We are looking to improve our ranking says ponting

We are looking to improve our ranking says ponting

Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting Tuesday said his boys are looking forward to a competitive tournament against India and want to improve their world Test ranking.

'Of course, ranking matters in international cricket. Right now we are at fourth spot, so we will try to win maximum matches to ensure an improvement in ranking. It would be really challenging for us to take on number one team India,' said Ponting, while talking to reporters here.

He added: 'We are very confident that there would be a very competitive tournament against India. We all are very excited and would take on India as a strong group.'

'India is a great place to learn. It would be real hard-work for fast bowlers to bowl on Indian wickets. I am actually excited about the prospects of our fast bowlers here; they are young guys, who are learning things very quickly,' said Ponting.

'From the last test series in India, we had learnt many things. India are a good side, for whom we should be very well prepared. They are coming together as a very strong group,' he pointed out.

'Yuvraj is a very strong player and he has been left out for the forthcoming Test match. But still India are a very formidable side. They have a very strong batting line up,' said Ponting.

'I am very satisfied with the security arrangements. I have full trust in people here. Besides, Cricket Australia also briefed us about the security issues regularly,' he said.

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Australia cricket team arrives in India

Australia cricket team arrives in India

The Australian cricket team has arrived in India for their Test and ODI series against the host starting October 1 in Mohali.

The Ricky Ponting-led side will leave for Mohali on Momday afternoon where they are scheduled to play against Board President's XI in a three-day practice match from September 25.

The Test series between the two sides will be played in Mohali and Bangalore (October 9 to 13).

This will be followed by a three-match ODI series starting October 17. The matches are scheduled to be held in Kochi, Visakhapatnam and Goa.

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Aussie pacer Josh Hazlewood ruled out of India tour

Aussie pacer Josh Hazlewood ruled out of India tour

Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood was today ruled out of next month''s Test series against India due to a back injury, prompting the selectors to bring in Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson as stand-by players. "Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of Australia''s Test squad for the VB Tour of India after confirmation he has developed the early stages of a low back bone stress injury," Cricket Australia said in a statement.

"The National Selection Panel announced Hazlewood''s Blues teammate Mitchell Starc and Victorian James Pattinson will act as standby players for Hazlewood," it added. Pattinson is currently with the Victorian squad playing in the Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa and will remain with the Bushrangers until their finals chances are determined.

"During the past week, Josh Hazlewood developed low back pain while bowling in preparation for the upcoming VB Tour of India Test series," Australian physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said. "His symptoms were consistent with a low back bone stress injury and scans have confirmed the early stages of a low back stress fracture," he added.

"As such, he has been withdrawn from the Test series, as he will require a period of rest from bowling to allow the bone stress to resolve." NSP Chairman of Selectors Andrew Hilditch said the two players chosen to be on standby have done well during their stint at the Australian Center of Excellence.

"Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson are two fast bowlers who made a significant impression during their time at the Cricket Australia Center of Excellence this year. "We are adding these two standby players to ensure we have adequate cover for the tour game being played before the first Test.

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India the biggest challenge says Hauritz

India the biggest challenge says Hauritz

Australian spinner Nathan Hauritz said the Test series in India will be the toughest challenge of his career.

"It's going to be tough enough bowling against those players, but at the end of the day they are human and they do make mistakes," Hauritz said.

"I've seen enough of Tendulkar's career through the last 20 years to know how he plays and what he likes to play to spin. I'm going to have my individual plans against those guys and if they don't work I've definitely got plan B and plan C to go from there.

"It can be quite tough to bowl over there because the wickets can be very good to bat on and the outfield can be very fast," he was quoted as saying by 'The Australian Associated Press'.

"The wickets where we are playing are not normally the traditional spin-friendly ones, but (against) Tendulkar and those sort of guys, it will be a great challenge."

"It's fantastic to have your captain's backing behind you," Hauritz said.

"It's a very tough side to get into, but to be part of it consistently is great."

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Aus wary of CWG after attack on Indian swimmer

Aus wary of CWG after attack on Indian swimmer

Australian swimmers are reconsidering coming to India to participate in the Commonwealth Games.

