Tabla de contenidos para 2024-25 en Universal’s Summer Cricket Guide

The Australian Cricket Society is famous for caring for cricket. Our membership is open to cricket lovers Australia-wide. We watch, tour, support and play. And we celebrate the game through dinners, meetings and book launches. With members Australia-wide, we send young scholars to the ACS Bendigo Bank Cricket Academy, co-ordinated by Keith Jansz and back our gold charity partner, the Ponting Foundation, assisting families of children with cancer. We also support our international charity, the Foundation of Goodness in Sri Lanka. If you are 11 turning 12, apply for a scholarship… now! Our vision is to unearth, encourage and fast-track fresh streams of promising boys and girls into senior pathway squads. Our annual Christmas Test match function has seen some of the biggest names in the game attend. Our patron…

RICHIE BENAUD (1958-63) Overall Tests: 63 Tests as captain: 28 Wins: 12 Losses: 4 Draws: 11 Tie: 1 Win percentage: 43% MONTY NOBLE (1903-09) Overall Tests: 42 Tests as captain: 15 Wins: 8 Losses: 5 Draws: 2 Win percentage: 53% DON BRADMAN (1936-48) Overall Tests: 52 Tests as captain: 24 Wins: 15 Losses: 3 Draws: 6 Win percentage: 62% MARK TAYLOR (1994-99) Overall Tests: 104 Tests as captain: 50 Wins: 26 Losses: 13 Draws: 11 Win percentage: 52% IAN CHAPPELL (1971-75) Overall Tests: 75 Tests as captain: 30 Wins: 15 Losses: 5 Draws: 10 Win percentage: 50% STEVE WAUGH (1999-2004) Overall Tests: 168 Tests as captain: 57 Wins: 41 Losses: 9 Draws: 7 Win percentage: 72% NOTE: Warwick Armstrong (1920-21) won eight and drew two of his 10 Tests as…

ADELAIDE OVAL Australia’s recent record (from latest): WWWWWLWWWW Second Test starts December 6 (daynight) Ground capacity: 50,000 Dimensions: 167 x 123 metres Ends: River/City end (south), Scoreboard/Cathedral end (north) Australia’s record v India in Adelaide: Played 12: Won 8, Lost 2, Drew 2 Highest team scores: Australia: 674, 1947-48; India: 520, 1985-86 Lowest team scores: Australia: 145, 1991-92; India: 36, 2020-21 Highest solo scores: Australia: Ricky Ponting 221, 2011-12; India: Rahul Dravid 233, 2003-04 Best bowling: Australia: Ray Lindwall 7-38, 1947-48; India: Kapil Dev 8-106, 1985-86 Last time (December 2020): In a match rescheduled from Brisbane to Adelaide after the tragic death of Phil Hughes, India collapses in its second innings for an all-time low of 36 and is thrashed. Josh Hazlewood’s figures: five for 8 from five overs! Expect:…

PAT CUMMINS Right-arm fast bowler, No.9 right hand bat, represents Penrith. Test debut 2011-12. Tests 62. Tests v India: 13, 311 runs at 14.80, highest score 63, Melbourne, 2018-19; 50 wickets at 26.18, best bowling 6-27, Melbourne, 2018-19, only 5wI. Tests v Sri Lanka: 4, 47 runs at 11.75, HS 26, Galle, 2022; 16 wickets at 14.31, BB 6-23, Brisbane 2019-20, only 5wI. Previous tour of Sri Lanka: 2022 (captain). ODI & T20 debut 2011-12. ODIs: 88. T20s: 57. Has captained Australia in 28 Tests since 2021-22 for 17 wins, 6 losses & 5 draws. Fast bowling captains can work. Cummins boasts a 60 per cent winning strike-rate as Test captain and remains among Australia’s most popular and dynamic sportsmen. Took 30 wickets in seven Tests home and away in…

Athree-year coaching contract for returning favourite son Cameron White could be the start of a much-anticipated revival for the Melbourne Renegades. No BBL club has so wallowed like the ‘Gades, bottom in each of the last two Big Bash seasons. White, 40, replaces David Saker who was sacked after the Renegades won just two games last season. Previously White had been dumped by the Renegades and moved to the Adelaide Strikers where his coaching journey began. ‘I’ve got so many great memories here, as a player and achieving success, so to be back in Renegades colours several years later is a genuine thrill,’ White said. ‘Working with this playing group, some very fine players, both young and experienced, is really exciting.’ A Victorian player at 17 and a former Australian…

