The Ashes Cricket Series


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World T20, 2nd Semi-Final

India vs West Indies

at Mumbai, Mar 31, 2016
West Indies 196/3 beat India 192/2 by 7 wickets


The Ashes Cricket News 2006 - 07

The Ashes Cricket

England Vs Australia Final Test at Sydney

The Ashes, Final test, Sydney : Australia complete Ashes whitewash

Australia completed the most emphatic Ashes series victory in 86 years on Friday, sending bowling greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath into test retirement with a 5-0 series sweep of England.
Opening batsman Justin Langer (20), the third veteran retiring after the match, combined with Matthew Hayden to pick off the 46 runs needed as Australia won the fifth Test by 10 wickets after England was skittled for 147 in its second innings. Hayden hit a six off Sajid Mahmood to make the scores level, then took a single from the next ball to finish unbeaten on 23. The Australians have now won 16 and drawn one of their 17 test matches since the shock Ashes series loss in England in 2005, including the last 12 in succession.
Ricky Ponting, widely criticised after being the first Australian captain in 16 years to lose the Ashes when his squad went down 2-1 in England 16 months ago, guided the hosts to a clinical and ruthless series triumph this time. Warwick Armstrong's side of 1920-21 is the only other team to sweep a five-match Ashes series. England resumed on the fourth morning at the Sydney Cricket Ground at 114 for five needing to bat for time, but lost its last five wickets for 33 in 72 minutes.
The Ashes, Final Test, Day Four : Australia 393 & 46-0 beat England 291 & 147 by 10 wickets

The Ashes, Final test, Sydney : Warne puts Australia on course for series sweep

Kevin Pietersen remains the only recognised batsmen standing between Australia and an historic 5-0 Ashes sweep after another vintage Shane Warne performance against England.
Warne top scored with 71 in Australia's first innings 393 in his farewell test, helping the hosts to a 102-run first-innings lead, then dismissed England captain Andrew Flintoff after Brett Lee and Stuart Clark picked off batsmen Nos. 1-4. At stumps on day three of the fifth test, England was reeling at 114 for five with Pietersen on 29 and night watchman Monty Panesar on zero.
The English had a 12-run lead with only tailend batsmen to come and two days to play. Warne gave the impression the Australians would like to take the last five wickets early and have the match wrapped up by lunch on the fourth day.
The Ashes, Final Test, Day Three (stumps) : England 291 & 114-5; Australia 393

The Ashes, Final test, Sydney : Aussies trail by 103 runs

The honours are even heading into day three of the final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney.
When play gets underway the hosts will resume on 188 for four in their first innings, in reply to Enaland's 291 all out. Michael Hussey starts the day on 37 and Andrew Symonds on 22. Australian bowler Glenn McGrath says he is not prepared to put a figure on what is needed to assume the upper hand in the match. He says his side do not really set targets. McGrath says they will just try to capitalise on any bad balls England bowls and to not lose wickets. He says they aim is to consolidate and slowly work towards England's first innings score. Glenn McGrath took three wickets in the English first innings, although just one, Paul Collingwood, on day two.
The Ashes, Final Test, Day Two (stumps) England 291 v Australia 188-4

The Ashes, Final test, Sydney : England seeking to avoid Ashes sweep

England were 234 for four after winning the toss at stumps on the opening day of the fifth and final Ashes cricket Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground here on Tuesday.
Andrew Flintoff was unbeaten on 42 with Paul Collingwood on 25. McGrath dismissed Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell in the space of four balls after tea as Australia threatened to rip through England's fragile batting line-up.
But the tourists, 4-0 down in the series and hoping to avoid their first Ashes whitewash in 86 years, fought back strongly in the final session to share the honours before bad light ended play early. England skipper Andrew Flintoff rediscovered his form with the bat to blast an unbeaten 42, while the reliable Paul Collingwood made a patient 25 not out. The pair shared an unbroken partnership of 67 to rebuild the England innings after McGrath's double strike broke a108-run stand between Pietersen and Bell.
McGrath, who is joining Shane Warne and Justin Langer in retiring from test cricket after the match, dismissed Pietersen for 41 when the Englishman mistimed a careless pull to Mike Hussey at mid-wicket. Then McGrath claimed a second wicket off the first ball of his next over when he bowled Bell for 71 as England slumped to 167-4 after losing their two openers cheaply. Andrew Strauss departed for 29 before lunch then Alastair Cook fell for 20 in the third over of the afternoon session with the total on 58.
The Ashes, Final Test, Day One (stumps) England 234-4 v Australia

