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Cricket News - by Craig Hill

Sehwag v/s Sachin

July 16th 2009 00:07
MATURE CONTENT
   


Matthew Hayden has nominated Australia's most recent Ashes triumph, World Cup wins and his partnerships and friendships formed with fellow Australian cricketers as some of the personal highlights he will cherish the most.

Hayden, speaking after announcing his retirement, was at first coy when talking about his recollections of his 15-years international career.

"There's a book of them," Hayden replied when asked about his favourite cricket memories.

"If you were to ask me what the highlight of my personal career would be, I think my answer would be playing in the Australian cricket team for the last decade and the absolute highs and highs of winning series."

Matthew Hayden Nominates Personal Highlights


"It's a wonderful achievement to play one Test match ... I feel very privileged to be in a position where I've had longevity because I've experienced the enormity of the experience in the longer term."

The 37-year-old opened up when talking about Australia's effort to regain the Ashes in the 2006-07 series, which it took out 5-0.

"Team highlights have been phenomenal, Ashes victories both home and away," he said.

"The last one here at home was particularly rewarding because our backs were up against the wall, we had a changing of the guard to a smaller degree, but we had great passion and energy going into that domestic summer."

"The one before in 2001 we retained the Ashes in 11 days, it was a ridiculous thumping, but this was a good side on our soil which had great confidence and had tasted victory."

The opener, who plundered 659 runs at an average of 73.22 to be the best batsmen at the 2007 World Cup, also nominated his side's successes in the one-day format as something exceptional.

"The World Cup victories were phenomenal achievements, there were headlines going around that Australia was unbeatable and it was boring to watch," he said.

"Both the World Cup campaigns, these are times which I'm sure will be cherished and will be highlights of cricketing agendas for decades to come ... but to be a part of it is just amazing."

"We'll never forget them."

Hayden paid special tribute to the captaincy of Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh, along with the efforts of Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer amongst others.

"The wizardry of Warne spinning it past the off stump of batsmen, (and I was fortunate to be) standing there in the grandstand position of first slip (to watch it)," he said.

"To be there with the McGraths, the Gillespies, and the gutsy players like your Bichels and Kasprowiczs that have run in and just bowled their heart out for decades."

"The partnerships that I have forged with someone like 'Gilly' (Gilchrist), who statistically cannot be defined because it just does not do his skill-set justice, sitting there watching the way that he plays was just a front-row seat to a highlights package."

"The determination, the ruggedness and desire of Justin Langer, just such a quality human being and I feel so privileged to have played with him."

"To share something like Justin retiring, Warney retiring, 'Gilly' retiring, they are memories that you never get back."

Hayden nominated legendary West Indian new-ball duo Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh as the best bowlers he had faced in combination, with Harbhajan Singh and Muttiah Muralitharan the best spin bowlers he had dealt with.

"Your (Allan) Donalds, (Shaun) Pollocks of South Africa, there have just been so many guys that we've competed with over a long period of time that have been the masters of their game," he said.
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Matthew Hayden Honoured

January 14th 2009 00:13
Matthew Hayden has been honoured in spectacular style at the Gabba, performing a lap of honour during the innings break at the Twenty20 international between South Africa and Australia in Brisbane on Tuesday night.

Hayden, accompanied by his three children, was greeted with a standing ovation from the sell-out crowd at his home ground as he made his way around the Gabba in a blue Mustang.

Speaking to Channel Nine, the 37-year-old described the humbling sign of admiration from the crowd he 'loved playing in front of' as 'overwhelming'.

As a sea of camera flashes from spectators lit up the Gabba, Hayden showed he still had plenty of trademark quick wit, saying the only thing missing was a photo of him in the Mustang.

Matthew Hayden Honoured


The message from the tens of thousands of fans that turned out to salute the legendary opening batsman was clear, one of gratitude for the 15 years of service to Australian cricket.

A simple but effective message of 'Thanks Matt' was displayed on the scoreboard, while plenty of fans brought banners of their own, with one labeling 'Hayden the Gabba God'.

As a sign of respect, a number of senior South African players made their way over to shake hands with Hayden before the resumption of play.

The whole Australian Twenty20 squad gave Hayden a standing ovation earlier today when the Queenslander announced his retirement to the media.
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Matthew Hayden Praised

January 14th 2009 00:08
Former teammates and cricket officials have joined the chorus of praise directed at retiring opening batsman Matthew Hayden.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting was full of admiration for the champion opener as he bowed out of international cricket, describing the big Queenslander as a 'huge loss' to the Australian dressing room.

"Taking his 30 Test hundreds out of it and his average of 50 and all that, he's a massive loss for our dressing room, there's no doubt about that," Ponting said.

"We'll all miss him greatly, as an experienced guy around the team and obviously a great mate."

Matthew Hayden Retires


Ponting was also quick to cement Hayden's place in the pantheon of champion openers.

"I don't think there is any doubt about that (being Australia's best opener), you can even look back through the history books of the game and try and see if there has ever been a better opening batsman in the game, let alone Australia," he said.

"His opening partnership with Justin (Langer) in Test cricket will always be remembered as something very special."

Fast bowling legend Glen McGrath also paid tribute to his former teammate.

"It's been an absolute honour and a privilege to play with him and even more so to call him a mate," McGrath said.

"And to me Matty is a legend of the game; he's got nothing left to prove, his career stands alone."

"Hopefully now we'll be able to spend a bit more time together off the field."

Queensland Cricket's senior officials have lauded the contribution Matthew Hayden made to domestic cricket.

Chairman Damien Mullins described Hayden's as a 'wonderful career'.

"Matthew Hayden has, through his outstanding performances, earned the admiration and respect of the Queensland cricket public. He is truly one of the legends of Queensland sport," Mullins said.

"In Sheffield Shield cricket, only Sir Donald Bradman scored more runs in fewer matches than Hayden."
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The Immortal Matthew Hayden

January 13th 2009 12:02
By whichever standards are applied, Matthew Hayden will rank forever among the greats of Australian cricket.

To finish with a Test average of 50-plus over 103 matches opening for his country at venues from Barbados to Bangalore to Birmingham and at home in Brisbane is a credit to the 37-year-old's class and durability over 15 years at the top at international level.

His physical presence complemented his sharp tongue and attacking instincts which were fundamental to Australia's dominance of the Test arena for a generation.

It was a period in which he formed a close personal and professional relationship with Justin Langer who had a 'man crush' on his opening partner from Kingaroy in outback Queensland.

Matthew Hayden


Yet Hayden was versatile enough to play the foil to Adam Gilchrist at the top of the order in two successful World Cup campaigns.

His 161 ODIs yielded 6133 runs at 43.81 with a strike rate nudging 79.

Hayden was the first batsman to score more than 1000 Test runs in five successive calendar years (2001-2005) and 380 of his total for 2003 were scored in one innings, then a world record, against Zimbabwe at the WACA Ground in Perth.

He never managed to take a Test wicket with his right-arm medium pacers but the importance of Hayden's role in the field should not be underestimated.

He turned 'mental disintegration' into an art form with his pungent observations from first slip, the specialist position that provided him with 127 Test catches including 39 from the bowling of Shane Warne.

In fact, 'caught Hayden bowled Warne' is the third most common mode of dismissal in Test history involving a non-wicketkeeper, behind 'c. Taylor b. Warne' and 'c. Dravid b. Kumble'.

Hayden took six years to play seven Tests, but announced himself as a world-class batsman in the most unlikely of places, India, in 2001.

His second and third Test centuries - 119 in Mumbai and 203 in Chennai - came a full four years after his debut hundred against the West Indies in Adelaide and sparked a run of five Test centuries in 2001.

Hayden played his cricket extra hard which inevitably led to spot fires and clashes with opponents and officials over the journey.

But there was no more popular figure in the Australian dressing room.

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Matthew Hayden Announces Retirement

January 13th 2009 11:50
Australian opener Matthew Hayden has this morning announced his retirement from international cricket.

Awarded the 359th Baggy Green Cap for Australia, he played 103 Tests scoring 8625 runs at an average of 50.73, after making his Test debut back in March 1994, coincidentally also against South Africa.

He made his one-day international debut a year earlier against England in May 1993 and went on to play 161 one-day internationals scoring 6133 runs at an average of 43.80.

The 188cm and 95kg left-hander has since been a thorn in the side of most pace bowling attacks with his powerful hitting intimidating bowlers around the world.

Matthew Hayden


After joining Justin Langer at the top of the order in 2001, the pair became arguably Australia’s best ever opening combination that regularly dismantled the world’s best bowling attacks.

The Queenslander has also racked up a host of personal awards to go with his team achievements such as the 2002 Allan Border Medal and Test Player of the Year, 2003 Wisden Cricketer of the Year, ICC ODI Player of the Year in 2007.

Just last year Hayden was named Australian ODI Player of the Year at the Allan Border Medal following a fantastic year that saw him dictate Australia’s path to a third consecutive ICC Cricket World Cup with 659 runs at 73.22. This included a 66-ball century against South Africa which is the fastest century in World Cup history, earning him the Key to St Kitts.

Matthew Hayden quick stats:

Tests

Debut: 4 March 1994 against South Africa at Johannesburg
Test Cap 359
103 Tests
8625 runs at 50.73, HS of 380 against Zimbabwe

ODI

Debut: 19 March 1993 against England at Manchester
ODI Cap 111
161 matches
6133 runs at 43.80, HS of 181* against New Zealand
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Michael Clarke Rises In Rankings

January 2nd 2009 09:56
Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke has risen to ninth place on the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen.

Following scores of 88 not out and 29 in the second 3 Mobile Test against South Africa, Clarke rose to his highest career rating and is now some three places behind Australian skipper Ricky Ponting.

Ponting, who scored 101 and 99 in the Boxing Day Test, moved up three places to sixth, but team-mate Michael Hussey dropped out of the top 10 for the first time since March 2006.

Michael Clarke


Hussey has only managed 10 runs in his last four innings and is now ranked 11th in the rankings, with West Indian left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul the top rated batsman.

