Story Australian Cricket Team 2013 Ashes and Beyond [ICC:AE]

[lonie_from_50]

19 June 2013

After an amazing past couple decades, the Australian Cricket side has slowly declined in its form in both forms of the game, despite still the number 1 Test nation and sitting 2nd in the ODI ratings.

Former skipper and cricket legend Ricky Ponting has continued his international career ahead of the 2013 Ashes series in England, the series which Australia have held since reclaiming the urn in 2006/07. Cameron White will lead the Australians to England for a long winter, seeing five tests and five one day internationals.

Australian Squad:

24-26 June 2013
Combined Univs vs Australia; 3-day friendly

Australia have recorded a 10 wicket victory thanks to tidy bowling from the pace attack, headed by Andrew Oliver, while the spinners took control when needed. With only three days and a result, the Australians were happy in the result, with Ricky Ponting; Dan Cook and Cameron White all sitting out of the action watching on. It became a battle of wicket-keepers, with both Luke Ronchi and Peter Legg playing; but Ronchi stood out with a half-century as Legg faced three balls before edging to slips.

Andrew Oliver earned man of the match honours with seven wickets and looks to keep his spot in the test side. Shaun Tait was also a solid contributor with 2-29 and 2-68 with his chances of gaining test selection still on the cards. Tait took 9-73 in a test against England at Lord's four years back.

Combined Univs - 1st Inns - 178 All Out
P Steele 76; C Downland 36; A Oliver 4-41; M Clarke 2-9; S Tait 2-29
Australia - 1st Inns - 302 All Out
S Watson 58; L Ronchi 52; M Hussey 47; P Jaques 42; C Downland 6-114
Combined Univs - 2nd Inns - 183 All Out
H Read 47*; T Adey 43; A Oliver 3-49; A English 2-19
Australia - 2nd Inns - 60 for 0

 

[Pakistani Army]

Very nice mate. Very new faces in the Australian Squad. Best of luck with this story mate.

 

[Roofrom50]

Good luck Lonie, looking forward to this story

 

[lonie_from_50]

6 July 2013
England vs Australia; 1st Test; Lords

Australia: P Jaques, D Cook, R Ponting, M Clarke, M Hussey, E Cowan, *C White, +L Ronchi, A Oliver, T Kelly, S Tait
England: A Cook, D Birch, D Chester, G Marlowe, A Killbeck, *I Bell, +C Read, L Plunkett, J Anderson, D Hume, W Lang

Ian Bell won the toss and elected to open up with the ball with the first couple days expected to provide dark skies and allow the pace attack to gain confidence and momentum early on. It worked early with Phil Jaques edging Lang to second slip for 17.

However, Ricky Ponting came to the crease and formed a steady partnership with Dan Cook before lunch, where Cook would pass his half-century before the break, with the score at 1-86. Ponting and Cook would both be dismissed shortly after with Hume and Anderson getting the breakthrough's, Cook gone for 64.

The skies would close in before tea, but Ian Bell bought himself on to try and break the balanced partnership between Clarke and Hussey, and got the breakthrough, Clarke gone for 28 as the clouds opened up. After a 45 minute delay, the players would come back, and the English camp looked in good shape, with Hume collecting Hussey after celebrating a half century, and then Lang collecting White and Oliver as Plunkett clean bowled Ed Cowan for a quick 53.

The Australians at stumps in trouble at 8 for 267

Australia - 1st Inns - 267 for 8
D Cook 64, E Cowan 53, M Hussey 51, W Lang 3-64, D Hume 2-59

L Ronchi 9*, T Kelly 1*

 

[Metallica_ACDC]

Good work mate
Not looking good for the Aussies

 

[Gilly Fan]

Hey, Lonie. Are you from Big Footy?

 

[Roofrom50]

Hey, Lonie. Are you from Big Footy?

Im pretty sure he is yeah.

 

[lonie_from_50]

Hey, Lonie. Are you from Big Footy?

I was, yes

7 July 2013
England vs Australia; 1st Test; Lords (Day 2)

Australia are in a commanding position to take the first test after what looked like an evenly balanced match. All it took was one day to change it all. Coming into the day 8 down, the Australians were quickly bowled out, for 281, with Luke Ronchi not out on 11, and Hume and Lang both snaring 3 wickets for the innings.

The turn of events came in Englands innings where Australia dominated with the ball, something that has been hard to do for many years now for the Aussies. Shaun Tait and Andrew Oliver did well in opening spells before Cameron White and Trent Kelly started the collapse. White would take three wickets in eight overs, while Kelly took two; and England went from 1-47 to 6-79; all out for 109 in less than two sessions. Tait's impressive comeback into the test side saw 3-17 from 9.1 overs and Cameron White snagged 3-27 off 15.

Australia then did damage with the bat, with what looked like an unbeaten opening partnership till stumps, but Dan Cook was bowled for 69 off Plunkett. Australia go into day 3 sitting pretty, with the score at 1-150 and a 322 run lead.

Australia - 1st Inns - 281
D Cook 64, E Cowan 53, M Hussey 51, W Lang 3-64, D Hume 3-61, J Anderson 2-103

England - 1st Inns - 109 All Out
D Chester 38, S Tait 3-17, C White 3-27, A Oliver 2-28, T Kelly 2-33

Australia - 2nd Inns - 150 for 1
D Cook 69, P Jaques 59*, L Plunkett 1-22

P Jaques 59*, R Ponting 13*

 

[Left_Hander]

Australia are in a commanding position. All of the Aussies bowled really well and the Australian batsmen in the second innings have backed this up.

 

[freddiw]

Come on Cowan well batted:happy
England will easily take the next 9 wickets (OR NOT):crying
please England lets smash them:boxing
:onpcKUTGW:onpc

 

[Gilly Fan]

Geez, Punter and Huss stilll playing? They'd be 38 now.

We're dominating. Nice work, mate.