Australian men’s Test squad for the first NRMA Insurance Test match   The National Selection Panel (NSP) has named a 14-player men’s squad for the first NRMA Insurance Test match against Pakistan in Perth. Australia plays three Tests against Pakistan in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, followed by two Tests against the West Indies in Adelaide and Brisbane. Australia: Pat Cummins (NSW/Penrith Cricket Club) (c) Scott Boland (VIC/Frankston Peninsula Cricket Club) Alex Carey (SA/Glenelg Cricket Club) Cameron Green (WA/Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club) Josh Hazlewood (NSW/St George Cricket Club) Travis Head (SA/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club) Usman Khawaja (QLD/Valley District Cricket Club) Marnus Labuschagne (QLD/Redlands Cricket Club) Nathan Lyon (NSW/Northern District Cricket Club) Mitchell Marsh (WA/Fremantle Cricket Club) Lance Morris (WA/Scarborough Cricket Club) Steve Smith (NSW/Sutherland Cricket Club) Mitchell Starc (NSW/Manly Warringah Cricket Club) David Warner (NSW/Randwick Petersham Cricket Club) NSP men’s Chair of Selectors George Bailey said: “This group, led by Pat ...

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It would be exciting to bowl against Babar Azam, Australian cricketer Todd Murphy Australian cricketer Todd Murphy expressed his anticipation and excitement as he gears up to face Pakistan in the upcoming cricketing summer, highlighting the formidable challenges that lie ahead. “Bowling to Pakistan’s top order batters would be a challenge,” acknowledged Murphy, emphasizing the skill and prowess of Pakistan’s batsmen. Speaking specifically about Pakistan’s captain, Murphy praised Babar Azam, stating, “Babar Azam is a very good player, and Pakistan’s top order boasts players with great class. I am not sure if Babar Azam is playing against PM XI, but it would be exciting to bowl against him. It’s always great to get a chance to test yourself against a test-playing nation.” Answering to a question regarding Rickey Ponting’s recent statement about Pakistan’s bowling attack, Todd Murphy stated “Playing against Pakistan would be a huge challenge. Pakistan has a good ...

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Australia vs. Pakistan Test Series Promises Cricketing Spectacle: Insights from Sarfaraz Ahmed In the lead-up to the highly anticipated Australia vs. Pakistan Test series, former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed shared his thoughts on the upcoming cricketing extravaganza, shedding light on key players and the challenges that lie ahead. Clash of Titans: Babar Azam and Steve Smith Sarfaraz Ahmed, a seasoned campaigner himself, expressed his excitement about witnessing the clash between two modern-day batting maestros – Babar Azam and Steve Smith. Describing them as “top class batters,” Ahmed remarked that the series would be a treat for young cricketers and fans alike. The prospect of these two stars going head-to-head adds an extra layer of anticipation to the series. Shaheen Afridi vs. David Warner: A Riveting Rivalry Recalling a previous encounter between Shaheen Afridi and David Warner, Sarfaraz Ahmed highlighted the Pakistani speedster’s skills against the Australian opener. Ahmed noted that ...

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Drop-in pitches installed at Perth Stadium ahead of the upcoming NRMA Insurance West Test between Australia and Pakistan The World Cup and ICC World Test Champion Australians will take on Pakistan from December 14-18 at Perth Stadium, showcasing Western Australia to the world. The wicket square consists of five drop-in pitches, with each one weighing around 25 tonnes and the entire installation process taking more than two days. The drop-in wicket has been curated at the stadium since February, tended to daily by WA Cricket curators in the nursery located next to the outdoor practice wickets on the northern side of the stadium. The drop-in wicket contains the same local clay and grass species as the pitches at the WACA Ground and is closely monitored during its growth to replicate the Ground’s fast and bouncy nature. Last week, the drop-in wicket was moved by a 30-meter-long, 40-tonne cricket wicket transporter ...

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Champions return home after creating a long-lasting legacy Australia captain Pat Cummins believes his team have created a career-defining legacy with their World Cup win, after a long six months on the road in India and England. “I think they have created their own legacy,” Cummins said of his side as he touched down at Sydney Airport. “A World Cup, you only get one chance every four years and especially playing somewhere like India, it’s hard. Even before the tournament, we knew playing ODI cricket in India, it’s a pretty tough assignment. To be pitted up against the rest of the world and come away with a medal, it doesn’t get any better than that. We couldn’t have planned for much better. So a pretty satisfied group.” Captain Pat Cummins and pacer Josh Hazelwood landed in Sydney on Wednesday morning while Head coach Andrew McDonalds and Allrounder Mitchell Marsh touched ...