For all of the hype and riches surrounding short-form cricket worldwide, the flips, reverse sweeps and downtowns, the quest for Test selection remains pivotal in the focus and mindsets of those in state cricket squads. The Sheffield Shield may have been split into two blocks, to allow the more glamorous Big Bash League to take centrestage over Christmas and the New Year, but the old adages remain. You can’t play Test cricket for Australia unless you dominate in the Sheffield Shield. Even the most stunning performances at white-ball levels are discounted as national selection chairman George Bailey and his colleagues select their Test squad at each summer start. The 2024-25 Shield season is particularly important as more places are opening, especially in the top six, as the old champions fade.…

Titles: 1; runner-up: 2 *NSW batted one short State by State Statistics Courtesy of Ric Finlay and tastats.com.au *NSW batted one short State by State Statistics Courtesy of Ric Finlay and tastats.com.au NSW WHO’S WHO CRICKET AUSTRALIA CONTRACTS (7): ABBOTT, Sean Anthony. Born 29 February 1992 (Windsor, NSW). Right-arm fast medium bowler, lower order right-hand batsman. Club: Parramatta. One-Day Internationals (21): Debut 2014-15 v Pakistan (Sharjah). Batting 15–1–297–69 v West Indies (Sydney) 2023-24. Av: 21.21. Bowling: 28 wickets for 894. Av: 31.92. BB: 3/23 v India (Visakhapatnam) 2022-23. 11 catches. Twenty20 Internationals (15): Debut 2014-15 v Pakistan (Dubai). Batting: 6–2–21–12* v India (Canberra) 2020-21. Av: 5.25. Bowling: 15 wickets for 399. Av: 26.60. BB: 4/31 v South Africa (Durban) 2023-24. 10 catches. First-class matches (85): Debut 2011-12 for NSW v…

CRICKET AUSTRALIA CONTRACTS (3): BARTLETT, Xavier Colin. Born 17 December 1998 (Adelaide). Right-arm fast medium bowler, lower order right-hand batsman. Club: Gold Coast. One-Day Internationals (2): Debut 2023-24 v West Indies (Melbourne). Bowling: 8 wickets for 38. Av: 4.75. BB: 4/17 v West Indies on debut. No batting or catches. Twenty20 International: 2023-24 v West Indies (Perth Stadium), taking 2/37. No batting or catches. First-class matches (21): Debut 2019-20 for Qld v SA (Brisbane). Batting: 28–9–389–70 v NSW (Allan Border Field, Brisbane) 2023-24. Av: 20.47. Bowling: 73 wickets for 1927. Av: 26.39. BB: 5/64 v Vic (Brisbane) 2019-20. 5WI: 2. 14 catches. List A limited-overs matches (22): Debut 2016 (for Australia National Performance Squad). Qld debut 2018-19. Batting & bowling: 70 runs at 11.66 and 31 wickets at 28.06. Twenty20 matches…

BRAZELL, Kyle Riley. Born 20 September 2001 (Adelaide). Opening left-hand batsman. Club: Adelaide University. First-class matches (3): Debut 2023-24 for SA v Qld (Adelaide). Batting: 6–0–104–30 v Tas (Hobart) 2023-24. Av: 17.33. No bowling or catches. No List A or Twenty20 matches. CAHILL, Aiden Patrick. Born 20 March 2003. Middle order right-hand batsman. Club: Northern Districts. MATHIAS, Harrison Patterson Ashcroft “Harry”. Born 25 June 2003 (Ashford, Adelaide). Wicketkeeper, middle order right-hand batsman. Club: Sturt. First-class match: 2022-23 for SA v Vic (St Kilda, Melbourne) scoring 12 & 9 and taking 3 catches. No List A or Twenty20 matches. THOMPSON, Campbell James. Born 2004. Left-arm fast medium bowler, lower order right-hand batsman. Club: East Torrens.…

ANLEZARK, Austin. Born 16 June 2005. Right-arm fast medium bowler, lower order left-hand batsman. Club: Richmond. DIXON, Harry Thomas. Born 16 February 2005. Opening left-hand batsman. Club: St Kilda. LEMIRE, Jai. Born 2 Mar 2003. Wicketkeeper, middle order right-hand batsman. Club: Carlton. MARK, Reiley T. Born 18 March 2003. Right-arm off break bowler, lower order right-hand batsman. Club: Richmond. PEARSON, Tyler Robert. Born 29 Jan 2005. Right-arm fast medium bowler, tail end right-hand batsman. Club: Kingston Hawthorn.…

