Archive for Australia
Kenya lost to Australia with pride
Posted by: | CommentsThe imposing run chase had been set up by a 114-run partnership between Michael Clarke and the returning Michael Hussey in his first innings of the World Cup. It actually gave Australia some important breathing space, but Kenya had long-since given up any hope of chasing down 325 on the ground where Ireland shocked England earlier in the tournament.
Australia’s World Cup campaign resumed with an ultimately comfortable 60-run victory against Kenya, although Collins Obuya’s unbeaten 98 meant the Associate nation took pride out of the contest. An upset was never on the cards but Kenya put in their best performance of the tournament with the highlight being the 115-run stand between Obuya and Tanmay Mishra.
The most tension came in the closing overs, when Obuya could have reached his maiden one-day century – and Kenya’s first at a World Cup – but he failed to get the three runs he needed off the last two balls. However, Ricky Ponting will be acutely aware that his team were far from impressive especially in the field. The bowlers, except for Brett Lee, certainly looked rusty as Kenya posted their best World Cup total.
After an early strike each for Lee and Shaun Tait it appeared Kenya would fall in a heap. Maurice Ouma edged a good outswinger and Alex Obanda, after driving Tait over long-on with one of the shots of the tournament, missed an ugly heave at a quick full toss. When the Obuya brothers mislaid their sibling understanding, which resulted in David Obuya’s run-out, there was an opportunity for a swift finish.
Collins refocused after the mix-up, and firstly provided solid support for Mishra in Kenya’s sixth World Cup hundred stand before forming another strong partnership with the aggressive Thomas Odoyo, who struck the ball cleanly. Obuya, who became famous for his legspin heroics at the 2003 World Cup, passed his fifty with a wonderful lofted drive over long-off against Shane Watson, then took advantage of the batting Powerplay. He twice pulled Watson’s medium pace for six but couldn’t quite get the final boundary he needed for three figures.
Sri Lanka and Australia frustrated by inclement weather
Posted by: | CommentsSri Lanka reached 146-3 before rain stopped the play in their Group A fixture with Australia in Colombo.
Srilankan skipper Sangakara was unbeaten on 73 when the covers were brought on after 32.5 overs of action.
The rain continued without a break for the next two-and-a-half hours, turning the outfield into a lake and forcing umpires Ian Gould and Tony Hill to call off proceedings.
Both sides take one point from the no result, leaving them tied for second in Group A, a point behind Pakistan.
The game overheated in just the second over when Shaun Tait, having exchanged words with Tillakaratne Dilshan after seeing his first delivery edged wide of the slips for four, was incensed when the Sri Lanka opener pulled away as he entered his delivery stride. Further verbal sparring ensued involving Dilshan, Tait and several Australian fielders, prompting the umpires to intervene and tell all concerned to calm down.
Tait had his revenge when Dilshan’s frenetic contribution ended with him edging a huge drive at the fourth ball of the over to Cameron White at second slip.
Australia opener dismisses allegations
Posted by: | CommentsAustralia’s Brad Haddin has claimed accusations he and Shane Watson were being investigated by the ICC over allegations of spot-fixing at the World Cup were laughable.
Team manager Steve Bernard has also rubbished reports by the Press Trust of India that the actions of both openers were being looked into following the win against Zimbabwe.
Haddin and Watson managed just five runs in the opening two overs of the Group A game in Ahmedabad on February 21, with Australia going on to post 262-6 en route to a 91-run victory.
The ICC have declined to comment on the matter but Bernard insists the allegations were the silliest thing heheard this week and he heard a lot of silly things since he is here.
Australia win over Kiwis
Posted by: | CommentsMitchell Johnson bowled brilliantly taking four wickets for 33 runs in his 9.1 overs. Shaun Tait sent three top order batsmen back to the pavilion giving away 35 runs in his seven overs.
Australia registered their second consecutive win in the ICC World Cup thrashing the neighbours New Zealand by seven wickets as Shane Watson and Brad Haddin provided a solid opening partnership hitting half centuries at Vidarbha Cricket Ground, Nagpur on Friday.
Australia made mincemeat of the target of 207 runs set by the Kiwis. They achieve it in the 35th overs. Australia was also helped by 32 runs by Mr. Extras. New Zealand bowlers bowled 29 wides.
New Zealand soon realized that what it takes playing against Australia. While the Black Caps demolished Kenya in their first match by ten wickets as the Kenyans were bundled out for a meager 69.
New Zealand took 18.1 overs to get the first wicket. Haddin hit 62 runs in 61 balls with one six and six fours. Shane Watson fell in the same over. Watson made 55 in 50 balls hitting eight fours. Both wickets were taken by Hamish Bennet.
