Australia Confident to Win Against Zimbabwe

This is the first world cup that Australia didn’t come with a clear favorite.  Yet Ricky Ponting‘s squad has enough weapons to blow  Zimbabwe out and make a very confident start.The team will obviously take inspiration from their world cup performance.Moreover Zimbabwe is not a strong opponent to them.They are still one of the best ODI squads.They have proved it picking a 6-1 win over England though they lost the Ashes series just before the ODI series to England.They also have a record of winning 23 consecutive world cup matches since 1999. They defeated South Africa by 7 wickets in the warm up match though lost to India by 38 runs.

But the Zimbabwe team is some what different than the team Australia defeated in 3-0 in 2004 though some of the players of that team will play.The team will be spirited from the memory of two wins against Australia in T20 World Cup 2007 and in a warm up match in T20 world Cup 2010 and also from the memory of the famous win in 1983 at Trent Bridge.Moreover Zimbabwe have a set of emerging stars in their team. So if Australia doesn’t play their best Zimbabwe can make the match very competitive.

The match will be held in Ahmedabad and Start at 14:30 local time (09:00 GMT)

SOURCE: ESPN CRICINFO

Australia, the ICC Champions Trophy winner 2009

At last the ICC Champions Trophy title has been gone to the Australian door with their strong performances from the all sides batting bowling and fielding. This is the second time they have achieved crowned the second prestigious title of cricket. They again have proved that there is none equal in limited over cricket tournament. By achieving the Man of the Series award Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has showing green signal for his career. Three time World Cup winner leading the top position of the one-day rankings. Riding on Shane Watson’s unbeaten century, Australia could able to hold the title for next two years, a six wickets victory over neighboring country with 28 balls remaining.

Both the team lost two early wickets but Australia could gain. New Zealand’s 5 wickets within hundred runs including BB McCullum’s wicket in just for five five runs brought a big pressure in cricked wicket of SuperSport Park, Centurion on 5 October. To regain the pressure, NT Broom, JEC Franklin and KD Mills fought strongly against Australian bowlers, but Ricky Ponting’s direct hit to first stamps sent Mills home. At the end New Zealand could not achieved more than 200 for to make a strong runs-wall for the opposition batsmen.

It seems that the world champions will be demolished with the Kiwi bowlers. The lose two important wickets just for 6 runs but SR Watson’s 105 runs and CL White 62 brought the expected wins and Watson awarded the Man of the Match crown.

Australia was in very rough and tough position in the group stage round. It seems that they could be out from the tournament but win over Pakistan confirm to play in the semi-finals. I think it happened just for the previous series win in England.

Sources: ICC-CRICKET, Cricinfo, Wikipedia

India vs New Zealand practice match highlights: Champions Trophy 2009

At first, I am going to congratulate New Zealand scoring the big score and for the massive win over Indian cricket team. Wining toss, the Black Caps elected to bat first and scored 301runs by losing 9wickets. Perhaps this the highest run against Indian team. Although Indian newly form backed batsman Sachin Teddulkar did not play. Although it is not an international match but the prestigious trophy this kinds of performances will disappointed all supports.

No doubt that New Zealand has played on of the best cricket of their history from my view. Without a single century New Zealand able to cross 300 runs against Indian blowers. I think Indian fans will be dissatisfied to show good performances in the Champions trophy 2009.

Fall of New Zealand’s wickets:1-33 (McCullum), 2-93 (Ryder), 3-148 (Taylor), 4-167 (Guptill), 5-177 (Oram), 6-211 (Elliott), 7-254 (Vettori), 8-301 (Broom), 9-301 (Patel)

Fall of Indian wickets: 1-58 (Karthik), 2-70 (Dravid), 3-101 (Dhoni), 4-112 (Raina), 5-125 (Yuvraj Singh), 6-128 (Pathan), 7-130 (Kumar), 8-197 (Nayar), 9-198 (Mishra) and 10-198 (Singh)

The statistic of falling wickets Indian batting line-up is unbelievable after wining the tri series and the bowlers except YK Pathan, A Mishra and Raina offered the expensive run-rate.

