Australia Story

[Nottsboy118]

Australia bowed out of the World Twenty20 Tournament at the semi-final stage. India went on to win the title, beating England by two runs in the final. Australia now have to refocus, and concentrate on winning The Ashes.

[Nottsboy118]

The touring squad for the five match Test Series against England has been announced:

Ricky Ponting (C)
Michael Clarke (VC)
Doug Bollinger
Stuart Clark
Brad Haddin (WK)
Nathan Hauritz
Ben Hilfenhaus
Phil Hughes
David Hussey
Mike Hussey
Phil Jaques
Mitchell Johnson
Simon Katich
Brett Lee
Graham Manou
Marcus North
Peter Siddle
Shane Watson

D.Hussey earns a place in the squad after good form in the World Twenty20 Tournament, however he is unlikely to play. D.Bollinger and P.Jaques can also be counted as suprises, in this squad. R.Ponting is captain and M.Clarke is vice captain, as expected.

[Nottsboy118]

The team for the 3 day freindly match, against Sussex is:

S.Katich
P.Hughes
R.Ponting
M.Hussey
M.Clarke
S.Watson
B.Haddin
M.Johnson
B.Lee
P.Siddle
B.Hilfenhaus

Every player will get a game before The Ashes, this is the probable first team, but every player still has a chance to force their way into the team.

[Nottsboy118]

Australia lost the toss and bowled first.
Lee (2-51) struck with second ball of the game removing Nash (0). But then Hopkinson (91) and Goodwin (78) fought back with a partnership of 112. Watson (3-41) then removed Goodwin. Sussex reached 120-2 at Lunch.
Rain prevented any play in the second session. Sussex were still at 120-2 at Tea.
Rain prevented play in the third session of the day aswell, Sussex reached the end of day one on 120-2.
Sussex added 34 to their over night score, before Siddle (1-46) removed Prior (17). Apart from that wicket Australia didn't threaten the Sussex batsmen. Sussex ended the first session of day two, on 206-3.
Watson took his second wicket of the innings trapping Joyce (36) lbw. Lee also took his second wicket of the innings in the following over removing Hopkinson. Watson then trapped Smith (3) lbw. Shortly afterwards Sussex declared, on 269-6. Hodd (20*) and Arafat (18*) were not out.

Katich (57) and Hughes (66) batted until the Tea interval. Australia were 16-0 at Tea.
Katich and Hughes started slowly before picking up their speed and got to the last over of the day on 106-0. But in that last over Katich was trapped lbw by Collymore (2-75) . At the end of the day Australia were 106-1.
Australia added 52 more runs before Arafat (3-83) got Hughes to edge one to the keeper. Hussey (5) didn't last long, Arafat claiming his wicket. Clarke was bowled 24 minutes before the end of the session by Sandri (2-67) . Australia eventually reached the lunchbreak on 229-4.
Ponting (81) was caught off the bowling of Collymore. Lewry (1-52) then got Watson (45) lbw. Johnson (1) was caught of the bowling of Sandri not long after. Lee (21) was bowled in the last over before tea by Arafat. Haddin (38*)was not out. Australia declared at the end of the session on 349-8.

Sussex survived until the end of the match, losing only two wickets Nash (23) bowled by Siddle (1-26) and Hopkinson (24) bowled by Katich (1-22). Sussex ended on 109-2.

Match Drawn.

[Nottsboy118]

The team for the 3 day freindly match, against MCC is:

P.Jaques
S.Watson
R.Ponting
M.Hussey
D.Hussey
M.North
G.Manou
N.Hauritz
S.Clark
D.Bollinger
B.Hilfenhaus

Every player who didn't face Sussex, plays against MCC. B.Hilfenhaus disapointed in the last game, and is fighting for his place, with S.Clark and N.Hauritz mainly but also D.Bollinger.

[Nottsboy118]

Australia lost the toss and were put into bat.
Jaques (57) and Watson (126) reached the break without losing a wicket. Australia were 89-0 at Lunch.
Stoddart bowled Jaques, just 16 minutes after the break. Australia lost no more wickets and increased their run rate. They went in for Tea on 242-1.
Watson fell soon after tea, of the bowling of Delaney. Ponting (135*) then reached his century of just 154 balls. Hussey (19) was trapped lbw by Stoddart, for Stoddart's second wicket of the day. Australia reached the end of the day without losing another wicket. They declared on 370-3. Ponting and D.Hussey (29*) were left at the crease.

Bollinger and Clark bowled beautifully, between them, their first sixteen overs went for just 16 runs. During that time Clark picked up the wicket of Nesdale (2) . Hauritz came on as second change and instantly got Butt (12) to nick one to Manou. Hilfenhaus took his first wicket of the tour, removing Best (15) . MCC reached the interval on, 60-3.
Clark trapped Greer (22) lbw. Clark also got Delaney (0) out, Manou taking the catch. Hauritz picked up his second wicket of the match, removing Johns (31) . Hauritz then trapped Nelson (13) lbw with the last ball of his long spell. MCC finally reached the Tea interval. MCC were 170-7.
With the fifth ball of the new session Hilfenhaus removed Rendell (14) . Hilfenhaus then got his third wicket taking Stoddart's (62) wicket. Hilfenhaus completed the innings by trapping Young lbw (0) . Maupin (0*) was stranded at the crease.

