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The Ashes Thread
Topic Started: Nov 10 2006, 01:56 PM (4,473 Views)
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3rd Test starts tomorrow!

Starts: 0230 UK, 1030 Perth, 1230 Eastern Australia, 9pm USA time

"BBC Sport"
 

England face the massive task of trying to bowl out Australia twice on what could be a flat wicket when the third Test starts in Perth on Thursday.

The Waca is England's least successful hunting ground in Australia, where they have won just once in 10 attempts.

But while a draw would not see them relinquish the Ashes, they would then need to win both the final two Tests to hang onto the urn they won in 2005.

England have refused to rule out the possibility of another unchanged side.

The pressure to unleash their most talented spin bowler Monty Panesar - either as a direct replacement for Ashley Giles or instead of James Anderson - has reached fever pitch.

But England do not tend to give clues about team selection on the eve of a Test and captain Andrew Flintoff has played a dead bat to questions on the issue.

He told BBC Radio Five Live: "All the lads have staked a claim to play in this Test.

"It's been intense. The bowlers are running in, bowling quick. We will sit down, myself the coach and the management, and bounce ideas around.

"But we can't have a knee-jerk reaction. The side perfomed well in the last game and are a fine bunch of players."

Flintoff suggested a siege mentality when asked about the rumours of a split in the camp.

He said: "I've not bought a newspaper for the past week and a half or so.

"We can't control what's been written in the media. We're just doing our job to the best of our ability.

"I'm learning. When you lose games of cricket there is criticism flying around and I am prepared to take my share of criticism."

Following his team's debacle on the last day at Adelaide, the England captain is acutely aware of the need for his side to keep their finger on the pulse at all times.

He said: "We've got to play well for five days. Within Test matches there are times when you can gain an initiative and it's about driving that initiative home.

"It's a case of getting on a roll, taking a few wickets and applying some pressure."

Whether the pitch - not expected to offer the pace of Waca tracks of old - will allow his attack to work wonders remains to be seen.

The prevailing afternoon breeze - the 'Fremantle Doctor' - could assist swing bowlers and there has been talk that there will be some assistance for spinners throughout.

But the wicket is unlikely to deteriorate unduly.

Ricky Ponting has finalised his side with the all-rounder Andrew Symonds replacing the retired Damien Martyn.

But he is worried about the pitch.

He said: "I've spoken for the last three or four years now about how a lot of our wickets and grounds seem to losing a lot of their character.

"The beauty of Australia is how you get contrasting conditions in different states.

"What I don't want is to have all the grounds losing their character and becoming very, very similar. It's not good for the game I don't think."

After his inspection of the Test wicket, he said: "There is a bit more moisture in it than most times here so it might be a bit slow the first morning.

"But I think it will harden up reasonably quickly. There might be some bounce."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Australia: Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (capt.), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist (wkt), Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Glenn McGrath.

England (from): Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff (capt.), Geraint Jones (wkt), Ashley Giles, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, James Anderson, Sajid Mahmood, Monty Panesar.


Please play Monty :notworthy:
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3rd Test :: Day 1 :: Perth

Australia: 244ao
England: 51-2


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"BBC Sport"
 

Monty Panesar became the first English spinner to take a five-wicket haul in Perth as England grabbed the initiative in the third Ashes Test.

He made a dream start to his Ashes career, taking 5-92 off 24 overs as Australia were bowled out for 244.

But Australia hit back before the close, taking two wickets as England ended the day on 51-2.

On a pitch traditionally favouring fast bowlers Panesar shone, although Steve Harmison chipped in with 4-48.

Mike Hussey was the pick of the Australia batsmen but was left stranded on 74 not out.

After England's early stumble, Paul Collingwood went to stumps 10 not out, with Andrew Strauss unbeaten on 24.

Panesar dismissed Justin Langer (37), Andrew Symonds (26), Adam Gilchrist for a duck, Shane Warne (25) and Brett Lee for 10.

