Tag: australia

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a record prize money for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023–25 Final, scheduled to be played at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground from June 11 to 15.

The total prize pot has been set at a staggering USD $5.76 million, more than double the amount awarded in the previous two cycles.

The champions of this edition will take home USD $3.6 million, a significant jump from the USD $1.6 million awarded to both New Zealand (2021) and Australia (2023).

Meanwhile, the runners-up will pocket USD $2.16 million, compared to $800,000 in earlier editions.

South Africa were the first to book their place in the final, topping the WTC standings on the back of series victories against Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, along with a drawn home series against India.

Australia joined them by clinching the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 against India, adding to earlier series wins over Pakistan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka.

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South African skipper Temba Bavuma expressed his pride and ambition ahead of the summit clash.

“We’re really pleased to have made the World Test Championship Final, which is a good opportunity for us to win an ICC title,” Bavuma said.

“Lord’s is a fitting venue for this mega fixture and all of us will be out there trying to give our best against Australia. The anticipation is increasing with less than one month to go.”

Australian captain Pat Cummins echoed similar sentiments as his side prepares to defend their title.

“We are enormously proud to have the opportunity to defend the World Test Championship, especially at Lord’s,” Cummins said.

“It’s a testament to all those involved over the last two years. We’re excited about the challenge South Africa will present at the home of cricket.”

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Captain Pat Cummins, fellow quick bowler Josh Hazlewood and all-rounder Cameron Green were all named Tuesday in the 15-man squad of Australia for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa at Lord’s next month.

Cummins (ankle) and Hazlewood (hip and calf) missed Australia’s most recent Test series in Sri Lanka because of injury, but both have successfully returned to action in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Green returns to the squad for the first time since undergoing back surgery in October last year.

Exciting 19-year-old batsman Sam Konstas also gets the nod after being left out of the squad that won both Tests in Sri Lanka and is in line to open alongside Usman Khawaja.

Konstas made an explosive start to his Test career against India in December, hitting 60 from 65 balls at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with six fours and two sixes.

Hazlewood has taken 18 wickets to be third on the IPL bowling charts since coming back from injury. But he sat out Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s last match 10 days ago with a shoulder niggle.

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Notably, Australia could become the first to retain the WTC when they face South Africa at Lord’s from June 11, having beaten India in the previous final at the Oval in 2023.

It’s worth noting that Cameron Green is already in England, on a five-match county stint for Gloucestershire, where he has been playing as a batter only and scored a century in his first game back after surgery.

“We are fortunate and looking forward to having Pat, Josh and Cam back in the squad,” said chair of selectors George Bailey.

“The team finished the WTC cycle with an impressive series victory in Sri Lanka following an equally strong summer in defeating India for the first time in a decade.”

The same squad will fly on to the West Indies for three Tests in Barbados, Grenada and Jamaica from June 25.

Australia squad for WTC Final against South Africa

Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster

READ: South Africa announce squad for WTC final against Australia

JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Tuesday unveiled a 15-member squad for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 Final against Australia, set to begin on June 11 at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.

This marks South Africa’s maiden appearance in a WTC Final, after topping the points table with an impressive 69.44% points percentage, a campaign that saw them win 8 out of 12 Tests.

Temba Bavuma will lead the side in this historic showdown, and the Proteas have received a timely boost with the return of fast bowler Lungi Ngidi.

Having recovered from a groin injury that sidelined him during the home season, Ngidi has since proven his fitness in white-ball cricket and international T20 leagues, making a strong case for his selection.

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To accommodate Ngidi’s return, young pacer Kwena Maphaka, who was part of the squad against Pakistan, has been left out, while top-order batter Matthew Breetzke also misses the cut.

South Africa’s batting unit will be powered by Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, and Aiden Markram at the top, followed by a solid middle order featuring captain Bavuma, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham and wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne.

The Proteas’ pace attack looks formidable with Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Dane Paterson, and Corbin Bosch joining Ngidi.

The spin department includes Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy, offering variety and control in English conditions.

South Africa squad for WTC Final against Australia

Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch, Kyle Verreynne, David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson.

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Australia will build a 63,000-seat stadium and a plush indoor swimming venue for the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, officials said Tuesday after shelving contentious earlier plans.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli detailed a slew of Olympic upgrades that included the new Brisbane Stadium in the heart of the city, and an aquatic centre that could host 25,000 fans.

“Finally, Queensland has a plan. The time has come to just get on with it. And get on with it we will,” Crisafulli told reporters.

