Continuing his verbal spat with Shane Watson, the West Indies skipper Chris Gayle described the Australian all-rounder as “soft” and someone who can be provoked easily.
Watson had justified his wild celebration on dismissing Gayle in the third cricket Test, saying the batsman had been baiting him so he was excited after taking his wicket.
Watson was fined 15 per cent of his match fee over the incident but did not regret his conduct. (more…)
Ricky Ponting has demanded a greater level of discipline from his team in the future after three team members were reported for their conduct.
Tempers flared on day two when West Indies bowler Sulieman Benn bumped into Mitchell Johnson mid-pitch, and then Johnson’s batting partner Brad Haddin got heavily involved as plenty of words, pushing and pointing was exchanged.
In the end, Benn was suspended for two one-day internationals after pleading not guilty, and Haddin and Johnson were fined 25 and 10 per cent of their match payments respectively. (more…)
Pakistan are closing in on their first Test victory over Australia in 14 years after restricting the hosts to a slender 80-run lead in the second Test with just two wickets in hand.
The hosts went to stumps at 286 for eight on day three at the SCG, with Mike Hussey unbeaten on 73 alongside Peter Siddle on 10.
The pair have put on 29 for the ninth wicket to give Ricky Ponting’s men a glimmer of hope as they look to avoid their first loss to Pakistan since the 1994/95 series. (more…)
Pakistan lost Imran Farhat and Salman Butt with Pakistan still needing 320 runs to win the first Test at the MCG.
Chasing a mammoth target of over 400 runs, Pakistan has scored 101 for the loss of two wickets.
Imran Farhat was the first wicket to fall when he was out leg before to Doug Bollinger for just 12 runs.
Salman Butt was out leg before to Johnson for 33.
Faisal Iqbal is batting on 41 with captain Mohammed Yousuf batting on 17.
Earlier, Shane Watson scored an unbeaten 120 as Australia declared at 225 for eight in their second innings.
Watched by his parents, Watson – who already has scores of 96, 89 and 93 this summer – converted his seventh 50 into triple figures for the first time. (more…)
The controversy-filled third Test between Australia and the West Indies at Perth saw three Australian players reported to the match referee and fined varying percentages of their match fees – and that fact has not gone down well with Ricky Ponting.
Ponting has made it clear that he expects greater discipline from his team in the future, and that he was disappointed at the actions of the three players – Mitchell Johnson, Brad Haddin and Shane Watson – in question. (more…)