Tag: australia

SHARJAH: A combined team effort led Australia to a narrow victory over India, securing their spot in the semi-final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium here on Sunday.

While defending 151, Australia restricted India to 142-9 with Annabel Sutherland bowling a brilliant last over.

Sutherland managed to successfully defend 13 runs in her last over. She conceded four runs, and also took two wickets, in addition to two run-outs.

Shafali Verma started the chase for India with a quick 20 off 13, however, India soon slipped to 47-3 inside seven overs.

Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur joined hands with Deepti Sharma and constructed a 63-run partnership for the fourth wicket to launch the recovery. Sophie Molineux removed Sharma, who was playing at 29 off 25, to break the partnership.

Kaur then waged a lone battle as she could not get enough support from the other end. None of the lower-order batters posed any threat to the Australian bowling attack.

The Indian captain completed her half-century from 44 balls in the penultimate over. She took a single on the first ball of the last over.

With 13 required off 5, Sutherland castled Pooja Vastrakar (9) followed by a mix-up which resulted in Arundhati Reddy’s dismissal.

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Kaur faced the fourth delivery and took a single, leaving 12 needed off the last two balls. However, Sutherland held on to her nerves and steered Australia to a thrilling victory.

The Indian skipper remained unbeaten at 54 off 47, which featured six boundaries.

Sutherland and Molineux took two wickets each for Australia, while Megan Schutt and Ashleigh Gardner managed one each.

Australia, after opting to bat, had an unwanted start as they slipped to 17-2 inside three overs with Renuka Singh taking two wickets on two balls.

Stand-in captain Tahlia McGrath joined Grace Harris and together they stitched a 62-run partnership from 54 balls to push the team’s total to 79 before Radha Yadav provided a breakthrough.

McGrath got stumped off Yadav after scoring a 26-ball 32 with the help of four boundaries. Harris top-scored with a cautious 40 off 41 before she fell prey to Deepti Sharma with 92 runs on the board.

Ellyse Perry then played a quick knock of 32 runs from 23 balls, which included two boundaries and one six. Meanwhile, Phoebe Litchfield scored an unbeaten 15 off 9 to help Australia score 151-8 in their allocated 20 overs.

The defending champions remained unbeaten in the group stages of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup with eight points after four matches, meanwhile, India secured two victories from four games.

READ: Fakhar Zaman defends Babar Azam after England Tests snub

SHARJAH: Australia have won the toss and chose to bat first against India in the 18th match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 here at Sharjah Cricket Stadium here on Sunday.

PLAYING XIs

India: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodriguez, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Singh

Australia: Beth Mooney (wk), Grace Harris, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (c), Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown

Defending champion Australia’s captain Alyssa Healy was ruled out of the match, with Tahlia McGrath stepping in to lead the side against India.

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Meanwhile, Tayla Vlaeminck was also ruled out with an injury. Grace Harris and Darcie Brown replaced Healy and Vlaeminck in the line-up.

On the other hand, India made one change with Pooja Vastrakar coming in for S Sajana.

HEAD TO HEAD

Australia and India have faced each other 34 times in Women’s T20Is, with the former holding a dominant record.

Overall – Matches 34, Australia 25, India 8, NR 1

Women’s T20 World Cup – Matches 6, Australia 4, India 2

FORM GUIDE

Defending champions Australia have momentum in their favour as they are unbeaten in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, winning their three fixtures and are currently at the summit of Group A standings with six points.

India, on the other hand, had a shaky start as they lost to New Zealand in their tournament opener. However, they made a resounding comeback with two victories in their next two games against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Australia: W, W, W, W, W (most recent first)

India: W, L, L, W, W

READ: Fatima Sana rejoins Pakistan squad ahead of Women’s T20 World Cup clash against New Zealand

BRISTOL: Travis Head starred with both bat and ball as Australia beat England by 49 runs in a rain-marred fifth ODI to complete a 3-2 series win here on Sunday.

Australia made a blistering start to their chase of 310, with openers Matthew Short (58) and Head (31) sharing a stand of 78 in slightly more than seven overs.

And when rain stopped play, Australia were 165-2 off 20.4 overs — well ahead of the target required under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.

Steve Smith, leading Australia in place of the injured Mitchell Marsh, was 36 not out before the umpires called the game off at 6:00 pm local time (1700 GMT).

Australia’s opening batters Short and Head punished a wayward England attack featuring Olly Stone, in for the rested Jofra Archer. But Brydon Carse struck with his first ball when he had Travis Head caught at cover.

Matthew Potts, who had already dismissed Australia’s Smith twice in the series, almost had the star batter given out lbw for 10 but a review indicated the ball would have missed leg stump.

