Tag: australia

South African off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen was on Thursday ruled out of the second ODI against Australia after being reported for a suspect bowling action.

The 31-year-old made his 50-over debut in the Proteas’ thumping 98-run victory in the first ODI at Cairns on Tuesday, taking 1-46 including the key wicket of Travis Head.

But in the match officials’ report, concerns were raised about the legality of his bowling action.

“The bowler will undergo an independent assessment of his bowling action at an ICC-accredited testing facility,” the International Cricket Council (ICC) said.

Under cricket rules, a bowler is allowed 15 degrees of flex in their bowling arm, but anything more is deemed illegal.

Subrayen remains available for selection while awaiting his assessment, but South Africa coach Shukri Conrad said he would sit out the second game of the three-match series on Friday in Mackay.

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“We just felt, together with ‘Subs’ (Subrayen), that less noise, get him away and out of the public eye (and) just make sure that he’s ok,” Conrad told cricket.com.au.

“That’s why his name’s not going to be on the teamsheet tomorrow.

“We will obviously rally around him and make sure that he’s in the best space,” he added.

It is another setback for South Africa, who are already without injured pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada.

Australia spinner Adam Zampa meanwhile, escaped with one demerit point as punishment for breaching the ICC’s code of conduct in the same match after he was caught swearing by a stump microphone.

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Aiden Markram hit 82 before left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj tore through the home side’s new-look batting order in the first Australia vs South Africa ODI in Cairns on Tuesday.

South Africa defeated Australia by 98 runs, thanks to the brilliance of Markram and Maharaj in the opening game of a three-match series.

Sent in to bat, Markram — opening for the first time in ODIs since 2021 — crunched nine boundaries in his 81-ball knock to power South Africa to a formidable 296-8.

Skipper Temba Bavuma (65) and Matthew Breetzke (57) also helped set the tone for the three-match ODI series.

In reply, openers Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head flattened South Africa pacemen as Australia raced to 60-0 after seven overs.

But the match flipped after the introduction of spin, with Maharaj conjuring rampant turn, and he picked up four wickets in his first 15 balls.

He finished with career-best figures of 5-33 from 10 overs as Australia were dismissed for 198 in the 41st over.

It was a strong bounce back from South Africa after their 2-1 defeat against Australia in the Twenty20 series between the teams.

Marsh played a lone hand with 88 off 96 balls in a disappointing batting effort from Australia, transitioning after the recent retirements of veterans Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell from ODI cricket.

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South Africa had been rocked by the news that quick Kagiso Rabada would miss the series with an ankle injury.

An unruffled Markram appeared to be cruising to his fourth ODI century before he was caught behind off left-arm quick Ben Dwarshuis in the 24th over.

A sluggish Bavuma was overtaken by Breetzke, playing his third ODI.

But South Africa lost three wickets for just seven runs with the fall of Breetzke, Tristan Stubbs (duck), and Dewald Brevis (six), before Bavuma kicked on.

After a breakout T20 series, ODI debutant Brevis hit a first-ball six — but then holed out to Head, who finished with 4-57.

Head’s excellent match continued with the bat until he was stumped for 27, providing debutant offspinner Prenelan Subrayen with his first ODI wicket.

Making his return since being axed from Australia’s Test team, Marnus Labuschagne (one) fell on his sixth delivery after unsuccessfully reviewing an lbw decision off Maharaj.

Cameron Green (three) and Josh Inglis (five) were clean bowled by a pumped-up Maharaj, who also had Alex Carey lbw for a golden duck.

Maharaj was unable to complete the hat-trick, but claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in ODI cricket when he knocked over Aaron Hardie (four).

The second Australia vs South Africa ODI will be played in the northern Queensland city of Mackay on Friday.

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South Africa pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series against Australia because of inflammation in his ankle.

Rabada played all three T20I matches in the preceding series between the teams but underwent a scan on Monday after feeling discomfort.

South Africa announced Rabada’s withdrawal just one hour before the ongoing first ODI against Australia in Cairns.

Left-arm 19-year-old quick Kwena Maphaka, who claimed a leading nine wickets in the T20I series, has been added to the squad but was overlooked for the series-opener.

