Selectors count on Smith to inject youthful exuberance

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Steve Smith intends to make England lament the day he rejected their invitation to wear their Three Lions after being named to replace Marcus North as the home team’s No.6 batsman and part-time bowler.

Smith, who took 4-112 and then belted a match-sealing 46 in the victory over South Australia at the SCG, was asked to align himself to England five years ago when the English became aware the promising leg-spinner’s mother was born there after he snared a Shane Warne-like 6-14 for Surrey’s Second XI against Kent.

It was seen by many as a short-cut to playing Test cricket, but Smith remained true to the dream that was fostered in a backyard ”hit” when he was only four years old to one-day play for Australia in an Ashes series.

Full story: Sydney Morning Herald

 

Smith knocks on Test door

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Test hopeful Steve Smith continued to mount a strong case for Ashes selection as NSW moved in on outright victory over South Australia at the SCG, collecting two wickets late on day three to take his tally to six for the game.

With the Australian team for the third Test in Perth to be announced Friday afternoon, Smith ensured his name would be at the forefront of selectors’ minds with another impressive performance.

After taking 4-57 in the first innings, the leg spinner again bowled with great control and variation, troubling all the batsmen and picking up the wickets of Tom Cooper (41) and Aiden Blizzard (3).

He boasted the handy figures of 2-64 when bad light stopped play at 6.09pm local time with the visitors 4-178 in their second innings.

Full story: cricket.com.au

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

 

Wobbly Aussies reliant on Hussey, Haddin

Image by <DXR> via Flickr

Australia wobbled to 5-159 against England at tea on day one of the second Ashes Test as they tried to repair the damage inflicted by their worst start to an innings for 60 years.

The Australians lost Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting in the first over then Michael Clarke in the third to be 3-2 before many of a sold out crowd had made it to their seats.

Opener Shane Watson (51) then departed shortly after lunch to grant the excellent Jimmy Anderson (3-31) his third wicket and Marcus North (26) cuffed Steve Finn (1-45) behind in the shadows of the interval to reunite Gabba centurions Mike Hussey (71no) and Brad Haddin (2no).

Full story: Sydney Morning Herald