Story The Dominators - Global Challenge
- Thread starter MWaugh
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The Champ
International Coach
Eventhough AUS have dominated, i like the way the ZIM have played in this match, better than PAK
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The Champ said:
definatly. its been a fight the whole way. it was only once ponting gained momentum and made full confidence that australia were truely on top. its still not over yet. batting has become alot more easy and i think 250 would still be chaseable. the only problem is that zimbabwe dont have a very long batting order. it falls at about 6. will have to wait and see. pitch is playing well for batting so far
m_vaughan
Chairman of Selectors
250 would be a tough target for Zimbabwe as they have a pretty weak batting lineup. But you never know.MWaugh said:
Australia cruise to crushing victory
Australia resumed play in the 3rd and final session of day 4 today at 5/231, a lead of 263. In the interval coach john buchanan was quoted as saying
regarding the chance of a declaration. Right from the very outset of the final session it was clear that captain Ricky Ponting and vice captain Adam Gilchrist were looking for runs, and quickly, in an attempt to put Australia in an unbeatable lead and still leave time for the bowlers to take the 10 wickets needed.
The star of the final session of play was Gilchrist, resuming from tea on 60, the western australian wicketkeeper/batsman came out firing. Paying little respect to a wicket which had earlier that day been moving a considerable distance, Gilchrist pummled quicks Streak, Blignaut and Hondo to all areas of the ground. Including a magnificant leg side slog off Hondo which almost left the stadium.
Unfortunatly Gilchrists quest of a first test 100 for the international season came unstuck on 93, when he skied a mistimed hook shot off Heath Streak to Hondo at backward square leg. Streak had won the battle in restricting Gilchrist to a sub 100 score, however with the team total standing at 6/271 (a lead of 303 runs), Gilchrist had appeared to have won the war.
Below - Images from a sensational innings from Adam Gilchrist
- Gilchrist sends the ball over the mid wicket boundary and into the carpark
- Gilchrist out hooking for 93 catch eventually taken by Douglas Hondo
- An unlucky Adam Gilchrist heads back to the dressing room, out for a dashing 93
Australia resumed play in the 3rd and final session of day 4 today at 5/231, a lead of 263. In the interval coach john buchanan was quoted as saying
regarding the chance of a declaration. Right from the very outset of the final session it was clear that captain Ricky Ponting and vice captain Adam Gilchrist were looking for runs, and quickly, in an attempt to put Australia in an unbeatable lead and still leave time for the bowlers to take the 10 wickets needed.
The star of the final session of play was Gilchrist, resuming from tea on 60, the western australian wicketkeeper/batsman came out firing. Paying little respect to a wicket which had earlier that day been moving a considerable distance, Gilchrist pummled quicks Streak, Blignaut and Hondo to all areas of the ground. Including a magnificant leg side slog off Hondo which almost left the stadium.
Unfortunatly Gilchrists quest of a first test 100 for the international season came unstuck on 93, when he skied a mistimed hook shot off Heath Streak to Hondo at backward square leg. Streak had won the battle in restricting Gilchrist to a sub 100 score, however with the team total standing at 6/271 (a lead of 303 runs), Gilchrist had appeared to have won the war.
Below - Images from a sensational innings from Adam Gilchrist
- Gilchrist sends the ball over the mid wicket boundary and into the carpark
- Gilchrist out hooking for 93 catch eventually taken by Douglas Hondo
- An unlucky Adam Gilchrist heads back to the dressing room, out for a dashing 93
With the unfortunate dismissal of Adam Gilchrist, and an imposing lead of 303. Australia decided to pull the pin on a great fightback. This left Ricky Ponting not out on 111 and Shane Warne 0* as he was not required to bat. The declaration also gave the australians an hour at the Zimbabwe top order before stumps were to be pulled.
