Well, one answer could be nowhere. The experience still exists, but is forgotten amidst the desire to select the brightest prospects as mere “pups”.
Ten years ago, Australia’s test side was comprised of experience, runs and depth. Continue reading Cricket: Where has the notion of “select the experienced” gone?
They both play for the same Big Bash League team, the Hobart Hurricanes. When it comes to the two longer forms of the domestic game, the left-arm and right-arm quick respectively are on opposing sides.
Enter New South Welshman Doug Bollinger, and Tasmanian Ben Laughlin. One steams in with sheer determination, the other bowls extremely well at the death of 20 over and 50 over matches.
Continue reading Cricket: Australian Domestic scene: Doug Bollinger and Ben Laughlin
What was there for the taking ended up in utter disaster at Durham on Monday, the fourth day of the fourth Ashes test.
Set a victory target of 299, Australia tumbled from 2-147, after the fall of Usman Khawaja, to 224 all out, losing to England by 74 runs. A grim picture after giving themselves every chance to win their first test of the series. Continue reading Cricket: The Ashes: Fourth Test Breakdown
What is currently going right with the Australian team?
The answer is, not much. And with the Ashes less than three weeks away, questions are burning hot as to whether the squad will be up to the challenge against England.
Granted, those who come in to the test side means that the line-up becomes different to the recently completed Champions Trophy; but it does not change the fact that, on current form, Australia is falling behind the stronger teams in world cricket. Continue reading Cricket: Champions Trophy campaign over, fragile Australia looking to Ashes
Australia was thrown a curveball from the moment they stepped on to the sub-continent in February. In the end that curveball proved to be the side’s ultimate downfall.
Batting and bowling failures alike culminated in a shocking (and at times horrifying) 4-0 series loss to India.
There are plenty of words to describe each test, each player, and each moment, but none more so than disappointing. Even travelling with a team that had largely not played in Indians conditions before, Australia was rolled, crushed and decimated over the past month in a way no-one expected.
Continue reading Cricket: India v Australia: Test Series Analysis and Review
Has Australian cricket finally cracked?
All summer long (and right now, as the Aussies take on India) it has been the burning question on the forefront of the fans minds.
We have the Ashes in England fast approaching, and right now the state of the Australian side is close to a shambles. Only Michael Clarke is putting up a consistent fight. The rest – David Warner, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson and Matthew Wade alike – are all struggling to string together a good run of scores. Continue reading Cricket: Has Australian cricket finally cracked?
India. The dustbowls. Home of the raging turner or the swinging sensation.
Also the proving ground for a host of Australian players before the Ashes series in England in July.
Questions will include; do both spinners get played, which pacemen get the gig, and who is going to open the batting?
Nathan Lyon will relish the challenge of really getting the chance to prove why he is Australia’s number one spinner. Michael Clarke returns to the country where he burst onto the test scene in 2004.
Will it be the left arm combination, the Mitchell’s, Starc and Johnson, who can undo India with pace and swing? Or perhaps Peter Siddle will enjoy steaming in and kicking up a cloud of dust.
Chennai is the first venue between these two rivals. And if there is going to be any indication of form, it is going to be the sub continent.
Here’s a player by player preview (the entire 17 man squad): Continue reading Cricket: India the proving ground for Ashes
Overview:
Momentum looks to be with the Australians heading to the MCG and the 2012 Boxing Day Test, after the Aussies found some spark to rout Sri Lanka on the final day in Hobart.
Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc, who both bowled more than 50 overs each in Hobart, were the catalysts for the turnaround in the final innings after Sri Lanka began to settle in. Nathan Lyon, despite match figures of 2/133, bowled some superb tight lines to keep the Sri Lankans under pressure. Continue reading Cricket: Australia v Sri Lanka: Boxing Day Test Preview
Attention turns to the WACA on Friday as the third and final test between Australia and South Africa gets underway.
It has been a test of endurance and fitness this series, as bowlers and batters alike have toiled in the middle for hours on end.
For the Australians, the side injury to James Pattinson is a bitter blow for both the paceman and the Australian team. After being injured last summer, Pattinson will once again sit on the sidelines for the majority of Australia’s summer campaign.
Here’s a look at the areas for both teams in which could prove vital in Perth:
Continue reading Cricket: Australia v South Africa: Third Test Preview
A lifeless start to the first test between Australia and South Africa panned out into an entertaining draw at the Gabba yesterday.
After skipper Michael Clarke declared 115 runs ahead in the first innings, the South Africans looked wobbly early, losing Alviro Petersen (5) and Graeme Smith (23) to slump to 2/55. However, the likes of first innings heroes Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis again proved to be the wall that could not be penetrated.
With Day 2 completely washed out, and Australia seemingly on the back foot, a possible result began to rise when the Australians pegged South Africa back on Day 3, but then looked in trouble themselves. Clarke was the turning point of the Australian innings, scoring 259 not out, along with Ed Cowan, who posted his maiden test century.
Here’s my analysis of the test, Day by Day: Continue reading Cricket: Analysis of the Gabba Test
BEYOND REALISATION 