Cricket

Idea of playing day-night Test cricket still a number of years away: CA

ICC LogoMelbourne, Dec 29 : Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has said that the idea of playing day-night Test cricket is still a number of years off which needed to be tested at different venues before it could be taken to the International Cricket Council for approval.

The concept is still under development, although there is hope of a trial day-night Sheffield Shield match next season, The Australian reported.

Sutherland said his organisation was waiting to hear back from the CSIRO, which is developing a special ball.

Oz coach admits series against Proteas has been his worst nightmare

Oz coach admits series against Proteas has been his worst nightmareSydney, Dec 29: Australia's cricket coach Tim Nielsen has called it the stuff of nightmares, after South African young batting prodigy J. P. Duminy steered his team to a 61 runs lead on the third day of the Boxing Day Test.

Duminy transformed Australia's overnight lead into an alarming deficit, as one of the most exciting young batsmen in the world, but also inflicted on Ricky Ponting, his team and the selectors a national crisis, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

England could start next year’s Ashes series as favourites: Chappell

England could start next year’s Ashes series as favourites: ChappellMelbourne, Dec 29: Former Australian skipper and cricket commentator Ian Chappell believes that England could start next year's Ashes series on home soil as favourites.

Chappell said despite England's 2005 series victory, not since 1989 had an Australian side looked so vulnerable ahead of a tour to Britain.

Oz media favours recall of Shane Warne

Oz media favours recall of Shane WarneSydney, Dec 28 : To avoid embarrassment of losing consecutive series against South Africa and England, a section of Australian media has favoured recall of spin legend Shane Warne.

The Sun-Herald, for the people, would like to present the case for Shane Warne returning to the Australian Test team.

It's a serious attempt to remind Warne that his word is his bond. Warne vowed to ride back on his white horse if Australia's spin-bowling stocks went up the chute after his retirement, the Sydney Morning Herald said.

Slow, expensive Lee sliding down the Oz pace order

Slow, expensive Lee sliding down the Oz pace orderSydney, Dec 28 : Australian main attack bowler Brett Lee, who lacked penetration and was not able to pick wickets at the MCG, will have to perform in the second innings to convince selectors that he has the ability to lead the pace battery for Ashes 2009.

Less than a week after skipper Ricky Ponting publicly aired his concern by refusing to confirm Lee as a starter for the Boxing Day Test, Lee again found himself wicketless and indebted to Australia's younger bowlers for bailing him out.

Kiwis take credit for revealing flaw in Hayden’s technique

Kiwis take credit for revealing flaw in Hayden’s techniqueSydney, Dec 28 : John Bracewell, who coached New Zealand in the Trans-Tasman Trophy series that began last month, has said that his team is responsible for beginning out of form Australian opener Matthew Hayden's slide this summer by revealing the flaw in his technique that could force him to retire from the game.

Bracewell said his team had identified that Hayden's "lazy" front shoulder, which made him susceptible to nicking the ball early in his innings.

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