Tag: Australia Cricket

Brett Lee: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup presents a unique and proud opportunity for cricket

Feb. 19 Entertainment / Sports Comments Off
Email, RSS Follow
Email

GettyImages-178236286
Photo: ICC

By Brett Lee

Women’s cricket could reach the next level in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 and I’m incredibly proud that Australia will play host to this historic tournament.

We have already seen just how far the women’s game has come in such a short space of time, developing leaps and bounds even since the first Women’s T20 World Cup in 2009.

But the chance for that to go one better is really exciting, for the sport in general and for cricket in Australia, which makes it a privilege to watch it unfold first-hand.

The first game at the Sydney Showground between Australia and India could really set a tone for the tournament, with a match-up between two of the most impressive teams in the game.

We saw in the tri-series that these two countries play exciting brands of cricket and I can’t wait for what is not only going to be a fantastic match, but also a huge occasion for global sport.

With matches in six venues across Sydney, Perth, Canberra and Melbourne, it’s amazing that Australia has the opportunity to bring the best in the world together in a festive atmosphere.

These grounds are among the best in the world, for both players and fans, and the power and artistry that comes with women’s cricket will be fantastic to watch.

Each game and ground will provide a brilliant spectacle but there is something even more special about the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the home of my first five-wicket haul on Test debut for Australia.

Hosting the final there on 8 March will be an occasion to behold, and the prospect of breaking the record attendance for a women’s sporting event – on International Women’s Day – is an extra special one.

It is a big ambition, but women’s cricket has continued to pleasantly surprise me and proven that these challenges are achievable.

To do that, we’d need to see a crowd like we’ve never seen before, so I’d love for the fans of all countries, cricket, and sport in general to make themselves counted at the Big Dance.

Whether it’s at the MCG or the venues around Australia, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 is a chance to be a part of history, creating memories which will stay with people for generations.

As part of this, Australia will be playing host to some of the greatest cricketers of all time.

The home nation will be confident in their chances having won the tournament four times so far. And in Meg Lanning, they have a really special captain who is the perfect lead to her team of superstars.

England and New Zealand, led by Heather Knight and Sophie Devine, also bring with them incredibly solid and talented teams that should feel confident of doing well.

With Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma in their batting unit, we’ll also need to keep a close eye on India, a side who are set to add a fourth dimension to this tournament.

But what strikes me most about the teams coming to Australia is how the gap between the top few teams and the rest is narrowing.

All ten countries will be confident of producing strong performances and results in this competition, which makes the battle to reach the semi-finals in Sydney and the final in Melbourne even more exciting.

The future is therefore bright for the women’s game, and if the tournament is able to reach its predicted new heights, then the sky really is the limit.

Source: ICC Media Zone

Tags: , , ,

Eight Australian cities to host ICC World T20 2020, MCG to host women’s and men’s finals

Jan. 30 Breaking News Comments Off
Email, RSS Follow
Email

Host Cities and Venues Map_preview

By SAT Sports Desk

MELBOURNE, 30 January: The venues and host cities for the ICC World T20 2020, which will be hosted by Australia, were announced today at events throughout the country. The eight Host Cities are Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Geelong, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

Premier Daniel Andrews joined Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren and representatives from the
International Cricket Council, Local Organising Committee, Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria at the MCG today
to announce host cities and venues.

For the first time, the women’s and men’s competitions will be held as stand-alone events in the same host country and in the same year. This will give the best female and male cricketers respective opportunities to capture the attention of the country and the world.

Women’s matches will run from 21 February to 8 March 2020 and the men’s matches will run from 18 October to 15 November 2020.

The world’s 10 best women’s teams and 16 best men’s team’s will come to Australia to battle it out for the ultimate prize in T20 cricket.

The ICC World T20 will see 13 venues throughout Australia host matches, with both competitions having broad national footprints, meaning as many Australians as possible will have the chance to see the most talented players in the world.

Both the women’s and men’s finals will receive equal billing, with both matches taking place at Australia’s biggest stadium, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The women’s semi-finals will be hosted on consecutive days at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), while the men’s semi-finals will take place at the SCG and Adelaide Oval.