The Sikh of Tweak, as he has become known in newspaper headlines, was selected ahead of Ashley Giles after being left on the sidelines for the first two games.

But the signs at first were looking ominous for the tourists at the Waca in a match they must at least draw to keep their Ashes defence alive.

They lost the toss and Australia's openers Langer and Matthew Hayden hit a flurry of boundaries to get off to a flying start.

But just as a decent opening partnership was gathering pace England struck back.

Hayden, who has been struggling for runs in this series, succumbed to Matthew Hoggard for the second time and nicked an outside edge to wicket-keeper Geraint Jones. 

Harmison was denied the new ball by captain Andrew Flintoff but looked back to his best when he came into the attack as first change.

Ponting was averaging 149 with the bat after the first two Tests but he lasted just 11 balls as he was trapped playing across the line, falling lbw for two.

The run-rate quickly dried up for Australia and it could have been worse as Langer nicked Harmison to Flintoff at slip, but the England captain could only get one hand on the ball as he dived forward.

Flintoff brought Panesar on in the 23rd over, just before lunch, for his first taste of Ashes cricket and there was rapturous applause from the Perth crowd.

His first over was a maiden and then he struck with the first ball of his second over when Langer, attempting a forward defence shot, left a gap and his bails flew off to the delight of an ecstatic Panesar and England.

Clarke and Hussey were in no mood to surrender easily, putting on 51 runs for the fourth wicket and both looked in good touch against whatever England threw at them. 

But just as Clarke was nearing a sixth Test fifty, Harmison hoodwinked him with a ball of extra pace and he mis-cued it straight back to the bowler.

Andrew Symonds, brought into the side following the retirement of Damien Martyn, signalled his intentions when he smashed Panesar for two sixes and a four in one over.

But Panesar had the last laugh when Symonds top-edged an attempted cut to Jones, who took the catch at the second attempt.

And his day got even better when a great catch by Ian Bell at short-leg sent Adam Gilchrist back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

Shane Warne was his next victim when he feathered a catch to Jones for 25 and Panesar completed the third five-wicket haul of his fledging 11-match Test career by dismissing Brett Lee lbw for 10.

In reply, England got off to a bright start before Glenn McGrath struck in the sixth over when Alastair Cook tried to cover-drive but instead found Langer in the gully region.

Brett Lee then bowled a beauty to Ian Bell, who nicked it behind for a duck.

England survived when a nervy Collingwood edged Stuart Clark to the slips while on four, but Shane Warne spilled the catch.

England's double centurion from the second Test breathed a sigh of relief and lived to face another day.


Scorecard

Australia: M L Hayden, J L Langer, R T Ponting, M E K Hussey, M J Clarke, A C Gilchrist, A Symonds, S K Warne, B Lee, S R Clark, G D McGrath
England: A J Strauss, A N Cook, I R Bell, P D Collingwood, A Flintoff, K P Pietersen, G O Jones, M S Panesar :notworthy: , M J Hoggard, S J Harmison, S I Mahmood

The big question - why didn't they play Monty in the first place? :lol: He got more wickets in a day than Giles has done all series! :P

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3rd Test :: Day 2 :: Perth

Australia: 244 and 119-1
England: 215


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"BBC Sport"
 

England's grip on the Ashes urn appeared to be slipping away after Australia ended day two of the Perth Test on 119-1 - a lead of 148.

England need to at least draw the third Test to keep their defence of the Ashes alive after losing the first two games.

But they were dismissed for only 215, despite Kevin Pietersen making 70 and Monty Panesar and Steve Harmison adding 40 for the final wicket.

At the close, Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden were both on 57 for Australia.

Matthew Hoggard had given England hope when he found some inswing to dislodge Justin Langer's middle stump and send him on his way for a first-ball duck.

But their joy was short-lived as Hayden and Ponting looked increasingly assured at the crease after a couple of uncomfortable moments for Ponting when umpire Rudi Koertzen turned down confident lbw appeals.

