Australia A

Ahmed, Sandhu in Australia A tour of Africa

Sydney: Pakistan-born legspinner Fawad Ahmed was on Wednesday named on the Australia A squad for a tour of Africa beginning next month, despite also being in contention for selection for the Ashes series against England.

Ahmed was added to the 15-man squad for the July and August tour along with Ashton Agar, who has Sri Lankan grandparents and pacer Gurinder Sandhu, born in Australia but of Indian heritage. "This is a young squad with an abundance of talent and all players will be pressing for higher honours," national selector John Inverarity said.

Ahmed and Agar are joined by five fellow members of the current Australia A squad in England -- Alex Doolan, Moises Henriques, Chadd Sayers, Nic Maddinson and Steve Smith -- as well as three players from the ICC Champions Trophy Squad -- Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell and Nathan Coulter-Nile.

Inverarity said Smith had been appointed captain and Tim Paine would be wicketkeeper, while top-order batsman Shaun Marsh was "being provided with another opportunity"....more    

Fawad Ahmed wicketless in opening Australia A stint

Belfast: Australia leg-spin hope and possible Ashes call-up Fawad Ahmed went wicketless in his first representative bowling stint for his adopted country on Sunday. The former Pakistani asylum-seeker, who did not bat in Australia's A first innings 312 for 9 declared against Ireland in Belfast, returned figures of none for 40 in 11 overs as the hosts made 186 for 4 declared on the third day of four at Stormont....  

Peter Siddle scores maiden first-class century against Scotland

London: Bowler Peter Siddle claimed his maiden first-class century as Australia A dominated Scotland on the second day of their four-day match in Edinburgh on Saturday. Australia resumed on 335 for six at The Grange and Siddle made an unbeaten 103 before the tourists declared on 372 for eight. It was the right-arm paceman's best innings since a score of 87 for domestic side Victoria against Western Australia last September....  

Haddin shines as Australia A dominate Scotland

Edinburgh: Australia 'A' captain Brad Haddin hit a century as the tourists recovered from a slow start to reach 335 for 6 at the end of the first day of their four-day tour match against Scotland in Edinburgh. The Australian reserves were struggling at 23 for 2 after Jordan Silk was caught by Preston Mommsen off the bowling of Gordon Goudie for just four, while Alex Doolan had made only...  

Fawad Ahmed gets Cricket Australia call-up

Sydney: Former Pakistan asylum-seeker Fawad Ahmed moved a step closer to playing in the Ashes against England after being rushed into the Australia A squad for their tour of Britain on Thursday. "Fawad is a spin bowler of interest and we look forward to seeing how he performs for Australia A," chief selector John Inverarity said, expressing confidence his citizenship would be fast-tracked. A bill to amend the Citizenship Act,...  

Pat Cummins to recuperate in England with Australia A

Sydney: Young fast bowler Pat Cummins will travel with the Australia A squad on their tour of England as part of his recuperation from a back injury but will not play any matches, Cricket Australia said on Friday. Cummins, who turned 20 on Wednesday, is the great hope of Australian pace bowling but injury has prevented him from donning the baggy green cap since he took seven wickets in a...  

Ireland to host Australia A in four-day game

Ireland will host Australia's A side this summer after Cricket Ireland announced a four-day game at Stormont in Belfast starting June 14. ...  

Butterworth replaces Cutting in Australia A squad

Cricket Australia (CA) on Sunday replaced Ben Cutting with Luke Butterworth in the Australia A squad for the last two unofficial one-day matches of the VB Series against England Lions in Sydney. ...  

Hazlewood, Sandhu, Handscomb added to Aus A squad

Cricket Australia (CA) on Wednesday added Josh Hazlewood, Gurinder Sandhu and Peter Handscomb to the Australia A squad which is playing visiting England Lions in six unofficial one-day games. ...  

Shaun Marsh out with hamstring injury

Cricket Australia announced that Marsh will take no further part in the series against the England Lions. ...  

Finch to captain Australia A against Eng Lions

Opening batsman Aaron Finch has been selected to captain Australia A in their five-match limited-overs cricket series against the England Lions. ...  

SA vs Aus 'A' warm-up match ends in a draw

Amla steadied the innings with a patient half-century, batting for 109 minutes for his 53 runs and hitting seven fours. ...  

SA chase big Australia A total in tour match

South Africa, preparing for the first of three Tests against Australia, were 128 for 1 at stumps on Saturday. ...  

Australia A blunt South Africa quicks on Day 1

Two century partnerships took Australia A to 325 for 7 on the opening day of the warm-up match at SCG. ...  

Unmukt confident of doing well in U-19 WC final

Unmukt Chand on Saturday averred that his side has peaked at the right time. ...  

U-19 WC final: India face Aus for 3rd trophy

Reetinder Singh Sodhi did it in 2000, Virat Kohli repeated the same in 2008, now it's a chance for Unmukt Chand to replicate the feat. ...  

Hughes to replace Forrest in Australia A squad

The discarded Test opener has been in good form for Warwickshire in county cricket. ...  

Morgan to captain England Lions squad

The 25-year-old is one of the four players with England Test caps. ...  

India not a high-risk country, says MEA

The MEA has downplayed the travel warnings issued by the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, reassuring everyone that India's safe. ...

Drunk men assault, abuse Asian couple in Melbourne

Sri Lankan man and Asian-origin woman fend off assault at home. ...