Commenting on the ODI squad, National Selector John Inverarity said: “We will have to be at the top of our game to go to England and beat them on their home soil but we’ve selected a strong squad and believe we have the ability to win this one-day series.

“Steve Smith has been rewarded for his late season form. He has come into strong contention for the Australian ICC World Twenty20 squad to be named in August and the NSP is keen to have him in the set-up in England as the reserve batsman, noting that his leg-spinners would provide good variation to our attack.

“Mitchell Johnson has also been included in this ODI squad. He, also, is in strong contention for the ICC World Twenty20 and needs to be in the set-up and have some quality competitive cricket leading into this. The NSP is looking forward to Mitchell being reinvigorated after being out of the game for six months.

“We are also excited about the return of Pat Cummins and we are looking to ease him back into the team. He will not be expected to play in all of the eight scheduled games.

“Peter Forrest, Mitchell Starc, Dan Christian, Nathan Lyon and Peter Nevill have not been included in this squad. During the Australian summer and in the West Indies, Peter Forrest and Mitchell Starc were two young players who grasped their opportunities and acquitted themselves well and enhanced their reputations. However, they have made way in this squad for Steve Smith and Pat Cummins.

“In February and March, Dan Christian showed what a very useful and good all-rounder he is, making some strong contributions. He has been omitted to make way for Mitchell Johnson, but remains very much in our plans for the ICC World Twenty20 and a distinct possibility for the ODIs and T20s against Pakistan in August/September.

“Nathan Lyon and Peter Nevill have not been included as Xavier Doherty has been preferred as the only spinner and Matthew Wade is the only ‘keeper. It is a great deal easier getting replacements to England than to the West Indies and both Nathan and Peter will be on standby should they be required,” Inverarity said.

Commenting on the Australia A squad, Inverarity said: “The Australia A Squad has been difficult to finalise. While there is a busy schedule of cricket ahead, it cannot be known in advance which of the 15 players in the ODI Squad for England and Ireland will have heavy loads and those who will not and would therefore benefit from playing some games on the Australia A tour. Also, there is an ICC World Twenty20 preparation camp in Australia in August. Those on the Australia A tour who are selected for the ICC World Twenty20 (and the ODIs and T20s against Pakistan immediately before this) will have to leave the A tour after one or two of the scheduled four games. Hence there will be a need for replacements and a degree of flexibility.

“The Australia A Squad has been selected with two factors very much in mind. The first is that good performances in the Australian summer have been recognised and rewarded, while keeping an ever open eye for younger players coming through. The second is a focus on the Ashes tour of 2013 and familiarising a number of our less experienced international players and back-up players with English conditions. The NSP has also been mindful of not overloading some players, not least David Warner and Matthew Wade. David Hussey has had considerable exposure to English grounds and conditions. These three were not considered for this A tour as they will have had plenty of cricket.

“The NSP is keen to accelerate the return to form of Tim Paine. Tim was impressive when he represented Australia in the various formats and he is recovering well from his injury. Michael Klinger’s sustained good performances over a number of seasons has been recognised and rewarded and he will open the innings with Ed Cowan. Jon Holland has been included as a promising young spin bowler as we attempt to expand our spin bowling stocks.

“Joe Burns is a young player who has shown consistency and all-round batsmanship and it is anticipated that this tour to England will provide for him some very valuable experience. Another to come on the scene recently is Jackson Bird, who bowled exceptionally well for Tasmania last summer. It is likely that he will be well suited to English conditions. The NSP also regards Liam Davis and Tom Cooper as exciting cricketers who deserve opportunities to impress at this level. The NSP is pleased to note that Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja will have extended periods in the English County set-up, together with other more established players. Mitchell Starc will have a stint with Yorkshire and this will give him further valuable experience.”

(Information Source: www.cricket.com.au)

Set the Duckworth/Lewis-adjusted target of 158 from 40 overs after holding Australia to 154 for 9, the hosts made the worst possible start when Kieran Powell shouldered arms to Brett Lee’s first ball of the innings and was palpably lbw. But from an uncertain 74 for 4, Pollard and Dwayne Bravo constructed the most assured stand of the match, and took West Indies to a deserved win with five wickets and 11 balls to spare.