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Maxwell pyrotechnics sink dumbfounded Afganistan – One of the best knocks in World Cup history. – By  TREVINE RODRIGO IN ELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor) Wankhede stadium in Mumbai has not seen pyrotechnics of this kind since India beat Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup final, but this time it came from the bat of Australian freak Glenn Maxwell who smashed a memorable double century to sink Afganistan. The Maxwell fireworks came at a time when Australia had their backs to the wall and appeared to be heading for another certain shock result in the World Cup. He came to the crease with Australia tottering at 91 for 7 and left after a whirlwind innings that left the crowd and a numbed Afganistan in disbelief, as Australia scampered to victory with 19 balls remaining. This innings by Maxwell will rate as the greatest ever in a World Cup and those ...

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Bangladesh and questionable umpiring make for a sad day in cricketing history.  Sr Lanka bow out of World Cup. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.  (Elanka Sports Editor). Shakib Al Hassan and Marias Erasmus sensationally made cricketing history by making a blotch on the Spirit of Cricket adding insult to injury to Sri Lanka who confirmed their exit from the World Cup with a three wicket loss.  The combine brought back bizarre memories of the 1980’s when Austrlian Umpires Darrell Hair and Ross Emerson took centre stage by embarrassing Sri Lanka’s greatest bowler Mutthiah Muralitharan,  by calling him for chucking. It was a ruling they lived to regret. There were other unsavoury incidents involving Mankad and Trevor Chappell that would be best forgotten, then there was this. Angelo Matthews was given “timed out” without facing a ball while calling for another helmet when the strap on the one he had, broke. ...

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ANGELO MATHEWS TIMED OUT! – By Upali Obeyesekere Source : facebook SPIRIT OF CRICKET LEFT IN DOLDRUMS! PATHETIC APPEAL BY BANGLA SKIPPER SHAKIB AL HASAN! SAD DAY FOR INTERNATIONAL CRICKET! Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews became the first batter to be timed out in international cricket during the Cricket World Cup game against Bangladesh on Monday. Mathews wasn’t ready to face his first ball within the stipulated two minutes as the strap of his helmet appeared to be broken and he called for a replacement helmet. The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 playing conditions pertaining to “timed out” dismissals reads thus: 40.1.1 After the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batter, the incoming batter must, unless Time has been called, be ready to receive the ball, or for the other batter to be ready to receive the next ball within 2 minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If ...

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India rout Sri Lanka once more sending an ominous warning to the rest in the World Cup. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.  (eLanka Sports editor). India sent tremors through the World Cup with another demolition of a completely out of tune Sri Lanka and duck season would best describe the Islanders pathetic run chase at Wankhede stadium. If there were doubts about the one sided Asia Cup final, India dispelled all of them as their bowlers ran riot to give them five more runs, 50 all out in the Asia Cup, and 55 all out here and a 302 run win. Chasing 357 Sri Lanka were never in with a chance as Mohamed Shami and Mohamed Siraj wreaked havoc on a clueless Sri Lanka batting line-up after Jasprit Bumrah prised out usually consistent Pathum Nissanka in his first ball.  This set the stage for what could be a record five ...

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An emerging female talent from Pakistan lands cricket contract in Australia SYDNEY: Saira Jabeen, a 22-year-old emerging talent from the North of Pakistan, has secured a six-month contract with the Paramatta Women’s Grade Cricket Club in Sydney, Australia. She touched down in Australia on September 28, 2023. Hailing from the picturesque Kalash Valley, Saira Jabeen has recently earned a spot in the list of 74 women cricketers who received PCB’s first domestic women contracts for 11 months. “I have a good experience of Pakistan’s grassroots cricket, and now with this opportunity, I would gain valuable exposure to competitive cricket in Australia. I hope that by blending these experiences, I can make a significant difference in the future.” “My journey is facilitated by Mel Jones, the former Australian women’s cricket team captain and Mr. Yahya Ghaznavi from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), who played a pivotal role in connecting me with ...

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