Ponting, who is averaging more than 100 in the series, registered his 36th Test fifty and Hayden, whose place in the side had been under threat, chipped in with his 27th half-century.

Overall, it was a hugely disappointing day for England, who had been hoping to build a substantial first innings lead after bowling Australia out for 244.

They resumed on 51-2 but Australia's seamers made life very difficult for Paul Collingwood and Andrew Strauss and sure enough the breakthrough did not take long in coming.

In the fourth over of the morning Collingwood, on 11, was enticed into a loose shot by Glenn McGrath and the chance was snaffled by Hayden at gully.

The onus was then on Strauss and Pietersen but just as they were beginning to look comfortable at the crease, luck turned against them.

After moving on to 42, his highest score of the series, with a glorious four, Strauss was adjudged to have edged behind off Stuart Clark.

He seemed shocked to see umpire Rudi Koertzen raise his finger and replays showed no apparent contact between bat and ball.

It was the second time in successive Tests he had been on the wrong end of a decision, having been given out caught off Shane Warne in Adelaide when the ball came off his pad.

England were reeling on 82-4 and the wave of unease continued as captain Andrew Flintoff failed once again, caught by Warne in the slips off medium-pacer Andrew Symonds for 13.

Geraint Jones then lasted all of four balls for the first duck of his Test career in his 52nd innings, which had been a world record, and there was no excuse for his sloppy shot off Symonds which was caught by Justin Langer, sending England in to lunch at 122-6.

Symonds, playing in his first Test of the series after the retirement of Damien Martyn, was delighted with his four over spell which yielded two wickets and cost just eight runs.

And England's decline continued soon after lunch when Sajid Mahmood, batting at number eight, top-edged an attempted cut off Clark to the keeper and went for 10.

Matthew Hoggard hung around with Pietersen for 47 minutes as they added 27 for the eighth wicket and it gave Pietersen the chance to record his eighth Test fifty.

Hoggard was eventually fooled by a leg-break from Warne and was taken at slip by Hayden after making four off 39 balls.

Pietersen was dropped by McGrath on 53 but paid the price for another heave-ho when Symonds took a catch in the deep to give Brett Lee his second wicket of the innings.

Then came the fun and games from Harmison and Panesar, who smashed everything Australia could throw at them in the highest partnership of England's innings.

Harmison finally went for 23, leaving Panesar stranded on 16 not out, as Clark struck again to finish with 3-49.

The final session was all Australia after the shock of losing Langer and by the time Hayden glanced the last ball of play to the fine-leg boundary, it looked as the title of Ashes holders which England won only 15 months ago would be short-lived.


Seeing Monty Panesar hit a four off Warne was great to see :lol: (and so was Hoggard's first ball wicket - getting Langer out :)2)
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Nice one from Monty.
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3rd Test :: Day 3 :: Perth

Australia: 244 and 527-5d
England: 215 and 19-1


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"BBC Sport"
 

Adam Gilchrist scored the second fastest Test century in history as Australia took total command of the third Ashes Test at the Waca.

He reached his ton in 57 balls, one behind Viv Richards' 20-year-old record as Australia declared on 527-5, a lead of 556, on day three in Perth.

Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey also completed centuries as Australia moved closer to regaining the Ashes.

In reply, England were 19-1 at stumps with Andrew Strauss out lbw for a duck.

Gilchrist, who finished unbeaten on 102, set a series of records as he raced to his 17th Test hundred in spectacular fashion, with 12 fours and four towering sixes.

The wicket-keeper equalled Graham Thorpe's record for the fastest Ashes fifty when he reached the milestone off just 40 balls.

The 35-year-old also set a record for the most runs off a single six-ball Ashes over when he plundered 0-2-6-6-4-6 off spinner Monty Panesar.

Gilchrist said afterwards he did not know about the details of Richards' record, but his stunning 98-minute display was almost enough to eclipse it.

