Australian Hotels Prepare for Boom in Bookings in Lead Up To Ashes - Metro Hotels

With an estimated 37,000 international visitors heading to Australia for the Ashes test series this time next year, tickets to the matches aren't the only things in high demand.

Australia is set to battle England on home soil for the Ashes, with the first Test starting at The Gabba in Brisbane on November 21, 2013 and the 5^th Test finishing in Sydney on January 7, 2014. The five Test series is expected to be a boom for local tourism operators. 

According to Metro Hotels' Chief Operating Officer, George Bedwani, the Group has already experienced a huge demand for hotel accommodation in all cities where the tests are being held.

"Metro Hotels' in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney started receiving bookings from both agents and individuals as early as the day after England regained the Ashes in the 2010/2011 series," he said.
"Bookings are already extremely strong, especially group bookings, despite the series not commencing for another 12 months."

The Ashes is one of the most famous sporting rivalries in the history of the sport, and certainly cricket's oldest and most fiercely fought competition.

After England's 3-1 win in the 2010-11 Ashes Series, the 2013-14 Tour is already setting itself up to be another historic showdown, with England looking to continue their winning streak and the Aussies fired up to win back the urn.

In addition to the test matches, there will also be five one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches between Australia and England.

With 13 properties across Australia, Metro Hospitality Group is the country's oldest Australian owned hotel chain. The Group offers a range of 4-star hotels and apartments in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Gladstone, with the same affordable, quality, centrally located accommodation and friendly service common to all Metro properties Australia-wide.

*2013-14 Ashes series

• 1^st Test - Thursday 21 to 25 November 2013, The Gabba - Brisbane
• 2^nd Test - Thursday 5 to 9 December 2013, Adelaide Oval - Adelaide
• 3^rd Test - Friday 13 to 17 December 2013, WACA Ground - Perth
• 4^th Test - Thursday 26 to 30 December 2013, MCG - Melbourne
• 5^th Test - Friday 3 to 7 January 2014, SCG - Sydney

Guests are able to book at all Metro Hotels properties by calling the toll free Central Reservations line on 1800 004 321. Alternatively bookings can be made online at www.metrohotels.com.au.

QR Bulls Masters v Ipswich Invitational XI

Come and see Queensland and Australian greats play against our local heroes in the fast paced environment that is Twenty20 Cricket!

Players will include: Ian Healy, Greg Ritchie, Michael Kasprowicz, Andy Bichel & Jimmy Maher + more! Gates open at 10am, beginning with U10 matches. Free coaching clinic for kids 12.30 - 1.30pm. Main Game commences at 2pm. Tickets are available at the gate - Adults $10, Under 16's are free.

Date: 18 November

Venue: Baxter Oval - Ivor Marsden Memorial Sporting Complex, Old Toowoomba Road, Amberley QLD 4305

Contact:

ipscricket@optusnet.com.au or telephone (07) 3282 4251

Warne Leads Player Praise for Channel 9's "Howzat! Kerry Packer's War"

Spin legend Shane Warne led the player praise for Channel 9's hit mini-series "Howzat! Kerry Packer's War", thanking the late media mogul for changing cricket and the lives of those who made millions from it.

The stunning homage to Packer, played by Offspring actor Lachy Hulme, won a debut audience of 2.097 million nationally on Sunday night.

Delivering on Nine Entertainment boss David Gyngell's bold prediction the series would be "the biggest piece of television this year," the Southern Star production had been widely hailed as the best drama of 2012, news.com.au reports.

Hulme, whose performance already has him favourite for the best actor Logie award, largely stayed away from social media, which was flooded with five-star reviews of his physical transformation and colourful characterisation of the late media mogul.

The rush to praise Hulme and the casting of Australia's best actors as the cricket legends who revolutionised the game in the 1970s with World Series Cricket saw the show trend in top spot on social media around Australia and the world.

Read on at The Sydney News Net

Melbourne Stars chasing Bolt for Big Bash League

'M' for Melbourne? Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt (above) celebrates his third London Olympics gold medal with the signature move of British dual gold medallist Mo Farah (left). The Melbourne Stars is hoping Bolt will play for them during the Big Bash cricket series.



