Tag: australia

PERTH: The England team management on Wednesday named a 12-member squad for the first Test of the Ashes against Australia, scheduled to be played here from 21 November.

Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was named in the squad alongside four frontline pace bowlers, keeping their options open for the first Ashes Test.

There was no room for speedster Josh Tongue, with Brydon Carse preferred, while Ollie Pope kept his place at number three ahead of Jacob Bethell.

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Veteran pace ace Mark Wood unleashed a fiery spell in the nets on Tuesday after an injury scare last week to prove his fitness. But selectors are likely waiting until the last minute to make a call on whether he plays.

If England opt for an all-out pace attack on what is expected to be a lively wicket, he will line up alongside Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Carse, all of whom are capable of reaching 90mph.

Not since a bowling line-up led by John Snow and Bob Willis helped England to a 1970-71 series win have they had such an array of genuine quicks in Australia.

England squad  for first Ashes Test: Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Mark Wood

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Former Australia captain and ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting has revealed his ideal playing XI for the opening Ashes Test against England, offering a glimpse of how he would navigate a team riddled with injuries.

Speaking on The ICC Review with Sanjana Ganesan, Ponting backed Jake Weatherald for a Test debut at the top of the order and suggested Brendan Doggett as a key reinforcement to Australia’s depleted pace attack.

The visitors face a major blow with Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins ruled out of the Perth Test, while back-up pacer Sean Abbott is also unavailable.

Ponting’s XI reflects a reshuffled bowling unit and fresh batting options to mitigate the impact of these absences.

Ponting’s proposed lineup features Jake Weatherald and Usman Khawaja as openers, Marnus Labuschagne at three, Steve Smith at four, Travis Head at five, Cameron Green at six, Alex Carey at seven, followed by Scott Boland, Mitchell Starc, Brendan Doggett, and Nathan Lyon.

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He praised Weatherald’s recent domestic form, stating: “He’s done absolutely everything asked of him over the last month, scoring runs consistently and making a strong case for that No.3 spot.”

Ponting also highlighted Cameron Green’s all-round capabilities, noting that under normal circumstances, he could comfortably bowl eight to twelve overs per innings.

The former captain acknowledged the shifting selection landscape caused by Hazlewood’s hamstring injury, saying: “If you had asked me a week ago, my views might have been different. Now, with Doggett and Neser added, options have expanded.”

He also suggested Beau Webster could be considered to bolster all-around depth after an impressive Sheffield Shield showing for Tasmania.

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Australian Paralympics gold medal-winning cyclist Paige Greco has died aged 28 after a “sudden medical episode”, her family said Monday.

Greco smashed her own world record in storming to victory in the women’s C1-C3 class 3,000m individual pursuit at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

She went on to add bronze in the C1–3 road race and time trial, cementing her status as a top competitor across both track and road.

Greco died on Sunday at her Adelaide home.

“While we are devastated by her loss, we are incredibly proud of the person she was and the way she represented Australia,” her mother Natalie Greco said in a statement released through AusCycling.

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“Paige cherished the connections she made through her sport, and we take comfort in knowing how widely she was loved.”

Greco also claimed multiple world championship titles, most recently earning bronze in the 2025 world championship road race at Belgium in August.

“Paige was an extraordinary athlete who achieved outstanding accomplishments at the highest levels of our sport,” said AusCycling chief executive Marne Fechner.

“Much more than that, she touched the lives of everyone around her with her positive spirit and courageous outlook.”

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PERTH: England have been dealt a potential blow ahead of the first Test of the Ashes 2025, with fast bowler Mark Wood experiencing stiffness in his left hamstring during their only warm-up match in Perth.

Wood, returning to competitive action for the first time in nine months following left knee surgery, bowled two four-over spells against the Australia A Lions at Lilac Hill.

He was forced off the field midway through the second session after completing his second spell, raising concerns over his fitness ahead of the series opener at Optus Stadium on November 21.

“The plan for Mark Wood was for him to bowl eight overs today,” the ECB said in a statement.

“He has some stiffness in his hamstring, which kept him off the field for part of the second session of day one.

“He will undergo a precautionary scan tomorrow. He is expected to bowl again in two days’ time. It is unlikely he will return to the field today.”

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Despite the setback, Wood showed glimpses of his pace and bounce on a relatively slow pitch, although conditions in the warm-up clash were expected to differ significantly from the faster, bouncier surfaces likely for the first Test.

