Shane Warne dies: Gilchrist, Stokes and Botham lead tributes to Australia great

By Sports Desk March 04, 2022

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  • England Women wrap up 4-1 series victory in New Zealand England Women wrap up 4-1 series victory in New Zealand

    England Women wrapped up a 4-1 T20 series victory as they beat New Zealand by five wickets in the fifth match at Wellington.

    Chasing 137, captain Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt put together a crucial 57-run partnership for the fourth wicket to put England in control.

    England’s bowlers made early inroads by reducing the hosts to 31 for four, Sciver-Brunt taking two for 24.

    Brooke Halliday hit 33 before holing out to Alice Capsey off Sophie Ecclestone, who finished with three for 30, while wicketkeeper Izzy Gaze reached an unbeaten 51 off the final ball as they lifted the total to 136 for six.

    Maia Bouchier, who finished with an England record for a series with 223 runs, fell early in the reply,

    Capsey (25) and Danni Wyatt (21) fell before the halfway point, but Sciver-Brunt (31) and Knight took the game away from New Zealand.

    Knight fell for 35 with five needed to win, Sophia Dunkley taking just two balls to finish the job with seven deliveries to spare.

    The teams start a three-match ODI series in Wellington on Monday.

  • On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga

    Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were all given lengthy bans for their part in Australia’s ball-tampering scandal six years ago.

    Captain Smith and vice-captain Warner were both handed 12-month suspensions while Bancroft, the batsman who was caught on camera attempting to change the condition of the ball using sandpaper during the third Test against South Africa, was banned for nine months.

    Cricket Australia chairman David Peever said: “The CA board understands and shares the anger of fans and the broader Australian community about these events.

    “They go to the integrity and reputation of Australian Cricket and Australian sport and the penalties must reflect that.

    “These are significant penalties for professional players and the board does not impose them lightly. It is hoped that following a period of suspension, the players will be able to return to playing the game they love and eventually rebuild their careers.”

    Smith and Bancroft gave a press conference after the third day’s play where they admitted a premeditated attempt to tamper with the ball.

    Smith spoke of a “leadership group” making the decision to tamper with the ball and, in announcing the severe punishments, CA revealed Warner, 31, was charged with devising the plan, instructing a junior player – Bancroft – to carry it out and demonstrating how to do it.

    Smith gave a tearful press conference on his return to Australia, saying: “I know I’ll regret this for the rest of my life, I’m absolutely gutted. I hope in time I can earn back respect and forgiveness.

    “I’ve been so privileged and honoured to represent my country and captain Australia. Cricket is the greatest game in the world and it’s been my life – I hope it can be again. I’m absolutely devastated.”

    Smith and Warner both returned to the Australia side at the Cricket World Cup in 2019, with the former made vice-captain of the Test side in 2021, while Bancroft played for his country again in the Ashes series the same summer.

  • Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return

    Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry was enthusiastic about the Melbourne Cricket Ground staging the Women’s Ashes Test early next year but was more reserved about a return to a four-day contest.

    The 100,000-capacity MCG will host a day-night encounter running from January 30 to February 2, with the Test bringing the series to an end for the first time in the multi-format era.

    Last year’s Ashes Test at Trent Bridge ran for five days for the second time in women’s cricket history and justified the extension as Australia prevailed against hosts England on the final day following draws in each of the three previous four-day meetings between the two rivals.

    While Perry was thrilled with the announcement that the MCG is set to host its first women’s Test since 1949, the 33-year-old had mixed feelings about a four-day game, with 100 overs per day.

    “It’s certainly an amazing opportunity for the team to play at such an iconic Australian cricket venue and in such a big occasion like an Ashes series,” Perry told reporters.

    “That’s the next evolution for women’s cricket (and) more globally as well for women’s sport, we’re starting to see that happen more and more often across the board.

    “I’ve got a really small sample size of one five-day Test match and we managed to get a result in that, so I suppose my bias skews towards that, having played a number of four-day games where we haven’t got results.

    “We probably need to do some more quantifiable work on what is most effective for the women’s game.

    “It’s so contextual to the venue that you play at and your opposition as well, and various other conditions.

    “Going forward this is going to be a question that keeps popping up until we’re able to really ascertain what is most effective for women’s Test matches.”

    The multi-format series gets under way on January 12 with the first of three ODIs while the Sydney Cricket Ground and Adelaide Oval are among the T20 venues ahead of a possible pink-ball Test decider at the MCG.

    Australia have held the Women’s Ashes since 2015, retaining the trophy last summer after a thrilling 8-8 points draw in England, who rebounded from the Test defeat by winning both white-ball series 2-1.

    “The first women’s Test match at the MCG since 1949, and the first day-night Test at that historic ground, will be a memorable occasion and another important milestone for women’s cricket as we take more games to major stadiums including the SCG and Adelaide Oval,” said Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley.

    Women’s 2025 Ashes schedule:

    ODIs

    12 January: North Sydney Oval, Sydney

    14 January: Junction Oval, Melbourne

    17 January: Bellerive Oval, Hobart

    T20s

    20 January: SCG, Sydney

    23 January: Manuka Oval, Canberra

    25 January: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

    Test

    30 January-2 February: MCG, Melbourne (D/N)

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