Images below:
- Australian scorecard - second innings
- Zimbabwe bowling figures - started out so promising but fell at the hands of Ponting and Gilchrist. Streak best bowling, again, with 3/100 (28.4)
- Australia batting partnership graph - Highlighting the huge contribution of Ponting and Gilchrist
Images below:
- Australian scorecard - second innings
- Zimbabwe bowling figures - started out so promising but fell at the hands of Ponting and Gilchrist. Streak best bowling, again, with 3/100 (28.4)
- Australia batting partnership graph - Highlighting the huge contribution of Ponting and Gilchrist
Having been set an imposing 304 for victory with 3 and half sessions left to play out, Zimbabwe were forced to survive an hour worth of play as the sun went down late on day 4 in Harare. The hosts were expected to put up the keen fight that they showed in the first innings, however it was not to be. Jason Gillespie ripping through the top order on his way to 4/42 from 21 overs. Carlisle was the only batsman to post a score greater than 20 as Zimbabwe crumbled to be all out for 111 in the last over before lunch.
Australia showed their worth in the field as they ensure Zimbabwe were to get no where near their 304 run target. Australia dismissing the home team in just over 3 hours of play to achieve a 192 run victory.
Below:
- Glenn Mcgrath showing the frustration as he went wicketless in Zimbabwe's second innings
- Zimbabwe 2nd innings scorecard. All batsmen unable to make starts
- Australias bowling figures - all bowlers chiming in, even katich and clarke.
Australia showed their worth in the field as they ensure Zimbabwe were to get no where near their 304 run target. Australia dismissing the home team in just over 3 hours of play to achieve a 192 run victory.
Below:
- Glenn Mcgrath showing the frustration as he went wicketless in Zimbabwe's second innings
- Zimbabwe 2nd innings scorecard. All batsmen unable to make starts
- Australias bowling figures - all bowlers chiming in, even katich and clarke.
Richie Benaud and Mark Taylor
RB - Well Mark, we expected that Australia would win this game, but i dont think anybody thought it would be that easy.
MT - Yes Richie, the way the Zimbabwians batted in the first innings showed that they had some real fight in them. Unfortunatly we didnt see any of that today.
RB - What would you put the collapse down to mark?
MT - Well we said from the start that it was a real risk going in with 5 strike bowlers. That paid off in the first innings and looked a really good shot with australia at 5/102 in the second.
However they let ponting and gilchrist get away from them, and going in with taibu at 6 as the last of the recognised batsman, i really thought that anything over 200 would be hard to chase.
RB - Yes it was definatly a problem for them. Well now its down to Tony Greig with the two captains and the man of the match presentation.
Tony - Thank you rich, down here with me ive got ricky ponting and tatenda taibu. We might start with tatenda here, tatenda, i personally felt your boys played well. You can take alot away from that.
Taibu - Yes i was very happy with the way we competed for the first 3 and half days in this match. We let them build a partnership and gilly and ricky can really take a game away from you. But yes as you said we can take alot away from this.
Tony - What are some of the key points you will take away for your next match?
Taibu - I think it was our bowling and our fight. We bowled very well and if we had of played like that against any other team we would have come very close to winning.
Tony - Indeed you would have. Well best of luck for your next match, Sri Lanka next week in columbo i believe. Good luck
Tony - Well now im hear with ricky ponting. Ricky again you must be very please with that display?
Ponting - Well yes and no tony. Obviously the way we closed this one out and our fightback was great but we shouldnt have put ourselves in that place to begin with.
Tony - Any areas you will really be looking at going into the next test vs New Zealand in Auckland in a week?
Ponting - I think we need to look at some partnerships, the bowling is going well, hopefully binga (Brett Lee) will get some scalps but i think we just need to get some solid partnerships, work in pairs.
Tony - What about the openers? Again failing, still neither have posted a 50 yet?
Ponting - Yes Tony its a concern but not a huge concern. If the dry spell continues in New Zealand we may just look at giving one of them a break. But justins been playing well and just just been a little unluck.
Tony - Indeed, well best of luck against new zealand. And here to collect his man of the match award, after a great saving century in the first innings is michael clarke. Michael congratulations you must be very proud of the way you played in this test.
Clarke - Oh yes im very proud. The ton couldnt have come at a better time. It was tough work out there but thankfully glenn helped get me home in the end. Unfortunatly i couldnt chime in again yesterday but hopefully i can make it three in new zealand *chuckles*
Tony - Well there you have it... Look out new zealand. That ends our coverage from harare, on behalf of everybody here we look forward to your company in auckland very soon. Im tony greig, goodnight
RB - Well Mark, we expected that Australia would win this game, but i dont think anybody thought it would be that easy.