His innings overshadowed the achievements of his fellow batsmen.

Hussey hit his first Test ton on his home ground and Clarke completed an accomplished fourth Test hundred, finishing unbeaten on 135 off just 164 balls.

Earlier, Matthew Hayden (92) and Ricky Ponting (75) narrowly missed out on centuries as England's attack was taken apart.

The Australians amassed 408 runs in the day off just 66 overs to leave England needing to bat out two days - or score a record 557 - to keep the defence of their Ashes crown alive.

And the tourists were up against it from the start of their reply when Strauss was deemed out lbw to a rising Brett Lee delivery by umpire Rudi Koertzen.

It was the second time in the match that Strauss had been out to a dubious decision and it came after the umpires had turned down some good shouts for lbw in the Australia innings.

Although the bowling figures make ugly reading for England, they actually bowled pretty well for most of the day.

Hussey batted beautifully but had luck on his side at times before being caught behind off Panesar for 103 on the stroke of tea.

Most significantly, on 15, he was ajudged not out when England appealed for a bat-pad catch off Panesar.

Koertzen deemed the ball had only flicked his pads, although replays showed there was probably a bit of bat too.

Hussey had another life when he skied a shot while reaching his half-century but Geraint Jones, sprinting towards square-leg, could only get his finger tips to the ball.

Strauss also dropped a difficult chance at first slip when Hussey edged the new ball.

Australia began day three on 119-1, a lead of 148.

Steve Harmison gave the tourists early hope in the sixth over of the day when he dismissed Ponting for 75 thanks to a catch by Jones.

Hayden, who also had the benefit of a close lbw decision, was furious with himself when he departed eight runs short of his century, a great catch by Paul Collingwood at slip off Panesar ending his innings.

But by then he had added 62 for the third wicket with Hussey and Australia at 206-3 were already in position to put the match out of England's reach.

The next partnership was the most significant, Hussey and Clarke adding 151 as England suffered in the hottest conditions of the series.

After removing Hussey just before tea, Panesar struck for his third wicket of the innings - and eighth of the match - soon after the interval.

Andrew Symonds gave Collingwood another slip catch - but there were to be no further wickets for England as Gilchrist ran riot.


Scorecard

England will need to get a world record for a run chase to win this match...

Giles returns home...

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"BBC Sport"
 

Ashley Giles is returning from England's Ashes tour of Australia to be with his wife, Stine, who has been diagnosed as suffering a brain tumour.
The Warwickshire left-arm spinner will be replaced in the squad by Middlesex off-spinner Jamie Dalrymple, already in Australia with the Academy squad.

England coach Duncan Fletcher said: "This is very distressing news.

"The thoughts of all the players and management are with Ashley and Stine at such a difficult time."

Stine is a Norwegian by birth and the couple have a boy and a girl, Anders and Mathilde.

Fletcher went on: "It is typical of Ashley that he has dealt with this in such a professional manner, and we wish Stine a speedy recovery."

Fletcher stressed how impressed he has been by Giles' attitude in such trying circumstances.

"It's very difficult for him - especially knowing the man because he's a real professional cricketer," he said of the man who was dropped for the Perth Test in favour of Monty Panesar.

"I've been involved with England for seven years and I rate him as probably the most professional cricketer I've dealt with in England."

Giles returned to the England squad just in time for this winter's Ashes series, having spent almost a year on the sidelines because of hip and groin injuries.

"To come back and take the flak he did and suddenly get this news must be very hard," added Fletcher.

"He handled it very well. When he left on Friday night we just wished him well - and we hope everything turns out fine for the family."

Colin Povey, chief executive of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, said: "The club have offered Ash and Stine all the help and support they need to get through this difficult time."

The player is due to get back to his home, in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, tomorrow.

He is not expected to return to the squad in time for the final Test in Sydney, in January.
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3rd Test :: Day 4 :: Perth

Australia: 244 and 527-5d
England: 215 and 265-5


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"BBC Sport"
 

England's Alastair Cook hit a defiant first Ashes century but Australia still look set to regain the Ashes after two wickets fell late on day four in Perth.

