New batting coach vital for Australia

Updated January 07, 2013 19:11:48

The person Australia chooses to fill the vacant role of full-time national team batting coach could be the most important selection of the year with the Ashes looming.

This summer, Australia's batting resources have been rocked to the core both on and off the field.

Nearly 250 matches worth of Test experience have been drained from the line-up by the retirements of Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey.

Not to mention the huge loss of batting mentor Justin Langer, and now the departure of his successor Stuart Law announced by Cricket Australia on Sunday.

With an Indian series beginning next month before the Ashes tour starts in July, the timing of the mass exodus could not be worse.

Captain Michael Clarke has already made it clear there is no way of replacing the intellectual property that has been lost.

But the next best thing CA can do is handpick a batting coach capable of bringing the best out of a new generation of batsmen.

Australia knew they were losing one of their most valuable assets when Langer left to take up the coaching role at Western Australia, but the loss of the former Test opener has been compounded by the retirements of Ponting and Hussey.

The batting line-up heading into India and the Ashes is almost entirely unsettled.

However, the right batting coach can help ensure young and inexperienced players build their skills, handle their new responsibilities and avoid being caught in the headlights when under pressure.

A permanent specialist is yet to be decided upon, but Dean Jones will work with the side for the first two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka starting this week.

Other former greats are likely to help out throughout the rest of the ODIs.

"We're yet to finalise the broader batting coach role so this opportunity to have some former players with us as specialists during the (ODIs) will be invaluable for our young squad," said coach Mickey Arthur.

"I thank Stuart (Law) for his outstanding contribution over the past six weeks - we are disappointed he is not in a position to consider the full-time role.

"We have quite a young ODI squad at the moment with a firm eye on the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, so to have the knowledge of one of Australia's best ever one-day players (Jones) with us for a couple of games will be invaluable for the group."

AAP

Tags: sport, cricket, australia

First posted January 07, 2013 19:11:48

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Vital points on the line at WACA

Updated March 03, 2012 22:29:38

Victoria looks on course to harm Western Australia's Sheffield Shield final hopes as it enters the final day at the WACA Ground with a 337-run lead.

At stumps on day three, the Bushrangers were 6 for 361 in their second innings, with opener Chris Rogers the leading contributor with 124 on his old home ground.

Ryan Carters is not out 27, while Will Sheridan is unbeaten on 21.

Sheridan appeared to be caught on the boundary by Travis Birt for 15 in the final over, but was called back by the umpires, who weren't convinced the catch was completed in the field of play and ruled it was a six.

Both teams will be desperate for the outright result on Sunday.

If the Warriors win they will book their berth in the final, and almost certainly secure the right to play the match at the WACA Ground, having not played in the decider since 1998-99.

The Bushrangers can only stay in the hunt for the final if they secure an outright victory.

Rogers punished his former state with a polished century after the Bushrangers trailed by 24 on the first innings.

The 34-year-old Rogers notched his fourth first-class century against his old state, and his 52nd overall.

Although he slashed several balls through slips, Rogers did not give a chance on his way to triple figures, reaching his ton in 220 minutes, having faced 181 balls and hit 18 boundaries.

Rogers, who was eventually bowled by Michael Beer, has 13 centuries in 37 first-class matches at the WACA Ground.

Rogers and Rob Quiney (66) put on 142 for the first wicket to provide a perfect launching pad for the innings.

Bushrangers skipper Cameron White again struggled in making 33 before being clean bowled by Nathan Rimmington, who was the pick of the home bowlers with 2 for 61.

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, wa, vic

First posted March 03, 2012 21:52:57

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Rampaul fires Windies to vital win

Updated December 06, 2011 07:36:46

Ravi Rampaul and debutant Sunil Narine shared six wickets to bowl the West Indies to a crucial 16-run victory over India in the third one-day international in Ahmedabad.

Fast bowler Rampaul finished with 4 for 57 and off spinner Narine with 2 for 34 as the West Indies bowled India out for 244 despite Rohit Sharma's solid 95, after posting a challenging 5 for 260 in the must-win match.

India now leads 2-1 in the five-match series following its victories in the opening two games, with Monday's defeat also ending its 11-match winning streak in one-day internationals at home.

It earlier looked like India would restrict the West Indies to a modest total when the tourists reached 3 for 167 after 43 overs, but skipper Darren Sammy (41 not out) and Andre Russell (40) plundered 79 off the last 34 balls.

"It was a good fight-back from the boys, the way we batted and that spell from Rampaul," Sammy said.

"(Marlon) Samuels and Narine also bowled well and it was a team effort. Sharma tried to take it away but we stuck at it."

The hosts were reeling at 6 for 105 but Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin (31) rallied their team with a 91-run stand for the seventh wicket before Narine struck a vital blow when he trapped Ashwin leg-before.

"It is very hard to chase when your top order fails," India skipper Virender Sehwag said.

"In the last few games, the lower order is scoring more than the top order. Till the time Rohit was there, we thought we could win the game.

"Unfortunately, he got run out and missed his century too."

The West Indies also let off the Indian pair during the early stages of their stand, with Sammy dropping Ashwin off Narine and then Sharma off paceman Kemar Roach.

Sammy, however, made amends when he ran Sharma out with a direct-hit from mid-on at the non-striker's end after the batsman had cracked one six and 10 fours in his 100-ball knock.

Abhimanyu Mithun (23) and Umesh Yadav (11 not out) gave some anxious moments to the West Indies with a 28-run stand for the last wicket before Rampaul ended the innings when he trapped Mithun leg-before.

India was struggling at 2 for 8 in the second over following the first-ball dismissals of Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, with Rampaul taking both the wickets with his first two deliveries.

Narine, who was pressed into the attack after only four overs, did not have to wait long for his first wicket as he trapped in-form Virat Kohli (20) leg-before to reduce the hosts to 3 for 43.

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, india, jamaica

First posted December 06, 2011 07:36:46

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