30 December, 2008

Ricky Ponting Cricket Australia’s (CA) National Selection Panel (NSP) today announced a 12-man squad for the third 3 Mobile Test match against South Africa at the SCG.

The squad is:

Ricky Ponting (c): TAS, 34
Michael Clarke (vc): NSW, 27
Doug Bollinger: NSW, 27
Brad Haddin: NSW, 31
Matthew Hayden: QLD, 37
Nathan Hauritz: NSW, 27
Ben Hilfenhaus: TAS, 25
Michael Hussey: WA, 33
Mitchell Johnson: WA, 27
Simon Katich: NSW, 33
Andrew McDonald: VIC, 27
Peter Siddle: VIC, 24

Commenting on the squad, NSP Chairman Andrew Hilditch said:

“Unfortunately Brett Lee, Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson have been ruled out of the next Test match through injury. Brett and Shane’s injury may keep them out of the game for a while whereas Andrew Symonds will undergo knee surgery and hopefully his absence from the team will be short-lived.

“The National Selection Panel has introduced Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus to the squad. Both are having exceptional Sheffield Shield seasons and their ability to move the ball will add depth to the bowling attack, albeit that they have big shoes to fill in those of Brett Lee.

“Andrew McDonald has been a very consistent all-rounder for Victoria for several seasons. He is in very good form and as well as batting in the top six will give us the flexibility we need with our bowling attack.


“While we are obviously disappointed to lose the series to South Africa, the reality is we have got ourselves in very good positions to win both Test matches. It must be said that South Africa has played extremely good cricket and is a very strong side.

“While it’s a challenging time for Australian cricket we have seen lots of positive signs from our young players and we are looking forward to the process of rebuilding Australian cricket.”

January 01, 2009

AUSTRALIA'S selectors have come under fire, with calls for heads to roll over the Andrew Symonds injury fiasco.

Former Test players Rodney Hogg, Darren Lehmann and John Benaud slammed the panel's handling of selections this summer.

"They are all over the place," Hogg said.

"Heads should roll (in the selection panel). They must have known Symonds was not fit in Melbourne and when he did not come on to bowl until after the 100-over mark (chairman of selectors) Andrew Hilditch must have felt like resigning.

"If Hilditch wasn't totally embarrassed by Symonds's selection in that Test match, then it's a joke. This side has not got Warne and McGrath. They need a fifth bowler."

Lehmann, president of the Australian Cricketers' Association, said Australia must ensure there is no repetition of the Symonds debacle where the all-rounder was chosen with a knee injury that will require surgery.

"That is a real issue the selectors have to get right," he said. "It just proves you have to pick people who are 100 percent fit for every Test match.

"The time has come for reality checks on which way we are going in Australian cricket regarding the selection process."

Lehmann had no issue with the retention of Matthew Hayden in the third Test side but said the 37-year-old might be best to retire from one-day cricket if he was to fulfil his goal of making the Ashes tour.

"If they want to get Matthew through to the Ashes, why don't they play him in Sheffield Shield games for the rest of the year instead of the one-dayers?" Lehmann said.

Lehmann and former Test selector Benaud, who said he would not have chosen Hayden for the Sydney Test, said Australia had made a blunder by playing defensive off-spinner Nathan Hauritz rather than the more attacking Jason Krejza.

"I can't believe they picked Hauritz in Melbourne. Why would you pick a defensive bowler in a Test you have to win? Krejza is a much better bowler, an attacking bowler. He is a ready-made international spin bowler," Benaud said.

January 02, 2009

PACE bowler Doug Bollinger has been named to make his Test debut on his home ground when Australia plays South Africa in the third Test at the SCG starting on Saturday.

All-rounder Andrew McDonald will be the other player putting on the famous baggy green cap for the first time while Tasmania quick Ben Hilfenhaus will carry the drinks for the hosts again.

Captain Ricky Ponting said Bollinger and McDonald will come in for injured pair Brett Lee and Andrew Symonds and the decision between Bollinger and Hilfenhaus came down largely to the game's location.

“That's probably a lot to do with his overall skills at the SCG,” said Ponting.

“He knows the conditions very well and will hopefully swing the new ball and late in the innings as well.”

Australia is trying to avoid its first series whitewash in over a century after the Proteas secured the series win with victories in Perth and Melbourne.

Australia
Ricky Ponting (captain), Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Andrew McDonald, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle 12th Man: Ben Hilfenhaus.

