Story The Dominators - Global Challenge

[MWaugh]

Leading Wicket Takers

Leading Wicket Takers - Test

1 - G. McGrath (AUS) 24
2 - I. Pathan (IND) 23
3 - L. Balaji (IND) 20
4 - D. Kaneria (PAK) 19
5 - S. Akhtar (PAK) 17
6 - J. Gillespie (PAK) 17
7 - C. Vaas (SL) 15
8 - D. Tuffey (NZ) 15
9 - U. Gul (PAK) 15
10 - M. Muralitharan (SL) 13

Leading Wicket Takers - ODI

1 - J. Kallis (SA) 11
2 - A. Symonds (AUS) 11
3 - I. Bell (ENG) 9
4 - H. Singh (IND) 9
5 - D. Kaneria (PAK) 9
6 - C. Cairns (NZ) 7
7 - I. Butler (NZ) 6
8 - C. Harris (NZ) 6
9 - J. Gillespie (AUS) 5
10 - A. Flintoff (ENG) 5

Below:
- Glenn McGrath of Australia, the leading wicket taker in the test arena
- Jaques Kallis, of south africa, leading the wicket taking haul in the shortened version of the game

 

[faraz haider]

wow great going by mcgrath

 

[MWaugh]

Australia and Sri Lanka Arrive in Sydney

Australia and Sri Lanka arrived in Sydney today for the next scheduled match in the international season, at test match at the SCG.

Hot off the heels of a crushing innings victory over India in Kolkata last week, Australia, lead by Ricky Ponting, arrived home looking visibly drained after competing in some of the harshest conditions they have witnessed. However the same could not be said for the Sri Lankans, who will be looking to rebound after suffering a heartbreaking 4 run loss at home to New Zealand last week.

Despite losing at home Sri Lankan star bowler Muttiah Muralitharan appeared confident when asked of his teams chances ahead of the match at the SCG clash.

We probably didnt bat as well as we could have and should have against New Zealand but i think our best cricket is on its way. Australia did it tough in terms of the heat against India and bowlers like McGrath, Gillespie and Warne will no doubt be feeling a little tired. I personally feel that we are always a chance against any team but we will need to improve our peformance.

When asked about the wicket that may be prepared in Sydney Muralitharan seemed less optomistic.

To be honest it wouldnt surprise me if it turned out to be a real green moving wicket. Australia have always tried to minimise my bowling and it may well be the case here as well. However when you try and make the ball seem around alot then it allows Chaminda (Vaas) to take alot of wickets and he is allready number 7 on the list so far this year in the test matches.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting appeared tentative when asked about the fatigue level surrounding his team and also the possibility of any changes before the match.

To be honest we havent talked about it at length at the moment. Obviously a few of our bowlers have been doing alot of work lately but they are also in incredible form. Pigeon (McGrath) has been bowling so well that i dont think you could leave him out and risk losing the hot streak. The batting lineup may have a few changes in it but again we probably wont know for sure until match day.

 

[The Champ]

This should be another exciting clash

 

[gold639]

I hope its going to be a Green Pitch

So Muralitharan won't be able to do much.

 

[MWaugh]

Pressure mounts as selection gives headaches!

Sydney Mroning Hearld News Report

Australian long serving batsman Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn's future appears to be in the balance ahead of the Sri Lankan test match at the SCG starting in two days time.

A recent run of shocking displays in the test arena have provided Australian selectors with an uncommon headache of finding replacements to the out of form opener (Hayden) and middle order rock, Martyn, ahead of the one off test against a Sri Lankan team including, for the first time in years, Muttiah Muralitharan.

Recent matches have left the Queenslander with a total run tally of only 46 and an average of 7.76. This has put an amazing amount of pressure on selectors to allow another opener the chance to join fellow opener Justin Langer, fresh off the back of 209* against India , in the middle for the first ball of the innings. The only bright note for Matthew Hayden was a 153* against South Africa in the ODI match in Melbourne.

