If you want to get the live score and updates of the first twenty20 match between Australia and South Africa, then visit the following link:
Following a rare test series defeat at home, Australia is going to take on visiting South Africa in the first of the two-match Twenty20 series in Melbourne on 11 January 2009 (Sunday). South Africa is full of confidence after clinching a historic test series victory on Australian soil recently, even though they lost the third and the final test of the series. Australian team regained some of their lost confidence by wining the third test match at Sydney. So, Australian team will now look to take revenge in the upcoming Twenty20 and ODI series and they would like to kick off their revenge program right from the first Twenty20 which will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Match: Australia vs South Africa, First Twenty20, Australia vs South Africa Twenty20 Series 2009
Date: 11 January 2009, Sunday
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia
Kick off: 19:35 local time (08:35 GMT)
Australian selectors recently named 13-member Twenty20 squad with Mathew Hayden being the notable exclusion. This hard-hitting opener is going though a bad patch of time and Australian selectors indicated that they are looking for a young player who would be part of Australian team for World Twenty20 which will take place in England in June this year. New South Wales opener David Warner has been rewarded a call in Australian twenty20 team for the first time. Warner, who has been in an excellent form in Australia’s domestic cricket this season, is expected to open with hard-hitting batsman Shaun Marsh followed by Ricky Ponting, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, and Brad Haddin (wk) in the batting line up.
There are three all rounders in the squad: James Hopes, Ryan Harris and Cameron White. Pacer all-rounder Hopes and leg-spin all rounder White are expected to make it to the final eleven. Pacer Shaun Tait has been back into Australian squad after 12 months since he walked away from cricket because of exhaustion (both physical and mental). Left arm pacer Nathan Bracken and Tait are expected to lead Australia’s pace attack, while Hopes’ handy medium pace could be pretty effective for hosts. Now, there is another place left to make it eleven and the place could most probably go to off spinner Nathan Hauritz in what pacer Ben Hilfenhaus and uncapped all rounder Ryan Harris would be left out of the first eleven. So, Australian has a very balanced Twenty20 squad in the presence of a number of all rounders as well as hard hitting batsmen who have been in excellent form in recent time.
Australia’s Twenty20 Squad
Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, Nathan Bracken, Brad Haddin (wk), Shaun Marsh, Shaun Tait, David Warner, Ryan Harris, Cameron White, Nathan Hauritz.
Well, South Africa also has very strong squad which would definitely take a stern test of the host side. Even though they would miss their inspirational Captain Graeme Smith who is currently injured out for the Twenty20 and ODI series against Australia. Some of the important players of South African are Johan Botha, Herschelle Gibbs, Morne Morkel, Albie Morkel, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini, Jean-Paul Duminy, AB de Villiers and there are some promising uncapped players like left arm pacer Lonwabo Tsotsobe, hard-hitting batsman Vaughn van Jaarsveld and young all rounder Wayne Parnell who starred in 2006 U-19 World Cup.
South Africa’s Twenty20 and ODI Squad
Johan Botha (c), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher (wk), AB de Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Vaughn van Jaarsveld.
Australia and South Africa faced each other in Twenty20 internationals twice so far with both sides winning once each. Both the matches were held way back in 2006. No doubt, both the teams have gone though many changes in these three years. Australia’s dominance in world cricket is gradually being faded away, while South Africa’s dominance is rising day by day. Australian will definitely miss the service of injured all rounders Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson. On the other hand, South Africa will not get Captain Graeme Smith.
Twenty20 cricket is always full of entertainment. It is, in fact, a complete package of excitement and enjoyment for three hours. Twenty20 cricket is more uncertain than any other version of cricket as a Twenty20 match can take an abrupt turn at any situation. So, the upcoming match is also expected to be a highly competitive affair with both Australia and South Africa looking to start the twenty20 series with a win in Melboune.
Online Live Score and Updates
Here, I am giving some website links from where you can get to know the live score and updates of the match between Australia and South Africa:
Cricinfo
Espnstar.Com
Cricket Next
Predicting for a cricket match is always very hard because cricket is a game of uncertainty, and when it comes to Twenty20 cricket, making prediction is as hard as facing the speediest bowler in the world with a bat made of plastic. Both Australia and South Africa have 50-50 chances to win the match as both sides include some match winners. I just hope that the first twenty20 match of the series will be as exciting as the test series.