Sri Lanka find form at last

Sri Lanka 9/286 (50ov, U Tharanga 111, T Dilshan 55,D Bollinger 4-42) def Australia 208 (44.2
ov,M Hussey 63, L Malinga 5-28) by 78 runs: ODI#3/5 at Hambantota. Australia lead series 2-1.

Sri Lanka at last performed as everyone knows they can. An opening stand of 139/151b between Upul Tharanga 111/139b (12x4) and Tillekeratne Dilshan 55/59b (4x4) provided a launching pad for a total which looked, as the total passed 200 without further loss, to be heading for 300+ .

It didn't work out that way as the pace bowlers, led for the second game on the trot by Doug Bollinger, this time 10-0-42-4, clawed back enough ground to give Australia a sniff of a chance.

Openers Watson and Haddin fell cheaply to Lasith Malinga and promising looking debutant Shaminda Eraga, then Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke kept Australia in the chase briefly until Ponting hit a soft return catch to Eranga. 3/52.

Clarke and Mike Hussey added a handy (but not handy enough as it turned out) 81/95b before Malinga snared Clarke for 46/67b (3x4). David Hussey didn't last long, and Australia's candle was snuffed out when two wickets fell on 183: first Steve Smith tipped the ball straight to bowler Nuwan Kulasekara who ran him out (a good throw but a silly call); then Mike Hussey to Malinga for a characteristic 63/76b (5x4). Malinga (who has reverted to his former multicoloured hairstyle) swept the rest before him, finishing with 8.2-2-28-5 as Sri Lanka strode to victory.

Australia are now the team with problems, especially in the opening batting and spin bowling (combined figures for the three used:12-0-91-0).

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Fox Sports highlights:





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Impressive Australia win another ODI, lead series 2-0

Australia 2/ 211 ( 38.2 ov, R Ponting 90*,M Clarke 58*) beat Sri Lanka 208 (49.3ov,K Sangakkara 52, ) by 8 wickets: ODI#2/5 at Hambantota. Australia lead series 2-0.

Another good, verging on very good, performance by Australia. Sri Lanka crumbled against a tightly drilled attack, with all 6 bowlers used (Steven Smith wasn't) doing their bit. Doug Bollinger's 3/35 from 10 overs was an eyeopener for me, as , overlooking the differences between Tests and ODIs, I'd written him off after his performances in the Ashes.

In the batting department things went well too, with a vintage Ricky Ponting 90*/106b (9x6, 8x4) combining with Shane Watson and then a refeshingly aggressive Michael Clarke 58*/67b (2x6, 4x4) seeing their side home easily.

Clarke's captaincy looked good too, though I'm not enamoured of his habit of whistling to attract players' attention.

I'd expected Sri Lanka to win this series, but so far they've disappointed. Are they really that bad or are Australia better than I've given them credit for?



Scorecard

Fox Sports video:

India win World Cup deservedly and comfortably

India 4/277 (48.2 ov, G Gambhir 97, M S Dhoni 91*) beat Sri Lanka 6/274 (50ov, M Jayawardene 103*, K Sangakkara 48) by six wickets: CWC 201 final at Mumbai ( aka Bombay). India win tournament.

Well done, India. Your victory confirms you as the top world team in the two major forms of the game: Tests and ODIs. T20 has taken a back seat for the moment and the future of the 50 overs (or thereabouts) a side game looks assured for the next few years, not only because India are both world champs and the financial powerhouse of world cricket but also because, despite the protracted length of the tornament, there were many good matches played.

The final was one of these. Sri Lanka, who for some odd reasons made four, not all forced, changes to their semifinal eleven were competitive thanks initially to Mahela Jaywardene's elegantly aggressive 103*/88b (13x4). Lasith Malinga's dismissals of Virender Sehwag 0 and Sachin Tendulkar 18 made India's road look rocky but then Gautam Gambhir 97/122b (9x4) and Virat Kohli 35/49b (4x4) steadied the ship before MS Dhoni took advantage of the second string bowlers to power his side home.