Veteran quick Lungi Ngidi leads the South African attack in the series opener, featuring off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen, who makes his ODI debut.

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It’s worth noting that Kagiso Rabada will remain on the Australia tour, where he will undergo rehabilitation.

With Rabada unavailable and Marco Jansen still recovering from thumb surgery, the fast bowling options in the squad include Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi, and Maphaka.

Additionally, seam-bowling all-rounders Corbin Bosch and Wiaan Mulder are also part of the tour.

For spin options, the team has Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, and Prenelan Subrayen.

Following the first match, the teams will move to Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena for the next two matches. Meanwhile, Australia won the hard-fought T20I series 2-1.

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Australia star batter Steve Smith has warned England of a challenging  Ashes series, which is set to begin in November 2025.

The five-Test Ashes series will begin in Perth in late-November, before a day-night match in Brisbane.

The third Ashes 2025 Test will be played in Adelaide, with the traditional Melbourne and Sydney Tests scheduled for December and January.

In an interview with a British media outlet, Steve Smith commented on the much-anticipated series after England’s home series against India.

“I watched a lot of the series against India and it was one of the best Test series I’ve seen in a long time. The cricket that was played by both teams was outstanding,” he said.

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“England have a good side at the moment. They are obviously playing a really aggressive brand of cricket,” he added.

The 36-year-old stated that Australian  wickets are challenging for batters.

“It’s going to be a big challenge. The wickets in the last three-four years have been really tricky,” Steve Smith said.

The veteran batter expressed confidence in his team’s bowling lineup, saying that experienced bowlers would make things difficult for England in the Ashes 2025

“I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be a great series,” Smith said.

Steve Smith also discussed the recent form of England’s Joe Root and lauded him ahead of the Ashes 2025.

“I think not just in that series (against India) but probably the last two years, he’s been incredible. His ability to make big scores – to go from 50 to 100 – which was one thing he got caught in that spot for a while,” Smith said.

“He [Joe Root] hasn’t scored a hundred in Australia. I think that’s been talked about quite a lot. I’m sure that’s something he wants to tick off his bucket list as well,” he concluded.

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England’s star batter Joe Root has responded to Former Australia opener David Warner ahead of the much-anticipated Ashes 2025-26, which is set to commence in November.

A few weeks ago, David Warner, currently playing in ‘The Hundred’ in England, highlighted flaws in Joe Root’s batting.

“The big anchor there is Rooty, who is yet to score a hundred in Australia. “Hazlewood tends to have his number quite a lot. He will have to take the surfboard off his front leg,” he said.

Joe Root has responded while speaking on a British News outlet, stating that he is unfazed by the remarks.

“Just that. I have no control over how people perceive the game or discuss it in an interview. Nothing new, is it? You know there are going to be storylines and people wanting to hype up a big series,” he said.

Does not really change anything. It is sort of irrelevant to me. What can I do about it? Just make sure it is not a talking point in six months or 100 days’ time,” he added.

He further stated about his calm demeanor and helping his team get a good start.

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“When you get out there, you have to got to try and impact the game and help your team get off to a good star,” Joe Root explained.

Business as usual as far as I am concerned. I guess it is all part of the fun. We will see what happens out there [with Warner at Lord’s during The Hundred, where they are playing for Trent Rockets and London Spirit respectively]. It is not really in my nature to get too verbal,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention that Joe Root, now the second-highest scorer in Test cricket, has yet to score a Test century in Australia.

Overall, England batting maestro Root has scored only 892 runs in Australia at a modest average of 35.68, which falls short of his standards.

Notably, since the start of 2022, he has notched up 15 centuries at a stellar average of 64.64.

The Ashes 2025-26 is set to begin in Perth on November 21, followed by a day-night match in Brisbane, the third Test in Adelaide, and the traditional Melbourne and Sydney Tests in December and January.

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Dewald Brevis belted South Africa highest T20I individual score with a blistering 125 not out from 56 balls as the tourists stayed alive in the three-match series after a 53-run victory over Australia in Darwin on Tuesday.

Australia decision to bowl backfired as South Africa powered to a massive 218-7 on the back of Brevis’ maiden century in international cricket.

The 22-year-old rescued South Africa from a shaky 57-3 and dominated a 126-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs (31).

