Story ICC Best Of The Rest Championship

[Cricket_60]

Symonds coming in early

Lets hope he makes some runs

 

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Australia's Turf​

2nd 3 Mobile Test Match - The WACA
Australia 4/339 - 114 overs
Lunch Day 3

Hodge 74(122)
Symonds 18(31)
Hayden 144(327)*
Hussey 4(14)*

Gayle 2/80
Bravo 1/46
Best 1/78

Australia lead by 112 runs

Its all Australia again in the first session of the 3rd days play. Symonds departed after a risky start to his innings where he got ahead of himself. Gayle beat him in flight and he chipped the simplest of catches to McLean at square leg.

Mike Hussey came to the crease full of comfidence and ready to put on a show for his home crowd. Hes coming off a hundred in the only innings they batted in the first test.

Hayden was "Majestic" in the words of Mark Taylor as he again batted for another full session. His dedication to an innings is outstanding and a double ton could never be out of the question for him here in Perth.

What can the West Indies salvage from this match if anything at all. First innings points go to Australia so the only hope for the West Indies is to set a total and bowl them out. Can they build up something within te team to take into next series.

 

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Aussie, Aussie, Aussie​

2nd 3 Mobile Test Match - The WACA
Australia 5/430 - 139 overs
3:32pm Day 3

Hayden 189(402)*
Hussey 43(88)

Best 2/95
Gayle 2/110

Australia lead by 203 runs

Matthew Hayden brought up his 150 and got the recignition he deserved from the WACA crowd that seems to be getting smaller given the Australian dominace of this Test match an the series. What form the Queenslander is in as he lloks to work his way towards the first double hundred of the ICC Best Of The Rest Championship.

Tino Best picked up his second wicket and a big one at that. Hussey caught in the gully for an impressive 43. Another 100 run partnership for the Australians and again the two men that both made hundred in the 1st test spent some time in the middle. The West Indies really just need to hope that Gilchrist doesnt fire again as it just looks to be a matter of time before Ponting reckons he has enough of a lead on the board.

Gilchrist and his destructive power come to the crease.​

 

[usy]

Your Signature made me come here, this is a good thread.
Welldone.

 

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The Declaration Closes In​

2nd 3 Moblie Test Match - The WACA
Australia 5/467 - 143 overs
Tea Day 3

Hayden 197(411)*
Gilchrist 27(16)*

Gayle 2/126
Best 2/95

Australia lead by 240 runs

A cruel end to the session for Hayden having hit the last ball for 4 and now having to wait 20 minutes to get the double century. But hey who said cricket was fair just ask the West Indies who have chased leather for most of the series.

Gilchrist looked cavilier again as he smashed four 4s in his first 5 balls. It now just looks to be a matter of time before the West Indies will be at the crease and fighting to go to stumps without losing a wicket or atleased to amny wickets.

 

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Australia Declare​

2nd 3 Mobile Test Match - The Waca

With Hayden reaching his double century just after the resumption of play with Australia oncourse for 500 the question was would the Australians want to declare and have an hour or so to get at the West Indies in paticular Chris Gayle who had just bowled 40 overs and would be finding it tough.

The moment the Australians brought up the 500 Ricky Ponting gave the signal from the pavillion for the Hayden and Gilchrist to bring it in. Ponting gaining the mental edge as they 500 came up and also coming up with a total that has been out of reach all tour for the West Indies. They will now be playing to save the extra 2 points that Australia will recieve for an innings win.

A steely eyed Ricky Poning flies the flag for Australia as the show no weakness.​

The stats reflect Australias dominace

The partnership graph shows that the West Indies were never able to get ontop and keep taking wickets. The Australians batted in partnerships all the way through the innings.

West Indies trail by 273 runs
4:47pm Day 3

 

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Australia Wraps Up The Series​

The Australians have defeated the West Indies just shy of Tea on the 4th Day. However the West Indies have achieved there highest team score of the series which can be somthing for them to take into there next series.

Brian Lara put up the only real fight with a solid 77 before he was dismissed by Brett Lee. Lee and Bracken made the standout performances with 4 wickets each. I vital spell for Bracken who's place in the side looked to be slowly slipping away with poor performances.