As has often been said in the past, "it is for some, more difficult to get out of the Australian side than it was to get into it in the first place". Matthew Hayden has been great and he is certainly capable of coming out and having a good innings or even two in this next Test BUT it was time for him to go. Give another batsman a "go" as part of a prudent re-building process. I know about making brave but prudent Test selections. For example, I brought Ian Redpath into my "backyard cricket" Test team long before the then Australian Test selectors gave him a chance in the early 1960s. Ronnie C next door thought I was mad but history proved me to be correct. I did, however, stick with Norm O'Neill through "thick and thin" but at least that was for good reason, I had a Norm O'Neill bat. Another example of foresight shown by me was bringing fast-medium pacer, Neil Hawke (RIP) into the Team. I liked his name. I also wasn't too proud/stubborn to borrow players from other nations. In my world, Australian citizenship was something that could be organised with a stroke of a pen. Rohan Kanhai was one my favourites. This sort of action is called "initiative". Not a lot needs to change in the Australian team to make them very competitive but an awful lot needs to change to again make them the dominant team in the world.

Australia is just suffering from not giving others a go at all when they were going through their true dominant stage, and always gining nsw guys a go over anyone else. GO SIDDLE AND MCDONALD!!

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Hilfenhaus misses out again.

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03 January, 2009

South Africa has taken the opening honours in the third Test, leaving Australia 6-267 following an absorbing first day's play at the SCG.

The hosts will start day two with Michael Clarke (73) and the clean-hitting Mitchell Johnson (17) to take up the challenge of pushing their side past 300.

Only Clarke, who made his first SCG Test half-century, offered any real resistance as four batsmen perished after reaching 30 on a pitch containing no obvious venom.

The Australian vice-captain, who was dropped on 12 and 69, has been at the crease for 235 minutes, stroking nine fours in a patient knock.

Clarke and Brad Haddin (38) put on 75 for the sixth wicket and looked to have done enough to ensure Australia would end the opening day in reasonable shape.

But the introduction of the second new ball brought about the downfall of Haddin, who played around a Dale Steyn delivery to be bowled in the shadows of stumps.

Steyn was the pick of the Proteas' bowlers, finishing with 2-71 from 21 overs.

Australia won the toss and elected to bat first under overcast skies before a healthy first-day crowd of 37,901.

The home side lost Simon Katich (47) and Ricky Ponting (0) during a tense first session.

Katich looked in good touch in racing to 47 from 52 balls before sparring at a Jacques Kallis (1-43) delivery and edging a catch to AB de Villiers at second slip.

One run later the in-form Ponting was on his way for a first-ball duck.

Morne Morkel (1-49) got a ball to seam back, catching the inside edge of the Australian skipper's bat and presenting wicket-keeper Mark Boucher with a catch to the delight of the South Africans.

Matthew Hayden, fighting to save his career, cautiously made his way to 31 before chasing a wide delivery from Steyn and dragging the ball onto his stumps.

The big Queenslander cut a dejected figure as his made his way off the ground, the big first-day crowd giving him a rousing send off in the knowledge he may have batted at international level for the last time.

Hayden's dismissal left Australia shaky at 3-109.

With the score on 130 Michael Hussey, who had fought hard to get to 30, edged Paul Harris (1-44) to Kallis at slip and was on his way back to the pavilion.

Harris wildly celebrated the wicket but appeared to twist a knee after leaping through the air in delight.

While he was off the field receiving attention, Andrew McDonald arrived at the crease for his debut innings and was immediately struck on the body by a 142km/h thunderbolt from Morkel.

He was lucky to survive beyond five after his helmet was dislodged and almost crashed back on his stumps while attempting to dodge a Morkel bouncer.


McDonald moved to 15 before he was caught behind off Makhaya Ntini (1-48), with Haddin the last man out for the day.

Australia handed debuts to McDonald and Doug Bollinger, while the buoyant Proteas went in with an unchanged line-up.

The home side, 2-0 down after defeats in Perth and Melbourne, is looking to avoid its first home series clean sweep loss in 122 years.

04 January, 2009

Nathin Hauritz South African skipper Graeme Smith was taken to hospital for x-rays on a suspected broken finger after a Michael Clarke century was negated by a fightback from the Proteas late on day two of the third 3 Mobile Test at the SCG.

In reply to Australia's challenging first innings total of 445, the visitors will enter day three 1-125 with Hashim Amla (30) and Jacques Kallis (36) to resume on a pitch showing signs of wear and tear.