The world's fastest man, Usain Bolt, could be steaming in from the Members End at the MCG this summer with an audacious plan hatched to have the Jamaican track superstar play in the Twenty20 Big Bash League.
The Melbourne Stars franchise has confirmed it is in negotiations with the six-time Olympic gold medallist and his management company and spin king Shane Warne, the team's marquee player, launched a campaign via social media on Sunday in an effort to build support for the recruiting coup. The move has the formative backing of Cricket Australia.

Bolt, who repeated his treble of gold medals in Beijing with victory in the 100 metres, 200m and 4x100m relay at the London Olympics, played junior cricket before ruling the track and has long voiced his love for the game. He famously clean bowled then West Indies captain and good friend Chris Gayle in a charity match in 2009, having earlier belted him down the ground for six, and the vision became popular on YouTube.

The 25-year-old was first approached about joining the Stars before the Games by the franchise's president Eddie McGuire, who was interviewing him in his capacity as a broadcaster at the London OIympics with Foxtel. Bolt said Warne had now spoken to him about playing in the BBL and he would consider whether to take up the offer.

ICC U19 CRICKET WORLD CUP

The world's best young cricketers will gather in Queensland from 11-26 August to test their skills during the 2012 ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup.

Free to attend and held over three locations - Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Townsville - the tournament will see sixteen teams from around the world compete including Australia; Afghanistan; Bangladesh; England; India; Ireland; Namibia;  Nepal; New Zealand; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Scotland; South Africa; Sri Lanka; West Indies; and Zimbabwe.

For a full tournament schedule visit 

www.icc-cricket.yahoo.net

ICC U19 CRICKET WORLD CUP

The world's best young cricketers will gather in Queensland from 11-26 August to test their skills during the 2012 ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup.

Free to attend and held over three locations - Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Townsville - the tournament will see sixteen teams from around the world compete including Australia; Afghanistan; Bangladesh; England; India; Ireland; Namibia;  Nepal; New Zealand; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Scotland; South Africa; Sri Lanka; West Indies; and Zimbabwe.

For a full tournament schedule visit 

www.icc-cricket.yahoo.net

CB series -Sri Lanka Vs India on 21st February - Gabba, Brisbane

Even though Sri Lanka is down in the points table, tomorrows win with bonus point against India will enhance the morale of the team further.

Sri Lanka only played 4 matches and maintaining plus Net RR. And from last match against Australia captain Mahela as well as Dilshan back to their normal form with Sangakkara. More importantly Faveez Maharoof proves his quality with fine bowling figures of 8 overs, one maiden, 18 runs and two wickets.

The fielding was exceptional and first time in Sri Lankan cricket history we got three all-rounders in the team who can bowl fast medium and medium fast (Maharoof,Angelow and Thisara).In match against Australia Kulasekara was well supported to Malinga with better Slow left-arm orthodox bowing of Rangana Herath. And up to now in the series Sri Lanka headed by largest victory in terms of wickets and runs (vs Australia).

In bowling Herath,Maharoof(plays only one match) as well as Kulasekera are in the top five slots under “Best Economy rates” category. Dinesh chandimal is in the fourth place among top runners (but he played only four matches as all others played five matches) .The captaincy of Mahela in this series also has been hailed by many cricket experts as well.

On the other hand India having all sought of problems as their inform Match wining captain MS Dhoni has been suspended for one ODI .He was the third most run getter in the series. Furthermore there was a question mark on fitness of Virender Sehwag and specially Sachin Tendulkar who went for a precautionary MRI scan after being hit on the helmet by a Brett Lee bouncer.

So there is a chance to Sri Lanka to win with extra point which would take the team into number two spot in points table. But more importantly it will further boost the morale of the team and cricket loving community in Sri Lanka. And also special gratitude should be given for the Sri Lankans who are living in Australia supporting our team with always playing “our songs” with specific local “Baila” with our identity. This uniqueness can be observed in any part of the world which Sri Lankan cricketers are playing and separate social research can be done on that as well.

