of just T20 cricket for the next few weeks.

Inverarity is worried that should either injuries or bad form strike the Test team against India, the replacements would not be adequately prepared.

"Of course it's of concern," Inverarity said.

"From the preparation of a Test team, the current situation is not ideal but that's the way it is.

"You've got to deal with it as best you can, it's as simple as that."

Meanwhile, Inverarity called on the nation's best batsmen to work on their bowling skills in a bid to give the Test team greater flexibility down the track.

With all-rounder Shane Watson currently sidelined, veterans Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting have been called upon in recent times to provide bowling back-up to the four specialist bowlers.

But Inverarity wants batsmen of the future to become even more competent with the ball.

"I think all of us on the selection panel hold the view that it's very desirable to have some of your six best batsmen as decent bowlers," he said.

"You look back at some of the Australian teams when Steve Waugh was amongst the best batsmen but also a very handy bowler.

"All-rounders are like gold and also batsmen who are very competent bowlers - Greg Chappell, Doug Walters, Greg Blewett and here in Western Australia Tom Moody was a prime example.

"It does make a huge difference if a couple of your batsmen are good bowlers.

"We've talked to the national talent managers in each state and we'll certainly be emphasising that."

AAP

Tags: sport, twenty20, cricket, australia

First posted December 21, 2011 19:40:16

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