Australian Cricket Legend Shane Warne Dies at Age 52
Mar 4, 2022
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 26: Former Australian cricketer and FOX Sports commentator Shane Warne is seen during day one of the Third Test match in the Ashes series between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 26, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Former Australian cricket player Shane Warne, considered one of the best in the history of the sport, has died at the age of 52 because of a suspected heart attack, per Andrew Miller of ESPN.
Warne was in Thailand at the time of his death.
"Shane was found unresponsive in his villa, and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived," Warne's management said in a statement to Jacob Polychronis of Fox News.
Warne helped Australia win the World Cup in 1999 and starred for the national team from 1992 to 2007. In 2000, he was one of five competitors named to Wisden's Cricketers of the Century list.
He finished his career with 708 wickets in Test matches, second-most in history behind Muttiah Muralitharan.
He retired from the sport in 2013 before spending time in broadcasting.
Warne's shocking death led to tributes from his native Australia and around the world:
The greatest to ever do it 🐐
No one played the game like Shane Warne and no one will ever come close.
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) March 4, 2022
World Cup winner, Ashes winner, Indian Premier League winner, 708 wickets in Test & 293 wickets in One Day Internationals. Australia cricket legend, @ShaneWarne, has passed away of suspected heart attack, aged 52. Rest In Peace, Spin King 🏏 pic.twitter.com/Teh83f7DG8
— Australian Embassy, USA 🇦🇺🇺🇸 (@AusintheUS) March 4, 2022
The news comes less than a day after the death of fellow Australian cricket star Rod Marsh. Warne offered a tribute on social media to Marsh, saying he was a "legend of our great game & an inspiration to so many young boys & girls."
Former Australian Cricketer Stuart MacGill Allegedly Kidnapped at Gunpoint
May 5, 2021
England captain Joe Root (R) chats with former Australian spinner Stuart MacGill (L) during training at the SCG in Sydney on January 3, 2018, a day ahead of the start of the fifth Ashes cricket Test match against Australia. / AFP PHOTO / WILLIAM WEST / --IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE-- (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
Australian cricketer Stuart MacGill was the victim of a kidnapping, according to Fergus Hunter and Laura Chung of the Sydney Morning Herald.
Hunter and Chung reported four men were arrested. Among those facing charges is Marino Sotiropoulos, who's the brother of MacGill's partner, Maria O’Meagher.
On April 14, Sotiropoulos and two others allegedly confronted MacGill and forced him to enter a vehicle.
"He was allegedly driven to a property at Bringelly, more than 60 kilometres away in the city’s south-west, where three men assaulted him and threatened him with a firearm," Hunter and Chung wrote.
MacGill allegedly was then driven to another location 40 kilometers away and released.
Australian authorities said the crime appears to have been financially motivated and that MacGill was initially concerned about reporting the kidnapping to police, per the BBC.
"To be standing on a street, to be dragged into a car, driven a remote location, physically assaulted, threatened with a firearm, held for a period of time and then dumped, I think you would be pretty worried," detective Anthony Holton said. "I know it is only an hour that he was held, but it would have been a horribly frightful hour to endure through."
MacGill only suffered minor injuries and didn't require additional medical care.
The 50-year-old retired from competitive cricket in 2008, having appeared in 44 Test matches for Australia over his career. He also agreed to a confidential settlement with Cricket Australia in 2017 after filing a AU$2.6 million lawsuit over injury payments he said he didn't receive.
He now serves as a general manager for a Sydney-area restaurant.
ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Results: Australia, Bangladesh Ends in No-Contest
Jun 5, 2017
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 05: Groundstaff pull the covers on as rain delays play during the ICC Champions Trophy match between Australia and Bangladesh at The Kia Oval on June 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
Australia saw their second ICC Champions Trophy game in succession end in a no-contest on Monday, as their match against Bangladesh was abandoned at The Oval in London due to rain.
Batting first, Bangladesh were able to muster a meagre total of 182 before being bowled out; Tamim Iqbal was the only man to provide any resistance with the bat, as he made a determined 95. Mitchell Starc was too hot to handle for the Tigers, as the Aussie picked up four wickets for 29 runs.
In response, Australia got off to a strong start before their chase was interrupted by showers. The umpires did seek to restart play, although Australia's run total of 83 for one wicket from 16 overs wasn't enough to warrant a result when the match was eventually called off.
Here are the matches to come and a reminder of how the action panned out on Monday.
