Australia still lacks T20 depth and power

Adam Zampa could be Australia’s spin weapon, along with Ashton Agar (Picture: IDI/Getty Images)

After two games at the 2016 World Twenty20 in India, Australia still does not look assured in the format – even after a blistering innings against South Africa in a three-match warm-up series.

Usman Khawaja’s purple patch continued with 58 in the win against Bangladesh, but Australia’s next highest score was 26 (15 balls) from Glenn Maxwell.

Adam Zampa’s 3/23 was also noteworthy, but there is still an overarching problem: the Aussies haven’t played to the conditions, and need to sort out a few more batting woes.

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IND v SA: South Africa broken like a stump in thumping series defeat

Indian skipper Virat Kohli celebrates the win during day five of the 4th Paytm Freedom Trophy Series Test match between India and South Africa held at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi.
Photo by Ron Gaunt / BCCI / SPORTZPICS

An utterly enthralling yet inevitable 337-run defeat for South Africa at the hands of the India unfolded at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Monday, giving the hosts a 3-0 series win and the Proteas a serious dignity dent.

CWC 2015: Associates tell ICC cutting World Cup teams is wrong

George Dockrell celebrates in triumph at the World Cup (photo: AFP)

‪#‎CWC15‬

Why the associates have sent a strong message to the ICC: “don’t take away our spots in the World Cup.”

It took just five matches before an associate nation decided that sitting in the shadows was going to be a thing of the past.

That team was Ireland, whose emphatic win against the West Indies was a testament to four years of hard work leading up to the World Cup. No longer was such a win an upset, instead the premise of building an organisation that wanted to achieve success. Ireland made the history books well before that though, beating England in 2011 and Pakistan in 2007 – something no-one was expecting at the time.

DRS is here, India; don’t complain to anyone

Umpire refers upstairs for the DRS (photo: Google Images)

Such is the controversy over cricket’s Decision Review System (DRS), the Board of Control for Cricket In India (BCCI) has completely banned it from any series involving their national side.

Just how much longer remains a big question, however, with the Cricket World Cup literally on our front doorstep. 

Brisbane: India tries and misses; Australia triumphs amidst last innings wobble

Says it all: Mitchell’s Marsh and Johnson celebrate a win, as India look away (photo: Getty Images)

Thank you, India.

You have come to Australia with a desire to be competitive; yet, in the thick of things, that has proven to be a bit of a shaky statement.

Australia sealed victory in the second test at Brisbane on Saturday by four wickets, mainly thanks to Chris Rogers (55) in the second innings.  It was, however, somewhat overshadowed by the fact the hosts were a fair way behind at the end of day two, which set the match up for a very intense finale.

Magical Adelaide: Warner, Kohli, Lyon, and an inspired win

Nathan Lyon celebrates the winning moment in Adelaide (photo: Getty Images)

DAVIS HARRIGAN

INFINITY CRICKET MEDIA

Ecstatic scenes at the Adelaide Oval on day five of a test match that twisted, turned, surprised, and ultimately thrilled, encapsulated the perfect send off for Phillip Hughes by the Australian team.

David Warner was electrifying. Nathan Lyon was the spin king. Michael Clarke was falling apart and still put on a majestic performance. Virat Kohli decided defence was a bad idea.  India almost won the test.

Cricket: Australia v India: David Warner steals Day One show

David Warner holds his helmet high dedicated to Phil Hughes as he celebrates a century (photo: Getty Images)

A sunny and dry Adelaide greeted Australia and India, on what was a heartfelt but heavy day for cricket.  Tributes to Phil Hughes flowed pre-game, as Australian skipper Michael Clarke won the toss and confidently chose to bat.

His decision was ultimately justified by the powerful David Warner, who decided to put Indian fast bowler Varun Aaron to the boundary three times in his opening over.  His very first delivery was smashed with precision timing to the cover ropes.

Cricket: Saying goodbye to a little champion personally

Tributes for Phil Hughes left outside the South Entrance at the Adelaide Oval (photo: Davis Harrigan)

It has been one of the most emotional weeks of cricket during my lifetime.

I did not know the man Phillip Hughes – aka “Hughesy” or “Boof” – but I saw him play many times live and on TV.  The situation that unfolded this week, bringing the cricket world to a standstill, truly hit home when I attended a women’s Twenty20 game between the South Australia Scorpions and the Australian Capital Territory Meteors on Friday, at Adelaide Oval No. 2, behind the spectacular main ground.

Cricket: Rohit’s Record Rampage three months from World Cup

Rohit Sharma celebrates 200 runs (photo: Getty Images)

Here’s a table of those that have scored double centuries in ODI cricket:

Name	Team	Score	Against
Rohit Sharma	India	264	Sri Lanka
Virender Sehwag	India	219	West Indies
Rohit Sharma	India	209	Australia
Sachin Tendulkar	India	200*	South Africa
Belinda Clark*	Australia	229	Denmark

*denotes women’s ODI

Cricket: One of Big Three coming up short

Cheteshwar Pujara heads to the pavilion as India crumble (photo: ESPN Cricinfo/Getty Images)

It is extremely difficult – yet so easy – to understand why India is not setting the world on fire.  England trounced them 3-1 in the test series after losing the second test, making them look third-class.

Let’s have a look at India’s numbers in the past 12 months in regards to international matches (Test, ODI and T20I):

26 ODIS (back to the series against Zimbabwe, July-August 2013)

11 Tests (back to the West Indies series in November 2013)

5 Twenty20 Internationals (including 2014 WT20)