The women’s final will take place on International Women’s Day 2020, Sunday 8 March, with the aim of creating a world-record attendance for a women’s sporting match.

David Peever, Chairman of Cricket Australia and the ICC World T20 2020 Local Organising Committee said, “Australia is extremely privileged to be hosting the ICC World T20 tournaments in 2020.

“On behalf of Cricket Australia and the Local Organising Committee, I would like to sincerely thank Government at both Federal and State and Territory level, host cities, venues and State and Territory Cricket Associations for their exceptional support, which is so critical for delivering the best possible events in 2020.

ICC World T20 2020 provides a unique opportunity to engage the whole community and inspire the next generation to love cricket,” Mr Peever said.

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said, “I’d like to thank Cricket Australia and their partners in Government at all levels for their commitment to the ICC World T20 in 2020. The ambition they have shown firstly in delivering stand-alone men’s and women’s events and then in the venue selection that will, I hope set a record for the biggest ever attendance at a women’s sporting event, is exciting for the sport.

“Australia has a proven track record of delivering world-class events in world-class stadiums and we know we can rely on the fans to provide great support for all of the competing teams.”

Speaking in Melbourne, ICC World Twenty20 2020 Local Organising Committee Chief Executive, Nick Hockley highlighted the benefits that would come from hosting T20 cricket’s showpiece event.

“Australia is a sporting nation, with diverse and passionate fans who love cricket. We’ve designed ICC World T20, comprising standalone women’s and men’s events, to be more inclusive, more accessible and more connected than ever before, so that everyone can join in.”

Mr. Hockley added, “Major events of this scale are all about partnerships. We look forward to working with host cities, their communities, and all partners to deliver a spectacular celebration in 2020, including welcoming thousands of international visitors to attend matches and be part of it.”

The ICC World T20 2020 takes place against the backdrop of a hugely successful ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, which featured record crowds, broadcast audiences and visitors and the ongoing success of the Women’s and Men’s Big Bash.

For details about the ICC World Twenty20 2020, and to register for tournament updates, fans encouraged to visit icc-cricket.com/worldt20.

Fixture and ticketing information for the ICC World Twenty20 2020 will be released in due course, says a media release.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Steve Smith to lead Qantas tour of Sri Lanka test squad

May. 25 Entertainment Comments Off
Email, RSS Follow
Email

images

By SAT Sports Desk

Melbourne, 24 May: Cricket Australia has announced a 15-man Test squad ahead of the Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka due to take place from July this year. New South Wales all-rounder Moises Henriques will return to the squad for the first time since 2013. Henriques, 29, played his only three Tests to date for Australia on the 2013 tour of India.

Moises was named earlier this month in the Australia ‘A’ squad for the Quadrangular Series this winter in Queensland in August and September, but will now move to national duties.

Australia will embark on its first Test tour since ascending to the No.1 ranking earlier this year in the wake of its 2-0 series win over New Zealand in New Zealand.

Victorian paceman James Pattinson is unavailable for this tour due to a recurrence of stress fractures in his back.

Cricket Australia Physiotherapist David Beakley said: “James experienced lower back pain during the second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch and was given some time to rest. Unfortunately his back pain continued during this time and after further investigation it confirmed that he has had a recurrence of a back stress fracture.

James will continue to spend the winter recovering from this injury, at which point we hope to have a clearer view of timelines for his return to play.”

Also missing from the squad is Peter Siddle (back) and Chadd Sayers, with Henriques, left-arm spinner Stephen O’Keefe and WA quick Nathan Coulter-Nile coming into the expanded 15-man squad.

O’Keefe, 31, returns to the squad after playing in the Commonwealth Bank Series against the West Indies in Sydney at the start of the year.

Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka Test Squad

Steve Smith (c) (NSW)

David Warner (v-c) (NSW)

Jackson Bird (TAS)

Joe Burns (QLD)

Nathan Coulter-Nile (WA)

Josh Hazlewood (NSW)

Moises Henriques (NSW)

Usman Khawaja (QLD)

Nathan Lyon (NSW)

Mitchell Marsh (WA)

Shaun Marsh (WA)

Peter Nevill (NSW)

Stephen O’Keefe (NSW)

Mitchell Starc (NSW)

Adam Voges (WA)

Coach: Darren Lehmann

Commenting on the Test squad National Selector Rod Marsh said: “This squad has proven experience in sub-continental conditions.

