Ponting announces retirement from international cricket

Ponting with the urn after the Ashes whitewash

Ricky Ponting has announced his retirement from international cricket before the third test against South Africa at the WACA in Perth. Its the same ground that Ponting made his test debut on in 1995. Ponting announced that he would retire after the third test.

The decision came as a surprise to most of the Aussie squad including long time teammate and current captain Michael Clarke, who could scarcely hide the tears. Ponting led Australia admirably winning two World Cups as captain as well as a 5-0 whitewash of England during the 2006-07 Ashes series. Ponting himself could not hide his emotion and for a man who normally shows no feeling, was teary eyed. He said that the reasons for his retirement were personal rather than for the team as he was not performing up to the standards that he had set for himself.

Ponting led a long and distinguished career scoring over 10,000 runs in both test and ODI's. He was also captain of Australia during their most successful period as the no.1 ranked team in world cricket. The retirement of several key players has diminished the domination that Australia had and Ponting now becomes the last player from the winning team of '99 to retire.

Watson and Johnson in squad for final test

Australia vs South Africa, Third Test, WACA, Perth

Australia have included all-rounder Shane Watson and have recalled fast bowler Mitchell Johnson to the squad for the final test at the WACA ground. Rob Quiney has been dropped after bagging a pair while the injury to James Pattinson means Australia have included Johnson, Josh Hazelwood and John Hastings. 

The fast men have all been called up with the likelihood of Australia playing four quicks at the WACA. The ground boasts of one of the fastest and bounciest pitches in the world. Both Hastings and Hazelwood have never played test match cricket while Johnson played his last test for the Aussies against South Africa in Johannesburg last year. With Peter Siddle exhausted after his exertions in the second inning, all three could get a chance to play. Shane Watson returns to the squad after recovering from injury which kept him out of the first two test matches.

Watson will take the place of Rob Quiney in the batting lineup while he will also be expected to fill in with the ball. Watson had been pulled out of the Champions League T20 to prepare himself for the test matches but suffered a calf strain before the first test. His return will further strengthen the batting lineup and give them an extra option with the ball.

Squad David Warner, Ed Cowan, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (capt), Michael Hussey, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Johnson, John Hastings, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

Du Plessis century helps South Africa draw second test

Australia vs South Africa, Adelaide Oval, Second Test- Day 5
South Africa 388(Smith 122) and 248-8 (du Plessis 110*) drew with Australia 550-8 dec (Clarke 230, Morkel 5-146) and 267-8 dec

Faf du Plessis's debut century helped South Africa narrowly avoid defeat in Adelaide. The South Africans were made to bat four and a half sessions to save the game but clung on thanks to du Plessis and AB de Villiers who batted for 220 balls but only made 30. Australia were hamstrung by the loss of James Pattinson to a rib injury but soldiered on. Peter Siddle bowled 63.5 overs in the second innings but he could not force a win.

Earlier in the match, the South African bowlers had been battered by Micheal Clarke's first day double hundred. Australia had reached 482 on the first day but stumbled the next day as South Africa wrapped up their innings rather quickly. The South African reply was led by Graeme Smith's 122 and after being  270-7 at one stage, the South Africans rallied to reach 388.

After South Africa had been set a mammoth target, they batted four exceptionally attritional sessions to save the game. The next test is in Perth in 3 days time and both sides will have casualties. James Pattinson for Australia and Jaque Kallis for the South Africans both suffering injuries.

Dominant Australia held by South Africa

South Africa 450 (Amla 104, Kallis 147, Pattinson 3-93) and 5 for 166 (Kallis 49, Lyon 2-41, Pattinson 2-58) drew with Australia 5 for 565 declared (Clarke 259*, Cowan 136, Hussey 100, Morkel 3-127)



The South Africans would have to thank the rain as they managed to play out time and draw the first test between the two sides. After dominating the first two days of cricket, the South African bowlers were made to look pedestrian in part by a flat Gabba pitch but mostly thanks to Cowan, Hussey and Clarke who remained unbeaten on 259. The South African batsmen were made to work exceptionally hard in their second essay by the Australian bowlers and managed to hang on for the draw. The absence of a spinner hampered the South Africans and they have a lot of work to do before the second test begins at Adelaide in nine days time.

Courtesy :ABC

Austalia Vs South Africa-the battle begins . (source-cricinfo)

Rizz's November Preview

The cricket season is almost upon us and November includes a few big series. Quite a few teams are in action this month with series kicking off in Australia, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. I will start as far away from home as possible as Australia take on South Africa.

Australia vs South Africa

The Australians face a tough month ahead as the current incumbents of the top rank in test cricket, arrive for a tour. There will be a lot at stake for the two teams and while South Africa will look for a win down under, the Australians will try and keep Ian Healy away from the cameramen as well as from Segways.

Australia will face an uphill battle against the likes of Dale Steyn, Morkel and Philander. Shane Watson has been pulled away from the Champions League to prepare for this series giving you an indication of how many sixes they want him to hit. On a more serious note, when the first test kicks off on the 5th of November, Ricky Ponting will be fighting to keep his place in Australia's test match team. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will also be looking to make an impact. South Africa have almost nothing to lose but will do well if they can find an adequate replacement for Mark Boucher behind the stumps.

November features the first two test of the three match series which will be fast and furious.

My predicted result - 1-1

Shane Watson will be in white and will not clear the fence!

India vs England

The mind games have begun even before the visitors have arrived in Mumbai with India not picking a spinner for the first tour game. The Indian selectors have some very unpleasant headaches on their minds but will be reassured by the ineptitude that England have shown against spin bowling. India are almost invincible at home and it might seem as if a hurricane could be the only thing that stops England from losing this series. The English looked utterly hopeless against India's second string spinners during the World T20 and will do well to learn from that experience. However, their inexperienced batting lineup faces an uphill struggle. They will be buoyed by the return of Kevin Pietersen to the setup and will also hope to compete against an Indian team that seems to perform only at home. Revenge will be on India's mind after the 4-0 thumping they received last year against the same opponents. 

The action starts on the 15th of November in Ahmedabad where KP may run away to South Africa handing India the match.

My prediction: 3-0 to India.

Can they handle the spin?