Story ICC Best Of The Rest Championship

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1st One Day International - Adelaide Oval​

Tony Greig's Pitch Report:
"This is not the typical Adelaide oval pitch. Infact its quite the opposite to anything like it. This pitch has seen nothing but covers for a few days leading into this match and as a result has quite alot of grass coverage and mosture to it so the team batting first will have to be very watchful. My thinking is that this will be a low scoring match probably around about the 220-250 mark. The captain that wins the toss would want to bowl but if he doesnt get early wickets then it could be a big chase tonight.

Umpires:
Billy Doctrove and Billy Bowden

Toss:
Ricky Ponting has won the toss

Ricky Ponting
"Yeah um were gonna have a bowl mate. The pitch looks to have alot of greeness to it probably more then what you'd see before so i feel that McGrath, Lee and the rest of our attack would love to bowl on it and set us u for a good run chase tonight."

Shivnarine Chanderpaul
"We probably would have bowled however i dont think it will matter once the ball gets older. If we get through the early stages we should set a very competitive total and hopefully start the series with a win."

Xavier Marshall is the inclusion at number 3 they call him the "X Factor" so hopefully he will positivly influence the game for the West Indies. Otherwise they have stuck with there normal side with Gayle up the top of the order who will look to take the attack to the Australians. Lara in at 4 for this match and one would think that the success of the visitors will rest largly on him shoulders.

Some headaches for the selectors coming into this match with who to play and where to fit them in and what they have come up with looks very interesting. Phil Jaques the big inclusion for this match who comes in for Brad Hodge and Damien Martyn drops back down to number 4. So a long batting lineup for the Australians they seem to think that the more batsmen in there side the harder they can push for runs throughout the innings. As you can see they bat down to atleased 9 however Hopes will do the job as 4th quick and alot will rest on him.

 

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As the teams made there way onto the feild for there first match in the series Gayle and Chaderpaul would be looking to start where they left off at the 20Twenty match and the Australians would be looking for assitance from the grass covered pitch.

Brett Lee made the first inroads for the Australians getting the early wicket of Gyale caught of the boundary and a well placed deep backward square. An early wicket turned into 2 and then 3 for Lee as he was now on a roll.

McGrath joined in at the other end with Sarwan miscueing a cut short that lobbed to Ponting at slip this reduce the West Indies to 4/47 inside the first 15 overs.

Through Lara and Samuels the West Indies fought back. Smart batting by this partnership as they pushed singles arounnd the ground as they went past 30 overs however the run rate was suffering and it was clear that the West Indies could not lose any wickets untill the late stages where they would have to swing the willow.

Just as the West Indies looked to up the antie Symonds castled Lara showing that even the great man is human. The visitors now in all kinds of trouble at 5/122.

After Samuels was bowled by Hopes after he got to 50 the rest of the team crumbled to be knocked over for a modest 167 off 46.5 overs. Australia looking good to pick up a bonus point from this game with such a small run chase. However the small total has never been the best friend of the Australians so a good start is vital. Gilchrist and Jaques will look to finish this as soon as possible so they can get on the plane to The SCG for game 2.

Lee finished with 4 and Hopes and Bracken both chipped in with 2 for a very solid performance. This proves what Ponting said prior to the series there are 15-18 players capable of playing for Australia and taking them to the top

The runchase is set to begin from the Adelaide Oval Australia needing 168 for victory and needing to do it inside 40 overs to acheive a bonus point.

 

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Australia Ontop As Gilchrist Fires​

The Australian innings started well will Gilchrist hammering 3 sixes in the first 5 overs. Jaques was the only downside to the run chase he went for 8 trying to play on the up through the covers hitting a catch to Lara off the bowling of Edwards.

Ponting joined Gilchrist and together they took the attack to the West Indies to be in a healthy position to pick up the bonus point at the end of 10 overs. Gilchrist on 41* and Ponting with 11 respectivly.