Number 4 batsman Damien Martyn is currently having an equally tough time so far this season. Currently sweating on an average of 13.3 with only 80 runs to his name. However Martyn cannot yet lay claim to a score near to that of Hayden (153*) with his top test score being 41 as opposed to Haydens 15 and his highest ODI score only 34.

However Hayden and Martyn do have a small amount of factors in their favour when it comes to selection. These include:
- Australia have not used another opener for many years following the dominant display from Langer and Hayden
- Haydens ability has seen him be regarded as one of the best players of spin bowling in the world, an attribute which would be very handy when playing Muralitharan
- A lack of depth in the opening batsman role. It appears the only likely candidates are:
- Chris Rogers (AUA) (341 runs from 6 innings with an average of 56.83)
- Marcus North (AUA) (327 runs form 4 innings with an average of 81.75 including 1 100 and 2 50's in the ODI competition - yet to play a test)
- Michael Hussey (AUS) (Yet to play a game, backup player in Australian main squad)
- The current team is proving extremely hard to beat after convincing victories over Pakistan, India, Zimbabwe and New Zealand

Tomorrows team selection could be one of the most controversial in many years and many Australian and Sri Lankan fans will be awaiting the team lineups with interest.

Below- Marcus North, one of the real chances to bolt into test selection against Sri Lanka

 

[The Champ]

Hayden is really going through a slump

 

[MWaugh]

Hayden is really going through a slump

he sure is. What do you guys think should happen in relation to selection for the SCG match?

 

[faraz haider]

well both should be out frm test squad

 

[gold639]

I think Martyn should stay,as he has a good record against Sri Lanka.

Not sure about Hayden though......

 

[MWaugh]

so if anybody should be dropped who do you think should replace them
possibilities include

katich
rogers
north
maher
hussey

 

[gold639]

Katich should replace Hayden or Martyn(Whoever you decide to drop)

But if it were me,I wouldn't drop anyone.

 

[The Champ]

ya i too prefer Katich, slow chinaman gives him the edge

 

[gold639]

And I think he is very under-rated.

 

[MWaugh]

Hayden and Martyn make way for young star

Australian selectors made one of the more difficult decisions in recent history today in dropping both Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn from the test match against Sri Lanka today in Sydney. While pressure had mounted on the top order pair, the decision to dump both test stars came as a surprise and shock to many involved in the Australian cricket team.

One of the more contentious issues relating to the selection of Hayden was the lack of depth in the Australian opening batting ranks in Australia, mainly due to the fact that Langer and Hayden have served Australia so well. This has meant that openers such as Jimmy Maher, Greg Blewett and Michael Slater have missed some of their best years in the test arena.

In return to dropping Hayden, selectors decided to stick with an inexperienced opener in young Western Australia star batsman Marcus North, who is averaging 81.75 in the Australia A team in the 2nd division competition. It appeared selectors were reluctant to go with either Simon Katich or Michael Hussey as openers due to limited experience with the new ball.

However it came as little surprise that Katich was called into the team to replace Martyn, a man he had faught over a place in the middle order with on so many occasions. The selection of Katich, along with the retainment of star ODI player Andrew Symonds, meant that Michael Clarke (currently topping the run scoring tally) would be elevated to number 4, Katich to slot in at 5 and Symonds at 6.

An overwhelmed Marcus North spoke to reporters earlier today:

Its just amazing. I honestly didnt think this would have ever have happened. I knew that i was playing some decent cricket for the A team and that i was hitting the ball pretty well but i thought there were many more guys ahead of me. I think the fact that I can make my debut in Australia and with a guy i have opened with on so many occasions (Langer) will make it alot smoother. Hopefullly i can make the most of my opportunities and enjoy the game, but playing against bowlers like Muralitharan and Vaas will be extremely tough.

Match begins and updates tomorrow
P.S - How do you like my attempt at a first signature?