Ashes Final test, Sydney : Rain delays start of final Ashes Test

The start of the fifth and final Ashes Test between Australia and England was delayed by half an hour because of heavy overnight rain in Sydney on Tuesday.
Play was originally scheduled to begin at the Sydney Cricket Ground at 10.30am AEST and was rescheduled for 11am AEST. However, the rain is expected to clear in the afternoon and a top temperature of 23C has been forecast. Australia lead the series against England 4-0 and need one more win to achieve the first Ashes whitewash since 1920-21 - the perfect farewell gift for the retiring Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer.
The trio will depart with a combined 375 Tests between them. It is also the last Test for coach John Buchanan. England fast bowler Matthew Hoggard has been ruled out because of a side strain. Paceman James Anderson, who played in the first two matches of the series, comes into the team. Australia will retain the same team which won the fourth Test by an innings and 99 runs, with fast bowler Mitchell Johnson again the 12th man.

England vs Australia Fourth Test at Melbourne

Ashes 4th test, 3rd day: England thrashed by an innings and 99 runs

Australia bundled England out for 161 to win by an innings and 99 runs inside three days in the fourth Ashes Test.
The Aussies were dismissed for 419 in the morning, with Sajid Mahmood taking 4-100, but ran through the tourists. Brett Lee took four wickets, Stuart Clark three and Shane Warne - in his final Test on his home ground - two. The result puts Australia 4-0 up and needing a win in Sydney next week to clinch the first Ashes whitewash since England lost 5-0 to them in 1920/21.
The Ashes Series, Fourth Test, Melbourne, Day Three : Australia 419 bt England 159 & 161 by an innings and 99 runs

Ashes 4th test, 2nd day: Hayden and Symonds put Australia in control

Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden both smashed centuries and shared a 279-run partnership to put Australia in complete control of the fourth Ashes test against England.
Symonds cracked an unbeaten 154 while Hayden belted 153 as Australia recovered from the loss of three early wickets to reach 372 for seven by stumps on the second day, leading by 213 after England were dismissed for just 159 on Tuesday. The pair came together before lunch with Australia seemingly in a spot of bother at 84-5 and flayed England's bowlers for the best part of five hours before Hayden was dismissed shortly before the close.
The Ashes Series, Fourth Test, Melbourne, Day Two (close) : England 159 allout & Australia 372-7

Ashes 4th test, 1st day: Australia 48-2 at stumps in Melbourne Test

Australia was 48 for two in reply to England's first innings total of 159 at stumps on the opening day of the fourth Ashes test on Tuesday.
Matthew Hayden was unbeaten on 17 with captain Ricky Ponting yet to score after Andrew Flintoff dismissed Justin Langer for 27 and night watchman Brett Lee for a duck in successive deliveries. Shane Warne had earlier captured five wickets for 39 runs, including his 700th test victim, as England collapsed to be all out in less than 75 overs after tea in front of a near-record crowd of 89,155 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Warne reached the 700-wicket milestone when he clean bowled England opener Andrew Strauss for 50 after lunch then added the scalps of Kevin Pietersen, Chris Read, Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar to complete his 37th five-wicket haul in tests. Australia won the first three matches of the five-test series to regain the Ashes they lost in England last year.
The Ashes Series, Fourth Test, Melbourne, Day One (close) : England 159 allout & Australia 48-2

