Cricket Tournaments

Australia have been doing it hard this summer and Ricky Ponting, their best batsman and skipper has failed to come to terms with the English bowlers. His underperformance has hurt Australia in a big way. A lot has been said about the Australian bowling but the batting has been one of the major concerns too. The middle order with the exception of Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin has been vulnerable to say the least. Ricky Ponting got a decent half century in the 2nd innings of the gabba test. The problem with Ponting does not seem to be that of form but he seems to be missing the luck factor that Hussey had when the first ball he faced of the Ashes 2010 fell short of slip.

Nevertheless, a player of Ricky Ponting’s stature cannot blame luck for the lack of runs. So far, so good for Australia with both Hussey and Haddin providing consistent performances in the middle order. Perhaps, the pressure of captaining an inexperienced side facing losses, something that Ricky himself never saw before is having its toll on the great man. A loss in the Ashes could mean Ponting could be the first Australian captain to lose the Ashes thrice.

But obviously, having said this, Australia seem to have got out of jail, as Mitchell Johnson, another of Australia’s struggling bowlers getting into the perth test ripped through the heart of the English batting order. Johnson got the in swinger going, reminiscent of perth 2008 where he got 8 for 61 including a spell of 5 for 2.

Either way Johnson’s performance has given Ponting another lease of life. Australia played the cricket we come to expect of them in the back end of the test. Fortunately, for them, they have got the momentum going for them.

If Ricky Ponting has to be replaced as captain the Australians must reconsider long standing vice captain Michael Clarke. The English have managed to get the better of him thus far. Shane Watson might be an option but the hard hitting all rounder may lack the temperament for captaincy. Watson has come a long way as player ever since he took over as opener in the 2009 version of the Ashes. Having said this, Australian board would not want to pressurize the Watto who already has his all round duties and more importantly fitness to worry about.

The only option remaining would be a stop gap captain in Bradley Haddin. Not only is Haddin playing his best cricket but also he has had the experience of captaining his state side, something which Watson lacks. Haddin also has the respect of his players and opponents. Looking at it, a stop gap captain would be better for Australia rather than taking a chance with an inexperienced skipper.

However, all this only comes into the fray if Australia lose the Ashes. The Australian cricket team still need Ricky Ponting the batsman. The last thing they could ill afford is to lose Ponting the player, they still need him for another couple of years to guide the younger players before he decides to call it a day. Nevertheless, 2 crucial tests still remain before this is decided and every Australian member would have nothing on their mind but the tests to come.

After a drubbing at the Adelaide Oval, the action moved to the WACA, Perth with the Australians staring at a series defeat. A loss to England would mean that Australia would slip to the 6th position on the ICC rankings, their lowest since the system came into reckoning and more importantly Ricky Ponting’s 3rd loss as Australian Captain, the most in the history of the urn.

The stakes were high, the Australian fans just hoped their home team could draw the series, winning being far from their thoughts. After an innings defeat, the Australians had to bounce back and well to create any sort of impact. A lot of chaos was seen around the Australian side, changes, uncapped spinner into the ranks, a sight all to common but usually in the English dressing room. However, times have changed. The once laudable bench strength is hard to see across the country.
Nevertheless, the changes were rung in, Johnson, Hilfenhaus and uncapped spinner in Michael beer were called up. Bollinger, North and Doherty were given the axe after some toothless performances in the 2nd test.
Australia decided to go in with the 4 fast bowlers with Steven Smith at number 6 filling in for North and as the spinner’s role.
All the talks about the old WACA wicket eventually came true. The pitch on the day before the test looked very similar to that of the square. It was green, outfield like. Perhaps, that is the reason why the Australians decided to keep young Michael Beer out of the fray. Although the pitch would favour the tall English seamers, a green wicket was also Australia’s best chance of leveling the series and so it was!
Having won the toss, Andrew Strauss took the decision of bowling in the hope of getting a few early wickets on a lively pitch.

