Clarke makes batting history in 2012

Updated December 27, 2012 14:30:27

Michael Clarke surpassed Ricky Ponting as the most prolific Australian batsman in one calendar year in Australia's first innings against Sri Lanka in the Boxing Day Test on Thursday.

Ponting set the mark of 1,544 in 28 innings in 2005, racking up six centuries and six half-tons with a high score of 207.

Clarke, his successor for the captaincy, needed just 18 knocks to break the record, with five hundreds and three fifties contributing to his haul.

The magic number on Thursday was 56, before Clarke scored another 50 on top of it before departing for 106 in the middle session.

His best innings of 2012 was his unbeaten 329 against India at the SCG in the New Year's Test in January, but he compiled three further double centuries in 2012.

He made 210 against India at Adelaide Oval before belting South Africa for 259 not out in Brisbane in November and a further 230 in the following match in Adelaide.

The world record is held by Pakistani Mohammad Yousuf, who amassed 1,788 runs in 11 Tests in 2006.

See Clarke's list of innings below.

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

First posted December 27, 2012 12:26:46

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Bird makes Boxing Day XI at Starc's expense

By James Maasdorp

Updated December 26, 2012 02:07:59

Australia coach Mickey Arthur has confirmed Jackson Bird will be in the final XI for the Boxing Day Test against Sri Lanka at the MCG.

The decision means Mitchell Starc misses out as part of Cricket Australia's rotation policy, after bowling superbly in the hosts' 137-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Hobart.

Bird has taken 87 wickets in 17 first class games at an average of 19.72 to propel him into the national spotlight since joining Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield.

Captain Michael Clarke remains a selection doubt, with Arthur saying a decision on his fitness could be made as late as Boxing Day morning.

Mitchell Johnson has been named to replace the injured Ben Hilfenhaus.

But Arthur's biggest decision so far looks to have been the dropping of Starc, after the southpaw took 5 for 63 to derail the Sri Lankan batting line-up on the last day of the Hobart Test.

Arthur said Starc needs rest ahead of a gruelling 2013 schedule, but backed Bird to slot in seamlessly.

"Jackson brings line and length, he brings pressure, he swings the ball out, he brings some nice pace, he's got all the attributes for a good quick bowler," Arthur said.

"Mitch is our one quick bowler who stars in all three forms of the game.

"It's always a tough decision to make, it was a tough conversation with Mitch and Mitch took it very well.

"He's clearly very disappointed and I wouldn't expect anything other than that.

"You've got to be very mindful that we've got such a lot of cricket coming up and Mitch will be integral to that.

"It's tough on Mitch but hopefully he misses one Test to make sure we don't have another injury and that there's a lot of longevity with that decision, that he's ready to go in the one-dayers, ready to go for the tour of India and he's ready to go for the Ashes tour."

Starc took to Twitter after the announcement, and he made clear his disappointment at the decision to rest him from the second Test:

Mitch Starc ?@mstarc56
Absolutely shattered… Massive game, good luck to Birdy on debut, he will do an amazing job! Backing the Aussie boys to go 2-0 up this week!

On his maiden Test call-up, Bird said he was excited, and hoped his solid domestic record in Melbourne would calm any nerves.

"I got the call from Mickey yesterday to say I'm in the final XI, so I'm very excited," he said.

"Pretty nervous actually ... I've always wanted to play for Australia and I guess on Boxing Day too.

"I'm going to open the bowling so I'm looking forward to that.

"My last 18 months have been pretty successful in first class cricket. I've got a pretty good record at the MCG as well.

"I feel like I'm ready for Test cricket. Hopefully I can repay the faith of Mickey and the selectors.

"I haven't really told many people [of my call-up], it was just between Mickey and me, I guess. I should probably go and call my parents after this."

On Clarke's fitness, Arthur said the Test captain was improving.

"He's clearly improving. He went far better today than he did yesterday," Arthur said of this morning's net session.

"If I was a betting man I'd bet on Michael Clarke leading the team out on Boxing Day.

"It will be a consultation between Michael and Alex (physio Alex Kountouris)."