England vs Australia Third Test at Perth

Aussies regain Ashes from England

Australia regained the Ashes when they won the third cricket Test against England by 206 runs at the WACA Ground, Perth Monday.
The Australians bowled England out for 350 in their second innings to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the best of five series following wins in the first two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide. The series now moves on to the fourth and fifth Tests in Melbourne and Sydney where the only interest will be whether England can avoid a demoralising clean sweep.
England fought hard to salvage the third Test and were led by defiant second innings by Alastair Cook (116), Ian Bell (87) and Kevin Pietersen with 60 not out. But the task of batting for just over two days proved too much. Cook was superb in his first Test century against Australia but when he was dismissed in the third last over of the fourth day, the writing was on the wall. The loss here adds to a wretched series for the English, who went into the first Test in Brisbane underdone and carrying players who were obviously out of form
The Ashes Series, Third Test, Perth, Day five : Australia 244 & 119-1 beat England 215 & 350 by 206 runs

England resist on day four

Alastair Cook made 118 and Ian Bell 87 to demonstrate England's firm reluctance to surrender cricket's Ashes on the fourth day of the third test against Australia at Perth's WACA Ground on Sunday.
Cook and Bell, later Kevin Pietersen who was 37 not out at stumps, nurtured the flame of resistance in an England team backed against the wall by Australia's 2-0 series lead and the 556-run deficit it faced as it began its second innings. Cook batted from the last half hour of the third day to the last half hour of the fourth to raise England's hopes of saving the test but was out 16 balls from stumps in gathering gloom and in an over in which two wickets fell. England lost only two wickets in the first six hours of the day Sunday before Glenn McGrath dislodged Cook, then nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard within three balls, three overs from the scheduled close.
The Ashes Series, Third Test, Perth, Day Four (Stumps) : Australia 244 & 527-5 dec vs England 215 & 265-5

Australia heat melt England's Ashes hopes

Adam Gilchrist posted the second-fastest century in test history, eclipsing centuries by Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke, as Australia and oppressive heat melted England's Ashes hopes on the third day of the third cricket test at the WACA Ground on Saturday.
Gilchrist reached his 17th century in tests from 57 balls with 12 fours and four sixes, failing by only one ball to match Viv Richards' 56-ball century for the West Indies against England at St John's 20 years ago. His century was the fastest in test cricket by an Australian batsman, surpassing Jack Gregory's 67-ball hundred against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1922 and he dashed to the mark in only 98 minutes, within a single session. Gilchrist gave Australia's innings a crazy impetus which allowed it to declare its second innings at 527 for five at 6.25pm local time, with a lead of 556 runs, with half an hour remaining in the day and with two full days still yawning ahead of England. Its task of surviving those two days, in a match in which 24 wickets fell in the first eight sessions, seemed hopeless by stumps, made moreso when it lost opener Andrew Strauss to the fourth ball of its second innings. England was 19 for one at the close of play and the Ashes, held by England for only 15 months the shortest tenure in their 124-year history - seem certain to return to Australia who lead the five-test series 2-0. Clarke was left 135 not out when Australian captain Ricky Ponting made his bold declaration.
The Ashes Series, Third Test, Perth, Day Three (Stumps) : Australia 244 & 527-5 dec vs England 215 & 19-1

Australia seizes control of third Ashes test

Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden scored half-centuries to help Australia seize control of the third Ashes Test against England at the WACA yesterday.
Ponting continued his insatiable run-feast with an unbeaten 57 and Hayden posted his best score of the series to reach the close on day two also on 57 not out with Australia on 119 for one in their second innings, 148 runs ahead. Seamer Matthew Hoggard bowled Justin Langer with the first ball of the Australian innings but England's joy was short-lived as Ponting and Hayden's unbroken partnership lifted Australia further after they had bowled England out for 215. England, needing to win or draw the match to keep the series alive, started the day in a strong position at 51 for two in reply to Australia's modest first-innings total of 244.
The Ashes Series, Third Test, Perth, Day Two (Stumps) : Australia 244 & 119-1 vs England 215