Cook batted heroically but finally went for 116 and then nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard was out for a duck in the same Glenn McGrath over at the Waca.

England closed the day on 265-5, still needing 292 for a world record victory.

Earlier, Ian Bell and Cook had put on 170 before Bell fell for 87 just before tea and Paul Collingwood went for five. 

Cook and Kevin Pietersen looked as though they were going to see out the final session and set up an amazing final day as England dared to believe they could pull off the impossible and win the match.

But veteran McGrath had other ideas with just three overs left.

He tempted a tired Cook to play at a ball just outside the off-stump and the left-hander edged it to wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist to depart after occupying the crease for six and a half hours.

Hoggard lasted just two balls before McGrath bowled him for a duck with a yorker, forcing captain Andrew Flintoff to the crease.

And he endured a nervy two overs, but he reached stumps two not out with Pietersen unbeaten on 37.

Having battled so hard for most of the day, it was disappointing the loss of the late wickets probably meant England would not be able to stave off defeat.

Cook, playing his 12th Test, was already the first England player to score three tons before his 22nd birthday - now he made it four.

But that certainly was not on his mind when he and Bell had resumed England's innings on 19-1.

They were well aware it was time at the crease rather than chasing runs that was needed if England were to keep alive their hopes of retaining the Ashes.

They survived nearly two sessions with a mixture of blocking and playing aggressive shots off the poorer deliveries.

Stuart Clark, who has been Australia's best bowler in the series, forced Bell into his first false shot which was edged just short of the slip cordon.

Bell looked more assured than Cook facing leg-spinner Shane Warne and they easily surpassed England's previous highest second-wicket partnership of the series, a paltry 38.

Australia grew increasingly annoyed after lunch.

By mid-afternoon they had resorted to bully-boy appealing tactics, Warne especially.

He bowled all session from the North end, but umpire Rudi Koertzen stood his ground, justifiably so according to television replays.

Bell had a let-off on 73 when he edged Brett Lee behind but Gilchrist uncharacteristically failed to keep hold.

However, Bell's gallant innings was soon over when Warne finally got his man, his 696th Test victim, Justin Langer taking a regulation catch at short extra cover off a loose drive.

Bell had occupied the crease for 234 minutes, hitting eight fours and two sixes.

The wicket visibly lifted Australia but set England hearts fluttering just as they were starting to think the unthinkable could happen.

The belief in successfully chasing down the biggest total started to wane when Collingwood went in the final session.

He had never looked comfortable at the crease and was out for five off 36 balls feathering a Clark off-cutter to Gilchrist.

And brilliant bowling by Australia in the final 15 minutes swung it back in the hosts' favour as they attempted to win the Ashes back at the earliest opportunity.


Scorecard
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3rd Test :: Day 5 :: Perth

Australia: 244 and 527-5d
England: 215 and 350

Australia win by 206 runs - and win the Ashes


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"BBC Sport"
 

Australia have recaptured the Ashes after bowling England out for 350 on the final day of the Perth Test.

They won the match by 206 runs for a 3-0 lead in the series to regain the Urn at the earliest opportunity after England had held them for 463 days.

Shane Warne took four wickets in the second innings to take his Test career total to a record 699 scalps.

Kevin Pietersen was the last man standing on 60 not out while Andrew Flintoff hit a 64-ball 51.

But as soon as the England captain was bowled by Warne after 90 entertaining minutes at the crease, the writing was on the wall.

Wicket-keeper Geraint Jones, picked ahead of Chris Read because of his perceived batting prowess, had never failed to get off the mark in 51 Test innings but he recorded his first ever duck in the first innings.

And it went from bad to worse for him when he was run-out by the quick-thinking Ricky Ponting without troubling the scorers again as the rest of the Australian team were appealing for an lbw decision.

