Melbourne, Dec. 26 (ANI): Australia’’s star-studded domestic Twenty20 competition begins on Monday and big hitting West Indies captain Chris Gayle will lead the international charge. Gayle has joined forces with Western Australia, while fellow international stars Shahid Afridi and Kieron Pollard (South Australia), Dwayne Bravo (Victoria), Daniel Vettori (Queensland),...

New Delhi, Dec.26 (ANI): Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has expressed hope to wrap up the series with another win in the fifth one-day international match against Sri Lanka on Sunday, as the spinners will be in action at the national capital’s Ferozeshah Kotla ground. While addressing a news conference here Dhoni said that the spinners would come into action...

Durban (S. Africa), Dec. 26 (ANI): Cricket South Africa’’s decision to zero in on Graeme Smith as captain in March, 2003, when he had just turned 22, has proved to be the most inspired choice ever made. At that time, the selection looked an odd fit. Smith was unworldly, but grew up quickly. According to the Courier Mail, Smith developed so quickly that he was...

Melbourne, Dec. 26 (ANI): Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has said he was unfairly treated for testing positive to steroids. The controversial quick has vowed to “tell everything” about his drug dramas. Banned for a year for testing positive to the steroid nandrolone during the inaugural Indian Premier League in 2008, Asif has only just returned to Test...

Melbourne, Dec. 26 (ANI): Australian openers Shane Watson and Simon Katich fell agonisingly short of centuries, but their side was in a commanding position against Pakistan on the first day of the first Test of the series at the MCG here. Australia were 3-305 at stumps on the first day after Watson and Katich posted a stand of 182 and captain Ricky Ponting proved he had...

Durban, Dec. 26 (ANI): England off-spinner Graham Swann has said that the past 12 months have been a dream. “In my first year of Test cricket, I””ve taken 53 wickets and averaged 36 with the bat. And I have an Ashes winner”’’s medal. I wouldn””t swap it for the world,” he says in a column for The Sun. “The weird thing about...

Lahore, Dec. 26 (ANI): Former Pakistan Test opener Saeed Anwar would be organising a special training camp for the opening batsmen of the national squad soon after the team returns from Australia. Anwar said he is keen to share his experience with the younger players through which he can contribute something the Pakistan cricket. “I will hold this training camp for openers...

Durban (S. Africa), Dec. 26 (ANI): Captain Andrew Strauss has warned England’’s players to focus on today’’s crucial Second Test against South Africa here, and not to over-indulge in the Christmas spirit. England’’s party has grown to more than 60, with players, management, wives, girlfriends and children. The team practised yesterday...

Melbourne, Dec. 26 (ANI): Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting urged Pakistan to bring on a bouncer war as he declared himself an almost certain starter for his 13th Boxing Day Test. According to the Courier Mail, Ponting will wear an arm guard to protect his sore left elbow – but insists he has no fear about being targeted by a short-pitched bumper assault. “I”m...

Australia vs Pakistan, 1st Test Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, December 26-30, 2009 Match starts at 23:30 GMT Ground Reality and Pitch: Melbourne Cricket Ground or the MCG as it is more popularly known, is a premier cricket ground located in Yarra Park in inner Melbourne. The MCG, which is the largest stadium in Australia, is traditionally known to host the Boxing...