Forget everything and dress with a new mood because Indian has some strong opposition in the Group A. They have to face arch rival Pakistan, top ranked Australia and stronger West Indies.

Score has taken from Cricinfo.

ICC Champions Trophy 2009 preview all nations

You already have heard that the 6^th season of ICC Champions Trophy 2009 (Mini World cup) is going to hold in South Africa at two play grounds The Wanderers and Centurion from 22 September 2009 where eight nations will take part as well. Six teams are taking part in the Warm-Up matches and England and Australia is taking parts in Natwest One-day international series. South Africa, West Indies, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand already has played a matches each and on 20 September there will another warm-up match when New Zealand v India at Potchefstroom Pakistan v Warriors at Benoni and Sri Lanka v West Indies at Pretoria.

India is considered one of the strongest team at this moment. In the recent tour of Sri Lanka won the Compaq Cup triangular series. And last two New Zealand as well as West Indies performed well. It could say easily that last tow year they did not lose any one-series including the home series along with England.

Sri Lanka is one of the well formatted team of Asia that could do well in the last few series especially against Pakistan in odi and test and against New Zealand in the home series except losing in the final along with India. Their eye-catching showdown in the recent twenty20 world cup in England claims congratulate when the turning hand and most successful spinner Muttiah Muralitharan could not attend.

Pakistan is the third country from South Asian region and recent twenty20 world champions are determine to take the title this time. There last two tours were very fruitfulness although the home series was disappointed their fans. But, the series against Australia after a long break was hopeful.

Australia is on the way of series win. In the Natwest one-day international series, they are expecting a 7-0 victory over the host England. The last tours were very painful events for then Oceania giant especially the tour of South Africa. For England same thing is reflecting. Ashes series winner are dominated by Australian.

New Zealand is the 2^nd season winner and expecting to do well. In the press conference Black Cap captain was explaining their situation and expected highly to get the title second time. During the last series could not do well in Sri Lanka even when India visited to them, they lost their fame ever.

West Indies is the only nation who played most time in ICC Champions Trophy final and achieves title one time and two times runner up. Their last performances were very stable that could be appreciated. Though they were kept them to play international cricket when Bangladesh visit to them, it difficult to assume how they could perform in the 6^th stage.

At this moment all the fans are waiting to observe the worm-up matches result. The second worm-up matches will be staged on 20 September and look eyes on the fixture and timetable of the Champions Trophy 2009.

England’s Ashes 2009 win and Strauss highlighted

With the victory against Australia in the last and fifth Test match of the Ashes 2009 window has been closed with 2-1 series result. This is a big achievement for AJ Strauss during his captaincy. It is five years; England again has achieved the prestigious trophy. They last beat Australia in 2009 for 2-1. Similar result comes the season too. In the last visit in West Indies, England got the series win but when they played the in the home ground along with them the English men defeated the series to them.

Cricinfo

"For me, I suppose it is better than 2005, because I've captained the side," said Strauss. "But we've moved forward from then, there are different personalities involved, and a different management team as well. But any time you win an Ashes series it's an unbelievably special moment for all of us. It's just madness. You don't know what to do with yourself. You don't know whether to scream, cry, jump up and down, or lie on the ground.

Yes, England responsible captain can think so. Because, in 2005, England won the Ashes trophy under MP Vaughan leadership who has been kept out from this season.  Just after two years, they able to beat Australia for the prestigious trophy under Strauss. By the Oval test the Ashes 2009 series result comes to in fix and before the fifth test, the series was tied in1-1. Andrew Flintoff has attended to his last test to undergo further knee surgery. 

Can Australia do well in Ashes 2009?