Stuart Clark (fourth), Mitchell Johnson (fifth) and Brett Lee (ninth) are the three Australians in the top 10 for bowling, with South African speedster Dale Steyn (second) closing the gap at the top of the rankings on Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralidaran.
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The 400 club- #121 - #140

April 1st 2008 22:43
121. Clarence Victor Grimmett
Debut: 27 Febuary, 1925
Batting
Tests: 37 Runs: 557 H.S: 50 Average: 13.92 100/50: 0/1 Catches: 17
Bowling
Tests: 37 Runs: 5229 Wickets 216 Best Bowling: 7/40 Average: 24.21 5/10: 21/7
Claim to fame: He was the first bowler to reach the milestone of 200 Test wickets. He remains the only bowler to have played fewer than forty Tests and claimed more than 200 scalps. He is credited with the developement of the flipper.

122. Alan Falconer Kippax
Debut: 27 Febuary, 1925
Batting
Tests: 22 Runs: 1192 H.S: 146 Average: 36.12 100/50: 2/8 Catches: 13
Claim to fame: In the 1930/31 home series against the West Indies, his 146 was the first Test century in matches between the two countries.

123. William Maldon "Bill" Woodful
Debut: 12 June, 1926
Batting
Tests: 35 Runs: 2300 H.S: 161 Average: 46.00 100/50: 7/13 Catches: 7
Claim to fame: Instated as Australia's nineteenth Test captain, He has the distinction of being the only captain to regain the Ashes twice. At the completion of the infamous Bodyline series, he had spent over twenty hours at the crease, more than any other Australian batsman.

124. Donald George Bradman
Debut: 30 November, 1928
Batting
Tests: 52 Runs: 6996 H.S: 334 Average: 99.94 100/50: 29/13 Catches: 32
Bowling
Tests: 52 Runs: 72 Wickets: 2 Best Bowling: 1/8 Average: 36.00
Claim to fame: He broke every batting record of his era. He remains the only Test player to score 300 runs in a day's play. He scored three double centuries in the 1930 Test series. He scored centuries in six consecutive Tests( the last three in '36/'37 and the first three in '38).

125. Herbert Ironmonger
Debut: 30 November, 1928
Batting
Tests: 14 Runs: 42 H.S: 12 Average: 2.62 Catches: 3
Bowling
Tests: 14 Runs: 1310 Wickets: 74 Best Bowling: 7/23 Average: 17.87 5/10: 4/2
Claim to fame: He made his Test debut aged 46 and retired at 50. He's the fourth oldest Test debutant, and the second oldest Test player.

126. Donald Dearness Blackie
Debut: 14 December, 1928
Batting
Tests: 3 Runs: 24 H.S: 11no Average: 8.00 Catches: 2
Bowling
Tests: 3 Runs: 444 Wickets: 14 Best Bowling 6/94 Average: 31.71 5/10: 1/0
Claim to fame: At 46 years 253 days at the time of his debut, he remains Australia's oldest debutant.

127. Otto Ernest Nothling
Debut: 14 December, 1928
Batting
Tests: 1 Runs: 52 H.S: 44 Average: 26.00

128. Edward Lambert a'Beckett
Debut: 29 December, 1928
Batting
Tests: 4 Runs: 143 H.S: 41 Average: 20.42 Catches: 4
Bowling
Tests: 4 Runs: 317 Wickets: 3 Best Bowling: 1/41 Average: 105.66

129. Ronald Keven Oxenham
Debut: 29 December, 1928
Batting
Tests: 7 Runs: 151 H.S: 48 Average: 15.09 Catches: 4
Bowling
Tests: 7 Runs: 522 Wickets: 14 Best Bowling: 4/39 Average: 37.28

130. Archibald "Archie" Jackson
Debut: 1 Febuary, 1929
Batting
Tests: 8 Runs: 474 H.S: 164 Average: 47.40 100/50: 1/2 Catches: 7
Claim to fame: His highest score of 164, made at 19 years of age, is the second highest score by an Australian on debut.

131. Alan Geoffrey Fairfax
Debut: 8 March, 1929
Batting
Tests: 10 Runs: 410 H.S: 65 Average: 51.25 100/50: 0/4 Catches: 15
Bowling
Tests: 10 Runs: 645 Wickets: 21 Best Bowling: 4/31 Average: 30.71

132. Percival Mitchell Hornibrook
Debut: 8 March, 1929
Batting
Tests: 6 Runs 60 H.S: 26 Average: 10.00 Catches: 7
Bowling
Tests: 6 Runs: 664 Wickets: 17 Best Bowling: 7/92 Average: 39.05 5/10: 1/0

133. Thomas Welbourn "Tim" Wall
Debut: 8 March, 1929
Batting
Tests: 18 Runs: 121 H.S: 20 Average: 6.36 Catches: 11
Bowling
Tests: 18 Runs: 2010 Wickets: 56 Best Bowling: 5/14 Average: 35.89 5/10: 3/0

134. Stanley Joseph McCabe
Debut: 13 June, 1930
Batting
Tests: 39 Runs 2748 H.S: 232 Average: 48.21 100/50: 6/13 Catches: 41
Bowling
Tests: 39 Runs: 1543 Wickets: 36 Best Bowling: 4/13 Average: 42.86
Claim to fame: He took it to the English bowlers of the Bodyline series, finishing with 385 runs at 43.00.

135. Alexander Hurwood
Debut: 12 December, 1930
Batting
Tests: 2 Runs: 5 H.S: 5 Average: 2.50 Catches: 2
Bowling
Tests: 2 Runs: 170 Wickets: 11 Best Bowling: 4/22 Average: 15.45

136. Ketih Edward Rigg
Debut: 27 Febuary, 1931
Batting
Tests: 8 Runs 401 H.S: 127 Average: 33.41 100/50: 1/1 Catches: 5

137. Homesdale Carl "Jack" Nitschke
Debut: 27 November, 1931
Batting
Tests: 2 Runs: 53 H.S: 47 Average: 26.50 Catches: 3

138. Philip Keith Lee
Debut: 18 December, 1931
Batting
Tests: 2 Runs: 57 H.S: 42 Average: 19.00 Catches: 1
Bowling
Tests: 2 Runs: 212 Wickets: 5 Best Bowling: 4/111 Average: 42.39

139. William Alfred Hunt
Debut: 29 January, 1932
Batting
Tests: 1 Runs: 0 Catches: 1

140. William Joseph "Bill" O'Reilly
Debut: 29 January, 1932
Batting
Tests: 27 Runs: 410 H.S: 56no Average: 12.81 100/50: 0/1 Catches: 7
Bowling
Tests: 27 Runs: 3253 Wickets: 144 Best Bowling: 7/54 Average: 22.59 5/10: 11/3
Claim to fame: In 1932/33, during the infamous Bodyline series, he opened the bowling in Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane. He finished the series with 27 wickets. He formed a legendary spin partnership with Clarrie Grimmett.
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The 400 club- #101- #120

March 16th 2008 03:54
101. William "Barlow" Carkeek
Debut: 27 May, 1912
Batting
Tests: 6 Runs: 16 H.S: 6 Average: 5.33 Catches: 6

102. Sydney Hand Emery
Debut: 27 May, 1912
Batting
Tests: 4 Runs: 6 H.S: 5 Average: 3.00 Catches: 2
Bowling
Tests: 4 Runs: 250 Wickets: 5 Best Bowling: 2/46 Average: 50.00

103. Claude Barrows Jennings
Debut: 27 May, 1912
Batting
Tests: 6 Runs: 107 H.S: 32 Average: 17.83 Catches: 5

104. David Bertram Miller Smith
Debut: 27 May, 1912
Batting
Tests: 2 Runs: 30 H.S: 24no Average: 15.00
Claim to fame: Having failed to appear before a disciplinary hearing of the Australian Cricket Board, to answer allegations of indiscipline, drunken brawling, rudeness towards the English public and claiming an illness, he never played another first class match.

105. Edgar Richard Mayne
Debut: 15 July, 1912
Batting
Tests: 4 Runs: 64 H.S: 25no Average: 21.33 Catches: 2

106. Herbert Leslie Collins
Debut: 17 December, 1920
Batting
Tests: 19 Runs: 1352 H.S: 203 Average: 45.06 100/50: 4/6 Catches: 13
Bowling
Tests: 19 Runs: 250 Wickets: 4 Best Bowling: 2/47 Average: 63.00
Claim to fame: In the 1920/21 Ashes series, he became the fifth Australian to score a century on debut. In 1921, he was appointed captain for the series against South Africa when Warwick Armstrong became ill. In 1926, his last Test ended in defeat and allegations of match fixing. Due to a lack of evidence the allegations were dropped.

107. Jack Morrison Gregory
Debut: 17 December, 1920
Batting
Tests: 24 Runs: 1146 H.S: 119 Average: 36.96 100/50: 2/7 Catches: 37
Bowling
Tests: 24 Runs: 2648 Wickets: 85 Best Bowling: 7/69 Average: 31.15 5/10: 4/0
Claim to fame: In 1921, at Johannesburg, he smashed a century from 67 balls in 70 minutes. At the time it was the fastest Test hundred. Today, it remains the third quickest in history. His fifteen catches in the 1920/21 Ashes series remains the record for the most catches by a fielder in a Test series.

108. Arthur Alfred Mailey
Debut: 17 December, 1920
Batting
Tests: 21 Runs: 222 H.S: 46no Average: 11.09 Catches: 14
Bowling
Tests: 21 Runs: 3357 Wickets: 99 Best Bowling: 9/121 Average: 33.91 5/10: 6/2
Claim to fame: His 9/121 is a record for an Australian bowler.

109. William Albert Stanley Oldfield
Debut: 17 December,1920
Batting
Tests: 54 Runs: 1427 H.S:65no Average: 22.65 100/50: 0/4 Catches/Stumpings: 78/52
Claim to fame: His 52 stumpings is the Test world record.

110. Clarence Everard Pellew
Debut: 17 December, 1920
Batting
Tests: 10 Runs: 484 H.S: 116 Average: 37.23 100/50: 2/1 Catches: 4

111. John "Jack" Ryder
Debut: 17 December, 1920
Batting
Tests: 20 Runs: 1390 H.S: 201no Average: 51.62 100/50: 3/9 Catches: 17
Bowling
Tests: 20 Runs: 743 Wickets: 17 Best Bowling: 2/20 Average: 43.70
Claim to fame: He succeeded Herbie Collins to become Australia's eighteenth Test captain. As the incumbent Test captain, he was on the selection panel for the 1930 Ashes tour of England. He was out voted for a place in the side, which ended not only his captaincy but his Tests career as well.

