Tag: australia

The forthcoming ODI series between Pakistan and Australia, scheduled to commence in March 2026, may be postponed, according to local media reports.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Cricket Australia (CA) are reportedly in discussions to revise the itinerary, with the white-ball matches now likely to take place after the conclusion of PSL Season 11, rather than in March as initially planned.

The series had been listed on the Future Tours Programme for 13–19 March, but reports suggest a shift is under consideration.

Meanwhile, Australia is still confirmed to tour Pakistan earlier in the year for a three-match T20I series, scheduled from 30 January to 5 February, ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

In a press conference held online on 3 June, Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg expressed confidence about the tour’s future, emphasising the importance of Pakistan in Australia’s cricket calendar.

“I believe it will be another good tour of Pakistan. The series against Pakistan is an important part of our schedule. There has been good communication between Pakistan and Australia regarding both red-ball and white-ball series,” Greenberg said.

He continued, underscoring the value of bilateral cricket in Pakistan:

“We need to look for more opportunities for series, which we will definitely do. We would like to play a series in Pakistan.

In 2022, we toured Pakistan after a long gap, and the tour was very successful. The Australian team received a warm welcome. It would be great if such series continue to happen.”

For the unversed, the last time Pakistan toured Australia was in November 2024, when the two sides clashed in a white-ball series.

Under Mohammad Rizwan’s leadership, Pakistan secured a landmark 2–1 ODI series win, their first in Australia since 2002. However, Australia struck back in the subsequent T20I leg, winning 3–0.

READ: Saim Ayub reaches T20I milestone against Sri Lanka

Captain Ben Stokes admitted Saturday he was “shell-shocked” at a crushing loss to Australia in the first Ashes Test but told his England team they must move on fast for the next clash in Brisbane.

The tourists had a golden opportunity to win a Test in Australia for the first time in 15 years, but they blew it inside two days at Perth Stadium.

After crumbling under a bowling onslaught from Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland, their hyped pace attack had no answer to a rampant Travis Head, who thrashed an incredible 123 to seal victory by eight wickets.

“Little bit shell-shocked, it was pretty phenomenal from Head,” Stokes said. “It’s pretty raw, pretty emotional, but that was some knock.

“We tried three or four different plans to get him, but when he’s going like a train he’s very hard to stop.”

Despite the demoralising loss Stokes saw some positives, particularly their first-innings bowling effort which saw Australia dismissed for 132.

“The way in which we bowled yesterday was phenomenal. A lot happened on day one, a good day for the bowlers,” he said.

“It’s a tough one as we felt we were in control. We’ll let this sink in, but we’ve got four more games.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“It’s a long time before Brisbane, we’ll go away and put in the graft.”

The day-night Brisbane Test starts on December 4.

With so many players in the squad experiencing their first Ashes, Stokes admitted he had his hands full trying to lift them.

“Yeah, I think we’ve got to let that whole two hours sort of sink in first and reflect on it properly, without the emotion that’s attached to what’s just gone on there,” he said, referring to Head’s knock.

“Obviously there’s disappointment when you come off the field being on the losing side.

“So that’s up to myself. It’s up to some of the other senior guys who have a lot of experience in big series like these, because you’ve got to let emotions like this sink in, and it has got to hurt.

“But also, you’ve then got to get rid of them as quickly as you possibly can, while also learning from it.

“Because when we get to Brisban,e we need to be back up to that mindset of how we came into this game, still very confident of our abilities and achieving the goal.

“It’s crucial about not taking any baggage from this result into Brisbane.”

READ: Travis Head smashes second-fastest century in Ashes history

PERTH: Makeshift opener Travis Head smacked an explosive 69-ball century to power Australia to victory in a high-octane first Ashes Test on Saturday as England meekly surrendered in the Perth Stadium cauldron.

Chasing 205 to win, Head slammed 123 as the hosts romped home on day two by eight wickets in an electric start to the five-match series. Marnus Labuschagne was not out 51, and Steve Smith was on two.

Head’s heroics came on the back of a blistering spell from marauding pace pair Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc after lunch that sparked a stunning England collapse.

The tourists were cruising at 65-1 and building an ominous second-innings lead, but Boland and Starc left them reeling with four wickets in as many overs.