Australia all out in Perth Test

Ashes debutant Monty Panesar spun England back into the series on the opening day of the third cricket Test against Australia at the WACA Ground here Thursday, claiming five wickets as the home side were dismissed for 244.
Needing at least a draw to keep their Ashes defence alive, the tourists were energised by the finger spin of Panesar and produced some of their best bowling of the series to dismiss the Australians cheaply after they won the toss and chose to bat. The home side struck back late in the day to have England 51 for two at stumps, with Andrew Strauss on 24 and Paul Collingwood on 10.
The Australians removed opener Alastair Cook and No.3 Ian Bell cheaply, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee picking up a wicket apiece, while Shane Warne dropped Collingwood at first slip off Stuart Clark late in the day. Although local player Mike Hussey held the Australian innings together with an unbeaten 74, Panesar grabbed 5-92 from 24 overs and a rejuvenated Steve Harmison took 4-48 to rock the home side's hopes of wrapping up the Ashes.
The Ashes Series, Third Test, Perth, Day One (Stumps) : Australia 244 vs England 51-2

Panesar, Mahmood named in England team

Australia won the toss and elected to bat first in the third Ashes cricket test against England at the WACA Ground in Perth on Thursday.
Monty Panesar and Sajid Mahmood won callups to the England team as the visitors launched a last-ditch effort to save the five-match series. England's tour selectors yielded at last to the clamor for Panesar's elevation, growing in volume since its second test loss at Adelaide, by naming him to make his Ashes debut in place of Ashley Giles. Mahmood won his callup in place of James Anderson, the struggling young fast bowler who took only two wickets at a cost of 303 runs in the first two tests. Australia team : Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, captain, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Glenn McGrath, Mitchell Johnson, 12th man.
England team : Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Kevin Pietersen, Andy Flintoff, captain, Geraint Jones, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, Sajid Mahmood, Monty Panesar

England vs Australia Second Test at Adelaide

Australia beat England by 6 wickets

Australia won the second Ashes Test by six wickets and went 2-0 up in the series after bowling England out for 129 on day five in Adelaide.
England lost their last nine wickets for just 60 runs to leave Australia chasing 168 from a minimum of 36 overs to win the match and take a 2-0 lead in the series. Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne was the architect of England's batting collapse, capturing four for 49 off 32 overs after taking just one for 167 in the first innings. England now face the daunting task of winning two of the remaining three Tests over the next four weeks to tie the series and retain the Ashes urn, won amid triumphant scenes in September 2005.
The Ashes Second Test, Adelaide, Day Five : Australia 513 & 168-4 beat England 551-6 dec & 129 by six wickets

Hoggard Wraps Up Australia Innings

Matthew Hoggard took seven wickets to help give England a 38-run first-innings lead over Australia on day four of the second Ashes cricket Test at Adelaide.
Alastair Cook fell for nine in the second innings and England went to stumps on day four 97 ahead at 59-1. Hoggard struck three times in four overs either side of tea to move eighth in the list of England wicket-takers.
England started their second innings 38 runs ahead of Australia but Warne - ineffective in the first innings - found enough turn out of the rough to keep alive the possibility of getting through England cheaply and setting up a run chase. However it was Stuart Clark who made the breakthrough when he had Cook pushing at a delivery angling across him to be caught behind to leave England on 31-1. Strauss and Bell then saw out the remaining overs to give England a 97 run lead at the close.
The Ashes Second Test, Adelaide, Day Four (Close): England 551-6 dec & 59-1 v Australia 513

Ponting ton revives Australian hopes

Matthew Hoggard took four wickets to keep England on top in the second Ashes test after Ricky Ponting posted his 33rd test hundred to guide Australia's fightback.
At stumps on Sunday, Australia was 312 for five in reply to England's 551-6 declared, still needing 40 runs to avoid the follow-on. Michael Clarke was unbeaten on 30 and Adam Gilchrist was not out 13 after the third day.
Hoggard returned 4-76 from 27 overs, including two outstanding spells. He removed opener Matthew Hayden (12) and Damien Martyn (11) in the morning session as Australia slipped to 65 for three. Ponting, who scored 196 and 60 not out in Australia's series-opening 277-run win at Brisbane, continued his prolific accumulation of runs with 245-ball 142. He shared a 192-run fourth-wicket stand with Mike Hussey, who was out for 91.
The Ashes Second Test, Adelaide, Day Three (Close): England 551-6 dec v Australia 312-5

