Australia Take on West Indies in Final

After a fortnight of matches spread across Mumbai and Cuttack, the ICC Women's World Cup 2013 prepares for a finale between five-time champion Australia and the West Indies at the Brabourne Stadium on Sunday. It would have taken a brave man to predict that the West Indies would be one of the finalists, especially after the drubbing it received at the hands of India in the tournament opener. After barely managing to squeeze into the Super Sixes on the back of a superior net run-rate, the West Indies - which could not afford a single defeat in its three Super Six matches -- won all its matches to secure a berth in the final for the first time ever. However, the X factor has been Dottin. With nine wickets to go with 204 runs, she will clearly be the one to watch out for. Dottin's contributions have come at vital stages, her knock of 60 setting up an eight-run win over Australia in its final Super Six clash. Apart from the allrounders, the side has an able seamer in Tremayne Smartt, capable of moving the ball both ways. Add to it the spin of Anisa Mohammed, the team's leading wicket-taker in ODIs, and the side is clearly well equipped to pull off another surprise.Australia will have the added pressure of being the favourite. Although the side has managed to win five out of its six games in the tournament so far, there have been signs of inconsistency in the batting department. The team management would not have taken the manner in which the West Indian slow bowlers stifled Australia in the last Super Six clash. Despite getting off to starts, no Australian batter has managed to get totals of substance. There have been just three fifties and one century in six matches so far, and Australia will be hoping for a good platform from Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning. The middle-order's patchy form has been a cause of concern with Jess Cameron and Lisa Sthalekar looking extremely vulnerable early on. The bowling unit, however, has been in tremendous form. The team management will be faced with a tough decision of leaving out one of its promising pacers, with Ellyse Perry, who missed the last three games due to an ankle injury, all set to return. 

Teams from: 

West Indies: Merissa Aguilleira (capt & wk), Stafanie Taylor, Shemaine Campbelle, Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Kyshona Knight, Kycia Knight, Natasha McLean, Anisa Mohammed, Subrina Munroe, Juliana Nero, June Ogle, Shaquana Quintyne, Shakera Selman, Tremanyne Smartt. 

Australia: Jodie Fields (capt & wk), Meg Lanning, Rachael Haynes, Jess Cameron, Alex Blackwell, Lisa Sthalekar, Erion Osborne, Ellyse Perry, Julie Hunter, Holly Ferling, Megan Schutt, Renee Chappell, Sarah Coyte, Alyssa Healy, Elyse Villani.

Match facts
Sunday February 17, 2013 (day/night)

South Africa Win Series

South Africa ruined Ricky Ponting's farewell with an emphatic 309-run victory over Australia in the third Test on Monday to clinch the three-match series 1-0 and cement their position at the top of the ICC Test rankings.
Australia, 40-0 overnight, were bowled out for 322 in their second innings and never looked getting anywhere near the victory target of 632 which would have allowed them to leapfrog the Proteas to return to the summit of the game.
Ponting made a modest eight in his 287th and final Test innings but the day belonged to the Proteas, who inflicted a first Test defeat on Australia in 2012.
The hosts had the better of the drawn Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide but the tourists struck back with some brilliant cricket in Perth to become the first team since West Indies in the 1980s and 1990s to win consecutive series Down Under.
Hashim Amla is the Man of the Match. Michael Clarke is the Man of the Series.

Brief scores
South Africa 225 (du Plessis 78*) and 569 (Amla 196, de Villiers 169, Smith 84, Starc 6-154)
Australia 163 (Wade 68, Steyn 4-40) and 322 (Starc 68*, Cowan 53, Steyn 3-72, Peterson 3-127)
Result South Africa won by 309 runs
MOM Hashim Amla (South Africa)
Man of the series Michael Clarke (Australia)

2013 Ashes Schedule

England will play five Tests, five one-day internationals and three Twenty20 internationals in their 2013-14 Ashes campaign in Australia, Cricket Australia said on Thursday.
The Test series begins at Brisbane's Gabba ground on November 21-25 and finishes in Sydney from January 3-7 in 2014.
The other Test matches will take place in Adelaide (December 5-9), Perth (December 13-17) and Melbourne (December 26-30).
A schedule of five ODIs and three T20 internationals to complement the Tests will be confirmed in the New Year, officials said.
"We are delighted to be able to confirm the Ashes fixtures so far in advance of the series," Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said.
It means fans will be able to plan their trips around the country to follow all the action.
"I am sure there will be a lot of fans from the UK who will want to make the trip over and we look forward to hosting them here."
Cricket Australia also announced four other tour games against a Western Australia XI, Australia A, NSW XI and a Chairman's XI.
The first Test will take place in Brisbane from November 21 to 25, before the series moves on to Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

