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.