Pollard’s innings was punctuated by three sixes in one critical four-over burst, and it was a spell of scoring that would prove decisive. He saved a fourth for the closing stages of the chase, swinging Doherty over midwicket with such force that the ball clanged off the roof of a stand and bounded out of the ground.

Bravo was run out before the end, the final few runs collected a little nervously, but there was no doubting the importance of his contribution to a West Indian victory that ended a 14-match run without a win against Australia. Though Doherty and Clint McKay bowled diligently for the visitors, they had been given too few runs to defend. The five-match series is now level at one apiece.

The wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh landed the final blows, and with Chris Gayle celebrating in the stands amid speculation of a possible compromise between the former captain and the WICB, the hosts’ prospects for this series looked far brighter than they had on Friday.

Sent in to bat as much because of the threat of that rain as anything else, the tourists slipped to 46 for 3 and lost regular wickets across the innings that staggered to 154 for 9. David Hussey, Watson and George Bailey did their best, but could not find the right gears on a pitch slower and lower than the one for the first match.

Kemar Roach had struck twice in his fourth over, the second after a lengthy rain interruption, and Darren Sammy followed up with the wicket of Australia’s captain Watson. Roach’s display was particularly arresting as he fights to return to the Test team, while Sunil Narine’s spin was tidy and intelligent and earned four wickets.

Powell simply lost his bearings against Lee’s first ball when West Indies chased, letting go a delivery that shaped back a fraction but would still have been much too close to leave even if it had not moved. Watson chimed in with a yorker that Samuels played over, and while the slide from 42 for 1 to 74 for 4 was gradual, it left Australia with what appeared a decent chance of rushing to a 2-0 series lead.

However, Pollard swung the game definitively towards West Indies with a flurry of sixes. He powered three in a matter of minutes to push Watson’s fields back and cause him to change his bowlers, while also making the runs-to-balls ratio more or less irrelevant.

In contrast to Pollard, Bravo played with good sense and few risks, only once leaping down the pitch to loft Doherty over mid-on. In their contrasting approaches, Pollard and Bravo presented Watson and Australia with a union they could not separate before the match’s course had been determined, and it was a joyous celebration by both the home crowd and their players when the target was reached in fading light.

David Warner and Watson had made a steady opening after a brief shower delayed the start, reaching 16 for 0 in five overs. At this point more substantial rain pelted the ground, and sent the players off the field for about 90 minutes. When they returned, Warner was swiftly disposed of, playing back to a Roach delivery that skidded through low and flicked off stump. Next man Peter Forrest was undone simply and quickly, edging a ball of high pace and teasing line to second slip to depart for a duck in the same over.

Roach’s strikes had the hosts buzzing in the field, and when Andre Russell relieved him, Roach had the startling figures of 5-3-4-2. Watson had returned the West Indian fire with a smart six from the bowling of Sammy, but the West Indies captain would have the last laugh when he floated a slower ball that his opposite number chipped to midwicket.

Michael and David Hussey then set about repairing the innings, as Narine’s offbreaks received plenty of assistance from the pitch. The elder Hussey was dropped on eight, a sharp chance from the bowling of Sammy bursting through Pollard’s hands in the gully. The drop was not to prove too expensive, as Narine tossed an off break fractionally fuller than his usual length, prompting a thin edge behind and a neat catch by Carlton Baugh. Bailey again looked at home in international company, but was upset to squander his start by cutting Bravo to backward point.

While Lee scrapped as best he could, adding the second six of the innings with a mighty swipe wide of long-on, Australia’s total looked insubstantial. Thanks to Pollard, it would prove exactly that.

(Information Source: www.espncricinfo.com)

But some fine work by spinner Xavier Doherty, who claimed 4-49, saw the West Indies collapse to be eventually dismissed for just 140 in the 33rd over, with only some late hitting from captain Darren Sammy (35) getting them anywhere near the target.

But despite some impressive captaincy by Shane Watson in just his second match overseeing the Australian team, the tourists know their batting will have to substantially improve over the remaining ODI matches after only two batsmen, George Bailey (48) and Dave Warner (40) made anything close to a half-century.