Schedule
Tuesday, June 6: New Zealand vs. England (Group A)
Wednesday, June 7: South Africa vs. Pakistan (Group B)
Thursday, June 8: India vs. Sri Lanka (Group B)
Friday, June 9: New Zealand vs. Bangladesh (Group A)
Saturday, June 10: England vs. Australia (Group A)
Sunday, June 11: India vs. South Africa (Group B)
Monday, June 12: Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan (Group B)
For the full tables and schedule, visit the ICC website
Australia vs. Bangladesh
After winning the toss and deciding to bat, Bangladesh had the chance to apply some pressure to Australia. But the Tigers never really got going with the bat, Iqbal aside.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 05: Tamim Iqbal of Bangladesh swipes the air with his bat after being dismissed just short of his century during the ICC Champions trophy cricket match between Australia and Bangladesh at The Oval in London on June 5, 2017 (Photo
Indeed, of the top four batsman, only he made a double-figure score, with Soumya Sarkar (three), Imrul Kayes (six) and Mushfiqur Rahim (nine) all falling cheaply. It wasn't until Shakib Al Hasan arrived at the crease that Bangladesh were able to build some kind of partnership.
Iqbal was the bedrock of it. After a century in the previous match against England, he was full of poise again out in the middle, showing the patience and composure that was lacking in his team-mates.
Commentator Sanjay Manjrekar was full of praise for the Bangladesh star as he moved his team towards a semi-decent score:
Tamim Iqbal has looked world class in England so far. 👏👏👏#CT17#AUSvBAN
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) June 5, 2017
The frequent loss of partners at the other end was what hampered Bangladesh, as Starc went about cleaning up the tail.
The left-armer was causing so many problems to the less accomplished batsmen, and of his four wickets, three came in a brutal 43rd over, with Iqbal (95), Mashrafe Mortaza (zero) and Rubel Hossain (zero) all dismissed.
Australia's Mitchell Starc reacts during the ICC Champions Trophy match between Australia and Bangladesh at The Oval in London on June 5, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Glyn KIRK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Imag
Per AllOutCricket, it was some pretty ruthless bowling from the Aussie, as he consigned Bangladesh to a meagre 182:
W0WW00. Mitchell Starc, destroyer of tailenders, misses the hattrick and has to settle for a triple-wicket maiden. #CT17#AUSvBAN
At this stage, the only thing that looked capable of preventing a win for the men in green and gold was the weather. And after a solid start that saw David Warner pass 4,000 ODI runs, the heavens opened in south London with Australia well set on 83 for one.
After a lengthy delay and some improved conditions, a restart time was set for 8:30 p.m. BST. But as we can see courtesy of Sky Sports Cricket, the elements continued to frustrate:
As the rain got heavier again, the decision was made to call off the match.
While Australia were fortunate their game with New Zealand ended in a draw, they will no doubt feel points have slipped by here. It makes the upcoming match with England a must-win contest for the men from down under.
Cricket Betting Preview: India vs. Australia Odds, 3rd Test Analysis
Mar 15, 2017
Australia's Steve O'Keefe, center, holds up the ball after his fifth wicket in the second innings of the first test cricket match against India in Pune, India, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
The India-Australia Test series may be only halfway through, but already it's being proclaimed one of the great series of the modern era.
The score is 1-1 ahead of the crucial third Test at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi, a venue that has never hosted Test cricket before.
We can expect a dusty pitch which will greatly suit the spinners, who have taken the lion's share of the wickets so far in the series. Aussie spinners Steve O'Keefe and Nathan Lyon have 28 of the 40 Indian wickets to fall, while Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have 27 opposition scalps between them.
The ball has dominated at every turn, pun intended, with just one session in the series so far where no wickets have fallen.
India go into this match as $1.61 AUD betting favorites, according to AustralianGambling.com.au, with the draw at $4.40 and an Australia win at $4.75. That draw option would need a substantial intervention from the weather, something the forecasters can't see coming.
In terms of the series, India are $1.57, with Australia at $6 and a drawn series at $3.75.
Australia have endured the hindrance of needing to make two changes with Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Marsh both sent home injured. Marsh has a shoulder injury and could be out for months, while a foot problem has ended Starc's series.
Pat Cummins, who has not played a Test since 2011, will likely come in for Starc, while it's a three-way battle for Marsh's spot between Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Ashton Agar. Finger spinner Maxwell looks to be the front-runner there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzN3TA7zzAE
India may make one change with Murali Vijay likely to return, but their concerns are mainly with form, not injury.