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

First posted December 24, 2012 12:26:25

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Adelaide makes strong defence against the Thunder

By Andrew McGarry

Updated December 20, 2012 22:44:47

Adelaide Strikers have become the first Big Bash team to successfully defend a total, beating the Sydney Thunder by 51 runs at the Olympic stadium.

The Thunder needed nearly nine an over after the Strikers scored 6 for 177, but they were always struggling after star import Chris Gayle was out for just 8.

Veteran slinger Shaun Tait was the big destroyer, taking the key wickets of Mark Cosgrove (8) and Azhar Mahmood (1) to put added pressure on Gayle.

Chris Rogers tried to keep the score ticking along but when Gayle tried to take a toll on his countryman Kieron Pollard only to hole out to Johan Botha in the deep, the Thunder were 3 for 40 in the eighth over and the game was slipping away.

Cameron Boyce ( 2 for 24) dismissed Sean Abbott (14) and Rogers (23), then Cameron Borgas was run out for 4, leaving the Thunder innings in tatters at 6 for 64.

Scott Coyte (33 off 15) went down fighting, but Kane Richardson (3 for 7) fell just short of a hat-trick after dismissing Coyte and Chris Tremain in successive balls.

Tait finished with 3 for 22. The home side were all out for 126 with eight balls left.

Earlier the Thunder had taken the safe option, winning the toss and putting Adelaide into bat - all 11 previous games in this year's Big Bash had been won by the chasing team.

The Strikers recovered after some stifling early bowling to register 0 for 46 in the six-over powerplay, and went on to be 0 for 75 at half-way.

Adam Zampa broke through in the 12th over, when his leg-break zipped past Tim Ludeman (46 off 39 balls) for a stumping by Carters and Adelaide were 1 for 81.

The key to the innings was the 16th over when Nathan Reardon and opener Michael Klinger launched into Zampa for 23 runs including two fours and two sixes.

The Strikers were then given a life when Reardon was dropped over the boundary for six by Zampa off the first ball of the 17th over, but four balls later the Thunder took one of the catches of the competition.

Reardon (42 off 20) went long and straight against the breeze - the ball looked like a six, but Cameron Borgas at long-on got both hands to it in mid-air and palmed it back over the line for Coyte to take the catch.

Twenty20 specialist paceman Dirk Nannes (4 for 17) then took over with a wicked spell, dismissing Klinger (60 off 46), Theo Doropoulos (0), Pollard (16 off 7 balls) and Callum Ferguson (0).

The result means the Thunder are winless from three games, while the Strikers have won two out of their three games.

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, sydney-2000, nsw, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted December 20, 2012 22:42:02

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Clarke makes Warriors pay at WACA

Updated September 20, 2012 12:26:59

New South Wales captain Michael Clarke capitalised on a costly fielding lapse to help the Blues secure first innings points against Western Australia on the second day of the season-opening Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA ground.

The Blues were 9 for 358 in their first innings at stumps on day two, an overall lead of 141 after the Warriors made 217 on the first day.

Steve O'Keefe was 74 not out and Doug Bollinger was on 5.

Clarke, who made just 1 in the limited overs clash between the sides on Sunday, looked in superb touch as he posted 78 before slashing a Nathan Coulter-Nile delivery to Shaun Marsh in slips.

He fell with just three runs needed to secure first innings points, having put on 87 for the sixth wicket with Moises Henriques, who also made 78.

It could have been a different story if Marsh had taken an earlier chance provided by Clarke from the same bowler.

With the Blues under some pressure at 5 for 151, Clarke got an outside edge from the bowling of the unlucky Coulter-Nile.

The ball carried comfortably to Marsh at second slip, but he grassed the simple catch.

Later in the same over, Clarke top-edged a pull shot to fine leg, where the ball landed just in front of Nathan Rimmington as he charged in off the boundary.

Coulter-Nile (2 for 84) also had opener Scott Henry (39) dropped in slips on 16 earlier in the day.