Watson won the toss and chose to bat, though, with himself and opening partner David Warner posting 31 before the skipper was trapped lbw by Dwayne Bravo for 21.

Peter Forrest (26) and Warner then added another 60 before they were both dismissed in the space of five balls from part-timer Marlon Samuels, and when David Hussey fell cheaply three overs later, the Australians were in danger of squandering their good start.

But Mike Hussey and one-day international debutant Bailey steadied the ship, putting on 63 for the fifth wicket before Hussey fell for 26.

The tourists struggled to get the West Indies bowlers away in the final overs, but Bailey and Dan Christian (18 not out) managed to help lift the score past 200 by the end of the 50 overs.

Dwayne Bravo was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 3-58, while Kemar Roach and Samuels both claimed two scalps.

The West Indies chase got off to a rocky start with Kieran Powell, Johnson Charles and Darren Bravo all falling cheaply within the first 10 overs.

Struggling at 3-33, Dwayne Bravo and Samuels resurrected the West Indies chase with some intelligent batting.

But, just as the pair looked settled at the crease, Christian clean bowled Bravo to spark an almighty collapse, with the hosts losing their next six wickets for just seven runs.

Skipper Sammy swung the bat late in a desperate attempt to claim victory, but Clint McKay had him caught by Christian for 35 as the visitors got their Caribbean tour off to the perfect start.

(Information Source: www.cricket.com.au)

Since then, they have recorded a home victory over England, before triumphing away to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and South Africa.

Most recently Australia came out on top in the triangular home series against India and Sri Lanka, recording a thrilling 16-run win in the final at the Adelaide Oval.

During their streak of ODI dominance, Australian cricket has undergone some considerable changes.

Ricky Ponting has made way for Michael Clarke as captain at Test and 50-over level, and the veteran’s one-day career appears to be over after he was dropped during the triangular series.

Clarke himself will miss the ODI matches in the West Indies as he continues to recover from a back injury, leaving Shane Watson to captain the team in his absence.

A reliable spinner has been uncovered in the form of Nathan Lyon, and he will be assisted by Xavier Doherty in the Caribbean.

Both slow bowlers could well be deployed at what is expected to be a dry pitch at the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground.

As well as Lyon, a host of young batting and bowling talent has been blooded in recent months.

Relative newcomers Matthew Wade and David Warner opened at the top of the order in the triangular series final against Sri Lanka, and could retain their places for this week’s curtain-raiser against the West Indies in St Vincent.

Wade must compete with Brad Haddin for the wicket-keeper’s gloves after the veteran was recalled to the limited-overs squad.

Clint McKay, Daniel Christian and Peter Forrest have been rewarded for the part in the triangular series win with berths on the tour, although the latter has been included primarily as a member of the Twenty20 team.

Forrest’s T20 captain George Bailey and paceman James Pattinson also received the nod.

Pattinson (buttock strain) and Ben Hilfenhaus (virus) are out of the series opener, leaving McKay and Brett Lee as Australia’s two dedicated quicks.

Standing in the tourist’s path is a West Indies side which has only won once in their last six ODI series.

Defeat at home to South Africa in 2010 was followed by a loss in Sri Lanka, and home defeats to Pakistan and India.

The West Indies did manage to see off Bangladesh 2-1 away from home in October last year, but normal service was resumed with a 4-1 loss in India a month later.

The hosts are without regular vice-captain and ODI wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin due to a thumb injury, with Carlton Baugh taking his place.

Other missing regulars include an ill Ravi Rampaul, as well as Lendl Simmons and Adrian Barath, who both have finger injuries.

Dwayne Bravo will return from an ankle problem, and Tino Best is back in the ODI team after a two-year absence.

Fidel Edwards has been dropped by the West Indies selectors, who haven chosen to offer an opportunity to uncapped batsman Johnson Charles.

The return of some familiar faces and the introduction of fresh talent may afford the West Indies a boost as they seek their first ODI home series win since beating Sri Lank in 2008.

And the West Indies can at least take some comfort from their impressive record in St Vincent – they have won 17 of 20 internationals at Arnos Vale, and their last three in succession.

But the hosts will be hard pressed to halt an in-form Australia team, one that has married its 50-over consistency to a considerable resurgence at Test level.