112. John Morris Taylor
Debut: 17 December, 1920
Batting
Tests: 20 Runs: 997 H.S: 108 Average 35.60 100/50: 1/8 Catches: 11
Bowling
Tests: 20 Runs: 45 Wickets: 1 Best Bowling: 1/25 Average: 45.00

113. Roy Lindsay Park
Debut: 31 december, 1920
Batting
Tests: 1 Runs: 0
Claim to fame: His only Test innings was a "golden duck".

114. Edgar Arthur McDonald
Debut: 14 January, 1921
Batting
Tests: 11 Runs: 116 H.S: 36 Average: 16.57 Catches: 3
Bowling
Tests: 11 Runs: 1431 Wickets: 43 Best Bowling: 5/32 Average: 33.27 5/10: 2/0

115. Thomas James Edwin Andrews
Debut: 28 May, 1921
Batting
Tests: 16 Runs: 592 H.S:94 Average: 26.90 100/50: 0/4 Catches:12
Bowling
Tests: 16 Runs: 116 Wickets: 1 Best Bowling: 1/23 Average: 116.00

116. Hunter Scott Thomas Laurie Hendry
Debut: 28 May, 1921
Batting
Tests: 11 Runs: 335 H.S: 112 Average: 20.93 100/50: 1/0 Catches: 10
Bowling
Tests: 11 Runs: 640 Wickets: 16 Best Bowling: 3/36 Average: 40.00

117. William Harold Ponsford
Debut: 19 December, 1924
Batting
Tests: 29 Runs: 2122 H.S: 266 Average: 48.22 100/50: 7/6 Catches: 21
Claim to fame: He scored 110 on debut then backed up and scored 128 in the next Test. In 1934, he signed off as he signed on, scoring a century in each of his last two Tests.

118. Arthur John Richardson
Debut: 19 December, 1924
Batting
Tests: 9 Runs: 403 H.S: 100 Average: 31.00 100/50: 1/2 Catches: 1
Bowling
Tests: 9 Runs: 521 Wickets: 12 Best Bowling: 2/20 Average: 43.41

119. Victor York Richardson
Debut: 19 December, 1924
Batting
Tests: 19 Runs: 706 H.S: 138 Average: 23.53 100/50: 1/1 Catches: 24
Claim to fame: He succeeded Bill Woodful to become Australia's twentieth Test captain in 1935/36 when Australia toured South Africa.

120. Albert Ernst Victor Hartkopf
Debut: 1 January, 1925
Batting
Tests: 1 Runs: 80 H.S: 80 Average: 40.00 100/50: 0/1
Bowling
Tests: 1 Runs: 134 Wickets: 1 Best Bowling: 1/120 Average: 134.00

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The second round of the IPL player auction has come and gone with not too many surprises. The two big named Australians to go under the hammer were James Hopes and Shane Watson - both Allrounders, both from Queensland. Hopes brilliant innings in the second final of the Commonwealth Bank series must have upped his currency in the auction. For me the surprise wasn't his US$ 300,000 price but the team that got him - he joins Brett Lee at Mohali. The team I expected to get Hopes was the team that got fellow Queensland Allrounder Shane Watson - the Jaipur Rajasthan Royals headed by Shane Warne. They spent the least on the first player auction and had more money left to spend but opted not for Hopes. Instead they went for the only English player in the draft - Dimitri Mascarenhas.

Victorian batting ace Brad Hodge has chosen to keep his commitment to Engish County side Lancastershire instead of going into the IPL player auction unlike team mates Cameron White and David Hussey.

The only other Australians to get drafted to were Western Australian and Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year Luke Pomersbach who went for US$150,000 to Mohali and Tasmanian fast bowler Brett Geeves went for US$50,000 in a surprise buy for Delhi. The March 18 is fast approaching for all the franchises to have their squads finalised.
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The 400 club- #81- #100

March 11th 2008 04:20
81. Reginald Alexander Duff
Debut: 1 January, 1902
Batting
Tests: 22 Runs: 1317 H.S: 146 Average: 35.59 100/50: 2/6 Catches: 14
Bowling
Tests: 22 Runs: 86 Wickets: 4 Best Bowling: 2/43 Average: 21.25
Claim to fame: He has the distinction of being the only batsman to score a century on debut (104) batting at number 10. Clearly, he was a specialist batsman, and his demotion in the order, as was the practice in the days of uncovered wickets, was to protect him and the other recognised batsmen in the hope the wicket would improve later in the day.

82. Albert John Young Hopkins
Debut: 14 Febuary, 1902
Batting
Tests: 20 Runs: 509 H.S: 43 Average: 16.41 Catches: 11
Bowling
Tests: 20 Runs: 696 Wickets: 26 Best Bowling: 4/81 Average: 26.76

83. John Victor Saunders
Debut: 14 Febuary, 1902
Batting
Tests: 14 Runs: 39 H.S: 11no Average: 2.29 Catches: 5
Bowling
Tests: 14 Runs: 1796 Wickets: 79 Best Bowling: 7/34 Average: 22.73 5/10: 6/0

84. Joseph Patrick Francis Travers
Debut: 28 Febuary, 1902
Batting
Tests: 1 Runs: 10 H.S: 9 Average: 5.00 Catches: 1
Bowling
Tests: 1 Runs: 14 Wickets: 1 Best Bowling: 1/14 Average: 14.00

85. Albert Cotter
Debut: 26 Febuary, 1904
Batting
Tests: 21 Runs: 457 H.S: 45 Average: 13.05 Catches: 8
Bowling
Tests: 21 Runs: 2549 Wickets: 89 Best Bowling: 7/108 Average: 28.64 5/10: 7/0
Claim to fame: His nickname was "Terror Cotter". He possessed a controversial slinging action which generated extreme pace but at the cost of a lack of control.

86. Peter Alexander McAlister
Debut: 26 Febuary, 1904
Batting
Tests: 8 Runs: 252 H.S: 41 Average: 16.80 Catches: 10

87. Donal Raeburn Algernon Gehrs
Debut: 5 March, 1904
Batting
Tests: 6 Runs: 221 H.S: 67 Average: 20.09 100/50: 0/2 Catches: 6

88. Hanson "Sammy" Carter
Debut: 13 December, 1907
Batting
Tests: 28 Runs: 873 H.S: 72 Average: 22.97 100/50: Catches/Stumpings: 44/21

89. Gervys "Gerry" Rignold Hazlitt
Debut: 13 December, 1907
Batting
Tests: 9 Runs: 89 H.S: 34no Average: 11.12 Catches: 4
Bowling
Tests: 9 Runs: 623 Wickets: 23 Best Bowling 7/25 Average: 27.08 5/10: 1/0

90. Charles George Macartney
Debut: 13 December, 1907
Batting
Tests: 35 Runs: 2131 H.S: 170 Average: 41.78 !00/50: 7/9 Catches: 17
Bowling
Tests: 35 Runs: 1240 Wickets: 45 Best Bowling: 7/58 Average: 27.55 5/10: 2/1
Claim to fame: In describing his batting, his flare has been compared to Victor Trumper, and his determination the equal of Don Bradman. Bradman was his biggest fan, citing his dynamic batting as an inspiration.

91. Vernon Seymore Ransford
Debut: 13 December, 1907
Batting
Tests: 20 Runs:1211 H.S: 143no Average: 37.84 100/50: 1/5 Catches: 10
Bowling
Tests: 20 Runs: 28 Wickets: 1 Best Bowling: 1/9 Average: 28.00

92. Michael Joseph "Roger" Hartigan
Debut: 10 January, 1908
Batting
Tests: 2 Runs: 170 H.S: 116 Average: 42.50 100/50: 1/0 Catches: 1

93. John Denis Alphonsus O'Connor
Debut: 10 January 1908
Batting
Tests: 4 Runs: 86 H.S: 20 Average: 12.28 Catches: 3
Bowling
Tests: 4 Runs: 340 Wickets: 13 Best Bowling: 5/43 Average: 26.15 5/10: 1/0

94. Warren Bardsley
Debut: 27 May, 1909
Batting
Tests: 41 Runs: 2469 H.S: 193no Average: 40.47 100/50: 6/14 Catches: 12
Claim to fame: In 1909, in the fifth Test at the Oval, he became the first Test cricketer to score a century in each innings of a Test. In 1926, at the age of 43, his undefeated innings of 193 makes him the oldest player to score a century for Australia. He was Australia's seventeeth Test captain.

95. William James Whitty
Debut: 27 May, 1909
Batting
Tests: 14 Runs: 161 H.S: 39no Average: 13.41 Catches: 4
Bowling
Tests: 14 Runs: 1373 Wickets: 65 Best Bowling: 6/17 Average: 21.12 5/10: 3/0

96. Charles Kelleway
Debut: 9 December, 1910
Batting
Tests: 26 Runs: 1422 H.S: 147 Average: 37.42 100/50: 3/6 Catches: 6
Bowling
Tests: 26 Runs: 1683 Wickets: 52 Best Bowling: 5/33 Average: 32.36 5/10: 1/0

97. Dr. Herbert Vivian "Ranji" Hordern
Debut: 17 Febuary, 1911
Batting
Tests: 7 Runs: 254 H.S: 50 Average: 23.09 100/50: 0/1 Catches: 6
Bowling
Tests: 7 Runs: 1075 Wickets: 46 Best Bowling: 7/90 Average: 23.36 5/10: 5/2
Claim to fame: He is considered the first Australian Test leg spinner.

98. Roy Baldwin Minnett
Debut: 15 December, 1911
Batting
Tests: 9 Runs: 391 H.S: 90 Average: 26.06 100/50: 0/3
Bowling
Tests: 9 Runs: 290 Wickets: 11 Best Bowling: 4/34 Average: 26.36

99. Thomas James Mathews
Debut: 12 January, 1912
Batting
Tests: 8 Runs: 153 H.S: 53 Average: 17.00 100/50: 0/1 Catches: 7
Bowling
Tests: 8 Runs: 419 Wickets: 16 Best Bowling: 4/29 Average: 26.18
Claim to fame: He's the only bowler to claim a hat-trick in each innings of a Test. He achieved this amazing feat against South Africa and, futhermore, didn't require the assistance of any fielders: two were bowled, two LBW, and two caught and bowled.