Cricket Australia is passing very tough time. After being very unsatisfactory performance in the last couple of tours including washed out from the first round of Twenty20 World Cup breaks all hope in the ongoing season, I hope so. Beside I also expect that they will improve a lot and will take task from the previous matches. Australia is going to take on England in the Ashes Test series 2009 end of the first week of July. The Ashes Series is very prestigious for both the participants and have much respect all the time. Australia is the most time Ashes winner and secured 121 victories whenever England 95 wins.

Timesonline reported:

But the Australia captain feels that his bowlers will be a match for Andrew Flintoff, James Anderson and Stuart Broad. “We’ve got three guys in our side who can bowl 90mph at the moment, so when you’ve got that sort of speed and the ball’s reverse-swinging, I don’t care who’s batting against us — it’s going to be difficult work,” Ponting said yesterday.

Ricky Pontings’ men are determined to over ome their previous faults and will try to hold the follow of consequent wins. Most important thing is that in the last decade Australia dominated over England and acquired 8 Ashes wins in a row. But at the time of Michael Vaughan’s leadership England able to make them stop, later, by storing 5-0 wins Australia able to back in the wining line-up. It’s clear that the Ashes 2009 will be full of contest because Australian performances have come down but England have improved a lot.

Michael Vaughan may good-bye International cricket

Earn and loss is the common sites in everyone’s life and like a wheel, it will be ups and downs. But it is very important to accept the reality by the time being. Michael Vaughan is considered as one of the most successful cricketer in England, especially as a captain. Recently he has declared his retirement from international cricket after fail to notice the attenuation of the selection board of ECB for the upcoming prestigious Ashes series in England against Australian. The 34-year-old could not contribute according to expected level in the county cricket. He has acknowledged in straightforward of his performances was not well at all. But during is leadership he able to acquired a wining records of 26 wins out of 51 matches.

Guardian reported:

"Having played almost non-stop for sixteen seasons, I feel that the time is right for the focus to shift to the next generation. We have some fantastic talent coming through the English counties and, with the next Ashes series upon us, now is the time for the younger players to rise to the challenge of building on the success achieved in English cricket in the last few years."

The Ashes 2009 will be commenced on at eh first week of the running month. It is the most prestigious test series of the two countries and most of the players desire to take part in the Test series. Andrew Strauss is the responsible captain of the England team who has been selected during the West Indies tours. Although Paul Collingwood was handed over the responsibility during the Twenty20 Championship, he was selected just for that time.

Australia vs Sri Lanka Twenty20 World 2009: Challenge for Australia to play in super eight

There are two important tournaments in England today. One is kicking off between Bangladesh and Ireland which is taking place at ICC World T20, 7th tournament of Group A and must win mach for Tigers at Nottingham. Ireland who won the toss and elected to bat first and the opposition has come to field for with making the batting side strong. For Ireland, it is very positive and comfortable weather but difficult for Bangladesh to suite. To reach the super eight there is no way of win for the both teams.

 

There will be another important clash between Australian and Sri Lanka at the end of the day. The limited over champions already have lost to West Indies and first battle for the Lankan teammates. The kick off time is scheduled to stat at 17:30 local time (16:30 GMT) and very tough time table for the Australian people.

 

Aussie’s wining records are not well at all from the last couple of tours observation even their last World championship in South Africa. Lankan wining rate is well stable than Australian and just one wins among the last five as well archiving three wins among the five match their position is very strong.

 

By being group champions, both the team played in the super eight matches but could not play in the final of the inaugural ceremony. But the other group mate, West Indies wiped out for the group round section. Lost to Bangladesh they had to stop dream to play in the super eight. But this year they got one win and hoping to play in the super eight but it is depending on for the next match along with other group mate.

 

In last world championship, Australia beat Sri Lanka by ten wickets. That was the qualified match for semi final. But this year, the situation is totally different but has some resemblance. This match may be the qualified match for the Aussies.

 

S R Clark’s aggressive bowling made breakthrough over the Sri Lankan batting and could not score more that 101 runs for 10 wickets and Lankan bowlers’ could not make any barrier over the Australian batsmen. When Muttiah Muralitharan was not present but this year he is one the squad and Aussies are not so strong team this year.