The two forceful changes for both sides were Philip Hughes coming in for the injured Simon Katich and Chris Tremlett coming in for Stuart Broad who was ruled out of the series with an abdominal strain. Both series debutants were in the thick of things right from the word go as Hughes was the first to go bowled of tremlett in an attempt to flick across the line. Australian skipper Ponting looked pretty good in his brief stay of 12 before he pushed at one outside the off stump of Anderson with Collingwood collecting a beauty at 2nd slip. Michael Clarke was next to go caught Prior and the Australians once again found themselves reeling at 28-3. Just when one thought it could not get worse for Australia, it did, watson was caught in front of the wicket of Finn. Hussey and Steven Smith strung something together as they tottered to lunch with 4 back in the hut and not much on the board.
The English struck back immediately after lunch and all of a sudden it was back to Hussey and Haddin to do the job and so they did. The duo continued their good form and put together a 68 run partnership. Haddin’s coming of age and Hussey’s resurgence to form has come at the right time for Australia. However, they could not pull off a gabba once again and hussey was dismissed by Swann of Prior.
Mitchell Johnson who made a return to the national team after being dropped at the Adelaide Oval walked in with the crowd backing him. Johnson really needed to make some runs to get his confidence going. Fortunately for Australia, he did. Haddin and Johnson went into one day mode and flayed away all around the wickets. They put on 52 runs before Haddin went for one shot too many and perished to a brilliant catch of Swann. Mitchell Johnson continued to swing and got some quick runs with the tail before Steven Finn did for him. The last wicket pair added an invaluable 35 runs in quick time taking the total to 268. Once again it was Hussey and Haddin who resurrected the innings. Johnson played his part too with a fluent 62. Australia may feel they are unable to get the 20 wickets to win a test match, well, th fact of the matter is their top order needs to score too for them to win a test.
The English bowlers were comprehensive once again with all four of them chipping in with the wickets. Anderson was the pick of the bowlers, Tremlett was pretty impressive too in his come back test.
A lot going right for the English.
The batsmen needed to survive a tricky hour or so before the end of day one and so they did; ending up on 29 for no loss.

Australia came to the ground next day knowing that, it was the biggest moment of the Ashes. If Australia had to claw a comeback into the series, that was the day, that was the time. But nothing seem to have changed as Australia failed to grab on to another chance. Strauss edged one of harris and the ball flew between keeper and first slip, none of them even moving a tad. Australia thought to themselves, they had let it go.
England cruised along to 78 for no loss before Ponting handed the ball to Mitchell Johnson. The left armer continued his good form at the WACA as he, in retrospect, bowled one of the most inspiring spell of the 2010 Ashes. Johnson got his in swing (to the right hander) going which made him the bowler that he is known to be.
The left armer bounced back in style as he got rid of the in form Alastair Cook with one that just left the south paw and was sniffled by Michael Hussey who took a brilliant low catch at gully. Australia were on the board.