Nathan McCullum and the skipper Daniel Vettori did the damage control very well but that was not enough. Nathan played 76 balls for his 52 runs hitting just three fours. Vettori played a bit faster making 44 runs in 43 balls with five fours.
Captain docked half his match fee following tantrum
Posted by: | CommentsAustralia captain Ricky Ponting has been reprimanded by the International Cricket Council after damaging a television set in the team dressing room following his dismissal against Zimbabwe on Monday.
Ponting was charged with a level one breach of the ICC Code of Conduct under clause 2.1.2, which covers abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match.
He accepted the charge and the sanction issued by match referee Roshan Mahanama, negating the need for a formal hearing.
The ICC settled for the low-level charge and minimum sanction – level one offences can carry punishments up to a fine of 50 per cent of the player’s match fee after accepting that the damage was accidental.
Their statement noted that the damage occurred when he threw down a piece of equipment which bounced off his kit bag and hit the corner of the television.
Skipper praises character after opening victory
Posted by: | CommentsJohnson claimed match figures of 4-19 from 9.2 overs as the Aussies kicked off their title defence with a comfortable 91-run victory in Ahmedabad. Australia captain Ricky Ponting heaped praise on pace bowler Mitchell Johnson after his four wickets helped the defending champions to victory in their opening World Cup clash with Zimbabwe.
The Western Australian’s exploits came after half-centuries from Shane Watson (79) andMichael Clarke (58no) helped Australia post a respectable 262-6 from their 50 overs.
And Ponting was quick to praise the left-armer for his efforts in difficult pace-bowling conditions.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting heaped praise on pace bowler Mitchell Johnson after his four wickets helped the defending champions to victory in their opening World Cup clash with Zimbabwe.
Johnson claimed match figures of 4-19 from 9.2 overs as the Aussies kicked off their title defence with a comfortable 91-run victory in Ahmedabad.
The Western Australian’s exploits came after half-centuries from Shane Watson (79) andMichael Clarke (58no) helped Australia post a respectable 262-6 from their 50 overs.
And Ponting was quick to praise the left-armer for his efforts in difficult pace-bowling conditions.
Aussie pace attack backed by lee in slow wickets
Posted by: | CommentsEven in the spin-friendly slow pitches on the sub-continent, Australia fast bowler Brett Lee believes his team’s pace battery will not be hampered. The current world Champions have only one frontline spin option in Jason Krejza, at this World Cup, with Lee, Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson and Doug Bollinger shouldering the fast-bowling burden.
Lee, who missed the 2007 tournament with an ankle injury, pointed to Australia’s victories in the 1987 World Cup and 2006 Champions Trophy, both of which came on Indian pitches
Australia vice-captain says South Africa and India losses more about preparation
Posted by: | CommentsMichael Clarke has dismissed Australia’s World Cup warm-up defeats to South Africa and India and insisted the defending champions will be a different proposition when the tournament gets underway.
Ricky Ponting’s side suffered a seven-wicket loss at the hands of South Africa in Bangalore on Tuesday after India had earlier beaten them by 38 runs. Australia begins their quest for a fourth straight World Cup victory against Zimbabwe in Ahmedabad on February 21.
Champions well-beaten in warm-up
Posted by: | CommentsSouth Africa beat Australia by seven wickets in a World Cup warm-up match in Bangalore. Half centuries by the South African openers set up a surprisingly easy victory for the Proteas over the defending champions.
Chasing a modest 218 for victory, South Africa’s captain Graeme Smith (65 retired) and Hashim Amla (60 retired) survived a barrage of leg before and caught behind appeals from Brett Lee and Shaun Tait before going on to make an unbeaten stand of 131.
Both openers then retired undefeated to give their teammates some batting practice and JP Duminy (47 not out) duly anchored the innings to victory inside 45 overs.
Earlier, Australia made 217 all out, with skipperRicky Ponting (55) and Michael Clarke (73) top scoring in a 122-run partnership for the third wicket.
It was 36-year-old Ponting’s second half century of the week, while Clarke looks to be rediscovering the form which deserted him during Australia’s Ashes defeat.
But Australia then slipped from a comfortable 127-2 in the 30th over to be bowled out for 217 inside their quota of overs, for the second match in a row. Pace bowler Dale Steyn and left-arm spinner Robin Peterson took three wickets apiece for the Proteas.
Tremlett was the hero of the opening session as Australia lost four
Posted by: | CommentsAt Lunch Australia were 65 for 4 against high flying England
It was a great return for Chris Tremlett as he enjoyed an impressive comeback spell return to Test cricket on the opening session at the WACA. With his super bowling Australia were left in major trouble as he grabbed two wickets during his opening spell.
However, James Anderson once again grabbed the wicket of Ricky Ponting due to a brilliant catch.