 

There are some key player in both teams who attended in Indian Premier league second season in South Africa especially A Symonds, B Lee and DA Warner. Similarly for the others, KC Sangakkara, M Muralitharan, and DPMD Jayawardene but ST Jayasuriya is one of the experiences men of the team.

Australia vs New Zealand ICC World Twenty20 Warm-up: previews and Squads

Before the most anticipating world Twenty20 championship, all the selected teams meet in the warm-up cricket match festival in England from the last few days. Today there is an important tournament between Australia and New Zealand played at Kennington Oval, London and the match will be begun at 17:30 local time (16:30 GMT). As well as the most important ICC World Twenty20 Warm-up Match will be take part between India and Pakistan tomorrow.


ICC World Twenty20 Warm-up Matches
Australia v New Zealand 2009 season
Played at Kennington Oval, London (neutral venue)
2 June 2009 - day/night (20-over match)

Both elevens are all set to each other. Previously, New Zeeland met to the champions on Monday and New Zealand won by 9 runs. It is a celebration for the Back Caps. Last year they appeared as an outstanding movement played in semi-final and beat to Pakistan.

New Zealand squad
NT Broom, IG Butler, BJ Diamanti, JEC Franklin, MJ Guptill, BB McCullum†, NL McCullum, PD McGlashan, KD Mills, IE O'Brien, JDP Oram, JD Ryder, SB Styris, LRPL Taylor, DL Vettori*

For Australian, this year will be a big challenge because they about to lose their proud in all areas of cricket. Although the recent tour of Pakistan was fruitful but nothing to be happy more. During the tour of South Africa and the home series could not do well at all.

Australia squad
NW Bracken, MJ Clarke, BJ Haddin†, NM Hauritz, BW Hilfenhaus, JR Hopes, DJ Hussey, MEK Hussey, MG Johnson, B Lee, RT Ponting*, PM Siddle, A Symonds, DA Warner, SR Watson

There are many players form the both teams took part in the Twenty20 formatted IPL tournament and got a big chance to warm-up before them. And the tournaments are going on is similar to that. They have got opportunity to adjust with England’s weather condition by playing some single matches with different teams.

souce: Cricinfo

South Africa bagged 3-2 series wins over Australia

In the last match of the series Australia beat the host South Africa in the last one-day international of the five-match series. Australia has to face second series defeat to South Africa. Really, this is big tremble for the world champions that they beat in the home and away one-day international series. Although Australia take the test series lead, they lost in Twenty20 and one-day international series.

 

Next week Australia will visit to Pakistan for five-match ODI and one Twenty20 match. This tour will not take place in any Pakistan home’s grounds. Pakistan will host the series in Dubai, UAE. Now, it is question that how will they perform in the upcoming tour.

 

The recent tour for Australia is not fruitful, may be they are disappointed to get this results. The visitor won first two Tests among the three and the 3^rd result went on the host. Secondly the Twenty series went on South Africa by 2-0. At last the One-Day series result also goes on the host by 3-2.

MS Dhoni’s captaincy and Indian consecutive victories

Indian batting is articulating that noting will make barrier to them. It’s really a dramatic change on the site on Indian team. If you look over the previous tournaments before the home series along side England India was combating about the leadership internally. There was a big controversy about the captainship and who will lead the team during the test match. I think Indian selection committee turned down a positive conclusion by removing Anil Kumble and Kumble’s pronouncement step down brought India in this situation.

Now, there is no hesitation that MS Dhoni is one of successful Indian cricket. He got the responsibilities after the England tour to lead the Indian team during the inaugural Tweyty20 World Cup 2008 in South Africa. MS Dhoni along with some young flock leaded the team like magic stick. As a result, India titled the Twenty20 World Cup with MS Dhoni’s clever leadership.
Indian selection committee realized after one year that Dhoni is the perfect man who can lead the India team in both areas Test cricket, one-day internationals and Twenty20 tournaments too.