Short went to fifty when he pulled Carse for his fourth six in just 23 balls. But he was out when caught behind driving at Potts.

England then missed an opportunity when they didn’t appeal after Josh Inglis, on two, got a thin edge off Carse to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.

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Earlier, Steve Smith won the toss only for Phil Salt to launch England’s innings with a quickfire 45 that featured consecutive sixes off Aaron Hardie.

But Hardie had his revenge when Salt’s drive over point was caught by Marnus Labuschagne before he bowled Will Jacks for a duck with an excellent off-cutter.

Harry Brook came in having struck a match-winning ODI century at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday that helped reduce England’s deficit to 2-1 before his 87 laid the foundation for a colossal 186-run success at Lord’s on Friday.

Duckett, who made 63 at Lord’s, completed a 45-ball fifty before Brook reached the landmark in just 39 balls when he drove Hardie over long-on for six.

Brook then struck leg-spinner Adam Zampa for successive sixes at the start of the 25th over. But Zampa, holding his nerve, deceived Brook four balls later with a slower, flighted delivery the batsman miscued low to Glenn Maxwell at long-off.

Brook’s exit sparked an England slump but Duckett, out for 95 in the series opener at Trent Bridge, completed his second career ODI hundred in 86 balls including 13 fours and a six.

The left-hander’s first England century in all formats this season, after several close calls in both Tests and ODIs, ended soon afterwards when he holed out off Head.

England were set for a huge total at one point with the scoreboard reading 202-2, however, they lost their last eight wickets for 107 runs to be dismissed for 309, with part-time spinner Head taking his career-best ODI figures of 4-28.

READ: Sanath Jayasuriya likely to continue as full-time head coach of Sri Lanka: reports

CHESTER-LE-STREET: England leg-spinner Adil Rashid on Monday, opened up regarding the future of his professional career, stating he has no plans to retire “any time soon”.

The 36-year-old spinner and right-arm speedster Jofra Archer are the only two members of England’s World Cup-winning team in the squad for the ongoing white-ball home series against Australia.

Rashid is the oldest member of the inexperienced England side by five years with fellow World Cup winners Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow left out of the squad, which features new faces.

Meanwhile, Adil Rashid remained confident about his future in the young team and said he has not thought about retirement yet.

“I have not thought about it [retirement] yet,” Rashid told the BBC.

“Keep playing, enjoy it, stay fit, bowl well, contribute to wins, hopefully World Cups and Champions Trophies – that is my ultimate aim.

“I have not thought about retiring or calling it a day any time soon.”

England, who failed to defend both their ODI and T20 World Cup titles, enter a rebuilding process with the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in view or more certainly the next T20 World Cup in 2026 and 2027 ODI World Cup.

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The Three Lions had a rough start to their rebuilding process, having suffered crushing defeats in the first two ODIs of the five-match series against Australia. Their defeat in the second fixture at Headingley was their 10th in the last 14 matches.

“There have been big changes, new batters, new bowlers,” he said.

“It will take time. It will always take time when it is a rebuilding process.

“We have got every base covered in terms of bowling, batting, keeping.

“Everything is there for us. All we have to do now is play the game of cricket, enjoy it, string a few games together of winning and then off we go.”

Despite succumbing to a heavy defeat, England had something to cherish as Adil Rashid became just the third from the nation to amass 200 wickets in ODIs.

“I’m playing each game and each series as it comes and if I’m still enjoying it and performing well, I’ll keep carrying on,” Rashid stated ahead of the third ODI between England and Australia, scheduled here on Tuesday.

Rashid’s “best friend” Moeen Ali announced his retirement from international cricket earlier this month, just days after being left out of England’s white-ball squads for the Australia series.

“We always have that banter and vibes,” he added. “That’s not there anymore but that is life. Everything moves on.”

READ: Team ‘unity’ among key points discussed in Connection Camp

SOUTHAMPTON: Travis Head made a valuable 59 and leg-spinner Adam Zampa took two cheap wickets as Australia beat England by 28 runs in the first T20I at The Rose Bowl on Wednesday.

Opening batsman Head’s quickfire innings was the cornerstone of Australia’s seemingly below-par 179 all out.

But with Zampa taking an economical 2-20 in a match where England’s slow bowlers also impressed, it was more than enough as the hosts were dismissed for 151 to leave Australia 1-0 up in a three-match series.

“It was a nice start,” said player-of-the-match Travis Head at the presentation ceremony, adding: “For me it was about using the pace well which I think I did.”

Stand-in England captain Phil Salt, leading the team in place of the injured Jos Buttler, said: “Everything was good (about captaincy) apart from the result.”

Turning to Head’s 23-ball innings, which featured eight fours and four sixes, Salt said: “When the ball starts flying like that it is all about how to shut him down.