Man of the match Matthew Hayden spoke to Mark Taylor.
Matthew your good run continues with yet another hundred and you managed to then make it into a double.

Yeah its an easy game at times isnt it. Nah im just seeing it really well in the middle at the moment and im having alot of fun. It'd be great if i could bottle it and take this form to India with me but we'll see how we go.

Also Mark Nicholas caught up with skipper Ricky Ponting after a convincing series win.
Ricky an easy one to start off the championship for you.

No i dont think it was easy i think it was a result the boys got because they worked long and hard all series and we are certainly reeping the rewards now. I thought the batting was great the bowling was spot on the the feilding was up to the high standard we set for ever match but you sure as hell cant win like this without efforts from guys like Matty Hayden his stuff in the middle was top class and a great performance. We'll be looking forward to India and what challenges they bring us.

With Australias clean sweep of the series we now turn to Englands tour of Pakistan followed by Sri Lankas tour of India.

 

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Pakistan Vs England Series Summary​

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A well anticipated series between the Poms and the Pakis was to be played at a wide variety of gounds across Pakistan. This is how it would unfold.

20Twenty - Faisalabad

1st ODI - Faisalabad
2nd ODI - Faisalabad

1st Test - Faisalabad
2nd Test - Faisalabad
3rd Test - Faisalabad

20Twenty Match​

Toss: Pakistan elect to bat

Pakistan: 2/177 - 20 overs
(Salman Butt 96*) (Kamran Akmal 47)

England: 7/172 - 20 overs
(M Prior 51)

Pakistan win by 5 runs

A high scoring thriller to start the series as Pakistan proved to good in the end with some tight final over bowling form Afridi of all people who claimed 2/12 in the end.

1st One Day International​

Toss: England elect to bat

England: 260 All Out - 43.3 overs
(Trescothick 74) (G Jones 45) (Anjum 5/82)

Pakistan: 6/233 - 50 overs
(Salman Butt 93) (Flintoff 2/13)

England win by 27 runs

Salman Butt again stared for Pakistan in the chase but it wasnt enough as Flintoff finished off any last hopes of a fightback.

2nd One Day International​

Toss: Pakistan elect to Bat

Pakistan: 284 All Out - 48.3 overs
(Salman Butt 71) (Kamran Akmal 50) (Udal 3/61)

England: 223 All Out - 42.4 overs
(Trescothick 58) (Afridi 3/28)

Pakistan win by 61 runs

1st Test Match​

Toss: England elect to bat

England 1st Innings: 321 - 135.1 overs
(Trescothick 73) (Vaughan 67) (Flintoff 50)

Pakistan 1st Innings: 711 - 264 0vers
(Inzamam -Ul- Haq 156) (Salman Butt 154) (Younis Khan 109)

England 2nd Innings: 5/375 - 114 overs
(Vaughan 104) (Bell 61)

Match Drawn

First Innings points go to Pakistan as a massive score of 711 meant there was no realistic chance of a result in this match. Salman Butt in amazing career best form with the willow.

2nd Test Match​

Toss: England elect to bat

England 1st Innings: 272
(Vaughan 83) (Bell 50) (Akhtar 5/70)

Pakistan 1st Innings: 274
(Salman Butt 72) (Inzamam 67) (Hoggard 5/70)

England 2nd Innings: 314
(Vaughan 87) (Strauss 72) (Akhtar 4/78)

Pakistan 2nd Innings: 191
(Inzamam 53) (Harmison 6/50)

England win by 121 runs

3rd Test Match​

Toss: England Elect to bat

England 1st Innings: 303
(Trescothick 83) (Vaughan 65) (Sami 5/85)

Pakistan 1st Innings: 318
(Butt 67) (Afridi 134)

England 2nd Innings: 230
(Vaughan 75) (Pietersen 56)

Pakistan 2nd Innings: 89
(Hoggard 3/24)

England win by 161 runs

England get the best of the series as Pakistan showed class but were overpowered by Michael Vaughans men. Vaughan himself showed fantastic strokeplay all series as he racked up the runs as did a young Salman Butt.