England fielded an all-pace attack against the Lions, with off-spinner Shoaib Bashir not featuring in the main XI.

Captain Ben Stokes led the bowling effort, claiming four of the five wickets to fall before tea, marking his first competitive outing since late July.

The news comes amid a flurry of injury updates in the Australian camp. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was cleared of a hamstring issue, while Sean Abbott was withdrawn after scans revealed a moderate strain in his left hamstring.

The upcoming Ashes series, set to begin in Perth, sees Australia historically dominant, having won 140 of 340 Tests against England, who have claimed 108 victories.

In terms of series wins, Australia lead 34 to 32, adding extra weight to England’s injury concerns as they prepare to challenge the hosts on home soil.

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Australia suffered a double injury scare on Wednesday ahead of the first Ashes Test against England, with pacemen Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott both undergoing assessments, reportedly for hamstring issues.

Test spearhead Hazlewood and reserve quick Abbott both left the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) during New South Wales’s Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria.

Media reports said they were being assessed for hamstring niggles, although neither Cricket Australia nor Cricket NSW confirmed the specifics of the injury concerns.

Australia are already without injured captain Pat Cummins for at least the opening Test in Perth next week, and losing Hazlewood would be a serious blow.

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Scott Boland is set to replace Cummins in the attack, which also contains left-armer Mitchell Starc.

Abbott, who took 4-18 against Victoria before leaving the field, was named in Australia’s 15-man squad for Perth as a replacement quick, with uncapped Brendon Doggett the other pace option.

Following Perth, the five-Test series moves to Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

England drew 2-2 on home turf in the most recent Ashes series in 2023, but have not won in Australia since 2010-2011.

Australia squad for first Ashes Test

Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster

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BRISBANE: India claimed a 2-1 win in the five-match T20I series against Australia after the final match was abandoned due to rain after just 4.5 overs here on Saturday.

After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, India’s openers Abhishek Sharma (23) and Shubman Gill (29) took the score to 52 for no loss before a thunderstorm forced the players from the field.

The torrential rain continued unabated, drenching the field in relentless sheets of water.

After much deliberation, the umpires finally made the tough call that no further play was possible, as the downpour rendered the pitch an unplayable quagmire.

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It was the second match of the series to be ruined by rain, following a washout in Canberra on October 29.

On Thursday, India defeated Australia by 48 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the series after posting 167-8 while batting first.

Shubman Gill played a crucial role with a solid contribution of 46 runs, while Abhishek Sharma and Shivam Dube added useful scores of 28 and 22 runs, respectively.

India’s bowlers then took centre stage, bundling Australia out for 119, with off-spinner Washington Sundar taking 3-3 in just eight balls to finish off the match.

READ: ‘Ice Broken’: Mohsin Naqvi, BCCI hold informal talks over Asia Cup trophy row

Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Irfan Jr has been suspended for five matches after being found guilty of ball tampering during a Victoria Premier Cricket fixture in Australia.

According to Australian media reports, match officials accused Irfan of deliberately altering the condition of the ball during a recent match.

Following an inquiry, a disciplinary tribunal upheld the umpires’ charge, confirming the sanction against the 6’6” right-arm pacer.

Irfan Jr, who relocated to Australia a few years ago, currently represents local clubs in domestic competitions.

Before moving abroad, he featured regularly in Pakistan’s domestic circuit and played for multiple franchises in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

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The pacer made headlines in 2020 when he announced his decision to quit cricket in Pakistan at the age of 25, after being overlooked for Southern Punjab’s First XI selection.

Despite having participated in three PSL seasons for as many teams, Irfan was offered only a Second XI spot, a move that prompted his departure.

In his domestic career, Irfan Jr has taken 43 wickets in 35 T20 matches at an average of 22.04, along with 80 wickets in 22 first-class games at 23.65. In List A cricket, he has 38 wickets in 28 matches.

Known for his unorthodox bowling action and kabaddi-style wicket celebrations, Irfan was once considered one of Pakistan’s most promising emerging fast bowlers.

After leaving Pakistan, Irfan signed a long-term deal with the Western Suburbs District Cricket Club (WSDCC) in Sydney, intending to continue his cricketing journey in Australia.

READ: Shaheen Afridi eyes strong comeback in series decider

India took a 2-1 lead in their T20 series against Australia with a 48-run demolition of the home side on Queensland’s Gold Coast on Thursday.

After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, India reached 167-8 thanks to a well-made 46 from Shubman Gill and useful contributions from Abhishek Sharma (28) and Shivam Dube (22).