MT - Yes Richie, the way the Zimbabwians batted in the first innings showed that they had some real fight in them. Unfortunatly we didnt see any of that today.
RB - What would you put the collapse down to mark?
MT - Well we said from the start that it was a real risk going in with 5 strike bowlers. That paid off in the first innings and looked a really good shot with australia at 5/102 in the second.
However they let ponting and gilchrist get away from them, and going in with taibu at 6 as the last of the recognised batsman, i really thought that anything over 200 would be hard to chase.
RB - Yes it was definatly a problem for them. Well now its down to Tony Greig with the two captains and the man of the match presentation.
Tony - Thank you rich, down here with me ive got ricky ponting and tatenda taibu. We might start with tatenda here, tatenda, i personally felt your boys played well. You can take alot away from that.
Taibu - Yes i was very happy with the way we competed for the first 3 and half days in this match. We let them build a partnership and gilly and ricky can really take a game away from you. But yes as you said we can take alot away from this.
Tony - What are some of the key points you will take away for your next match?
Taibu - I think it was our bowling and our fight. We bowled very well and if we had of played like that against any other team we would have come very close to winning.
Tony - Indeed you would have. Well best of luck for your next match, Sri Lanka next week in columbo i believe. Good luck
Tony - Well now im hear with ricky ponting. Ricky again you must be very please with that display?
Ponting - Well yes and no tony. Obviously the way we closed this one out and our fightback was great but we shouldnt have put ourselves in that place to begin with.
Tony - Any areas you will really be looking at going into the next test vs New Zealand in Auckland in a week?
Ponting - I think we need to look at some partnerships, the bowling is going well, hopefully binga (Brett Lee) will get some scalps but i think we just need to get some solid partnerships, work in pairs.
Tony - What about the openers? Again failing, still neither have posted a 50 yet?
Ponting - Yes Tony its a concern but not a huge concern. If the dry spell continues in New Zealand we may just look at giving one of them a break. But justins been playing well and just just been a little unluck.
Tony - Indeed, well best of luck against new zealand. And here to collect his man of the match award, after a great saving century in the first innings is michael clarke. Michael congratulations you must be very proud of the way you played in this test.
Clarke - Oh yes im very proud. The ton couldnt have come at a better time. It was tough work out there but thankfully glenn helped get me home in the end. Unfortunatly i couldnt chime in again yesterday but hopefully i can make it three in new zealand *chuckles*
Tony - Well there you have it... Look out new zealand. That ends our coverage from harare, on behalf of everybody here we look forward to your company in auckland very soon. Im tony greig, goodnight
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The Champ
International Coach
Well Aus r on their way to another victory and A very good presentation buddy, ur atory rocks mate
Australia Arrive Home
Sorry to everybody for my previous post. Unfortunatly i read the fixtures wrong and australia are not playing New Zealand until a few days later. They have however travelled home to play south africa in a ODI match. Great news for anybody who may have been getting a little bored through the repetitive test matches. This will ad a little bit of colour to the game so far. My next post will be on australia coming home. Ill have to check the fixtures a little bit more closely because there are so many games scattered around. So here goes... bring on south africa!!!
Sorry to everybody for my previous post. Unfortunatly i read the fixtures wrong and australia are not playing New Zealand until a few days later. They have however travelled home to play south africa in a ODI match. Great news for anybody who may have been getting a little bored through the repetitive test matches. This will ad a little bit of colour to the game so far. My next post will be on australia coming home. Ill have to check the fixtures a little bit more closely because there are so many games scattered around. So here goes... bring on south africa!!!
Australia Arrive Home For ODI
The One Day International season is about to get into full swing as world cup holders Australia face off against great rivals South Africa. Games between australia and south africa always attract a great deal of interest, mainly due to the close games played between the pair over limited overs crickets history. Who could forget the 1999 world cup in england and the consecutive matches in the super 6 and the semi final.
Channel 9 reporter Ray Warren caught up with captain ricky Ponting as the team arrived at Melbourne Airport today.
Warren - Hello Ricky, welcome home, excited at the prospect of playing some high quality one day cricket for the australian public?