Australia’s new-found strength in depth is also likely to hand the visitors a major advantage ahead of two subsequent T20 matches and three Tests.

(Information Source: www.cricket.com.au)

Warner made 163, the sixth-highest score by an Australia player in an ODI, and he batted through until the last ball of the innings as they made 321, the second-best one-day international total ever achieved at the Gabba. Sri Lanka’s batsmen then struggled against the pace of Brett Lee and the canny spin of David Hussey, and the top order left too much work for those who followed.

Not that those who followed gave up. Far from it. Nuwan Kulasekara and Upul Tharanga came together at 6 for 144, needing another 178 runs at nearly nine an over. It seemed an unrealistic goal, and in the end it was. But only just. They used the batting Powerplay to great effect, taking 68 runs from it and attacking Ben Hilfenhaus and James Pattinson, who both served up too many half-volleys and between them finished the match with 0 for 95 off nine overs.

Though Kulasekara and Tharanga had both fallen in the search for boundaries by the time the last few overs came around, they had left their colleagues with some hope. Sri Lanka needed 20 off the final two overs but they couldn’t quite get there and the end came when Lasith Malinga skied a catch to deep square leg off Shane Watson when they needed 16 from five balls, leaving Dhammika Prasad unbeaten on 31.

Watson had also accounted for the important penultimate wicket when Rangana Herath pulled to deep midwicket for 5. If only, Sri Lanka must have been thinking, we hadn’t left it all up to the tail. With each boundary struck by Kulasekara and Tharanga – and there were plenty – Sri Lanka gained hope. Australia’s bowling at the death in this series has left a lot to be desired and again it was a weakness.

Kulasekara was especially impressive and a pair of consecutive slog-swept sixes off Hussey really brought the crowd alive. But two balls later he sent a catch to extra cover and was out for 73 from 43 deliveries, his best ODI score. Although Tharanga was the specialist batsman in the partnership he had been the quieter of the two, and he followed a few overs later when he holed out to long-on off Watson for 60.

Sri Lanka will rue their top-order struggle. Mahela Jayawardene was caught behind for 14 when he pushed tamely at Lee and his opening partner, Tillakaratne Dilshan, followed in Lee’s next over. Dilshan had picked up five boundaries in his 27 from 22 balls, before his innings ended when Lee nipped one through the gate as Dilshan tried for a big drive.

Dinesh Chandimal cut the first ball from David Hussey, who finished with 4 for 43, to backward point and Kumar Sangakkara lobbed a delivery from Lee to mid-off for 42, trying to lift the tempo as the required run-rate increased. Lahiru Thirimanne and Farveez Maharoof both fell to Hussey prior to the partnership that nearly saved Sri Lanka.

Even though they didn’t steal the win, Tharanga and Kulasekara still created a wonderful match. If anyone thought one-day internationals were dead, they need only see the past week in Australia for the counterargument. On Tuesday, Virat Kohli set up India’s incredible chase of 321 in 37 overs and on Friday, Sri Lanka held on for a tense nine-run win despite the best chasing efforts of David Hussey.

And then there was this match, which began with 163 from Warner, an innings that threatened to be forgotten by the end of the game. He was bowled off the last ball of Australia’s 50th over and by then he had done enough not only to set up Australia’s win, but also to ease any pressure over his place in the side following an indifferent series at the top of the order.

Warner and Matthew Wade gave Australia an outstanding start with a 136-run opening partnership and although Wade fell for 64, Warner went on and made the most of the platform. He brought up his century with a fortuitous edge to the third-man boundary from his 111th delivery and celebrated with the now-familiar Warner high-leap and punch of the air.

It was a more restrained innings than many of Warner’s limited-overs efforts but that was no bad thing, and he still had the confidence to go for his shots when the bowlers gave him the opportunity. Warner was especially strong with his drives down the ground, which were generally timed to perfection, and he also pulled with power from midwicket to long-on.

His scoring-rate didn’t pick up as much as the fans might have liked towards the end of the innings but it was still a wonderful display. He had late support from Michael Clarke, who scored 37 from 25 balls batting at No.6, and Michael Hussey sent a couple of balls over the rope in the final few overs to help Australia to their hefty total.