At this moment, India is leading the No-2 positing of one-day international ICC Cricket rankings and in the 3rd position in Test. The team is just 3 points behind South Africa who has achieved the top position by beating the world ODI champion Australia. If India can win the 5th match against Sri Lanka of the ongoing series then India will climb on the number one at ICC ODI cricket ranking.

This is not end for Indian team. If India able to secure the victory than it will touch another record of 10 matches consequent victories in the world after Australia.

Indian captain MS Dhoni already has reached the top position as a number one batsman of the world after scoring 96 runs during the 4th ODI at Colombo. Previously, West Indies crickets Chris Gayle was that title holder.

Source: cricket360

About Shaun Marsh, Australian New ODI opener

Shaun Marsh is the new opener of the Australian ODI Team after Matthew Hayden. Matthew Hayden retired from international cricket on 13 January 2009 when the ACB selectors erase his name from the ODI squad of the CB series along side the guest South Africa. Shaun Marsh is the son of Geoff Marsh. Geoff Marsh played 46 ODI and 79 test cricket on behalf of Australia. Now, his son Shaun Marsh is playing in Australia as opening batman.

 

He is not older in the international cricket and just played 10 ODI matches. His debutant was against West Indies at Kingstown in Jun 24, 2008 and 81 runs from 97 balls. He has played 30First-class cricket match and sacked 2755 runs. His highest was 166* and average is 34.01. His first Twenty20 match was against the same team West Indies.

 

The Quote from Cricinfo

"I've probably got out at crucial periods in both games and it's been very disappointing that I haven't gone on," Marsh said in the Mercury. "I've left the team in a bit of a tricky position so hopefully in the next few games I can really bat through the innings and do my job properly." Marsh said he would aim to maintain his concentration during the middle overs - he's been dismissed in the 38th and 33rd over - and focus on playing straighter, instead of looking to force the ball on the leg side.

 

Although his playing role in cricket as Lower middle order batsman but he is playing as a top order from his international cricket. He plays domestic cricket along Western Australia but in the inaugural Indian Premier League he played on the side of Kings XI Punjab.

 

25 years old Shaun Marsh called as Sos. His 17 years old brother Mitchell Marsh is also playing cricket a side of Fremantle, Western Australia Second XI, Western Australia Under-19s teams.

Australian Olympic basketball team announced

 

Australia has announced its Basketball Team for the upcoming Olympic Games that will be held on Beijing and China. The proclaimed team is thinking to be a powerful to win the Gold in Basketball event. Some of powerful players in Basketball of Globe including Bogut, Chris Anstey and international stars David Andersen and Matthew Nielsen named in the 12 men Squad.

"We really have a talented group of guys going over and if we can push through the first round we have the ability to surprise everyone with our results," he said. "We're right up there with the European teams at the moment."

In the 12 men squad, the selection committee kept two centre men, one forward, four Guards and three forwards and two Guard/Forwards. Here is the name of the men below;

Australia's men's basketball team:

Chris Anstey, Andrew Bogut, David Andersen, CJ Bruton, Joe Ingles, Patrick Mills, Brad Newley, Matthew Nielsen, Shawn Redhage, Mark Worthington, David Barlow and Glen Saville.

West Indies Vs Australia 3rd Test: 1st Test WI Batting reviews

Australia tours of West Indies for three test matches, one Twenty20 International and a series of five ODI matches. Two tests matches already have finished and the result is Australia is leading the series by 0-1. After drawn of the 2^nd matches the Caribbean’s are inspiring to lead the 3^rd Test.

The first test between West Indies and Australia was come to ground on 22 May 2008 at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica. Australia, who chose to bat first and secured 431 runs. Running behind this score West Indies lost two early wickets and faced in serious problem. Depending on RS Morton and S Chanderpaul’s batting West Indies able to secure 312 runs. It was not a good score to lead the innings and Australia got leads of 119 runs. That was the scrawny to be defeat.