Captain Virat Kohli entered the series averaging over 80 in the past 12 months but has come back down to earth with a thud, with just 40 runs in four knocks. Oddsmakers believe the old maxim about form being temporary and class being permanent, and they have installed him as a $3 favorite to top score for India in the first innings.
The honor of favoritism in the Australian lineup belongs to their skipper Steve Smith ($3.50), who has more runs than any other tourist in the series due mainly to his first Test hundred in Pune. Smith's ability to play the Indian spinners will be crucial to Australia's hopes of victory.
He needs more from vice-skipper David Warner, who has been dismissed by Ashwin nine times in 12 Tests including three times in this series.
The pressure is also on Nathan Lyon, who was unplayable with eight wickets in the Indian first innings in Bangalore, but could not get one in the second innings. He, O'Keefe and Maxwell—if he plays—will also be vital to the Australian hopes of victory.
But momentum is a powerful thing in Test cricket, and the Aussies face the likelihood of being 2-1 down unless they can find another heroic effort like that of O'Keefe in Pune. Whatever the result, it will be great to watch.
Cricket Betting Preview: India vs. Australia Odds, Test Analysis
Feb 22, 2017
Pakistan's Sarfraz Ahmed, left, plays at the ball that goes past Australia's Peter Handscomb during their cricket test match in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Australia embark on cricket's version of mission impossible Thursday when they attempt to win their first Test series on Indian soil since 2004.
The four Test series, which begins in Pune, shapes as a clash of the two best Test sides in the world, with India heavily favoured at $1.14 (AUD) to maintain their recent dominance over Australia on their home patch, according to AustralianGambling.com.au.
Australia have lost seven consecutive Tests in India and haven't won one since the 2004 series, which is their only series victory in India since 1969.
With that level of history against them, it is little wonder they are $12 to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy they won two years ago when India toured Australia and lost 2-0.
A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, with Australia revamping their side at the start of this summer after a disastrous series against South Africa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3XQAOxCv6w
Rejuvenated by new faces such as Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb, the Aussies cruised to a 3-0 Test series win over Pakistan to gain some much-needed confidence. But this shapes as a much tougher challenge.
The MCA ground at Pune is hosting its first-ever Test, but it is expected to present a typical five-day Indian pitch with plenty on offer for the batsmen.
India boast the two leading Test bowlers in the world at the moment in spinners Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, and the conditions should suit them.
Skipper Steve Smith is renowned as one of the finer players of spin in the world, and his performance will be crucial if Australia are going to avoid the collapses that blighted them last tour in 2013, when they lost 4-0.
Smith is the top-ranked batsmen in the world, but Indian superstar and current No. 2 Virat Kohli, who averages above 86 in the past six months, would love to take that title away from him during this series.
Kohli has enjoyed a long run of home Tests, as India have played nine consecutive home matches since September. He's made three double centuries in that run and is desperate to show up against the Aussies having made four centuries against them when these teams last met.
India go into the first Test as $1.67 favorites to win, with the draw priced at $3.90 and an Australian win at $5.
Cricket Betting Preview Australia vs. Sri Lanka T20 Series Odds, Analysis
Feb 15, 2017
Australia's Aaron Finch is bowled by New Zealand's Matt Henry for no score during their one day international cricket match in Sydney, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
International Twenty20 cricket is the only format of the game of cricket in which Australia have struggled to make an impression.
The Aussies have competed in six editions of the World Twenty20 and made it to just one final, which when you consider their status as a perennial powerhouse in both Test and one-day cricket is an underachievement.
The main reason for this has been priorities, with international T20 not given the respect it deserves when it comes to scheduling, as evidenced by the upcoming three-match T20 home series against Sri Lanka that starts on Friday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Australia's best cricketers are in India preparing for a four-match Test series that begins less than 24 hours after this T20 series finishes, which shows where Cricket Australia sees international T20.
But the scheduling oversight has allowed the best performing players from the recent Big Bash League to get their chance in the national side.
Chief among them are Ben Dunk and Michael Klinger, who along with Australia's skipper for this series, Aaron Finch, topped the run scorers for the BBL.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bosWiulc_EY
The Perth Scorchers pair of Jhye Richardson and Andrew Tye performed well with the ball in the BBL and also got the call-up, but surprisingly Sean Abbott, who led all wicket-takers with 20 from 10 BBL games, missed out.