Dhoni's 91*/79b (2x6, 8x4) was the quintessential captain's knock. He hadn't had the best of tournaments with the bat but on this really big occasion backed himself to win, and did so imperiously. I'd sometimes thought he was an overrated cricketer, but no more.

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CWC 2011

Well, the CWC aka Cricket World Cup 2011 has at last, after a measured progression through the preliminary round, reached the quarter final stage.

As expected, the minnows, aka the non-Test playing nations, were eliminated though some, notably Ireland , had a few overs of fame. Enough of the contests, particularly the India- England tie were close enough to refresh interest in the 50 overs a side ODI format.
As usual Cricinfo has very detailed coverage.

Last night Pakistan, for whom Shahid Afridi has bowled very well, trounced the West Indies by 10 wickets.

Tonight India will start favourites against Australia in the second quarter final, which has been billed in parts of the media as a Sachin Tendulkar v Ricky Ponting or, according to The Australian's South Asia correspondent an "angel of light v prince of darkness" contest. It will almost certainly be more than this and should be much less onesided than last night's encounter, though both sides have shown weaknesses: both middle orders have underperformed, India's fielding and Australia's spin bowling have not always delivered.

The match deserves to be shown here on free to air TV, but apparently (unless I've not read the schedules properly) won't be.

Update/ correction 7.20pm CST

Apparently Channel 9 are showing the match from 11pm.

Tale of two innings as Australia snatch narrow victory in high scoring ODI

Australia 8/334 (49.2 ov, M Clarke 82, M Johnson 57, S Watson 51, C Ferguson 46) def England 6/333 (50 0v, J Trott 137, A Strauss 63, I Bell 45) by 2 wickets: ODI #6/7 at SCG. Australia lead series 5-1.

The approach of Cyclone Yasi towards the North Queensland coast preoccupied me for much of the time this match was being played but today, when the bad weather had subsided, I filled the gaps in my viewing by watching the highlights of a very, very high scoring game which Australia, having looked out of the reckoning for so long, won narrowly.

Two innings stood out: Jonathon Trott's 137/126b (11x4) which put England in what looked like an unassailable position, and Michael Clarke's 82/70b (1x6, 4x4) which kept Australia in, if not leading, the hunt.

Fox Sports report

Scorecard

Australia take series as England make poor fist of chasing modest score

Australia 249 (48.3 ov, M Clarke 54, C Woakes 6/45) def England 198 (45.3 ov,K Pietersen 40, S Watson 3/25) by 51 runs: ODI#5/7 at Gabba, Brisbane. Australia lead series 4-1.


Back to the couch to watch this one, which fortunately wasn't played here, where the temperature reached 42.5 deg C.

The first nine Australian batters got a start (of sorts), ie reached double figures, but only acting captain Michael Clarke went on from there. His 54/74b (5x4) was a return to form (of sorts) which was good to see, not only because those with long memories (of sorts) can recall him playing many fine innings in both Tests and ODIs. At least those who'd booed him onto the ground shut up when he walked off.

A word about Chris Woakes:21 years old, and not really quick, but he plugged away doing a bit here and there and taking 6 (including 4 of the top 6) for 45 from his 10 overs.

Australia's bowlers,especially Brett Lee, John Hastings (good changes of pace to dismiss topscorers Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell), Steve Smith and (among the lower order) Shane Watson, reduced England to a paltry 9/145 before a last wicket stand between Jimmy Anderson and Steven Finn briefly raised in some minds (not mine) the prospect of an upset. It didn't happen though the 53 runs they added distorted the margin of victory. Australia won the match, and therefore the series, convincingly.

Welcome as this has been it is still small compensation for the Ashes Test result!

Scorecard

Fox Sports report with link to video highlights.