 

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Australia does the job at Adelaide Oval​

Gilchrist and Ponting continued the charge as far as it would go until Ponting chipped one back to the bowler and was out. This was a sign that the pitch was really playing tricks and wasnt the best deck for One Day cricket.

The Gilchrist 50 came up at under a run a ball as he carried the team home.

Martyn, Symonds and Clarke all went back into the pavillion Symonds without troubling the scorers as Australia continued to push and get the game over with as soon as possible.

Gilchrist partnered by Hussey knocked off the remaining runs to win by 5 wickets in just the 28th over. Hopefully more exciting matches are to come as the West In dies now need to win with a bonus point in the 2nd and final One Day match to square the series.

Feel free to post who you thought where the best 3 players to get Allan Border medal votes

 

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Katich Time In Pyjamas Wearing Thin​

Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns has hinted that former Australian test player Simon Katich is now in danger of being booted out of the one day squad.

"Simon has been a valuable member of the One Day squad for quite some time however there are fringe players that are deserving as him."

"Simon has been in a bit of a rough patch over the last few weeks and would be keen to get amongst the runs in the coming ODI at his home ground The SCG."

Although Trevor never said that Katich was hanging off the cliff it certainly soundes like he'l need a bit score soon or he might disappear from Cricket Australias plans altogther.

When quizzed about his place in the Australian team Katich replied "You know you might be due for a score when the chairman of selectors starts calling you by your first name."

Should be a very interesting second match in the VB Series with Katich set to open with Gilchrist but for how many matches?

 

[moza1]

1. Gilchrist
2. Lee
3. hopes.

Top 3 players.

 

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1. Gilchrist
2. Lee
3. hopes.

Top 3 players.

Yeah i dont think many people would disagree with you there

 

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2nd One Day International - The SCG​

Tony Greig's Pitch Report:
"Well a much better pitch to play one day cricket here at The SCG. A dry looking pitch that should provide alot of runs throughout both innings. The toss shouldnt matter to much it would depend upon whether the winning captain would like to either set a total or chase under lights tonight. A very lush outfeild will prove to be slower then the usual. All in all i'd say about a 270-280 pitch.

Umpires:
Simon Tauffel and Steve Bucknor

The Toss:
The toss goes the favour of the West Indies

Shivnarine Chanderpaul
"We will be batting first as the pitch looks great and we should have some true bounce for our top order to get on the offensive early. We will be looking to bounce back in this match as opposed to the first one day game. Keeping wickets in hand for the later stages of the match so we can set up a total for our bowlers to defend tonight will be the game plan.

Ricky Ponting
"Yeah would of liked to bat but we will be happy to chase down whatever total our bowlers can give us. Very positive signs in the first game with our bowling attack determining the outcome of the game from the early stages. Again the boys will just want to be showcasing there skills for the great crowds we get here in Sydney.

West Indies Lineup:

A few changes needed to be made from a very disapointing effort in the first ODI. Marshall makes way for Hinds who will be opening the batting with Gayle they are both attacking by nature so it will be an iteresting first couple of overs. The West Inies must ffeel that their bowlers can do them the job against the Australians as there has been no change there. Maybe just the batting side of things that is letting the side down.

Australian Lineup:

Australia as strong as ever but with a few changes to the side that demolished the West Indies last outing. An out of form Katich is in for Jaques. Alot of talk about how many more chances Katich will get to keep his spot he will be looking to do well in this match. Brad Hogg comes into the team for Hopes due to the spinning nature of this SCG pitch.

Both teams with somthing to play for in this match it should be a beauty.

 

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First 15 overs:

No suprises as Gayle came out swinging taking Brett Lee's first over for 14 as he looked to take advantage of the feilding restrictions by going aerial with a couple of fence clearers.

There is only so long that a man that takes as many riskes as Gayle can stay at the crease before his luck catches up with him and sure enough he proved it bunting a catch to Clarke at cover off the bowling of McGrath and he was on his way as the score became 1/38.

