Category: Australia Cricket

Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has questioned whether the national selectors backtracked on their policy of picking the country’s six best batters for the Test team, arguing Josh Inglis deserves to make his debut at Perth Stadium against India.

Nathan McSweeney knows better than anyone that 18 months is a long time in cricket, let alone five years.

South African Lizelle Lee has smashed the highest score in WBBL history with an astonishing 150 not out off 75 balls for the Hobart Hurricanes against the Perth Scorchers at the SCG.

• South Australian to debut at top of batting order in first match in Perth
• In-form Josh Inglis also picked as batter in 13-player squad

Australia have settled on Nathan McSweeney to be Usman Khawaja’s opening partner for the start of the blockbuster Test series against India. After an outstanding start to the domestic season, McSweeney has beaten Marcus Harris for the vacant spot in the Australian XI.

McSweeney will become the first Australian player in 47 years to make his Test debut as an opener despite never having batted there at Sheffield Shield level. The 25-year-old top-scored in both innings of the first Australia A match in Mackay when batting at No 4. But he was unable to convert starts – 14 and 25 – in both innings as Australia A closed out a six-wicket win in the second match at the MCG.

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Nathan McSweeney has received a maiden Test call-up for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, named in Australia’s 13-player squad for the series opener against India in Perth.

The auditions are over and the Australian team for the summer ahead will be announced on Sunday, with Nathan McSweeney a chance to make his Test debut against India in Perth in the Border Gavaskar Trophy beginning in Perth on Friday week.

Australian cricketer Travis Head and wife Jess have welcomed their second child this week, baby boy Harrison George Head.

Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft both failed in their final Test audition against India A on Saturday afternoon, dismissed for golden ducks during Australia A’s six-wicket victory at the MCG.

England cricket great Ian Botham said he was “nearly catch of the day” after being pulled out of crocodile infested waters by his former Ashes rival Merv Hughes while on a fishing trip in Australia.

A stunning nine-wicket triumph by Pakistan over Australia at Adelaide Oval on Friday night has set the scene for a decider to the one day international series in Perth on Sunday, with the reigning World Champions well below their best in two matches to date.

West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph was hit with a two-match suspension on Thursday after storming off the field during the series-clinching ODI win over England.

• Australia 163; Pakistan 169-1
• First home nine-wicket defeat in an ODI since 1992

World champions Australia have been embarrassed by Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval, suffering one of the heaviest defeats in their ODI history.

After posting only 163, Australia were then punished in the field by Pakistan’s openers Saim Ayub (82) and Abdullah Shafique (64 not out) as the tourists raced to a nine-wicket victory in the second ODI with 141 balls to spare. It is the first time since 1992 Australia have lost a home ODI by nine wickets. They avoided becoming the first Australian team to lose a white-ball match at home by 10 wickets when Adam Zampa ended the 137-run opening stand.

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Ellyse Perry’s blistering start to the domestic summer has continued as she steered the Sydney Sixers home with an unbeaten 48 to claim an easy victory over the Melbourne Stars.

Australia A is on track for a series sweep over India A after another eventful day at the MCG as opener Marcus Harris pressed his case for a Test recall with a gritty fifty.