Latest news with #ScottBoland
The Australian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Australian
BBL 2025-26: Melbourne Stars re-sign Mark Steketee
The 'proven wicket-taker' is back. Experienced seamer Mark Steketee has penned a one-season extension with the Melbourne Stars ahead of the 2025-26 season. Steketee has captured 104 Big Bash wickets at an average of 23 across his 78 appearances with the Stars and Brisbane Heat. Stars high performance manager, and ex-Australian quick, Clint McKay said Steketee was an important piece of the Stars' fast-bowling stocks. 'Full credit to Mark, he worked his way into the tournament and then capitalised on his opportunity in the attack,' McKay said. Melbourne Stars have re-signed fast bowler Mark Steketee. Picture:'He is a proven wicket-taker in the BBL and a fierce competitor and hopefully he can take the momentum and belief from last season into this year. 'We're really pleased with our fast-bowling stocks with Mark complementing Peter Siddle, Tom Curran, Scott Boland and Liam Hatcher.' Steketee said the Stars set the benchmark for the upcoming season with their red-hot run to the finals last campaign. 'I've loved my last couple of years at the Stars and the MCG is an amazing place to play when you're on a roll like the team was last year,' Steketee said. 'Hopefully, the boys can keep that momentum going and get back to the finals again in BBL|15.' Steketee's signing follows the two-year extension given to coach Peter Moores earlier this off-season. Tyler Lewis Sports reporter Tyler Lewis is a sports reporter based in Melbourne's south east. @tmlew_ Tyler Lewis
The Australian
4 days ago
- General
- The Australian
Josh Hazlewood powers Royal Challengers Bengaluru into IPL final
Josh Hazlewood showed he's got no issues with his shoulder after snaring three wickets in his first game for a month to help push Royal Challengers Bengaluru into their first Indian Premier League final since 2016. Having overcome the shoulder issue that he was managing in India, Hazlewood ripped through the Punjab Kings' top order, claiming the prized wicket of captain Shreyas Iyer and then fellow Aussie Josh Inglis, and finished with 3-21. It was perfect timing for Hazlewood, who is in a one-on-one battle with fellow Test quick Scott Boland for a place in the Australian team for the World Test Championship final at Lord's. Australian coach Andrew McDonald declared earlier this week that only one of the pair would take on South Africa and was happy with Hazlewood to round out his preparation in India. 'Whatever decision we make, it's never going to be a popular one,' he said. 'We leave Scott Boland out, we polarise Victoria, we leave Josh Hazlewood out, we polarise NSW. 'We see them as a unit, co-exiting and the more they can give each other a bit of reprieve from the rigours of Test cricket, it makes our team all the better.' Hazlewood will now be the last Australian to arrive in London for the WTC final, but McDonald was happy for him to be playing cricket, confident there was enough time to get red-ball ready. 'We have seven days of training. It will be good to see everyone come back together … it's a muddled mess in terms of the prep,' he told SEN. 'It always causes you unease when there is a T20 tournament right up to the start of the WTC. I'm not saying it's perfect having people all over the world, but we are well versed in preparing players remotely, having guys with us and bringing that all together. 'This has been a two-year journey, right back to the last WTC final. This is a priority for our group, they have zeroed in on it.' Australia will take on South Africa from June 11.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Ricky Ponting questions move for WTC final as Sam Konstas and Scott Boland cop blow
Aussie cricket legend Ricky Ponting feels Sam Konstas and Scott Boland will miss out on selection for the World Test Championship final despite not necessarily agreeing with Marnus Labuschagne's potential promotion up the order. Cameron Green is set to make an immediate return to the Aussie X to take on South Africa at Lord's on 11 June after returning from a back injury. Despite missing the test series against India over the summer, Green has returned in strong form during a second-division County cricket stint. The allrounder has blasted a number of centuries and is likely to slot back into the starting XI. However, Green's return is going to force someone out. And despite plenty of calls for it to be Labuschagne, who is on an extended lean run of form, Ponting believes the unfortunate player could be Konstas. Labushagne has struggled for runs across the last 18 months having failed with the bat against India and Sri Lanka last summer. The No.3 batter averaged just 25.36 across the two series and has so far failed in his County cricket move. The former World No.1 Test batter is woefully out of form, but there are suggestions the selectors will keep him in the side and move him up to opener to accomodate the return of Green. And despite questioning the move, Ponting feels the Aussie team will do just that. "I actually think that that will go with Labuschagne," Ponting said on the ICC Review podcast. "Looking back to the last World Test Championship Final there was some talk about David Warner and whether he should hold his spot going into that. "And there