Ponting - Yes rabs very much. After a couple of hectic weeks playing test cricket and with the travelling everybody is very excited to don the colours and go out there and really have some fun.
Warren - What do you make of this south african team?Ponting - Oh high class right throughout. I think the dangerman will be Jaques Kallis, hes superb all over the park. He forms the core of their batting lineup and it will be extremely important to get him early.
Warren - The proteas are also leading the test championship, two points ahead of yourselves, could this be a preview of whats to come this year?
Ponting - Yes i think that these teams will probably be really close throughout the year. Every match will be crucial to get a win to get ahead from your opponent. To us it is important to get off on this one day season really well. We have good form in the test competition at the moment so we will just hope that it can continue through tomorrows game.
The One Day International season is about to get into full swing as world cup holders Australia face off against great rivals South Africa. Games between australia and south africa always attract a great deal of interest, mainly due to the close games played between the pair over limited overs crickets history. Who could forget the 1999 world cup in england and the consecutive matches in the super 6 and the semi final.
Channel 9 reporter Ray Warren caught up with captain ricky Ponting as the team arrived at Melbourne Airport today.
Warren - Hello Ricky, welcome home, excited at the prospect of playing some high quality one day cricket for the australian public?
Ponting - Yes rabs very much. After a couple of hectic weeks playing test cricket and with the travelling everybody is very excited to don the colours and go out there and really have some fun.
Warren - What do you make of this south african team?Ponting - Oh high class right throughout. I think the dangerman will be Jaques Kallis, hes superb all over the park. He forms the core of their batting lineup and it will be extremely important to get him early.
Warren - The proteas are also leading the test championship, two points ahead of yourselves, could this be a preview of whats to come this year?
Ponting - Yes i think that these teams will probably be really close throughout the year. Every match will be crucial to get a win to get ahead from your opponent. To us it is important to get off on this one day season really well. We have good form in the test competition at the moment so we will just hope that it can continue through tomorrows game.
Richie Benaud and Ian Healy at the MCG
RB - Welcome to the beautiful Melbourne Cricket Ground here today, the stadium is a sell out with both australian and south african fans anticipating a thrilling game of cricket. Ian what do you make of todays game here?
IH - Good morning richie, isnt this great? A sell out MCG full of noise colour and anticipation, this is what the public loves to see, entertaining action packed cricket and what better way to begin the one day international calender season than with a game between 2 of the best teams around, Australia and South Africa.
RB - Any thoughts on who will win todays game Ian?
IH - Always with australia when it comes to these matches. There is just so much depth, Symonds comes into the team, gilly up to open the innings. Clarke in the middle order, the depth in both the batting and bowling is something very special.
RB - My thoughts excactly heals, and what really excites me is that the excitement is carried through the whole team not just a few star individuals.
IH - Thats excactly it richie. This team will entertain you right down to number 9 and 10 with the bat, fingers crossed glenn mcgrath wont make many runs because we wont here the end of it, i honesly cant believe he calls himself an alrounder. But it should be a great game.
RB - We will be back right after the break with the pitch report from tony greig and the toss of the coin. Stay tuned
RB - Welcome to the beautiful Melbourne Cricket Ground here today, the stadium is a sell out with both australian and south african fans anticipating a thrilling game of cricket. Ian what do you make of todays game here?
IH - Good morning richie, isnt this great? A sell out MCG full of noise colour and anticipation, this is what the public loves to see, entertaining action packed cricket and what better way to begin the one day international calender season than with a game between 2 of the best teams around, Australia and South Africa.
RB - Any thoughts on who will win todays game Ian?
IH - Always with australia when it comes to these matches. There is just so much depth, Symonds comes into the team, gilly up to open the innings. Clarke in the middle order, the depth in both the batting and bowling is something very special.
RB - My thoughts excactly heals, and what really excites me is that the excitement is carried through the whole team not just a few star individuals.
IH - Thats excactly it richie. This team will entertain you right down to number 9 and 10 with the bat, fingers crossed glenn mcgrath wont make many runs because we wont here the end of it, i honesly cant believe he calls himself an alrounder. But it should be a great game.
RB - We will be back right after the break with the pitch report from tony greig and the toss of the coin. Stay tuned
Pitch Report and Toss
Richie Benaud - Welcome back to the MCG, you have joined us just in time for the pitch report with Tony Greig and the toss of the coin. Tony how does the pitch look today?