England keep ODI series alive with comfortable win at Adelaide

England 8/299 (50 0v, J Trott 102, M Prior 67, D Hussey 4/21, S Smith 3/33) def Australia 7/278 (50 0v, S Watson 64) by 21 runs: ODI #4/7 at Adelaide Oval. Australia lead series 3-1.

For various reasons I haven't watched a lot of cricket since the Ashes Tests, but yesterday I went to the Adelaide Oval to see if Australia could wrap up the seven match series with a fourth consecutive victory. They couldn't, and England won comfortably - far more comfortably than a margin of 21 runs suggests. But at least the match lasted longer than the 59 over 2007 match , ie into the night.

Andrew Strauss won the toss and, not surprisingly given a warm (29deg C), sunny day and a good pitch, chose to bat.

Brett Lee's first over went for 12 (in 2007 he'd bowled 8 for 8 runs and 2 wickets) and while in his second he made amends of sorts when Strauss edged him to the keeper. 1/23 from 17 balls was evidence of England's intentions and the waywardness of Australia's bowling. Jonathon Trott joined Matt Prior, who having, at the third attempt, opened his account for the series, continued to punish the bowling. Trott didn't waste too many opportunities but built his innings more methodically than his partner who posted his 50 with a six off Lee.

While Michael Clarke switched the four quicker bowlers around none of them looked especially penetrative There were a couple of run out chances which the Australians missed (neither side was at its best in the hitting the stumps department), otherwise the score mounted and a 300+ total looked more and more likely as the 100 was posted in 15 overs.

Xavier Doherty then came on. He conceded only 1 one in his first over, encouraging Clarke to throw the ball to Steven Smith, who bowled one scratchy over for 9 runs before Prior cut the first ball of his second to point. Prior's 67/58b (1x6, 8x4) out of 136 from 22.1 overs was as good a launching pad as could have been expected, and there was plenty more batting to come.

But as Doherty bowled steadily at one end for 10 straight overs for 44 Smith struck again...and again, as Kevin Pietersen hit a catch to long on and Ian Bell came down the wicket to his second ball and was smartly caught behind by Brad Haddin.

4/158 wasn't quite what the ideal England script would have read, but it weasn't bad either, espeically Trott was still there moving along at his own pace (which wasn't as slow as some had thought). Eoin Morgan joined him and together, as Clarke shuffled the quick bowlers, they kept moving things along. Then, when we were wondering when (or even whether) David Hussey would be given a bowl, he came on for the 40th over of the innings, during which he induced Trott, who'd perhaps relaxed after reaching his century, to edge a turning ball onto his stumps. Trott's 102/126b (6x4) was a masterly innings of quiet aggression which confirmed England's superiority.

Hussey struck again with the first ball of his second over, having Morgan caught at point/ square leg reverse sweeping. 6/227 and Australia were at last in with a chance of restricting England to well under 300.

But Clarke took Hussey (2/3 from 2 overs) off and brought Lee and Doug Bollinger back. Neither had hitherto bowled well, and nor did they improve much as Paul Collingwood 27/27b (1x6, 2x4) and Michael Yardy 39*/27b (6x4) made hay under the floodlights. This was a failure on Clarke's part to read the game: in the more leisurely atmosphere of a Test match it would have been fine, but here, where spin had held England if not in check then under greater restraint, he should have given Hussey another over or two, Powerplay or imminent innnigs end notwithstanding.

As it happened the quicker bowlers continued in their expensive vein so he had to come back , and took two more wickets, finishing with the surprising (though not entirely undeserved ) analysis of 4-0-21-4. The three slow bowlers collectively bowled 21 overs and took 7/98 whereas the four quick ones bowled 29 0vers for 1/197. Enough said?

300 looked beyond Australia's grasp, though they gave it a reasonable shot and at least gave the scorecard the illusion of a close finish. But in the first phase a slow run rate, with the first 100 taking 30 balls longer than England's (120 v 90 b), and the loss of three wickets, including yet another modest score by Clarke, put England in control. Its quick bowling was tighter than Australia's (Jimmy Anderson bowled the only maiden of the contest) and if Yardy's slow-medium darts were milked, Collingwood and, surprisingly, Trott with their gently probing medium pace prevented any breakaway, and took 3 wickets between them.

