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England Jet Off for Pakistan Series

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:33:00 +0000

The England team set off for their Test series against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi this week, and moved to end any concerns over any bad blood during the series. The three Test matches, four One-Day Internationals and three Twenty20 games are the first between the sides since former captain Salman Butt, and fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad...

By Chris White

Warne Statue Unveiled at MCG

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:16:09 +0000

Australia legend Shane Warne has had a bronze statue of himself unveiled at the MCG, and spoke of his “honour and pride” to the media.

The 42-year old recently came back to domestic cricket at the Australian Big Bash with the Melbourne Stars, but it was the 708 Test wickets that earned him a place in history, with his statue taking its place alongside ten other great Australian sportsmen and women outside the famous ground.

Warne joked “it’s...

By Chris White

T20 Qualifying Format Revealed

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:43:38 +0000

The ICC have revealed the details of the qualifying format for the World Twenty20 competition, which takes place in Sri Lanka next autumn. With sixteen teams in the running, the teams will play each other in a tournament in the United Arab Emirates in March 2012.

The teams have been split into two groups of eight teams, with the two group winners featuring in the first qualifying final,...

By Chris White

Ponting Warned Over Place in Test Side

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:49:02 +0000

New coach Mickey Arthur has left former skipper Ricky Ponting clear on where he stands in the Australian Test side at the moment. The South African has come in and told the country’s leading Test-run scorer of all time that he will only be picked for the series against India on merit, not reputation.

The 37-year old averages 52.29 in Test cricket, having racked up more than ...

By Chris White

Warne Makes Losing Return

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:21:19 +0000

Australian great Shane Warne made his long awaited comeback at the age of 42 in an unimpressive performance for the Melbourne Stars in their opening match of the Big Bash League against the Sydney Thunder at the MCG.

Bowling two overs in the innings, Warne ended with figures of 0-19 and didn’t feature with the bat as his side went down to a six-wicket defeat. Australian opener David Warne...

By Chris White

Aussie Batsmen Sent to Batting Camp

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:06:18 +0000

In a desperate attempt for their batsmen to find some form ahead of the Test series with India, Cricket Australia have sent a number of their specialist batsmen to a “batting camp.”

Having seen the team collapse to a defeat in the second Test against New Zealand last week, the Australia team are beginning to show increasingly large cracks, wit...

By Chris White

Hughes to join Worcestershire in 2012

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:30:39 +0000

Opening batsman Phil Hughes has joined Worcestershire for the second half of the 2012 season. The 23-year old, who has played for Hampshire and Middlesex in the past, will move to the New Road club in June for the remainder of the campaign.

Hughes is currently opening the batting for Australia and is in line to take part in the forthcoming Test series against India starting on Boxing Day, and is the youngest player...

By Chris White

England Call On Bopara and Panesar for Pakistan Series

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:49:44 +0000

England have named a 16-man squad for their three-Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, which gets under way on 17^th January in Dubai.

Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar and all-rounder Ravi Bopara are both included in the squad, with Panesar selected as the second spinner ahead of Samit...

By Chris White

New Zealand win Thriller to Draw Series

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:02:32 +0000

Against all the odds, New Zealand won their first Test match in Australia in over a quarter of a century to draw the two-match series 1-1. The home side resumed on the fourth day needing just 169 runs to win with all ten wickets intact, and looked in complete control despite an early setback.

Opener Phil Hughes was dismissed in just the second over of the day, but a partnership of 50 between By Chris White

Sutton Retires Revealing Long Battle with Depression

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:18:14 +0000

Derbyshire captain Luke Sutton has announced his retirement from professional cricket, revealing that a long term battle with depression was at the forefront of his decision. The 35-year old wicketkeeper-batsman returned to the club at the start of the 2011 season after a five-year spell at Lancashire.

Sutton helped Derbyshire to fifth in division two of the County...

By Chris White

Gilchrist Fears for Australia Future

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:53:29 +0000

Former Australia wicket keeper Adam Gilchrist has confessed his concerns about the future of his former side, fearing that the new-look squad will not be up to the task against India when the series kicks off later this month.

India travel Down Under for a four-match Test series starting on Boxing Day against an Australian side filled with young talent and players that are relatively inexperienced...

By Chris White

Taylor Completes Nottinghamshire Switch

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:54:54 +0000

One of the most drawn out cricketing transfers has finally reached a conclusion, with one of the hottest talents in the English game moving up the motorway from Leicestershire to Midlands rivals Nottinghamshire. 21-year old James Taylor, who made his debut for England this summer, has moved to Trent Bridge after the two clubs agreed on a compensation package.

Taylor,...

By Chris White

Pattinson Steers Australia to Victory

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:19:05 +0000

Debutant James Pattinson guided Australia to a first Test victory against New Zealand at the Gabba, taking 5-27, including a triple-wicket maiden in the second innings en route to bowling the tourists out for just 150.

The 21-year old ripped through the Black Caps’ top order, reducing them to 28-5, as Australia made light work of chasing down their target of 19 to win with a day to spare. The o...

By Chris White

Earliest Start Ever for County Championship

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:36:52 +0000

The County Championship will be making its earliest ever start in 2012, with the first round of four-day fixtures starting on 5^th April, while the annual curtain-raiser between the champions and an MCC X1 will start in Abu Dhabi on 27^th March.

Lancashire start the defence of their title against Sussex at Aigburth on 12^th April, a week after the other...

By Chris White

Take a Punt on Me

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:45:20 +0000

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has vowed to keep fighting for his place in the team despite his recent slump in form that saw him score just 70 runs in his four innings against South Africa in the recent two-match Test series.

Ponting has failed to score a hundred in two years now, but showed a sign of recovering his imperious form with 62 in the second innings against the Proteas at Johannesburg to help...

By Chris White