Tony - Hello Richie and hello everybody. We have a very nice solid wicket prepared here in melbourne. A perfect strip for one day cricket. While the pitch looks flat i still feels that there is going to be a bit of movement early for the bowlers. This should ensure we see a very fair contest here today for what should be a great compitive game of cricket. If i won the toss here, i think i would have a bat. Its always a great plan to bat first and set a big total here in Melbourne.
So now to the toss of the coin, ive got Australian captain Ricky Ponting and South African captain Graeme Smith with me. Ponting has won the toss, Ricky what would you like to do?
Ponting - We will have a bat thanks.
Greig - No surprise there, Ricky how do you think this pitch will play?
Ponting - Its a bit hard to say there Tony, it looks to be a good batting pitch as it generally is in melbourne. I would think that a total of about 250 to 280 would be an ideal total so thats what will we be going out to get here..
Greig - Best of luck with that Ricky. Now to Graeme Smith, Graeme welcome to Australia, unfortunatly the toss didnt go your way, how do you feel about it?
Smith - Hello, well we would have obviously have loved to have had a bat on this wicket first but we have a strong overall lineup. I agree with what ricky said, 250 here would be a competitive total. We will just have to see how this plays out. This wicket may turn aswell, i feel we have one of the better one day spinners in our team with nicky boje so we will just have to give it our best shot.
Greig - Well there you have it Rich, australia have won the toss and have elected to have a bat.
Here are the team lineups for the first One Day match of the season
Australia
A. Gilchrist (vc) (wk)
M. Hayden
R. Ponting (c)
D. Martyn
A. Symonds
M. Clarke
D. Lehman
B. Lee
B. Hogg
J. Gillespie
G. McGrath
South Africa
G. Smith (c)
H. Gibbs
J. Kallis
J. Rudolph
N. McKenzie
M. Boucher (wk)
S. Pollock (vc)
L. Klusener
N. Boje
A. Hall
M. Ntini
Richie Benaud - Welcome back to the MCG, you have joined us just in time for the pitch report with Tony Greig and the toss of the coin. Tony how does the pitch look today?
Tony - Hello Richie and hello everybody. We have a very nice solid wicket prepared here in melbourne. A perfect strip for one day cricket. While the pitch looks flat i still feels that there is going to be a bit of movement early for the bowlers. This should ensure we see a very fair contest here today for what should be a great compitive game of cricket. If i won the toss here, i think i would have a bat. Its always a great plan to bat first and set a big total here in Melbourne.
So now to the toss of the coin, ive got Australian captain Ricky Ponting and South African captain Graeme Smith with me. Ponting has won the toss, Ricky what would you like to do?
Ponting - We will have a bat thanks.
Greig - No surprise there, Ricky how do you think this pitch will play?
Ponting - Its a bit hard to say there Tony, it looks to be a good batting pitch as it generally is in melbourne. I would think that a total of about 250 to 280 would be an ideal total so thats what will we be going out to get here..
Greig - Best of luck with that Ricky. Now to Graeme Smith, Graeme welcome to Australia, unfortunatly the toss didnt go your way, how do you feel about it?
Smith - Hello, well we would have obviously have loved to have had a bat on this wicket first but we have a strong overall lineup. I agree with what ricky said, 250 here would be a competitive total. We will just have to see how this plays out. This wicket may turn aswell, i feel we have one of the better one day spinners in our team with nicky boje so we will just have to give it our best shot.
Greig - Well there you have it Rich, australia have won the toss and have elected to have a bat.
Here are the team lineups for the first One Day match of the season
Australia
A. Gilchrist (vc) (wk)
M. Hayden
R. Ponting (c)
D. Martyn
A. Symonds
M. Clarke
D. Lehman
B. Lee
B. Hogg
J. Gillespie
G. McGrath
South Africa
G. Smith (c)
H. Gibbs
J. Kallis
J. Rudolph
N. McKenzie
M. Boucher (wk)
S. Pollock (vc)
L. Klusener
N. Boje
A. Hall
M. Ntini
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The Champ
International Coach
Good to see Hogg among the wickets man
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