Samuels to miss series

Adam Cooper All-rounder's facial injuries keep him out of West Indies' squad to tour Australia.

Big Bash rules set to change

Adam Cooper and Jesse Hogan Cricket Australia could change schedule and competition rules for substitutions.

Cricket

Players must be ready to fire in Big Bash

Adam Cooper When Aaron Finch took to Shane Warne last week at Etihad Stadium, it must have been tempting for some to grant the Big Bash's marquee player leeway for a limited pre-season campaign.

Season takes shape before ball is bowled

Adam Cooper WHEN Aaron Finch took to Shane Warne last week at Etihad Stadium, it must have been tempting for some to grant the Big Bash League's marquee player leeway for a limited pre-season campaign.

Hurricane Warner pressuring selectors

Adam Cooper Australian captain Ricky Ponting admits David Warner's remarkable batting could make cricket's new star hard to resist when it comes to naming the one-day side.

Warne, Moody not keen on England

Warne, Moody not keen on move to England

Adam Cooper and Justin Chadwick Only the offer of a lifetime will tempt Shane Warne or Tom Moody to consider coaching England.

Hayden gets backing from Nielsen, Hussey

Adam Cooper Australia insist out-of-sorts opener Matthew Hayden is not ready to retire and wants to take part in their two major tours of 2009.

Vics confident about Champions League

Adam Cooper Victoria are confident they can take their peerless Twenty20 cricket form to the world stage when they compete in the Champions League in India next month.

Holland going well, but short on sleep

Adam Cooper Young Victorian spinner Jon Holland is a man short on sleep as his nerves get the better of him before his state-level cricket debut.

Warne sympathises with struggling Lee

Adam Cooper Shane Warne doubts Brett Lee will ever experience anything tougher than leading a Test attack in India while trying to overcome the breakdown of his marriage.

Warne spin camp has Clarke ready to bowl

Adam Cooper A spin camp with Shane Warne has Michael Clarke ready to become more than just an occasional bowler in next month's Test cricket series in India.

Lee back, spinners a worry for Australia

Adam Cooper Brett Lee's looming return to bowl for Australia in India has been tarnished by injuries to the cricket side's two main spinning options.

McGain takes early lead in spin-off

Adam Cooper Bryce McGain took the early lead in the battle to earn selection as Australia's specialist spinner on the tour of India with three wickets in a warm-up game.

Hussey, Hayden in club-vs-country row

Adam Cooper Cricket Australia is embroiled in a club-versus-country tug of war against the powerful Indian Premier League over star batsmen Mike Hussey and Matthew Hayden.

Warne, Ponting bury comeback debate

Philip Henderson and Adam Cooper Spin king Shane Warne has killed off any lingering talk of a Test return before Australian skipper Ricky Ponting firmly buried the debate.

Warne has no time for Test comeback

Adam Cooper While Australia's cricket selectors convene to discuss their spin options, Shane Warne will be playing poker and spending time with his children.

Lights, camera, action for IPL

Adam Cooper Ricky Ponting and Anil Kumble will be locking horns once again when the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicks off this weekend.

Aussies eyeing IPL action before Windies

By Adam Cooper Australia's leading cricketers are likely to be granted a fortnight of paydirt in the Indian Premier League before they tour the Caribbean.

IPL won't ruin cricket, insists Gilly

By Adam Cooper & Tim Clarke Adam Gilchrist believes international commitments will reign supreme and the Indian Premier League could become cricket's equivalent of a gold watch.

Gilly keen on Indian Premier League

By Adam Cooper Retiring Australian wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist has confirmed his desire to be a marquee player in the inaugural Indian Premier League.