Australia fined for slow over rate

November 3rd, 2009 more images more imagesDUBAI - The Australian team has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during their 24-run victory over India in the fourth ODI at Mohali on Tuesday. Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the fines after Ricky Ponting's side was ruled to be two overs short of its target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration.

October 31st, 2009 more images more imagesNEW DELHI - Indian spinners got good purchase from the slow track at the Ferozeshah Kotla to restrict Australia to 229 for five in 50 overs in the third one-day international here Saturday. Michael Hussey struck 81 off 82 balls with three fours and a six, while skipper Ricky Ponting, opening the innings for the second time in his career, took 92 balls for his 59.

October 22nd, 2009 SYDNEY - Figures show that slow bowling in Australia is on the decline and a major cause for worry to Cricket Australia and past players. The percentage of deliveries sent down by spinners in the Sheffield Shield competition has almost halved in the past four decades.

October 13th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Australia has squandered a once-in-a-generation opportunity to launch a lucrative Twenty20 tournament similar to the Indian Premier League (IPL). The proposed Southern Premier League - a franchise-based tri-nations competition featuring teams from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand - has come to naught.

October 8th, 2009 RANCHI - Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be fined for delay in filing the registration papers for his new Hummer H2 luxury sports utility vehicle (SUV). According to the District Transport Officer, A K Banka, Dhoni will be fined as his new car's registration papers are incomplete.

October 4th, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - The Australian team was fined for slow over-rate during their nine-wicket victory over England in Friday's Champions Trophy semi-final at the Centurion. The International Cricket Council's (ICC) match referee Jeff Crowe fined Ricky Ponting's side after it was found two overs short at the end of the match.

October 1st, 2009 MELBOURNE - Cricket Australia has announced a revamped second-tier competition aimed to encourage young players and especially spin bowlers. Each second XI team, from the six Sheffield Shield sides plus the ACT, will be allowed only three players over the age of 23.

September 29th, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - India will be hoping for some divine intervention when they take on the West Indies in their last Group A match at the Wanderers here Wednesday, in their bid to qualify for the Champions Trophy semi-finals. India are virtually out of the tournament after their Monday's must-win match against defending champions Australia was washed out.

September 28th, 2009 CENTURION - The England team has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during its 22-run victory over South Africa in the Champions Trophy at the SuperSport Park here Sunday. Match Referee Roshan Mahanama imposed the fines after Andrew Strausss side was ruled to be one over short of its target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration.

September 28th, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - Sri Lanka were fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during its 38-run loss to New Zealand in the Champions Trophy at the Wanderers here Sunday. Match Referee Javagal Srinath imposed the fines after Kumar Sangakkaras side was ruled to be two overs short of its target at the end of the match when time allowances were taken into consideration.

September 24th, 2009 LONDON - England fast bowler James Anderson has voiced his frustration and anger at the England batsmen for their disastrous NatWest series performance against Australia. In the absence of experienced batsman like Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Peitersen, the inexperienced England team was not able to cope with the formidable Australians, which resulted in a 6-1 series defeat.

August 13th, 2009 COLOMBO - Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has been fined for his misconduct on the cricket field during a Twenty20 match against Sri Lanka. Following a post-match hearing, match referee, Alan Hurst, found Akmal guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council's code of conduct and fined him 15 percent of his match fees.

July 29th, 2009 DOMINICA - West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach and captain Floyd Reifer have been found guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council (ICC) Code of Conduct following hearings in Dominica yesterday. Both players were charged with Level 1 offences under clause C1 of the code, which states "Players and/or Team Officials shall at all times conduct play within the spirit of the game as well as within the Laws of Cricket and the captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that that this is adhered to." The duo both pleaded guilty to the charges and ICC match referee Roshan Mahanama of the Emirates Elite Panel handed Roach a 10-per-cent fine and Reifer an official reprimand.

June 14th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Australian vice-captain Michael 'Pup' Clarke is facing the sack from our Twenty20 team. According to The Australian, the selectors are seriously concerned about Clarke's ability in the shortest form of the game - and have got the statistics to back them up.

May 27th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Cricket Australia has requested the England and Wales Cricket Board for permission to play an extra man in its two tour matches to allow all five quicks an opportunity to build cases for a first Test inclusion. The return of old-stagers Brett Lee and Stuart Clark has created a logjam of contenders after Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus combined superbly for a rousing 2-1 series win in South Africa in March.