For today’s European cricket news, learn more about Ashleigh Gardner and Grace Harris, two members of the Australian women’s cricket team, discuss the significance of CommBank’s sponsorship of their sport for the team that won the gold medal in a clinching game against India. Meanwhile, Moeen Ali is proud to lead England in Pakistan ahead of the T20 World Cup. He will captain England’s T20 squad in the first game of the series, which will take place in the country of his mother’s birth. Lastly, as the reigning world champions prepared for the first T20 international against India, Australian captain Aaron Finch heaped admiration on uncapped power hitter Tim David. David is yet to earn an international cap for his country.
“Death Jaws” Gold-medal Winning Wicket
Original Source: The ‘jaws of death’ wicket that won Commonwealth Games gold
Late in the T20 cricket final at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in early August, India seemed poised to beat Australia. Ashleigh Gardner’s dismissal of India’s Harmanpreet Kaur gave Australia the gold.
A month later, Ms Gardner and teammate Grace Harris reflected on the epic wicket at a Commonwealth Bank staff event hosted by CMO Jo Boundy.
“I was nervous because [Ms. Kaur] has hit me for a lot of sixes,” Ms. Gardner told a live and virtual audience from CommBank’s Sydney head office.
Cricket is a fascinating but fickle game. Just like that, she said. “They’re the moments you live for as a sportsperson when the pressure’s on, and succeeding in those situations is sweet.”
Ms Gardner and Ms Harris are members of one of the most successful Australian cricket teams ever, winning the Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand in April. The players answered audience questions, including one from a CBA India manager. Mr Sreepada congratulated Ms Gardner and Ms Harris on their Commonwealth Games victory and asked what it takes to “win from the jaws of death.”
We believe in ourselves and each other, Ms. Gardner said. We know what to do when cornered.
Ms. Harris agreed She said, “We go into every game organized and planned.” If you don’t plan, you fail.
The conversation between Gardner, Harris, and Boundy included First Nations players in women’s cricket. Ms Gardner, a proud Muruwari woman, said that while opportunities are growing, there’s room to improve cricket facilities.
For her, it’s being a role model for [First Nations] kids and having them look up to someone, because “you can’t be what you can’t see.”
Ms Harris said her team must “grow the game globally” to keep international matches competitive.
“We owe it to… all other nations around the world, who may not have our facilities, to pass on tips, logic, and tactics to help them grow their game,” she said.
CommBank has supported women’s cricket for over 20 years, according to Ms. Boundy.
We’re proud of our role in fostering future sports stars. We have an incredible Australian women’s cricket team, said Ms. Boundy.
Players agreed CommBank’s support is crucial to allowing them to play cricket full-time and “live out [their] childhood dreams.”
Commonwealth Bank’s longtime support shows their commitment to women’s sport, said Ms. Gardner. We’re happy to wear CommBank logos.
England’s Moeen Ali is Proud to Lead in Pakistan for T20 World Cup
Original Source: Moeen Ali proud to lead England in Pakistan as T20 World Cup looms
This tour is long overdue for Moeen Ali. He’s wanted it since he made the England team. But he never expected to be captain. “It’s a great honour regardless of who it’s against,” Moeen says. “But to do it in Pakistan when the team is coming back here is amazing for me personally, especially when my family migrated from here back in the day.”
His grandfather came from Kashmir after WWII, and his mother was born here. He played here as a child and in the PSL.
“I want to play in every nation, especially Pakistan after so long,” says Moeen. Since England was last here in 2000. His decision to play in the PSL in 2020 was to help “put Pakistan cricket back on the map.” He sees this tour as related. I wanted to help. England is the country Pakistani fans love to see the most.
His phone keeps ringing since he arrived. He has an uncle and friends here. “I’ve gotten so many messages” asking for tickets that it’s killing him. He’s glad for the diversion. He is frustrated by the tour’s tight security and how he and his team are sealed off from Karachi. His wife and children accompanied him to the PSL, where they visited friends and cafes. During the week, he’s been in the team room reading, chatting, and playing cards.
The restrictions will affect his decision about whether to play in December’s Tests. He seemed enthusiastic when Brendon McCullum suggested picking him earlier in the summer, but he’s since backed off. “Not yet,” he says. I want to see what happens. I don’t like being in a hotel for so long, so I’ll see how I do here.
He was disappointed when England canceled their tour last year, but he’s gotten over it. “There was still some Covid then, so you don’t know what the restrictions were. Now all can come. I believe that if you have patience, hard things become easy. That idea is on his mind. He mentions it again when talking about the team before the T20 World Cup next month.