“Henriques comes into the squad to give the flexibility of an additional all-rounder option, having already shown he plays and adapts well to spin-friendly conditions. He has been working hard with his fitness and we believe he is in prime condition to serve us well should he be selected to play.

“Jackson Bird and Nathan Coulter-Nile join the squad and will give us good control and pace. Jackson had an impressive Sheffield Shield season and showed skill with reverse swing in the last Test match in New Zealand earlier this year. He’s playing in England at the moment and we’re confident this will build his skills to assist the squad if he is selected in Sri Lanka.

“Stephen O’Keefe will complement Nathan Lyon and plays an important role in the subcontinent if he’s selected in the final XI. We know his ability, he takes wickets continually in first class cricket and he impresses when we select him to play Test cricket.”

The Australia ODI and T20I squads will be announced in due course.

Australia will play three Tests, five one-day internationals and two T20 internationals against Sri Lanka. To view the full schedule for the Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka click www.cricket.com.au.

- SAT News Service.

Tags: , , , , ,

Australia to host SA,NZ,Pak & SL in 2016-17

Apr. 20 Breaking News Comments Off
Email, RSS Follow
Email

imgres

By SAT Sports Desk

Melbourne, 20 April: Australia is likely to have an exciting Cricket season in 2016-17 season with four nations touring Australia next summer to contest up to 41 days of international cricket across Test, one-day international and T20 international formats.

South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will each visit Australian shores during the 2016-17 season.

In a break from tradition, the international summer will begin in Perth on 3 November when Australia’s number-one ranked Test team takes on the world’s third-ranked nation, South Africa, in the first Commonwealth Bank Test at the WACA Ground.

The three-match series against the Proteas will continue in Hobart (12-16 November) before a potential day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval (24-28 November), the scene of last summer’s inaugural day-night Test that resulted in record crowds and record television audiences.

From 15 December, Australia will face Pakistan in three Commonwealth Bank Tests, starting in Brisbane (15-19 December) where the Gabba will host its first Day-Night, pink ball Test encounter. This will be the first time Brisbane will host a Test match in the school holiday period, as Cricket Australia focuses on trying to improve access to fans.

The Commonwealth Bank Test series will continue across the traditional Australian holiday period in Melbourne (26-30 December) and Sydney (3-7 January). Both matches will be traditional day matches.

Fans will get an earlier taste of limited overs action, with Australia seeking to reclaim the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy from New Zealand in a three-match Victoria Bitter One-Day International series to be held in Sydney (4 December), Canberra (6 December) and Melbourne (9 December).

It is the first of two series against the Blackcaps on either side of the Tasman during the summer, with the two sides playing the return leg of three ODIs in New Zealand in early 2017.

Steve Smith’s men will continue their contest with Pakistan in a five-match series of Victoria Bitter One-Day Internationals in Brisbane (13 January), Melbourne (15 January), Perth (19 January), Sydney (22 January) and Adelaide (26 January).

At the conclusion of the summer, Sri Lanka will visit Australia for three KFC T20 Internationals on 17, 19 and 22 February, with venues to be confirmed.

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said: “We believe that there is something for all cricket fans in the upcoming program.

“We have two highly-regarded Test nations in South Africa and Pakistan touring Australia this summer and both series promise to be great contests.

“The decision to start the international season in Perth allows us to do so with a bang. It gives Western Australian cricket fans, including a strong local South African community, the chance to see two of the world’s best sides, while allowing us to broadcast the match in prime time to the east coast of Australia.

Adelaide

“We are working with Cricket South Africa with a view to ensuring that the Adelaide Test is a Day-Night Test. With more than 123,000 people attending and an average of two million watching on television last season, there is enormous expectation that we deliver another pink ball Test match this summer in Adelaide.