BEARDMAN, Mahli. Born: 31 August 2005 (Dunsborough, WA). Right-arm fast medium bowler, lower order right-hand batsman. Club: Melville. List A limited-overs match: 2023-24. Batting & bowling: 1 run and 1 for 42. No first-class or Twenty20 matches. GREER, Samuel Jayson. Born 12 February 2002 (East Fremantle, Perth). Right-arm medium fast bowler. Club: Fremantle. VERNON, Joshua. Born 2 May 2005 (Murdoch, Perth). Right-arm fast bowler, lower oRder right-hand batsman. Club: Midland-Guildford. WASLEY, Corey Kenneth. Born 12 July 2005. Middle order left-hand batsman. Club: Rockingham-Mandurah.…

THE INTERNATIONALS WOMEN COMMBANK ODI SERIES V INDIA December 5 Allan Border Field, Brisbane (D/N) December 8 Allan Border Field, Brisbane (D) December 11 WACA Ground, Perth (D/N) THE ASHES CommBank Ashes ODI Series v England January 12 North Sydney Oval, Sydney (D) January 14 Junction Oval, Melbourne (D) January 17 Bellerive Oval, Hobart (D) CommBank Ashes T20I Series v England January 20 SCG, Sydney (N) January 23 Manuka Oval, Canberra (N) January 25 Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (N) CommBank Women’s Ashes Test match v England January 30 - February 2 MCG, Melbourne (D/N) MEN ODI Series v Pakistan November 4 MCG, Melbourne (D/N) November 8 Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (D/N) November 10 Perth Stadium, Perth (D/N) T20I Series v Pakistan November 14 The Gabba, Brisbane (N) November 16 SCG, Sydney (N)…

Foremost among Greg Chappell’s most famous selection mantras is this one: pick ‘em when they’re hot. If the young ones are knocking down the door, reward them – immediately. Australian cricket’s foremost living legend, Chappell loves it when the prodigies showcase their talents and score heavily, exciting fans and sets of selectors alike. The dilemma right now though is where are they all? David Warner has retired. Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja are soon to follow. Opportunities abound. But for all of Australian cricket’s investments, infrastructures and pathways, where are the next-generation champions? It’s a worry when the combined age of your best six batsmen adds up to more than the actual runs they contribute to a total. In Australia’s most recent Test innings in Christchurch last autumn, Australia’s top…

While Australia searches throughout its Academy streams and elite pathways for its next David Warner or Steve Smith, it looks like India has already found their next national batting superstar: YBK Jaiswal, discovered living in a tent in Mumbai. The 22-year-old rookie looks set to become the next Indian multi-level icon – and maybe, just maybe, he could be as big as Pataudi, Sehwag, Dravid or even Kohli. Already, just 18 months into international ranks, he holds several important batting records. A polished Test century on debut and two double centuries early in 2024 in the fivematch Test series against England showed the young left-hander has a rare resilience and technique to succeed long-term at the game’s elite level. Yashavi Bhuepndra Kumar Jaiswal is an exhilarating youngster with special gifts.…

CRICKET SUMMER GUIDE readers can again win tickets-for-two to all of this summer’s Test matches, courtesy of Cricket Australia. We have double passes for each of the opening two days for the five NRMA Insurance men’s Test matches including the West Test in Perth and this summer’s day-night Test in Adelaide. For the first time in more than 30 years, India is playing a full five-Test program. We also have two double passes to the opening days of the inaugural CommBank Women’s day-night Test between Australia and England at the MCG from January 30. AND WIN NEW BOOKS & TLA TRADING CARDS • Brad Hodge’s Top Knocks (Affirm Press)• Signed copies of Ken Piesse’s autobiography Living the Dream (Wilkinson Publishing)• John Benaud’s the Ball after Lunch (The Cricket Publishing Company)•…

• Ages at October 15 SEAN ABBOTT Right-arm fast medium, right hand middle-order bat, represents Parramatta. No Tests. ODI debut 2014-15, 21 games. ODI record v Pakistan: 4 games, 94 runs at 23.50, HS 49, Lahore 2022; 2-150, BB 1-25, Sharjah 2014-15. T20 debut 2014-15. International T20s: 15. T20s record v Pakistan: 3 games, no runs; 4 wickets at 14.75, BB 2-14, Perth 2019-20 Pace bowling reserve, who can also bat. Toured South Africa and India in the 2023 spring and also played once in the World Cup Fifty50 title-winning Aussie squad in Pune. Scored 69 from 63 balls from No.8 against the Windies in hometown Sydney in February. Brilliant outfielder. Warmed up for the new summer with a stint with Surrey in 2024. ASHTON AGAR Left-arm finger spin, left…

