News From Everywhere

Allan Border Medal
Australian skipper Michael Clarke won his fourth Allan Border Medal at a glittering night co-hosted by Fox and Channel 9. His win was less assured as was him being named the Test player of the year. He has dominated his own team as well as opposition and deserved both gongs. Clarke was strangely emotional on accepting the medal from Border, spewing for a few standard lines with difficulty, reminding all that it was a team game and then giving up. It was uncharacteristic for an emotional man who has gradually learned to manage himself with the media.

Jess Cameron was the winner of the Belinda Clarke award for Australian Women's Cricketer of the year, shortly before bagging a first ball duck against South Africa in Australia's second match of the World Cup in Cuttack. Cricket the leveller, yet again. At 23 years of age, she has plenty of time to make up for it.

Clint McKay was name one day player of the year in a close vote where the outcome surprised many. McKay is far from being one of the glamour players in the Australian one day team and its nice that a 'grunt" can get up occasionally.

With still limited (thankfully) number of T20 internationals played in any given year, Shane Watson's domination at the T20 World Cup carried him easily over the line as the T20 player of the year.

Phil Hughes capped a great rise back into favour by being named the domestic player of the year and Queensland batsman Joe Burns was named the Bradman Young Cricketer.

Women's World Cup
In matches last night, New Zealand hammered Pakistan, Rachel Candy taking 5-19 from ten overs as Pakistan were dismissed for 104. The Kiwis passed them with twenty overs to spare and with Suzie Bates 65 not out. The West Indies scored at better than seven an over against a Sri Lankan side which had beaten England in their first match. Stafanie Taylor smashed 171 from just 137 deliveries and Deandra Dottin hit 4 sixes in her half century. Seven of the Sri Lankans made starts but no one scored higher than Deepika Rasangika's 28. England dented the hosts good start to the tournament with a 32 run win in what was an even game. Charlotte Edwards made her seventh ODI hundred and became the game's highest scorer. Chasing at 5-227 in the 45th over, India were still in the game but no one could stay with Harmanpreet Kaur, who made a run a ball hundred.

Jess Cameron 

Australia won again, attracting little attention from those covering the tournament and even less at home. South Africa were strangled by tight bowling and couldn't reach 200 from their fifty overs. Seven bowlers were used and they all did their job admirably but Elyse Perry had South Africa 2-0 after seven balls and looked the most dangerous. Rachel Haynes made 83 and Lisa Sthalekar, Jodie Fields and Erin Osbourne all had time in the middle as Australia won by three wickets.

South Africa v Pakistan
South Africa won the first Test at Johannesburg by 211 runs, continuing in the modern trend of not following on. After looking comfortable at tea on the first day, the Proteas collapsed to the innocuous off spin of Mohammad Hafez to be all out for 253. Pakistan replied with 49 which lasted little more than a session. Dale Steyn took 6-8 as the South Africans collapsed an international side under 50 for the third time at home inside two seasons. The South Africans batted again, despite only bowling 27 overs and rattled up a huge lead thanks to an unbeaten 176 run partnership between Hashim Amla (74x) and AB deVilliers (103x), including 68 in the nine overs before the declaration. Pakistan at least made South Africa take a second new ball, lasting 101 overs for their final 268. Misbah-ul-Huq and Asad Shafiq added 127 for the 5th wicket. Steyn took 5-52 (11-60 for the match) and was named man of the match. Spare a thought for deVilliers. He made 31 and 103x, took 11 catches behind the stumps and was overlooked!