Story Australia - Tut tut tut

[Anderson]

Ponting will never play for Australia again

There are some things that don't belong in cricket. Or anything really. Violence is one of them. No matter what the player, what the occasion, it is something we cannot accept. With some regret, we have come to the descision that after his attack on the West Indian cricketer Fidel Edwards after his controversial dismissal, Ricky Ponting will never play cricket for Australia again. What he did was wrong, unprovked and downright stupid. Hopefully this will send out a message to the Cricketing world. Just before we finish I would like to give thanks to Rudi Kirsten and Billy Bowden and also to Dwayne Bravo for breaking up the fight. Thank you.

The news Australian cricket fans had been dreading for weeks. It all started off after Fidel Edwards had already took 4-12 in two overs in the 2009 20/20 World Cup encounter to reduce the Aussies to 33-5. He then got his five for when Billy Bowden controversially gave the former Australian captain out LBW when the ball hit him high on the knee roll. Edwards then did the "You can't see me" taunt to Ponting. Some have speculated something else was said, but in a fit of anger the Australian captain lunged at Edwards landing two blows to the fast bowlers head before the umpires and Bravo split them up. Australia in shame withdrew from the tournement - which was later won by the suprise package of Ireland. With the Ashes just weeks away, how will Australia cope without Ponting?

Coming Soon - The New Captain

 

[Anderson]

Clarke - Over the moon on being appointed Captain

After the shock exit from Australian cricket of Ricky Ponting, the Aussies were left without a captain. Australian bookies had "Mr. Cricket" Michael Hussey as odds on favourite. This turned out to just be betting noncense, as just a few hours ago the Australian cricket board announced Michael Clarke would lead the Kangeroos into battle. Clarke - who has never hit a century in England - has played fourty-seven tests and has averaged 47.82 with ten hundreds and thirteen fifty's. His agent has given a press statment saying that the 28 year old New South Wales batsman is over the moon to be the captain. Aussie legend Shane Warne has given his backing to Clarke.

I'm delighted for Clarkey. He's such a great guy and i'm sure we'll do great things with him at our helm. He's always there if we've collapsed, or need to bat the day out. He's a very talented cricketer, he's great at motivating players and is great with youth so i'm sure he'll be a great captain for us.

Can Clarke lead the Aussies to the Ashes?

 

[OffCutters]

Good start mate, who wanted Ponting as captain anyway :sarcasm

Lets hope Clarkey can do a good job for us and hopefully win us the Ashes.

 

[Anderson]

Sussex V Australia - Three Day Friendly - Tour of England - Day 1

Australia have announced there first squad with Michael Clarke as captain. The 18 man squad for the Ashes is available below:

Batsman

Phil Hughes
Simon Katich (vc)
Phil Jaques
David Warner
Michael Clarke (c)
Michael Hussey
Marcus North

All Rounders

Shane Watson
Cameron White
Andrew McDonald
Luke Butterworth

Wicket-Keepers

Brad Haddin
Matthew Wade

Bowlers

Brett Lee
Burt Cockley
Stuart Clark
Peter Siddle
Mitchell Johnson

As you can see, some shock choices. There are four players who have never played a test match for the Aussies - David Warner, Luke Butterworth, Matthew Wade, Burt Cockley. In a recent interview, new captain Michael Clarke let slip that there is a big possibilty that one of the players will start in the first test match. Today, Burt Cockley and David Warner will get the chance to show off there skills against Sussex. The side for today is below

Phil Hughes
Simon Katich (vc)
David Warner
Michael Clarke (c)
Phil Jaques
Shane Watson
Cameron White
Brad Haddin
Mitchell Johnson
Stuart Clark
Burt Cockley

Sussex won the toss and chose to bat. Michael Clarke threw the ball to Burt Cockley and Mitchell Johnson who have never used a duke ball before. Mike Gatting's newphew John Gatting almost gave Burt Cockley his first test wicket when he got a edge, but luckily for him, it flew through the slips for four. Nash got the Sharks off to a nice start before gloving Shane Watson too Katich at short leg. Gatting and Goodwin pushed on and soon Sussex got a hundred up. Sussex went into Lunch at 111-1.