Popular and competitive last summer, Pakistan is this summer’s warm-up for the visiting main act – its sub-continental neighbours, India. Half a dozen white ball matches, three of each format, are behind a springtime tv paywall in November. The games will be over in the blink of an eye, a fortnight before the first official week of summer. Free-to-air viewers won’t see a ‘live’ ball bowled. Pakistan being Pakistan, there are bound to be moments of soaring highs, mayhem and utter incompetence Shan Masood’s Test side with newcomer Aamir Jamal in cracking form earned plaudits downunder last summer, but their white ball teams in 2024 have often been a basket case. Four Twenty20 losses in five games in New Zealand in January and an embarrassing defeat to minnows, USA, in…

ADELAIDE STRIKERS Home ground: Adelaide Oval Coach: Tim Paine Average attendance in 2023-24: 28,616 BRISBANE HEAT Coach: Johan Botha Home ground: The Gabba Internationals include: Colin Munro (NZ) Average attendance in 2023-24: 25,765 HOBART HURRICANES Coach: Jeff Vaughan Home ground: Blundstone Arena Internationals include: Chris Jordan (Eng) Average attendance in 2023-24: 7982 MELBOURNE RENEGADES Coach Cameron White Home ground: Marvel Stadium, West Melbourne Average attendance in 2023-24: 18,251 MELBOURNE STARS Coach: Peter Moores Home ground: MCG Internationals include: Tom Curran (Eng) Average attendance in 2023-24: 20,810 PERTH SCORCHERS Coach: Adam Voges Home ground: Perth Stadium Average attendance in 2023-24: 35,658 (record) SYDNEY SIXERS Home ground: SCG Coach: Greg Shipperd Average attendance in 2023-24: 19,825 SYDNEY THUNDER Coach: Trevor Bayliss Home ground: ENGIE Stadium (Sydney Showgrounds) Internationals include: Sam Billings (Eng)…

ANDERSON, Charlie Fraser. Born 20 January 2005. Right-arm fast bowler, right-hand batsman. Club: Northern District. HICKS, Ryan Richard. Born 18 March 2005. Middle order right-hand batsman. Club: Mosman. SALZMANN, William Edward. “Will”. Born 19 November 2003 (Camden, Sydney). Right-arm fast medium bowler, lower order right-hand batsman. Club: Sydney University. List A matches (6): Debut 2022-23. Batting & bowling: 41 runs (no av) and 14 wickets at 14.92. No first-class or Twenty20 matches. SHAW, Lachlan Darryl. Born 26 December 2002 (Sydney). Wicketkeeper, left-hand middle order batsman. Club: Northern District. DAVIES, Joel. Born 28 September 2003 (Hurstville, Sydney). Middle-order left-hand batsman, left-arm orthodox slow bowler. Club: Manly-Warringah. Brother of O.H.L. Davies (NSW). Twenty20 matches (7): Debut 2022-23. Team: Sydney Thunder. Batting & bowling: 42 runs at 8.40 and 0 for 55. No first-class…

SOS FOR BATSMEN Adelaide Oval boasts the finest batting conditions in Australasia, yet its ‘home’ team the SA Redbacks failed to make even one 300 score there in 2023-24, a damning statistic highlighting its depth deficiencies The decision by long-time coach Jason Gillespie to step down opens fresh opportunities and responsibilities for a fresh set of leaders, including Ryan Harris, another of SA cricket’s most loyal. The Redbacks have been perennial cellar-dwellers in both major competitions, the Shield and Marsh Cup. But with the appointment of a new general manager of cricket, Simon Insley, the team is sure to improve, very quickly. Until June, he was involved with NZ’s national team at the Twenty20 World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean. He’d previously worked with Tasmanian cricket as its…

The inclusion of Queensland pair Matt Kuhnemann and Will Prestwidge gives Tasmania a fresh impetus this summer, Kuhnemann’s selection from the opening games assured after No.1 spinner Jarrod Freeman took an indefinite break from the game on mental health concerns. Kuhnemann, 28, playing only at white-ball levels last summer and was shunned by Queensland’s Sheffield Shield selectors all season. Just months earlier, he played a key role in Australia’s Test team in its 2023 sub-continent internationals in India, taking nine wickets in three Tests including a fairytale five for 16 in a three-day Test in Indore. A left-arm orthodox, he could excel in his new surroundings, especially given his new first-choice status. In Brisbane he had to constantly contend with Mitch Swepson. Given good early performances, he could be in…