Jonathan Trott was next to go as he was trapped right in front in an attempt to work one across the line. Mitch got the shape back into the right hander and sent Australia’s two biggest worries back to the pavillion without much damage (in comparison to the first two tests of the series). Flamboyant Kevin Pietersen walked in with a hundred behind him and confidence pumping. Johnson got it spot on immediately and the English had a mini collapse, Johnson was really living up to his WACA reputation and soon the wickets kept falling as the Australians started dominating proceedings. Strauss was given no second chance after the morning blip and was collected neatly by Haddin of Harris. Paul Collingwood was the next of Johnson’s 6 victims and was again done in by the late movement at high speed. The Australians were back at their best and ruling the roost with the English reeling at 98 for 5. Bell, Prior and Swann put together a bit of a resistance before the Australian bowlers did for them. Siddle started his barrage of bouncers to Prior who had the ball go of his arm onto the stumps. Siddle did not hold anything back and gave Prior a mouth full which lead to the English wicket keeper asking his counterpart to meet him outside the ground. The incident was played down as a string of events followed soon after as the Poms were bundled out for a poultry 187. Johnson ended up with 6 for 38 with Ryan Harris being the other major contributor with 3 wickets. The Australians had got their tail up with a very valuable lead of 81.
The Australians came into bat and were in trouble immediately as Hughes was set up by Steven Finn and fell to a catch at third slip, gleefully accepted by Collingwood. Ricky Ponting’s dreadful Ashes campaign seemed to continue as the Australian captain gloved one down the leg side of Steven Finn. Michael Clarke looked in a bit of a hurry in his brief stay at the wicket before Chris Tremlett accounted for him. All of a sudden, the Australians were 3 down with not much on the board and the English could sniff a chance but once again to their undoing was their series nemesis, Mr. Cricket, Michael Hussey.
Watson and Hussey flayed away all around the wicket as the duo joined forces together in a 113 run stand for the 4th wicket. This partnership took the match away from the English and the Australians were once again back in the driver’s seat. Shane Watson look flawless in his innings and one thought he was en route to his 3rd test match hundred but that was not to be as the blonde bombshell from Queensland had departed once again after making a 50. Watson is probably the worst as far as conversion rate is concerned or is soon getting there. Tremlett got one to jag back in to trap Watto in front of the 3 pegs. Watson in despair decided to refer it but the decision would stay and he had to go after a well made 95. Hussey stayed on and along with Ashes debutant, Steven Smith put together a quick few runs before he did a Ponting and was caught down the leg side. Unlike the Australian first innings, the lower order did not have much to say this time around the last 5 failed to reach double figures. The Aussies had bit of a mini collapse but that would not hurt them as Michael Hussey had done the damage with another brilliant hundred.

The Australians finally folded for 309 with a lead of 81 runs, basically implying that England needed 391 to win on a track which still had some pace and bounce in it. Chris Tremlett was the pick of England’s bowlers. He ended up with impressive figures in his comeback trail of 5 for 87. It was up to the English batsman now to pull off something extraordinary and seal the deal as far as the series is concerned. It was not impossible with 2 days to go but was going to be an uphill task with a fiery Australian attack and some aid with the conditions being in their favour.

The Poms had 11 sessions to make their runs and sometimes that could work against you as batsman tend to go into their shell instead of playing their natural game and that is what seemed to happen with England. The Aussies hit the ground running and drew first blood almost immediately with Ryan Harris getting on to straighten, cook missed and was trapped plum in front of the wicket. From then on in the English wickets fell like nine pins. There was no substantial partnership and the Australian bowlers rattled the English. This time round it was Johnson who played second fiddle and Ryan Harris assumed the strike bowler’s role. He snuck out 6 of the 10 wickets to fall and dominated proceedings to come. The English ended their day with the score board reading 78 for 5. The last ball of the day summed up the entire test match as Collingwood fished at one outside the off stump of Harris and was caught at slip by Steven Smith.

Australia made quick work of the English next morning, wrapping up the lower middle order under 50 runs. Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson lead the Australians off the field and rightly so. It was Mitchell Johnson who bagged the man of the match award. He bowled one of the best spells bowled in Ashes history on the 2nd afternoon more so after a horrid time of it and being dropped for the first time in his career. Johnson also chipped in with the bat at the tail end of the first innings with a useful 60 odd, which helped the Australians reach a respectable albeit modest total of 268. In retrospect, the Australians still found themselves reeling when the English had reached 78 for no loss. It was Mitch Johnson who was the perpetuator and he changed the course of the match.
In the skippers words, his spell was the defining moment of the Ashes and could change things to come in the next two tests. However, one must not forget that Australia still have things to worry about. Harris and Johnson are not going to get another Perth like wicket and the freemantle breeze would be missing too. The dry, slow surface at the MCG would aid Graeme Swann’s off spin. Australia may not be able to go in with the same attack with Smith playing as the spinner. But again one would not one to change a winning combination. Australia’s batting with the exception of Watson, Hussey and Haddin has left a lot to be desired. The rest must find their feet soon enough as it would be highly unlikely that a single man would drive the series in Australia’s favour.