Warm-up game schedule
October 31-November 2 Western Australia XI v England, WACA
November 6-9 Australia A v England, Bellerive Oval, Hobart
November 13-16 New South Wales XI v England, SCG
November 29-30 CA Chairman's XI v England, Manuka Oval, Canberra

Ashes Itinerary
November 21-25 Australia v England, 1st Test, Gabba
December 5-9 Australia v England, 2nd Test, Adelaide Oval
December 13-17 Australia v England, 3rd Test, WACA
December 26-30 Australia v England, 4th Test, MCG
January 3-7 Australia v England, 5th Test, SCG

Australia Favorite Against West Indies

A determined last year runner-up Australian outfit will be aiming to eliminate the 'Chris Gayle factor' when they meet a rejuvenated West Indies in the semifinal of the ICC World Twenty20 on Friday.
For Australia, it will be a chance to get into the final for the second time in succession after the 2010 edition and once again stamp their class as world's premier cricketing outfit.
For West Indies, it's more about the identity and trying to fight the inner demons which have affected their cricket since late 80's.
A berth in the final of a global event can be a big boost for the Caribbean nation where basketball, athletics and soccer have captured the imagination of the masses.
On Friday when the two teams lock horns, it will also be a battle between Shane Watson and Chris Gayle.
If Watson, who has won four man-of-the-match awards in five matches will play a key role in Australian set-up, Gayle can change the complexion of the match at any point of time with his ferocious power-hitting.
By sheer statistics, Watson is miles ahead of Gayle having scored 242 runs in five matches along with 11 wickets which makes him the favourite to win the 'Player of the Tournament' award.
However, Gayle who has so far hit 10 sixes in five matches, has scored two 50's and on his day can tear apart any bowling attack in the world.
The law of averages did catch up with Watson in the last match against Pakistan but that means that he will be hungrier than ever to take Aussies to the summit clash.
While Gayle and Watson will hold fort as the main protagonists for their respective sides, there will still be a few competent cricketers who will try to play the supporting roles to the best of their abilities.
Marlon Samuels has beautifully complemented Gayle. He might not look as destructive as Gayle from the onset but once set, can be as devastating as anybody.
For Australia, the main supporting role has been played by Mike Hussey whose responsible innings ensured smooth passage into the semi-finals.
Fidel Edwards has the pace and Ravi Rampaul can be skiddy but Watson has more variations up his sleeve while Mitchell Starc has always been incisive in his first spells.

Teams from

Australia: George Bailey (captain), David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Hussey, Cameron White, Glenn Maxwell, Dan Christian, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brad Hogg, David Hussey, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc.

West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Johnson Charles, Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Samuel Badree, Darren Bravo, Fidel Edwards, Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith.

Match facts
Friday October 5, 2012 (day/night)
Start time 19:00 local (13:30 GMT)

Australia Aim Super 8s Against West Indies

Having registered a comprehensive win in their World Twenty20 opener, Australia would aim to seal a Super Eight berth when they take on the flamboyant West Indies in a Group B encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.
However, it won't be an easy task for George Bailey's boys as they are up against a formidable Caribbean side which boasts of big-hitting Chris Gayle and mystery spinner Sunil Narine in their ranks.
Led by Shane Watson's heroics, with both bat and ball, Australia made easy work of an unpredictable Ireland as they cruised to an easy win in the campaign-opener. But come Saturday, the contest is definitely going to be more intense.
The Darren Sammy-led West Indian side has got enough arsenal in its armoury to derail any side.
However, the West Indian batsmen had failed to impress during their first warm-up game against Sri Lanka, in the absence of Gayle, and were scratchy in the second warm-up match against a resilient Afghan side, barring the Jamaican giant.
West Indies' prowess in the shortest format of the game is well known and Australia would undermine them at their own peril.
The Australian batting looked good against Ireland and with Cameron White spending some time in the middle, they can boast of a formidable middle-order.
However, they will certainly come under scanner against Narine, who was recently adjudged the ICC Emerging Player of the year for 2012.
Although the spinner has been ineffective against the Aussies on previous two meetings but that doesn't lessen his aura.
Australia will also have to be on guard against speedster Fidel Edwards who can surprise the batsman with his pace and has the ability to bowl in the block hole with some consistency.
With the likes of Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell, apart from Marlon Samuels and Ravi Rampaul expected to take the command against Australia, West Indies can certainly look to live upto the favourites tag.