The men from the Golden West remain the envy of teams in the eastern states having gone back-to-back-to-back with Sheffield Shield and Marsh one-day cup titles from 2021-24. In his sixth season as head coach, Adam Voges says interstate teams genuinely fear coming to the WACA Ground as WA is rarely beaten at home. It lost only once in Perth last summer, in February to NSW. Newcomers include interstaters Brody Couch, a medium-pacer from Victoria and wicketkeeper Baxter Holt, from Sydney. Midland-Guildford captain Keaton Critchell is also likely to feature in the early one-dayers. Youngest player on the list is 18-year-old Rockingham-Mandurah batsman Corey Wasley who has played for the Australian Under 19s. White-ball specialists Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff and AJ Tye are all concentrating on Twenty20 franchise…

POINTS TABLE Final: February 24, Bellerive Oval: Queensland 7-248 cc (Charli Knott 73 from 61 balls, Mikayla Hinkley 33, Heather Graham 3-39) lost to Tasmania 4-249 in 47.4 overs (Nicola Carey 111* from 135 balls, Graham 63, Elyse Villani 32, Georgia Voll 3-56), by 6 wickets. Umpires: Stephen Dionysius and Troy Penman Player of the match: Nicola Carey (Tasmania) Player of the Year – Nicola Carey (Tasmania) Benaud Spirit of Cricket Award – ACT Meteors MOST RUNS MOST WICKETS HIGHEST SCORES MOST WICKETKEEPING DISMISSALS CENTURIES BEST BOWLING MOST CATCHES WNCL RECORDS HOW YOUR TEAM HAS FINISHED LAST 10 TITLE WINNERS: NSW 3 & Tas 3, Qld, SA, Vic, WA all 1 each. Most runs: Elyse Villani (Vic-Tas), 2015-24, 3217 runs at 51.88 Highest score: Meg Lanning (Vic), 190 v Tas,…

Max Bonnell’s 16th cricket book again takes his readers deep into the history of the game in Australia. But rather than a biography of an important or interesting early player, this is essentially a tour book about a team of trailblazers. The Sydney-based lawyer cum cricket buff effortlessly eases from one cricket book genre to the next. Bonnell takes us inside the West Indies tourists of 1930-31. He places them in the context of their ethic origins visiting a country blighted by the racist White Australia Policy and the local economic travails of the Great Depression. That tour, tucked away between Bradman’s triumphant Ashes series in England in 1930 and the well documented explosive Bodyline summer of 1932-33, deserves a revisit after Shamar Joseph’s inspired bowling at the Gabba late…

1 Top Knocks The 20 best Australian innings of the last 50 years By Brad Hodge Affirm Press, hardback 320 pages, $40 2. Australian Cricket’s Best of the Best The outrageous unofficial history of the Allan Border Medal By Dan Liebke Affirm Press, flexiback 320 pages, $35 3. Australian Cricket Digest Volume XIII, 2024-25 Edited by Lawrie Colliver Card covers 356 pages, $40 4. An Unusual Celebrity The many cricketing Lives of Bill Bowes By Jeremy Lonsdale Pitch Publishing, hardback 320 pages, $60 5. Almost Invincible West Indies in England 1984 By Richard Sydenham Pitch Publishing, picture covers 288 pages, $60 6. Harry Hodgetts The flawed broker behind Don Bradman’s move to Adelaide By John Davis Wakefield Press, softback 168 pages, $35 7. Cricket’s Lost Prodigy The story of Karl…

Could a fast bowler turn out to be Australia’s greatest ever Test captain? If Pat Cummins leads Australia to a series win against India and the regaining of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the New Year, he will contend in everyone’s top five. And in time, some may even rate him the greatest of all. The Cummins image and record is ever building and for all those not enamoured by his free-speaking ways, there are tens of thousands who are. Even the smartest leader, however, must be daunted by Australia’s future schedule of 20 Tests in the next 30 months, especially with some of his main men gone or going. If the new-look Aussies can triumph in back-to-back home summers against India and then England and win more often than they…

