2002-03 Annual R eport 2002-03 Annual R eport - Australian Sports ...

Back, left to right: Stephen Partridge (Physiotherapist), Michael Clarke, Nathan Hauritz, Brad Williams, Stuart Clark, Ashley Noffke, Marcus North, Shannon Tubb.
Front, left to right: Brad Haddin, Greg Blewett, Trevor Robertson (Team Manager), Jimmy Maher (Captain), Allan Border (Coach), Matthew Elliott, Martin Love.
AUSTRALIA A, 2002-03
The 2002-03 Australia A playing schedule included a reciprocal
series against South Africa A (in September and April), and a
series of matches at home against England and Sri Lanka
during the Australian summer.
Australia A v South Africa A
Australia’s depth of cricketing talent was emphasised in 2002-03
as Australia A took on South Africa A in one home and one away
series.
The series gave elite players on the fringe of national selection
a chance to impress national selectors against international
competition, and many players made the most of it.
Led by Justin Langer and then Jimmy Maher, the side beat
South Africa 5-1 in South Africa and then 3-1 on home turf,
showing the potential of some of Australia’s rising stars.
The seven-match (limited overs) tour of South Africa began with
a 30-run win at Potchefstroom. The rain-interrupted affair was
decided under the Duckworth-Lewis method, but served as an
ample tune-up for paceman Brad Williams.
Two days later, WiIliams’ pace and some sharp fielding sunk the
South African top order, but some steady middle order batting
revived the hosts as they registered a respectable total of 194.
Simon Katich’s 51 off 41 deliveries steered the run chase, the
team overhauling the South African total with two wickets to spare.
The team’s winning form showed no signs of abating at
Centurion. Brad Hogg’s three wickets prevented the South
African innings from flourishing, the host’s score of 193
considered flattering by some.
The Australians powered past the total and lost only three
wickets during their run chase. The target was reached with
over 10 overs to spare, Greg Blewett’s 84 not out being the
highlight of the innings.
Facing series defeat, Neil McKenzie’s South Africans defied
expectations by sending the Australians in at New Wanderers in
Johannesburg. Langer was again the standout with the bat, his
90, and Michael Hussey’s 61, driving Australia A to 267.
87
Defending this total, the Australian bowlers kept the pressure
up throughout the innings. Despite a record third wicket
partnership, Ian Harvey and Brad Williams stifled the life out of
the closing overs to leave the South Africans nine runs short.
The win sealed an emphatic 4-0 series win for Australia A.
Rain forced the fifth match to be abandoned, and the final two
matches were split one apiece. All-rounder Ian Harvey and
Williams both found form in the final matches, each bagging a
four-wicket haul in matches five and six respectively.
The home series against South Africa A produced some
magnificent individual results.
The tour’s opening match saw Australia A set the visitors a
revised total of 171 from 30 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis
method. A superb display from the entire attack dismissed the
visitors for just 106 in 27.1 overs. Queensland off-spinner
Nathan Hauritz picked up match-best figures of 3-33.
Canberra’s Manuka Oval was treated to an exciting and
unpredictable spectacle two days later, as Australia A’s innings
ebbed and flowed its way to 8-234. Brad Hodge’s superb innings
of 69 was ably supported by some lower order heroics by Ian
Harvey and Nathan Hauritz, who both added 31 runs.
While rain spoiled match three of the series at the Albert
Ground in Victoria, Hobart provided a contrast with a spirited
South African A eight-wicket win, led by opener Morne Nico
van Wyk’s 94 runs from 85 balls.
The final limited-overs match was placed on hold while the
sides took to the longer form of the game, in two three-day
matches.
With both teams posting solid first innings totals in match
one at Adelaide Oval (Australia A 263 and South Africa A 387
in reply), time denied either side an outright victory.
Andrew Symonds continued his World Cup form with innings
of 78 and 88, while Martin van Jaarsveld scored a classy 110.
Despite ending in a draw, the second three-day match ignited
a run-feast, with four individual centuries posted. Brad Hodge
(160), Michael Hussey (145), Simon Katich (134) and another
140 from van Jaarsveld kept the scorers occupied.
A ustralia A, 2002-03