The Queensland capital was awarded the 2032 Olympic Games and Paralympics in July 2021, returning the Games to Australia for a third time after Melbourne 1956 and then Sydney 2000.

Two years ago, the state’s then centre-left Labor government announced plans to expand the famous Gabba cricket ground and create a new 17,000-seat indoor stadium for the Games.

Crisafulli scrapped those plans on Tuesday, saying Australia would have wasted “billions” on temporary facilities that “delivered no legacy”.

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The 63,000-seat stadium was billed as a “world-class” venue that would also host other major sporting events in the future.

Temporary seating would boost the capacity of a new national aquatic centre to 25,000, the state government said, hosting swimming, diving, water polo and other sports.

The main athletes’ village would be built near the existing Brisbane Showgrounds, while two smaller villages would be located on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

Officials also announced a series of upgrades to smaller venues such as the Queensland Tennis Centre and Gold Coast Hockey Centre.

Although official costs are yet to be released, Australia has previously set aside around US$4 billion for Games infrastructure.

READ: New Zealand unveil squad for ODI series against Pakistan, Abbas earns maiden call-up

Australia star batter Steve Smith has announced his retirement from ODI cricket after his side’s defeat against India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final.

Smith top-scored for his team in the semi-final, played in Dubai, with a solid 73-run knock; however, Virat Kohli’s 84 powered India to victory.

The 35-year-old batter represented Australia in 170 ODIs since making his debut against the West Indies in 2010.

For the unversed, Smith started his career as a leg-spinning all-rounder before evolving into one of Australia’s finest batters.

During a 15-year-long ODI career, he amassed 5,800 runs at an impressive average of 43.28 and a strike rate of 86.96.

His tally includes 12 centuries and 35 half-centuries, making him the 12th highest run-scorer for Australia in ODIs. His highest score of 164 came against New Zealand in 2016.

With the ball, he claimed 28 wickets, while his sharp fielding saw him pouch 90 catches.

A member of Australia’s 2015 and 2023 ICC World Cup winning teams, Smith became ODI captain in 2015 and held the captaincy in his final match on an interim basis in the absence of Pat Cummins.

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Among his ODI accolades, Smith was the Australian Men’s ODI Player of the Year in 2015 and 2021 and a member of the ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year in 2015.

Steve Smith, while reflecting on his decision, described his ODI journey as a “great ride” filled with “amazing times and wonderful memories.” Winning two World Cups, he said, was among the standout moments of his career.

“It has been a great ride, and I have loved every minute of it,” Smith said.

“There have been so many amazing times and wonderful memories. Winning two World Cups was a great highlight, along with the many fantastic teammates who shared the journey.”

“Now is a great opportunity for people to start preparing for the 2027 World Cup, so it feels like the right time to make way.”

Although Steve Smith has announced his retirement from ODIs, he stressed that he is focused on Test cricket.

“Test cricket remains a priority, and I am really looking forward to the World Test Championship Final, the West Indies tour in the winter, and then facing England at home. I feel I still have a lot to contribute on that stage.”

READ: Key South Africa player in doubt for Champions Trophy semi-final

DUBAI: Australia have won the toss and opted to bat first against India in the 1st Semi-Final of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 here at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Playing XIs

Australia: Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Cooper Connolly, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Tanveer Sangha, Adam Zampa

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

The ongoing 2025 edition marked the return of the ICC Champions Trophy after an eight-year break, with the last tournament being held in 2017, where Pakistan defeated their arch-rivals India in the final.

The tournament began with the teams divided into two groups. Group A featured Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, while Group B included Afghanistan, England, Australia, and South Africa.

Each team played three group-stage matches, and the top two from each group secured a spot in the semi-finals. From Group A, India and New Zealand advanced, while South Africa and Australia progressed from Group B.

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Australia could be forced into a top-order reshuffle for their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final after Matthew Short sustained a quad injury during the clash against Afghanistan.

The injury, picked up late in Afghanistan’s innings, is expected to rule him out of the knockout fixture.

Despite opening the batting alongside Travis Head, Short visibly struggled between the wickets, restricting himself mostly to boundary hitting.

He managed 20 off 15 balls in a solid 44-run stand in 4.3 overs before being caught at mid-on.

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Speaking after the match, captain Steven Smith admitted that Short’s recovery in time for the semi-final seems unlikely.