The follow on was enforced by Australia. Hilfenhaus (3-51) bowled Nesdale (2) in the second over. Watson (2-26) then removed Butt (34) in his second over. Stoddart (22) then edged to Watson off the bowling of Clark (4-40) . By the end of day two MCC were 79-3.
Watson trapped Greer (8) lbw with the forfth ball of the day. Clark got the big wicket of Best (27). He then bowled Delaney (24), to pick up his third wicket of the innings. Nelson (2) was Clark's next victim. Hauritz (1-67) trapped Rendell (6) infont of his wickets, lbw. MCC were 186-8 at Lunch.
Hilfenhaus bowled Maupin (40) , and then Johns (54) to finish the innings off.

Australia got to the required score easily. Jaques (11*) and Watson (18*) scored the runs, as Australia ended on 30-0.

Australia win by 10 wickets.

[Nottsboy118]

The team for the first Test match, against England is:

S.Katich
P.Hughes
R.Ponting
M.Hussey
M.Clarke
S.Watson
B.Haddin
M.Johnson
B.Lee
N.Hauritz
P.Siddle

Hauritz has been brought in for the spin option. This is the first Ashes test, and both countries are incredibly desperate to win it.

[Nottsboy118]

Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
Katich (8) was bowled early on by Flintoff (2-92) . Ponting (6) soon became the second victim, caught lbw by Onions (3-53) . Onions soon took his second wicket, Hughes (15) his victim. Hussey (41) and Clarke (109) offered some stability, when Australia most needed it. Australia reached Lunch on 99-3.
Just as Australia were getting back in the game Hussey was caught off Anderson (5-125) . Watson (135) walked to the crease and, raced of to almost a run a ball fifty, Clarke aproached his century more slowly. At the break Australia were 234-4, Watson was on sixty one and Clarke was on 98.
Clarke completed his century in the second over of the session. Clarke eventually fell off the bowling of Flintoff for a brilliant Century. Watson reached his century soon after.Watson ended the day on 122*, and Australia ended on 335-5.
Anderson took Haddin's (33) wicket early in the day. And then in his next over bowled Watson. Lee (0) was bowled the next ball for a golden duck. Anderson picked up his fifer by trapping Johnson (12) lbw. Onions then finished the innings by bowling Hauritz (5) , Siddle (2*) was not out at the end. Australia finished on 374 all out.

England scraped along to 27-0 at the break.
Lee (7-132) bowled Morgan (11) lbw with the forth ball of the session. Lee then claimed his second victim , Pietersen (12), caught by Hussey. No more wickets fell in the session, as Strauss took advantage and secured his fifty. England reached 131-2, by the end of the session.
Strauss and Bopara (143) both reached their centuries, as they took advantage of shocking bowling by every singl Australian bowler. England reached 273-2 by the end of the day.
Lee finally got the wicket of Bopara, with the new ball. After a fantastic innings Strauss was eventually trapped lbw by Lee, for his forth wicket he'd also had two dropped catches of his bowling. Lee completed his fifer the next ball bowling Prior (0) lbw. England eventually reached the end of thes session on 408-5.
Lee got Flintoff (25) out for his sixth wicket. In his next over he then got Swann (10) lbw. England continued the on slaught, deystroying every bowler but Lee. England finally declared on 522-7.

Australia reached Tea on 8-0. Katich (19) and Hughes (23) in bat.
Katich soon fell off the bowling of Panesar. Panesar claimed his second wicket, Ponting (13). Hussey (0) then fell of Swann. Clarke (11) didn't make many before he became Panesar's third wicket. Hughes then fell for a good score in the context, Flintoff the bowler. Swann then bowled Watson. As Australia ended day three on 82-6.
Anderson picked up his first wicket of the innings, Haddin (21) his victim. Johnson (17) fell soon after. Hauritz (26) was finally bowled by Swann. Siddle (1) didn't last much longer. Lee (38*) was stranded at the crease. This meant the bottom five batters had made more runs than the top six had. Australia ended on 178 all out.

Lee trapped Morgan (3) lbw again. Lee then got Strauss' (16) wicket. Hauritz then took Bopara's (3) wicket. Bell (1) struck the winning run, whilst Pietersen (8) was also not out. England ended on 31-3.

England won by 7 wickets.

Allan Border Medal

3.S.Watson - 135
2.M.Clarke - 109
1.B.Lee - 7-132 & 2-18 & 38*

[Nottsboy118]

The team for the first Test match, against England is:

S.Katich
P.Hughes
R.Ponting
M.Hussey
M.Clarke
S.Watson
B.Haddin
M.Johnson
B.Lee
N.Hauritz
S.Clark

S.Clark is brought in for P.Siddle who had a very dissapointing game. After a terrible first game, a large number of the team were fighting for their place. Most obviously N.Hauritz, M.Johnson and the two openers.

[undisee09]

Australia Story

Big fella
Well said, the admin of lax in australia is pitiful and has been for a very long time, David shouldve gone along time ago and taken a few with him.