A ruthless Boland accounted for Ben Duckett (28), Ollie Pope (33) and Harry Brook (0) in the space of 11 balls, then two deliveries later, Starc sent Joe Root packing for eight.

When Starc removed skipper Ben Stokes (2), England were flailing at 88-6 and the veteran paceman had bagged a 10-wicket haul for only the third time after his first innings 7-58, a career-best.

England were partially rescued by a crucial 50-run stand between Gus Atkinson (37) and Brydon Carse (20) before being rolled for 164 at tea.

When they returned, Usman Khawaja again failed to show as an opener as he battled back stiffness, with Australia signalling their intent by sending in Head.

Head, who has opened nine times previously in Test cricket, quickly got into his destructive rhythm, crunching some lovely boundaries, including big sixes off Carse and Mark Wood.

He made it look easy, making a mockery of the struggles other batsmen had on the bouncy track, bringing up his half-century in 36 balls, passing 4,000 Test runs in the process.

Looking to emulate him, debutant Jake Weatherald also went on the attack, but it cost him, out for 23 after a mistimed pull shot was taken by Ben Duckett off Carse.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

An unruffled Head kept the pressure on, slamming four boundaries in one Stokes over and sending a six back over the head of Jofra Archer on his way to a 10th Test ton.

He eventually fell to Carse, going for another big hit.

Australia resumed on a paltry 123-9 in their first innings and added just nine before Nathan Lyon was removed by Carse for four to leave England with a 40-run advantage.

Stokes was the star of the show, claiming 5-23 off just 36 balls to give England a golden opportunity to win a Test in Australia for the first time since the 2010-11 series.

They had all been out for 172 at the hands of Starc on day one.

Australia were banking on the 35-year-old to emulate his exploits in the second innings, and he whipped the sold-out Perth Stadium crowd into a frenzy when he removed Zak Crawley in his first over.

The veteran consigned Crawley to a pair, diving to his left in an incredible feat of athleticism for a memorable caught-and-bowled.

Duckett and Pope settled in, safely reaching lunch at 59-1. But Scott Boland began to find his radar when they returned.

Duckett edged to Steve Smith in the slips, then Pope did the same to wicketkeeper Alex Carey before Brook repeated the feat to Khawaja.

After a first innings duck, Joe Root was desperate for runs, but he was no match for the relentless Starc, dragging a thick edge onto his stumps to cap a miserable start to the series.

Brendan Doggett then cleaned up Jamie Smith (15), Carse and Archer (5).

READ: Travis Head smashes second-fastest century in Ashes history

PERTH: Nineteen wickets fell on an opening day of carnage in the first Ashes Test here on Friday, with England’s attack led by skipper Ben Stokes bowling them into a position of strength after Australia dismissed the tourists for 172.

A rampaging Mitchell Starc took 7-58 to put England on the back foot after Stokes won the toss on a fine day at a packed Perth Stadium and chose to bat.

Harry Brook (52) and Ollie Pope (46) offered the only resistance as they crumbled after lunch.

But England’s elite fast bowlers, led by an exceptional Stokes with 5-23, fought back to reduce the hosts to 123-9 at stumps, trailing by 49.

Nathan Lyon was on three with Brendan Doggett yet to score.

There was early drama in Australia’s reply when Usman Khawaja failed to open with Marnus Labuschagne, instead walking out with debutant Jake Weatherald.

In a brutal introduction to Test cricket, Weatherald went for a second-ball duck, left on the floor by a Jofra Archer bullet and given out lbw.

Labuschagne fended off 41 balls for nine before he too succumbed to the sheer speed of Archer, bowled by a fuller delivery.

And when Steve Smith fell for 17 to Brydon Carse in the next over, caught by Brook at slip, it was game on.

Khawaja, who was feeling stiff, came in at four but lasted just six balls, blown away by a Carse bouncer that took a nick to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, leaving Australia reeling at 31-4.

Cameron Green (24), Travis Head (21), Alex Carey (26) and Starc (12) all got starts, but in a reflection of the depth of England’s pace stocks, Stokes removed them when he brought himself on.