Smith retired hurt on 30 after being stuck on the left hand by a Mitchell Johnson (0-27) delivery that reared nastily off a good length.

The problem centres on the knuckle area of the little finger. Smith was taken to hospital with his left hand heavily bandaged, later returning to watch the closing overs.

Also battling an elbow injury to his right arm, Smith is unlikely to take any further part in this Test.

Neil McKenzie, who laboured for nearly two hours, was the only wicket to fall in the South African innings, trapped lbw by Peter Siddle (1-21).

Clarke's ton – his first Test century on the SCG - underpinned Australia's large first innings total before a crowd of 30, 293.

His 142-run partnership with Johnson (64) swung the game Australia's way.

Resuming on 77, Clarke showed his intent from the opening ball, cracking Makhaya Ntini (1-102) through the covers for four.

He brought up his 10th Test century with a quick single before sprinting towards the members' stand with arms raised in triumph, seemingly oblivious that there was a third umpire's decision pending.

Clarke, who was dropped on 12 and 69, survived the close call and went to lunch with hopes of reaching 150.

But in his opening over Duminy enticed a return catch from the Australian vice-captain, who left his home ground to a standing ovation.

Clarke's purposeful knock – a mix of exquisite drives, intelligent running and rigid defence – contained 17 fours in a 373-minute stint at the crease.


Johnson, who was put down by Kallis on 18, clubbed 11 boundaries en route to his best score at Test level before being snapped up at first slip by Smith off Dale Steyn (3-95).

Siddle (23) and Nathan Hauritz (41) kept the momentum going, the former cracking seven fours in a rousing hand before his appreciative home crowd.

Hauritz was last man out – caught by Duminy off the bowling of Paul Harris (3-84) – just before tea.

Whoo! Peter Siddle only wicket of the day for Aus.

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05 January, 2009

A maiden five-wicket haul to paceman Peter Siddle has seen Australia finish day three of the third 3 Mobile Test on top despite the best efforts of Mark Boucher who rescued the South African innings with a well-made 89.

Siddle, who finished with the impressive figures of 5-59, took just 22 deliveries to capture the final four wickets and restrict the Proteas to 327.

Boucher arrived at the crease with the Proteas in trouble at 4-166 but put his head down to grind out a patient 265 minute innings before Siddle sent his stumps sprawling to secure his first Test five-for.

The veteran Proteas gloveman shared in a 115-run partnership with Morne Morkel (40) to frustrate the home side before the Victorian changed the course of the match with his inspired spell.

Having captured Morkel, Siddle removed Paul Harris (two) and Dale Steyn (six) in quick succession before capturing the free-swinging Boucher.

Australian openers Matthew Hayden (18) and Simon Katich (9) survived a nervous six-over period before stumps progressing to 0-33 - a lead of 151.

JP Duminy (11) was the only batsmen out in the middle session, given out lbw after playing back and being caught on the crease by Mitchell Johnson (2-69).

While Morkel rode his luck – playing and missing at a number of deliveries – Boucher also enjoyed some good fortune.


On 27 he played a ball from Nathan Hauritz (0-68) onto his stumps only for the bails to stay rigid in their grooves.

Lion-hearted paceman Doug Bollinger (0-78) bowled without luck in search of his first Test wicket, having strong lbw appeals against Duminy and Morkel turned down by umpire Billy Bowden.

Before lunch Mitchell Johnson struck with the ball and in the field to leave South Africa in trouble.

Johnson shifted dangerman Jacques Kallis (37), caught at first slip by Hayden, then ran out AB de Villiers (11) with a brilliant piece of fielding.

Debutant Andrew McDonald (1-41 from 22 overs) chipped in with his first Test wicket – removing Hashim Amla (51) lbw – as the Proteas' strong overnight position (1-125) quickly eroded.

The first session yielded just 51 runs for the loss of three wickets.

Kallis added one to his overnight tally before driving at Johnson and edging a comfortable catch to Hayden.

Amla passed the half-century mark but was then involved in an unnecessary run out with de Villiers.

Pushing a quick single to Johnson at mid on, Amla called for a run but watched in horror as de Villiers moved slowly out of his crease and was beaten by a direct hit at the keeper's end.

McDonald, who had done an excellent job strangling the South African top order, then trapped Amla with one that nipped back to leave the Proteas in a deep hole at 4-166 before Boucher and Morkel combined.

South African skipper Graeme Smith is unlikely to play any further part in the match after suffering a hand injury on day two.