Spirited Australia win Hobart Test by 137 runs

By Nadene Smith

HOBART, Australia (TheSportsNEXT) December 18, 2012: A brilliant bowling performance by fast bowlers Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc led Australia to 137 runs victory in the first of the three Test matches against Sri Lanka at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Tuesday.

Sri Lankan batsmen showed great fight on the final day as they almost batted out the day but some classy bowling right at the end by Mitchell Starc, who found the ball to move both ways, dismantled the resolve showed by the visitors and in the end they were bowled out for 255 runs in their second innings.

Kumar Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera stood rock-solid during their innings before both of them falling to Peter Siddle who didn’t find much respite from the pitch in the opening session but got the ball to swing both ways in the afternoon session and this was the time when he looked the most impressive.

Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene, who is playing his final series as captain, failed to score runs in both the innings but there was no dearth of runs from his opposite number Michael Clarke who was retired hurt but not before scoring 57 brilliant runs from just 46 balls.

The game was poised for a draw until tea session as Sri Lanka were able to still have six wickets in hand but Mitchell Starc went berserk in the final session and helped his side win the Test match with some gutsy show of swing and fast bowling.

Peter Siddle was declared Man of the Match for taking nine wickets in the match.

The next two Tests of the three-match series will be played in Melbourne on Boxing Day and in Sydney on January 3.

Brief Scores:

Australia 450 for 5 declared and 278 all out

Sri Lanka 336 all out and 255 all out

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Australia on top in Hobart despite Dilshan ton

By Nadene Smith

HOBART, Australia (TheSportsNEXT) December 16, 2012: Australia seized advantage in first Test match against Sri Lanka in Hobart on Sunday as they took their lead to 141 runs with all of their wickets still in hand.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 336 runs in their first innings, thanks to brilliant century by opening batsman and former skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan.

After taking 114 runs first innings lead, Australia reached 27 without loss in their second innings at stumps on day three.

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Cricket Australia fills Ricky Ponting void with Phil Hughes

By Nadene Smith

SYDNEY, Australia (TheSportsNEXT) December 6, 2012: The National Selection Panel of Cricket Australia on Thursday picked Phil Hughes over Usman Khawaja, Rob Quiney and Alex Doolan to fill up the void created by retirement of legendary Ricky Ponting.

The NSP announced a 12-man squad for the first Vodafone Test against Sri Lanka which is starting at Blundstone Arena in Hobart from Friday.

The Australian squad for the Hobart Test includes Michael Clarke (c), Shane Watson (vc), Ed Cowan, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, and David Warner.

National Selector John Inverarity said during his press conference to announce the squad, “Phillip Hughes has been selected to fill the vacancy created by Ricky Ponting’s retirement. Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Rob Quiney and Alex Doolan were the four batsmen to come under consideration to bat high in the order. Phillip is an improved player and his recent and overall career statistics present a compelling case”.

He further stated, “The NSP holds the view that he, having just turned 24, is a very significant part of the future. He has received this call-up, his third, as it was considered to be the right time and circumstances for him to re-establish himself”.

When asked about how Michael Clarke looks at Phil Hughes, John Inverarity said, “Michael Clarke will give careful consideration to his batting order during the next few days. He has a number of options open to him and Hughes at three is one of these”.

Giving NSP opinion on the bowling combination, John Inverarity said, “The four pace bowlers in the squad are Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc. John Hastings and Josh Hazlewood, not being able to be declared fit to perform at the time of selection, were not considered. The squad welcomes the return of Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle. Neither bowler was considered to be 100 per cent fit to perform and was not included in the final squad of 12 for the recent Perth Vodafone Test match against South Africa”.

When asked about the life after Ricky Ponting, John Inverarity was of the view, “The dressing-room will be different without the presence of Ricky Ponting. His absence creates both the opportunity and the necessity for others to grow and fill the gap. We look forward to watching Michael Clarke’s team in the three Test series against Sri Lanka after acquitting themselves well against the formidable South African line-up who deservedly retained the number one ICC Test ranking”.

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