Michael Hussey had come in at No.7 after a reshuffle in the batting order. Australia had sent in Daniel Christian and David Hussey early, keen to make the most of the strong opening stand, which ended with a spectacular, freakish catch in the outfield from Herath.

Wade seemed to make good contact with a delivery from Kulasekara but it only got as far as long-on; Herath set himself for the catch but seemed to misjudge the trajectory slightly and in a last, desperate attempt thrust his left hand in the air as he fell backwards, plucking the catch one-handed and avoiding the boundary rope as he fell over and held on to the ball. He appeared almost as stunned by his feat as the spectators were.

It wasn’t the last remarkable thing achieved by Sri Lanka in this match. But despite their fight, they will enter Tuesday’s second final in Adelaide needing a win to force a decider. And, after such a closely fought series, that would be a fitting finale.

(Information Source: www.espncricinfo.com)

Short of a bonus-point victory in their final match against Sri Lanka and a subsequent loss to the hosts by Mahela Jayawardene’s flourishing side, India will fly home earlier than desired from an Australia tour that peaked all too early with Rahul Dravid’s Bradman Oration and has disintegrated steadily ever since.

Australia’s stand-in captain Shane Watson compensated for a poor showing with the bat by nipping out Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina, and generally led his team soundly in the field in the absence of the injured Michael Clarke. He had a bonus point victory in front of 33,639 spectators to show for it.

75 overs India 5 for 102 (Jadeja 7*, Dhoni 6*) need another 151 runs v Australia 9 for 252 (Warner 68, Wade 56, D Hussey 54, Sehwag 3-43)
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details

India’s batting cracked under the pressure of a chase of 253 to remain in contention in the triangular series, struggling to 5 for 102 against an alert Australia after 25 overs at the SCG.

Virender Sehwag extended his horrid run on tour by punching a return-catch to Ben Hilfenhaus, Sachin Tendulkar was run-out after a mid-pitch collision with Brett Lee, and Gautam Gambhir battled for fluency then dragged Clint McKay onto the stumps.

Australia’s stand-in captain Shane Watson then nipped out Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina, leaving MS Dhoni with a mighty task if he is to salvage a result for India.

Sehwag’s exit in the second over arrived courtesy of a fine Hilfenhaus take, scooping up a low catch near his ankles. Tendulkar and Gambhir prospered briefly against the new ball, but when the former was called through for a single, both he and Lee ran in more or less the same direction. Lee’s pursuit of the ball ended when he saw David Warner in a better position, and Tendulkar had his path interrupted by the bowler as Warner threw down the stumps.

Kohli again hinted at a decent score, only to be undone when Watson introduced himself into the attack. Following Lee, Watson’s seamers were noticeably slower, and the reduction in pace had Kohli playing too early as he looped a catch to Daniel Christian.

McKay ended Gambhir’s cussed stay, and Watson struck again when he angled the ball across Raina to induce a simple edge to Matthew Wade.
Australia posted an unconvincing 9 for 252 against India in the triangular series ODI at the SCG, and might not have made it that far without a decision to rule David Hussey not out when he appeared to obstruct the field – or handle the ball – early in an innings of 54.

Needing to win in order to have a realistic chance of qualifying for the finals series, India were given a fine start by the intelligent and miserly bowling of Praveen Kumar, whose opening spell of six overs harvested two wickets at a cost of 14 runs, including only one boundary. Umesh Yadav also made a mark with his speed and aggression.

Praveen’s victims included Shane Watson, playing his first international of the summer as Australia’s stand-in captain while Michael Clarke recovers from a flare-up of the back trouble that has been an intermittent problem across his career.

David Warner fared the best of the batsmen, striking his way to 68 from 66 balls before skying Ravindra Jadeja. Suresh Raina claimed the catch despite a heavy collision with Irfan Pathan that left both fielders laid out on the outfield. Matthew Wade and Hussey also chimed in, but the latter was perhaps fortunate to get past 17.