England keeps pressure on in second Test

Paul Collingwood altered the course of the Ashes cricket series with a milestone double century and a 310-run partnership with Kevin Pietersen on the second day of the second test Saturday.
When Collingwood was out a ball before tea for 206, having borne England's innings for more than 6 1-2 hours, he had become the first English batsman to record a double century in Australia for 70 years. His 354-minute stand with Pietersen at the Adelaide Oval embraced almost three full sessions, carried England from 158 for three to 468 for four and put the tourists into a controlling position. Australia was 28 for one after nine overs at stumps, with Pietersen contributing a catch to further Australia's decline, and some of the force of the psychological blow struck against England when they won the first test at Brisbane by 277 runs had been dissipated.
The Ashes Second Test, Adelaide, Day Two (Close): Australia 28-1 v England 551-6 dec

England up chance of levelling Ashes series

Paul Collingwood neared a century and Kevin Pietersen added a bright fifty as England ended day one of the second Ashes Test strongly in Adelaide.
By stumps England, who won the toss, were 266-3, with Collingwood unbeaten on 98 and Pietersen 60 not out. Collingwood came in with the tourists 45-2 and joined Ian Bell (60) to put on 113 in 40 overs for the fourth wicket. Pietersen pulled Lee for four second ball and lofted Shane Warne for six to lift the run-rate late in the day.
The Ashes Second Test, Adelaide, Day One (Close): Australia v England 266-3

No changes for Adelaide test

Both England and Australia have named unchanged sides for the second Ashes Test in Adelaide.
After being thrashed in the series opener, rumours had been circulating that Monty Panesar may be brought in as a second spinner to replace Lancashire seamer James Anderson. However, Panesar has missed out as Duncan Fletcher has kept the team unchanged to that of the opening line-up for the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. For Australia, veteran paceman Glenn McGrath was a big doubt with a heel problem, but he passed a late fitness test at the Adelaide Oval. That meant that Ricky Ponting's side also remained the same as the one that crushed England in the Ashes opener last week. Australia team : Ricky Ponting (Captain), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Shane Warne, Stuart Clark, Glenn McGrath, Mitchell Johnson (12th man)
England team : Andrew Flintoff (Captain), Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Kevin Pietersen, Geraint Jones, Ashley Giles, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, James Anderson, Sajid Mahmood (12th man

England vs Australia First Test at Brisbane

Australia Beats England by 277 Runs

Australia won the first Test in Brisbane by 277 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Australia took the final five wickets before lunch on day five after England resumed at 293-5 chasing a record 648 runs to win. Kevin Pietersen, returning on 92 not out, was dismissed with the fourth ball of the day. Shane Warne and Stuart Clark took four wickets each. In the corresponding fixture four years ago, Australia won by 384 runs before clinching the series in a record 11 days. England last year won cricket's oldest international contest for the first time since 1987, ending a run of eight losses. The second Test starts December 1 at the Adelaide Oval ahead of matches in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.
The Ashes First Test, Brisbane, Day five: Australia 602-9 dec & 202-1 dec beat England 157 & 370 by 277 runs

Australia close in on win

Shane Warne took four wickets and had a running duel with Kevin Pietersen on Sunday as England spiraled toward a heavy defeat in the series-opening Ashes Test.
At stumps on the penultimate day, England was 295 for five in its second innings with Pietersen unbeaten on 92 and trying to lead a rearguard revival against Australia. Still 354 behind, the Ashes holders needed to bat through three sessions Monday to save the first test. Warne took a wicket in the sessions around lunch to remove Ian Bell (0) and Alastair Cook (43) and then when England's middle-order was staging a recovery Warne struck two serious blows. He enticed No 4 Paul Collingwood down the pitch and had him stumped for 96, ending a 153-run fourth-wicket partnership with Pietersen.
The Ashes First Test, Brisbane, Day four (close): Australia 602-9 dec & 202-1 dec v England 157 & 293-5

