Story Australian Int Season - RETIREMENT

Who will win the 3 Test Series


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Australia Vs Border

Cricket legends Mark Taylor, Alan Donald and Jonty Rhodes share their views on Australias first match of the international season. A tour match against provincial side Border

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Taylor - I believe this match should prove a solid hit out for the Australians. They will need some solid time in the middle before they take on one of the tougest sides in the world.

Donald - I dont think the question will be of the outcome of this match. I will be more intrigued by how test stars Makhaya Ntini and Mark Boucher perform. Especially if Makhaya can get on top of a few of the Australian batsman and create some pressure leading into the test series.

Rhodes - These matches always seem to bring out the best in the provincial cricketers. I think Australia should win this game but with one day matches you never really can tell. Hopefully Border can create a few headaches for the Australians leading into the test. These matches are all about finding form, but some form can be lost if the home side plays well.

The Captains give their views and intentions leading up to the match

Ricky Ponting - This will be a good chance to get some time in the middle and get some runs and some wickets under out belts. These matches are a great opportunity for the guys to make an impression on selectors for the test and one day series and find their feet in these conditions.

Mark Boucher - For us this will be all about showing that South Africans are not intimidated and that we can still perform well. Personally i would like to get a few runs and just shatter a bit of the Australian confidence and form leading into a tough series.

Pitch Conditions - Australia won the toss and have elected to field

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These tour games are crucial I feel.

Also I am really looking forward to the Kallis vs Warne battle and I think Kallis will be able to handle the great Australian leggie!
 
News Report

Lee Fires As Australia Tightens Screws

Brett Lee claimed figures of 2/22 of 8.5 overs as he lead Australia with some tight pace bowling against Border at Johannesburg. Lee, along with fellow paceman Jason Gillespie, who took 2/19, showed their class as they ristricted the home side to 10/141 after only 36.5 overs.

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(The Border Scorecard - Dissapointing but full credit must go to Australias bowlers who put the pressure on with tight bowling)

Lee, bowling like a man vying for a test birth, bowled with pace and accuracy as he took the opening wicket, then restricted the batsmen as Gillespie took wickets at the other end.

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(Brett Lee captures his first wicket, great low catch by Martyn, and sets the tempo for Australia)

Border opening batsman Mark Bruyns showed some resilience against the world class attack as he compiled the top score of 24.

But it was all Australias way in the first innings with Lee, Gillespie, Brad Hogg and Michael Clarke all taking 2 wickets. Glenn McGrath was the only bowler not to claim a wicket but showed his typical tight bowling with 0/6 off 6 overs.

The attention will now shift to the performance of the Australian batsman and the bowling of Makhaya Ntini.
 
Hayden Leads From The Front As Australia Crawls To Victory

A Matthew Hayden half century was all that saved Australia from an embarrassing defeat at the hands of South African provincial side the Border Bears at Johannesburg today.

In what has been labelled one of the most disappointing performances in recent memory, the Australian batting lineup crawled along at under 3 runs an over for much of the match while chasing down Borders total of 10/141.

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(Australia?s substandard batting reply of 5/142)

Matthew Hayden?s 63 from 117 balls was the only bright note from the batting response in which Australia compiled the needed 142 runs for victory 5 wickets down, which will no doubt worry all involved in the team as they prepare to take on South Africa at the same ground in only a couple of days time.

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(Matthew Hayden was the only bright spark for the Australian team, leading the lacklustre Australian batting team with his 63)

Left arm finger spinner Pieter Strydom claimed the best bowling figures for the home side, continually troubling all of the Australian batsman on his way to figures of 2/24 from 9.4 overs. This could provide some worry for the tourists as they will face world class spinner Nicky Boje, who will bowl with the same style and action but with many test wickets under his belt.
 
News Report

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We Must Lift - Ponting Warns Team

Australian captain Ricky Ponting has sounded a strong warning to his batsman ahead of this weeks first cricket test between Australia and South Africa at Johannesburg while labelling their peformance and effort in their only warm up game as pathetic.

Ponting, speaking after training at the Newlands Cricket Ground, told reporters that the performance against Border was one of the worst he has seen in quite some time and that the team will have to improve greatly if they want to stand any chance of winning the test match starting in only a number of days.

"To be honest i was shocked at the way we went about our batting yesterday. The effort that was shown from the majority of the guys, except probably Matty Hayden, was substandard and it has definatly sparked alarm bells in camp."

However the poor result may prove a positive for the Australians

"Its definatly provided us with a wake up call and im sure the pressure is now on a lot of the guys to perform and we will definatly lift our games for the test series."

Ponting did seem alot more impressed with his bowlers though. Who only conceeded 141 runs on a decent batting wicket.

"I know the major issue has been on the batting but that is also because we were only chasing 141 runs. And credit for that must go to the bowlers. I thought they did an excellent job. Brett Lee bowled very quickly with the new ball and swung it both ways early and that is a real positive ahead of our next game and Glenn (McGrath) bowled very tightly so did Dizzy (Jason Gillespie) who took 2 wickets. Our bowling is very good at the moment and Warnie will come back into the team for the tests as well."

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(Brett Lee's performance in the trial game did not escape the attention of Captain Ricky Ponting)

All eyes will now be focused on the Newlands Ground in Johannesburg where the much anticipated battle between Warne and Kallis will re-ignite.
 
good work man..!!!
nice i am enjoying it..
keep it up!!!
 
ZoraxDoom said:
15 overs Henderson? Did you Autoplay...

no i batted all the overs. i though this was just the bug. maybe my bug is a special bug haha. yeh its a bit annoying this more than 10 overs thing
 
waiting for the 1st match

waiting for the 1st match....
 
its coming mate. ill post updates later on this afternoon. sorry it hasnt been updated yesterday but i had work commitments.
 

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