ICC 2006: Australia 2006-...

[Marklar_33]

Thought Id have a crack at a story
Go easy, its my first attempt

Anyways, starting with the April tour to Bangladesh

15 man squad consists of

Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist (vc), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Phil Jaques, Mark Cosgrove, Shane Watson, Brett Lee, Shane Warne, Nathan Bracken, Stuart MacGill, Glenn McGrath, Dan Cullen

And the team for the First Test

J.Langer
M.Hayden
R.Ponting (c)
M.Hussey
M.Clarke
A.Gilchrist (k)
S.Watson
S.Warne
B.Lee
S.MacGill
G.McGrath

P.Jaques (12th)


After winning the toss, Bangladesh elected to bat, and started well with a handy 1st wicket stand of 52 between Nafees (39) and Omar (18) before Nafees fell LBW to Watson. Several top order batsmen got starts but couldnt put up the required resistance to stop Warne taking the next 4 wickets to fall. Islam (67) and Hasan (59) put on 99 for the 7th wicket, but the tail fell quickly to have the Tigers all out for 290, Warne getting his fifth with the wicket of Islam.
Australia started well in reply with an 80 run opening stand before a monumental mix-up saw Hayden and Langer standing at the same end, the former dismissed for 49. Ponting soon followed at 102, but Langer (96) and Michael Hussey (122) shored up the innings, and late order half-centuries to Watson and Warne pushed the score up to an even 500.
The Bangladeshi 2nd knock went much like the first, with many bats getting starts but only Islam (88) offering any real resistance. A last wicket stand with the aggressive Kabir (26*) pushed the total to 285. Brett Lee was the standout with 5/94
But the target of 75 was never going to trouble the Aussies, and although they lost 3 wickets early, Hussey and Clarke hit the winning runs with over a day to spare.

Shane Warne was awarded Man of the Match for his first innings 5/52 and 64 runs

Australia won by 7 wickets

 

[Marklar_33]

Bangladesh vs Australia
2nd Test Match
April 16-20

2nd Test XI

J.Langer
M.Hayden
R.Ponting (c)
M.Hussey
M.Clarke
A.Gilchrist
S.Watson
S.Warne
B.Lee
D.Cullen (Test debut)
S.MacGill

P.Jaques (12th)

The second Test vs Bangladesh was played on an absolute dustbowl at Chittagong. Glenn McGrath, not at full fitness, made way for the Test debut of impressive youngster Dan Cullen. Jaques was again 12th man, unable to force a way into the impressive Aussie top order.

Australia won the toss and elected to bat, making full use of the 3 spinners in the fourth innings. After suffering the early setback of losing Hayden for 1, Langer and Ponting batted for the majority of the first day in a 253 run 2nd wicket partnership that killed off the spirit of the young Bangladesh side. Both men were dismissed late on Day 1, and the early stages of Day 2 belonged to the Tigers, before Shane Watson (67) was joined by Brett Lee (55) to inflict a little more pain. Australia yet again finished on an even 500. Langer's contribution 132 and Ponting's 125. Rafique and Hasan bowled tirelessly, combining for 126 overs and 8 wickets.
Bangladesh were never in the hunt from the 2nd over, when Shane Watson's first foray as a Test new ball bowler was rewarded with 2 wickets in an over, leaving the home side 2/5. Joining in with firsts, Dan Cullen took a wicket with his first over, nabbing dangerman Islam (35), before claiming the last 2 wickets, finishing with 3/31. Warne took the honours with 3/30.
Bangladesh, following on, improved on the first dig, albeit slightly. Brett Lee bowled a fiery new ball spell to take 4 wickets, Cullen again got Islam and MacGill took the last 5 wickets for 27 runs to clean them up for 140

Justin Langer's hundred was rewarded with MotM

Australia win by an innings and 233 runs

 

[Marklar_33]

Bangladesh vs Australia
1st ODI
April 23 2006

The ODI series between Bangladesh and Australia was preceded by the big announcement by Shane Warne that he would make himself available for the One Day side ahead of the World Cup in 2007, and the selectors gave Warne his wish by retaining him in the squad for this 3-match series.