100. John William McLaren
Debut: 23 Febuary, 1912
Batting
Tests: 1 Runs: 0 H.S: 0no
Bowling
Tests:1 Runs: 70 Wickets: 1 Average: 70.00
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Replacing the irreplacable

March 8th 2008 23:18
Australia in a spin trying to find the next Shane Warne
Say what you like about the man but one thing remains true about Shane Warne - he was the absolute master of his craft. He took the art of legspin bowling to a new previously unseen level and showed how a bowler could dictate terms and really be the difference in a cricket match (either test or one day).

His departure from Australian cricket left a gaping hole in the bowling line up - one that the previously all conquering Australians have not come close to filling. The heir apparent for much of Warne's career has been Stuart MacGill. The problem with him is he just doesn't bowl enough good deliveries. Sure he has some variety but he will almost always give you one or two balls each over that any self respecting batsman would gleefully dispatch to or over the boudary. Here was the true value of Warne - his ability to bowl an impeccable line and length for prolonged periods while also using all the trickery, variation and deception in his armoury. MacGill's first run as sole legspin option for Australia was a bit of a disaster with the Sri Lankan batsman taking him to the cleaners. It was then disclosed he was injured and needed surgery. He's back now but at 37 one has to wonder how much cricket he has got left to give. The other leading leg spin contender for the Australians is Bryce McGann who is 36!

At this rate I'd still say Australia's best legspinning option is Shane Warne - but with his animated likeness gyrating over Australian television screens this summer it looks like he has definitely taken up the Indian Premier League superannuation plan. Though anyone who watched that first final would have seen him in the crowd and his interview with Ian Healy showed how insightful he still is - talking about young Indian legspinner Piyush Chawla - Warne cast his analytical eye over the youngster and like what he saw. Warne talked about those traits he liked to see in a leg spin bowler - the main one being an attacking mindset and always looking to get a wicket. Warne now has a role at Cricket Australia as a spin bowling mentor. He like the rest of Australia will be hoping that a new young spinning sensation comes along.

It should be pointed out that Chawla is just 19 years old a full four years younger than when Warne made his debut!!! And almost old enough to call Stuart MacGill dad. India might have found their next bowling sensation. For Australia - the search goes on...
92
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India has inflicted a defeat to Australia in the final game of the Commonwealth Bank one day tournament and in the process won it. It is the second time in a row the Australians have lost the finals 2-0.

Much has been made of the controversies that have plagued the summer of cricket - racism, sledging, the IPL player auction and now the tackling of a nude spectator - sometimes the actual cricket has gone unnoticed which is a shame.

India won this series because of the magnificent blend of youth and experience. There are many stalwarts of Indian cricket that have been neglected for this tournament - batsmen the calibre of Raul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman and bowlers like Zaheer Khan and Anil Kumble. But what dropping players like this means is that India has been able to blood a very very exciting generation of new, young cricket talent. The young dynamo batsmen Gautam Gambhir (26), Robin Uthappa (22) and Rohit Sharma (20) have developed under the watchful eye of master batsman Sachin Tendulkar and what a thrill it must be for those youngsters to bat with someone of that stature.

The Indian bowling has been equally blessed with new young talent - Man of the match Praveen Kumar is just 22 years old and Sreesanth is just 25 years. Irfan Pathan is 23 years old and injured find of the series Ishant Sharma is 19!! Couple those quicks with the most exciting young leg spinner in the world 19 year old Piyush Chawla and the future of indian cricket is very very bright. My only concern is 19 year olds making millions of dollars playing 20/20 but kudos to indian cricket for finding and getting those youngsters into the team.

The Australians haven't had much to be happy about since the lucky win in the Sydney test right back at the start of the year. In the one day arena they started with all guns blazing but had their form desert them at the crucial moment.

The one shining light I think it should be said was the bowling of Nathan Bracken. He has been the outstanding bowler in international one day cricket for the past few years and it was good to see him recognized as the player of the tournament. Looking back at his career it seems strange that he has never found a regular berth in the test team. With Brett Lee's express pace partnering Stuart Clark it seems to me that at this stage Bracken would be the ideal change bowler. Australia has been obsessed since th retirement of McGrath and Gillespie to find the quickest bowlers possible rather than the best. Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson just don't bowl accurately enough often enough and I feel that Bracken should be in the test team.

So a season of intrigue has ended and we await with some interest to see if the Indian Premier League 20/20 tournament will be the saviour of cricket or an exercise in corporate profitability.
98
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Need to punish 'bad boy' undoes the Green and Gold

It was there to see at the SCG on Sunday night. Australia lost, the all conquering almighty team of the past two decades came crashing down and it was all due to one man. The turbinator, the man publicly named as an obnoxious weed - Harbhajan Singh brought the downfall of Australia by his mere presence.

How is this you ask? The Australians got themselves into trouble with some early poor shot selection and bad luck (Ricky Ponting underedged a pull shot that went cannoning into leg stump - two overs later Matthew Hayden did exactly the same thing but the ball missed the stumps and rolled away for a boundary).

At 3 for 24 Australia was in dire trouble when Andrew Symonds came to wicket and joined Matthew Hayden in a furious counter attack that saw them reach a 100 by the 18th over. They took the game by the scruff of the neck and shook it violently back to Australia's favour with the kind of intelligent power cricket that has been the hallmark of this team. Commentators were likening it to the world series finals of 2006 when a game down and 3 for 10 in the second game Symonds then joined by Ricky Ponting bludgeoned the Sri Lankan making 358. Hayden and Symonds had put on a hundred run partnership when the Indians then turned to Harbhajan - he hasn't been bowling particularly well of late and he didn't bowl particularly well here - BUT the two batsman at the centre of the childish schoolyard spat with the indian off spinner both decided he had to go. The thing is after they had dominated the game and got the Indians on the back foot Symonds and Hayden could quite easily have milked the bowling, taken five singles an over and just accumulated another 80 more runs then set up for a guns blazing finale with both of them past 100. BUT Harbhajan had to be taught a lesson and the two tried to arrogantly hit him out of the attack. It was an attack of stupidity that really did cost the Australians the match as the Indians settled down to chase a moderate total of 237 when they should have been chasing a much more daunting total of more than 320!

All attention will now turn to Brisbane, Australia has to win this match to stay in the final series and more importantly get back that air of invincibility. I would recommend instead of going after Harbhajan they concentrate on their own brilliant game and maybe teach him a lesson that way. To everyone else in the cricket world Harbhajan has given you the answer as to how to beat the Australians - as Arjuna Ranatunga before him, you have to beat them at their own game and really really get under their skin.

100
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The 400 club- #61- #80

February 26th 2008 15:00
61. Henry "Harry" Donnan
Debut: 1 January, 1892
Batting
Tests: 5 Runs: 75 H.S: 15 Average: 8.33 Catches: 1

62. Robert William McLeod
Debut: 1 January, 1892
Batting
Tests: 6 Runs: 146 H.S: 31 Average: 13.27 Catches: 3
Bowling
Tests: 6 Runs: 382 Wickets: 12 Best Bowling: 5/53 Average: 31.83 5/10: 1/0

63. Harry Graham
Debut: 17 July, 1893
Batting
Tests: 6 Runs: 301 H.S: 107 Average: 30.10 100/50: 2/0 Catches: 3
Claim to fame: He scored a century on debut in 1893 at Lord's, and his highest score was scored in his first Test on Australian soil.

64. Joseph "Joe" Darling
Debut: 14 December, 1894
Batting
Tests: 34 Runs: 1657 H.S: 178 Average: 28.56 100/50: 3/8 Catches: 27
Claim to fame: He was the first batsman to score 500 runs in a series, and the first to score three hundreds in a series. His maiden Test century was the first scored by a left hander. He hit the very first six in Tests and also has the distinction of hitting the first six in a Test in England. He was given the honour of becoming Australia's tenth captain. The team he captained on the 1902 Ashes campaign in England has often been referred to as one of the best Australian sides ever assembled.

65. Frank Adams Iredale
Debut: 14 December, 1894
Batting
Tests: 14 Runs: 807 H.S: 140 Average: 36.68 100/50: 2/4 Catches: 16

66. Ernest Jones
Debut: 14 December, 1894
Batting
Tests: 19 Runs: 126 H.S: 20 Average: 5.04 Catches: 21
Bowling
Tests: 19 Runs: 1856 Wickets: 64 Best Bowling: 7/88 Average: 29.01 5/10: 3/1
Claim to fame: It is said he bowled a ball through W.G. Grace's beard and it's reputed that he broke F.S. Jackson's ribs.

67. Charlie Edward McLeod
Debut: 14 December, 1894
Batting
Tests: 17 Runs: 573 H.S: 112 Average: 23.87 100/50: 1/4 Catches: 9
Bowling
Tests: 17 Runs: 1325 Wickets: 33 Best Bowling: 5/65 Average: 40.15 5/10: 2/0

68. John Cote Reedman
Debut: 14 December, 1894
Batting
Tests: 1 Runs: 21 H.S: 17 Average: 10.50 Catches: 1
Bowling
Tests: 1 Runs: 24 Wickets: 1 Best Bowling: 1/12 Average: 24.00

69. Arthur Coningham
Debut: 11 January, 1895
Batting
Tests: 1 Runs: 13 H.S: 10 Average: 6.50
Bowling
Tests: 1 Runs: 76 Wickets: 2 Best Bowling: 2/17 Average: 38.00
Claim to fame: He took a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket.

70. John Harry
Debut: 11 January, 1895
Batting
Tests: 1 Runs: 8 H.S: 6 Average: 4.00 Catches: 1

71. Albert Edwin Trott
Debut: 11 January, 1895
Batting
Tests: 5 Runs: 228 H.S: 85n.o Average: 38.00 100/50: 0/2 Catches: 2
Bowling
Tests: 5 Runs: 390 Wickets: 26 Best Bowling: 8/43 Average: 15.00 5/10: 2/0
Claim to fame: He burst onto the scene in Tests, taking 8/43 and scored 38n.o and 72n.o on debut.