Oddsmakers believe Australia, who defeated Sri Lanka twice in their most recent T20 series in September, will be too strong despite missing players of the caliber of Glenn Maxwell, David Warner and Mitchell Starc. They are $1.24 to win the opener with Sri Lanka at $4.10, according to AustralianGambling.com.au.
In terms of the leading run-scorer for the Aussies, Finch is at $3.50 to be the top scorer, with fellow opener Klinger at $4.50 in his debut and Travis Head at $5.
Sri Lanka are coming off a T20 series win in South Africa, where they lost the first game but won the next two. Opener Niroshan Dickwella was the Player of the Series, scoring 43 in the first match and a crucial 68 off 51 balls in the decider in Cape Town.
Asela Gunaratne struck 11 off the final over of that match to get his side over the line, and he and Dickwella shape up as important players, especially with the experienced Angelo Matthews missing the series through injury.
Upul Tharanga leads the team, which includes Lasith Malinga. The fast bowler has endured a horrific 12-month run with injuries and is the $4 favorite to get the most wickets for Sri Lanka in his first international match since last February.
Dickwella is a $4 favorite to top the scorers for the tourists, with young gun Kusal Mendis, who performed well in the Test series against Australia last year, the $5 second favorite along with Tharanga and Dilshan Munaweera.
Big Bash Final Betting Preview: Perth Scorchers vs. Sydney Sixers Cricket Odds
Jan 27, 2017
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 27: Moises Henriques of the Sixers talks to the media during a Big Bash League media opportunity at WACA on January 27, 2017 in Perth, Australia. The Perth Scorchers and the Sydney Sixers play each other in the Big Bash League and Women's Big Bash League Final matches tomorrow. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
The sixth edition of the Big Bash League has been an enormous success and comes to its conclusion on Saturday night at the WACA when the Perth Scorchers host the Sydney Sixers in the final in Perth, Australia.
The two teams had contrasting semi-final successes. The Scorchers dominated their qualifier against the Melbourne Stars from the beginning, thanks to a brilliant spell of bowling from Mitchell Johnson, who took three for three from four overs.
They restricted the Stars to 136 and chased that down comfortably with over three overs to spare to secure their position as hosts and a shot at a third BBL title.
The Sixers, meanwhile, had to take on the Brisbane Heat on enemy soil and only progressed after surviving the drama of a super over. Moises Henriques, who scored 64 in the innings proper, then smashed 18 of the Sixers' 22 in the super over—a total the Heat couldn't get near.
These two teams met at the Sydney Cricket Ground earlier in the tournament, with the Sixers restricting the Scorchers to their lowest total of the BBL campaign, eight for 130, with Mitchell Marsh the only Perth batsman to score more than 30.
The Sixers ran that total down with two overs to spare, with Sam Billings top scoring for 40 and A.J. Tye taking three for 15 for the losers.
But you couldn't get two more different pitches than the SCG and the WACA, and we can expect much higher scores in this match.
The market for the Scorchers' highest runscorer sees Michael Klinger, who has 263 runs for the tournament, as the $3.20 favourite, with Ian Bell a $4.20 pick and Sam Whiteman at $5.50.
Sean Abbott has the most wickets of any bowler in BBL 06 with 20 and has been the Sixers' leading wicket-taker in six of their nine games to date. He is $3.50 to do it again here, while Nathan Lyon, who took four wickets in his last match, is $3.75.
Similarly to the Scorchers, the Sixers haven't had a dominant runscorer through the tournament, but their leading man Daniel Hughes, who has 296 BBL 06 runs, is $3.75 top pick to lead their scorers in the final. Henriques is second pick at $4.50 and looks in good form heading into the decider.
Johnson is the bowler the Sixers most fear, and he is $3 to get the most wickets for the home side. Tye has 10 wickets for the BBL and is second pick at $3.50.
Cricket Odds: Australia vs. Pakistan ODI Series Betting Update, Analysis
Jan 18, 2017
Australia’s Josh Hazelwood reacts while bowling against New Zealand’s Kane Williamson on the fourth day of the second international cricket test match at Hagley Park Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016. (Ross Setford/SNPA via AP) NEW ZEALAND OUT
After Pakistan ended their 32-year wait for a one-day win against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday, the teams head west for a match at the WACA on Thursday with the best-of-five ODI series locked at one win apiece.
Taking a quick look at the odds, though, you wouldn't realize that Pakistan are coming off a win. They are set at $3.82 AUD, according to AustralianGambling.com.au, the exact same odds they were at for their win in the second game. The Aussies are at short odds of $1.27 to regain the series lead.