First Tests in Australia: 1947-48 Tests in Australia: 52 (Australia won 30, India 9, drawn 13) Overall: 107 (A 45, I 32, drawn 29, tied 1) Highest total (in A): Australia 674, Adelaide 1947-48; India 7-705 dec., Sydney, 2003-04 Lowest total (in A): Australia 83, Melbourne 1980-81; India 36, Adelaide, 2020-21 Most times captain (In A & I): Ricky Ponting (A) 11, 2004-05 to 2008-09 and Allan Border (A) 11, 1985-92; MS Dhoni (I), 13, 2008-14 Most Tests: Ricky Ponting (A) 29; Sachin Tendulkar (I) 39 Most runs: Ricky Ponting (A) 2555 at 54; Sachin Tendulkar (I) 3630 at 55 Best average: Don Bradman (A) 178; Ravi Shastri (I) 77 Most runs in a series (in A): Steven Smith (A) 769, 2014-15; Virat Kohli (I) 692, 2014-15 Highest score (in A): Michael Clarke…

THE MCG Australia’s recent record (from latest): WWWLWLDWWD Fourth Test starts December 26 Ground capacity: 100,012 Dimensions: 172 x 147 metres Ends: Shane Warne Grandstand end (south), Members/City End (north) Australia’s record v India at the MCG: Played 14: Won 8, Lost 4, Drew 2 Highest team scores: Australia: 8-575 dec, 1947-48. India: 465, 2014-15 Lowest team scores: Australia: 83, 1980-81; India 67, 1947-48 Highest solo scores: Australia: Ricky Ponting, 257, 2003-04. India: Virender Sehwag 195, 2003-04 Best bowling: Australia: Graham McKenzie 7-66, 1967-68. India: Bhagwat Chandrasekhar 6-52 and 6-52, 1977-78 Last time (December 2020): Jasprit Bumrah’s high speed assault rattled Australia on the opening day, the Aussies bowled out for just 195 in 73 overs. Stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane made the century of his life in reply: 112 to…

Which Travis Head will stand up in 2024-25? Or on any given day this summer? Will it be the wonderful matchwinner in the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad? The batting dynamo who smashed England into oblivion at the Gabba and Bellerive in 2021-22? And the dasher who singlehandedly won the Adelaide Test last January? Or, will it be the technically fragile starter who has made three golden ducks in his last four Test innings at the ‘Gabba? The answer is probably both – again. And isn’t that the true joy of the cool South Australian! Every time he walks to the crease there is the nervous excitement of the unknown ahead. We laud his majesty and will him to succeed. Head is the latest in a line of…

Jasprit Bumrah is the finest fast bowler ever produced by India and the first ever Indian paceman to reach the coveted No.1 Test match ranking. A matchwinner in all conditions, he was pivotal in turning India from humble battlers to heavyweights on consecutive Australian tours in 2018-19 and 2020-21. His emergence has ensured that Australia cannot produce fast bowler friendly decks and expect to automatically demolish touring teams like India. Whatever the conditions, Australia has a supreme fight each and every Test. Yet anyone watching Bumrah from a distance for the first time would wonder how he is so good. One’s first reaction is to giggle at the seemingly uncoordinated arm waves, proppy legs and stiff back. On closer examination, however, the ball whizzes down at high pace and the…

BABAR AZAM Born: Oct 25, 1994, Lahore, Punjab. Right hand top-order batsman. Is 180cm (almost 5ft 11in). ODI debut: 2015. ODIs: 117, 5729 runs at 56.72, Highest Score 158 v Eng, Birmingham 2021, 19 100s, Strike Rate 88. ODI record v Australia: 10 games, 606 runs at 67.33, HS 114, Lahore 2022, 3 100s, SR 92. Has captained in 43 ODIs for 26 wins, 15 losses, 1 tie & I no result. Twenty20 International debut: 2016. T20s: 123, 4145 runs at 41.03, HS 122 v RSA, Centurion 2021, 3 100s, SR 129. T20 record v Australia: 8 games, 383 runs at 63.83, HS 68*, SR 126. Has captained in 85 T20s for 48 wins, 29 losses, 1 tie & 7 no results. Previous ODI tour of Australia: 2016-17 White-ball cricket’s…