CB series -Sri Lanka Vs India on 21st February - Gabba, Brisbane

Ricky Ponting Plans To Bat On

The former captain made the announcement in a press conference at the SCG this morning.

Ponting was dropped from the one day side for the first time in over a decade after a poor run in the series against India.

He played 375 matches one day matches, scoring 13,704 runs .

Ponting captained the side in 230 games and played some remarkable innings, including a memorable 140no in the 2003 World Cup final against India.

Australia strode through the 2003 and 2007 world cups under his leadership undefeated.

The former captain was dropped from the one-day squad yesterday.

While the 37-year-old overcame a career-threatening form slump to have one of the best series of his career in four Tests against India, the effort appears to have exhausted him and he has been unable to reach double figures in five one-day innings.

Ponting said on Friday night he wanted to keep playing, but the selectors told him of his fate yesterday.

Chairman of the selection panel John Inverarity said the champion was "disappointed" to hear the news.

If Ponting decides to continue playing Test cricket he will travel to the West Indies next month for a three-match series and will have no further cricket until next summer.

All-rounder Shane Watson was recalled to the ODI squad after completing a comeback Shield match for NSW. Plans are for him to miss the game on Friday in Hobart but come into the team for the final match against India on Sunday at the SCG.

Watson has not played for Australia since breaking down in the Johannesburg Test in November. Young bowler Mitchell Starc was dropped to make room for Watson.

Inverarity told The Australian last night that as far as he was concerned Ponting still had a place in the Test side if he wanted it, but conceded that the former skipper was considering his next move.

"We have dropped him from the ODI team. We're looking increasingly toward the 2015 World Cup," Inverarity said. "There is no intention to recall Ricky, but I have consistently said the door is never closed on any player.

"Of course there are implications for Test cricket. If he drops out of the ODI team, then there's a possible lack of momentum there. There are three Test matches in the West Indies, then as I understand it, there are no more Test matches until October or November."

Inverarity described Ponting as "one of the greatest players and one of the greatest ever ODI players" and the numbers back up his assessment. Ponting played his first limited overs match in 1995 and has played 375 matches, scoring 13,704 runs.

He captained the side in 230 games and played some remarkable innings, including a memorable 140no in the 2003 World Cup final against India.

Australia strode through the 2003 and 2007 World Cups under his leadership undefeated.

Ponting has had the worst run of his career in the past five ODIs, scoring 2,1,6,2 and 7.

"Ricky's contribution goes far beyond his batting statistics and brilliant fielding," Inverarity said.

"The example he sets in every respect and his extraordinarily positive influence in the dressing-room is acknowledged by all. He is held in the highest possible regard by his team-mates and there is no higher accolade than this."

Inverarity said it was a mark of Ponting's character that he accepted the task of captaining the side in Michael Clarke's absence over the past two games even though he needed a rest.

"We were looking to rest some players if the opportunity presented itself," he said. "We had a quick ring around and we were all of the view that Ricky should do the job and when I rang Ricky he wasn't keen to do it, but he said, 'Look I think it is the right decision. I will do it for the sake of the team and that is always paramount'.

"He is a fantastic man as you would know. He's a wonderful bloke. He does his duty, he is selfless, he always thinks of the team."

Inverarity said the selectors held informal discussions during Sunday's ODI but were unanimous in their decision when they had a phone hook-up yesterday.

Inverarity made it clear Ponting was dropped "due to his lack of form in the five Commonwealth Bank Series matches to date."

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Aussies Pound India at the Gabba, Brisbane

Australia have rocketed to the top of the tri-series standings as Ben Hilfenhaus continued to torment India in his return to one-day cricket.

Replacing an ill Clint McKay for his first ODI in more than two years, Hilfenhaus took a career-best 5-33 as the home side pounded the tourists by 110 runs on Sunday night.

But both sides face growing worries about modern-day greats Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar who were both made to look second-rate with ugly failures at the Gabba.

