logo
Sangha's 202 strengthens Test case after Ponting backing

Sangha's 202 strengthens Test case after Ponting backing

Daily Telegraph2 days ago
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Ricky Ponting put emerging star Jason Sangha's name in the Test selection mix and he duly delivered with a masterful double-hundred to come away the biggest winner of an Australia A run fest in Darwin.
The second four-day match between Australia A and Sri Lanka A was called a draw halfway through the final day when Sangha reached a maiden double century.
Sangha, an adopted South Australian, hit a century in the Sheffield Shield final in March and backed it up with an unbeaten 202 from 379 balls on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old's haul came amid a shoutout from Ponting ahead of what looms as a crucial start to the home summer for plenty of batters with at least one opening spot up for grabs in the Ashes.
'The start of the Sheffield Shield season will be an interesting one ... I'll throw another name in that I think is a highly talented Australian batsman, that's Jason Sangha,' Ponting told the ICC Review.
'I think (Sangha is) someone whose name will probably come up at some stage as well, but there's just not many games now, not many opportunities to be able to get yourself and get your name up in front of the selectors.'
Sangha made the most of batting friendly conditions, which took in 10 wickets for 1043 runs across three and a half days.
The previous match in Darwin was also a draw with only three innings played across the four days.
Sangha shared a 209-run partnership with fellow centurion Jake Weatherald and a 165-run stand with Victorian young gun Ollie Peake.
Peake finished agonisingly short of his century, dismissed for 92 off 178 deliveries.
Sangha is one of many state discards who have flourished in South Australia after he was cut from New South Wales.
His career stood at a junction at the end of the 2023-24 season when he crossed the border to become a Redback.
Sangha produced a brilliant Shield season and has since emerged as a rising star of Australian cricket.
Originally published as Jason Sangha's rise continues to build momentum after a double century for Australia A
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Peter V'landys flags major change to State of Origin eligibility rules
Peter V'landys flags major change to State of Origin eligibility rules

7NEWS

time8 hours ago

  • 7NEWS

Peter V'landys flags major change to State of Origin eligibility rules

Rugby league supremo Peter V'landys has revealed the ARL Commission are considering a landmark change to State of Origin eligibility rules in a bid to reduce the impact on New Zealand and England's national teams. Under the current rules, players who are eligible for tier-one nations New Zealand and England effectively have to choose whether they want to play internationals against Australia or play Origin. But players eligible for tier-two nations such as Tonga and Samoa, are eligible to play for New South Wales or Queensland. NSW Blues stars Brian To'o, Stephen Crichton and Jarome Luai have all pledged to play for Samoa at this year's Pacific Championships. Rising Canberra Raiders star Kaeo Weekes was the latest big name to make the decision, committing to a representative career with Australia and the NSW Blues after reportedly rejecting an approach to play for the Kiwis. Dolphins young gun Isaiya Katoa also previously opted to play for Tonga over New Zealand in order to keep his Origin hopes alive in the future. But that could all change as the ARL Commission reviews a potential change to eligibility. 'It is something we're going to have to look at again and to me there does seem to be a stronger push this time for change,' V'landys told SMH. 'It is a strong argument that if you've played your footy in Australia before the age of 13 and you are eligible to play Origin, why shouldn't you be able to? 'If we were to change the rules, it would only be for New Zealand and English players. 'They're the tier-one countries impacted. [Players from] tier-two nations like Samoa and Tonga can still play State of Origin and represent those nations. 'It's a polarising idea. When we've consulted on any possible Origin eligibility changes some people have loved it, others hated it. 'We want a strong international game and calendar, and we want Australia to be challenged. And we want to respect the players and the nations they want to play for, and the argument for change is one we'll consider. 'It wouldn't be open slather – it would be mostly New Zealand players, and any change would be considered to ensure they're not left behind.' Under the potential changes, Kalyn Ponga could play for the Kiwis and Queensland, while Victor Radley would be free to represent England and NSW. That is the only change under consideration, and players would still need to have lived in NSW or Queensland before 13 to qualify for Origin. According to NZRL chief Greg Peters, 11 players in this year's Origin squads are eligible for the Kiwis. Peters welcomed the potential changes, highlighting Ponga as the perfect example. 'A guy like Kalyn Ponga is a good example. He's a proud Maori, proud New Zealander and a proud Queenslander. But at the moment he doesn't have the ability to play for New Zealand should he chose to. He's a really good example,' he said. 'The other one is Jarome Luai. Who knows, Jarome Luai might probably want to play for Samoa, and good on him for doing so. 'But he played Junior Kiwis and the point is that his pathway to the Kiwis was shut down the moment he was selected to play Origin. 'Samoa is going to have a team stacked full of Origin players, which is great for the game, but it's not available to us. We strongly support a review of these rules.'

MITCHELL JOHNSON: Ben Stokes' warning to India about sledging should not scare Australia ahead of Ashes
MITCHELL JOHNSON: Ben Stokes' warning to India about sledging should not scare Australia ahead of Ashes

West Australian

time10 hours ago

  • West Australian

MITCHELL JOHNSON: Ben Stokes' warning to India about sledging should not scare Australia ahead of Ashes

