Nic Maddinson was stewing, struggling to shake the disappointment that lingered for even longer than he dwelt at the crease for the painful 33-ball duck that marked his return to Test cricket in Durban this week.
Aussie hero does it again after lucky break ends drought as famous win nears — LIVE
Australia are four wickets away from victory at lunch after Josh Hazlewood and Matt Renshaw picked up much-needed breakthroughs on the fifth morning of the first Test against South Africa in Durban. Live updates below!
Bazball poster boy Zak Crawley suffers fresh setback after missing out in $30m England contracts reveal
Discarded England opener Zak Crawley has received another setback in his bid to turn his international career around, missing out on a central contract as the ECB unveiled an unprecedentedly long list.
‘Don’t be scared’: Legend fires up over cricket ‘stigma’ as Test shake-up debate reignited
South African great Shaun Pollock believes cricket needs to embrace the pink ball in matches where light is likely to become a factor given the amount of time that has been lost in the Test behind held in Durban this week.
Renshaw’s heroics leave South Africa reeling as Australia close on first Test victory
What a few days it has been in the life of Matt Renshaw. His comeback to the Test team had consisted of one innings, edged to slip for eight, before he made the trip to South Africa, where his job as opener suddenly changed to batting five.
His first two days of the first Test in Durban were spent compiling his epic 190 to rescue Australia. Then came his fourth day, hammering in the nails on a declaration by top scoring again with 82. Pulling out at 316 for six, Australia set South Africa 421 to win, then took four wickets for 102 by the close; Aiden Markram on 45 will be the main obstacle to an Australian series lead on the final day.
Continue reading...‘Astute’ act inspires Aussie charge but fresh headache emerges after star’s ‘turning point’
The first Test of this highly-anticipated series between Australia and South Africa is set to go the way of the visitors following another dominant day in Durban.
Nasty bouncer blow triggers big concerns for Aussie superstar as CA provide update
Champion batsman Steve Smith is in doubt for the second Test of the prized series against South Africa after he was struck in the head with a venomous delivery by South African speedster Anrich Nortje in Durban on Monday
England split cricket coaching setups and hand out record 39 central contracts
Robinson, Duckett and Smith get one-year deals
Eric Simons hired as Test fast-bowling coach
Rob Key believes he can now “map out the next two years” for the England men’s teams, having handed out a record 39 central contracts and unveiled new split coaching setups under Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum that he hopes will produce homegrown candidates for the top roles in future.
The retirement of Ben Stokes mid-summer, plus Zak Crawley being dropped, has allowed Key, the England team director, to stretch the pot of money for player contracts further this year. Thirty main deals have been issued – up from 26 last year – while nine players have been handed development contracts that top up their county pay.
Continue reading...Aussies march towards victory after late blows, crazy Cummins cameo and star’s clinic
Australia is marching towards victory, needing six wickets on the final day to wrap up the first Test against South Africa in Durban following a dominant day four.
‘In awe’: Truth behind shock 77% Smith stat… and why it exposes glaring cricket problem
“Oh my God, Smudge!”
‘If I’m honest with you’: Nathan Lyon’s defiant Test reveal after stunning Aussie bowling quartet milestone of 600 wickets
As Nathan Lyon was assessing the dominant position Australia finds itself in three days into the first Test of the highly anticipated series against the Proteas, there was an air of surprise at just how easy it had been for the Aussies.
Difficult Cummins scenario emerges; Renshaw headache as Maddinson’s fate revealed — Talking Points
A vintage display from Steve Smith in the slips cordon and a fine performance from Australia’s esteemed bowling attack furthered the tourists’ ascendancy on day three of the first Test against South Africa in Durban.
Record-breaking quartet put Australia in full control against South Africa
Australia 390 & 33-0; South Africa 284
Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Lyon share nine wickets
As a fractured news environment demonstrates, observations can be made from just about any perspective. One view of Australia’s Test team could focus on age, with the principal bowlers all having more than 33 years to their names. Another could focus on them all having more than 300 wickets.
At the first Test in Durban, an unprecedented achievement by Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon is continuing, one that they began in Mackay two months ago: being the only quartet in history to walk on to Test fields as members of the 300 club. By the end of day three they had taken another nine, South Africa bowled out for 284, trailing by 139 runs by the time bad light stopped play with Australia 33 without loss.
Continue reading...‘Oh my god, Smudge’: Smith’s ridiculous catch sparks disbelief as Aussie breaks Test record
Steve Smith has been on fire in the field for Australia, producing three of the best catches you will ever see.
Aussie young gun’s stunning 131 seals ODI series win as Bangladesh star makes history
Georgia Voll has smashed an unbeaten century as Australia continued their dominance over Bangladesh with a nine-wicket victory in the second day/night ODI.