From this point a Shane Watson century was Australia's best hope. But on this, as on other occasions (and he shouldn't be criticised for this: at least he's scoring runs), it wasn't forthcoming for at 116 he was caught behind off Ajmal Shahzad for a worthy 64/72b (1x6, 5x4).

Neither Cameron White, despite his big hitting reputation, nor David Hussey were able to move things along. They spent some time playing themselves in before falling to Trott. White's 44/64b was especially disappointing: he rarely looked in command and only hit two fours.

After they were out Smith played aggressively, but not aggressively enough to haul the asking rate back to where a final overs tilt at the total might have been feasible. After John Hastings went cheaply (IMO Dan Christian has a better claim on his place: maybe not as good a bowler but a more punishing lower order batter), Lee (who should have gone in ahead of Hastings) 39*/32b (5x4) and Smith 46*/47b (4x4) added 78 in the last 10 overs in what became, as the possibility of victory faded, centre wicket practice.

The metaphorical fireworks required for Australia to snatch an improbable victory didn't eventuate before the real fireworks commemorating Australia Day brought proceedings to a close. .

A good game, which showed many of the best features of 50 over cricket. There were few controversies and the umpires controlled the game well. It was good to see Simon Fry, with whom I played cricket many years ago, umpiring his first ODI after many years as fourth umpire.

The overlong 7 match series is not yet over. On this occasion England looked a more complete team than Australia, but the gap between them isn't wide enough to make the results of the last three games easy to predict.

Scorecard

Fox Sports report with link to video highlights.

Australia break duck at fourth attempt

Australia 5/290 (50 ov M Clarke 99*, R Ponting 92) def England 212 (42.4 ov, M Yardy 57, R Harris 5/32) by 78 runs; ODI#4/5 at The Oval, London: England lead series 3-1.

A return to form by Ricky Ponting 92/93b (10x4) and another good if unlucky knock from Michael Clarke who finished on 99*/106b (7x4) gave Australia what the Sky commentators rated a par score.

These experts were soon eating their opinions as England rarely looked like winning. Ryan Harris, after an indifferent match 3 only needed 8.4 overs to rip the guts out the England batting with 5/32: his third 5-for in his hitherto brief ODI career. Doug Bollinger and Shaun Tait supported him well, while Steven Smith and James Hopes (again) were relatively expensive. Smith did bowl Luke Wright with an impressive looking ball, albeit one which the commentators - with the benefit of Hawkeye, replays etc - correctly pointed did not spin a la Shane Warne.

After their narrow loss in match Australia looked as if they were beginning to match England. They are still, despite Ponting's presence, collectively well below standard of the Australian ODI sides of a decade, or even a few years, ago.

On the other hand England look good. They have won the series fair and square, their key players have generally performed well while the lesser lights, eg Michael Yardy in this game, have also chipped in. Can they make it 4-0? I'm not game to venture an opinion..

Scorecard

Fox Sports report with link to video highlights.

England scrape home in ODI#3 after Australia fight back

England 9/214 (49.1 ov, A Strauss 87) def Australia 212 (46 ov, S Watson 61, G Swann 4/37) by 1 wicket (with 5 balls remaining) ODI#3/5 at Old Trafford Manchester. England lead series 3-0.

Australia started well: Shane Watson and Tim Paine put on 75 before the first wicket fell. Ricky Ponting was stumped off Graham Swann (an unusual mode dismissal for Ricky) , then it was downhill most of the way.

212 was never going to be enough on a good wicket and so it turned out....just. England were motoring along nicely at 3/185 when Steven Smith had Eoin Morgan caught at mid wicket. Then at 189 Ryan Harris had the innings backbone Andrew Strauss caught behind for 87/121 b (8x4). A run later Smith removed Luke Wright for 0: 6/190. Then Doug Bollinger and eleventh hour inclusion Shaun Tait returned, took three more wickets between them (Bollinger two beaut yorkers) leaving England to get 10 from 2 overs and Australia in the box seat.

