St.Johns, Antigua
Second Test played to a draw at Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
After Australia set West Indies 372 to win on the last day of the second test at Antigua the W.I. team
went on to finish at 266-5 finishing the Second Test in a draw.
Australia first innings : 479-7 declared. Katich 113, Clarke 110, Ponting 65 and Brett Lee 63 not out.
Jerome Taylor took 3-95
Second innings : 244-6 declared Jaques 76, Symonds 43 not out, Hussey 40 and Ponting 38
Fidel Edwards 2-28 and Taylor 2-33
West Indies first innings : 352 Chanderpaul 107 not out, Serwan 65, Marshall 53 Bravo and Taylor 20
Brett Lee 5-59, Clarke 2-20 and Johnson 2-72.
Second innings 266-5 : Sarwan 128, Chanderpaul 77 not out, brett Lee 3-51
The Third test will played at Kensington Oval starting 12 June 2008

Are these the words Shane Warne was saying this morning after the surprise announcement of Stuart MacGill’s retirement from Test cricket.
After arriving back in Melbourne today, he said he was very happy in retirement and had no intention of returning to Test cricket, but did add ” unless it was special circumstances ”
Warne also stated his team’s win in the IPL 2020 competition was way up there with his many cricket highlights and that this form of cricket was here to stay, but every cricket player should put playing for his country to be the ultimate goal.
Cricket Australia’s Terry Jenner said only “the 708 wicket-test great would qualify for a comeback that broke all protocol “. He saw referring to the fact that Warne is not a contracted player.
Australia now seems likely to continue with spin part timers Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds, the only other players on the horizon seem to be South Australian Dan Cullen and Beau Cusson, neither of these players are contracted to the ACB.

Image via Wikipedia

Second Test, Antigua (close day four)
West Indies vs Australia
Australian fast bowler Brett Lee tore the West Indies batting line up apart, taking 5 wickets for five runs off 18 balls. Lee was helped by some very questionable umpiring decisions, but the damage was done. The West Indies were dismissed for 352, still 127 runs behind.
Ponting’s Australians now have a chance to push for victory on the fifth day, something that had seemed impossible just hors before.

Now that the inaugural IPL series is over and the victorious Rajasthan Royals, led by their Captain and Coach, Shane Warne, are still celebrating. The least expensive team in the series ( $3 million) showed all others how to play the game. A great victory.
What next ? There is a lot of talk around about who will be starting 2020 teams and who will be playing where, but it seems that nothing is settled. The West Indies, backed by billionaire,Allen Stanford, is well on it’s way to get 2020 up and running. It has been reported that he has proposed a competition between West Indies and a side from Great Britain.
Is the future 2020WI or 2020GB ? Whatever happens this form of cricket is here to stay. With great cricketers like Shane Warne leading the way, it looks like a long and profitable future.

Michael Clarke’s ton in the second Test in the West Indies was for his fiancee, Lara Bingle,
after the loss of her father. A tearful Clarke looked to the heavens and dedicated his century to
Graham Bingle, who died three weeks ago.
With the Second Test in the balance , Australia declared at 7-479, as Clarke again contributed with his
left arm spin bowling taking 2-7 off seven overs. West Indies reached 3-125 at stumps.
It was a great effort from the “Captain in Waiting”.

Mathew Hayden vows to be fit enough to return to all forms of cricket.
Stating on his arrival ” I am here to play for as long as I can”
Returning to Brisbane after being ruled out of the West Indies tour and will be seeing a specialist in Melbourne to assess the damage to his achilles tendon. Hayden, 36, believes the injury could be the result of how long he has been in the game at the highest level and his strenuous training routine. Until he receives the results he will continue to believe he will be returning and will plan accordingly.
Hayden will be attempting to make his fourth Ashes tour next year.

Australian golfers are showing the way in major International tournaments. Goggin, Strange and Webb all leading after the first round of tournaments in the United States.
Mathew Goggin played a brilliant seven under par 65 at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, to lead the Memorial tournament.Tasmanian Goggin needed only 22 putts in his first round lead. Scott Strange birdied seven of the last nine holes for a 63 at the Wales open in Newport. The 31 year old West Australian Strange played the last nine holes at Celtic Manor in 28 strokes to lead Italy’s Edoaro Molinari.
Karrie Webb’s 65, which included five birdies and an eagle, gave her a share of the lead with Korean Kim In-Kyung at the LPGA’s Ginn Tribute in Charleston, South Carolina.

Ricky Ponting has joined the 10,000 run club after reaching the goal just after the tea break
in the second Test in Antigua against the West Indies. It was Pontings 118 th. Test. Only Brian Lara reached this goal in less matches, he required 111.Ponting’s achievement has been somewhat overshadowed by the fighting century by Simon Katich. The left-hander combined with Ponting for a 146 run second wicket combination.Once again Phil Jaques went cheaply. This is leaving the Test selectors with a problem to find an opening combination. Will Mathew Hayden be fit enough to return to Test Cricket or do they have to look elsewhere ?
After the first Test victory, Australia is once again on their way to another win.

Shaun Marsh was amongst the runs as he led Kings XI Punjab to victory in Monday night’s IPL action.

Read More

The England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket Australia have reached agreement on tour dates for Australia’s tour next year, where they will defend the Ashes.

Read More

The Australian players have again had a busy week in the English County League and one-day competition, the Friends Provident Trophy, with West Australians again providing the highlights.

Read More