“I’m not desperate,” says Moeen. “It’s important not to put pressure on ourselves by saying ‘We’ll win a World Cup.'” We’ve been a good team for two or three years, but we’ve missed out. It’s about expectations. We must focus on one game. Play our best cricket and don’t worry about the result. It will handle itself. World Cup 2019 was different. We were favorites, but now we’re not. I think we’re one of the better teams, not the favorites.”
England has an odd team. It’s been chosen with one eye on the World Cup and the other on developing new players for the future. Four players – Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, and Reece Topley – will miss the opening game on Tuesday because they are working back to fitness for the World Cup. Six others – Will Jacks, Tom Helm, Jordan Cox, Luke Wood, Ben Duckett, and Olly Stone – were not picked for the tournament. All the uncertainty has changed Moeen’s role. This is Buttler’s team, but Moeen is leading, and not just at the toss.
He knows what went wrong this summer when the team lost to South Africa and India. Our summer was bad. “We played poorly.” They spent too much time talking about Eoin Morgan’s captaincy, he says. We used to do this, that, or this was why we were so good. We must move on. Jos taking over from Eoin isn’t easy, but it’s his side now. I think this is the beginning. You’ll see a change in how the team does things.
He says they will still be “brave and aggressive” but “there needs to be more of a method to it.” “This summer we tried to be aggressive, but we lost.” It’s hardest for rookies. “They’ve seen how we’ve played the last four or five years and think they need to go bat crazy. This isn’t necessary. We need a balance.”
Pakistan has Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman out injured and three debutants in this format, including Shan Masood, who made many runs for Derbyshire this summer. “Both teams are on par right now.” We’re missing players, they’re missing some, and they’re in transition, so I’m expecting a hard, tight series. A fun series. Games in T20 come and go, but he’ll remember these seven for a long time.
‘Super Impressive’ Aussie Bolter Nears T20 Debut
Original Source: Long Aussie wait set to finally end as ‘super impressive’ bolter nears T20 debut
Australian captain Aaron Finch praised uncapped power hitter Tim David on Monday as the world champions prepared for the first T20 international against India.
Finch didn’t confirm if David would make his international debut on Tuesday, saying the playing XI would be decided after assessing the wicket in Mohali.
David, 26, has made Australia’s World Cup squad after impressive performances in the Indian Premier League, England’s Hundred, Pakistan, and Caribbean leagues.
“Tim has been impressive in T20 cricket for a long time,” Finch said.
“We know he’s powerful because he’s shown it all over the world,” he said at a pre-match press conference.
“He came into the squad with a great attitude and has trained brilliantly. He’s great.
David’s debut seems imminent with David Warner rested and Mitch Marsh and Marcus Stoinis injured.
The series is a warm-up for Australia’s T20 World Cup next month, and Finch said there would be “a little mixing and matching”
The captain retired from one-day cricket after a poor run with the bat, but brushed off criticism.
“You get used to criticism over time, but my T20 form has been good for a while,” he said.
“I think ODI and T20 are two different formats of the game”
Finch praised India’s Virat Kohli, who this month hit his 71st international century.
It would be brave to write off Virat Kohli. 15 years ago, he proved he was one of the best players ever.
“Particularly in T20 cricket, he’s developed and grown his game so much that you always plan and prepare well for him.”
Summary of today’s Cricket/Sport News
To put it simply, in a gathering for Commonwealth Bank employees that was held by Chief Marketing Officer Jo Boundy, Ms. Gardner and her teammate Grace Harris discussed the memorable wicket that won them the Commonwealth Games gold. Ms Gardner and Ms Harris are members of one of the most successful Australian cricket teams ever, winning the Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand in April. The players answered audience questions, including one from a CBA India manager. Thanking Ms Gardner and Ms Harris for their Commonwealth Games triumph.
On the other hand, Moeen Ali is proud to lead England as a Captain in Pakistan as the T20 World Cup is near. Moeen Ali wanted this tour. He has been dreaming about it since he felt he had earned his place in the England team, but he never expected becoming a captain. “It’s a wonderful honour no matter who it’s against,” Moeen adds, “but to do it in Pakistan when the team is coming back here is amazing for me personally, especially considering my family migrated from here back in the day.”
Finally, Aaron Finch, the captain of the Australian cricket team, heaped praise on Tim David, an uncapped power hitter. Finch didn’t say for sure that David would make his international debut on Tuesday. He said that the playing XI would be decided after the wicket in Mohali was looked at one last time. He also said that David’s debut seems likely, since opener David Warner isn’t playing in the series and batting all-rounders Mitch Marsh and Marcus Stoinis can’t play because they’re hurt.