India Vs Sri Lanka to follow

 

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India Vs Sri Lanka Series Summary​

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Sri Lanka arrive in India as underdogs to even challenge the Indians. There side is inexperienced and should get found out away from home in this intense cricketing culture. so lets find out.

20Twenty Match - Kolkata

1st ODI - Kolkata
2nd ODI - Kolkata
3rd ODI - Kolkata

1st Test - Kolkata
2nd Test - Kolkata

20Twenty Match​

Toss: India elect to bat

India: 2/179 - 20 overs
(Sehwag 65) (Y Singh 41*)

Sri Lanka: 4/137 - 20 overs
(Mubarak 40*)(Agarkar 2/31)

India win by 42 runs

1st One Day International​

Toss: India elect to bat

India: 6/300 -50 overs
(Tendulkar 71) (Sehwag 60) (Y Singh 52)

Sri Lanka: 8/240 - 50 overs
(Jayasuriya 51) (Agarkar 2/37)

India win by 60 runs

2nd One Day International​

Toss: India elect to bat

India: 9/297 - 50 overs
(Sehwag 62) (Dravid 55) (Tendulkar 50) (Laxman 50) (Maharoof 4/77)

Sri Lanka: 7/248 - 50 overs
(Jayasuriya 51) (Jayawardene 50) (Tharanga 47)

India win by 49 runs

3 innings thrown away after 50 but it didnt stop India from storming in another match.

3rd One Day International​

Toss: India elect to bat

India: 6/281 - 50 overs
(Sehwag 72)

Sri Lanka: 9/259 - 50 overs
(Jayasuriya 60) (Tharanga 48) (Agarkar 3/56)

India win by 22 runs

1st Test Match​

Toss: India elect to bat

India 1st Innings: 463 - 160.4 overs
(Dhoni 102) (Sehwag 72) (Laxman 64) (Muralitharan 4/109)

Sri Lanka 1st Innings: 161 - 45.1 overs
(Pathan 5/88)

Sri Lanka 2nd Innings: 231 - 51.4 overs
(Kumble 3/63) (Khan 3/80)

India win by an Innings and 71 runs

2nd Test Match​

Toss: India elect to bat

India 1st Innings: 307 - 118.1 overs
(Tendulkar 90) (Sehwag 51)

Sri Lanka 1st Innings: 209 - 74.5 overs
(Jayasuriya 54) (Tendulkar 5/52)

India 2nd Innings: 346 - 133.1 overs
(Sehwag 52) (Dravid 49) (Laxman 45) (Vaas 5/123)

Sri Lanka 2nd Innings: 58 - 48.2 overs
(Khan 4/8) (Singh 3/1)

India win by 386 runs

Some great batting followed by last innings heroics by Khan who took 4 for 8 off 12 overs and Harbajhan Singh who took 3 for 1 off 8 including a massive 7 maidens.

Sri Lanka never in it. They werent good enough and amazingly every toss went against them. India havnt just beaten Sri Lanka they have also sent a mental message to the Australians that they are one of the toughest sides in the world to knock off on home soil.

ICC set to announce ODI and Test Standings shortly.

 

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ICC Announce Standings​

The man in control at the ICC has personally annouced the current Test and ODI standings in the world of cricket before Australia departs for India.

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Test Standings​

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One Day International Standings​

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It Begins​

With former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly well and truely off the stage and some new blood coming into the Indian team its anyones guess who will get ontop of the upcoming series between Australia and India.

Australia Arrive

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After a long long flight the Australians touched down in Kolkata eager to stretch there legs prior to the upcoming 20Twenty match to kick off there tour of India.

Reporters caught up with Ricky Ponting just after he set foot on Indian soil.

Yeah thanks its good to finally arrive here in India. It will be interest because its a totally opposite culture to what the boys are used to back home in Australia. We'll spend a few days getting used to the surrounding we will certainly enjoy our time here but its the cricket we've come and thats whats where focused on.

Some interesting first words from Ponting as he arrives in his new home for the next few months. Lets see what Brad Hodge had to say.