CLUB BY CLUB MVPS Adelaide Strikers – Matthew Short Brisbane Heat – Xavier Bartlett Hobart Hurricanes – Chris Jordan Melbourne Renegades – Jake Fraser-McGurk Melbourne Stars – Glenn Maxwell & Hilton Cartwright (tied) Perth Scorchers – Aaron Hardie (Simon Katich Medal) Sydney Sixers – Ben Dwarshuis Sydney Thunder–Tanveer Sangha (Mike Hussey Medal) MOST RUNS MOST WICKETS FINAL TABLE THE FINAL: SCG, January 24, 2024: Brisbane Heat 8-166 cc (Brown 53, McSweeney 33, Renshaw 40, Abbott 4-32) d Sydney Sixers 112 (Henriques 25, Philippe 23, Johnson 4-26, Bartlett 2-12, Swepson 2-19) by 54 runs. Attendance: 43,153. Player of the match: Spencer Johnson. Umpires: Sam Nogajski and Gerard Abood PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT: Matthew Short (Adelaide Strikers) (He also won in 2022-23) WHERE YOUR TEAM HAS FINISHED, SINCE 2012 BEST BOWLING TEAM…

NSW continues to promote youth as it looks to maintain a steady stream of star players into Australia’s three national teams. Seven of its squad members also have national contracts and act as ready mentors for the many promising younger squad members, which this season include Australian Under 19 World Cup winning trio Sam Konstas, Ryan Hicks and Charlie Anderson. Konstas, 19, played four maiden matches with NSW including a half-century in the final match of the 2023-24 season in Brisbane. He was just 18 on debut and was given the plumb No.3 batting slot by captain Moises Henriques. Schooled at Cranbrook, he plays grade cricket at Sutherland after initially struggling to make headway at St George. He was just 16 when he made his first century for St George,…

FRESH CHALLENGES FOR JOHAN Former South African white-ball captain Johan Botha has major challenges in lifting Queensland cricket after a poor summer in 2023-24 which saw the Bulls finish last in the Shield and fifth in the Marsh Cup. Botha, 42, has a three-year contract and replaces Wade Seccombe who had six seasons as dual coach of the Bulls and the Brisbane Heat. Botha’s experience as an ex-international and his years downunder – he became an Australian citizen in 2016 – were pivotal in his appointment. The much-travelled off-spinner played with three BBL clubs and also captained South Australia at Sheffield Shield level. The Bulls are rebuilding without veteran Joe Burns who is continuing in cricket, with Italy’s national squad, hoping the associate country can be a part of the…

CRICKET AUSTRALIA CONTRACTS (2): CAREY, Alex Tyson. Born 27 August 1991 (Loxton, SA). Middle-order left-hand batsman, wicketkeeper. Club: Glenelg. Tests (32): Debut 2021-22 v England (Brisbane). Batting: 47–5–1339–111 v South Africa (Melbourne) 2022-23. Av: 31.88. 100s: 1. 121 catches & 12 stumpings. No bowling. One-Day Internationals (72): Debut 2017-18 v England (Brisbane). Batting 66–11–1814–106 v England (Manchester) 2020. Av: 32.98. 100s: 1. 82 catches & 8 stumpings. No bowling. Twenty20 Internationals (38): Debut 2017-18 v New Zealand (Sydney). Batting: 26–5–233–37* v Pakistan (Harare) 2018. Av: 11.09. 19 catches & 9 stumpings. No bowling. First-class matches (83): Debut 2012-13 for SA v NSW (Adelaide). Played for Sussex 2019. Batting: 137–13–4230–143 for SA v WA (Perth) 2019-20. Av: 34.11. 100s: 6. 314 catches & 16 stumpings. No bowling. List A limited-overs matches…

CRICKET AUSTRALIA CONTRACT: ELLIS, Nathan Trevor. Born 22 September 1994 (Greenacre, Sydney). Right-arm medium fast bowler, lower order right-hand batsman. Club: Lindisfarne. One-Day Internationals (8): Debut 2021-22 v Pakistan (Lahore). Batting: 7–4–63–18 v South Africa (Centurion) 2023-24. Av: 21.00. Bowling: 10 wickets for 382. Av: 38.20. BB: 2/13 v India (Visakhapatnam) 2022-23. 2 catches. Twenty20 Internationals (17): Debut 2021 v Bangladesh (Mirpur). Batting: 5–2–17–11* v New Zealand (Auckland) 2023-24. Av: 5.66. Bowling: 28 wickets for 482. Av: 17.21. BB: 4/28 v Pakistan (Lahore) 2021-22 4WI: 1. 6 catches. First-class matches (10): Debut 2019-20 for Tas v WA (Hobart) taking 3/120 & 6/86. Batting: 14–0–205–41 v WA (Park 25, Adelaide) 2020-21. Av: 14.64. Bowling: 42 wickets for 1232. Av: 29.33. BB: 6/43 v NSW (Hobart) 2019-20. 5WI: 2. 3 catches. List…