There was a problem, though: Bollinger (10-3-20-3) and Tait (10-1-28-3) had been bowled out. So Harris bowled over 49 and conceded 7 runs while James Hopes who Ponting perhaps unwisely preferred to Smith (yes I know it's easy to be wise after the event), bowled not his first poor ball of the innings which Tim Bresnan edged (guided?) for four and a victory.

Oh, and a 3-0 series lead to England with two to play.

Scorecard

Fox Sports report with link to video.

England win comfortably...too comfortably for Australian tastes

England 6/243 (45.2 ov, E Morgan 52, A Strauss 51) def Australia 7/239 (50 ov,C White 86*, S Watson 57,S Broad 4/44) by 4 wickets: ODI #2/5 at Cardiff. England lead 2-0.

Once Tim Paine, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke were dismissed for 77 after 17 overs it was uphill all the way for Australia. Well as Cameron White 86*/98b (2x6, 7x4) and Shane Watson 57/59b (8x4) batted 239 wasn't likely to cause England much grief against a middling Australian attack.

None of the bowlers could stop, and only Doug Bollinger did much to slow, England's progression to victory. Eion Morgan once again looked just right for this format: perhaps the England equivalent of White, though with more support fom his teammates.

All this doesn't augur well for the Aussies, though one must hope that, despite a touch of fallibility outside the off stump and against the quick ball creeping into his batting of late, Ponting's next big score isn't too far away. (He did take a great catch - see video link).

Scorecard

Fox Sports report & link to video

England etc flair trumps Aust competence

England 6/268 (46 ov, E Morgan 103*) def Australia 7/267 (50 ov, M Clarke 87*) by 4 wickets: ODI#1 at Rose Bowl Southampton.

I watched the beginning and the end of the match on TV. When I retired Australia looked to be building a handy score. When I rose early in the morning Channel 9 had stopped its telecast, though Fox Sports hadn't, so I was able to see the England team with former Ireland international Eoin Morgan (103*) surge to a comfortable victory and a 1-0 series lead .

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Update 25 June

Fox Sports video

Rusty Australia struggle to beat Ireland

Australia 231 for 9 (T Paine 81) beat Ireland 192 (J Hopes 5-14) by 39 runs, one off ODI at Dublin.

It should have been a comfortable reintroduction to cricket for the Australians after a few months off, but it didn't quite work out that way, despite the homely atmosphere (when did Ricky Ponting last shave before stepping onto the field?) , the absence of a third umpire, and a beer snake as long as I can recall seeing. There was TV coverage here (Foxtel relayed the Setanta live coverage and showed generous highlights at a civilised hour) so I feel able to offer some comments

While the final margin looked comfortable enough, by ODI standards Ireland didn't just roll over gracefully. Had they not lost 6/19 when they still seemed to have a slight chance the game might have lasted a bit longer but at least there was a last wicket stand with some beer match biffing to give the spectators and the Ireland team some further consolation.

Ireland rely on a few key players: their bowling is quite good, their fielding variable and their batting...OK, check the scorecard.

For Australia Tim Paine's sometimes fluent sometimes laboured 81/122 (5x4, 2x6) underpinned a reasonable if below par total. But it was of course James Hopes' 5/14 from 9 overs which settled the issue (and probably a few Australian stomachs).

The ODI series v England begins in a few days... on the evidence of this match perhaps too soon for Australia's liking. There is work to be done.

Two teams turn up, only one really tries as Australia win series 4-0

Australia 5 for 324 (R Ponting 61, J Hopes 57*, S Watson 51, M Clarke 47, A Voges 45*) beat West Indies 199 (D Sammy 47, K Pollard 45) by 125 runs: ODI#5 at MCG. Australia won series 4-0.