Running a single, Hussey held out his hand to block Suresh Raina’s return from the edge of the fielding circle – whether this was an attempt to simply prevent getting hit was unclear – and MS Dhoni immediately appealed either for handling the ball or the recently changed laws for obstructing the field, which forbid a batsman from changing his running line to intercept a ball headed for the stumps. After a lengthy television consultation the appeal was rejected, much to the consternation of the visitors. They exchanged plenty of words with Hussey when he was dismissed, 37 runs later.

Australia’s early progress had been slow against Praveen’s wiles, though more runs were collected from Pathan at the other end. Watson pulled at a delivery shaping away from him and managed only to spoon a catch to mid-on, while Peter Forrest fell to a slower delivery that he dragged onto the stumps.

Warner’s innings provided the hosts with some momentum, but he lost Michael Hussey due to a running mix-up, and his own bright stay was ended by Jadeja. David Hussey’s reprieve offered him and Wade the chance to regather the innings, which they did well enough in a stand of 94.

Wade’s stay was ended when he steered a swift Yadav delivery into Dhoni’s gloves, before Hussey fell to the same combination, snicking behind in his attempt to pull Yadav from outside off stump. The fact that Hussey appeared to walk did little to soothe India’s frustration about the earlier incident.

Clint McKay was not long in staying before he wafted at Virender Sehwag and was stumped, and late blows from Daniel Christian and Xavier Doherty were not enough to take the total beyond the mediocrity it always seemed likely to be mired in.

Watson made his long-delayed return to the team as captain after Clarke failed to recover in time from back soreness that emerged in Hobart. Australia have now had four captains of the national side in various formats this summer – Clarke, George Bailey, Ricky Ponting and Watson.

In the other change to the team, McKay was recalled for Ryan Harris, who proved expensive with the ball in the loss to Sri Lanka on Friday.

India were able to recall Dhoni after suspension, meaning Parthiv Patel dropped out of the XI that lost to Sri Lanka in Brisbane.

The visitors must win the match to stay in realistic contention for the finals, otherwise relying on bonus points as well as wins to close their gap with Sri Lanka and Australia.

(Information Source: www.espncricinfo.com)

In a tense finish, Sri Lanka appeared to be throwing the match away and after Angelo Mathews holed out for 24 they needed 14 off nine balls with only three wickets in hand. But Thisara Perera took on the responsibility himself and struck a boundary followed by a powerful six over midwicket off Daniel Christian’s next delivery, which left four needed off seven balls. That was no trouble at all, the winning runs coming when Nuwan Kulasekara thumped Brett Lee through cover for four.

It was Sri Lanka’s third consecutive win and they are coming good at the right end of the tournament, after losing their opening two games. They began well with the ball before allowing Australia’s score to balloon to seriously challenging proportions, but Jayawardene’s outstanding 85 at the top of the order gave Sri Lanka the perfect platform.

With six overs remaining, they needed 39 runs with six wickets in hand, and with Chandimal well set on 80, it seemed like only a formality that they would reach the target. But Chandimal was trapped lbw when he tried an ill-judged paddle off Ryan Harris and in the next over, Farveez Maharoof holed out to Ben Hilfenhaus. Lucky for Sri Lanka they had Perera.

The result means Sri Lanka and Australia are now both one match clear of India, and while both sides can still miss out on the finals, they also know that one more win will be enough to guarantee their place. Sri Lanka earned that position by beating the previous best Hobart ODI chase, the 4 for 282 that Australia scored against Zimbabwe in 2001.

Jayawardene gave them their start and was in fine touch after beginning with a couple of edgy boundaries. In the fifth over he put those behind him and took on the pace of Lee, swinging a magnificent six over midwicket from a fast, straight ball that most batsmen would have been content to defend or drive straight. The runs kept flowing for Jayawardene, the dominant partner in a 55-run opening stand.

When Tillakaratne Dilshan pulled a catch to deep midwicket off Hilfehnaus for 3 from nine balls, Jayawardene had already galloped along to 44 from 39 deliveries. The strike evened up during Jayawardene’s partnership with Kumar Sangakkara, who made a run-a-ball 22 before he was caught at point off a leading edge from Christian’s bowling.

Jayawardene had already brought up his fifty with a punchy drive down the ground off Christian from his 45th ball. Jayawardene and Chandimal kept the runs coming during a 63-run partnership that featured some fine strokes, including an excellent cover-drive for four from Jayawardene, who enjoyed using the pace of Lee against him.