“Understandably, there is some concern from the South African players, but Day-Night Test cricket is all about the fans and a Day-Night match in Adelaide will be a bigger Test match crowd than the South African players will have ever experienced.

“The success of Adelaide last year demonstrates the huge potential the day-night format has in revitalizing Test cricket all over the world, and it’s for that reason that it is our desire to stage another Test under lights at that venue.

“We believe that having the ability to move matches into the evenings provides cricket fans with greater access to the game, both at the ground and at home on TV, and there is no doubt that this will help grow interest in Test cricket.

“Even for cricket fans at home in South Africa there are benefits. The Day-Night Test hours will allow the match to be televised in a far more attractive time of day in South Africa.”

Hobart

Mr Sutherland said the summer would see Hobart host the highly-rated South Africans for the first time in Test cricket.

“We have worked very closely with Cricket Tasmania to provide some certainty over match content for the coming years, which we hope will grow interest and demand for attending international matches at Blundstone Arena, which is now a truly world-class venue.

“This year’s match between Australia and South Africa presents a great opportunity for Tasmanian cricket fans to see two of the world’s great teams in action. We know how much Tasmanian’s love their cricket and we hope to see them in full force for this great fixture.”

“This is a vital match for Australia and we know that the team will want to see a big turnout from Tasmanians to support them.”

Brisbane

Commenting on the Commonwealth Bank Brisbane Test, Mr Sutherland said:

“The Brisbane Test is a very important occasion on the Australian cricket calendar and in 2016 we will mark the 85th anniversary of the first Test played at the Gabba.

“Given the significance of the Brisbane Test to Australian cricket, we have looked at ways to draw larger attendances for that match, aiming to attract crowds more befitting of a city with a proud cricket heritage.

“In partnership with Queensland Cricket, we’ve explored a number of options for boosting the appeal of the Test match. We think staging it at the beginning of the holiday period when more parents and kids can get to the game is certainly worth trialing.

“We also believe that Queensland’s climate really lends itself to Test cricket in day-night conditions, making for a great fan experience.

“We’ve had a number of pink ball trials under lights in Brisbane and believe that the time is right to stage a Day-Night Test at the Gabba, adding another chapter to international cricket in Queensland.

“Pakistan should be applauded for committing to and supporting the Day-Night Test initiative. Currently ranked fourth in the ICC Test Rankings, they’ll be looking to gain some movement up the ladder, particularly with Tests against England and the West Indies prior to coming to Australia.

“Their current bowling line up will put our batsmen to the test and I have no doubt this will be their major strength in the series. Day-Night Test cricket, combined with this attack, will promise fans an exciting spectacle and we look forward to seeing a packed Gabba to welcome them.”

Melbourne and Sydney

“The Boxing Day and New Year Tests are much-loved traditions in both Melbourne and Sydney and an iconic part of the Australian sporting calendar and we expect this support to continue against Pakistan, particularly with the great support we saw for Pakistan when they toured during the World Cup.

“Fans will get an early taste of one-day international action, with Australia seeking to reclaim the
Chappell-Hadlee Trophy from New Zealand in a Victoria Bitter ODI three-match series, with the first match to be held in Sydney on 4 December.

“The clash between Australia and New Zealand at the MCG is sure to be an exciting cricket spectacle made even more memorable for the fact that it marks the first time the two sides have met at the MCG since the thrilling final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

“Both cities will also host Pakistan in the Victoria Bitter ODI Series which follows the Sydney New Year Test from mid-January.”

Tickets to the 2016-17 international summer of cricket will go on sale from the 31 May 2016. For priority access and a 20% discount on gold and platinum seats, fans are encouraged to sign up to the Australian Cricket Family at www.cricket.com.au/acf before Sunday 22 May 2016. Membership is free.

Cricket Australia Official Hospitality is now on sale for the 2016-17 International Season. New for Season 2016-17 is a family lounge that means guests can enjoy world class cricket hospitality with the whole family. For more information visit www.cricket.com.au/hospitality

To view the full 2016-17 men’s international fixture visit www.cricket.com.au/series

-SAT News Service.

Tags: , , , , , , ,