After the first wicket fell the events of Adelaide Oval suddenly came rushing back into the heads of the West Indians as the tightend up there strokeplay from then until the feilding restrictions where lifted.

West Indies 1/56 after 15 completed overs Hinds 25* and Chanderpaul 8*

 

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25 overs

The West Indies have slowed down as Hinds and Chanderpaul took a defensive approach against the bowling of Bracken and Symonds. The run rate slipped as low as 3.5 an over. It seems as if the West Indies have totally changed there gameplan from the first ODI as they now look to keep wickets in hand.

Chanderpaul departed after clipping a full ball off his legs straight to McGrath and he was out for 16 off 46 balls.

The wicket is probably a good thing for the West Indies as they need a batsmen with a more aggresive mindset what a time for Lara to walk to the crease.

Lara looked to swing the momentum for the Windies as he hit a few long balls over the top and moved along nicely.

At the halfway stage the visitors need to get going but are in the position to be dangerous having only lost 2 wickets.

Lara 13(9)* Hinds 41(75)*

 

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West Indies innings at 40 overs

Lara again the lone figure as yet another West Indies collapse happened around him. Hinds was first to go as the pressure got to him on 45 he was another man out playing on the up. Shortly after coming to the crease Sarwan escaped a close encounter with the 3rd umpire but was gone shortly after bowled by Hogg for 12. Samules was run out without scoring and Bravo skied one off the bowling of Clarke to be caught and bowled.

The spinners did the job in the middle overs with Hogg picking up 2 from his 10 overs and larke with 2/8 after just 3 overs.

At the crease for the West Indies are Ramdin and Collymore. They will be desperate to bat out the 50 overs at 7/153 yet another West Indies low total looks probable.

Australia will be pushing to knock over the West Indies and take another win on a pitch that is playing no trick and has true bounce the West Indies just simply not good enough to challenge the World Champions.

 

[MWaugh]

good stuff but your signature is too large. read the forum rules - 300 x 100

 

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good stuff but your signature is too large. read the forum rules - 300 x 100

Sorry about that mate thanks for pointing it out

 

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West Indies Fightback through lower order

Just when everyone thought that the West Indies spirits had been crushed and Australia would be all smiles going into the test series they have retaliated through keeper Dinesh Ramdin.

Ramdin plundered an unbeaten 58 off 40m balls including 7 boundays and 2 sixes. All the Australians could do was watch as the little fella uped the ante in the closing over picking gaps all over the feild. He was partnered by Colleymore who chipped in 13 and Powell who managed 7 as he amazed the SCG crowd.

Ramdin had now atleased gotten the West Indies somthing for there bowlers to play with as they reached there close of innings at 9/232.

Australia will still confident of chasing down the total however anything can happen in these limited overs matches under lights.

Australia require 233 runs for victory at 4.66 runs per over

 

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Australia 15 Overs

Australia wouldnt need the usual all out attack of the first 15 overs but they would need to move along at around 5 an over to stay ontop of the West Indies.

The Australians got just the start they where looking for as the scoreboard kept ticking over infront of the required rate. Gilchrist looked to take the attack one step to far as he middled a fully pitch ball from Edwards straight to mid off and departed for 13.

The fact that Australia had lost there first wicket didnt interupt the rythm of the Australian batsmen as they pushed forwar through Ponting and Katich.

Pontings heart was in his mouth when he skied a ball to cover but shear relief set in as the soda was put down with the captain on 6. The question was how many would it cost them?

The answer to that question was not many as Ponting was triggered by (out of form) umpire Steve Bucknor a ball obviously sliding down the leg side that the West Indies gave a half shout at was given by there fellow countryman. Ponting was livid as he made his way back for 11.

At the end of feilding restrictions the Australians are sitting comfortably infront and one feels that the only way for the West Indies to win is to bowl the home side out as they simply dont have enough runs on the board.

Comparison at 15 overs:
West Indies 1/56
Australia 2/81

Katich 34(41)* Martyn 8(11)*