72. Thomas Robert McKibbin
Debut: 1 March, 1895
Batting
Tests: 5 Runs: 88 H.S: 28n.o Average: 14.66 Catches: 4
Bowling
Tests: 5 Runs: 496 Wickets: 17 Best Bowling: 3/35 Average: 29.17

73. Charles John Eady
Debut: 22 June, 1896
Batting
Tests: 2 Runs: 20 H.S: 10n.o Average: 6.66 Catches: 2
Bowling
Tests: 2 Runs: 112 Wickets: 7 Best Bowling: 3/30 Average: 16.00

74. Clement "Clem" Hill
Debut: 22 June, 1896
Tests: 49 Runs: 3412 H.S: 191 Average: 39.21 100/50: 7/19 Catches: 33
Claim to fame: In 1901/02, he scored the first 99 in Tests. His bad luck continued in his next two innings, scoring 98 and 97. His aggregate for the series a healthy 521 runs. He was Australia's thirteenth captain.

75. James Joseph Kelly
Debut: 22 June, 1896
Batting
Tests: 36 Runs: 664 H.S: 46n.o Average: 17.02 Catches/Stumpings: 43/20

76. Montague "Monty" Alfred Noble
Debut: 1 January, 1898
Batting
Tests: 42 Runs: 1977 H.S: 133 Average: 30.25 100/50: 1/16
Bowling
Tests: 42 Runs: 3025 Wickets:121 Best Bowling: 7/17 Average: 25.00 5/10: 9/2
Claim to fame: He was a remarkable judge of the game and a great captain. He suceeded Joe Darling to become Australia's twelvth captain.

77. William Peter Howell
Debut: 14 January, 1898
Batting
Tests: 18 Runs: 158 H.S: 35 Average: 7.52 Catches: 12
Bowling
Tests: 18 Runs: 1407 Wickets: 49 Best Bowling: 5/81 Average: 28.71 5/10: 1/0

78. Frank Jonas Laver
Debut: 1 June, !99
Batting
Tests: 15 Runs: 196 H.S: 45 Average: 11.52 Catches: 8
Bowling
Tests: 15 Runs: 964 Wickets: 37 Best Bowling: 8/31 Average: 26.05 5/10: 2/0

79. Victor Thomas Trumper
Debut: 1 June, 1899
Batting
Tests: 48 Runs: 3163 H.S: 214n.o Average: 39.04 100/50: 8/13 Catches: 31
Bowling
Tests: 48 Runs: 317 Wickets: 8 Best Bowling: 3/60 Average: 39.62
Claim to fame: A stylish batsman who demoralized opponents and made batting appear the easiest thing in the world. His century before lunch in the Manchester Test of 1902 on a sticky wicket is considered as possibly the greatest innings ever. His mastery of his craft was evident on bad wickets, while other batsmen struggled, he was able to play all the shots all round the ground.

80. Warwick Windridge Armstrong
Debut: 1 January, 1902
Batting
Tests: 50 Runs: 2863 H.S: 159n.o Average: 38.68 100/50: 6/8 Catches: 44
Bowling
Tests: 50 Runs: 2922 Wickets: 87 Best Bowling: 6/35 Average: 33.59 5/10: 3/0
Claim to fame: He was named as Australia's fifteenth Test captain despite being unpopular with Australia's Board of Control. As captain of the 1920/21 series, he lead Australia to a 5-0 drubbing of the English tourists.

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Just when you thought the whole idea of the IPL player auction couldn't get more crazy...

it has. The actual auction has taken place and is full of such bizarre contradictions and extravagent spending that you would think that there is no poverty in India and that the streets are paved with gold.

Now before we begin with the analysis of this draft let's just take a moment to consider that the all conquering Australian team are supposedly touring Pakistan during the duration of the competition meaning they would have a limited influence on the tournament.

So let's start with Andrew Symonds - the $1.47million dollat man [insert cash register noises here]. Mr Symonds has been blessed with circumstances here. The big hitting awesome fielding Australian would be the perfect 20/20 cricketer. But with Australia going on tour no one would pay that amount of money from him right? Well his own incredible stupidity actually helped up his price. He claimed that he would not go to Pakistan even if the rest of his team went as it was too dangerous. So far so good. He then went on to say that it was his undrstanding that all international tours were on an invitational basis and that he would kindly decline the Cricket Australia offer to tour. He obviously hasn't read his Cricket Australia contract and my guess on the basis of those comments is that he isn't the smartest joker in the pack (and when we are talking Australian cricketers, that's not a very smart pack to begin with). His comments were lept upon those who also can't read with glee that he would be playing in India no matter what. So Hyderabad forked out $1.47 million dollars for his talents on the assumption that he would be playing for them no matter what only to find that in his Cricket Australia contract if he refused to go to Pakistan they could (would and should) stop him playing for the mercenary money in India.

If Symonds is a little dim then perhaps he gets some of it from his captain Ricky Ponting. In a press conference after the auction Ricky P claimed he was 'dissappointed' with getting 'only $400,000 ' in the auction. He wondere why that was - maybe his poor form around the time of the auction but he wondered aloud that maybe it was the Harbhajan Singh incident at the Sydney test though he noted his international teamate at the centre of it was now Mr $1.47million. Punter did some more pontificating on the reasons - he sais he's always been good at endorsements (A fact that I cannot deny as I have seen him whore hiimself out for ads for vitamins, deodurants, cars, phones, banks, fried chicken and oils - you know what I mean). BUT RICKY, baby, DO YOU HONESTLY THINK ANYONE IS GOING TO FEEL SORRY FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE ONLY GETTING $400,000 to play 40 days of cricket????? I tell you cricketers are going to get a bad name.

That is with the exception of Michael Clarke - A man who did put some level of principle above the money when he decided to spend time with family and go fishing with an aging father over the IPL. Someone has some morals. Also in that category is England's Andrew Flintoff who showed his true sportsmanship (not for the first time) by saying the England Cricket Board has always done 'alright by him'.

This is money driven madness and the stupidity of it can be seen when you take a look at young Indian fast bowler Ishant Sharma - he has played in a handful of tests and one day internationals - sure the kid shows enormous promise BUT the 19-year old has been signed up for $1.01million!!!!!!!!! Stop and think about that folks - as a 19 year old he is going to make in 40 days of cricket what some entire villages in India make in a decade!! This is insanity and someone has to stand up and speak out about it. Wouldn't it be wonderful if somoene in the IPL showed they were only playing for the love of the game by donating half of their income to charity in the developed world??? Of course this is unlikely to happen, I'd like to see a program maybe where the relative cricket boards in each country take some of the players money and re-invest it into the game. So a new generation of Pontings, Tendulkars and Jayasuriyas can come through and endorse hamburgers and high calorie soft drinks for years to come.
83
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IPL player auction

February 21st 2008 14:21
So it's come to this

In what has to be a move for the detriment of the game cricketers are today being auctioned off to the new Indian Premier League - made up franchises, with made up uniforms playing a made up game to make cricket look and feel like football. The net result is going to be an end to international cricket.

The first thing I think you'll see go is the One Day form of the game - if you had to truncate the game of cricket then this is perfect, it takes roughly the equivalent time of a day's play at a test match and you will more often than not see 400 runs scored (and anything upto 600) in a day with plenty of wickets and great fielding. 20/20 you may if you are luck get to see the same amount of runs scored but there is little planning and stategy which means more comes down to luck and you have an equal chance of seeing a no contest. Which is far more boring than any one day match or any day of test cricket will ever be. I think this will also lead to the end of the one day cricket world cup which I would value more highly over a 20/20 world cup.

The next thing that 20/20 cricket will effect is the players - the results are already quite clear in Australia where the majority of the current playing squad have signed up - but more intriguingly, there are several recently retired players who are also signed up for this competition. My gut feeling is that the likes of Warne, McGrath and Gilchrist have taken the money and run from playing for their country - I know they will protest this but I think it's clear for all to see.

I think if cricket is to survive the ICC has to step in a regulate this form of the game - I know they have sanctioned this tournament and the IPL but with $56 million dollar sponsorship and a billion dollar TV rights package one wonders whether this is for the betterment of the game or the pockets of those involved at every level.

Personally I will try and keep away from watching this form of cricket (though being a cricket obsessive that might be difficult). My main problem with the game is it really comes down to luck and the skill of a batsman and the skill of a bowler are secondary to the manufactured excitement of seeing a ball going into or over the fence.

Today's auction will also see the end of any dignity the cricket playing community had - now reduced like farm animals at the yearling auctions the players only value will be financial, They will go chasing endorsements and advertising dollars and lose sight of why they gained that recognition in the first place - In Australia every summer we get subjected to more and more advertisements featuring cricketers, selling everything from Cars to phones, to deoderant and fried chicken. I fear we will see these clunkheads nearly 24/7 with this new competition and the further bestowing of demigod status. Anyone who has heard these players speak (especially in light of recent race controversies) should know that this is not a good idea. If I want to see badly behaved sportsmen getting payed ridiculous sums of money for a few hours entertainment then I will stick to the footy (which is at least much more entertaining than 20/20 cricket). Yes today's auction is the final resting point for the journey into money that cricket took under the guidance of the late Kerry Packer. It is a sad day for the game as 20/20 shows a complete lack of vision. Sure there will be players, officials, umpires and commentators telling you that this is definitely not the case - but they will be doing so with large bundles of cash in their pockets.
93
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The 400 club- #41- #60

February 19th 2008 14:50
41. Patrick George McShane
Debut: 21 March, 1885
Batting
Tests: 3 Runs: 26 H.S: 12n.o Average: 5.20 Catches: 2
Bowling
Tests: 3 Runs: 48 Wickets: 1 Best Bowling: 1/39 Average: 48.00

42. Francis Henry Walters
Debut: 21 March, 1885
Batting
Tests: 1 Runs: 12 H.S: 7 Average: 6.00 Catches: 2

43. John McIlwraith
Debut: 12 August, 1886
Batting
Tests: 1 Runs: 9 H.S: 7 Average: 4.50 Catches: 1

44. John James Ferris
Debut: 28 January, 1887
Batting
Tests: 9 Runs: 114 H.S: 20n.o Average: 8.76 Catches: 4
Bowling
Tests: 9 Runs: 775 Wickets: 61 Best Bowling: 7/37 Average: 12.70 5/10: 6/1
Claim to fame: He was named as one of Wisden's Cricketers of the year in 1889.