Teams from

West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Dwayne Bravo, Samuel Badree, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Fidel Edwards, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith

Australia: George Bailey (captain), Shane Watson, David Warner, Cameron White, Daniel Christian, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brad Hogg, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Clint McKay, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade (wk)

Sri Lanka Name T20 Squad for Australia Series

Sri Lanka Cricket named a 16-man squad for the Twenty20 games of Australia's tour from August 6 to September 20.
The teams will play two Twenty20 games on August 6 and 8 at the newly-built Pallakelle International Stadium in the central town of Kandy which will also host the opening one-dayer and the second Test match.
The itinerary also includes a five one-day game series and three Tests.

Squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (captain), Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews (vice captain), Jeevan Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Thisara Perera, Dhammika Prasad, Suranga Lakmal, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Chamara Silva and Shaminda Eranga.

No DRS for Australia-Sri Lanka Series

The much debated Umpires' Decision ReviewSystem (DRS) won't be available for Sri Lanka's forthcoming Test series against Australia due to lack of a sponsor.Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) interim committee chairman Upali Dharmadasa said the host country is not in a position to spend $150,000 for the facility for the one-and-a-half-month long series, comprising three Tests, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 internationals.

Ferguson Signs With Strikers in Big Bash

Fringe Australian batsman Callum Ferguson has signed up to represent Adelaide Strikers in the KFC T20 Big Bash League.

Ferguson, currently enjoying a purple patch with Australia A in Zimbabwe, reportedly turned down lucrative offers from other franchises to link up with his home side as they look to repeat as national T20 champions.
The 26-year-old was dropped from Australia's ODI squad for next month's tour of Sri Lanka but has been busy pressing his case with Australia A, scoring 52 and 57 not out against Zimbabwe in a tri-series with South Africa A.
Speaking from Zimbabwe, Ferguson said he was looking forward to pulling on the blue Strikers shirt and wielding the willow for Adelaide.

Ponting Signs for Hurricanes in Big Bash

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has signed with new Tasmanian franchise Hobart Hurricanes for the Twenty20 Big Bash League, Cricket Tasmania said on Thursday.
Ponting, who began his first-class career with the island state but rarely plays because of his international playing commitments, said he was excited about representing the Hurricanes in the December 30-February 5 tournament.
"There has been a lot of talk and discussion between all of the boys over the last few weeks about who has signed where and I'm really excited about the prospect of playing with some great players in the Hurricanes colours," Ponting said.
"It's always nice to represent your home state when you can and this is a great opportunity to play some exciting cricket in front of the passionate Hobart fans," Ponting said.

Australia A Win Opener by 90 runs

Australia A have beaten a Zimbabwe XI by 90 runs in the opening match of their tri-series with South Africa A in Harare.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Australians made 232 for 8 from their 50 overs - thanks largely to a 98-run stand for the third wicket between Nic Maddinson (63 off 81) and Callum Ferguson (52 off 67).
In reply, Zimbabwe were all out for 142, with only Vusi Sibanda (37 off 64) and Hamilton Masakadza (57 off 87) offering any resistance, as Victorian quick John Hastings (3-22) and South Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon (4-22) wreaked havoc with the ball.
Batting first at the Harare Sports Club, the Australians got off to a rocky start when opener Dave Warner was out off the bowling of Chris Mpofu for just one, and when Mpofu trapped Aaron Finch LBW the Aussies were struggling at 33 for two in the 11th over.
But with Maddinson and Ferguson at the crease, the scoring rate picked up as the pair looked to get after the Zimbabwe attack.
When Maddinson was stumped by Regis Chabva after being deceived by a Prosper Utseya ball, the Australian ship had been steadied at 131 for 3.
Steve O'Keefe (2) was run out cheaply but Mitchell Marsh (23 off 42) and Tim Paine (37 off 40) kept the scoreboard ticking over, and the Zimbabweans were left chasing 233 for victory.
Mpofu finished with 3-31 from his 10 overs, with Keegan Meth, Elton Chigumbura, Utseya and Masakadza claiming one apiece.
The hosts began their knock in better touch than the Australians, with Brendan Taylor (17) and Sabanda looking positive early on.
Taylor was caught and bowled by Luke Butterworth with the score on 32, but with Sibanda and Masakadza at the crease the upset looked a distinct possibility.
When Lyon dismissed Sibanda and Mitchell Starc struck to remove Masakadza, however, the Zimbabwean innings collapsed like a house of cards, with none of the remaining batsmen making it to double figures.
From 111 for 3 Zimbabwe were skittled for 142, to allow Australia A to draw first blood in the tri-series ahead of their clash with South Africa A on Thursday.
Aside from the standout performances of Hastings and Lyon with the ball, Starc also chimed in with 2-26 from his nine overs.

Brief scores
Australia A 232 for 8 (Maddinson 63, Ferguson 52, Mpofu 3-31)
Zimbabwe XI 142 (Masakadza 57, Hastings 3-22, Lyon 4-22)
Results Australia A won by 90 runs