ODI#5 was embarassingly one sided as West Indies fell apart in the field and, with a couple of exceptions, with the bat.

A 125 run margin if anything understated the differences between the sides. The tone of the match was set (lowered?) in the second over, bowled by Dwayne Smith, during which Brad Haddin was missed twice, once by Travis Dowlin at second slip (straight to him but missed his hands before bouncing off his chest), then two balls later by Smith himself (a harder return catch). Watch the highlights (link below) for more of the comedy of errors and footage of some robust Australian batting, where several, notably James Hopes 57*/26b (10x4) and Ricky Ponting 61/55b (1x6, 3x4) scored at more than a run a ball (as well as benefiting from fielding errors) and the lowest score was 22.

With the bat the West Indies went down with only a couple of guns blazing. After a brief flourish from Chris Gayle they collapsed to 4/39. Kieron Pollard, one of the few WI successes of the summer (another - Brendan Nash - did well in the Tests but for reasons which I can't fathom didn't even make the ODI team despite being in the squad) justified his belated elevation in the order but he left at 80. The last rites were strung out by Darren Sammy hitting out against debutant Stephen Smith (who almost certainly wouldn't have bowled as much if the match had been closer).

To say as Cricinfo does, partly echoing Ricky Ponting, that the main reason for the poor crowds was "overload" doesn't tell the whole truth. Long (more than 3 match) ODI series between unevenly matched sides just don't work. The discarded tri-series format at least kept interest alive (even if attendances at the matches not involving Australia were often low). Bring them back!



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Australia take series: Windies a match for Afghanistan?

ODI#3 at the SCG was a washout where only one over, delivered in in two instalments - seven balls (including two wides), punctuated by a long rain break, then the sixth legit one - could be bowled as the West Indies began to chase down Australia's 225.

Today Australia won ODI#4 comfortably, more so than the scorecard indicated. After Chris Gayle, for reasons which eluded me, chose to field after winning the toss, Ricky Ponting's 106/112b (2x6, 6x4), his best ODI innings of the season, led the charge against a modest attack. 7/325 was always going to be too many for the uneven Windies batting to chase unless Gayle matched Ponting though they gave it a good shake, which might have been even better had Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Smith come in earlier.

Australia now leads the series 3-0 with one to play. Would, I wonder without too much of my tongue in my cheek, Afghanistan who have just qualified for the ICC World Twenty20, provide a more even contest if they played the West Indies? We may soon find out.

Feeble West Indies succumb again to disciplined Australia

Australia 2/171 (26.3 ov, R Ponting 57*, S Watson 53) def West Indies 170 (39.4 ov, D Smith 43, D Bollinger 4/28) by 8 wickets: ODI#2 at Adelaide Oval. Australia lead series 2-0

Hot weather was forecast for Adelaide, and hot it was: the temperature stayed in the high 30s all day; and the wind blew hot from several directions, including the south west, which is normally from where cooler breezes blow.

I arrived early and had no difficulty getting a seat in the shade under the Moreton Bay figs. Further evidence of the temperature was given immediately after the toss (which West Indies won) when match referee Javagal Srinath strode off the ground not breaking the purposeful stride (which I recall from his days as a spearhead of India's attack) while removing his suit jacket and revealing a short sleeved shirt underneath. Wise man.

And the match itself? The result was determined quickly, if not from the first ball when Chris Gayle was lbw to Doug Bollinger, then soon after when the Windies were 4/16 (Bollinger 3/5 from 5 overs) on a good (is there any other kind?) Les Burdett pitch.

Things couldn't get any worse but they didn't get much better for the visitors either. Some of the middle order got a start and Dwayne Smith with 43/63b (only 2x4 but one straight driven 6 which landed four rows back near the sightboard - one of the longest hits I've seen at Adelaide) led a revival of sorts to 170 all out from 39.4 overs. Perhaps the calls to reduce ODIs to 40 overs a side are designed to even things up even more?