CRICKET AUSTRALIA CONTRACTS (4): BOLAND, Scott Michael. Born 11 April 1989 (Parkdale, Melbourne). Right-arm fast medium bowler, lower order right-hand batsman. Club: Frankston Heat. Tests (10): Debut 2021-22 v England (Melbourne) taking 1/48 & 6/7. Batting: 11–4–47–20 v England (Birmingham) 2023. Av: 6.71. Bowling: 35 wickets for 712. Av: 20.34. BB: 6/7 v England on debut. 5WI: 1. 6 catches. One-Day Internationals (14): Debut 2015-16 v India (Perth). Batting: 4–1–9–4 v South Africa (Cape Town) 2016-17. Av: 3.00. Bowling: 16 wickets for 725. Av: 45.31. BB: 3/67 v South Africa (Centurion) 2016-17. 3 catches. Twenty20 Internationals (3): Debut 2015-16 v India (Melbourne). Bowling: 3 wickets for 90. Av: 30.00. BB: 3/26 v Sri Lanka (Pallekele) 2016. No batting. 1 catch. First-class matches (105): Debut 2011-12 for Vic v WA (Melbourne).…

CRICKET AUSTRALIA CONTRACTS (6): GREEN, Cameron David. Born 3 June 1999 (Subiaco, Perth). Middle order right-hand batsman, right-arm fast medium bowler. Club: Subiaco-Floreat. Tests (28): Debut 2020-21 v India (Adelaide). Batting: 43–5–1377–174* v New Zealand (Wellington) 2023-24. Av: 36.23. 100s: 2. Bowling: 35 wickets for 1236. Av: 35.31. BB: 5/27 v South Africa (Melbourne) 2022-23. 5WI: 1. 31 catches. One-Day Internationals (26): Debut 2020-21 v India (Canberra). Batting: 22–8–552–89* v New Zealand (Cairns) 2022-23. Av: 39.42. Bowling 18 wickets for 714. Av: 39.66. BB: 5/33 v Zimbabwe (Townsville) 2022-23. 4WI: 1. 11 catches. Twenty20 Internationals (8): Debut 2021-22 v Pakistan (Lahore). Batting: 8–0–139–61 v India (Mohali) 2022-23. Av: 17.37. Bowling: 5 wickets for 178. Av: 35.60. BB: 2/16 v Pakistan on debut. 3 catches. First-class matches (61): Debut 2016-17 for WA…

Cricket’s greatest rivalry is coming, with two Ashes series in the 2025 calendar year. This summer, from January 30 to February 2, Australia plays England in the Women’s Ashes in a day-night pink-ball Test at the MCG. Alyssa Healy’s titleholders also host England in an ODI at the CitiPower Centre in St Kilda as part of the three-format series. ‘Having a women’s day/night Ashes Test at the MCG is a milestone and fantastic opportunity for Victorians to see the best team in the world in action against our arch rivals,’ said Cricket Victoria’s CEO Nick Cummins. The men’s Ashes start in November 2025. Having played NZ in September as a prelude to the Twenty20 World Cup in Bangladesh in spring, the Australian women’s team also takes on India in three…

WBBL 09 STANDINGS Final: Dec 2 (Adelaide Oval): Adelaide Strikers 5-125cc (Laura Wolvaardt 39, Nicola Hancock 3-23) d. Brisbane Heat 8-122 (Amelia Kerr 30*, Amanda-Jade Wellington 3-16) by 3 runs. Player of the match: Amanda-Jade Wellington. Umpires: Claire Polosak, Eloise Sheridan TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT Beth Mooney (Perth Scorchers) Katie Mack (Adelaide Strikers) Chamari Athapaththu (Sydney Thunder) Sophie Devine (c) (Perth Scorchers) Ellyse Perry (Sydney Sixers) Annabel Sutherland (Melbourne Stars) Amanda-Jade Wellington (Adelaide Strikers) Amy Edgar (Perth Scorchers) Chloe Ainsworth (Perth Scorchers) Lauren Cheatle (Sydney Sixers) Sophie Day (Melbourne Stars) 12th: Charli Knott (Brisbane Heat) HIGHEST TEAM SCORES COACHES & CAPTAINS Weber Women’s Big Bash League Player of the Year – Chamari Athapaththu (Thunder) Young Gun – Charli Knott (Heat) HOW YOUR TEAM HAS FINISHED MOST CATCHES MOST RUNS *…