The up-coming Series for the Australian Cricket team looks to be a challenging series and with the new look Pakistan team coming to the shores of Australia, Ricky Ponting and his men, don't really know what they're in for.
After their 2-0 Test series against the West Indies, where Australia enjoyed a Innings and 65 run win up in Brisbane in the first Test Series. The West Indian side just didn't look prepared for this contest and Australia certainly showed no mercy against Chris Gayle and his men.
All of the Australian batsmen showed a lot of promise, except Shane Watson who made naught in the first Test match, when he broke the shackles and opened the batting with Simon Katich. Katich went on to make 92, before he was dismissed after such a great innings from the left handed opener. Ponting made a handy innings off 55, while Hussey (66) and Vice Captain, Michael Clarke (41) were handy contributors to the scoreboard.
Un-known to the West Indian side, Marcus North came out at number 6 and showed a lot of fight and promise. The left hander made a solid 79 before he was dismissed by Dwayne Bravo, and that didn't stop things there, Nathan Hauritz played a wonderful innings down the order just slotting in a un-beaten half century to have the Aussies declare after a massive total at the Gabba.
Out of the Shadow: Marcus North plays a solid Innings in Brisbane against the West Indies
After such a massive win in Brisbane, Australia went into the Adelaide Test full of confidence. A lot of their batsmen were in some good form, apart from Watson who made naught, but after that, nothing went wrong for the Aussie Batsmen. The West Indian side came into Adelaide looking to make a point, and just to try and play some good, fighting cricket. And fight they did, where the match ended in a draw.
The West Indies won the toss and elected to have a bat first but just like the first test, the first opening 3 wickets came in a flurry and it was looking like another easy win on the cards for Australia. But Shivnarine Chanderpaul certainly had something to say about that, and his 62 made way for a reasonable score for the Indies. But that just led into a huge partnership and formed the going between Brendan Nash and Dwayne Bravo. A big partnership between those 2 men, which saw Nash make 92 before he was clean bowled by Johnson, and Bravo was the first man from both teams to make the ton in the Series, making 104 before Nathan Hauritz blitzed his stumps into pieces. A very good first innings total from the Indies (451) now had the Aussies in a bit of a pickle.
Australia fought back in their first Innings though, making 439, just 28 runs shy off the West Indies, as Shane Watson made 92, when he lost concerntration. Simon Katich continued his good form from the Brisbane, as he reached 80 until he lost his wicket. Michael Clarke also continued his good form from the first test making another 70 runs to add to the Australian total that was forming into a big score. Marcus North was again handy with the bat lower down the order making 55 before he was dismissed.
So just ahead on the scoreboard, the West Indies had the chance to bury this game, and either have 2 choices in result. Win the match, or have the match drawn, so if the Indies made a big score, then there was no way the Aussies could soldier a win. And with their Captain, Chris Gayle opening the batting making a unbeaten 165* where we saw one of the most powerfulest, and demanding innings from one player that i have ever seen. A powerful Innings from the West Indies Captain, it was just too bad he didn't have too many friends on the day, but the Indies were bowled out for 317.
So the Aussies needed 330 runs to win, but they ran out of time, and the match ended up a draw, with a good innings from Michael Clarke being not out on 61 in the end of the day 5. Chris Gayle was the man of the match due to his wonderful 165 not out knock in the 2nd Innings of the match.
The West Indies won the toss and elected to have a bat first but just like the first test, the first opening 3 wickets came in a flurry and it was looking like another easy win on the cards for Australia. But Shivnarine Chanderpaul certainly had something to say about that, and his 62 made way for a reasonable score for the Indies. But that just led into a huge partnership and formed the going between Brendan Nash and Dwayne Bravo. A big partnership between those 2 men, which saw Nash make 92 before he was clean bowled by Johnson, and Bravo was the first man from both teams to make the ton in the Series, making 104 before Nathan Hauritz blitzed his stumps into pieces. A very good first innings total from the Indies (451) now had the Aussies in a bit of a pickle.
Australia fought back in their first Innings though, making 439, just 28 runs shy off the West Indies, as Shane Watson made 92, when he lost concerntration. Simon Katich continued his good form from the Brisbane, as he reached 80 until he lost his wicket. Michael Clarke also continued his good form from the first test making another 70 runs to add to the Australian total that was forming into a big score. Marcus North was again handy with the bat lower down the order making 55 before he was dismissed.
So just ahead on the scoreboard, the West Indies had the chance to bury this game, and either have 2 choices in result. Win the match, or have the match drawn, so if the Indies made a big score, then there was no way the Aussies could soldier a win. And with their Captain, Chris Gayle opening the batting making a unbeaten 165* where we saw one of the most powerfulest, and demanding innings from one player that i have ever seen. A powerful Innings from the West Indies Captain, it was just too bad he didn't have too many friends on the day, but the Indies were bowled out for 317.
So the Aussies needed 330 runs to win, but they ran out of time, and the match ended up a draw, with a good innings from Michael Clarke being not out on 61 in the end of the day 5. Chris Gayle was the man of the match due to his wonderful 165 not out knock in the 2nd Innings of the match.
Ton Mania: Chris Gayle gets in the swing after reaching three figures
The Perth Test match was the last between the two sides, so with the Australian's leading the Series 1-0, this was going to be the determining match. Australia won the Toss and elected to bat first. And the story was the same as it has been all summer. The two opening batsmen, Shane Watson (89) and Simon Katich (99) could NOT make that century for Australia, trying to be the first Australian in the summer series to do so. Katich was close, out on 99 by Benn and caught by Roach. Mike Hussey came back home and played a wonderful innings, and looked to be the first Aussie to get the ton, but he was struck out as well, this time Rampaul taking the wicket. Marcus North played a wonderful innings again, and was in some good form at the number 6 position, but it was the late enterance from keeper, Brad Haddin that stole the show. 88 from Haddin at number 7, made the total for the Australians reaching 520.
So a big chase was in order for the Indies, and with their Captain, Chris Gayle making that century again (102) something the Australian batsmen cannot do, Gayle was ended up being caught out by Watson off the bowling from Bollinger. Travis Dowlin his opening partner, played a good solid innings making 55, but other then that, really didn't have much help on the day, as the first Innings came to an end, with the Windies reaching 312.
Australia were in the box seat here, and their second Innings was just something to forget. All batsmen just wanted to smack the ball around and not many of them can held their head high. The highest score was Watson who made 30 at the top of the order.
So with a target of 359 runs to get. The West Indies had a slimmer hope to win this Test Series here in Perth. Some good all round cricket from all players, saw the match come down to the last couple of minutes on the 5th day, with the Australian's coming out winners, just by 35 runs.
So a big chase was in order for the Indies, and with their Captain, Chris Gayle making that century again (102) something the Australian batsmen cannot do, Gayle was ended up being caught out by Watson off the bowling from Bollinger. Travis Dowlin his opening partner, played a good solid innings making 55, but other then that, really didn't have much help on the day, as the first Innings came to an end, with the Windies reaching 312.
Australia were in the box seat here, and their second Innings was just something to forget. All batsmen just wanted to smack the ball around and not many of them can held their head high. The highest score was Watson who made 30 at the top of the order.
So with a target of 359 runs to get. The West Indies had a slimmer hope to win this Test Series here in Perth. Some good all round cricket from all players, saw the match come down to the last couple of minutes on the 5th day, with the Australian's coming out winners, just by 35 runs.