Having said this, the momentum is with the Australians and the English have worries of their own, they find themselves carrying Paul Collingwood.

What one can be sure of is, the standard of cricket will just rise and as a neutral this sure is what Test cricket is loved for.

After a dull draw at Brisbane, the pressure on both England and Australia intensified as a win becomes a must at Adelaide to gain bragging rights for the remainder of the Ashes. Brisbane ultimately saw the psychological advantage go in England’s way as they scored a huge 517/1 in the second innings to achieve a draw, after a first innings deficit of 235 runs. On the other hand, Australia for the first time perhaps in a home series was under the pump because of a poor second innings bowling performance from all the bowlers and also Ricky Ponting’s captaincy is under scrutiny. The hype built on Adelaide seemed to be greater than that of Brisbane, as Andrew Strauss and Ricky Ponting walked out for the toss as 30,000 fans at the Adelaide Oval were rallying behind their teams. Ponting won the toss and elected to bat on another batting-friendly surface.
However, right from the first over, Australia succumbed to the pressure built on them. Simon Katich was run out of the fourth ball of the Australian innings in a horrible mix-up with Shane Watson. And worse he didn’t face a single ball. And then Ponting couldn’t have asked for a worse innings on his 150th Test. He was out first ball, edging an outswinging delivery to a waiting Graeme Swann at second slip. James Anderson and England were on a roll. England’s morning even got better when the Australian vice-captain, Michael Clarke was out in a similar fashion as Ponting for a mere score of 2 as Australia was reduced to 2/3 in 2.1 overs. Yet, Shane Watson was at the other end even as Michael Hussey walked into the crease.
Watson was unfazed by a bad start as he went on to score a dominant half-century which included 7 fours and a huge six of Swann. However, he proved to Anderson’s third wicket as his dismissal meant that Australia were reduced to 96/4. The next batsman was Marcus North, who many felt is surviving in the team due to his bowling than batting, and should not be playing. North was finding his touch until Graeme Swann dismissed him for 26. It was Brad Haddin who was the next man in, and he and Hussey needed to once again save Australia, just like how they did at the Gabba.
Hussey kept fighting even as wickets were falling. He was certainly back in the business with a well-deserved 93 after the superb 195 in the previous Test. It seemed like he was going to bail Australia out of a precarious situation yet again, until Swann, the world’s No.2 Test bowler made Hussey lose his concentration as he drove a fullish ball spinning outside off-stump to second slip to Collingwood, who doesn’t miss many catches. Swann struck again as Ryan Harris was given out lbw first ball controversially. It was 207/7, when Xavier Doherty joined Haddin at the crease. Brad Haddin proved his mettle yet again with a half-century. Despite this innings, England were able to bowl out Australia for 245 as Australia’s lower order didn’t trouble the scorers much. James Anderson was the star with 4 wickets in the end, and Swann got 2 wickets as well which is good considering that he had a bad game at Brisbane. Steven Finn and Stuart Broad got a wicket each. At the end of the day, England ended at 1/0 after 1 over with Strauss walking off the pitch as a happier man than his counterpart, Ricky Ponting who has a fair amount of contemplating to do if he has to ensure an Australian fightback on the second days play.

The Chappel-Hadlee series between the Trans-Tasman rivals has invariably produced thrilling cricket. And if the opening ODI at Napier was anything to go by, there is another humdinger of a series in store. The game on Wednesday went down to the wire, with a gritty lower-order effort by all-rounder Scott Styris making a difference in a rather tense atmosphere. The fact that the usually reticent Mitchell Johnson got into mortal kombat mode to take on Styris is ample evidence of what this series means to the Australians. But, they will need to do better than that to square the series at Eden Park, Auckland.