Australia take lead

Ricky Ponting aimed to inflict maximum psychological damage on England after Glenn McGrath took six wickets to give Australia a 445-run lead in the first Ashes test.
Ponting declined to enforce the follow-on Saturday after England was bundled out for 157 on day three in reply to Australia's 602-9, sending the Ashes holders back into the field for more heat and humiliation. It was the biggest first-innings lead where the follow-on has not been enforced ever in test cricket. At stumps, Australia was 181-1 in its second innings with Justin Langer on 88 and Ponting 51, an overall lead of 626 runs with six sessions remaining.
The Ashes First Test, Brisbane, Day three (close): Australia 602-9 dec & 181-1 v England 157

McGrath adds to England's misery

England face an uphill struggle to save the first Ashes Test in Brisbane after being reduced to 53-3 at close of play on the second day.
Glenn McGrath dismissed Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook with successive balls and Stuart Clark turned the screw by having Paul Collingwood caught behind. Australia made a massive 602-9 declared in their innings, the third highest total at the Gabba.
The Ashes First Test, Brisbane, Day Two (close): Australia 602-9 dec v England 53-3

Ricky Ponting ton guides Australia

The opening day of England's Ashes defence started badly and got worse for the tourists, with Ricky Ponting's 32nd test hundred lifting Australia to 346 for three by stumps.
Pace spearhead Steve Harmison's attempted bouncer, the first delivery on Thursday of the series-opening match, skewed off the pitch to England skipper Andrew Flintoff at second slip. Australian opener Justin Langer took two boundaries off Harmison in that over and the lanky English quick was taken out of the attack after conceding 17 runs in his first two overs. Langer scored 82 runs and Mike Hussey contributed 63 to an unbroken 148-run fourth wicket stand with Ponting, who played a commanding innings containing 17 boundaries for his 137. Ponting now shares the Australian record with Steve Waugh for test centuries and is equal fourth on the all-time international list behind India's Sachin Tendulkar, who has 35.
The Ashes First Test, Brisbane, Day One (close): Australia 346-3 v England

The Ashes series to begin today

The first Test in the Ashes cricket series between Australia and England begins in Brisbane on Thursday.
Cricket's two best teams will face off for the first time in 14 months at the Gabba, in the first Test of the 2006-07 summer. The Aussies have not lost a home Ashes opener for 20 years and have won 11 of their 12 Tests since relinquishing the urn after last year's 2-1 series loss. During the same period, England have won only one out of their four Test series.

Australians gear up for Ashes Test

The first 2006-2007 Ashes Test between England and Australia gets underway at the Gabba in Brisbane on Thursday and both teams are in the process of completing their preparations.
Ricky Ponting's Australian outfit will start as favourites, despite losing the Ashes to England just over a year ago. But the Australians are still weary of what the tourists are capable of and haven't forgotten the 2-1 series defeat that they suffered last year. The Australians have an experienced line-up with the bowling attack led by veterans Warne and Glenn McGrath and supported by speedster Brett Lee.
The remaining specialist seam bowling spot is expected to go to either Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson or Shaun Tait, with all-rounder Shane Watson providing the back-up, if he is fit. Warne, though, believes that the first test venue may well suit England's seam bowling attack, which is expected to be made up of Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, James Anderson and captain Andrew Flintoff.

Pietersen's century lifts England's spirits

Kevin Pietersen's century and three wickets for James Anderson were the highlights for England as they drew a three-day game with New South Wales.
England now have another three-day game against South Australia before the first Ashes Test on 23 November. After the embarrassing 166-run defeat by a Prime Minister's XI on Friday, the tourists will move on to Adelaide with confidence after several encouraging performances at the SCG.
Tour match, Sydney, day three of three: New South Wales 355-9 dec & 194-6 v England 349