The last two WI wickets were impressive demonstrations of Australia's prowess. Ricky Ponting ran out Ravi Rampaul with a direct hit and next ball Mike Hussey ran perhaps 40 metres then dived to catch Smith.

An early finish meant a long break between innings, which seemed silly in the circumstances. But of course there were the TV schedules to consider. I expect many viewers looked elsewhere for their evening's entertainment: not many spectators augmented the thin numbers who'd braved the heat (and in some instances the overzealous security and police). Despite what many others said I thought given the weather, the one sided contest and that it was a working (and school) day, that 8,378 was not a bad attendance, even if it was the lowest ever for an ODI featuring Australia at Adelaide.

Those of us who stayed watched Australia sweep (and pull and drive) the West Indies attack aside in 26.3 overs (and 109 minutes). The visitors played like losers - there were no Ponting or Hussey moments in the field - but this doesn't detract from Shane Watson's 53/50b (2x6, 7x4) and Ponting's 57/55b (2x6, 8x4).


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West Indies make captain's ODI series prediction look shaky

Now that the Pakistan tour is over with the visitors failing to win a match, though they came close in the T20 International, the West Indies have returned for the short form leg of their visit.

Chris Gayle's prediction of a 4-1 ODI series result to his team looks shaky, very shaky, after a professional Australia won ODI#1 by 113 runs in Melbourne: 8/256 from 50 ov v 143 from only 34.2 ov . West Indies seem to lack the depth to be able to challenge the home team for more than a few overs. Of course many of us thought the same after the First Test.

There has been some media comment about the small crowd of 25,000 or so, and comparisons have been drawn wirth the 60,000 who attended the T20 game v Pakistan on Friday. Yes, a big difference, but a good total, and in any event what do you expect when two internationals are scheduled at the same ground a day apart?

It will be interesting to see how many turn up here in Adelaide tomorrow for ODI#2: it's a working day and hot weather is forecast.

Still no joy for Pakistan despite good showing by U19s

At Perth Australia won ODI#4 by 135 runs 8/277 to 142, rubbing salt into Pakistan's already considerable wounds and taking a 4-0 lead in the series with one match to play.

Ryan Harris, playing only his third ODI, bettered his 5/43 on Tuesday with an outstanding 5/19 from 9.5 overs. Not surprisingly he won another Player of the Match award and reminded me of how foolish South Australia were to let him go off to Queensland.

It was a much closer game at Lincoln New Zealand where Australia won the Under 19 World Cup by 25 runs 9/207 to 182. Both teams fielded several players with first class experience, eg Josh Hazelwood of NSW, who took 4/30. One of the Australians also sported a haircut reminiscent of Andrew Symonds at an earlier stage of his career.

Australia to meet Pakistan in World Cup Final....Under 19 that is

I've been away for a few days and haven't watched much of the Australia - Pakistan ODI series, which Australia now leads 3-0 with two games to play. Pakistan have, as they did in the Test series, had their moments but have not sustained, or been allowed to sustain, their efforts.

In ODI#1 at the Gabba the margin was 5 wickets , thanks to a Cameron White century, in #2 at the SCG 140 runs as the Pakistan batting folded, while yesterday game#3 here in Adelaide a 40 run margin perhaps flattered Pakistan, whose top order batting was again inconsistent.

Disappointed as they must feel Pakistan do have something to look forward to in a broader context and in the immediate future: on Saturday they will appear in the Final of the 2010 Under 19 World Cup in New Zealand.

They will play Australia, who today scraped into the Final by virtue of a 2 wicket win against Sri Lanka : 8/206 vs 205. I watched much of the game on Foxtel (a pat on the back to them for telecasting it). The Sri Lankans looked finished at 5/32 but managed to recover to 205: not bad though not a matchwinning total it seemed. Yet Australia, who themselves looked brittle at 5/93 against a varied Sri Lankan attack (9 bowlers were used) , would not have passed it without Mitchell Marsh's 97/110b (12x4), Tom Triffitt's 50/70b (2x4) and, not least, some nailbiting moments as nos 9 and 10 negotiated 12 consecutive dot balls before seeing their team home.