“Maybe we could have done a bit better but it has given something to get clarity on in the next game.”

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh praised Head and opening partner Matthew Short for their “exciting” start against England before also lauding Zampa and experienced fast bowler Josh Hazlewood.

“We’re lucky to have guys like Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood in our team, especially for some of our younger guys to learn from,” he said. “I went back to them and they both applied the pressure when needed.”

England collapsed to 52-4 inside eight overs in their first limited-overs international since sacking white-ball coach Matthew Mott after the Australian presided over lacklustre defences of their 50-over and T20 World Cup titles.

Jordan Cox, one of three England debutants, fell for 17 when he was brilliantly caught in the deep, with the sprinting Tim David diving full length to hold a two-handed chance over his shoulder.

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Salt, a potential dangerman, pulled Sean Abbott to deep square leg before Jacob Bethell was clean bowled by Zampa.

Liam Livingstone took up the attack with a 37 featuring a huge six over midwicket off Marcus Stoinis.

Together with Sam Curran, he added 54 until the latter clothed a pull off Sean Abbott to backward square leg.

And 106-5 became 108-6 in the 14th over when Livingstone played on to Hazlewood (2-32).

Zampa all but ended the game when he had Jamie Overton (15) playing on to leave England 128-8.

Earlier, Australia were set for a total in excess of 200 after being sent into bat.

But Livingstone took 3-22 and fellow spinner Adil Rashid, the world’s top-ranked T20 bowler, a typically economical 1-23 in his four overs as England fought back.

Left-hander Head took advantage of wayward fast bowling and hit 30 runs off one Curran over.

But going for another big hit, the 30-year-old holed out off Saqib Mahmood to deep square leg, where Cox held a safe catch.

Four balls later Australia’s 86-1 became 89-2 when Marsh was clean bowled by Rashid as he heaved across the line.

Livingstone took two wickets in two balls, both lbw on review, when he dismissed Stoinis (10) and David, with fast bowler Jofra Archer doing the same late on.

READ: USA cricketer makes massive claim about future game against Pakistan

Australia men’s cricket head coach Andrew McDonald has recently opened up about the batting position of senior batter Steve Smith for the Test series against India.

Australia will host India for a five-match Test series, starting from November 22 in Perth. The second match will be played in Adelaide from December 6, followed by the third Test in Brisbane, scheduled from December 14-18.

The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will host the fourth match from December 26, while the final Test will be played in Sydney from January 3.

McDonald shared that Australia’s coaching staff is discussing Smith’s role in the upcoming Test matches and he is most likely to open the innings alongside Usman Khawaja.

The head coach shared that the team management will inform Smith’s Sheffield Shield side New South Wales about their plans so that he can get the required practice during the domestic season.

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“That’s the question on everyone’s lips, isn’t it? While we’ve got an eye to it, we haven’t made any firm decisions around that one,” McDonald said on Australian radio station SEN.

“We’ll unveil everything, and we’ll let (NSW coach) Greg Shipperd know what our plans are and then we’ll see what he does with his New South Wales side should Steve Smith play Shield cricket.

“We’ve already had some chats in Sydney initially around what we’re thinking for the summer, and that goes right down to depth bowling and what it looks like, all those hypotheticals and what ifs that we always go through.”

Andrew McDonald also highlighted the issue of moving someone else to open the innings, if Smith is to play in the middle-order.

“Clearly, if we make a shift with Steve Smith, then someone else will have to go to the top,” he added.

“We’ve seen Cameron Green be really successful at number four as well. So that sort of adds layers to the decision-making. But nothing is firm and fixed on at the moment.”

READ: KL Rahul ranks Babar Azam above Travis Head

Right-arm Australia pacer Nathan Ellis has been ruled out of the ongoing T20I series against Scotland and the white-ball series against arch-rivals England, scheduled later this month.

According to the details, Ellis suffered a hamstring injury during his time at London Spriti in The Hundred last month and as a result, missed Australia’s T20I series opener against Scotland.

Ellis’ Tasmanian teammate Riley Meredith, who made his international return after a gap of more than two years in Australia’s seven-wicket victory over Scotland, will now remain a part of the Australia squad for the three-match T20I series against England.

His replacement for the five-match ODI series against England, however, will be announced in due course.

Nathan Ellis was supposed to lead Australia’s inexperienced pace attack against Scotland in the absence of the senior trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

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Cummins and Starc will miss Australia’s both T20I series while Hazlewood will return for the England assignment.

“This was one of the series that I had earmarked for a long period of time knowing the schedule and the demand it would have on a lot of the guys,” Ellis had said.

“Any time I get the Aussie jersey on I’m pumped, so the longer I can keep wearing it the better.”