There's noise coming out of England again. Apparently, they've decided that sledging is back in fashion. Harry Brook reckons it's fun not being 'nice guys' anymore. Ben Stokes is warning opponents — especially India — that if they dish it out, England will return fire. Good on them. But here's a bit of advice: be careful what you wish for. Ashes series are about mental edge, sure. There's always been chatter, always will be. But sledging without substance is like bowling bouncers with no pace — the batter just laughs at it. Right now, England sound like they're trying to sound intimidating rather than being intimidating. Let's not pretend Australia are choirboys. I had plenty to say when I played — and copped plenty back. But that came with purpose. Sledging only works when you're dominating. And to be honest, right now England aren't. They haven't won an Ashes series since in Australia since 2010-11. They still don't know what their best top six is. Their Bazball model has some punch, but it's flimsy when conditions swing or spin. So maybe talking tough is a cover. A bit of theatre while they figure out the actual cricket. Here's what England need to remember: the Ashes aren't won at press conferences. They're won in the heat. When the new ball is jagging around at the Gabba. When a Mitchell Starc inswinger nips past your front pad before you've even had a look. When a bloke like Josh Hazlewood bowls 25 overs on the same spot and you can't breathe. That's when the real battle starts, not in the media, not on social clips, but in those moments when the scoreboard pressure builds and the crowd is roaring. I actually love this from an Aussie point of view. Let England yap. Let them tell the world how hard they're going to be. All it does is give the Australians more fire. Trust me — if you try to poke the bear on our home turf, you'd better have the game to back it up. Because when the words dry up — and they will — it's all about execution. That's where Australia are so strong. Bowlers who do the job no matter the surface. Batters who absorb pressure and make you suffer. Fielders who don't give you an inch. That's real toughness. If England think sledging will rattle this Aussie side, they're living in dreamland. This is a team full of veterans who've seen it all — and young players who grew up in these conditions. You don't need to get personal. You just need to perform. In fact, the most painful thing you can do to a team that's chirping is shut them up with cricket. Silence is the loudest response there is. While Australia might be at their most vulnerable in years with this current batting line-up — a few question marks at the top, the middle still rebuilding — they're still incredibly hard to beat at home. Always have been. Conditions, crowds, our bowlers — they all make life hell for touring teams. Especially ones coming in swinging wildly with the bat and the tongue. Let's not forget what happened last time England came down under. All the chat, all the optimism, then bowled out for 147 in the first innings of the first Test and for just 68 in the Boxing Day Test a couple of weeks later. That was the sound of reality setting in. And no amount of sledging helped them then. I'm not saying Australia are immune to pressure. They're not. This Ashes series could be tight — maybe even a real scrap. But if England think mouthing off is the key to getting on top of us, they've already lost focus. So to England, I say: bring your best. Talk your talk. But when that first ball is bowled in Perth in November, you'll find out quickly what's real and what's just noise. Because in the Ashes, only one thing matters — and it's not the volume.

What Maroons' forward contender Kulikefu Finefeuiaki said to inspire the Ipswich SHS's latest Aussie schoolboy representative
What Maroons' forward contender Kulikefu Finefeuiaki said to inspire the Ipswich SHS's latest Aussie schoolboy representative

News.com.au

time21 hours ago

  • News.com.au

What Maroons' forward contender Kulikefu Finefeuiaki said to inspire the Ipswich SHS's latest Aussie schoolboy representative

At Ipswich SHS's pre-season launch of the school's rugby league season, Dolphins ace and Ipswich SHS past captain Kulikefu Finefeuiaki took current Ipswich skipper Xzavier Timoteo aside from a chat. They laughed and they joked, hamming it up on a celebration of the Ipswich SHS rugby league community. But two words of advice Finefeuiaki struck a match with Timoteo, the Sydney Roosters-signed prop who was named in the Australian schoolboys side last Saturday. One related to the importance of hitting Roosters pre-season training at the end of the year as fit as he could possibly be. The other piece of advice related to maintaining a good diet, which struck a cord given Timoteo was once a 'small, fat kid.'' 'I was. You can ask the coaches. I was very over weight in Years 7, 8 and 9,'' said Timoteo, a lover of his mum's lasagne and potato bake. But with encouragement from the Ipswich SHS teacher, Timoteo transformed himself into one of the most feared forwards in his age group. Indeed the coaches have helped make Timoteo into the player - and person - he is today. 'My coaches are more like my big brothers. They will always take time out of their day to help you,'' he said. Timoteo also has Finefeuiaki's desire to run hard, or 'run the bust'' as he calls it. 'I've learnt to do it. It (running hard) has come with confidence probably.'' With advice from Finefeuiaki ringing in his ears, Timoteo, the Souths Acacia Ridge Magpies junior, shone for the Queensland schoolboys recently and was one of five young Maroons to make the Aussie schoolboys side. The other were Mountain Creek SHS middle forward Jackson Koina (Parramatta), PBC SHS Kiwi centre recruit Antonie Verhoeven (Broncos), Marsden SHS hooker ace Hayden Watson (Storm) and Keebra Park SHS's New Zealand eligible fullback, David Bryenton (Canterbury Bulldogs, 18th man). The Australian schoolboys squad: 1. Cameron Bamblett (Parramatta Eels) 2. Filipe Fakauaho (Sydney Roosters) 3. Toby Winter (Newcastle Knights) 4. Dayne Jennings (South Sydney Rabbitohs) 5. Antonie Verhoeven (Brisbane Broncos) 6. Callum Grantham (Cronulla Sharks) 7. Toby Batten (The Dolphins) 8. Jackson Koina (Parramatta) 9. Liam Bell (Sydney Roosters) 10. Jake White (Cronulla Sharks) 11. Pheonix Godinet (Wests Tigers) 12. Darcy Smith (Sydney Roosters) 13. Thomas Dellow (Cronulla Sharks) Interchange 14. Hayden Watson (Melbourne Storm) 15. Roman Tuaimau (Canberra Raiders) 16. Xzavier Timoteo (Sydney Roosters) 17. Christoper Petrus (Parramatta Eels) 18. David Bryenton (Canterbury Bulldogs)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store