In today’s uk cricket news, learn more about George Bailey has all but confirmed that Steve Smith will not be in Australia’s XI against New Zealand on Saturday, with Tim David expected to start in place of Smith for Australia’s World Cup opener. Meanwhile, cricket and netball are two of the most popular sports in Australia, and athletes in both sports are speaking out against the mining and energy industries who provide sponsorship money worth millions of dollars. Lastly, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar and former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody both picked India and Australia as their final two selections.
Warner Declares Himself ‘fine’ After Australia’s World Cup Selection
Original Source: Aussies drop massive World Cup selection bomb as Warner declared ‘fine’
George Bailey has all but confirmed Steve Smith won’t play for Australia against New Zealand on Saturday. Aaron Finch’s side will include Tim David in their World Cup opener.
Bailey said David Warner was “fine” and Mitch Marsh would bowl early in the tournament.
The chairman of selectors was in Brisbane for Pat Cummins’ ODI captaincy. Australia’s 27th ODI captain and first bowler since Shane Warne is Cummins, 29.
The push to include Singapore-born David has been in overdrive since Ricky Ponting compared him to Andrew Symonds.
Then, after being included in Australia’s World Cup squad, David belted 54 in the third T20 in India, where he made a name for himself as one of the most destructive finishers in the IPL.
The 33-year-old World Cup winner has dominated attacks around the world for a decade and scored consecutive centuries against India in late 2020.
Smith played in all three T20s in India, scoring 35 at 145 strike rate in the first, but two of the next five against the West Indies and England.
It led former captain Michael Clarke to slam selectors, saying he was vital for Australia’s chances of defending their World Cup crown.
Bailey sealed Smith’s fate on Tuesday, saying he wouldn’t get first crack but could still play in the World Cup.
Yes, all of our 15 have a role, he said.
I don’t think Steve will start, but he can play if we need him.
Australia is expected to name a settled side, with David likely to replace Smith from their World Cup victory last year against the Kiwis.
Last year’s player of the tournament will take the first ball on Saturday despite missing Australia’s final pre-tournament match against India on Monday.
“He’s fine,” said Bailey. Regardless of his neck, David wasn’t expected to play yesterday.
Despite not bowling in pre-tournament T20s, Bailey said Marsh is “tracking well.”
Our all-rounders are key to our structure, Bailey said.
He bowled 20-30 balls with good intensity yesterday in the nets.
“I think he’s hit all the markers he wanted to, but given the importance of that structure, we didn’t want to risk it too early. I fully expect Mitch to be available and ready to go, whether that’s Saturday or game two, but confident that’ll work.”
After last year’s unsettled six months, which included constant swapping and changing and disgruntlement between coach Justin Langer and players and support staff, Pat Cummins said expectations were high but the helter-skelter nature of T20 cricket meant complacency couldn’t creep in.
He said, “I think we’re better prepared.” We played more.
We can learn from last year, but T20 is a fickle format. Probably four or five teams could win it.
“A couple of qualifying games had huge upsets.
We feel well-positioned and will try hard.
Top Australian Athletes Question Sponsors
Original Source: Sponsorships questioned by leading Australian athletes
Brisbane (AP) — Two of Australia’s most popular sports, cricket and netball, are criticizing mining and energy company sponsorships.
It’s mostly environmental. In another case of athletes speaking out, an Indigenous netball player questioned sponsorship by a mining company because of its founder’s racist remarks about Australian Aboriginals in the 1980s.
Some athletes have called out governments and regimes for sportswashing and injustices.
Cricket captain Pat Cummins called for more eco-friendly corporate sponsors this week. Recent pay agreement between the players’ union and Cricket Australia allows players to decline brand endorsements on “reasonable personal or reasonable professional grounds.”
“Not just us players, but every organization has a responsibility to do what’s right for the sport,” said Cummins. “I hope society balances who to welcome into the cricket family as it progresses.”
Cummins had previously raised concerns with CA CEO Nick Hockley about Alinta Energy’s parent company, Pioneer Sail Holdings, being one of Australia’s highest carbon emitters.
Cricket Australia said it ended a $25 million deal due to the energy company’s “brand strategy change.”
CA confirms that no conversation between Pat Cummins and CA CEO Nick Hockley influenced Alinta’s decision to end its sponsorship in 2023.
It took five years to prepare. A clause was added to the 2017 memorandum of understanding between the players and Cricket Australia after Usman Khawaja and Fawad Ahmed objected to wearing uniforms with alcohol logos due to their Muslim faith. A beer company logo on Fawad’s debut uniform caused controversy.