A tired Ponting’s immediate one-day future is on shaky ground after he looked all at sea making just seven – his fifth straight single-figure failure – as Australia posted 5-288.

But the stand-in skipper, due for a rest with Michael Clarke expected to return from injury this week, still managed to marshall his troops to a convincing victory by routing India for 178.

The tourists had no answers to the pace and swing of new-ball duo Hilfenhaus and Brett Lee (3-49) who ripped through their top-order to effectively kill off the contest at 4-36.

Skipper MS Dhoni delayed the inevitable with a patient 56 but once he holed out to Hilfenhaus, in the 38th over, a bonus point was in the bag for Australia.

Australia’s dominant win takes them to the top of the table on 13 points – three ahead of India (10), who will meet Sri Lanka (7) on Tuesday.

While Australia’s selectors have a dilemma in how to handle Ponting’s twilight years, especially with the next World Cup three years away, India appear to have just as big a problem in managing Tendulkar.

The Little Master, searching for his hundredth international century for the past 11 months, was made to look like a rookie as he upper cut Hilfenhaus straight to Xavier Doherty at third man to fall for three.

While Ponting has just 18 runs in the tri-series at an embarrassing average of 3.6, Tendulkar has 68 runs at 17 and hasn’t looked like challenging for his milestone century.

Like Tendulkar, who lasted 12 balls, Ponting struggled to find the middle of his bat and the gaps in the field in a painful 26-ball stay after David Warner propelled the home side to 1-70 with a breezy 43.

Australia’s momentum halted with his innings and only an impressive century stand by Mike Hussey (59 off 52) and adopted Queenslander Peter Forrest (52 off 71) put the home side on track on a good batting wicket.

Late lusty hitting by Dan Christian (30no off 18) and David Hussey (26no off 20) then ensured India would face a tough chase as they blasted 65 off the last six overs.

India shot themselves in the foot in the field with four dropped catches, including two off Mike Hussey, and two muffed run outs.

The comedy of errors wasn’t restricted to the players though with the match officials involved in farcical scenes after third umpire Bruce Oxenford unwittingly giving Hussey out on one.

Oxenford blamed a technical malfunction as he attempted to give the not out call to a stumping review but “OUT” flashed on the big screen before the batsman trudged off, only to be recalled by the on-field umpires.

Aussies Pound India at the Gabba, Brisbane

Perth Cricket Fans Urged to Dress Up for Chance to Win Carribean Trip

IT'S the only statistic missing from Mike Hussey's impressive cricket resume – and it doesn't bother him one bit.

The veteran Australian batsman is yet to post a one-day century at his beloved WACA Ground and Friday’s match against Sri Lanka could be his last chance to reach triple figures in front of his hometown fans.

Hussey, 36, is no certainty to play on next summer and will be keen to leave a lasting impression on the ground where he made his international debut in 2004 should it be his last major match in Perth.

A century similar to the one former WA teammate Adam Gilchrist scored in his final international appearance at the venue would be a dream come true for Hussey, but the crowd favourite won’t be losing any sleep if he doesn’t.

“Generally the position and time I come into bat makes it difficult to score a hundred, so for me to have to get a hundred generally means we’re in a bit of trouble and that’s not something I want,” said Hussey, who averages an impressive 76.25 from eight ODIs in Perth, including a highest score of 78.

“To come in with four of five overs to go and try and hit every ball for six would be definitely more the recipe for me.”

Hussey encouraged Perth fans to dress up during for the Friday’s game for a chance to win a trip to the Caribbean next month when Australia tours the West Indies.

“Hopefully the entertainment on the field is going to be very good, but you also get a bit of entertainment off the field as well,” he said.

“Seeing some of the different costumes and get-ups that people get into can make for a pretty humorous afternoon at the cricket.”

Cricket Australia is also offering a number of prizes on the day for the best-dressed fans.

Visit apps.facebook.com/best-dressed-comp for more details.

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Cricket NSW Hopes a Huge Crowd at ANZ Stadium Will Help in Bid to Host World Cup Final Ahead of MCG

The record-breaking Twenty20 match between Australia and India at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night is the first shot in a stadium war to steal the 2015 World Cup final from the MCG. 

