Ponting Thanks Australia For $9.6 Million

Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has today thanked the general public and cricket’s commercial partners for their magnificent support of the Commonwealth Bank Series Bushfire Appeal.The Commonwealth Bank Series Bushfire Appeal has so far raised more than $9.6 million to help those affected by the bushfires in Victoria, with well over $6 million of that total coming from the pockets of the Australian public.Included in that figure are the proceeds of the auction of the players’ shirts on cricket.com.au, as well as the generous support received from the Adelaide public, with more than $48,000 donated at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday alone. full story

Matthew Hayden, Brad Hogg And Imparja Cup Day Four

Matthew Hayden’s Imparja Cup adventure in the outback continued as Tasmania knocked off reigning champions Queensland.The biggest story of Day 4 on the field was undoubtedly the clash of last year’s Finalists Queensland and Tasmania, with the underdog Tasmanians turning the tables and defeating the previously unbeaten Queenslanders. Tasmania did it convincingly bowling out Queensland for 109 and then chasing the runs down with overs to spare, grabbing second spot on the table ahead of Saturday’s Final.

Australia Rain Supreme Over New Zealand

Australia has retained the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy after a stop-start game five was finally abandoned due to heavy rain with the game delicately poised at the Gabba.Chasing a revised total of 156 from 20 overs in the series decider after Brad Haddin and Callum Ferguson struck unbeaten half-centuries to propel the hosts to 4-168 off 22 overs, the Black Caps progressed to 6-123 through 14 overs before rain intervened.

Queensland Defend Imparja Cup Against Tasmania

The Imparja Cup Final teams have been settled with defending champions Queensland to meet Tasmania in the Final at Traeger Park today, a replay of the 2008 Final. The match will be broadcast nationally through NITV (Channel 180 on the Foxtel/Austar platform) from 5:30pm (Eastern Summer Time) on Saturday.For the Queenslanders 19 year-old Cameron Trask has been the player to watch, taking out Player of the Tournament Honours, while for Tasmania Imparja Cup favourite Bernie Lamont will be a key to his side's chances.

Indigenous CricKids Program Launched

As the Imparja Cup in Alice Springs reached its climax, Matthew Hayden yesterday spoke to the next generation of Indigenous cricketers at the Yipirinya School as he launched the Indigenous CricKids Playing in Harmony School program.The program follows on from Cricket Australia’s successful Playing in Harmony resource, with Federal Government funding making it possible to have the entire resource redeveloped specifically for, and then introduced to, Indigenous communities

Brad Haddin To Captain Twenty20 Australian Team

In-form keeper-batsman Brad Haddin has welcomed the challenge of leading his country in Sunday's KFC Twenty20 International against New Zealand at the SCG.The New South Welshman takes the reins in the absence of resting skipper Ricky Ponting and deputy Michael Clarke who has a niggling back complaint.Haddin led the way with the bat throughout the Chappell-Hadlee Series scoring 283 runs at an average of 70, including his maiden ODI century in game three when he was promoted to the top of the order.

Australia Beats New Zealand In Twenty20

An extraordinary boundary catch from Adam Voges has helped Australia escape with a thrilling one-run win over New Zealand in the Twenty-20 international at the SCG.The heavy-hitting Brendon McCullum (61 from 47 balls) appeared to be sweeping the Black Caps to victory when he launched into a Ben Hilfenhaus (1-32) delivery in the penultimate over.Voges, fielding at long on, took the ball on the boundary but lost his balance and was about to fall over the rope to concede a six.

Queensland Win Indigenous Cricket Imparja Cup

Queensland confirmed their dominance of Indigenous cricket by winning the 2009 Imparja Cup on Saturday night in Alice Springs, defeating Tasmania by 87 runs in the Final that was broadcast nationally through NITV.18 year-old Queenslander Preston White capped a magical week in which he took 8-3 against Victoria and was named to tour the United Kingdom, by making 101 and backing up with 4-15 as Tasmania were bowled out for 115 in reply to Queensland’s 4-202 from 40 overs.

Australia's Southern Star Women's Cricketers Win Twenty20

The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars collected their third win on the trot against the New Zealand White Ferns with a dominant nine-wicket Twenty20 victory at the SCG.Playing before the men’s KFC Twenty20 International, Shelley Nitschke starred with both the bat and ball, first collecting 2-16 from her 3 overs as the Stars restricted the Kiwis to a modest total of 91 (off a rain shortened 14 overs).The all-rounder then blasted 8 boundaries on the way to 54* to carry the side to a win in the 10th over (chasing down the revised total of 83).

All-Star Apearances For Bushfire Appeal

Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor will make a special comeback in a Victorian bushfire fundraising match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday February 22. Some famous singing relatives of famous cricketers will also be there, along with would-be cricketers from other sports.Waugh and Taylor, two of Australian’s finest captains, will skipper rival teams that will feature both current and former cricket greats plus a wide range of Australia’s biggest sports and entertainment stars.

Matthew Hayden Announces Retirement

Australian opener Matthew Hayden has this morning announced his retirement from international cricket.Awarded the 359th Baggy Green Cap for Australia, he played 103 Tests scoring 8625 runs at an average of 50.73, after making his Test debut back in March 1994, coincidentally also against South Africa.He made his one-day international debut a year earlier against England in May 1993 and went on to play 161 one-day internationals scoring 6133 runs at an average of 43.80.The 188cm and 95kg left-hander has since been a thorn in the side of most pace bowling attacks with his powerful hitting intimidating bowlers around the world.cricketnews.com

South Africa's Mickey Arthur Wary Of Matthew Hayden

Africa coach Mickey Arthur has warned his buoyant team to be on guard against Australia opener Matthew Hayden when the third Test gets under way in Sydney on Saturday.The Proteas have already clinched their first-ever series victory on Australian soil by establishing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series.Arthur's men can secure a whitewash with a third victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground, but the coach is wary of a Hayden resurgence.