“It’s always been a balance,” Cummins told Australian media when he said he wouldn’t appear in future TV ads for the energy company. We’ve seen players choose partners based on religion or the foods they eat, but we thank all our partners for everything they do.
Netball is the most popular team sport for women and girls in Australia, played on a court similar to basketball but with stricter rules.
The sport’s governing body is working with Indigenous player Donnell Wallam after reaffirming its sponsorship deal with Hancock Prospecting.
Wallam, a Noongar woman from Western Australia who now plays for the Queensland-based Firebirds, raised concerns about Netball Australia’s four-year, $15 million sponsorship with Gina Rinehart’s company.
Wallam criticized Hancock Prospecting’s Indigenous record, which dates to Rinehart’s father Lang Hancock. He proposed in a 1984 TV interview that some Indigenous people be given contaminated water so they could be sterilized and “breed out.”
Wallam, who will be the first Indigenous player to represent the Australian Diamonds in 20 years, was reluctant to wear the new sponsor’s logo. She considered seeking an exemption, as other athletes do when a sponsor doesn’t align with their beliefs or religion, but her teammates sided with her.
Both Netball Australia and national team captain Liz Watson support Hancock Prospecting. The deal ensures the future of the sports organization, which suffered heavy losses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Watson told AP: “As players, we know Hancock is a great investment for our program.”
But Watson said they wanted to support their teammate.
“We support her cultural sensitivities around the program and partnership, and we want her to be herself and feel strong,” Watson said.
David Pocock, a newly-elected independent senator and former Australian rugby captain, has worked with Cummins on climate change initiatives.
Pocock said extreme heat, bushfire smoke, and flooding have led to match cancellations, delays, and player and spectator welfare issues.
Movement grows. A group of Fremantle Dockers fans and former star Dale Kickett have called on the club to dump Woodside Energy as its main sponsor.
The signatories of an open letter to the Dockers board and president Dale Alcock said it was no longer appropriate for a fossil fuel company to sponsor the club as the world fought climate change.
We shouldn’t let a company use our club’s good name to boost its reputation when its core activities threaten the planet, they said.
Sunil Gavaskar Picks Two Finalists for T20 World Cup
Original Source: Sunil Gavaskar Names His Two Finalists For T20 World Cup
The T20 World Cup qualifiers have seen Namibia beat Sri Lanka and Scotland beat West Indies. On Saturday, Australia plays New Zealand to open the Super 12 stage. Team India will play Pakistan on October 23 at the MCG. Rohit Sharma and co. won a warm-up game against defending champions Australia on Monday.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar and former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody picked India and Australia.
“Yes, India. Because I’m in Australia, I’ll say it “Gavaskar said Monday before India and Australia’s warm-up match.
In the same vein, Moody said: “Here are the top 4. Group winners are Australia and England. The other group would be led by Pakistan and India. Finally, Australia and India.”
Team India beat Australia by 6 runs on Monday after Mohammed Shami defended 10 in the final. India took four wickets in the final, three by Shami and one by run-out.
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Virat Kohli took a sensational catch to dismiss Pat Cummins and a direct hit to dismiss Tim David.
India will play New Zealand on Wednesday at the Gabba, Brisbane.
Summary of today’s Cricket/Sports News
Overall, George Bailey says Steve Smith won’t be in Australia’s XI against New Zealand on Saturday. Aaron Finch’s team will include Tim David instead. Bailey also said that David Warner was “fine” and that Mitch Marsh, an all-rounder, was doing well and would probably bowl early in the tournament. Pat Cummins was named Australia’s ODI captain in Brisbane, where the chairman of selectors was also there. Cummins, who is 29 years old, is the first bowler to lead Australia in an ODI since Shane Warne.
On the other hand, cricket and netball athletes criticize mining and energy industries for sponsoring them. This week, the captain of the Australian cricket team, Pat Cummins, unhesitatingly demanded more environmentally responsible business partners for his sport. A new compensation agreement between the players’ union and Cricket Australia permits players to forgo corporate endorsements on “reasonable personal or reasonable professional grounds.”
Finally, T20 World Cup is already in full swing, and in the ongoing qualifiers, Namibia beat Sri Lanka and Scotland beat West Indies. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar and former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody both picked India and Australia as their final two selections. “In all likelihood, India. Furthermore, I will refer to Australia since I am currently located there “Before Monday’s exhibition game between India and Australia, Gavaskar declared as much on Star Sports.