was a bit of talk around the team about wanting to get through that period or that phase or if you like, with the same group of players and give them the chance to, to be able to play off in that one-off final. Labuschagne has been through this cycle with the team, albeit batting at No.3 and I think they will want to get through the cycle with the same players so I think Labuschagne will get the nod. "Whether I agree with it or not, it's a different will be revealed in the next couple of weeks." Ponting believes Green will slot in at No.3, while Smith will remain at No.4. This will see Konstas miss out after making his exciting debut during the series against India. Ponting also weighed-in on the exclusion of Boland. Boland took over Josh Hazlewood's position during the India series and starred at the MCG and SCG to help Australia surge to victory. Hazlewood failed to play the final two tests due to a back injury, but has returned to the IPL in sensational form. The Aussie quick has been the best bowler of the T20 tournament and he was also arguably the best of the Australian quartet across the last 18 months, before his injury. Hazlewood missed his side's last three games due to a shoulder issue, but the quick stamped his Test claims with a superb spell of bowling against Ponting's Punjab Kings to brush off any injury concerns. And while it will be hard on Boland, Ponting feels the selectors will remain faithful to Hazlewood for the one-off test with South Africa. "And the one that everyone talks about the last couple of years is the whole Hazlewood (versus) Boland one," Ponting added. "It's a really tough selection every time because every time Boland plays, he just does so well. But unfortunately, if Hazlewood is fit, I think Hazlewood comes straight back into the team." Australia's Test No.3 has faced growing calls to be axed for next month's showpiece red-ball final against South Africa at Lord's with his form dropping off a cliff. Labuschagne only averaged 25.36 with the bat across the summer, after disappointing Test series against India and Sri Lanka. That came after an equally underwhelming previous year for Labuschagne, where he averaged just 27.08 across the summer of 2023/24. And the 30-year-old only managed scores of 23, 0 and 61 in his three Sheffield Shield innings for Queensland after those Test series.
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Josh Hazlewood returns from injury lay-off with a bang in India, pushes case for a spot in the World Test Championship final
Josh Hazlewood showed he's got no issues with his shoulder after snaring three wickets in his first game for a month to help push Royal Challengers Bengaluru into their first Indian Premier League final since 2016. Having overcome the shoulder issue that he was managing in India, Hazlewood ripped through the Punjab Kings' top order, claiming the prized wicket of captain Shreyas Iyer and then fellow Aussie Josh Inglis, and finished with 3-21. It was perfect timing for Hazlewood, who is in a one-on-one battle with fellow Test quick Scott Boland for a place in the Australian team for the World Test Championship final at Lord's. Australian coach Andrew McDonald declared earlier this week that only one of the pair would take on South Africa and was happy with Hazlewood to round out his preparation in India. 'Whatever decision we make, it's never going to be a popular one,' he said. 'We leave Scott Boland out, we polarise Victoria, we leave Josh Hazlewood out, we polarise NSW.  Line. Length. Lethal. 🥵 — Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 29, 2025 'We see them as a unit, co-exiting and the more they can give each other a bit of reprieve from the rigours of Test cricket, it makes our team all the better.' Hazlewood will now be the last Australian to arrive in London for the WTC final, but McDonald was happy for him to be playing cricket, confident there was enough time to get red-ball ready. 'We have seven days of training. It will be good to see everyone come back together … it's a muddled mess in terms of the prep,' he told SEN. 'It always causes you unease when there is a T20 tournament right up to the start of the WTC. I'm not saying it's perfect having people all over the world, but we are well versed in preparing players remotely, having guys with us and bringing that all together. 'This has been a two-year journey, right back to the last WTC final. This is a priority for our group, they have zeroed in on it.' Australia will take on South Africa from June 11.
Int'l Cricket Council
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Five decisions Australia must make ahead of WTC Final
Reigning ICC World Test Championship winners Australia named a full strength squad for this year's final and will head into the one-off decider as the favourites for back-to-back titles. Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster. Travelling reserve: Brendan Doggett Just how they shape their XI for the Lord's contest remains to be seen, with the Aussies blessed with a wealth of riches in all departments and no apparent weakness in any area. Much will depend on the conditions in London when they decide on the make-up of their side, but Australian selectors do have a few questions to answer prior to the first ball that will be bowled on June 11. We take a look at five key questions facing Australia.