Australia celebrated the needless dismissal and with England on 336-7 they scented the Ashes, out of their possession for just 15 months, would be returning very soon.

Sajid Mahmood lasted 10 balls and hit four before succumbing plumb lbw to Stuart Clark and then Steve Harmison fell in the same fashion, this time to Warne.

Monty Panesar survived until lunch but was only delaying the inevitable and two balls after the break he was bowled by Warne to signal the end of England's short-lived reign as Ashes holders.

It sparked wild scenes of jubilation by Australia who had been ruthless in plotting their Ashes revenge after the 2-1 loss in 2005.

England knew it would take a miracle for them to survive the final day after resuming on 265-5 and needing a record 557 to win.

But after a nervous start by the tourists it was Australia's turn to get twitchy as Flintoff decided to fight fire with fire.

He smashed three successive fours off one Clark over and hit Brett Lee for 13 in another and then launched him over midwicket for six.

Pietersen had been subdued compared to the belligerent Flintoff and survived a run-out by the skin of his teeth on 46 when Mike Hussey hit the stumps from close range.

It took TV umpire Steve Davis an age but he gave the batsman the benefit of the doubt and Pietersen and England breathed a sigh of relief.

He brought up his eighth Test fifty in 128 balls and minutes later Flintoff reached his half-century in half the deliveries.

The pair had batted for an hour and a half and England fans started to believe the impossible was possible in reaching the world record 557 to win - but spin wizard Shane Warne had other ideas.

Flintoff, driving, was yorked to leave England on 336-6 - and an out-of-form Jones headed to the crease.

Brilliant work by Ponting at silly point led to his second duck of the match and his Test career is left hanging by a thread.

Pietersen was left helpless at the other end as the tail caved in to Warne and Clark, but he has the consolation of a series average of 79.60, with 398 runs in all.

After being 336-6, England lost the last five wickets - and the Ashes - for 14 runs.


Scorecard

Flintoff hopes to avoid whitewash...
Ponting delight at series triumph...
*Fletcher position to be reviewed*

Oh well.
England's next match is the 4th Test, in Melbourne, which starts on Boxing Day.

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We were crap, missing Trescothick, he's a rock, I mean Cook is a good player, but you can't rely on him not to get out quickly, and Flintoff can't do it all on his own.
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Australia the same for Melbourne

"ICC-cricket.com - which got it from cricinfo.com"
 

Andrew Symonds has retained his place in Australia's squad despite a lean game with the bat at Perth after Australia named an unchanged line-up for the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne. Rather than choosing a 13-man outfit, Australia have selected the same 11 who won the third Test plus Mitchell Johnson, who was 12th man.

Symonds managed scores of only 26 and 2 at Perth but picked up two handy wickets in England's first innings. His cause was helped when Shane Watson re-injured his hamstring three overs into his return to bowling in Queensland's Pura Cup match on Saturday, putting him out of contention. The selectors decided against tampering with the group that regained the Ashes, despite several other batsmen pushing strong cases for selection.

Among those overlooked were the two leading run-scorers in the Pura Cup in 2006-07, Western Australia's Chris Rogers and Victoria's Brad Hodge, who has missed out on the chance to play his second Test at his home ground. Adam Voges, who was in Australia's original 13-man squad for the Perth Test, has also been left out.

Australia squad Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark, Glenn McGrath.


Warne tipped to end Test career

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Australia legend Shane Warne looks poised to announce he will retire from international cricket after the Ashes.
Test cricket's top wicket-taker will confirm his decision on Thursday, TV station Channel Nine said.

Warne is one wicket away from becoming the first bowler in Test history to claim 700 wickets, with the fourth Test starting on 26 December.

Hampshire are still confident the spinner will captain the county for the remaining two years of his contract.

Warne first played for Hampshire in 2000 and has been captained the side for two years.

"He is under contract for a further two years at Hampshire through to September 2008," said a Hampshire spokesman.