A great game, and yet another demonstration of how good the 50 over a side game can be.

If you can watch the Final on Saturday: if it's half as good as today's game it'll be well worth doing so.

Ponting's class confirmed by end of decade reflections and assessments

End of a year and, except for those who consider that there's another year to go, end of a decade, which means it's time for reflections, assessments and whatever about cricket (as well as just about anything you can think of).

A Cricinfo panel has selected the Test and ODI teams of 2000- 2009. Here they are (with the seven players who made the cut for both elevens highlighted):

Test

Matthew Hayden, Virender Sehwag, Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Adam Gilchrist , Shaun Pollock, Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, Glenn McGrath,
12th man: Andrew Flintoff

ODI

Sanath Jayasuriya, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Flintoff, Shaun Pollock, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Muttiah Muralitharan, 12th man: Shane Warne

In terms of runs scored Ricky Ponting and wickets taken Muttiah Muralitharan lead both Test and ODI tables: this is a fair reflection of their ability throughout the 2000s.

Malcolm Conn in The Australian pays tribute to Ponting, giving due emphasis to the fact that he has had to face the challenges of captaining his country as well as being its number one batter.

While Muralitharan may not be as highly regarded in Australia as he is elsewhere he also deserves due acknowledgment, which with "Out of our comfort zone" Gideon Haigh on Cricinfo (reprinted - or printed -in the anthologyThe Best Australian Essays of 2009 ) has done.


IMO a major omission from the Test team is Brian Lara who from 2000 onwards scored 6380 runs from 120 inns/ 2 not out, average 54.06 (this on top of his pre- 1990 tally of 5573 runs from 112 inns/4 no). Not bad, eh?

If he was to be included, who should make room? Rahul Dravid? Virender Sehwag? Perhaps Shaun Pollock (though this change the balance of the side and require some of the occasional bowlers eg Sehwag to turn their arms over more)?


Another poll, this time taken among 30 cricket writers is for the Cricinfo player of the decade : Chanderpaul, Dravid, Gilchrist, Inzamam, Hayden, Kallis, Muralitharan, Sangakkara, Smith, Tendulkar, Warne, Mohammad Yousuf are listed as front runners. The winner, we are told, will be announced soon.

One interesting drawn Test & several other high scoring games

At Napier New Zealand drew with Sri Lanka after rain intervened on the last day when the Black Caps were on track for victory. From what I saw of the series (quite a lot, as it was shown on Foxtel) a 1-1 result was a reasonable result. Both sides will be playing against Australia later this season: Pakistan here soon and NZ at home later. I can't see either of them causing much trouble unless several players, not just the superstars of this match (Daniel Vettori backing himself at no6 and delivering a century or Danish Kaneria with 7 wickets in the NZ innings), punch above their weight.

Elsewhere a high scoring ODI saw India 7/414 just hold off SrI Lanka 8/411. Who said the ODI was dying?

While I was posting this I watched South Australia beat Victoria in a high scoring Ford Ranger Cup ODD at the MCG. Mark Cosgrove and Chris Rogers, two players who are apparently not on the Australian selectors' shortlist for any form of the game, scored centuries for their respective teams. This match followed hard on the heels of the Sheffield Shield fixture where Victoria lost only 4 wickets chasing down 384 . South Australia once again omitted legspinner Cullen Bailey: he might have made the Bushrangers fight harder.

Another recent Sheffield Shield match worth noting was Tasmania's one wicket win over WA from the last ball of the match The Tigers scored 9/351 thanks to 152 from Ed Cowan, who is having a prolific, though barely acknowledged on the mainland, first class season.

And one more, this time from the New Zealand domestic comp, where Central Districts notched 1/445, thanks to a second innings opening partnership of 428 ( a NZ record) to beat Wellington by 9 wickets.