McDonald handed contract extension as Australia coach
SYDNEY : Andrew McDonald has been rewarded for his success as Australia coach with a contract extension which will keep him in the job until the end of 2027, Cricket Australia said on Wednesday.
Andrew Macdonald Sport News
Australia Coach Calls Mohammed Shami's Absence "Big Loss" For India In Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has acknowledged that Mohammed Shami's absence is a big loss for India, but added his team won't take the pacers who replace him lightly during the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy series starting on November 22 in Perth, citing the Gabba Test win of the visitors' in 2021. Shami has been out of action since last year's ODI World Cup in India due to an achilles injury which needed surgery this year. But there's a possibility that Shami might join the Indian team for the second half of the Australia tour provided he proves his fitness and readiness in Bengal's last two Ranji Trophy matches at Bengaluru and Indore respectively.
David Warner Set To Come Out Of Retirement For India Tests? Australia Star Drops Bombshell
Former Australian opener David Warner has revealed that he is ready to reverse his retirement from Test cricket if Australia call on him to fill a vacancy at the top of the batting order for the upcoming series against India. Warner, who retired from Test cricket earlier this year after a distinguished career spanning 112 Tests, said he would even be willing to play in New South Wales' next Sheffield Shield match to prove his readiness. Warner made it clear that his offer was serious, denying any suggestion that his comments were made in jest. “I'm always available, just got to pick up the phone,” Warner told Code Sports. “I'm always dead serious. Honestly, if they really needed myself for this series, I'm more than happy to play the next Shield game and go out there and play.”
Australia Star Steve Smith Breaks Silence On Decision To Bat At No. 4 Again, Says "I Didn't..."
Australia batter Steve Smith said that Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne "hated" him at the top order and wanted him to return back to his original batting position - No. 4 - but he is happy to bat wherever the team wants him to. Australia head coach Andrew McDonald confirmed last week that he and captain Pat Cummins have decided to shift Smith back to No. 4 batting spot in Test cricket following a brief stint at the opening role.
Steve Smith To Return To No 4 Spot For India Test Series
Veteran Australia batter Steve Smith will return to his favoured number four position after a short stint as an opener in the upcoming Test series against India, national selector George Bailey confirmed on Monday. Post opener David Warner's retirement earlier this year, Smith had willingly volunteered open the innings. Although he made an unbeaten 91 in only his second Test in the new role, the 35-year-old didn't fare well in the series against New Zealand, collecting a total of 51 runs in four innings.
Australia In Defence Mode After Decision To Rest Mitchell Starc Backfires
After a defeat to Afghanistan in the T20 World cup Super 8 match, Australia head coach Andrew McDonald and captain Mitchell Marsh defended the 'tough move' of including spinner Ashton Agar in the playing XI in place of star pacer Mitchell Starc, citing the need for a spin on the sluggish surface. Australia now find itself in a precarious position ahead of their final Super Eight fixture against India in St. Lucia on Monday. In their previous match on a slow, turning pitch in St. Vincent, Australia opted to include Agar as a second specialist spinner alongside Adam Zampa, leaving out Starc.
"Time Now To Keep Playing IPL...": David Warner On Farewell Outing For Australia
Australia cricketer David Warner poured his heart out in the latest episode of the Delhi Capitals Podcast. In a free-wheeling conversation, the seasoned IPL campaigner spoke at length about his stint with the Delhi-based franchise, his love for India, his last World Cup for Australia and a lot more. The three-time World Cup winner Warner became the leading run-scorer for Australia in T20Is during the T20 World Cup 2024 match against Oman at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Tuesday.
T20 World Cup: Mitchell Marsh Hopes To Bowl In Later Stage Of Tournament
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh hopes to return to bowling at the back end of the T20 World Cup and will start the tournament as pure batter. Marsh is still recovering from his hamstring injury that ruled him out of the Indian Premier League in April this year. He returned to action for Australia in the warm-up games against Namibia and West Indies but did not bowl in either match. "Yeah, I won't be bowling early on in the tournament. And I always joke as captain - I hope I won't bowl late in the tournament either. But yeah, I'll progress that slowly over the next 10-12 days and hopefully be available for them at the back end of the tournament," ESPNcricinfo quoted Marsh as saying.