While matches are yet to be allocated and the SCG is making a strong push to claim the tournament's biggest match thanks to a redevelopment, the MCG is considered the unbackable favourite because of its enormous capacity.

However, Cricket NSW chief executive Dave Gilbert believes Sydney's former Olympic venue can be the game breaker.

"If we can get 60,000-plus on Wednesday night to show Cricket Australia we can get crowds like that for the World Cup, ANZ might position itself for World Cup matches as well as T20s," Gilbert said.
"The MCG up to now has had pretty much carte blanche to get those big events because of capacity.
"We believe that ANZ filled with 80,000 people, the actual ticket yield could be better than the MCG at 90,000.

"By getting this (Twenty20) match under way it shows there is another player in the market."
While the SCG is the spiritual home of cricket in NSW and likely to be the best stadium in the country following its imminent Bradman Stand redevelopment, the capacity of 50,000 may not be enough to secure a World Cup final.

The record crowd to watch a day's cricket in NSW is a touch more than 58,000 at the SCG during an Ashes tour in 1928.

However, Gilbert expects that record to go as ANZ Stadium continues its push as a Twenty20 venue.
The NSW government has paid Cricket Australia $1.4 million to guarantee T20 internationals at ANZ Stadium over the next four years and Gilbert believes this is the perfect vehicle to push for World Cup recognition.

The 2015 event will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

With India and the subcontinent demanding to regularly host cricket's pinnacle event, the four-year World Cup, this will be only the second time the ANZAC countries have been able to obtain it.
The first was in 1992, when Australia failed to make the finals.

The sold-out semi-finals were held at the SCG and Auckland's Eden Park, while the final at the MCG between England and eventual winners Pakistan attracted more than 87,000 fans.

Gilbert claimed that ANZ Stadium was capable of hosting World Cup matches despite its short boundaries.
"While people have made a lot of issues about the straight boundary size, if you're hitting straight it's a 70m hit. That's not insignificant," he said.

"But it's the same for both teams and both teams have the opportunity to maximise it."
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KFC T20 International Cricket - Australia vs India Sydney Sports Events

Sydney Olympic Park will host its first ever international cricket match, when Australia take on India in a history making KFC T20 international match that promises to be a memorable night of entertainment. Make sure you get your tickets to be a part of the action.

Get to Sydney Olympic Park early to cheer on the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars as they take on New Zealand in a Women's T20 International, starting at 2.05pm.

Ticket	Price
Adult	A$110.00 (Platinum ticket. Non-alcohol areas available.)
Adult	A$30.00 (Bronze ticket. Family/child/pensioners Bronze tickets also available.)
Adult	A$55.00 (Silver ticket. Family/child/pensioners Silver tickets also available. Non-alcohol areas available.)
Family	A$67.50 (Milo Family Zone. Family = 2 adults and 2 child or 1 adult and 3 child. Adult/pensioner/child tickets also available.)
Adult	A$80.00 (Gold ticket. Family/child/pensioners Gold tickets also available.)

Test Selectors Set to Go with Spinner for Perth, Meaning Paceman Mitchell Starc is Set to Miss Out

CURATOR Cam Sutherland will need to lose his lawnmower for Michael Starc to play as the fourth fast bowler in Perth.

The tall and talented NSW left armer bowled some unplayable deliveries on the way to claiming three cheap wickets during a man of the match performance for the Sydney Sixers against the Sydney Thunder in Sunday night’s rain-marred Big Bash derby at ANZ Stadium.

And the WACA Ground pitch is currently as green as St Patrick’s Day.

But Sydney Sixers chief executive Stuart Clark is one who believes it would be a mistake to include his young and unpredictable paceman for the third Test against India, beginning on Friday.

Clark was part of a four-man pace attack when Australia last played India in Perth four years ago, and lost there to India for the first time.

Shaun Tait was the extra fast bowler, who failed to take wicket in either innings and then broke down with physical and mental exhaustion.