Steve Harmison helps England fight back

Steve Harmison finished with 3-95 as England fought back on day two of their second Ashes tour game in Sydney.
Moises Henriques was lbw as rain wiped out all but 4.1 overs in the morning and he got Daniel Smith after lunch. Then Matthew Hoggard and James Anderson (2-45) took wickets as New South Wales, who began on 325-5, declared on 355-9. After being skittled for 181 in their opening defeat by a Prime Minister's XI, England will now hope to bat well with the first Test 10 days away.
Tour match, Sydney, day two of three: New South Wales 355-9 dec v England

Prime Minister's XI beat England

England's tour of Australia got off to a shaky start after they crashed to be all out for 181 chasing the Prime Minister's XI total of 5 for 347 in their one-dayer at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
Poor bowling and fielding allowed Phil Jaques (112) and Shaun Marsh (78no) to help the hosts rack up 347-5, although skipper Andrew Flintoff (1-55) shone. But Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen failed with the bat and only Andrew Strauss, who hit 67, looked in decent touch.
Tour match, Canberra: Prime Minister's XI 347-5 (50 overs) bt England 181 (38.4 overs) by 166 runs

Final Ashes tickets go on general sale

Desperate supporters will have a chance to get their hands on treasured Ashes tickets from Wednesday when more than 26,000 tickets for the five tests go on general sale, Cricket Australia said on Monday.
Tickets returned by stakeholders such as the England and Wales Cricket Board and the home states went on sale to Australian Cricket Family (ACF) members last week, and thousands remained unsold for the much-anticipated renewal of battle between England and Australia. There are more than 6,000 tickets up for grabs for days three, four and five of the series opener at the Gabba in Brisbane from Nov. 23 while almost 20,000 seats are still to be sold for the Boxing Day test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. "We were able to reward ACF members with the first opportunity to buy these re-released tickets and are now pleased to extend this offer to the general public," CA chief executive James Sutherland said in a statement.
"I urge all Australian fans to get in fast and secure the tickets of their choice while they are still available," Sutherland said. There are also 1,600 tickets available for the only Twenty/20 fixture between the two teams at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Jan 9.

England arrive in Australia for Ashes tour

England's cricket team, led by captain Andrew Flintoff, was arrived early on Sunday for a three-month, five-test Ashes tour against Australia.
The squad of 16 players and 10 support staff left via a side exit at Kingsford-Smith Airport and boarded a bus for the team hotel.
The first test against Australia will be played in Brisbane beginning November 23. The visitors will be trying to retain the Ashes trophy they reclaimed in England last year for the first time since 1989. They will also play in a triangular one-day tournament with Australia and New Zealand after the fifth test ends on January 6. That ODI series ends in February.

Australian old guard urges end to Ashes friendship

Former Australian cricket greats are urging the current team to ditch their old pals act with England during the Ashes starting next month to help ensure they regain the treasured urn.
England's 2-1 Ashes series victory last year was notable for its nail-biting tension, high-quality play and also the emergence of a surprise entente cordiale between the players from the two usually combative teams. The friendship of Ashes rivals and Hampshire team mates Shane Warne and Kevin Pietersen was evident, while the most memorable image of the series came when Andrew Flintoff consoled a distraught Brett Lee after the Australians had gone perilously close to snatching the second test at Edgbaston. But Australia selector Merv Hughes and former skipper Allan Border have led the calls for Ricky Ponting's side to put friendships to one side and return to the hard-nosed approach that made Australia the world's best. "To me the perception was it was a very friendly series, played in fantastic spirit," Border told local media. "We are not complaining about that but there was a perception we didn't have en edge to our game that we've had in the past."
Former fast bowler Hughes recalled the "in your face" approach taken to Ashes contests in his playing days. "We lost the attitude towards the English that we once had, the attitude that was introduced by Allan Border." Opener Justin Langer disagreed, saying the matches were played at the highest level of intensity and in the best competitive spirit. "Imagine an Ashes contest being played like a village game, that's the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard," Langer said. "We played good, hard cricket on the field and had a beer off it. That's how it should be." The five-test Ashes series starts in Brisbane on November 23.