45. Henry "Harry" Moses
Debut: 28 January, 1887
Batting
Tests: 6 Runs: 198 H.S: 33 Average: 19.80 Catches: 1

46. Charles Thomas Biass Turner
Debut: 28 January, 1887
Batting
Tests: 17 Runs: 323 H.S: 29 Average: 11.53 Catches: 8
Bowling
Tests: 17 Runs: 1667 Wickets: 101 Best Bowling: 7/43 Average: 16.53 5/10: 11/2
Claim to fame: He was the first Australian bowler to claim 100 Test wickets.

47. Reginald Charles Allen
Debut: 25 Febuary, 1887
Batting
Tests: 1 Runs: 44 H.S: 30 Average:: 22.00 Catches: 2

48. Frederick John Burton
Debut: 25 Febuary, 1887
Batting
Tests: 2 Runs: 4 H.S: 2n.o Average: 2.00 Catches/Stumpings: 1/1

49. John Thomas Cottam
Debut: 25 Febuary, 1887
Batting
Tests: 1 Runs: 4 H.S: 3 Average: 2.00 Catches: 1

50. Walter Giffen
Debut: 25 Febuary, 1887
Batting
Tests: 3 Runs: 11 H.S: 3 Average: 1.83 Catches: 1

51. Jack James Lyons
Debut: 25 Febuary, 1887
Batting
Tests: 14 Runs: 731 H.S: 134 Average: 27.07 Catches: 3
Bowling
Tests: 14 Runs: 149 Wickets: 6 Best Bowling: 5/30 Average: 24.83 5/10: 1/0

52. John "Jack" Edwards
Debut: 16 July, 1888
Batting
Tests: 3 Runs: 48 H.S: 26 Average: 9.59 Catches: 1

53. George Henry Stevens Trott
Debut: 16 July, 1888
Batting
Tests: 24 Runs: 921 H.S: 143 Average: 21.92 100/50: 1/4 Catches: 21
Bowling
Tests: 24 Runs:1015 Wickets: 29 Best Bowling: 4/71 Average: 35.13
Claim to fame: He was Australia's ninth Test captain. In 1894, he was named Wisden's Cricketer of the Year.

54. Samuel Moses James Woods
Debut: 16 July, 1888
Batting
Tests: 6 Runs: 154 H.S: 53 Average: 15.40 100/50: 0/1 Catches: 5
Bowling
Tests: 6 Runs: 250 Wickets: 10 Best Bowling: 3/28 Average: 25.00
Claim to fame: He has the distinction of being one of a few players to have represented both Australia and England.

55. Jack Edward Barrett
Debut: 21 July, 1890
Batting
Tests: 2 Runs: 80 H.S: 67n.o Average: 26.66 100/50: 0/1 Catches: 1

56. Edwin James Kenneth Burn
Debut: 21 July, 1890
Batting
Tests: 2 Runs: 41 H.S: 19 Average: 10.25

57. Percie Chater Charlton
Debut: 21 July, 1890
Batting
Tests: 2 Runs: 29 H.S: 11 Average: 7.25
Bowling
Tests:2 Runs: 24 Wickets: 3 Best Bowling: 3/18 Average: 8.00

58. Sydney Edward Gregory
Debut: 21 July, 1890
Batting
Tests: 58 Runs: 2282 H.S: 201 Average: 24.53 100/50 4/8 Catches: 25
Claim to fame: He was named Australia's fourteenth Test captain, following in the footsteps of his uncle, David Gregory. In 1894/95, his 201 was the first double ton scored by an Australian in Australia.

59. Hugh Trumble
Debut: 21 July, 1890
Batting
Tests: 32 Runs: 851 H.S: 70 Average: 19.79 100/50: 0/4 Catches: 45
Bowling
Tests: 32 Runs: 3071 Wickets: 141 Best Bowling: 8/65 Average: 21.78 5/10: 9/3
Claim to fame: Regarded by many as the best off spinner of the late 19th century. In his last Test, he took 7/28, which included a hat-trick. He served as Australia's eleventh Test captain.

60. Sydney Thomas Callaway
Debut: 1892
Batting
Tests: 3 Runs: 87 H.S: 41 Average: 17.39
Bowling
Tests: 3 Runs: 142 Wickets: 6 Best Bowling: 5/37 Average: 23.66 5/10: 1/0
98
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The 400 club- #21- #40

February 13th 2008 12:16
21. Percy Stanislaus McDonnell
Debut: 6 September, 1880
Batting Record
Tests: 19 Runs: 955 H.S: 147 Average: 28.93 100/50: 3/2 Catches: 6
Claim to fame: He was Australia's seventh Test captain. In the 1886/87 series he became the first captain to win the toss and elect to field. England were dismissed for 45 but still went on to win the match.

22. William Henry Moule
Debut: 6 September, 1880
Batting Record
Tests: 1 Runs: 40 H.S: 34 Average: 20.00 Catches: 1
Bowling Record
Tests: 1 Runs: 23 Wickets: 3 Best Bowling: 3/23 Average: 7.66

23. George Eugene Palmer
Debut: 6 September, 1880
Batting Record
Tests: 17 Runs: 296 H.S: 48 Average: 14.09 Catches: 13
Bowling Record
Tests: 17 Runs: 1677 Wickets: 78 Best Bowling: 7/65 Average: 21.51 5/10: 6/2

24. James Slight
Debut: 6 September, 1880
Batting Record
Tests: 1 Runs: 11 H.S: 11 Average: 5.50

25. William Henry Cooper
Debut: 31 December, 1881
Batting Record
Tests: 2 Runs: 13 H.S: 7 Average: 6.50 Catches: 1
Bowling Record
Tests: 2 Runs: 226 Wickets: 9 Best Bowling: 6/120 Average: 25.11 5/10: 1/0

26. Edwin Evans
Debut: 31 December, 1881
Batting Record
Tests: 6 Runs: 82 H.S: 33 Average: 10.25 Catches: 5
Bowling Record
Tests: 6 Runs: 332 Wickets: 7 Best Bowling: 3/64 Average: 47.42

27. George Giffen
Debut: 31 December, 1881
Batting Record
Tests: 31 Runs: 1238 H.S: 161 Average: 23.35 Catches: 24
Bowling Record
Tests: 31 Runs: 2790 Wickets: 103 Best Bowling: 7/117 Average: 27.09 5/10: 7/1
Claim to fame: He is considered to be the world's first world class all rounder. He became Australia's eighth Test captain when in 1894 he led led Australia in four of the five Tests. His 34 wickets in the series was a record for the time. As well, he scored the most runs.

28. Hugh Hamon Massie
Debut: 31 December, 1881
Batting Record
Tests: 9 Runs: 249 H.S: 55 Average: 15.56 100/50: 0/1 Catches: 5
Claim to fame: His highest score came in the 1882 Test in which the Ashes legend was born. It took 57 minutes and 60 balls to compile. He was Australia's fourth Test captain.

29. George Coulthard
Debut: 17 Febuary, 1882
Batting Record
Tests: 1 Runs 6 H.S: 6n.o

30. Samuel Percy Jones
Debut: 17 Febuary, 1882
Batting Record
Tests: 12 Runs: 428 H.S: 87 Average: 21.39 100/50: 0/1 Catches: 12
Bowling Record
Tests: 12 Runs: 112 Wickets: 6 Best Bowling: 4/47 Average: 18.66
Claim to fame: His highest score of 87 was one of the first of many scored by Australian batsmen which became the superstition of 87.

31. Henry James Herbert Scott
Debut: 10 July, 1884
Batting Record
Tests: 8 Runs: 359 H.S: 102 Average: 27.61 100/50: 1/1 Catches: 8
Claim to fame: Australia's sixth Test captain.

32. William Bruce
Debut: 1 January, 1885
Batting Record
Tests: 14 Runs: 702 H.S: 80 Average: 29.25 100/50: 0/5 Catches: 12
Bowling Record
Tests: 14 Runs: 440 Wickets: 12 Best Bowling: 3/88 Average: 36.66
Claim to fame: He was one of nine player to make his Test debut when ten Australian players went on strike.

33. Arthur Harwood Jarvis
Debut: 1 January, 1885
Batting Record
Tests: 11 Runs: 303 H.S: 82 Average: 16.83 100/50: 0/1 Catches/Stumping: 9/9

34. Alfred Percy Marr
Debut: 1 January, 1885
Batting Record
Tests: 1 Runs: 5 H.S: 5 Average: 2.50

35. Samuel Morris
Debut: 1 January, 1885
Batting Record
Tests: 1 Runs: 14 H.S: 10n.o Average: 14.00
Bowling Record
Tests: 1 Runs: 73 Wickets: 2 Best Bowling: 2/73 Average: 36.50
Claim to fame: He opened in the first innings and batted at ten in the second.

36. Henry Alfred Musgrove
Debut: 1 January, 1885
Batting Record
Tests: 1 Runs: 13 H.S: 9 Average: 6.50

37. Roland James Pope
Debut: 1 January, 1885
Batting Record
Tests: 1 Runs: 3 H.S: 3 Average: 1.50

38. William Roderick Robertson
Debut: 1 January, 1885
Batting Record
Tests: 1 Runs: 2 H.S: 2 Average: 1.00

39. John William Trumble
Debut: 1 January, 1885
Batting Record
Tests: 7 Runs: 243 H.S: 59 Average: 20.25 100/50: 0/1 Catches: 3
Bowling record
Tests: 7 Runs: 222 Wickets: 10 Best Bowling: 3/29 Average: 22.20

40. John "Jack" Worrall
Debut: 1 January, 1885
Batting Record
Tests: 11 Runs: 478 H.S: 76 Average: 25.15 100/50: 0/5 Catches: 13
Bowling Record
Tests: 11 Runs: 127 Wickets: 1 Best Bowling: 1/97 Average: 127.00
Claim to fame: He formed an opening partnership with the legendary Victor Trumper.
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The 400 club- #1- #20

February 13th 2008 02:38
To play at the highest level represents an unattainable desire for most of us. There have been those, though, who have dared to reach for, and achieved this. Here, in Australia, in 131 years of Test Cricket, 400 men have had the privilege of reaching the pinnacle of the game.These rarefied heights have seen varying degrees of success, From record breaking careers, to stellar careers, to ordinary careers and to a brief moment in the sun. Despite personal success, these men share a common, unbreakable bond- they have all played a part in game's history. But, who are these men?