“I always felt that with four quicks there was an extra bowler for no apparent reason,” Clark told Summer of Cricket yesterday.

“I don’t think the attack is balanced without a spinner or another option.

“I’m sure if the wicket is that green there may be the option not to play a spinner but that’s few and far between.

“Without a spinner you’ve got over rate issues.

“And with the breeze over there (in Perth), if you can find an off-spinner who can curve the ball, which Lyon can do really well, that would always be my go.”

There is the counter argument that Australia thrashed England in Perth last summer for their only Test victory during a miserable Ashes series by playing four quicks for just the third time in 20 years. The other two were against India.

The returning Ryan Harris and injured Mitchell Johnson claimed nine wickets each while Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus claimed just one apiece.

And with the breeze blowing from the east, instead of the prevailing Fremantle Doctor from the south west, Johnson, a left-armer like Starc, rediscovered the inswinger for one of the few times in his career.

While captain Michael Clarke and coach Mickey Arthur are hedging their bets to see how the wicket will look closer to Test, it will take a huge change in philosophy or little change in the pitch for Starc to make the final XI.

Both men have made it clear in recent days that they prefer to take a spinner into every Test.

“I'm hoping that wicket is similar to what we played on against England last summer where it's got a lot of pace and bounce and some sideways movement,” Clarke said after Australia thumped India by an innings at the SCG to take a 2-0 lead in the four-Test series.

“If that's the case there's an option there (to play four fast bowlers) but I always love having a spinner in our team and I continue to say I think Nathan Lyon is doing a terrific job for this team.”

A day later Arthur reinforced his captain’s view.

“I don't like going into a Test match without a spinner because I think a spinner changes tempo, it just gives you variation,” Arthur said.

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Clarke 329 is Highest Test Mark in Sydney

SYDNEY: After erasing some of Donald Bradman's marks with an unbeaten triple century, Michael Clarke didn't risk upsetting anyone by going on to surpass the great man's highest score.

So he declared Australia's innings at 659-4 when he was 329 not out - five short of the revered Bradman's mark of 334 - at the drinks break in the middle session on Thursday, exactly halfway through the second Test against India.

Australians had a commanding 468-run first innings lead, but on a flat wicket where the bowlers were struggling, Clarke could have easily justified batting on, and breaking a slew of batting records including Brian Lara's mark of 400 for the highest score.

He had already beaten Bradman's record for highest score on home soil by an Australian captain (270), then he'd added the highest score ever at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground, followed by the first triple century at the ground and then just about doubled his own previous highest score of 168.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm stoked that I've managed to make 300-odd runs today but the most important thing for me now is that we win this ," Clarke said, deflecting the attention from the timing of his declaration.

"It's about putting the team first. What I love most about this game, is seeing this team win," he said. "I've been like that as a player and I'll be no different as a captain.

"If it was best for the team to continue batting then I would have continued to bat."

His innings was not even within 50 of an Australian record - Matt Hayden scored a then-world record 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003 - but it was a sign of respect for a more recognized and enduring mark: the 334 scored by Bradman, and equalled but deliberately not surpassed by Mark Taylor.

Clarke's epic innings will go a long way to tipping public support his way, having often struggled to win over a demanding nation of fans who consider the national cricket captaincy second only to the prime minister in terms of importance.

Clarke's talent had never been in doubt since he burst onto the scene in 2004, more than 18 months after establishing himself in the limited-overs squad, by scoring 151 on debut against India at Bangalore.

That innings reflected the precocious talent of the brash youngster from Sydney's western suburbs, who had earned the nickname 'Pup' due to his youthful prowess in provincial cricket and was long considered as a flamboyant run-maker rather than a captain in waiting.

The public's reticence toward Clarke has largely been based on style rather than substance, with fans hesitant to embrace a man who takes a very different approach to the trademark no-frills manner of iconic recent captains like Allan Border and Steve Waugh.

He models underwear, has a collection of tattoos, and is highly conscious of his image - not exactly traits Australian cricket fans would ascribe to favourite sons like Dennis Lillee or David Boon.

