Sydney, Day 2: Mitchell Johnson post-match interview (VIDEO)

Australia’s Mitchell Johnson speaks to CATV after day two of the fifth Vodafone Ashes Test at the SCG.

Sale over as Nathan Hauritz plans return

Image via Wikipedia

Axed Test spinner Nathan Hauritz has told those close to him he still has a burning ambition to fight his way back into the Australian team.

Hauritz held a garage sale at his beachside Sydney apartment over the weekend, at which the items lying around included a few of his old Test jumpers.

He gave away a couple of his  jumpers but wanted it known that this should not be taken as a sign he was any less determined to break back into the Test team.

Many regard Hauritz as the best spinner in Australia, and believe he was unlucky not to be included in the squad for the third Ashes Test after taking 5-39 for NSW in the Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia at the WACA Ground on December 1.

He followed that up with three wickets and 148 for NSW against South Australia at the SCG last week but it was not enough to sway the selectors.

Full story: Herald Sun

Hauritz ton puts NSW on top at SCG

Nathan Hauritz scored his maiden first class century to put NSW well on top at tea on day two of the Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia at the SCG.

Hauritz achieved the milestone on the stroke of tea when he flicked Robert Cassell through midwicket for his 12th boundary, ending Wednesday’s second session unbeaten on 103.

Full story: Sky News Australia

Test hopefuls fluff lines at SCG

Moises Henriques. Image via Wikipedia

Another Sheffield Shield clash, another day of mixed fortunes for those hoping to break into Australia’s ailing Test set-up.

With spots surely up for grabs going into next week’s third Ashes Test in Perth, those aiming to impress in the match between NSW and South Australia at the SCG on Tuesday mostly fluffed their lines.

Redbacks batsman Callum Ferguson (14) was the first to fall in a calamitous collapse for the visitors, who lost 7-21 around the tea break on their way to being dismissed for just 188 after winning the toss and batting on a flat pitch.

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Ferguson wafted at a wide delivery from Moises Henriques (4-13) as he and fellow all-rounder Steven Smith (4-57) tore through the Redbacks to take them from 2-133 to 9-154 in the middle of the day.

But Smith, who is another possible for Test selection, couldn’t back up his effort with the bat, falling late for eight as the Blues made it to 3-79 by stumps, a deficit of 109 runs.

Full story: The Age

 

Steve James: One of England’s best days in Ashes cricket

One of England’s best days in Ashes cricket. It’s as simple as that. To lose the toss in Adelaide and bowl Australia out for just 245 is a stunning effort. And it was nothing less than they deserved. They were quite magnificent from the moment Jonathan Trott ran out Simon Katich from the day’s fourth ball. Then Ricky Ponting went first ball, and Michael Clarke followed soon afterwards. In a trice Australia were 2-3, or 3-2 as they say down here.

It could easily have been 12-4 had James Anderson taken a sharp caught-and-bowled chance from Mike Hussey on three. But the flinty left-hander produced another innings of character and resolve. He really deserved a third Ashes century in three innings (he made 121 at the Oval last year remember) but Graeme Swann crucially dismissed him after tea. And even then Hussey’s partner-in-crime at Brisbane, Brad Haddin, also played another spunky innings. He reached 50 with a remarkable scoop/flick over long leg for six.

Full story: The Telegraph

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