Although the visitors ended up on the losing side in the opener, there really wasn’t too much to choose between the two teams. And hence, all they must look to do is put up an improved batting as well as bowling performance, with the latter being more important. Luckily, they do not have any injury worries at the present moment.

Openers Shane Watson and Brad Haddin are in supreme form while the skipper himself can be expected to perform to keep his side in the hunt in this prestigious rivalry. The Aussie middle-order is as strong as any in the world today, with the classy Michael Clarke and suave Michael Hussey ably backed by the big hitting of Cameron White and James Hopes. What’s more, all of them have been among the runs lately, scoring heavily at that.

The Australian bowling suffered at the hands of Ross Taylor and co in Napier, but expect them to fight back strongly at Auckland. Mitchell Johnson won’t get a warm reception at the venue following his run-in with Styris. However, he shouldn’t mind it if crucial wickets come his way. Ryan Harris will find it difficult to repeat his heroics against Pakistan, but even if he is half as effective, the Aussies will be benefited amply. Doug Bollinger and Clint McKay have impressed more often than not whenever given the responsibility and whoever plays at Auckland will be expected to do the same. Ditto with Nathan Hauritz, who is slowly settling into his job as the side’s frontline spinner.

Unlike the Aussies, the Kiwis have a few injury worries, which will give them headaches despite the 1-0 lead, none more troublesome than the painful neck of their effervescent skipper Daniel Vettori. If the left-arm spinner doesn’t play, it would mean than Taylor will have to continue leading the team. And although, he did an admirable job in the opening encounter, the home side would want Vettori to be back as soon as possible, considering he has an impressive record against the number one ODI side in the world.

All-rounder Jacob Oram is another one on the hurt list. A tear of the patella tendon has ruled him out for one month which means additional responsibility on the seniors like Brendon McCullum and Taylor. Among the bowlers, spearhead Shane Bond will have to stand up and be counted once again.
The small ground means another high-scoring game is on the cards, but it should be a tight contest nonetheless.

Paul Collingwood’s magnificent 74 gave England a hard hard fought draw. 20/2 going into the final day, England needed to bat out the day. With one session to go, England only had three wickets left, and when Collingwood fell with 11.3 overs remaining, it was left to James Anderson and Monty Panesar to save the game. Australia – gutted with the draw in a game that they dominated from start to finish.

England started the day needing to attack. Captain Andrew Strauss dropping a quick single into the covers showing their intent.

Kevin Pietersen was nearly caught out by Ben Hilfenhaus delivery, choosing to leave alone a fairly straight delivery that nipped back in. Fortunately enough for England the ball wasn’t going on to hit the stumps.

He wasn’t out of the action for long, Hilfenhaus again, driving a ball in the air through the covers. But the following delivery knocked Pietersen’s off stump out of the ground, it was merely a straight ball – Pietersen squared up, falling for 8.

Spinner Nathan Hauritz found sizeable turn on the 5th day pitch. A short wide ball got the treatment from Andrew Strauss, but the following ball – a ball that bounced a fraction higher than the previous delivery – Strauss getting a thin snick to keeper Brad Haddin – Australia were rapturous – England in ever-deepening trouble at 46/4.

Hauritz was causing England all sorts of problems. Paul Collingwood had an inside edge onto his pad, the ball popped up – but fell just short of Simon Katich in at short leg. The following delivery Collingwood edged one down, after clipping his pads the ball rolled towards the stumps, the batsman got his foot on top of the ball just before it hit.

Prior and Collingwood stood together for a while, but the stand was unlikely to last – and it didn’t. Prior miss cutting Hauritz – the ball looping up – Michael Clarke taking the catch in the slips. England starring defeat in the face at 70/5.

Ricky Ponting chose to open up after lunch with two seamers. Ben Hilfenhaus was getting the ball two swing just a fraction, Flintoff was flashing, and a edge flew past 2nd slip for 4. Flintoff and Collingwood’s 50 partnership came up off 111 balls, still a long way to go.