A Week With Australia's Female Cricket Ambassadors

As Female Cricket Ambassadors, Kate Blackwell, Alex Blackwell Delissa Kimmence and Ellyse Perry have the opportunity to travel far and wide raising public awareness of females in cricket and the profile of the Southern Stars.Ellyse and Delissa kicked off 2009 with some pretty amazing activities, the biggest so far was an opportunity to meet the Prime Minster of Australia, The Hon Kevin Rudd PM, at the New Year’s Test in Sydney.On Friday 2nd January, Ellyse joined teammate Lisa Sthalekar at the SCG for an in2Cricket activity day with local club juniors. The Aussie men’s team entertained over 60 kids during their fielding session on the SCG with high catches and fielding drills inspiring the youngsters to greatness before they took to the field for modified in2CRICKET activities. Ellyse and Lisa took part in the activities followed by some interviews, a bbq lunch and a signing session. They were joined later in the day by special guest, wicket-keeper Brad Haddin, who was also a big hit with the juniors

Australia Win Second ODI Against South Africa

Australia overcame another potential powerplay roadblock to scrape home by five runs in the second Commonwealth Bank one-day international, against South Africa, at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.In an eerily similar situation to Friday night, the Proteas, chasing 250 to take a two-nil series lead, required 60 runs from their final six overs when they initiated their batting powerplay.But Mark Boucher, with 37 not out, and Albie Morkel, the Proteas' hero from the MCG, nearly pulled off the impossible with an unbeaten whirlwind stand of 39 off only 19 balls.With 41 required from the final three overs, they heisted 15 and nine off the next two, bowled by Ben Hilfenhaus and Nathan Bracken, leaving an unlikely 17 off the final over to pinch victory.

Simon Katich Expects England To Recover

Australian Test opener Simon Katich says England has enough time to recover from the damaging Kevin Pietersen affair and launch a spirited Ashes challenge later this year.The England camp is in disarray after Pietersen was sacked from the captaincy and coach Peter Moores dumped following a massive fallout between the pair.With the Ashes just five months away, Andrew Strauss has been installed as skipper

Mike Hussey Guides Australia To Victory

A crowd of 37,457 has witnessed Australia take a 2-0 clean sweep of the KFC Twenty20 international series with a gritty six-wicket win over Proteas at the Gabba on Tuesday night.A maiden Twenty20 half-century from Mike Hussey, who was handed a life when on two courtesy of a missed stumping by South African keeper Mark Boucher, saw the hosts overhaul South Africa's total of 5-157 with seven deliveries left.

Matthew Hayden Nominates Personal Highlights

Matthew Hayden has nominated Australia's most recent Ashes triumph, World Cup wins and his partnerships and friendships formed with fellow Australian cricketers as some of the personal highlights he will cherish the most.Hayden, speaking after announcing his retirement, was at first coy when talking about his recollections of his 15-years international career."There's a book of them," Hayden replied when asked about his favourite cricket memories."If you were to ask me what the highlight of my personal career would be, I think my answer would be playing in the Australian cricket team for the last decade and the absolute highs and highs of winning series."

Cricket Australia Announces International Education Program

Cricket Australia is pleased to announce a partnership with UAE based company Fourth Dimension International Limited that will see Cricket Australia develop a Cricket Education Program for delivery in educational institutions initially in India.Plans are already being developed by Fourth Dimension International Limited and Cricket Australia to expand this innovative Program into countries such as South Africa, Canada and China in the future, as well as selected countries in the Middle East, Europe and other parts of Asia...... MORE DETAILSUnder this agreement, Cricket Australia will take responsibility for developing a Program that will enable Fourth Dimension International Limited to set up a sustainable infrastructure for cricket coaching, umpiring and administration. After commencing in Mumbai, the Program will move to other parts of India in the near future. International Cricket Education Program will see successful students achieve the Diploma of Cricket from Cricket Australia and Fourth Dimension International Limited.

Shaun Tait Still Has What It Takes

David Warner was not the only positive for Australia on Sunday night as Shaun Tait made his return to international cricket against South Africa.Playing his first game for Australia in nearly a year, Tait, though overshadowed by Warner's heroics, showed he was still one of the fastest bowlers in the world in a spell which impressed captain Ricky Ponting.Tait was intimidating in his first over, regularly reaching the mid 150km/h mark.His pace was too much for AB de Villiers, who fell onto his wickets after being struck on the hip by Tait.

David Warner Compared To Adam Gilchrist

Batting sensation David Warner drew comparisons with the great Adam Gilchrist on Sunday night after his sensational international debut against South Africa at the MCG.There will be calls for Warner, who is yet to make his first-class debut, to be fast-tracked into the one-day side after his electrifying 89 off 43 balls, which earned him man-of-the-match honours.Australian captain Ricky Ponting said Warner's efforts reminded him of Gilchrist, who retired from international cricket at the end of last summer, saying it was some of the 'sweetest' hitting he had seen."It was like you were out there with Gilly when Gilly was in one of those moods that he was often in," said Ponting, who had no problems playing second fiddle to Warner.