Australia will have to do it without a pair of Mitches, though. Mitchell Starc will be rested, and Mitch Marsh was ruled out because of a right-shoulder complaint. The latter's replacement will be Victorian Peter Handscomb, who will make his debut.
Handscomb will slot into the middle order, but it's been the top order that's caused the most headaches for the home side. In fact, it's looked shaky for much of the ODI summer, with the team relying on individual brilliance to dig them out of trouble on numerous occasions.
At the Gabba in the series opener, Australia crashed to five for 78 before being rescued by a Matthew Wade century, and in Sunday's loss, Australia were four for 86 before being bowled out for 220.
The visitors had no such troubles, with Mohammad Hafeez scoring 72 crucial runs to set up the chase of the mediocre total. The win came with 2.2 overs to spare and should give them the belief that they can do it again in this one.
Interestingly, the Aussies have played six ODIs against Pakistan at the WACA. The tourists were victorious on the first four occasions, with the hosts bouncing back to win the last two.
Australia will be hoping for a fast and bouncy wicket at the WACA, with big Billy Stanlake coming into the team for Starc. Stanlake's inclusion means the hosts are going with a four-pronged pace attack.
Pakistan's quicks bowled well in Melbourne, though, especially Mohammad Amir, who finished with figures of three for 47 from 9.2 overs.
Stanlake is $4 to get most wickets for Australia, behind Josh Hazlewood, who is the $3.75 favourite along with James Faulkner.
Amir will love getting on to the bouncy Perth wicket and is $3.75 to be Pakistan's leading wicket-taker of the match.
In terms of the overall series, Australia are $1.10 and Pakistan are $7. However, that would change significantly should Pakistan secure another win on Thursday ahead of the fourth ODI in Sydney on Sunday.
Cricket Odds: Australia vs. Pakistan ODI Series Betting Preview, Analysis
Jan 11, 2017
Australia's David Warner hits a six against Pakistan during their cricket test match in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Jan. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Having rediscovered their winning mojo after a disastrous start to the summer of cricket, Australia head into the five-match, one-day international series against Pakistan with plenty of confidence after whitewashing the tourists in their recently completed Test series.
The World Cup champions have been totally dominant over Pakistan in recent years in this format, winning 12 of the past 14 matches between the two, including the past five.
It all points to a comfortable couple of weeks for Australia, but with an important tour of India looming next month, this is no time to flirt with form.
David Warner, who is $3.40 to top-score for the Aussies in the opening match in Brisbane on Friday, put on two brutal knocks in the recent Test in Sydney and will be hoping to continue that form, while skipper Steve Smith, who is $3.75 to top-score in Game 1, will be crucial in the Indian series and will want a strong finish to his Aussie summer.
But much of the interest will be in big-hitting Queenslander Chris Lynn, who has earned a national call-up off his extraordinary Big Bash campaign for the Brisbane Heat.
Lynn looks an even cleaner hitter of the ball than Warner, having smashed 26 sixes in five Big Bash games, and the home fans will be particularly keen to see him perform well at the Gabba. He is $6 to top-score on his ODI debut.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ku9bVh7MdI
The selection of Lynn and another Queenslander in 204-centimetre-tall, fast-bowler Billy Stanlake is a nod to Australia's preparations for its World Cup defense in 2019.
Stanlake is also likely to play in the opening match, with the Aussies resting Josh Hazlewood, who has had a busy summer to date. Mitchell Starc, $3.14 favorite to get most wickets for the Aussies, is likely to be rested later in the series.
Australia are $1.27 to win the opening match at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, with Pakistan at $3.82. The Gabba was of course the venue where Pakistan got close to scoring one of the great Test wins last month, with a mammoth fourth-innings run chase falling just short against Australia.
Whether that gives Pakistan any confidence is questionable. Azhar Ali leads a team that has a few new faces, but two of their important players, wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed and 216-centimetre paceman Mohammad Irfan, have returned home because of family reasons.
It leaves them a little light in experience, with Ali ($4 to be Pakistan's top scorer at the Gabba) and Shoaib Malik ($5) likely to carry the load with the bat, while Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz, who are both $4 to lead the wicket takers in the first ODI, will again be the front line with the ball.
Recent history tells us Pakistan are a better Test side than one-day side, and having come up short in the Test series, it's hard to see them putting up much of a fight in the ODI matches. With India looming, Australia will be focused on strong, professional performances, and that spells trouble for the tourists.
