Ed Cowan's stocks rise after defection of teenage star Jake Doran to Tasmania
Chris Barrett and Andrew Wu The prospects of Ed Cowan landing a contract with NSW have risen substantially after confirmation of teenage prodigy Jake Doran's departure to Tasmania.
Bowl short to Australia at your peril, Steve Smith tells India
![Ducking and diving: Shane Watson avoids a short ball during the match against Pakistan.](http://web.archive.org./web/20150324084259im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/03/24/6382311/Thumbnail977209691m6notimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.1m6hzd.png1427178300298.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Chris Barrett Steve Smith expects India to try to play on a supposed Australian vulnerability against the short ball in Thursday's World Cup semi-final but says it could backfire on the defending champions.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 semi-final: SCG curator Tom Parker the man of the moment ahead of Australia's clash with India
![The Tonk dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20150324084259im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/03/23/6378935/Thumbnail9768535011wvlqimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.1m5qhy.png1427112811525.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Chris Barrett Tom Parker, the unassuming Sydney curator, has become the most wanted man at the SCG in the lead-up to Thursday's semi-final.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 semi-final: Aaron Finch desperate to iron out batting kinks before it is too late
![Lacking form: Aaron Finch walks back after being dismissed for 20 against Scotland in Australia's last group match.](http://web.archive.org./web/20150324084259im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/03/23/6379242/Thumbnail976908601m5xk1image.related.thumbnail.320x214.1m5ur0.png1427113086274.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Chris Barrett An hour or so before the bulk of the Australian team showed up at the SCG on Monday, Aaron Finch was already staring down his issues in the nets.
Bob Hawke visits Australian training before World Cup semi-final against India
![Words of wisdom: former Prime Minister Bob Hawke talks to Michael Clarke and other members of the Australian team on Monday.](http://web.archive.org./web/20150324084259im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/03/23/6378985/Thumbnail976880611m5upaimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.1m5sl9.png1427096225609.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Chris Barrett The last few times Bob Hawke has been at the SCG it's turned out the same way. He's been handed a schooner by a giddy spectator at the New Year's Test, and relenting to a chanting and well-oiled...
ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final 2015: India will struggle to match firepower of Riaz against Australia, says former pace coach Joe Dawes
![Wahab Riaz has words with Shane Watson during the quarter-final in Adelaide.](http://web.archive.org./web/20150324084259im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/03/22/6375943/Thumbnail976426711m54kbimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.1m4tkf.png1427018135111.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Chris Barrett Former India fast-bowling coach Joe Dawes doubts whether India can replicate the devastating impact Wahab Riaz had when they play Australia in Thursday's semi-final and believes they will be...
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: 'I'll pay the fine': Brian Lara slams ICC for sanctioning Pakistan's Wahab Riaz over Shane Watson showdown
![The Tonk dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20150324084259im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/03/22/6375042/Thumbnail9764019011wvlqimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.1m4rni.png1427067172196.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Chris Barrett It was a display of high-voltage fast bowling and theatrics that won't quickly be forgotten - particularly by its target Shane Watson - and the fact it cost Pakistan's Wahab Riaz half of his match...
ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final 2015: Glenn Maxwell says he can be Australia's frontline spinner against India
![Glenn Maxwell now looms as an even more important figure in the semi-final because of his bowling.](http://web.archive.org./web/20150324084259im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/03/22/6375933/Thumbnail976444291m55hkimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.1m4ux9.png1427016886636.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Chris Barrett Glenn Maxwell is ready to step up as a frontline spinner for Australia in Thursday's semi-final against India and they may need him to do so.
Cricket World Cup 2015: David Warner hopes his Oriental Lady can spring Slipper Day upset
![The Tonk dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20150324084259im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/03/20/6371572/Thumbnail9760467911wvlqimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.1m4093.png1426855431201.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Chris Barrett David Warner's focus on Friday was squarely on Australia's World Cup quarter-final in Adelaide but on Saturday his attention will turn to Sydney, and specifically Rosehill, where he has a runner on...
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Umpires furious over attack on their integrity by ICC President Mustafa Kamal
![Let off: The umpires ruled in favour of Rohit Sharma of India](http://web.archive.org./web/20150324084259im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/03/20/6372121/Thumbnail976115421m4bg4image.related.thumbnail.320x214.1m45jq.png1426863399758.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Chris Barrett World Cup umpires have been left seething over an attack on their integrity by one of the International Cricket Council's most senior figures, with the prospect of taking legal action discussed on...