The side, as named, is

A.Gilchrist
S.Watson
R.Ponting (C)
M.Clarke
M.Hussey
P.Jaques
M.Cosgrove (ODI debut)
S.Warne
B.Lee
N.Bracken
G.McGrath

Cosgrove makes his debut after Katich seemingly fell out of favour with the selectors and didnt make this tour. Jaques replaces Martyn who also didnt tour, and another drinking session seems to have Symonds well out of favour with the Board.
Australia won the toss and batted on a tricky wicket, Gilchrist and Watson both got into the teens before falling in quick succession. Clarke failed, which led the way for Ponting and Hussey to combine for twin 74's. Jaques' late order swinging pushed the score to 6/270
The chase was never on, as Glenn McGrath, coming on 1st change, took 4 wickets, combined with 2 brilliant run outs by Ponting, had Bangladesh all out for 127

McGrath was a unanimous MotM

Australia won by 143 runs

 

[Marklar_33]

Bangladesh vs Australia
2nd ODI
April 26, 2006

Australia took an unchanged line-up into the 2nd match, and again won the toss and elected to bat.
Watson hit 48 and Michael Clarke hit 62, but both were upstaged by a terrific 4 wicket spell of left-arm orthodox bowling by Mohammad Rafique, restricting the Aussies to 223 all out. Mark Cosgrove held the tail together with a sensible 40
The great bowling effort didnt extend to the batting side, again being skittled for a low total. The similarly named Rahim and Rahman shared 44 runs for the 7th wicket, which was the only thing Bangladesh had to smile about as McGrath (5 wickets) and Bracken (3 wickets) dominated the bat. The Tigers came up 97 runs short

Again, McGrath took MotM honours

Australia won by 97 runs

 

[Marklar_33]

Bangladesh vs Australia
3rd ODI
28 April 2006

Obviously doing away with the rotation policy, Australia names the same team 3 matches running, and again wins the toss and bats

Gilchrist played a steady innings at the top, scoring 67 and being the 3rd wicket to fall. Clarke (60) and Cosgrove (44*) pushed the Aussie score to 7/264.
Bangladesh again capitulated, under the pressure of Bracken and Watson, who took 3 scalps each. All out for 167, to lose by an identical margin to the previous match

Adam Gilchrist was MotM

Australia won by 97 runs

Next up...

The Ashes (Maybe tomorrow!)

 

[Marklar_33]

Australia vs England
1st 3 Mobile Ashes Test
November 23-27, 2006
The Gabba, Brisbane

The long awaited rematch has arrived. Two old foes, competing in crickets oldest, most heated, rivalry. Australia's preparation has included 6 months off! England hosted Sri Lanka and Pakistan, beating the former 2-1 and drawing with the latter 2-2.
Australia welcomed back Glenn McGrath from the last Test team vs Bangladesh, but lost captain Ricky Ponting to a broken finger, and omitted Dan Cullen and Stuart MacGill on a pace-friendly Gabba deck. The loss of Ponting opened the way for Phil Jaques and David Hussey to stake claims for future Test spots. With Ponting vacating the Number 3 slot, Langer filled that hole while Jaques was thrown into open. David Hussey's Test debut would come as a Number 6 batsman, while Watson batted 8, effectively the fourth bowling option

P.Jaques
M.Hayden
J.Langer
M.Hussey
M.Clarke
D.Hussey (Test debut)
A.Gilchrist
S.Watson
B.Lee
S.Warne (C)
G.McGrath

England won the toss and elected to bat, with Trescothick and Strauss scoring 99 before Trescothick was bowled by yet another piece of Warne Ashes magic. Warne then picked up the wickets of Pietersen, Bell and Cook to have England 4/166. The wickets continued to fall, with only Strauss' fine 111 providing England with hope. The last 6 wickets fell for 23 once Strauss was dismissed, and England pettered out to 245, Warne and McGrath combining for 7 wickets.
Jaques and Hayden thrashed 84 runs in the opening stand in quick time, before Jaques was dismissed for 46, Hayden reached 67 before falling, with Michael Clarke going next ball. Langer continued to fire, with Hussey, M (55) and debutant Hussey, D (96) supporting, Langer hit a classy 132. David Hussey was highly unlucky to miss out on a debut ton, copping a ball that leapt from a good length by Flintoff, carrying off the glove to Harmison at Short, Fine. The tail didnt wag, and Australia finished 459 all out, a lead of 214.
Englands 2nd innings started strongly, with Trescothick, Pietersen and Bell all scoring fifties. Bell held the rest of the innings together admirably, but besides a gallant 52 from Matt Prior, England collapsed from 3/200 to be 314 all out, Bell not out 79
Australia peeled off the runs for no loss, Hayden 61 and Jaques 34

Player of the match was Justin Langer

Australia won by 10 wickets

 

[Lonie_from_50]

Good stuff mate.