I've wanted to play a season with my favorites for some time and I now have opportunity.

Ricky Ponting



Mitchell Johnson



Michael Hussey



and the rest of the squad will travel to Dubai to take on Pakistan and then venture to England for the World Twenty/20 and defend the "Ashes". Captain Ponting and his mates will have their hands full.

Australia vs. Pakistan



The schedule for Australia vs. Pakistan in the UAE has been released.

4/21 Dubai W
4/23 Dubai W
4/27 Abu Dhabi W
5/1 Abu Dhabi W
5/5 Abu Dhabi W

Australia will announce their traveling squad in the next few days.

Dubai Cricket Stadium



Abu Dhabi Cricket Stadium

Australia Names Squad for Pakistan Series

Australia has chosen a young an inexperienced squad to travel the UAE to meet Pakistan. Michael Clarke will captain the team in place of Ricky Ponting.



Squad
Michael Clarke-Captain
David Warner
Shane Watson
Shaun Marsh
Brad Haddin
Luke Ronchi
Adam Voges
Callum Ferguson
James Hopes
Cameron White
Nathan Bracken
Stuart Clark
Ben Hilfenhaus
Mitchell Johnson
Peter Siddle
Brett Lee

Australia vs. Pakistan
First ODI
Dubai

The weather is hot and the wicket looks even. There may be something in it for the batsmen, but the pacemen may find something as well. Australia has brought an all fast bowler attack. Pakistan wins the toss and Captain Mohammad Yousef chooses to bat.

Pakistan Innings

Brett Lee is returning from injury and he announces his arrival on the second ball. Imran Farhat is trapped lbw for naught. Peter Siddle steps up and bowls Mohammad Yousef for five. Lee comes back to stop Khurran Manzoor lbw for three and Kamran Akmal for six. Misbah Ul-Haq builds a little foundation before Ben Hilfenhaus ends his day on 28. Fawad Alam falls to Hilfenhaus as well. Afridi reaches 50 on 51 balls and Pakistan is steady momentarily. The tail gives very little fight as Mohammad Aamer falls to Hilfenhaus, Shoaib Akhtar to Lee and Sarfraz Ahmed to Siddle. Pakistan ends 166 all out with Afridi leading the way with 68.

Australia Innings

The aggressive David Warner and Shaun Marsh are the openers. Warner scores a half century in 68 balls, but falls on the next delivery as he edges one to Kanran Akmal from a Saad Ajmal delivery. Marsh reaches 50 on 71 deliveries. He reaches 69 before falling to the pace of Shoaib Akhtar. Michael Clarke pulls one through the leg side for a boundary and the Aussies are 2/170 and win by eight wickets. Brett Lee is named "Man of the Match" for his 4/38.



These two teams return to action in Dubai on April 23.

Australia vs. Pakistan
Second ODI
Dubai

Australia makes three changes for the second ODI. Nathan Bracken replaces Brett Lee, James Hopes is in for Adam Voges and Cameron White replaces Callum Ferguson. The weather is hot and the wicket looks even, something for bowlers and batsmen alike. Australia wins the toss and sends Pakistan in.

Pakistan Innings

In the first match, Brett Lee struck on the second ball. This time Nathan Bracken goes one better and bowls Imran Farhat on the first ball. He dismisses Captain Mohammad Yousef for naught and Bracken has a two wicket maiden. Mitchell Johnson then catches Khurran Manzoor lbw for a duck and Pakistan is 3/0. Misbah ul-Haq puts 17 on the board before Peter Siddle bowls him. Siddle comes back to stop Kamran Akmal for 32. Shaid Afridi does his best again. He reaches a half century on 48 balls. Shane Watson strikes next by trapping Shoaib Aktar plumb. Ben Hilfenhaus dismisses Afridi for 61 and Watson closes things out by bowling Saeed Ajmal/ Pakistan ends 167 all out.

Australia Innings

The wicket seems to be playing tougher today. David Warner goes for a duck courtesy of Mohammad Aamer. Shaun Marsh is the next to go, on nine, caught behind by Kamran Akmal from a Shoaib Aktar bouncer. Captain Michael Clarke is looked upon the steady the ship. He reaches 20, but falls to Aamer. Cameron White scores only one before Ajmal sends him to the shed. Shane Watson takes over. The Queenslander records a half century on 67 balls. He is partnered by James Hopes, who reaches 40 before being stumped by Akmal and Afridi. Brad Haddin pulls two successive boundaries through leg side and the Aussies win by five wickets. Shane Watson is named "Man of the Match" for his 72*.



The series moves to Abu Dhabi on April 27.

Australia vs. Pakistan
Third ODI
Abu Dhabi

Australia continues to juggle their side. Brett Lee returns in place of Ben Hilfenhaus, Stuart Clark replaces Peter Siddle, Ronchi takes the gloves from Brad Haddin and Callum Ferguson replaces David Warner, which means Shane Watson will open with Shaun Marsh. The weather remains hot and the pitch looks to be a belter. Pakistan wins the toss and Mohammad Yousuf chooses to bat.

Pakistan Innings

Nathan Bracken takes the ball first. He bowls a wide and then dismisses Imran Frahat for a duck. Three ducks in a row for Farhat. Mitchell Johnson traps Faisal Athar lbw. Brett Lee takes the ball and dismisses Misbah Ul-Haq. Kamran Akmal is the next to fall. A victim of Stuart Clark. Mohammad Yousuf reaches 50 in 61 balls and Fawad Alam joins him after only 35 balls. Yousuf gets to 97, but Bracken clean bowls him to deny the Captain three figures. Shaid Afridi's hot streak ends when Bracken dismisses him for a duck. The left armer then traps Mohammad Aamer lbw for two. Part time leg spinner Cameron White and Luke Ronchi combine to stump Shoaib Akhtar. Alam reaches 93 before Lee bowls him. Clark traps Shabbir Ahmed lbw in the final over to end Pakistan's day 266 all out. That is a much better batting performance.