Australian cricket team is still the country's most popular side 'followed by daylight', says James Sutherland
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Chris Barrett Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has hit back at claims by his Football Federation Australia counterpart David Gallop that the Socceroos were now the only national sporting team...
James Sutherland says cricket - not soccer - is Australia's national game
![Still No.1: Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland launched a strong defence of the game following comments from FFA CEO David Gallop.](http://web.archive.org./web/20150324084259im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/03/18/6364605/Thumbnail975339451m2ho4image.related.thumbnail.320x214.1m2ho9.png1426726187654.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Chris Barrett Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has hit back at claims by his Football Federation Australia counterpart David Gallop that the Socceroos were now the only national sporting team...
ICC Cricket World Cup: Jake Doran's D-day looming with NSW Blues over contract
![English batsman Jonathan Trott.](http://web.archive.org./web/20150324084259im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/03/18/6364645/Thumbnail9751525112if58image.related.thumbnail.320x214.1m238z.png1420484725564.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Chris Barrett, Andrew Wu Cricket doesn't do contract sagas like the football codes but there is one that has dominated discussion at Driver Avenue in recent weeks that is about to reach its conclusion.
Cricket World Cup: Shane Watson cherishes Sydney bromance with fellow all-rounder Glenn Maxwell
![The Tonk dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20150324084259im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/03/17/6360907/Thumbnail9747871211wvlqimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.1m1b20.png1426588933336.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Chris Barrett Glenn Maxwell credited Shane Watson as being an important shoulder for him to lean on during a tough trot in his personal life and it seems the bromance between the two allrounders goes both ways.
Cricket World Cup: 'Relaxed' South Africa skip training as captain AB de Villiers promises they won't choke in quarter-final against Sri Lanka
![South African captain AB de Villiers speaks at a press conference at the Sydney Cricket Ground ahead of the 2015 Cricket World Cup quarter-final match between Sri Lanka and South Africa in Sydney on March 17, 2015. AFP PHOTO / INDRANIL MUKHERJEE -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE--](http://web.archive.org./web/20150324084259im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/03/17/6360339/Thumbnail974757771m153mimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.1m18sh.png1426586071273.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Chris Barrett South Africa are preaching relaxation as their route to World Cup redemption, skipping training on the eve of their quarter-final at the SCG as they declared they are "not going to choke" again at...
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Ireland's John Mooney hopes attack will not deter others from talking about mental health
![Targeted: Ireland's John Mooney.](http://web.archive.org./web/20150324084259im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/03/12/6345604/Thumbnail67293628141397image.related.thumbnail.320x214.142c3g.png1426143309035.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Chris Barrett John Mooney says he hopes the attack on him doesn't discourage others with mental health problems from speaking up.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Zimbabwean journalist may be tossed out of World Cup and future events over 'vicious attack' on Irish seamer John Mooney
![The Tonk dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20150324084259im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/03/11/6342395/Thumbnail6723819411wvlqimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.1415bm.png1426087045848.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Chris Barrett It is the World Cup story that has had thousands shaking their heads in disbelief and tournament organisers were on Wednesday night considering revoking the accreditation of the Zimbabwean journalist...
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Afghanistan can shock England in World Cup, says coach Andy Moles
![England in their sights: Afghanistan's coach Andy Moles directs players during a training session.](http://web.archive.org./web/20150324084259im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/03/11/6342185/Thumbnail67249479141h8vimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.141e13.png1426087095342.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Chris Barrett Crashing out of the World Cup at the hands of Bangladesh was bad enough. Losing to Afghanistan would be almost unthinkable.
Is Jason Gillespie the man for England coaching job after disastrous World Cup exit?
![The Tonk dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20150324084259im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/02/12/6254389/Thumbnail6610079811wvlqimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.13crpa.png1423742810715.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Chris Barrett Could the poor old Poms have an Australian in charge by the time the Ashes begins this year?
Rubel Hossain is Bangladesh's cricket hero and may soon be cleared of rape allegations
![Banglandesh paceman Rubel Hossain (2nd R) celebrates with teammates after dismissing England's batsman Eoin Morgan (not pictured) during the 2015 Cricket World Cup Pool A match between Bangladesh and England at the Adelaide Oval on March 9, 2015. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN
--IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE--](http://web.archive.org./web/20150324084259im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/03/10/6338999/Thumbnail67196739140dm2image.related.thumbnail.320x214.1409c3.png1426070581180.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Chris Barrett Only two months ago Rubel Hossain was behind bars. He spent three days in custody and only when he was granted bail was he permitted to join his country's World Cup squad.