“I’m extremely grateful, just happy to be out here on the winning side,” said Brevis, who surpassed Faf du Plessis’ 119 against the West Indies in 2015.

Playing just his ninth T20 international, Brevis smashed eight sixes to leave Australia’s powerful batting line-up with an uphill task.

Australia’s daunting chase was made more difficult after the early wickets of opener Travis Head (five) and Cameron Green (nine).

Australia’s hopes rested with in-form Tim David, fresh off his match-winning 83 in their 17-run victory in the series opener at the same venue.

Promoted to number four, David started with a trio of boundaries and then bludgeoned several massive sixes, including one that landed on the roof.

But David’s 24-ball assault ended on 50 when he hit spearhead Kagiso Rabada straight to cover.

Australia’s chase ran out of steam, bowled out for 165 in the 18th over with quicks Corbin Bosch and Kwena Maphaka picking up three wickets each.

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“Chasing that down was always going to be tough and we needed a few partnerships, which we couldn’t do,” Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said.

Without several key batsmen for this tour, South Africa had struggled to fire in the opening game.

Captain Aiden Markram signalled his intent with a sublime boundary off the first ball of the innings, rattling quick Josh Hazlewood.

But Markram (18) fell tamely to a fired-up Glenn Maxwell, who celebrated another wicket when he had Lhuan-dre Pretorius (10) stumped to leave South Africa in trouble.

Likened to legendary South Africa batter AB de Villiers, Brevis turned the innings on its head to power past his previous highest T20 international score of 41.

Brevis received a life on 56 when substitute fielder Matthew Kuhnemann fumbled on the boundary off the bowling of an increasingly frustrated Maxwell.

Brevis made Australia pay and in a flash he was saluting the crowd after reaching his century with a boundary off his 41st delivery.

Maxwell and quick Ben Dwarshuis picked up two wickets apiece in an unusually ragged effort in the field for Australia, whose nine-match T20 win streak ended.

The series-decider will be played in the Queensland city of Cairns on Saturday.

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Tim David crunched eight sixes in a blistering 83 from 52 balls in the opening Australia vs South Africa T20I clash of the three-match series to help the hosts in Darwin on Sunday.

After being sent in, Australia were all out for 178 on the final delivery of their 20 overs.

The Australia vs South Africa match also marked the first international cricket game in Darwin in 17 years.

Cameron Green (35 off 13) was the only other batter to get going, with left-arm quick Kwena Maphaka bagging 4-20 as South Africa bowled out Australia for the first time in a T20.

But David’s phenomenal innings proved enough, with the Proteas restricted to 161-9 in reply. That was despite a battling 71 from Ryan Rickelton, who fell to a spectacular Glenn Maxwell catch on the boundary.

For Australia, Josh Hazlewood and Ben Dwarshuis took three wickets each.

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Backing up from a recent 5-0 series sweep against the West Indies, Australia signalled their intent early with Marsh slamming a six off the first ball.

But he lost opening partner Travis Head (two) and Josh Inglis (golden duck) in the space of three deliveries and then skied Kagiso Rabada on 13, with Maphaka taking a tricky catch before Green and David let loose.

They put on a quickfire 40 for the fourth wicket before Green was undone by a slower ball from Lungi Ngidi.

Australia were in trouble on 75-6 when Mitchell Owen was out for two and dangerman Glenn Maxwell went for one.

But David dug in and, with Dwarshuis (17), added 59 for the seventh wicket.

David was dropped by Tristan Stubbs on 56, although Stubbs made amends by holding the catch that finally removed the big Australian after a power-packed knock.

South Africa started poorly in the chase, with skipper Aiden Markram out to Hazlewood in the first over, and they had lost three wickets for 48 by the sixth over.

Rickelton and Stubbs (37) knuckled down in a threatening 72-run stand, but Hazlewood struck again with two wickets in an over to shatter their momentum.

South Africa’s hopes were all but over when Adam Zampa matched Hazlewood’s feat in the next over.

The second match of the Australia vs South Africa series will be played in Darwin on Tuesday.

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Australia have named their first-choice opening duo of Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head for the T20 World Cup, which is set to commence in Sri Lanka and India next year.