But on 85, Jayawardene gave Australia a sniff when he advanced to Xavier Doherty and was beaten by a delivery that turned sharply past his outside edge. Australia needed to follow the stumping with another quick wicket, and instead Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne kept their composure and put on 49, including plenty of singles, as the required run-rate hovered below six an over.

The loss of Thirimanne, who paddled Hilfenhaus to short fine leg for 24, could have hurt Sri Lanka, but ultimately their batting was too strong for Australia. Perhaps if Australia had looked for their runs a little faster through the middle of their innings they could have pushed up towards 300, but it is impossible to criticise Forrest and Michael Clarke for an excellent stand that rescued the side from a wobbly start. The loss of both openers had left Australia at 2 for 27 in the seventh over and consolidation was required.

Especially impressive was the way Forrest batted in his first match at No.3, carrying the pressure of replacing a champion in the position. But in Australia’s first match of the post-Ricky Ponting ODI era they might just have found a man who can fill his spot for some time. Forrest’s hundred was his not only his first for Australia but also in any List A match, and no Australian has scored more in his first four ODIs than Forrest’s tally of 238.

He brought up his century by dropping the ball into the off side and haring off for a quick single from his 136th delivery, and it brought fist-pumps from Forrest and a hug from his partner Michael Hussey. He was caught at deep cover off Mathews in the next over for 104 as he tried to keep the tempo rising and it ended a fine innings, and one that has boosted his chances of winning a place on the Test tour of the West Indies.

He struck 10 fours and two sixes but avoided risks wherever he could, generally preferring to force the ball through gaps instead of over fielders. When he did go for the aerial route it nearly brought about his downfall – he was lucky deep midwicket was a couple of paces wide of where one shot landed. A cover-driven boundary off Kulasekara was especially impressive, zipping off the bat with speed and perfect placement.

For much of his innings, Forrest had the support of Clarke during a 154-run stand. The partnership ended when Clarke lifted Mathews to deep midwicket and was well taken by a tumbling Perera. Clarke had played well for his 72 from 79 balls, including two sixes over midwicket, one a fearsome, flat pull early in his innings off Maharoof, who had been impressive early.

Maharoof had claimed David Warner caught behind for 7 after Matthew Wade lobbed a catch to mid-off to give Sri Lanka a strong start. In the end, the Clarke-Forrest partnership and some valuable late runs from David Hussey (40 not out off 28 balls), Michael Hussey (21) and Lee (20 not out) helped Australia to a strong total.

It wasn’t enough for Australia, but it has kept all three sides in the race for the finals. And it has made Sri Lanka clearly the form team in the tournament.

(Information Source: www.espncricinfo.com)

Hilfenhaus was the pick of the bowlers across both sides and indisputable man-of-the-match, keeping up his hot summer against the Indians with game-best figures of 5-33.

Australia’s win takes them to 14 points, while India remain in second on 10 and Sri Lanka round out the field with seven.

Australia’s imposing total was the product of an all-round batting performance, as openers David Warner (43) and Matt Wade (45) set a platform, middle-order pair Peter Forrest (52) and Michael Hussey (59) combined in a 100-run partnership to ensure a competitive total, and David Hussey (26 not out) and Dan Christian (30 not out) teed off at the death to bring the score to 5-288.

Xavier Doherty was super tight with 0-29 from his 10, while Lee was sensational in his first two spells, before seeing his figures blow out when Dhoni opened the shoulders in the batting power-play.

In one of the few low points for the hosts, stand-in skipper Ricky Ponting continued his lean run, falling for seven in his fifth-straight single-figure innings in the tournament.

Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar was equally disappointing, managing three scratchy runs in an entirely unconvincing performance at the top of the order.

For the Indian bowling attack, Pathan enjoyed the most success, taking three wickets to justify an economy rate of more than six an over.

Floundering at 5-89 at the halfway point of their innings, the Indian objective was officially rendered a lost cause when Ravindra Jadeja was brilliantly caught by Peter Forrest, running in from deep extra cover to take the skier between a host of scrambling teammates.