All-rounder Steven Smith, who made an unbeaten 99 in the one-day match, failed to replicate that form and fell to Rimmington (4 for 70) for a duck.

Veteran Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (2) lasted just 16 balls being falling LBW to Coulter-Nile.

Haddin played right across the line, but did not appear pleased with the decision.

Henriques was also adjudged LBW, to Rimmington, and was another who did not look happy with the verdict.

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, perth-6000, sydney-2000

First posted September 19, 2012 20:45:22

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Petersen makes England pay for dropped catch

Updated August 03, 2012 16:16:52

Alviro Petersen punished England for dropping him early on by scoring his fourth Test century as South Africa reached 5 for 262 at the close of the first day of the second Test on Thursday.

Petersen was 124 not out at stumps, after England won the toss, and Jacques Rudolph was on one following a see-saw day that began with South Africa scoring freely in the sun before England fought back after lunch in overcast conditions.

Petersen was given out lbw on 119 to Steven Finn but successfully reviewed umpire Steve Davis's decision as replays showed the ball would have bounced over the stumps.

He had earlier reached a well-crafted century with his 11th boundary, a pull off Stuart Broad, on a day which saw a Finn wicket cancelled out by a dead ball call from the umpire.

Finn's long-standing problem of clipping the stumps at the non-striker's end with his knee in his follow-through cost him.

He did it three times in the morning and on the fourth occasion, when Graeme Smith edged to Andrew Strauss at slip while on 6, the ball was ruled out.

Match referee Jeff Crowe said later that the batsmen had complained that Finn's actions were a distraction.

The rules stipulate that a dead ball can be called if a batsman is distracted by noise or movement while waiting to receive the ball.

England's fight-back after lunch saw South Africa slump from 120 without loss to 3 for 157.

Smith scored 52 before he clipped Tim Bresnan to leg gully Ian Bell while Hashim Amla followed his national record 311 not out at The Oval with an innings of 9 that was ended by a run-out.

Petersen drove Stuart Broad through cover, ran two, hesitantly dashed for a third and left Amla well short of his ground.

Then Jacques Kallis tried to chop a James Anderson delivery through point but his bottom edge instead was well caught low down by Alastair Cook at second slip and he went for 19.

Cook had dropped Petersen earlier in the day, also off Anderson's bowling, when the opener was on 25.

It was a straightforward chance and exposed Cook's inexperience in the position normally taken by Swann.

Anderson dropped de Villiers late in the day when an edge off Broad in the first over with the second new ball was put down at second slip. The ball landed in his palm as he dived low to his left, but bobbled out again.

Broad, though, caused de Villiers to play a lacklustre defensive shot and chop on to his stumps in the next over for 47. Finn then bowled night-watchman Dale Steyn for a duck.

Play finished at 7:30pm local time due to an afternoon rain storm that caused a 75-minute delay.

South Africa, which won the first Test by a crushing innings and 12 run margin, will leapfrog England at the top of the world rankings with a series victory.

Reuters

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First posted August 03, 2012 16:16:52

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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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Umpire Harper makes early exit

Posted June 30, 2011 07:17:00

Australian umpire Daryl Harper has announced he will retire with immediate effect as an international umpire despite being due to bring down the curtain on his career in the third and final Test of the current West Indies v India series.

The 59-year-old - who has stood in 95 Tests and 279 international matches in all - took the decision after he came in for heavy criticism from the Indians following the first Test, a match they won.

"In the wake of some unfair criticism, Daryl has informed us that he does not wish to stand in what would have been his final Test," said International Cricket Council general manager David Richardson.

"The reality of the situation is that Daryl's statistics show his correct decision percentage in Tests involving India is 96 per cent, which is considerably higher than the international average for top-level umpires.

"We have every faith in Daryl to finish the series and while we regret his decision we do respect it.

"The real shame is it deprives him of the opportunity to sign off as a Test match umpire in a manner befitting someone who has served the game so well since making his international debut back in 1994," he added.

Harper has been replaced for the third Test, due to start in Dominica on July 6, by Englishman Richard Kettleborough.

-AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, australia

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