1. Charles Bannerman
Debut: 15 March, 1877
Batting Record
Tests: 3 Runs: 239 H.S: 165n.o Average: 59.75 100/50: 1/0
Claim to fame: He faced the first ball in Test cricket. He scored the first run in Tests and was the first centurian. His 165n.o remains the highest score by an Australian on debut.

2. John McCarthy Blackham
Debut: 15 March, 1877
Batting Record
Tests: 35 Runs: 800 H.S: 74 Average: 15.68 Catches/Stumpings: 37/24
Claim to fame: He has to his name the first Test stumping.

3. Bransby Beauchamp Cooper
Debut: 15 March, 1877
Batting Record
Tests: 1 Runs: 18 H.S: 15 Average: 9.00 Catches: 2

4. Thomas William Garrett
Debut: 15 March, 1877
Batting Record
Tests 19 Runs: 339 H.S: 51n.o Average: 12.55 100/50: 0/1 Catches: 7
Bowling Record
Tests: 19 Runs: 970 Wickets:36 Best Bowling: 6/78 Average: 26.94 5/10: 1/0

5. David William Gregory
Debut: 15 March, 1877
Batting Record
Tests: 3 Runs: 60 H.S: 43 Average: 20.00
Claim to fame: He was Australia's first Test captain.

6. Edward James Gregory
Debut: 15 March, 1877
Batting Record
Tests: 1 Runs: 11 H.S: 11 Average: 5.50 Catches: 1
Claim to fame: He was brother to David. He scored the first Test duck. His son, Syd, would captain Australia. After he retired from cricket he became the curator of the S.C.G and he built the first comprehensive scoreboard.

7. John R. Hodges
Debut: 15 March, 1877
Batting Record
Tests: 2 Runs: 10 H.S: 8 Average: 3.33
Bowling Record
Tests: 2 Runs: 84 Wickets: 6 Best Bowling: 2/7 Average:14.00

8. Thomas Patrick Horan
Debut: 15 March, 1877
Batting Record
Tests: 15 Runs 471 H.S: 124 Average: 18.83 100/50: 1/1 Catches: 6
Bowling Record
Tests: 15 Runs: 143 Wickets: 11 Best Bowling: 6/40 Average:13.00 5/10: 1/0
Claim to fame: Due to a strike by Australian Test players over a pay dispute, he becomes Australia's second Test captain. He would captain for just one Test before handing it back to Gregory.

9. Thomas Kingston Kendall
Debut: 15 March, 1877
Batting Record
Tests: 2 Runs: 39 H.S: 17n.o Average: 13.00 Catches: 2
Bowling Record
Tests: 2 Runs: 215 Wickets: 14 Best Bowling: 7/55 Average: 15.35 5/10: 1
Claim to fame: His 7/55 in England's second innings was integral to Australia winning by 45 runs.

10.William Evans Midwinter
Debut:15 March, 1877
Batting Record
Tests: 12 Runs: 269 H.S: 37 Average: 13.45 Catches: 10
Bowling Record
Tests: 12 Runs: 605 Wickets: 24 Best Bowling: 5/78 Average: 25.20 5/10: 1
Claim to fame: He's the only man to play for one international side, then the other and then return to his original side. His 5/78 in England's first innings of the inaugral Test was the first five wicket haul in an innings in Tests.

11. Nathaniel Frampton Davis Thompson
Debut: 15 March, 1877
Batting Record
Tests: 2 Runs: 67 H.S: 41 Average: 16.75 Catches: 3
Bowling Record
Tests: 2 Runs: 31 Wickets: 1 Best Bowling: 1/14 Average: 31.00

12. Thomas Joseph Dart Kelly
Debut: 31 March,1877
Batting Record
Tests: 2 Runs: 64 H.S: 35 Average: 21.33 Catches: 1

13. William Llyod Murdoch
Debute: 31 March, 1877
Batting Record
Tests: 19 Runs: 908 H.S: 211 Average: 31.31 100/50: 2/1 Catches/Stumpings: 14/1
Claim to fame: He was Australia's finest batsman, of his day. He became Australia's third Test captain.

14. Frederick Robert Spofforth
Debut: 31 March,1877
Batting Record
Tests: 18 Runs: 217 H.S: 50 Average: 9.43 100/50: 0/1 Catches: 11
Bowling Record
Tests: 18 Runs: 1731 Wickets: 94 Best Bowling: 7/44 Average: 18.41 5/10: 7/4
Claim to fame: He took the first hat-trick in Tests when he dismissed Royle, Mackinnon and Emmett in the first Test of the 1879 series. His best match figures of 14/90 stands as the second best performance of an Australian bowler.

15. Francis Erskine Allan
Debut: 2 January, 1879
Batting Record
Tests: 1 Runs: 5 H.S: 5 Average: 5.00
Bowling Record
Tests: 1 Runs: 80 Wickets: 4 Best Bowling: 2/30 Average: 20.00

16. Alexander Chalmers Bannerman
Debut: 2 January, 1879
Batting Record
Tests: 28 Runs 1108 H.S: 94 Average: 23.08 100/50: 0/8 Catches: 21
Bowling Record
Tests: 28 Runs 163 Wickets: 4 Best Bowling: 3/111 Average: 40.75
Claim to fame: Was brother to Charles. He scored the first Test run on English soil. He was reknowned as a defensive batsman. An innings of 91 spanned three days.

17. Henry Frederick Boyle
Debute: 2 January, 1879
Batting Record
Tests: 12 Runs: 153 H.S: 36n.o Average: 12.75 Catches: 10
Bowling Record
Tests: 12 Runs 641 Wickets: 32 Best Bowling: 6/42 Average: 20.03 5/10: 1
Claim to fame: He played in the S.C.G. match which turned into a riot.

18. George Alexander
Debut: 6 September, 1880
Batting Record
Tests: 2 Runs: 52 H.S: 33 Average: 13.00 Catches: 2
Bowling Record
Tests: 2 Runs: 93 Wickets: 2 Best Bowling: 2/69 Average: 46.50

19. George John Bonner
Debut: 6 September, 1880
Batting Record
Tests: 17 Runs: 512 H.S: 128 Average: 17.06 100/50: 1/2 Catches: 16
Bowling Record
Tests: 17 Runs: 84 Wickets: 2 Best Bowling: 1/5 Average: 42.00
Claim to fame: He was a powerfully built man and reknowned hitter. He once hit a ball, it was in the Oval Test 1880, so high that by the time G.F. Grace caught the ball, he and his partner had almost completed the third run.

20. Thomas Underwood Groube
Debut: 6 September,1880
Batting Record
Tests: 1 Runs: 11 H.S: 11 Average: 5.50

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Dennis Lillee

November 29th 2007 00:25
Dennis Lillee - Pace, pizazz and personality

Dennis Lilllee Bowling
Lillee at work


Few have bowled faster or with more accuracy than the Australian Legend of Cricket, Dennis Lillee. Dominating the sport in the 70’s by the time he retired in 1984 he held the record for most test wickets.

A media phenomenon who’s public image drew in new fans for the sport and ignited a Cricketing frenzy. Aggressively hurling the ball down the pitch at his opponents he made his test debut in 1971 at the age of 21.

Dennis Lillee bowling
Dennis in full flight - easy to see why the back went


Immediately establishing his primal skills by annihilating his opposition and by the time of his first ashes in 1972 he was already considered one of the best players in the game.

Sadly by the end of that year the initial signs of back trauma revealed themselves and by the end of the season he was in debilitating agony from a stress fracture in the lower vertebrae.

Dennis Lillee approach
In for the kill


Forced to improve his batting at the same time Lillee simultaneously underwent physiotherapy and began adapting his ball throwing to accommodate his new weakness.

Returning for the 1974 Ashes as a double threat with fast bowler Jeff Thomson, by the end of the series Dennis was truly back in the game.

Outspoken and passionate about the game, his boisterous personality was vocal about the lack of money in the game itself. Exploiting his high profile he battled for a new annual tournament that would give the players bonus payment, eventually becoming Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket.

By 1977 the spine was under duress due to an extra work load the previous year and forced Lillee to recuperate. Again he modified his style, this time to a more controlled less speedy delivery that proved successful.

Spending time in the Television Commentary box during down time, Lillee established a balance between his professional sports career and his health.

Past his peak by 1980 it was no surprise but still no less of a massive loss when he announced his retirement 4 years later. Today he is still revered and saluted as much for his contributions to the game as his talent on the pitch.

Here’s some cool retro footage of Lillee playing with that notorious "Aluminum bat" incident.

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adam gilchrist profile

November 17th 2007 07:15

Adam Gilchrist

Australia

Player profile

Full name Adam Craig Gilchrist
Born November 14, 1971, Bellingen, New South Wales
Current age 36 years 2 days
Major teams Australia, ICC World XI, New South Wales, Western Australia
Nickname Gilly, Churchy
Playing role Wicketkeeper batsman
Batting style Left-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm offbreak
Fielding position Wicketkeeper
Height 1.86 m



Batting and fielding averages Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s Ct St
Tests 91 129 19 5353 204* 48.66 6505 82.29 17 24 652 97 350 37
ODIs 275 268 11 9246 172 35.97 9565 96.66 15 52 1124 141 400 53
T20Is 11 11 1 246 48 24.60 165 149.09 0 0 25 12 12 0
First-class 184 271 45 10031 204* 44.38 30 40 723 55
List A 340 328 19 10821 172 35.01 17 60 508 63
Twenty20 11 11 1 246 48 24.60 165 149.09 0 0 25 12 12 0


Bowling averages Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 91 - - - - - - - - - - - -
ODIs 275 - - - - - - - - - - - -
T20Is 11 - - - - - - - - - - - -
First-class 184 - - - - - - - - - - - -
List A 340 12 10 0 - - - 5.00 - 0 0 0
Twenty20 11 - - - - - - - - - - - -


Career statistics Statistics Statsguru Tests | Statsguru ODIs | Statsguru T20Is
Test debut Australia v Pakistan at Brisbane, Nov 5-9, 1999 scorecard
Last Test Australia v Sri Lanka at Brisbane, Nov 8-12, 2007 scorecard
ODI debut Australia v South Africa at Faridabad, Oct 25, 1996 scorecard
Last ODI India v Australia at Mumbai, Oct 17, 2007 scorecard
T20I debut New Zealand v Australia at Auckland, Feb 17, 2005 scorecard
Last T20I India v Australia at Mumbai (BS), Oct 20, 2007 scorecard
First-class debut 1992/93
Last First-class Australia v Sri Lanka at Brisbane, Nov 8-12, 2007 scorecard
List A debut 1992/93
Last List A Victoria v Western Australia at Melbourne, Oct 31, 2007 scorecard
Twenty20 debut New Zealand v Australia at Auckland, Feb 17, 2005 scorecard
Last Twenty20 India v Australia at Mumbai (BS), Oct 20, 2007 scorecard


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Sir Donald Bradman

November 14th 2007 22:41
Sir Donald Bradman
Sir Donald Bradman was a famous Australian cricketer, and a fervent supporter of the sport. His batting average in Tests was an incredible 99.94, making him, by that measure, the best batsman in cricket history.