The T20I skipper, Mitchell Marsh, on Friday confirmed that he and southpaw Travis Head will occupy the top two spots until next year’s shorter format World Cup.

The announcement came ahead of the three-match T20I series opener against South Africa, which is set to begin on August 10 at Darwin.

“It’ll be myself and Heady [Travis Head] up the top for the foreseeable future,” Marsh told reporters in Darwin on Friday.

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“Obviously we’ve played a lot together, (we’ve) got a great relationship, so (we’ll) start there.”

Australia is coming off a 5-0 clean sweep over West Indies, where Marsh opened the batting in all five matches, a thing he had done only once before the tour.

Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head had never opened in the T20I format for Australia; however, they have been pivotal in ODIs, boasting an excellent record.

The pair have amassed 282 runs in just five innings at a stellar average of 70.50 in the shorter format.

Across all formats, Marsh and Head have accumulated 504 runs across 14 innings at an average of 38.67, including one century and three half-century partnerships.

Australia T20 squad:

Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa

Schedule of Australia-South Africa T20I Series 

August 10: First T20I, Marrara Stadium, Darwin

August 12: Second T20I, Marrara Stadium, Darwin

August 16: Third T20I, Cazalys Stadium, Cairns

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Former Australia pacer Glenn McGrath has predicted that England will be whitewashed 5-0 in the 2025-26 Ashes.

The Three Lions have not won an Ashes series since 2015 and, notably, not a single Test in Australia since the 2010-11 series.

The most recent series between two arch-rivals, played in 2023, resulted in a 2-2 draw, with Australia retaining the urn.

Now, the six-time Ashes winner and legendary fast bowler McGrath is known for his bold predictions, and in the past, he has made similar statements.

“It’s very rare for me to make a prediction, isn’t it? And I can’t make a different one-5-0,” McGrath stated in an interview with a British news outlet.

“I’m very confident with our team. When you’ve got Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon firing in their home conditions, it’s going to be pretty tough. Plus, that track record England have had, it’d be interesting to see if they can win a Test,” McGrath added.

Glenn McGrath deemed Ashes 2025-26 crucial for England’s ace batter Joe Root, who is yet to make his mark down under.

Joe Root has amassed 892 Test runs in Australia, including nine fifties, but is yet to score a century.

The 55-year-old also lauded Harry Brook’s batting and termed his wicket crucial for the Australian pacers.

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“This series will be a big one for Root. He’s never really done that well in Australia, he’s not even got a 100 over there, so he’ll be keen to get out there. He’s in fine form,” he said.

“Brook’s the one that I’ve enjoyed watching,” added McGrath. “He just goes out there, plays his game, and takes it on. The Australians will need to get on him pretty early.

He further mentioned England’s top order and the key matchups between both teams.

“Ben Duckett is such an aggressive opener. Zak Crawley would be keen to score a few more runs than he has previously.

“It’s the top order or top and middle order of England against the Australian fast bowlers and Lyon. That’s going to be a big match-up,” Glenn McGrath concluded.

For the unversed, the opening match of Ashes 2025-26 will commence on 21 November in Perth.

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Australia batter Tim David has been fined 10 percent of his match fee for a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct during the fifth and final T20I against the West Indies on July 28.

David was found guilty of breaching Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to “showing dissent at an Umpire’s decision during an International Match.”

The incident occurred in the fifth over of Australia’s innings when West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph bowled a delivery down the leg side that wasn’t signalled as a wide.

Tim David reacted by stretching his arms out in protest and walking towards the umpire with his arms still extended, an action deemed to constitute dissent.

As a result, one demerit point has been added to the 29-year-old’s disciplinary record. This is his first offence within the past 24 months.

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David admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Reon King from the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, meaning there was no need for a formal hearing.

The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Zahid Bassarath and Leslie Reifer, third umpire Deighton Buttler, and fourth umpire Gregory Brathwaite.

Level 1 violations typically carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and can go up to 50 percent of the player’s match fee, along with one or two demerit points.

Despite the brief controversy, Tim David made a handy contribution of 30 runs, playing a key role in Australia’s three-wicket win, which completed a 5-0 clean sweep of the West Indies in the series.

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