Gatting made a fifty similar to one of those of his uncle's but was out a few balls later when Johnson got him hooking and was caught superbly on the boundary by Burt Cockley. England's wicket-keeper Matt Prior came out to get some practise against the Aussies bowling but didn't last long making just 20 before he got a leading edge off Mitchell Johnson. Murray Goodwin played very well and pushed onto 77* not out at tea.

Murray Goodwin soon made his century and it took a inspired bowling change from Clarke, bringing on Shane Watson who got Goodwin out first ball for 111 off 179. Luke Wright went agressievly hitting 34 off 24 before his big hitting cost him his wicket hitting Stuart Clark straight back up in the air and Clark took a nice catch and Wright was out. All rounder Dwayne Smith made just fourteen before becoming Stuart Clark's second victim getting a nick through to Brad Haddin. Soon the day was over and Sussex were 368-6.

 

[hedger_14]

Australia might win for once now that Ponting is now out.

 

[Anderson]

Sussex V Australia - Three Day Friendly - Tour of England - Day 2

Johnson took the first ball of the day, and he got a immeadiate result. He knocked Ed Joyce's off stump out the ground, and the Irishman was out just 11 away from his century. After twenty-two overs of toiling and conceding 95 runs, he got his first wicket in England. He got Yasir Arafat to play across the line off a straight ball, trapping him LBW for 8. This fully opened up the Sharks tail end and just three balls later Cockley got his second wicket of the match removing Pepler Sandri's middle stump out the ground with a lovely yorker. Cockley got the last wicket getting Kirtley to flash at a short ball just outside the off stump and he got a faint nick through to Haddin and Sussex were all out for 420. Australia came out and started hitting agressievly. This didn't pay off as Simon Katich who was going nicely on 32 off 29 played forward defensievly edging Sandri through to the slips. Clarke and Hughes survived until lunch and went in at 70-1.

New captain Michael Clarke didn't get off to a great start nicking one through to Matt Prior. Warner made just one before hitting Collymore straight to gulley. Hughes joined the "edging" club, with Joyce pulling off a super one handed catch after the Aussie opener out for 42 after getting a top edge off Arafat and Australia had collapsed to 124-4. Watson made just fourteen before having his stumps uprooted by Kirtley. Jaques looked in good touch and soon made his fifty off exactly fifty including a massive six that flew out of the ground. Despite not taking a wicket and conceding seventy runs off fourteen overs, Cameron White looked in good touch aswell with the bat and he went in at tea on 38* and Jaques was 71*.

White fell shortly after tea for 48 and that brought Brad Haddin to the crease. He didn't stay long though, and fell for just two. Despite all the wickets falling, Jaques remained strong and soon made his century. Jaques made 111 before he was caught in the deep off Collymore. The tail played well with Cockley making 14, Clark made 17, Johnson made 29* and Australia had hobbled to 332 and that was the end of the days play.

 

[hedger_14]

well that is probably the worst Ashes Squad ever. No spinners other than Katich and Clarke and very inexperienced although the batting is alright. Warner has played "1" First Class match and you're going to choose him. Weird

 

[Anderson]

Sussex V Australia - Three Day Friendly - Tour of England - Day 3

Clark got the early wicket the Aussies were looking for dismissing Nash for 2. Goodwin was out for a golden duck with Clark getting him edging through to the slips. He didn't get his hat-rick though. Clark did however get his third wicket just a few overs later getting Prior hooking him to out in the deep were Johnson took a nice catch and the England wicket-keeper was out for 6. Johnson got the fourth wicket with Gatting falling victim to a dogdy LBW desicion for 30. Joyce and Wright fought back but Watson got rid of Joyce for 44 by uprooting his middle stump. Wright and Smith survived till lunch and Sussex were 120-5.