Starc bagged three wickets in an intimidating opening spell, including Joe Root for a duck, before returning to send Stokes packing in his first over after the lunch break, then mopping up.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

All five previous Tests at the Perth venue have been won by the side batting first, but England did their best to challenge that, getting off to a horror start.

Veteran strike weapon Starc delivered as he has so many times before, enticing a thick edge from Zak Crawley on his sixth ball that Khawaja did well to collect low at slip, the opener gone for nought.

Starc has now taken a wicket in the first over of an innings 24 times.

At the other end, Ben Duckett settled his nerves with a textbook drive off Scott Boland to bank the first four of the series.

But just as he was getting going, Starc pounced again, trapping him lbw for 21 to leave England tottering on 33-2.

That brought Root to the crease in his latest campaign for an elusive first century in Australia.

He only lasted seven balls, edging a seaming delivery into the safe hands of Labuschagne at third slip.

Pope survived the furnace and was composed before Green came on, and he was out lbw, leaving the visitors on 105-4 at lunch.

Brook hit Scott Boland for a six in the first over after the break before Starc again worked his magic, taking out Stokes’s stumps with an inswinger when the captain was on six.

A fearless Brook raced to his 14th Test half-century before feathering a short ball to Carey, earning Doggett his maiden Test wicket on debut.

Starc then removed Gus Atkinson cheaply to give him the 17th five-wicket haul of his career, and with Doggett, they ruthlessly cleaned up the tail.

READ: Kagiso Rabada ruled out of second India Test

Australia will field two debutants in an Ashes Test for the first time in nearly six years, with top-order batter Jake Weatherald and right-arm pacer Brendan Doggett set to receive their Baggy Green caps in the opening Test against England at Perth Stadium on November 21.

Stand-in captain Steve Smith, leading the side with Pat Cummins sidelined through injury, confirmed the selections and described the moment as “really exciting”, backing both players to make an immediate impact in one of cricket’s fiercest contests.

The last time Australia handed out two Test debuts in the same match was back in early 2019, when Kurtis Patterson and Jhye Richardson were blooded at the Gabba.

Weatherald’s call-up brings a significant shift at the top of the order. With David Warner retired and Australia still searching for long-term stability, the 31-year-old becomes Usman Khawaja’s sixth opening partner in less than two years.

His inclusion also allows Marnus Labuschagne to return to his preferred No. 3 slot, an important reshuffle considering Labuschagne’s resurgence this domestic season, where he struck five centuries in eight innings for Queensland after being dropped mid-year.

Cameron Green retains the all-rounder’s role, edging out Beau Webster, and will slot in at No. 6 behind a core middle order of Smith and Travis Head.

Smith praised Weatherald’s temperament, revealing he had deliberately watched him train in challenging conditions.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“The nets were quick, bouncy, a lot of seam,” Smith said. “He just kept wanting more. He’s got courage, he’s worked hard, and I think he’ll complement Uzzie really well.”

Doggett, meanwhile, steps in after Josh Hazlewood was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

With Cummins also unavailable as he builds back to full fitness, Australia will lean on Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Doggett to drive the pace attack.

Smith believes Doggett, long considered on the fringes after several tours without a debut, has earned his moment.

“Injuries happen, particularly with quicks,” Smith said. “But it opens doors. Brendan has improved massively over the last few years; he’s skilful, and I’m excited to see him go about his business.”

England, who drew the 2023 Ashes 2-2 at home but haven’t won a Test series in Australia since 2010–11, have named a 12-man squad and will finalise their playing XI at the toss.

Australia’s XI for the first Test: Jake Weatherald, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (capt), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett.

READ: Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim joins elite club with century in 100th Test

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.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

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

READ: Babar Azam, Rizwan shine as Pakistan stars climb ICC ODI Rankings

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.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

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.

READ: Babar Azam surpasses Shahid Afridi’s unwanted record in T20I cricket

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.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“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.”

READ: Mohammad Rizwan achieves major career landmark in third Sri Lanka ODI

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.”

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

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.

READ: Jannik Sinner cruises past Alexander Zverev to reach last four of ATP Finals

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.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

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

READ: Salman Ali Agha opens up after match-winning ton against Sri Lanka