And a long way to go it was, Flintoff edging Mitchell Johnson to Ricky Ponting, who took the ball into his hands just before it hit the ground.

Johnson had Broad in trouble straight away, a full-ish ball hit Broad in front of leg stump – the umpire gave it not out – Hawkeye suggested the ball would have hit the outside half of leg stump.

Australia reverted to spin, Hauritz and Marcus North as England battened down the hatches. Broad’s obduracy didn’t last for long, Hauritz angling the ball back in, Broad went back – the ball skidded on and struck him on the knee roll in front of middle stump England were 159/7. Broad showing the mistake of going back to a spinner on this surface.

Collingwood bought up his half century in 167 balls. Peter Siddle got into the new batsman striking him three times on the fingers and arms in a fantastic exhibition of short pitch bowling.

The short stuff from Siddle to Swann continued after the tea interval, the Australian hitting the England spinner on the helmet – the ball running away for two leg byes.

England ground the Australians down, Swann and Collingwood passing their 50 partnership. With 20 overs left in the match – England were 24 runs behind.

With 19 overs to go, Swann went to put a ball that didn’t bounce as much as he was anticipating, pinned in front by Hilfenhaus, for a well fought 31 from 63.

Hauritz then had a shout for LBW/Caught. Ricky Ponting to a superb catch in a short leg, but agonisingly for Australia – the LBW was outside the line – and the ball didn’t hit the bat.

In the following over, Anderson got one that reared on him, there was hesitation, Collingwood got a third of the way down the pitch, Anderson – rightly – sent him back, Collingwood would have been gone with a direct hit.

Siddle finally removed Collingwood – cut the ball at Michael Hussey in the gully, juggling the ball – Hussey took it at the second attempt – 74 runs from 245 deliveries – England 6 runs behind, 1 wicket left with 11.3 overs remaining.

It was left to Anderson and Monty Panesar. And in a nail-biting finish for everyone, the two ball-by-ball batted out the time. Got ahead of the Australia score, and when the time was up Ricky Ponting shook hands with Jimmy Anderson and the game was drawn. The fans rejoiced, England had save the game.

Australian continued their dominance on day 4 of the first Ashes test in Cardiff. Building on their 44 run lead, Marcus North and Brad Haddin both hit centuries.

England were sloppy, poor fielding was opitimised when Alastair Cook threw a ball in from the boundary, there was a very good chance of running out Haddin at the bowlers end, despite plenty of time, Anderson was not stationed by the stumps, and the opportunity was missed.

After lunch Haddin broke loose, the Australians looking for quick runs in time for a declaration. Also in mind was the weather, which was in danger of curtailing the fourth days play.

Haddin eventually cracked on to Ravi Bopara at deep mid wicket, and with that he departed for 121, Ricky Ponting declared on 674 – a lead of 239, with Marcus North not out for 125.

England returned to a grim scene – not only their position in the game, the clouds were looming, and the floodlights were on. They were tentative to start, after hooking him for four, Alastair Cook played across the line of a straight ball, and Mitchell Johnson had his man – England were 13/1.

The lights were on, but unfortunately for England – there was no-one at home. Ravi Bopara was unfortunate to be given out LBW, off the ground, the ball struck him well above the knee roll. Billy Doctrove didn’t agree, Ben Hilfenhaus had his wicket and England were starring down the barrell at 17/2. With a hint of rain, and the floodlights doing their bit to keep the players out there on a grim afternoon, England headed in for tea at 20/2.

And that ultimately – was that. The day was called off for the day. The weather seems much better for tomorrow, and England have their work cut-out. They still trial by 219 runs, and with nothing to play for – other than the draw – they must be moderately attacking and avoid the awful performance in Adelaide where they scored 60 runs in two sessions when trying to bat out for the draw.