It is pertinent to mention that Nathan Ellis is the third Australian pacer to get injured ahead of the white-ball UK tour as Spencer Johnson was sidelined due to a side strain while Hazlewood suffered a minor right calf strain.

Australia T20 squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood (England games only), Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Riley Meredith (Scotland games only), Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.

READ: Jos Buttler ruled out of Australia T20Is, new captain named

England Men’s white-ball captain Jos Buttler has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Australia.

In Buttler’s absence, Phil Salt, who has captained the Manchester Originals in The Hundred this season, will lead the T20I side.

Buttler is currently nursing a right calf injury and is doubtful for the ODI series against Australia, scheduled later this month.

All-rounder Jamie Overton has been called up as Buttler’s replacement in the T20I squad.

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The three-match T20I series is set to begin next week at the Utilita Bowl, Southampton, on 11 September 2024.

Additionally, Jordan Cox has been added to the ODI squad as cover. The five-match ODI series is scheduled to start on 19 September at Trent Bridge.

England T20I Squad for Australia series

Phil Salt (c), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Josh Hull, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Dan Mousley, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley, John Turner

England ODI Squad for Australia series

Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Reece Topley, John Turner

T20I Series Schedule

1st T20I: Wednesday 11 September 2024
2nd T20I: Friday 13 September 2024
3rd T20I: Australia, Sunday15 September 2024

ODI Series Schedule

1st ODI: Thursday 19 September 2024
2nd ODI: Saturday 21 September 2024
3rd ODI: Tuesday 24 September 2024
4th ODI: Friday 27 September 2024
5th ODI: Sunday 29 September 2024

READ: Wasim Akram ’embarrassed’ over Pakistan’s series defeat against Bangladesh

Pakistan’s Punjabi folk icon Arif Lohar, who is currently in Australia these days, visited the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Pakistani folk music legend soaking in the rich history and atmosphere of the venue. During his tour, he explored the dressing rooms and learned about the ground’s significance from the MCG tour guide.

The guide shared insights into Pakistan’s cricketing history at the MCG, including the 1992 World Cup final and the team’s last Test match played under Shan Masood’s leadership.

With the Pakistan team set to play a white-ball series match at the MCG in November, Arif Lohar’s visit marks an exciting moment for cricket and music fans alike.

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Currently on tour in Australia, Arif Lohar is spreading Pakistani culture and music across the globe, with his popular songs like “Jugni Ge” and “Aa Tenu Moaj” being loved by fans everywhere.

It’s worth noting that Cricket Australia (CA) has announced plans to set up dedicated Pakistan fan zones for the upcoming white-ball series.

The five venues in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart and Adelaide will feature fan zones designated for Pakistani fans.

CA will set up designated seating areas for Pakistan fans, where they can comfortably watch the high-intensity action while enjoying halal food, and desi cuisines. Pakistan fan zones will also have designated prayer areas for fans.

READ: Jason Gillespie to depart for Australia after Pakistan-Bangladesh series

Australia will host arch-rivals England in a one-off match at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in March 2027 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Test cricket.

The birth of Test cricket took place at the same location in March 1877, with Australia and England facing off in an epic battle. The hosts emerged victorious by a 45-run margin.

A century later, in 1977, these two cricketing nations came together once again for the Centenary Test, commemorating 100 years of their historic rivalry.

Australia once again triumphed, mirroring their earlier feat by winning with a 45-run margin. These two matches remain iconic moments in the history of Test cricket.

“The 150th anniversary Test match at the MCG in March 2027 will be a wonderful celebration of the pinnacle format of the game at one of the world’s great sporting arenas and we can’t wait to host England on that occasion,” said CA CEO Nick Hockley.

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Meanwhile, Cricket Australia (CA) also announced the hosting rights for men’s international Tests, ODIs, T20Is, and other matches for the upcoming seven years, ranging from 2024-25 to 2030-31.

The iconic Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the New Year’s Test in Sydney have been guaranteed until the 2030-31 season.

Additionally, Adelaide is set to host a pre-Christmas Test for the next seven years, a result of South Australia’s successful bid for the New Year’s Test.

“We are enormously grateful for the strong support of state and territory governments and venue operators who will help us to deliver brilliant experiences across the country and maximise economic impact from these major events,” Hockley stated.

“We are delighted to confirm long-term hosting rights which provide certainty around the locations of some fantastic cricket over the next seven years.

“We are confident this schedule ensures the best cricket will be played in the best venues at the right times across the country, including a fantastic mix of iconic Test matches, new blockbusters such as the West Test and Christmas Test and exciting day-night fixtures.”

READ: South Africa surpass Pakistan in WTC standings with series win over West Indies