Australia rings changes for second T20

Updated September 07, 2012 11:29:30

Australia cricket selectors have recalled all-rounder Dan Christian, spinner Brad Hogg and paceman Mitchell Starc for Friday night's crucial second Twenty20 International against Pakistan.

The changes follow Australia's heaviest ever loss by the margin of balls remaining after Pakistan overhauled Australia's total of 89 with seven wickets and 31 deliveries in hand.

Glenn Maxwell, Ben Hilfenhaus and spinner Xavier Doherty have been dropped.

Maxwell made four runs batting at number eight and took 0-25 off two overs after being asked to open the bowling in his T20 debut.

Wednesday night's total of 89 was Australia's second-lowest ever and Christian is expected to slot in at eight in Maxwell's place.

However skipper George Bailey wants the runs to come from the top four primarily, with pressure on openers David Warner and Shane Watson plus Mike Hussey and Bailey himself to lift the side to a more respectable total.

Bailey says the Dubai pitch is playing slow and taking turn and he feels a score of approximately 140 would be a handy total.

And the skipper is not giving up on his side's Twenty20 World Cup hopes in Sri Lanka later this month despite their awful start to the three-game series against Pakistan.

Ninth-ranked Australia could fall even further - below Ireland - if Pakistan sweep the three-match series.

"But in terms of the group we've got together and what we're capable of, it certainly hasn't altered my thoughts that we can still be a very good team," Bailey said defiantly after the loss.

"I still think we can win it. I certainly don't think we'd win if we played like we did today."

Vice-captain Watson says the introduction of Hogg, 41, is a boost to the side.

"He certainly is a wicket-taking bowler," Watson said on Thursday.

"There's no doubt the wicket is only going to turn more."

Starc was player of the one-day series against Pakistan which ended earlier this week and was rested from Thursday's (AEST) T20 clash.

Game two is scheduled to start at 2am on Saturday morning (AEST).

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

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, twenty20, united-arab-emirates, australia, pakistan

First posted September 07, 2012 09:46:21

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Record-breaker Best runs rings around England

Updated June 11, 2012 11:17:23

Tino Best's astounding 95 for the West Indies, the highest ever score by a number 11, rocked England on day four of the third Test at Edgbaston on Monday morning.

England, at stumps on the fourth day of the third Test, were 5 for 221 - a deficit of 205 runs and still needing a further 56 to avoid the follow-on - with Ian Bell 76 not out.

A West Indies' 10th-wicket Test record stand of 143 - the third highest in all Tests for the last wicket - between wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin (107 not out) and Best took the tourists to 426 all out.

Fast bowler Best's innings was all the more impressive as this was his first Test in nearly three years, with his previous highest score at this level being 27.

The Bajan then bowled figures of 2 for 37 runs in 12 overs to set the seal on a memorable day.

There was no hint of the run-fest to come when West Indies, resuming on 8 for 280 after losing the toss, saw Ravi Rampaul dismissed three balls into Sunday's play.

Ramdin, himself in Test exile for two years before this tour, was then 63 not out.

But Best made England pay for their controversial decision to rest new-ball duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad, having already established an unassailable 2-0 lead in this three-match series.

'Stand-in' seamers Graham Onions and Steven Finn were driven in the style of a top-order batsman by the 30-year-old Best.

Indeed it was Ramdin who was almost out when, on 69, he cut Finn and Kevin Pietersen failed to hold a sharp chance at gully.

Off-spinner Graeme Swann went the same way as the pacemen, cut for two fours in successive balls by the inspired Best.

There was no stopping Best, only called up to this tour as a replacement for injured fast bowler Shannon Gabriel, as he completed a 44 ball-fifty.

Ramdin's single off Tim Bresnan, after which he nearly hit the bowler's head as he waved his bat in celebration, took him to a hundred in 160 balls with nine boundaries.

Ramdin, who made 166 against England at Bridgetown three years ago, then produced a piece of paper from his pocket with "Yea Viv, talk nah" written on it, after West Indies great Vivian Richards had criticised him for failing to deliver on his promise after the tourists' nine-wicket second Test loss.

England were too often left chasing the game, with captain Andrew Strauss slow to reinforce his ring of close catchers.

Best uppercut Bresnan for yet another boundary to top Zaheer Khan's previous Test best by a number 11 of 75 for India against Bangladesh at Dhaka in 2004 and then drove the seamer for a stunning straight six.

But in sight of a hundred, Best skyed an Onions slower-ball to Strauss at first slip.

Best faced just 112 balls with a six and 14 fours.

His partnership with Ramdin erased the previous West Indies 10th wicket Test record of 106 put on by Carl Hooper and Courtney Walsh against Pakistan at St John's in 1993.

After Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott fell cheaply, the 30-year-old Best's day got better when he had Strauss brilliantly caught by first slip Darren Bravo to leave England 3 for 49.

Bell, on 20, survived a sharp chance to short leg Adrian Barath off debutant 'mystery' spinner Sunil Narine.

But otherwise Narine, who had produced remarkable figures in his brief first-class and Indian Premier League career, posed few problems with Pietersen driving him for a huge six over long-on.

However, Pietersen exited for 78 when he guided spinner Marlon Samuels to West Indies captain Marlon Samuels at slip.

England were now 4 for 186 after Pietersen and Bell had put on 137 and there was still time for Best to bowl Jonathan Bairstow as the batsman aimed across the line.

AFP

Tags: cricket, sport, england, jamaica

First posted June 11, 2012 05:57:38

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