"At this time we anticipate his return to continue his career with here at Hampshire."

Cricket Australia said it did yet not have plans for a Warne news conference.

Some reports also suggested fast bowler Glenn McGrath would follow Warne into retirement.

Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said: "There is nothing we can say. Those two players are the masters of their own destiny and the owners of their own futures and when they announce decisions on their futures is up to them."

Warne said in his column in Sydney's Daily Telegraph on Wednesday that he had no plans to quit.

But the Sydney Morning Herald claimed he was retiring and the Daily Telegraph subsequently carried the reports on its website.

Warne's Hampshire team-mate Shaun Udal said he had not heard from the Australian great but hoped the retirement would only be from the international game.

"If this is true, I would love to see him finish the next two or three years with Hampshire," said Udal.

"But I'm sure Warnie will go out in his own inimitable style."

The fourth Ashes Test takes place on Warne's home turf, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and is expected to break the previous attendance records of 90,800 for a single day and 350,354 for the whole match.

Warne, who was named one of Wisden's five cricketers of the century in 2000, became the first ever bowler to reach 600 wickets during the 2005 Ashes series.

He has 25 more Test scalps than his nearest rival, Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan, although he has played 33 more games. McGrath is next in line with 555.

Warne has played 143 Tests since his debut against India in 1992.

It was not until 1993 that Warne was considered world class, when his first ball in an Ashes series bamboozled England's Mike Gatting at Old Trafford.

His best figures came against England in Brisbane in 1994, when he took 8-71 and he has 186 English wickets in 34 Ashes Tests, including 40 wickets in the 2005 series.
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Vaughan set for one-day comeback

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Michael Vaughan is expected to be named in England's one-day squad on Thursday for the series following the Ashes.
The 16-man squad will be announced on the ECB website at 0730 GMT, with Mike Yardy and Stuart Broad likely to be brought in to the Ashes tour group.

Vaughan, who is recovering from a long-term knee problem, could take the captaincy back from Andrew Flintoff.

But coach Duncan Fletcher said: "The guys have been happy with Flintoff; we will take that into consideration."

The Commonwealth Bank Series, which begins on 12 January, also features New Zealand and is the last one-day tournament before the World Cup.

Vaughan has not played at the top level for England since the third Test against Pakistan in Lahore 13 months ago.

He has a modest one-day record, averaging 28.36 with the bat, and his last limited-overs appearance for England was against Australia in July last year.

The 32-year-old has been returning to fitness with the England Academy group in Perth, where he lasted 32 balls for 14 in his latest comeback match.

He had made a duck and nine in his two previous appearances and did not bat in the two-day game England played against Western Australia.

Fletcher said: "Vaughan has been training with [fitness trainer] Nigel Stockill and he is moving around very freely.

"In fact, he says he hasn't felt so good for some time."


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For news about Shane Warne's possible retirement, look at the post above ^
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Official: Warne to retire

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Australia's star spinner Shane Warne has announced he will retire from international cricket after the Ashes.
Warne, 37, is one wicket away from becoming the first bowler in Test history to claim 700 wickets, with the fourth Test starting on 26 December.

"I'd like to go out on top. I want to go out on my terms, I'd like to think I've earned that right," Warne said.

He said he would complete the final two years of his contract with county side Hampshire but will quit state cricket.

Warne is expected to take up a post as television commentator with Australia's Channel Nine.

Speaking at a packed media conference he revealed he would have retired in 2005 had Australia won the Ashes in England.

"There was a burning ambition in the team to win the Ashes back. I saw how much we all hurt after that," he said.

"It was a mission of mine no matter how long it took to get that urn back, no matter how long it took.

"I think you can tell by the way we've played this series and the way I've gone out there and bowled that I've been pretty determined."

Although he confirmed he would finish his contract with Hampshire, Warne said that he would cease playing for Victoria and club side St Kilda in Melbourne.

Some reports have suggested fast bowler Glenn McGrath might follow Warne into retirement.