Kasprowicz out of Ashes contention

Paceman Michael Kasprowicz says he is troubled by a back injury and will miss the start of the Australian domestic season and is unlikely to return before the November 23 first Ashes Test against England.
The disc-related injury, which has stopped the 33-year-old Queenslander from running, also forced him out of the third and final Test against South Africa in March. Its proving a little bit hard to handle at the moment as far as pain, Kasprowicz told reporters yesterday. "The timing at this stage we dont know, the doctors are still investigating what it is and how to fix it." Kasprowicz was in the running with Stuart Clark, Jason Gillespie, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson for Australias third seamers position behind Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee. Kasprowicz has backed fellow Queenslander Johnson to take the first-change role.

Al Qaeda planned Ashes attack

The London bombers, who attacked the public transport system on July 7 last year, were initially ordered by Al Qaida to assassinate the England and Australia cricket teams during the 2005 Ashes, a friend of one of the terrorists has claimed.
Mohammad Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer allegedly received the orders at a training camp near Kotli, northern PoK, in December 2004. The claims have been made by a family friend of Hasib Hussain, the bus bomber who killed 13 people. The friend, who is willing to pass his information to the police, uses a pseudonym, Ahmed Hafiz. According to Hafiz, 32, the bombers were instructed to get jobs as stewards at the Edgbaston cricket ground and to spray sarin gas inside the changing rooms. The second Test between England and Australia, whose governments have supported US in the war on terror, began on August 4, 2005.
Hafiz, whose family have known the Hussains for 25 years, said he had received details of the bombers visit from members of his extended family, who are involved in running the camp. He claimed Tanweer, 22, objected to the plot, possibly because he was a cricketer. He was told by a witness that Tanweer argued with Khan, 30, and a scuffle between them had to be broken up by a minder. Hafiz provided a picture of the minder, who was allegedly shot last August. However, last week locals in Kotli said they had never seen him. Days later, Hafiz claims, the camps commanders, militants affiliated to Al Qaida, revealed the plot to bomb the London Underground to Khan and Tanweer. It was always there, as Plan B, said Hafiz.

The Ashes Cricket Series

The Ashes Cricket Series 2006-07

Ashes to Ashes: The Rise, Fall and Rise of English Cricket - Fletcher, Keith Ashes to Ashes: The Rise, Fall and Rise of English Cricket - Fletcher, Keith The 2006-07 cricket series between Australia and England for The Ashes will be played in Australia between 23 November 2006 and 5 January 2007. The five-Test series has matches scheduled at Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. England goes into the series as holder of the Ashes and requiring to win or draw the series to retain them.
Both England and Australia will go into the series with concerns about the fitness, form and availability of key players. Michael Vaughan, England's successful captain in the 2005 Ashes series will be unavailable due to injury and there are also concerns about other key players Andrew Flintoff, Simon Jones and Ashley Giles. Jones was eventually not selected due to injury. Australia hope to have Glenn McGrath available after a period out of the game for personal reasons. Other Australian players including Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie and Adam Gilchrist are reaching the end of their careers.

Australian Cricket History

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Australia - World beaters! Discuss More

The Australian cricket team is one of the leading international teams in world cricket. Australia was one of the first two Test nations (with England) and have an outstanding recent Test record and in the one dayers were World Champs in 1987, 1999 and 2003. They are also the leaders in the current ICC Test Nations table. Dates in history of Australian cricket
November, 1868: 1868 Aboriginal cricket tour of England
15 March 1877: Test debut
28 December 1934: Women's Test team debut
5 January 1971: ODI Debut
23 June 1973: Women's ODI team debut
8 November 1987: Won 4th edition of Cricket World Cup by defeating England in the final match at Eden Gardens, Calcutta.
20 June 1999: Steve Waugh lifts the World Cup
23 March 2003: Ricky Ponting lifts the World Cup

England Cricket History

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England

The England cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales, operating under the auspices of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The sport of cricket evolved in England, and England is a founding Test cricket, One-day International and Twenty20 nation Dates in history of England cricket
15 March 1877: Test debut
5 January 1971: ODI Debut
25 September 2004: England reached the final of the ICC Champions Trophy
12 September 2005: England regained The Ashes

Editor: Nishanth Gopinathan.