It's exciting to come to India obvioulsy having not been here with the Australian cricket team before its a new experience. I'll be really keen to test my skills in these conditions as opposed to Australia.

Just hours after arriving the Australians had there first training session which included sprints, nets and some high tempo feilding practice.

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Indian however chose to go about training in a more relaxed unorthodox way. Check out the right boot on Laxman! They havent ever been the most hard working team off the park in the past but this is rediculous.

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There will be plenty more words from the Australians and also the Indian camp before the start of the series as each team tries to get ontop of the mental battle before they step out onto the park in what will be one of the best and most fiercly competitive series in the ICC Best Of The Rest Championship.

 

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Dravid Has Got Indian Cricket On Track​

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Australian cricket veteran and well respected commentator Richie Benaud has put forward his belife that India under the captaincy of Rahul Dravid have a real chance of knocking off the Australians in this series and go on to win the ICC Best Of The Rest Championship.

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I think the dethrowning if you'd like of ah Sourav Ganguly is the best thing thats happened to Indian cricket for a long time. I've always been of the opinion that Ganguly has held other more deserving players out of the side simply because he was captain. He wasnt making a contribution with the bat and was just another name that was penciled in on the scorecard.

Dravid is where this new era starts and a bright looking future is ahead. He has always displayed the qualities of a leader and at the moment he has the fire power with your Tendulkar's, Sehwag's, Pathan's and Khan's to take the attack to the Australians and really put them under the gun.

I wouldnt be suprised if the home crowd has somthing to cheer about with there side the way it is at the moment.

 

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As They Match-Up​

With an interesting series with no clear favourite ahead the bookmakers heads will be spinning so lets have a look at how the two teams match against eachother.

Hayden Vs Tendulkar​

Its hard to compare the little master with anyone apart from daylight but with the recent form of the Australian opener who is averaging over 350 including a hundred and a double hundred from the two innings hes played who would know what to expect. Tendulkar was all over the Sri Lankan attack as he made runs look easy. This is one of the key matchups whoever comes out ontop will put there team infront and it will be up to the middle order to see if they stay there.

Ponting Vs Dravid​

The skippers will do battle who is the better captain? it reamins to be seen however what we have seen is that Ponting doesnt seem to be himself with the bat of late as Dravid has chipped in the odd half century. Obvioulsy one of the important battles between captains as we will see how the act and react onfeild to different situations.

Gilchrist Vs Dhoni​

Just the thought of these two in the same stadium is enough to make the cricket supporter drule. The battle of the attacking wicketkeeper batsman will be a beauty as both these men are in form with the willow and hitting the ball crisply. Also no novices with the gloves what kind of impact will they have on the state of the game and more importantly how quickly can they change it.

Lee Vs Pathan​

What a battle this will be Brett Lee who took apart the West Indies with raw pace and Pathan who has the Sri Lankas in all sorts of trouble. They will be trying to do the job as spearhed of the attack but the major difference is that if Pathan fails then only Khan will back him up as he is the only other real paceman. Both can also hold there end up with the bat lets not forget.

McGrath Vs Khan​

Two different typs of bowlers Khan with his left arm seam and McGrath with his consistent line and length. McGrath seems to be lacking in the wicket department of late and will be looking to get his average down quickly.

Thats just some of the key match ups that will unfold as the series goes one. Only one things for sure it will be a close one.

 

[Cricket_60]

Can't wait for it

 

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Show Us What You've Got Chappell​

Been wondering what former Australian batsman Greg Chappell has been doing in Indian apart from getting rid of long serving captains and having dolls of him being burnt in the street? Well youre about to find out or atleased thats the message thats being sent out from the Australian camp.

Leg spinner Shane Warne shoots from the hip about what he thinks of the Indian coach today he questioned just what has he been up to over the period of time hes been incharge.

I'd love to know what Greg has been telling them leading into this series. I'd also be interested to see just what he thinks he knows about us and what hes passed onto his players about us. He strikes me as doing not a hell of alot. All ive seen of him is that the Indian public wanted him out after the first week. None of us have heard anything about him being an actual cricket coach.