The fourth Ashes Test takes place on Warne's home turf, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and is expected to break the previous attendance records of 90,800 for a single day and 350,354 for the whole match.

The fifth and final Test begins in Sydney on 2 January.

Warne, who was named one of Wisden's five cricketers of the century in 2000, became the first ever bowler to reach 600 wickets during the 2005 Ashes series.

He has 25 more Test scalps than his nearest rival, Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan, although he has played 33 more games. McGrath is next in line with 555.

Warne has played 143 Tests since his debut against India in 1992.

It was not until 1993 that Warne was considered world class, when his first ball in an Ashes series bamboozled England's Mike Gatting at Old Trafford.

His best figures came against England in Brisbane in 1994, when he took 8-71 and he has 186 English wickets in 34 Ashes Tests, including 40 wickets in the 2005 series.

Warne is considered one of the finest leaders never to captain Australia but off-field distractions played a part as he was passed over for the job.

Despite his many brushes with authority, though, Warne insisted he has no regrets about his illustrious career.

"You go through various ups and downs but I never dreamt my cricket career could go as well as it has," he said.

"I've played with some once-in-a-generation players and we've achieved some special things."

He named Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar as his toughest opponents and this month's Test victory over England in Adelaide as a career highlight.
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England ODI squad announced - Harmison retires

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"BBC Sport"
 

England bowler Steve Harmison has announced his retirement from one-day internationals three months before the start of the World Cup.
Harmison, 28, was left out of the 16-man squad to take on Australia and New Zealand next month.

Michael Vaughan will return from injury, while spinner Monty Panesar is in line to make his one-day debut.

Leicestershire wicket-keeper Paul Nixon, 36, is back-up to Chris Read with Geraint Jones left out.

The Commonwealth Bank Series, which begins on 12 January, is the last one-day tournament before the World Cup in the Caribbean.

England will name a one-day captain once the Ashes Test series is over, with Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff two contenders.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said: "Michael Vaughan has been included in the one-day squad subject to fitness.

"He has made excellent progress with his recovery from injury.

"But we feel that it would not be appropriate to announce the captaincy of the one-day side at this stage and will delay any announcement until after the Test series." 

Vaughan has not played at the top level for England since the third Test against Pakistan in Lahore 13 months ago and has since undergone surgery twice on his right knee.

Harmison, who has played 46 ODIs since 2002, has struggled to replicate his Test form in 50-over cricket.

Besides Harmison, Rikki Clarke and Michael Yardy are the other squad members from October's ICC Champions Trophy in India to be omitted.

Tremlett's inclusion means there is no place for Stuart Broad, who was widely expected to be called into the squad.

Panesar has been rewarded for an impressive Ashes Test debut, when he took eight wickets in Perth. 

"Chris Tremlett has made great progress this winter - he impressed the Academy management during their training camp in Perth," Graveney explained.

"We believe he has the physical attributes required to be a real threat on Australian pitches in this one-day series.

"Monty Panesar's experience of one-day cricket is limited but he has shown that he is comfortable on the international stage.

"We view his selection as a bold, attacking move which will strengthen our ability to take wickets."

Nixon will be part of an England squad for the first time since England toured Sri Lanka under Nasser Hussain in 2000-01.

"Marcus Trescothick has acted as reserve wicket-keeper on previous tours but, as he is unavailable, we have decided to include two wicket-keepers in this squad," Graveney added.

"Paul has been very successful with Leicestershire in one-day cricket and he will compete for the wicket-keeping position with Chris Read."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

England squad: J Anderson, I Bell, P Collingwood, J Dalrymple, A Flintoff, E Joyce, J Lewis, S Mahmood, P Nixon, M Panesar, K Pietersen, L Plunkett, C Read, A Strauss, C Tremlett, M Vaughan.
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two trophies, many runner-ups.
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That was random :|
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Nixon.....They've GOT to be joking.
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Tealey :notworthy:


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