Cricket Australia News and information, upcoming fixtures and news about the state of the game and players
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Australia's ODI Top Three All Debutants - Melbourne One Day Match
Australia may have made a clean sweep of the recent Test series against Sri Lanka, but the one-dayers are almost certain to be close contests.
The first match of the five-game one-day series is at the MCG on Friday and you can be assured the Sri Lankans will put up a better fight than they displayed during the Test match at the same ground last month.
Australia triumphed by an innings and 201 runs on that occasion, but the Sri Lankans take the ODIs very seriously and should not be underestimated even though star batsmen Kumar Sangakkara is sidelined by injury.
Not only do Sri Lanka have the services of arguably the best limited overs paceman in the world in Lasith Malinga, but they also have an underrated array of spinners with which to test the Australians.
Malinga's form during the current KFC T20 Big Bash League has been first class and if he can replicate that in the one-dayers then he is sure to have the Australian openers on their toes.
We saw glimpses of Rangana Herath's best during the Test series, but he won't be the only spinner that Sri Lanka will unleash on the Australian team.
Keep a close eye on the unorthodox Ajantha Mendis as he bowls both leggies and offies with aplomb, while all-rounder Jeevan Mendis - who bowls some good leg breaks himself - is another Sri Lankan to watch.
Australia's squad for Melbourne looks rather inexperienced, with the names of Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Shane Watson and Michael Clarke all missing through injury or retirement.
Clarke's absence paves the way for regular Twenty20 captain George Bailey to skipper the Australian side and he will need to rely on a group of players that are mainly yet to prove themselves in one-day cricket at international level.
There is no David Warner at the top of the order - he is being rested from the opening two matches of the series - with the in-form, but inexperienced trio of Aaron Finch, Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja likely to spearhead Australia's top order.
Brad Haddin and David Hussey will add that bit of experience to the batting line-up, so there are certainly enough class players in the Australian side to make up for the absence of Clarke, Warner and Co.
It will be interesting to see if Australia opt for two left-arm quicks in their final XI for the opening match, with Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson both having performed admirably in the recent Test series.
Clint McKay and Ben Cutting are the other pace options Bailey has at his disposal, while Tasmanian Xavier Doherty looks certain to feature as he is the only specialist spinner in the squad.
Only one of Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell look likely to play, with the duo battling it out for the same spot seemingly and the Victorian in the box seat given the match is at the MCG.
Expect both sides to include plenty of bowling options in the final XI given the new one-day rules that Australia will see for the first time this summer.
Australia squad: George Bailey (c), Ben Cutting, Xavier Doherty, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Phil Hughes, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell, Clint Mckay, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc
Sri Lanka squad: Mahela Jayawardene (c), Angelo Mathews (vc), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Kushal Janith Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Akila Dananjaya, Suranga Lakmal, Rangana Herath, Shaminda Eranga.
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Thursday, December 13, 2012
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 5th Test finishing in Sydney on January 7, 2014. The five Test series is expected to be a boom for local tourism operators.
"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
- 1st Test - Thursday 21 to 25 November 2013, The Gabba - Brisbane
- 2nd Test - Thursday 5 to 9 December 2013, Adelaide Oval - Adelaide
- 3rd Test - Friday 13 to 17 December 2013, WACA Ground - Perth
- 4th Test - Thursday 26 to 30 December 2013, MCG - Melbourne
- 5th 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.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
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 |
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
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
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
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.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
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
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
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
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