For a bloke from the bush in Bendemeer, finding solitude in Sydney can be a tricky feat, but Josh Hazlewood found an idyllic spot in the suburbs with a mate when first making his way as a talented tearaway quick.
Sandpaper made Australia the story in 2018 while South Africa’s achievement faded into irrelevance
The hosts’ stunning Test victory was overshadowed by the scale of national angst felt in Australia after the team’s ball tampering
For South African cricketers, administrators and supporters, the most surprising aspect of the Sandpaper scandal was not that it happened. After all, the ball had been suspiciously reverse-swinging during the first two Tests of that ill-fated series in 2018. The atmosphere had turned febrile after a stairwell bust-up between Quinton de Kock and David Warner in Durban and after supporters directed misogynistic abuse at Warner and his family in Gqeberha. Nathan Lyon had promised before the tour to “head-butt the line” of what was acceptable. Darren Lehmann, then Australia’s coach, came from an old school where bullying was sugar-coated with the phrase “mental disintegration”.
No, what surprised South Africans most was the scale of the fallout, and how one tiny piece of sandpaper could cause so much national angst.
Continue reading...‘Awkward’ injury ‘likely’ to force surprise Aussie change for opening Test in South Africa
Australia is “likely” to be without Cameron Green for the first Test in South Africa as the all-rounder struggles to overcome an injury.
Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne set for South Africa Test after first ton in 11 months
Batter makes 111 against Cricket South Africa Invitation XI
Three-match Test series starts in Durban on Friday
The indefatigable Marnus Labuschagne has responded to all the hand-wringing over whether he merits a place in Australia’s Test future by just doing what he likes doing best – scoring runs.
After a difficult year, the under-pressure 32-year-old chose the most timely moment to score his first century in any form of cricket for 11 months in Potchefstroom, just five days before Australia play their first Test in South Africa since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
Continue reading...‘Century he needed’: Marnus’ 11-month drought over in timely Test boost … but there’s a catch
Marnus Labuschagne has all but confirmed his place at No. 3 for the first Test against South Africa, hitting a century in Australia’s pre-series warm-up game.
Windies star blows up over shock DRS call as wounded teammate’s masterclass takes down India
Skipper Shai Hope overcame a groin injury to produce a memorable century and orchestrate a record chase as West Indies secured a consolation five-wicket victory over India in the final one-day international on Saturday.
Forgotten SA skipper stuns as Aussie tour game call confirms major injury scare
Forgotten ex-South African captain Neil Brand was the star of the day as Australia were made to toil to begin their pre-series tour match in Potchefstroom.
Why Aussie selectors rolled dice on ‘wildest’ Test call-up… 12 months after cancer battle
Nic Maddinson’s call-up to Australia’s Test squad in South Africa came from nowhere.
Shield star’s stunning haul in vain as Aus A fall agonisingly short of much-needed win
Sam Harper’s first innings century and Liam Scott’s five-wicket haul were in vain as Australia A agonisingly fell one wicket short of a series-levelling victory against India A in Puducherry.
Sports quiz of the week: winners, losers, prodigies, heroes, villains and rivals
Have you been watching football, chess, cricket, rugby, motor racing, hockey, boxing, table tennis and horse racing?
Continue reading...‘Up for revenge’: Aussies dumped in blockbuster group as full 2027 World Cup draw drops
Defending champions Australia will begin their 2027 Cricket World Cup campaign with a blockbuster clash against India in Cape Town on October 7.
Aussie Test shocks as unlikely pair called up amid stars’ injury concerns
The injury curse that has struck Australia in its tour of South Africa has worsened with all-rounder Cameron Green under a cloud ahead of the first Test beginning next Friday.
England call up spinner Mason Crane eight years after his solitary Test cap
Replaces Rehan Ahmed in ODI squad to Pakistan
Archer rested for tri-series that begins on 18 October
Nearly nine years on from his solitary Test cap in Sydney comes an England recall for Mason Crane. The leg-spinner has been named in England’s squad for the one-day international tri-series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. England will fly to Islamabad on 15 October for a round-robin mini-tournament that serves as preparation for next year’s 50-over World Cup. The three teams play each other twice in the group stage, before the top two meet for the final at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on 31 October.
Jos Buttler will miss the trip due to his recent hamstring tear and Jofra Archer is being rested at the start of a busy winter. But there are returns for Adil Rashid and Sam Curran after injury and a spot for James Coles, while the most eye-catching move is Crane usurping Rehan Ahmed as the back-up wrist-spinner.
Continue reading...‘Shouldn’t have said that’: Aussie lifts lid on THAT Ashes blow-up… and hotel ‘shock’ that lay ahead
Jake Weatherald was fishing on a boat on an idyllic day in a tropical paradise last month hoping that the sun would never set.
‘Water under the bridge’: Ashes villain ready to bury Aussie hatchet after signing $400k BBL deal
England’s Jonny Bairstow is ready to bury the hatchet with Australian cricket fans as the Ashes villain joins the Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming Big Bash season.