Australia Innings

Shaun Marsh and Shane Watson would like to build a good foundation. It doesn't happen. Marsh falls, on seven, to Mohammad Aamer. Watson makes only three, also a victim of Aamer. Captain Michael Clarke has been quite in this series, but today he scores 44 before being trapped plumb by Saeed Ajmal. Cameron White steps up an scores 32, but Shaid Afridi stops him. James Hopes gets 24 before Aamer adds another wicket. Callum Ferguson and Luke Ronchi are in the middle and Australia are in trouble. They put together a 91 run partnership, Ferguson ending with 62 and Ronchi with 59. It doesn't look like it will be enough. Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee carry the hopes for Australia. Johnson falls, on seven, to Shoaib Akhtar. Nathan Bracken steps in. The Aussies need six in the final over. They score singles on the first two balls and now need four from four. Bracken uses a straight drive for two and then on the final ball, pulls one into a open space for two and the Aussies win by two wickets. Bracken picks up "Man of the Match" honors for his 4/68 and his unlikely batting prowess.



This win seals the series for Australia. The two teams return to action at Abu Dhabi on May 1.

Australia vs. Pakistan
Fourth ODI
Abu Dhabi

The weather remains hot, but today's wicket looks a little bit uneven. The bowlers may have something to say. Australia continues to rotate their lineup. David Warner returns to open, replacing Callum Ferguson. Adam Voges steps in for James Hopes. Brad Haddin takes the gloves from Luke Ronchi. Two bowlers who have been very sharp, Brett Lee and Natahn Bracken, take the day off and are replaced by Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle. Pakistan wins the toss and Mohammad Yousuf chooses to bat.

Pakistan Innings

Imran Farhat is consistent. Four matches, four ducks. Peter Siddle straps him lbw with the third ball of the match. Siddle then clean bowls Mohammad Yousuf to take two wickets in the first over. Misbah Ul-Haq falls to Mitchell Johnson after scoring 20. Kamran Akmal is on four when Stuart Clark dismisses him. Fawad Alam goes for five, courtesy of Ben Hilfenhaus. Taufeeq Umer has built a nice innings. He gets to 42 and is then dismissed by Clark. Mohammad Aamer falls to the leg break of Cameron White. Shahid Afridi continues his hot batting by scoring another 50. Shoaib Akhtar and Shabbir Ahmed are both trapped in front by Shane Watson. Mitchell Johnson dismisses Saeed Ajmal for a duck to end the innings. Pakistan are 185 all out.

Australia Innings

The Aussie openers have not been sharp and that continues. Shaun Marsh falls to Shoaib Akhtar for five and Mohammad Aamer stops David Warner for nine. Michael Clarke falls, on six, to Akhtar and the Aussies are struggling. Cameron White adds only six before Saeed Ahmed sends him back to the shed. Shane Watson has been very steady in the series and he scores anther 50. He gets to 71 before Imran Farhat dismisses him. Adam Voges adds 47 and together Watson and Voges put up a 96 partnership. Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson finish things for Australia, who win by three wickets. Watson is "Man of the Match" for his 71 and 2/17.



Australia go for the whitewash on May 5 in Abu Dhabi.

Australia vs. Pakistan
Fifth ODI
Abu Dhabi

Australia go for the whitewash today. The weather remains hot and the wicket looks even. Mohammad Yousuf wins the toss and Pakistan will bat.

Pakistan Innings

Brett Lee has had a very good series. His injuries seem behind him. He traps Taufeeq Umer lbw for four. Imran Farhat avoids another duck, but falls on 10 to Nathan Bracken. Misbah Ul-Haq adds 30 before Ben Hilfenhaus traps him in front. Captain Mohammad Yousuf gets to 46, but Luke Ronchi and Bracken combine to stump him. Kamran Akmal is another victim of Bracken. He scores 30. Shahid Afridi has been the star for Pakistan. Mitchell Johnson steps up and stops him for only 16. Mohammad Amar is next to go. James Hopes clean bowls him. Fawad Alam has started a nice innings, but Shane Watson ends his day on 33. Lee returns to trap Shabbir Ahmed lbw and Bracken sends the stumps flying and Shoaib Akhtar and Pakistan are finished. They are 190 all out. Not a bad score.

Australia Innings

Australia are searching for openers for the upcoming World Twenty/20. No one has stepped up yet. Shane Watson fails his test. He is dismissed, on six, by Mohammad Aamer. David Warner seems in good nick today. He reaches 50 in 58 balls. Michale Clarke is stopped on 33 by Saeed Ajmal. Callum Ferguson adds 36 before Aamer sends him back to the shed. All the time, David Warner has kept the scoreboard ticking. He finishes 87* and the Aussies are 3/191 and win by seven wickets. Warner is "Man of the Match".



Australia wins the series 5-0. The young and inexperienced team looked very good. The Wold Twenty /20 is next.

Group A
India
Bangladesh
Ireland

Group B
Pakistan
Netherlands
England

Group C
Australia
West Indies
Sri Lanka

Group D
New Zealand
South Africa
Scotland

Australia fixtures
June 3 At Canterbury Sri Lanka W
June 5 At Northampton West Indies W

Australia Announce World Twenty/20 Squad



Captain Ricky Ponting will lead this squad into action in England.

Ricky Ponting-Captain
Michael Clarke-Vice Captain
Shane Watson
David Warner
Michael Hussey
David Hussey
Brad Haddin
Luke Ronchi
Cameron White
James Hopes
Nathan Hauritz
Mitchell Johnon
Brett Lee
Nathan Bracken
Peter Siddle