His locker room spat with former opener Simon Katich for wanting to leave to spend time with his girlfriend rather than keep celebrating a victory in Sydney has become the stuff of legend and polarized opinion.

Clarke's struggle for fans' acceptance was illustrated last Australian summer when he was booed by a crowd when he walked out to bat in a one-dayer in the wake of Ashes series defeat, when the national team at its nadir after a decade at the top of the game.

But Clarke's four centuries in nine Tests since officially replacing Ricky Ponting as captain have hushed some critics who didn't think he was leadership material.

"It's about respect, it's about continuing to earn the public's respect. That's all I've ever wanted," Clarke said after his 18th and, by far his biggest, hundred. "If people are going to dislike me that's life, that's the way it is. But the most important thing for me, especially being the Australian captain now, you want your home fans to respect you."

His latest innings had a precarious start, with Australia at 37-3 after removing India for 191 on the opening day of the 100th at the SCG. But after sharing back-to-back partnerships of 288 with Ponting (134) and 334 with Mike Hussey (150 not out), he increased his batting average as Australian captain above 59.

Clarke's campaign to bat his way into public affection is progressing well, if judged by the prolonged and raucous standing ovation he received Thursday when he clipped off his pads through mid-wicket for a boundary to bring up his 300.

It came in the wake of a tumultuous initial stint as captain, which included a horrendous loss in Cape Town when Australia was bowled out for 47 followed by a courageous win over the South Africans in Johannesburg.

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Clarke 329 is Highest Test Mark in Sydney

Despite MCG loss, Indians get set to hit back at Sydney

The Indian camp has digested a hat-trick of Boxing Day Test losses to Australia. Sure, they refused to look at newspapers yesterday, diligently answered phone calls. But, they did not disappoint the fans who gathered outside the Lingham Hotel here on Thursday evening, signing autographs and obliging to picture requests. They appeared in happy spirits. "It's just a process of acclimatisation, we'll be back," selector Mohinder Amarnath says in a passing remark to MiD DAY.

Amarnath's remark should be taken seriously. India are slow starters. They would have lost the first Test at Sabina Park earlier this year if it wasn't for Darren Sammy dropping Rahul Dravid on the third day. Before that, India last won the first Test of an away tour at The Bull Ring in 2006-07. A poor start was estimated. But, when you consider that Bet Fair and Ladbrokes favoured an Indian win on Thursday morning, and the local media had lost hope in their side after Cardiff 2009, Mohali 2010-11, Cape Town 2011-12 and Hobart 2011-12, the loss is all the more significant, hard to fathom.

Fifth in a row

The Indians know that it's their fifth consecutive defeat abroad. They are aware that the batting line-up has flopped again, managing a 300-plus total only once in their last 16 outings abroad. They also know that the ageing batting line-up can't be banished, because it's the younger lot, the Kohlis, the Gambhirs that are failing to deliver.

Keep in mind, the star quartet of Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar has 9,152 Border-Gavaskar Trophy runs against Australia. What would do if you're MS Dhoni or Duncan Fletcher? Are the Rahanes and Sharmas going swoop in to fix this? No. This is India's best possible XI. Kohli hit two fifties in his last Test. Can you look past his splendid last-day knock at Wankhede Stadium against West Indies last month?

An opportunity

The local media here has capitalised on a wonderful opportunity to remind India of their persisting batting woes. "MS Dhoni has conceded India's great weapon (batting) is now its weakness -- a cast of batting flops who must prove they are not flat track bullies," The Daily Telegraph wrote.

"Most of the smart money in Mohali, Mumbai and Melbourne was on India quickly sweeping aside the last of the Australian resistance and then unleashing the demi-gods of their batting line-up," The Australian wrote, referring to the last-wicket stand of James Pattinson and Ben Hilfenhaus that made a difference to India's eventual target of 292.

"The boys don't want to read papers. They have been in such situations before. We are drawing lot of positives from the first Test," manager Shivlal Yadav tells MiD DAY. The 'flat-track bullies' have a reputation to protect. Otherwise the accolades garnered over the years will reach a watershed, respect will be lost.

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