He was born in 1908 in New South Wales, in Cootamundra, then moved to Bowral in the Southern Highlands where he played a rough bush cricket. A common legend is that he practised with a stump and a golf ball, inspiring hordes of young Australian boys to practise with anything: wooden sticks, gardening shears, broken lamps.

He was asked to move up to the grade cricket league in Sydney, where he played fro St. George. He quickly gained prominence as a big hitter, and racked up the big, big numbers.

At the age of 19, he premiered at the Adelaide Oval, setting the tone by nailing an innings of 118, which would set the tone for the rest of the season. Upon entering his first International Test, he became the youngest player to score a century, playing with Australia against England.

Donald Bradman sketch
After the 1930 tour of England, where Bradman scored 974 runs, he received an intense reception back in Australia. He wasn't comfortable with this level of fame, and spent a lot of quiet time by himself, writing.

The English came up with a plan to take Bradman out: throw the ball at him. The tactic was called Bodyline, and became a topic of heated controversy, as the game was supposed to be quite gentlemanly. Australians are still angry about this dirty trick and the controversy is part of the NSW high school curriculum.

By the late 30s, Bradman was at the top of his game, despite battling injuries and illnesses. When the war in Europe took off, he joined the RAAF, then transferred to the Army, where the toll on his body was punishing.

In the 1947-1948 season, Bradman scored his 100th century, the first non-Englishman to do so... it is still quite a milestone as no other Australian has beat this record.

The legacy of Bradman is so overwhelming in Australia that his inspiration continues today. Someone was walking by as I wrote this entry and berated me at length about how good he was as a batsman, and how 'those dirty Poms' came up with the Bodyline to defeat Bradman. He represents something that all Australians can cheer for: a country boy that became really good at sports, then went overseas to thrash England. That's the Australian dream.


(the majority of this information is taken from Wikipedia)





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Full Name: Ricky Thomas Ponting
Nickname: Punter
Date of Birth: December 19, 1974, Launceston, Tasmania
Age: 31
Major teams: Australia, ICC World XI, Somerset, Tasmania
Batting style: Right-handed
Bowling style: Right-arm medium
Test Debut: Australia v Sri Lanka at Perth, 1995
Test Batting Average: 58.22 from 105 tests
Test Highest Score: 257 vs India, 2003
Test Bowling Average: 46.20

Test Best Bowling: 1/0
One Day International Debut: Australia vs South Africa at Wellington, 1995
One Day Batting Average: 42.44
One Day Highest Score: 164 vs South Africa, 2006

Scoring 96 on his test debut in 1995, Ricky Ponting has lived up to all expectations after being deemed 'the best teenager batsmen ever seen' by Australian great Rod Marsh. Known for his extravagent strokeplay, especially his powerful back foot cut and pull shots Ponting has risen to become one of the best batsmen in the world, and inarguably the one of the best the modern era has seen. This has been typified by the many records he has eclipsed including the number of double centuries scored by an Australian and equals the record set by Suni Gaviskar for the most double centuries within a calendar year. To add to his batting prowess, Ponting is one the world's most lethal fieldsmen, who has made the impossible runouts seem easy on countless occassions as he consistently combines with one-day specialist Andrew Symonds to form Australia's dominating and potent fielding force. Gaining the captaincy after Steve Waugh's retirement, it took Ponting a year to become accustomed to the position as he produced a below par year of 2004, however managed to stake his claim in 2005 scoring 1544 runs which included a staggering 3 double centuries, but suffered a confidence blow after losing the Ashes after 15 years of Australian dominance. Despite receiving some harsh criticism following the Ashes defeat, Ponting silenced them all as the Australians hit back after taking the South Africans through a test cricket lesson and then rampaging through the Bangladeshi 3-0.
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Full Name: Andrew Flintoff
Andrew 'Freddy' Flintoff - Image from CricInfo

Nickname: Freddy
Date of Birth: December 6, 1977, Preston, Lancashire
Age: 28
Major teams: England, ICC World XI, Lancashire
Batting style: Right-handed
Bowling style: Right-arm fast
Test Debut: England v South Africa at Nottingham, 1998
Test Batting Average: 32.91 from 62 tests
Test Highest Score: 167 vs West Indies, 2004
Test Bowling Average: 31.32
Test Best Bowling: 5/58
One Day International Debut: vs Pakistan at Sharjah, 1999
One Day Batting Average: 34.28
One Day Highest Score: 123 vs West Indies, 2004

Since being the recipient of the coveted Wisden Cricketer of the Year award in 2004, Andrew Flintoff's career has shot off like a bullet out of a gun, and now is one of the world's greatest all-rounders ever to stride onto the cricket field, since the legendary Ian Botham. His outstanding display during the infamous Ashes victory in 2005, won him respect, as he plundered the Aussie batsmen with his explosive pace bowler and powerful batting style. Flintoff's ability to change the outcome of a match is astounding - as the Aussies found out the hard way, with Freddy blasting 402 runs and bagging 24 wickets during the 5 tests. Flintoff's name as an explosive batsmen came from his one-day international displays, but since 2005, Flintoff has been regarded the 'ultimate' all-rounder, able to play both forms of the game with ease and effectiveness. Andrew's successes in the Test arena has resulted in his rise to become captain of the English Test squad against India this Summer, a dream anyone would wish to fulfil.
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Full Name: Justin Lee Langer
Justin Langer. From Getty Images

Date of Birth: November 21, 1970, Perth, Western Australia
Age: 35
Major teams: Australia, Middlesex, Western Australia
Batting style: Left-handed
Bowling style: Right-arm medium pace
Test Debut: vs West Indies, 1993 at Adelaide Oval
Test Batting Average: 45.35 from 100 tests
Test Highest Score: 250 vs England, 2002
Test Bowling Average: N/A
Test Best Bowling: N/A
One Day International Debut: vs Sri Lanka, 1994 at Sharjah
One Day Batting Average: 32 from 7 innings
One Day Highest Score: 36 vs India, 1994

Known for his grit and toughness, Justin Langer epitomises the hard working batsman who fights for every single run in his innings, and is the kind of the batsman who hardly ever throws away his wicket. His solid technique along with his explosive cut and pull shots earned Langer his Baggy Green cap against the fiery pace attack of the West Indies, where he made a gritty 54 after being hit in the helmet on debut. From that test onwards nothing has changed for the opening batsman in terms of his ability to put his own body on the line for his team, which has resulted in Langer's prolonged stints at the crease, enabling him to fine tune his game and transform into an elegant, solid and explosive opener. Most recently, Langer has blasted century after century, typically highlighted by his 250 against the Poms in 2002, and also managed to notch up a mammoth 1471 runs in 2004 alone. He and his partner in crime Matthew Hayden have also rewritten the record books not a few times, but on many occassion as they relentlessly dispose of world class bowling attacks time after time. The Langer and Hayden combination stands to be one of the best opening partnerships of all time, standing alongside, if not above West Indians Haynes and Greenidge.
However, Langer's most memorable highlight of his career would most definitely be the Hobart test of 2001, where he and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist managed to rescue the 'unrescuable', as both batsmen secured vicotry from the slightest of hopes. Langer's century in the test ultimately demonstrates his grit and determination, and that 'being the master of concentration' is the fundamental aspect behind his success.

And how true is that.
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Full name: Kevin Peter Pietersen
Image from CricInfo

Date of Birth: June 27, 1980, Pietermaritzburg, Natal
Age: 25
Major teams: England, Hampshire, ICC World XI, KwaZulu-Natal, Natal, Nottinghamshire
Batting style: Right-handed
Bowling style: Right-arm off spin
Test Debut: vs Australia, 2005 at Lords
Test Batting Average: 50.12
Test Highest Score: 158 vs Australia, 2005
Test Bowling Average: N/A
Test Best Bowling: N/A
One Day International Debut: vs Zimbabwe, 2004 at Harare
One Day Batting Average: 65.50 from 24 innings
One Day Highest Score: 116 vs South Africa, 2005

Born in Natal, South Africa, Kevin Pieterson's decision to represent England rather than his home country caused much controversy, but his self-confidence and immense talent prevailed as made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe, which was then followed by the tour of South Africa, where he shut the mouths of many of his South African critics by scoring an explosive 116. After weathering the one-day storm and criticisms surrounding his 'defection', Kevin Pieterson's international test debut began in the infamous Ashes victory to the English in 2005. Starting poorly in the field which included several dropped catches, Pieterson showed his true power with the bat belting two fifties in each innings on debut. Despite being in a losing side in the first test, it was Pieterson who snatched the Ashes away from the Aussies in the final test, scoring a match-winning 158 (his current highest Test score), which helped the English clench the necessary draw in order to claim the Ashes for the first time since 1988. Pieterson's display in the Ashes labelled him as a respectable batsman in the English side, and his hard-hitting ability has left many a side in tatters, and has snatched away certain victory from opposing sides. Ultimately, Pieterson's explosive and dynamic batting stlye renders him as one the best modern players around at this current time, as he dominates both the test and one-day arenas, and is one England's most dangerous players.
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