The decision comes after Indian swimmer B. Balakrishnan was attacked in Chennai on Sunday morning. Balakrishnan suffered serious head and limb injuries after two men on bikes bashed him up on his way to training.

According to Herald Sun, the management in Australia has said that it will allow its swimmers to skip the games if they are worried about their safety. Swimming Australia president David Urq-hart has said that any swimmer who felt unsafe in Delhi and wanted to leave would be allowed to fly back home.

Earlier swimming ace, Balakrishnan was attacked by two men on bikes while he was on his way for practice.

He is a champion swimmer who won 2 golds at the recent national swimming championship. But Balakrishnan's hopes of making India proud at the Commonwealth Games has been shattered.

He was attacked by three unknown men while he was on his routine training session on Sunday morning. Balakrishnan was brutally hit on the head, arms and legs with cricket stumps.

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Australia beat Pakistan to qualify for semis

Australia beat Pakistan to qualify for semis

Tournament favourites Australia advanced into the semi-finals of the men's hockey World Cup on Monday after they beat Pakistan 2-1 in a pulsating match to finish top of Pool B.
Desmond Abbott scored twice as Australia completed their matches in the six-team pool, finishing level with England on 12 points but topping the group on goal difference.
European champions England, who pulled off a surprise 3-2 victory over Australia in the opening match, lost 2-0 to Spain at the Dhyan Chand National Hockey Stadium for their first defeat in the competition.
Pau Quemada and Eduard Tubau scored for Olympic silver medallists Spain who finished third in the group on nine points. India meet South Africa in the day's final match.
Sohail Abbas put Pakistan ahead against Australia, who won a 10th Champions Trophy in December, in the 24th minute through a penalty corner.
Abbott scored the equaliser three minutes into the second half and netted again shortly before the final whistle.

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johnson and harris take victory to australia with newzealand in the 2nd ODI

johnson and harris take victory to australia with newzealand in the 2nd ODI

Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson helped Australia to register a tense 12-run win over New Zealand in the 2nd ODI in Auckland.
Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson clinched seven wickets between them to achieve the victory target for their nation. Chasing target of 266 from 45 overs, Australia wrapped up the New Zealand side in 43.2 overs .The last wicket partnership of Daniel Vettori and Tim Southee added 14 runs to take their total to 253.
Australia levelled the five-game series at one-all with Johnson pocketing 4 wickets for 51 runs and Harris grabbing 3-34 from 8.2 overs.
Skipper Ricky Ponting said,"I'm proud of the way the guys hung in there tonight. The game could have gone either way right towards the end. Our bowlers stuck to their guns stuck to their guns pretty well today.”
Mike Hussey proved to be the best Australian batsmen for the second successive match, hitting 56 in a total of 7-273.Hussey had a 101-run partnership stand with Cameron White after Australia had slumped to 4-116 in the 24th over. The third ODI will be played in Hamilton on Tuesday.

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India have no chances in WCH 2010

India have no chances in WCH 2010

After India's humiliating losses to Australia and Spain in the Hockey World Cup 2010, an Indian fan said, "Indian players spent all energy, aggression and stamina during the 4-1 victory against Pakistan in the opening match. Now they have nothing to give". Bitter truth, but well said.
If you ha [India Hockey World Cup 2010] ve seen India playing yesterday, you will admit that they kept attacking Spain throughout the game, but failed to penetrate into their strong defence. On the other hand, Spain scored goals without much resistance from the goalkeeper and India's defence.
Spain converted half-chances into goals, much to the surprise of the fans and experts. Even though India dominated the proceedings in the second half, Spain scored three goals, against India's two goals.
The end result 5-2 speaks much about India's poor defence. Certainly, they don't deserve a place in the semifinals, when teams like England, Australia, Netherlands, Spain and South Korea are playing above expectations.
As Indians, we may be disappointed to see our team losing. But if we thing about the game, strategy and defence, there will be no denying that we may end up at No. 5 - 8 in the tournament. Certainly, the top four spots are out of our reach now.

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