“I think he’ll be struggling,” Smith said. “We saw tonight he wasn’t moving very well. It’s probably going to be too quick between games for him to recover.”

With Short’s likely absence, Jake Fraser-McGurk—who replaced the injured Mitchell Marsh in the squad—becomes the most straightforward replacement at the top of the order.

However, Australia could also consider a batting reshuffle, bringing in all-rounder Aaron Hardie as an alternative.

“We’ve got a few guys there to come in, and we’ll be able to fill a job,” Smith added.

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Another option for Australia could be left-handed batter and left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly, a travelling reserve who might be officially added to the squad if Matthew Short is ruled out of the tournament.

Beyond his batting, Short’s absence would be a blow to Australia’s spin-bowling depth. He had delivered a tidy spell against Afghanistan, conceding just 21 runs in seven overs.

However, the Aussies still have part-time spin options in Head and Marnus Labuschagne, the latter having taken two wickets against England but not used in the last game.

With a semi-final spot secured in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Australia will now have to weigh their options and make a call on the best possible XI for the knockout clash.

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Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has opened up on the reasons behind his decision to skip the ongoing ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.

The star pacer was named in Australia’s preliminary squad for the eight-team tournament, however, he later withdrew his name at the eleventh hour, citing personal reasons.

“We understand and respect Mitch’s [Mitchell Starc] decision,” chair of selectors George Bailey said. “Mitch is deeply respected for his commitment to international cricket and the priority he places on performing for Australia.”

Recently, Starc, during an appearance on the Willow Talk podcast in Australia, revealed that the main reason behind his absence was to take a rest and keep his body fit for the ICC World Test Championship Final against South Africa in June.

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“There are a few different reasons, some personal views,” Starc said. “I had a bit of ankle pain through the Test series, so I just need to get that one right.”

“Obviously, we have the Test final coming up and a West Indies tour after that. There is some IPL cricket as well.

“But the main one at the top of my mind is the Test final. Get my body right, play some cricket in the next couple of months and then be ready to go for the Test final.”

For the unversed, Australia entered the Champions Trophy without their pace trio, as captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were ruled out of the tournament due to injuries.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

However, despite their absence, Australia kicked off their campaign with a thrilling victory against arch-rivals England.

Meanwhile, their match against South Africa was abandoned due to rain in Rawalpindi.

They will next face Afghanistan in their last group stage match on February 28 at Lahore’s Gadaffi Stadium.

Australia squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa.

Travelling reserve: Cooper Connolly.

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The much-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash between Australia and South Africa in Rawalpindi has been hit by rain, delaying the toss that was originally scheduled for 1:30 PM today.

With showers expected to continue in intervals throughout the day, the weather is likely to play a role in the contest.

As per the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Rawalpindi is in for a cloudy and cool day, with intermittent afternoon showers keeping the conditions tricky.

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The forecast suggests a 64% chance of rain, with approximately 0.10 inches of precipitation expected over a two-hour period.

While thunderstorms are not on the radar, complete cloud cover (100%) is expected. For now, the ground staff have the pitch well covered as they wait for a window of clear skies.

Australia and South Africa teams come into this game riding high on momentum, having secured wins in their opening matches of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

Australia started their campaign with a stunning chase against England at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. England had set a record-breaking Champions Trophy total of 351/8, powered by Ben Duckett’s incredible 165 off 143 balls.

However, the Aussies responded in a dominant fashion, hunting down the target in 47.3 overs with Josh Inglis smashing a blistering 120 off 86.

South Africa, on the other hand, made a strong statement with a 107-run win over Afghanistan. The Proteas racked up 315/6, thanks to a well-constructed century from Ryan Rickelton.

Captain Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram chipped in with crucial fifties, setting up a dominant total before bowling out Afghanistan for 208.

READ: Shoaib Akhtar calls Babar Azam ‘fraud’ after Champions Trophy elimination

Playing XIs

Australia: Travis Head, Matthew Short, Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

England: Ben Duckett, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

The 2025 edition marks the return of the ICC Champions Trophy after an eight-year break, with the last tournament being held in 2017, where Pakistan defeated their arch-rivals India in the final.

The eight-team tournament will feature 15 matches over 19 days, taking place in Pakistan and Dubai.

The teams are divided into two groups for the initial stage. Each team will play three group-stage matches, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Group A consists of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, while Group B includes Afghanistan, England, Australia, and South Africa.

READ: Shane Watson names THIS player to shine at Champions Trophy