India’s bowlers then took centre stage, bundling Australia out for 119, with off-spinner Washington Sundar taking 3-3 in just eight balls to finish off the match.

India would have gone into the innings break hoping for a bigger score than 167, but the total proved too much for the Australians, who started brightly but fell away alarmingly after reaching 67-1 in the ninth over.

The visitors will now head to Brisbane on Sunday, hoping to clinch the five-match series after the opening game in Canberra was washed out.

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India had looked like reaching an imposing score when openers Abhishek and Gill took on the Australian attack in the early overs.

The pair put on 56 off just 6.4 overs with little trouble before Abhishek, who had smashed a huge six off leg-spinner Adam Zampa two balls earlier, tried a second time only to be caught by Tim David on the long-on boundary.

Dube joined Gill and continued to score freely against Zampa, but he found the pace bowling harder to handle and was bowled by Nathan Ellis to leave India 88-2.

Ellis claimed his second when he bowled Gill with India 121-3.

Any chance of a really big score disappeared four runs later when Yadav was caught on the boundary for 20, and the rest of the batting fell away.

Australian openers Marsh (30) and Matthew Short (25) made a bright start, but India’s bowlers kept chipping away, snaring wickets at key moments to take control.

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Australia’s middle-order mainstay Travis Head has opted out of the final two T20Is against India, choosing instead to fine-tune his red-ball form ahead of the upcoming Ashes series by turning out for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield.

Head will feature in the Shield clash against Tasmania in Hobart next week, marking his first first-class appearance since Australia’s tour of the West Indies in July.

The move, largely driven by the left-hander himself, comes as he looks to regain rhythm in the longest format following a lean patch in white-ball cricket, where he’s managed a top score of just 31 in eight innings since his explosive 142 against South Africa in August.

A pillar of Australia’s Test setup, Head is expected to resume his No. 5 role, known for its counter-attacking spark in pressure situations.

Sources within Cricket Australia (CA) indicated that the decision was mutually supported, allowing Head to focus on red-ball preparation in match conditions rather than nets.

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The upcoming Sheffield Shield round now promises to be a star-studded one, with several Test regulars returning to their state sides ahead of squad selection for the England series.

Josh Hazlewood, who left the T20I squad after the second game in Melbourne, will link up with Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon for New South Wales against Victoria.

Sean Abbott will also join them after the Hobart T20I, while Steven Smith, fresh off a classy 118 against Queensland, is confirmed for his second Shield appearance this season.

Meanwhile, Victoria are set to field Scott Boland after a short rest, and Cameron Green will represent Western Australia against Queensland, expected to resume bowling for the first time since the season opener.

Marnus Labuschagne is also likely to feature, seeking valuable time in the middle before his Test return, while Matt Renshaw continues to press for an opening berth.

For Tasmania, all-rounder Beau Webster and pacer Brendan Doggett will take the field alongside Alex Carey and Head, adding further international experience to the contest.

READ: India release Kuldeep Yadav from squad ahead of remaining Australia T20Is

India’s left-arm wrist spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, has been released from the T20I squad for the remaining two matches against Australia by the team management.

The decision was made as the team management shifted focus to red-ball preparations ahead of the upcoming Test series against South Africa.

Kuldeep will now join the India A squad for the second unofficial Test against South Africa A, scheduled to begin on November 6 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

The move is part of India’s build-up for their two-Test series against the reigning World Test Championship holders, South Africa.

The first Test will be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata from November 14, followed by the second in Guwahati starting November 22.

Kuldeep Yadav, who did not feature in India’s series-levelling T20I win in Hobart, last played a Test in October 2024 against New Zealand.

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His opportunities in the longest format have been limited, though he impressed earlier this year with 12 wickets, including a five-for, during the two-Test series against the West Indies.

The spinner’s inclusion in the India A setup underlines the selectors’ intent to fine-tune red-ball specialists ahead of the marquee South Africa series.

Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant, continuing his comeback from a foot injury sustained in England, will once again lead India A. Pant struck a composed 90 in the second innings of the first four-day match, which India won by three wickets.

Other senior names in the India A squad include KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel, and Devdutt Padikkal, with Sai Sudharsan serving as vice-captain.

India A Squad for 2nd Four-Day Match: Rishabh Pant (c & wk), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Sai Sudharsan (vc), Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Kuldeep Yadav.

India Squad for 4th & 5th T20Is vs Australia: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana.

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