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England to play an Ashes warmup game at Alice Springs
Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia is set to host an international cricket team for the first time in over a decade, during England's 2014 Ashes tour. Read More...Mitchell Marsh wants to play Tests
Mitchell Marsh had more than his fair share of disciplinary problems during the last year, but the young Western Australian player is adamant that he has learnt valuable lessons from the issues he has encountered. Read More...I wasn't pushed into resigning: Watson
Australian Test all-rounder, Shaun Watson, has stated that his decision to resign from the vice-captaincy of his country, was a decision that he alone had taken, and that he was not pressured in any way by Cricket Australia (CA) or the team management. Read More...Shane Watson resigns as Australia vice-captain
With less than three months before the start of the Ashes series in England, Australian vice-captain, Shane Watson has stepped down from his role. Read More...Jason Krejza loses state contract
Although Tasmania, the recent winners of the 2013 Sheffield Shield, have yet to announce their full squad for next season, they have taken the step of declaring that neither the former Test offspinner, Jason Krejza, or the all-rounder Matt Johnston, would be part of the state's squad for the 2014 season. Read More...Steven Finn wants to improve further
England fast bowler, Steven Finn, may have won the FTI most valuable player award for his performances during England's winter tours, when he took 37 wickets in all formats of the games against India and New Zealand, and during the World Twenty20 tournament, but by his own admission, he needs to seek further improvement as a bowler. Read More...Ashes 2013: Australia may consider Chris Rogers, Adam Voges
Such is the dearth of quality batting in Australian cricket at the moment, that their selectors are seriously considering the veteran duo of Chris Rogers and Adam Voges as contenders for the squad that will contest the Ashes in England, later this year. Read More...2013-14 contracted players announced by Cricket Australia
Although the list of players that are centrally contracted to Cricket Australia (CA) for 2013-14 has been expanded from 17 to 20, which is the maximum allowed under the current MOU with the players union, a number of potential Ashes tourists to England, Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Jackson Bird and Moises Henriques, have all been omitted from the list. Read More...30-man Australian team for Champions Trophy hidden from media
Ahead of one of the most challenging periods of cricket in their history, Cricket Australia (CA) appears to be almost in a state of melt down. Read More...- Winter Games for Ten, cricket next - The Australian
- Cricket Australia fines Warner over tweets - New Zealand Herald
- Match fixing & Spot fixing in Cricket: Timeline - Zee NewsMay 6, 2000 - Australia appoints investigator! Cricket Australia appointed an independent investigator to examine alleged match-fixing and bribery reports. The board, however, refused to review the case of Shane Warne and Mark Waugh, who were earlier ...
- Cricket Australia cuts back summer ODI schedule - The Daily TelegraphCricket Australia today announced the ODI series against England begins in Melbourne on January 12 and the last game is on January 26 in Adelaide. Australia will also host three Twenty20 clashes with England on January 29, January 31 and February 2 in ...
- Australian cricket to get exotic makeover in the coming months - The Daily TelegraphResearch shows the cost of playing cricket, the game's complexities and its traditional white power base has formerly alienated Asian youngsters though Cricket Australia is pushing strongly to change things. Ahmed, who came from Pakistan as an asylum ...
- Australia 'focused on Champions Trophy' - ESPNcricinfo.comSome have been playing cricket, some have been training at home. Seven members of the Champions Trophy group will also take part in the Ashes, and Clarke hopes the tour begins on a high, especially when Australia meet England in a group match at ...
- ' Over the last six months I ' ve pulled my head in ' - ESPNcricinfo.comGive Mitch regular games in ODI and T20 cricket and let him know that he needs to improve his FC record significantly and to improve his temperament if he is to make it to the test team. It would be very bad if we gave him an easy ride to the test team ...
- Cricket Australia, Nine set for courtroom showdown - The AgeNine sources labelled the legal case by CA a ''sideshow'' saying it is disappointed with the games being played by Cricket Australia's lawyers given the network has no interest in Big Bash. Nine is looking to retain the current forms of cricket it ...
- Warner pleads guilty, fined for breaching Cricket Australia code of conduct in ... - Victoria Times ColonistThe two journalists who bore the brunt of the Twitter outbursts are among Australia's most senior cricket analysts. "I think everyone's got their own opinion as reporters and journalists they report on cricket games," he added. "We are a family in a ...
- New ball game for female cricketers - The AgeBut with the recent success of the Southern Stars, and all the media coverage, they [Cricket Australia] have realised they need to pay the players appropriately for the time and effort they put into the game. I always hoped we would get to a position ...
Australia ICC World Cup 2011 Profile
Can they add another trophy into their already impressive collection?
Strength
Australia’s ability to adapt to situations is their biggest strength. Under normal circumstances, the teams from Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa do find it difficult to adjust to the tracks in the Indian sub-continent. However, one look at Australia’s record in India, and one would have thought that they are the home side. Since 2007, Australia has won two, back-to-back ODI series against India apart from having clinched the Champions Trophy in India in 2006 as well.
Weakness
The Aussies have been crippled by the retirements of their former greats. The likes of Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn, Shane Warne, Glen McGrath, Andrew Symonds are only some of those who are no longer a part of the side which has meant that the replacements have taken their own time to get used to international cricket. It remains to be seen whether the young Australian side will be able to step up well enough to defend their title they had won in 199, 2003 and 2007.
Opportunity
Usually, the format that has been used in this tournament would have suited the opposition more than Australia had it been the previous Australian sides. Post the first round, one loss would mean that the side was out of the tournament and that was probably the only way the really strong Australian side could have been ousted earlier. Now, things have changed and Australia is no longer the favourites – which is why a format like could suit them more than before. Qualifying for the quarter-finals should not be difficult after which they will need to win three in a row to go through to another victory.
Threat
The World Cup comes only a month after the Ashes. A loss in the Ashes could deflate the side greatly after going into the Ashes with seven defeats in eight games and the confidence could go really low. Especially given that the Australian captain Ricky Ponting is already under a lot of pressure after struggling at the international cricket in 2010.
Previous Record
Not for nothing are the Aussies the three-time world champions. They won it in 1999 after it looked like they were dead, buried and less likely to qualify for the semi-finals than any of the last six teams. This was followed by two impeccable performances in the 2003 and 2007 World Cup editions where they won everything that came their way. Australia has also won the tournament in 1987, apart from being finalists in 1975 and 1996.
Expected Captain
As mentioned earlier, Ponting could continue to lead the side in the World Cup – unless the Aussies lose the Ashes so badly that he is left with no option but to let go of the reign.
Players to look out for
It will be the tournament for the youngsters from the Australian side one feels and Callum Ferguson could be the one who could make a huge name for himself. Amongst bowlers, it will be interesting to see whether Brett Lee makes it to the squad and how he does in India.