Although West Indies able to pack Australian 167 runs with their strong bowling but at the end of the day four West Indies lost again an early wicket. This was another minus point of the team. In the day five the pitch behaves bad to the batsmen and Australian bowlers did not make any mistake to take this opportunities. So, before drinks and in the end of the 37 over West Indies had to lose the valuable 6 wickets.

Australian bowlers’ aggressive bowling with the broken pitch able to destroy all the barriers to wins.

Australia in West Indies: Couch is worried about Ricky Ponting’s performance

More than six members of selected Test Squad are plying Indian formatted IPL in Indian home ground. Most of the Australian players are doing not only well but also hold the top record in Indian Premier League. Only the skipper Ricky Ponting performed badly. Among the four matches two was golden duck and other two was 20 and 19. The performances depressed the Australian Coach too.

All the Aussies may back to home before Monday because of the campaign before West Indies tour. May be Ponting will be trained about the lack that caused in IPL tournament. On the other hand B Hodge, D Hussey, Hayden’s eye attracted performance will help them to do well in the upcoming tour in West Indies that will be taken place form May 22.

The couch Nielsen is also worried about Ricky Ponting too. "He'll come back and I am sure the opportunities to bat outside against net bowlers over there in India will hold him in good stead," Nielsen told the Herald Sun. "It will be great opportunity for him to come back with cricket under his belt and start to knuckle down and get himself right for Test match cricket.

It is a good chance to purify all the member of Australian squad. Before the tour it is a fruitful practice for the Aussies. The two weeks campaign will make accurate of all the players.

Australia Tour of West Indies: A 45 days Timetable and Fixtures

I am giving timetables, schedule and Fixture of 45 days tour of Australia in West Indies. The match will start from 22 May 2008. Some of Australian players are playing IPL20 in Indian home gourd. Most of the Australian player will go back 1 to 15 May. During the tour Australian and West Indies will play three Test matches, one Twenty20 match and five ODI match. The tour will be 22 May 2008 to 06 July.

Here is the Time Schedule of the three Test Matches.

Australia Tour of West Indies (Test Match)
22 May 2008	West Indies vs Australia 1st Test Match, Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica Live action starts from: 15:00 GMT (20:30 IST)
30 May 2008	West Indies vs Australia 2nd Test Match, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua Live action starts from: 14:00 GMT (19:30 IST)
12 Jun 2008	West Indies vs Australia 3rd Test Match, Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados Live action starts from: 14:00 GMT (19:30 IST)

After inaugurated the Twenty20 format Championship every country keeps a time for more than one Twenty20 formatted match. Here is not difference during the Australia tour. The first T20 match started during the tour in India after Twenty20 World Championship. Here is the fixture of a Twenty20 match between Australia and West Indies.

Australia Tour of West Indies ( Twenty20 International )
21 Jun 2008	West Indies vs Australia Only Twenty20 International, Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados

After inaugurate T20 matches it seems that the popularity of ODI match is going down. I think is not completely true. The popularity is same that was in past. This is the ODI Timetable, Schedule and Fixture of Australian and West Indies.

Australia Tour of West Indies ( One Day International )
24 Jun 2008	West Indies vs Australia 1st One Day International, Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent Live action starts from: 13:30 GMT (19:00 IST)
27 Jun 2008	West Indies vs Australia 2nd One Day International, National Cricket Stadium, St George"s, Grenada Live action starts from: 13:30 GMT (19:00 IST)
29 Jun 2008	West Indies vs Australia 3rd One Day International, National Cricket Stadium, St George"s, Grenada Live action starts from: 13:30 GMT (19:00 IST)
04 Jul 2008	West Indies vs Australia 4th One Day International, Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts Live action starts from: 13:30 GMT (19:00 IST)
06 Jul 2008	West Indies vs Australia 5th One Day International, Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts Live action starts from: 13:30 GMT (19:00 IST)

Australia is the top Test team in the world. Similarly in ODI too but in T20 it is not well. But after the performance in IPL it is showing that Australia will achieve the top position of the Twenty20 too.