Watson got his second shortly after lunch getting Smith gloving the ball through to Katich at short leg for 3. As soon as Wright made his 50, Sussex declared on 160-6 (253 runs ahead). Hughes and Katich made 36 before tea. Katich looked in great touch hitting his fifty, but was run out for 50 by Hughes going for a ridiculous attempt at a run. Clarke failed again making just 19. Warner may have thrown away his chance at a starting place for the first test by falling for just 18. At the end of the day Hughes was 83* and Jaques was 8* with Australia 181-3.

Anderson added 1 Minutes and 37 Seconds later...

well that is probably the worst Ashes Squad ever. No spinners other than Katich and Clarke and very inexperienced although the batting is alright. Warner has played "1" First Class match and you're going to choose him. Weird

I don't know anything about Australian cricket!

White's average is much better than Hauritz's so that's why i picked him. I also remember that Warner was supposedly very good. I must be wrong. :rtfl

Also, the MCC game was so bad with rain there was only five hours play in three days so ....

 

[Covvy]

OMG Hilfenhaus isn't even in the squad

 

[Anderson]

OMG Hilfenhaus isn't even in the squad

His first class bowling average was 32. Not good enough for me.

 

[Hooper]

Anyone notice the rather obscene word behind Ponting in the opening post. :laugh

 

[hedger_14]

No warners batting rating in the game is very low. White averages around 40 in First class, over 60 in tests and around 37 in both ODI and List A and T20 doesn't mean anything. Hauritz started his career poorly but has got back on track meaning his Test, ODI and List A averages are good while his First Class average is still pretty bad but getting better.

 

[OffCutters]

I love that word behind Punter.

 

[Anderson]

Haddin and Clarke rescue Australia after middle order collapse

Phil Hughes
Simon Katich
Phil Jaques
Michael Clarke
Michael Hussey
Marcus North
Brad Haddin
Shane Watson
Mitchell Johnson
Peter Siddle
Stuart Clark

Andrew Strauss
Alistair Cook
Kevin Pietersen
Ravi Bopara
Paul Collingwood
Matt Prior
Andrew Flintoff
Stuart Broad
Ryan Sidebottom
James Anderson
Monty Panesar

So, after months of waiting, here is the first test of the 2009 Ashes. New captain Michael Clarke won the toss in his first ever match captaining Australia and chose to bat. Phil Hughes and Simon Katich looked nervous as they came down the steps, however England ruined the effect of the new ball by getting Anderson and Broad to bowl around the wicket. This didn't only not get any wickets, but it gave Hughes who will smash anything outside the off stump away for four alot of chances to score. He and Katich raced to there fifty's and England got so desparate that they brought on Paul Collingwood. In the first session. It didn't work however and the Aussies went into lunch at 124-0 with Hughes on 71* and Katich 50*.

Anderson came on after lunch bowling over the wicket and the effects paid off immeadiatly getting Katich out LBW for 51. Hughes looked certain to make his century until Anderson came back around the wicket, making the illusion he was going to bowl outside the off stump, but he however bowled it straight and trapped the young opener for 94. Flintoff who had been expensive going at six a over got Hughes to get a leading edge through to Strauss who made a regulation catch to get the left-hander out for 20. Mr. Cricket made just 5 before he became Broad's first wicket and Australia had collapsed to 185-4. North made just nine before Collingwood got him out with a nice little cutter. Australia had collapsed from 124-0 at Lunch to 214-5 at Tea.

Haddin and Clarke formed a nice little partnership and because of this England decided to take a new ball. However, nothing worked and Haddin and Clarke got Australia back into the game with Haddin rushing to 75* and Clarke 55* with Australia having come back to 325-5.

Anderson added 0 Minutes and 41 Seconds later...

Anyone notice the rather obscene word behind Ponting in the opening post. :laugh

It's actually part of the advert for a beer called Cockspur.

 

[OffCutters]

COCKSPUR!!!!
Well done Hads and Pup, great batting out there, show them bloody Pommies.