Cricket Australia
South Africa to host Australia, England in 2023, confirms Graeme Smith
The Australia Test series, which was called off in February last year over concerns around Covid-19, is set to be played in August 2023 while England are scheduled to tour in the winter of 2022-23 to fulfill a three-match ODI series that was postponed for similar reasons in December 2020, as per ESPNcricinfo report. Notably, Nick Hockley, the chief executive of Cricket Australia, had also previously indicated that a window for 2023 had been agreed on by the two boards.
Talk about Khawaja for 5th Test most challenging conversation: CA selector
Khawaja, who came in as a replacement for Head in the fourth Test at Sydney, has mounted a compelling case to retain his spot after scoring 137 and an unbeaten 101 in the drawn game. With Head having supposedly recovered from COVID-19, he too would be eyeing a spot in the Hobart Test, scheduled to commence on January 14. Head has averaged 62 over the first three Tests with a highest of 152 in the opening Test at The Gabba, which the hosts won by nine wickets.
Ashes, 4th Test: Khawaja slams another century as Australia take control
Thanks to Khawaja's second century in the fourth Test, Australia declared early on 265/6 in 68.5 overs, giving England a 388-run target to win. At stumps on Day 4, England were 30 for no loss. The day again belonged to 35-year-old Khawaja as he joined just five other Australian batters to score twin tons in a single Ashes Test. Hitting 10 fours and two sixes with a mix of touch and occasional force in his 138-ball essay, Khawaja made runs through an array of shots all around the wicket.
COVID UPDATE: All Big Bash teams to relocate to Melbourne
Seven BBL clubs have been affected by the virus and the schedule thrown haywire, with the worst sufferers being Melbourne Stars who reported 13 COVID-19 positive cases, including that of their captain Glenn Maxwell. BBL has issued a revised schedule from January 10-16, which will see seven of the 11 scheduled matches played in Victoria. Some key games, though, will be played interstate, with teams to fly in and out on chartered flights, according to cricket.com.au on Saturday.
Invest some time and faith in opener Crawley: Michael Atherton
While none of the England openers have fared well in the series so far, Atherton felt that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) could "invest some time and faith" in the 23-year-old Crawley. Burns and partner Haseeb Hameed disappointed in the first two Tests, forcing coach Chris Silverwood to include Crawley in the playing XI for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG at Burns' expense.
Hazlewood ruled out of fifth Ashes Test, confirms Australian selector
Hazlewood had suffered a side strain in the opening Test at the Gabba, Brisbane and hasn't featured in the series since. The pace bowler had hinted that he would try to return for the fourth Test at SCG, currently underway, but there is still some progress to be made on the fitness front.
No shortcuts to playing England quicks, I had to graft and unsettle them: Khawaja
Khawaja, playing Test cricket after more than two-and-a-half years, ground out a 260-ball 137 as Australia put up an imposing 416 for eight declared on Day 2 of the fourth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.
The Ashes, 4th Test: England reach 13-0 at stumps, trail by 403 runs vs Australia on Day 2
Australia, who were 321/6 at Tea, added 95 more runs to their scorecard before declaring their first innings on 416/8 in the third session. Usman Khawaja (137) and Steven Smith (67) were the top scorers for Australia while Stuart Broad (5/101) was the most successful bowler for England.
ECB asks its players in BBL to return to London as soon as possible: Report
The ECB's instructions have reportedly come as it wants to save England's limited-overs tour of the West Indies beginning on January 22 at Bridgetown. England are scheduled to play five T20I in Bridgetown, which will be followed by a three-Test series in March. There have been a number of COVID-19 cases in the BBL, especially in Melbourne Stars which has reported a total of 18 cases among its players and support staff.
The Ashes: Big jolt for Australia as Travis Head tests positive for COVID-19
Cricket Australia (CA) issued a statement on Friday morning saying the batter had tested positive for Covid-19 "following a routine PCR test". "Head is asymptomatic and will remain in Melbourne and isolate with his partner for seven days in line with Victorian Government Health requirements. He will be unavailable for selection for the fourth Vodafone men's Ashes Test, starting at the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground) on January 5," said Cricket Australia.
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