The Indians took their batting power play at the beginning of the 35th over and Dhoni took advantage, launching Lee’s second delivery deep into the stands and powering the next through Dan Christian’s hands at mid-off and on to the boundary to bring up his half-ton.

With 15 overs remaining and the visitors facing an asking rate of more than 10 runs per over, the death blow was eventually delivered by Hilfenhaus, with Christian plucking Dhoni at mid-on to repay his earlier drop off the Indian skipper.

Hilfenhaus and Lee came together to clean up the tail in the same fashion exhibited in their destruction of the top.

(Information Source: www.cricket.com.au)

And it’s the batting department in which the Aussies will need to lift. After four matches there still hasn’t been an Australian reach triple figures and the team’s best collective effort was there 269-run total in a four-wicket loss to India.

David Hussey has been exceptional in the middle order, leading the competition for runs scored (218) and average (72.67), all the while maintaining a strike-rate of more than a run a ball.

But there hasn’t been a lot of other batting success to celebrate. New boys Matthew Wade and Peter Forrest have played some promising knocks, but consistency has been lacking throughout the top order.

Following the loss to Sri Lanka, Ponting was hoping his side would learn a lesson and then move on quickly for their next big test.

(Information Source:www.cricket.com.au)

“We needed to bounce back pretty strongly from our last performance…  I had a really good feeling going into the game that we’d be able to get some momentum going in this one-day series again and we just had a really poor day, bat, ball and in the field,” he said.

“The bottom line is we’re going to have to move on pretty quick.”

“We know we travel on Saturday and play again on Sunday against a good Indian team so we just have to learn whatever we can from the game and move on pretty quickly.”

For the Indians, the runs have been coming a little more freely. With two wins and a tie to show from their first four starts, a lot of the credit should fall on opening dasher Gautam Gambhir, who has led the way with two 90s.

Captain MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli have both patches of form, and both will be motivated for any clash with the Australians.

With the host nation struggling with conditions fumbling to 158 all out against the Sri Lankans on Friday, the return to a likely fast and bouncing Gabba track will provide serious encouragement.

Consistently voted at the top of cricket wickets in the country, there will be value for shots, but more than enough spark to extract for the in-form seam bowlers in both sides.

Victorian Clint McKay and India’s medium-pace surprise package Vinay Kumar are joint leading wicket-takers in the competition, taking their poles at averages of 16.22 and 20.11, respectively.

National Selector John Inverarity said: “Michael Clarke will not be considered for the ODI in Sydney this Friday due to a low-grade hamstring strain. The medical staff are hopeful that Michael will be fit to play in Brisbane on Sunday. Hence he has been included in the squad.

“Some players are showing signs of fatigue after a demanding summer in which the Australian team has played with great intensity and purpose and performed with distinction.

The National Selection Panel (NSP) has omitted Ryan Harris for this reason and for the fact that he is carrying some minor niggles.

The NSP has refreshed the squad with the inclusion of Brett Lee and Ben Hilfenhaus.

Brett is making a good recovery from his toe injury and will be given rigorous fitness tests before Friday’s ODI fixture.

As expected Michael Hussey returns to the squad.

“After careful consideration the NSP has asked Ricky Ponting if he would captain the Australian ODI team in Michael Clarke’s absence.

David Warner is a young player making his way.

He displays considerable leadership potential, but the NSP is of the view that he should not, at this moment, have the added responsibility of captaincy thrust on him.

David has been gaining valuable experience under Michael Clarke’s captaincy and now he will have the opportunity to grow his leadership skills further as vice-captain to Ricky Ponting.

In making this decision the NSP reminded itself of the fact that Ricky Ponting led the winning Australian ICC Cricket World Cup teams in 2003 and 2007.

The NSP appreciates the fact that Ricky is prepared to accept this responsibility in the wider interests of the team.

“The NSP looks forward to Shane Watson playing in the forthcoming Bupa Shield match and proving his fitness.”

Commenting on Shane Watson, Australia Physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said:

“Shane played a Grade cricket game in Sydney on Saturday.

He batted and bowled in that game without any issue and will be available for consideration for selection for a Bupa Shield game in Perth later this week as he continues his return from injury.”

(Information Source: www.cricket.com.au)