Cowan backs Bellerive wicket for Test

Updated December 13, 2012 08:16:27

Australian opener Ed Cowan expects the Hobart pitch he has "conquered" to play well in the first Test against Sri Lanka.

The Bellerive strip has had its fair share of critics this Sheffield Shield season after a succession of low totals.

A wicket dubbed "The Incredible Hulk" during last summer's Test loss to New Zealand has seen Western Australia skittled for 67 and Tasmania knocked over for 95 in 2012.

But Cowan, who has played only one Shield game on the ground this season against South Australia, says the wicket suits his game.

"I think it will be a pretty good batting wicket," he said on Monday.

"Some of the Shield wickets over the last couple of years have been good to bat on if you're willing to bat time, and that suits my game.

"It feels like a wicket that I've conquered probably over the last couple of years in bowler-friendly conditions."

The Bellerive surface was re-laid during the off-season and has taken time to settle.

Cowan says first innings scores of 360 from Queensland and 448 from Tasmania in the last two Shield matches show it can be tamed.

"It's been a wicket that has almost accelerated the game in reverse," he said.

"There are grounds ... that deteriorate as the game goes on.

"This probably gets better to bat on and history suggests that.

"To get results in Shield cricket the game has had to move forward at some stage and it's probably moved forward at the start of the game rather than the end."

Spinners have been rarely used in Shield matches but Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath said he expected there would be something in the wicket for the tweakers late in the match.

"It looks 50-50 but I don't know what's the weather (forecast) from the 14th," he said.

"I'm sure there'll be some turn and bounce for the fourth and fifth (days)."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, hobart-7000, tas, australia

First posted December 10, 2012 15:44:37

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Aussies boosted by Warner's first wicket

Updated April 08, 2012 16:09:15

Part-time leg-break bowler David Warner took his first international wicket as West Indies reached 3 for 179 against Australia before rain ended play early on the first day of the first Test.

Kraigg Brathwaite (57) and Kirk Edwards, who made 61 with 10 boundaries and a six, had put on 104 for the second wicket when Warner took a smart catch off his own bowling to dismiss Edwards.

It was a key breakthrough just before the tea interval and provided Australia with some relief after a difficult day in the field at Kensington Oval.

Brathwaite and Edwards were beginning to get on top of the bowling after a slow but steady start to the match and it was a blow for the West Indies as Edwards had been the aggressor in a growing partnership.

Warner, the seventh bowler Michael Clarke used, admitted the team felt relieved when he got his wicket after poor fielding denied them earlier dismissals.

"We've got to keep taking our chances, we pride ourselves on that and I think we've got to be better tomorrow," Warner said.

"The scoreboard pressure that we've put on there as well - it's not moving at a great rate.

"If we can keep doing what we did at home and play boring cricket but keep the ball hanging out there ... hopefully they play and we get some nicks."

Brathwaite made the most of three chances the Australians gave him to reach his fourth Test half-century before Peter Siddle induced a nick behind to give Matthew Wade his first dismissal.

Siddle should have twice got the wicket of the 19-year-old opener before this point, dropping a caught and bowled chance and then seeing an edge dropped by Shane Watson at fourth slip.

Watson himself also came close to snaring Braithwaite's wicket when Ricky Ponting could not claim a catch stretching to his right.

The first breakthrough for Australia came in the 18th over.

Starting his second spell, Ryan Harris came around the wicket to Adrian Barath and his third ball bouncer outside off stump was hit high in the air by Barath for Siddle to catch at fine-leg.

On a slow pitch that is offering little assistance to the fast bowlers, Australia will be keen to stop the current partnership between Darren Bravo and the returning Shivnarine Chanderpaul developing on day two.

James Pattinson was named as 12th man for the match which will see vice-captain Watson will bat at number three for the first time with Warner and Ed Cowan opening the batting.

West Indies is aiming for its first Test win against Australia for 9 years and a first series win over the visitor in 19 years.

AFP

Tags: sport, cricket, barbados, australia

First posted April 08, 2012 06:46:43

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Bulls lose early wicket in run chase

Updated December 04, 2011 21:04:55

Victoria needs another nine wickets to claim victory and second place on the Sheffield Shield table after setting Queensland a target of 400 to win at the MCG.

The Bulls will resume on the final day at 1 for 35 in their second innings with Wade Townsend on 4 and Joe Burns on 27.

Clint McKay made the early breakthrough for the Bushrangers late Sunday by trapping Ryan Broad lbw for 4 in the third over.

But the Bulls boast a strong batting line-up and, on a placid MCG pitch, they are not without hope of pulling off a sixth Shield win from six starts this season.

The stage could be set for Bushrangers skipper Cameron White to play a starring role with the ball on Monday after the former Test spinner took 5 for 59 from 26 overs in the Bulls' first innings of 295.

The Bushrangers claimed a first innings lead of 203, as White notched his first five-wicket haul in a Shield match for nine seasons.

Skipper Chris Hartley top-scored for the Bulls with 62, adding 88 for the ninth wicket with Cameron Boyce, who made 57.

Resuming on 5 for 153, the Bulls lost Burns in the seventh over of the day for 59.

After two more wickets for White, the competition's leading wicket-taker Jayde Herrick (3 for 97) ended the innings after lunch on Sunday by having Hartley caught at slip.

The Bushrangers hit 3 for 196 (declared) from 38 overs in their second innings with David Hussey unbeaten on 76 after his 130 in the first dig.

Hussey and Aaron Finch (82) shared a third-wicket partnership of 129.

The Bulls were a bowler short after Test squad member Ben Cutting broke down with a side strain on Friday's first day.

White said Victoria would need its spinners, including Glenn Maxwell and Jon Holland, to lead the attack.

"It's a lot of runs but it's a fantastic batting wicket so it's going to be hard work to try to dig out nine more wickets," he said.

He says leg spin is a difficult art and describes his bowling as still a work in progress.

"I did go through periods where I lost confidence in my bowling. I'm still probably not that confident now," White said.

The Bushrangers skipper said he still had ambitions to return to the Test and one-day international sides as an all-rounder.

Meanwhile Queensland coach Darren Lehmann says 400 will be a tough run chase.

"But it's a good wicket so if we bat well and a couple of blokes make hundreds, we're going to go close," he said.

"We won't be shutting up shop."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted December 04, 2011 20:04:35

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Ahmed celebrates the wicket of Simmons

Published:Sunday, May 22, 2011 11:22 AEST

Tanvir Ahmed celebrates after Lendl Simmons is caught during day two of the second Test between West Indies and Pakistan at the Warner Park ground in the St Kitts capital of Basseterre on May 21, 2011.

Tags: sport, cricket, pakistan, saint-kitts-and-nevis

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Sharma celebrates Dilshan's wicket

 

Published:Friday, April 15, 2011 6:54 AEST

Deccan Chargers paceman Ishant Sharma celebrates the wicket of Tilakaratne Dilshan in their IPL match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on April 14, 2011.

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