International cricket in 2005–06

This article contains information on International cricket in the 2005-06 cricket season, as defined by Cricinfo - mainly containing the results of tours from September 2005 until May 2006. In this time, all the ten Test nations played Test cricket, and the first ICC Super Series was held, between Australia and an ICC World XI. The season opening Super Series saw Australia win all three ODIs and the lone Test.

Australia and South Africa toured each other once, with Australia winning both Test series, 2–0 at home and 3–0 in South Africa. Australia also won the VB Series ODI tournament at home, but went down 2–3 in the away ODIs in South Africa, as South Africa chased a world record total to win the fifth and final ODI. South Africa also managed to beat New Zealand in ODI matches in October, before travelling to India in November and drawing their series there 2–2. In the same month, Australia whitewashed West Indies for the Frank Worrell Trophy.

Ashes winners England went on two tours of the subcontinent, first in late 2005 against Pakistan and then in March and April 2006 against India. They didn't win any of the series, but their 1–1 result in India was their best since 1985.

India, under their coach Greg Chappell, who took over in May 2005, lost a triangular tournament final in Zimbabwe to New Zealand in August, but then went on to draw South Africa 2–2, before beating Sri Lanka 6–1, Pakistan 4–1 and England 5–1 in ODIs. They did lose the Test series in Pakistan, however, who went through their eight Tests in the 2005–06 season unbeaten, and also beat England and Sri Lanka in ODIs.

Sri Lanka fell from second to sixth place in the ICC ODI Championship after losing to India, New Zealand, and the VB Series final to Australia, though they did keep South Africa out of the final. They were seventh on 1 April, a cut off point for determining the groups of the 2006 Champions Trophy, and their placing meant they had to qualify for said tournament. They played two series with Bangladesh, one home and one away, winning both Test series 2–0 but losing one ODI at Bogra.

New Zealand played a summer full of ODI cricket, and went without a Test from 19 August 2005 to 9 March 2006 after their Test series in South Africa was postponed into April. After going down 0–4 in the ODIs in South Africa, they lost the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy to Australia in December, but beat Sri Lanka and West Indies at home, and also beat West Indies 2–0 in their three-Test series. However, they went down 0–2 in the three-Test series in South Africa that rounded off the season.

West Indies went on tours Down Under, failing to take the Frank Worrell Trophy for the sixth time since 1992–93, and also losing both ODIs and Tests to New Zealand. Shivnarine Chanderpaul retired as captain after the season, which meant Brian Lara took up the job for the third time in his career. Bangladesh lost all their six Test matches, though they earned a first-innings lead of 158 against Australia in the first of their two Tests, and recorded one ODI win against Sri Lanka, and whitewashed Kenya 4–0 after the Kenyans had come off a 2–2 draw in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe voluntarily withdrew from Test cricket after three innings defeats and a ten-wicket loss in their home Tests in August and September, along with internal power struggles and elimination from their home ODI tournament.

In women's cricket, India were the most active, first beating England 4–1 in home ODIs and then winning the Women's Asia Cup after going unbeaten through the three-team tournament in Pakistan. However, their tour of Australasia ended in four losses (three ODI, one Test) to Australia, and one win in five ODIs against New Zealand. England Women also toured Sri Lanka, winning both ODIs, and drew a Test in Delhi. The season also included the youth World Cup in Sri Lanka, which Pakistan U–19 won after defending 109 in the final against India U–19.

ICC Table At The End of August 2005

The tables were published by the ICC on 31 August. [ [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/test/archive/2005.html ICC - Test cricket] rankings archive from the International Cricket Council]

Videocon Tri-Series

This was a three-team tournament held in Zimbabwe, between Zimbabwe, New Zealand and India. New Zealand and India proceeded to the final after winning three games each, and New Zealand prevailed in the final, taking a six-wicket win. Zimbabwe received two defeats by more than 150 runs in this tournament.

"Videocon Tri-Series 2005–06. Teams: Zimbabwe, India, New Zealand. Winners: New Zealand."

Bangladeshis in Sri Lanka

Bangladesh started their season with a visit to Sri Lanka for three ODIs and two Tests. Sri Lanka won all five matches, and both Tests were over in three of the scheduled five days.

"Bangladeshis in Sri Lanka in 2005–06. Test match length: 5 days. Test series: Sri Lanka won 2–0. One-day international series: Sri Lanka won 3–0."

Indians in Zimbabwe

After the Videocon Tri-Series, India stayed for two Test matches, which they won by an innings and 90 runs and ten wickets respectively, and taking their first series win in Zimbabwe. 20-year-old fast bowler Irfan Pathan took 21 wickets in the series, although the cricket was overshadowed by personal conflicts between Indian coach Greg Chappell and captain Sourav Ganguly - who hit 117 runs in the two Tests after the conflicts were temporarily resolved.

"Indians in Zimbabwe in 2005–06. Test series: India won 2–0."

Kenyans in Zimbabwe

Kenya played three matches with Zimbabwe A in October 2005, winning all three, despite Zimbabwe A playing the last match with eight players who had turned out for the national side in the last Test against India.

"Kenyans in Zimbabwe in 2005–06. First-class match length: 3 days. First-class series result: Kenya beat Zimbabwe A 2–0. One-day series result: Kenya beat Zimbabwe A 1–0."
*¹ Rahul Dravid was substituted during the second innings due to injury, and Virender Sehwag took over the captaincy.

Bermudians in Namibia

This clash between the two non-Test nations Bermuda and Namibia was hastily arranged as the teams were knocked out of the semi-finals of the 2005 ICC Intercontinental Cup in Namibia. Namibia won the match, chasing the target of 203 in 41 overs after Stefan Swanepoel hit 65 not out from number seven in the batting order.

""'Bermudians in Namibia in 2005–06. One-day series result: Namibia won 1–0.

The India leg of the tour will start on 2005-11-18 with practice matches. There will then be one Test match and five one-day internationals.

"England Women in India in 2005–06. Women's Test match length: 4 days. Women's Test series result: Series drawn 0–0. Women's One-Day International series result: India won 4–1."

Afro-Asia Cup Under-19 Tournament

Six teams contested this tournament, which was held between 19 November and 27 November at stadiums in Visakhapatnam. India Under-19 won all their five games, taking a bonus point in every one, and qualified for the final with a game to spare. They were joined by Sri Lanka Under-19. The four Asian teams taking part finished in the top four spots in the league stage, while South Africa Under-19 finished fifth and Zimbabwe Under-19 sixth. India eventually won the tournament, beating Sri Lanka in the final after Piyush Chawla took five for 24 and Gaurav Dhiman hit a century.

"Afro-Asia Cup Under–19 Tournament 2005–06. Teams: India Under–19, Bangladesh Under–19, Pakistan Under–19, Sri Lanka Under–19, South Africa Under–19, Zimbabwe Under–19. Winners: India Under–19."

Under-19 Tri Series in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Under-19 will play England Under-19 and Sri Lanka Under-19 for a nine-match tri-series in November and December 2005. Bangladesh won the group stage of the tournament, winning five of their six matches, while England finished last after losing all six matches. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka thus contest the final, and Bangladesh won two of their three internal meetings in the group stage. They added another victory in the final, winning the tournament after Saqibul Hasan took three wickets, bowled two maiden overs, and scored exactly 100 from number three in the batting order to help Bangladesh to a six–wicket win.

"Under–19 Tri Series in Bangladesh in 2005–06. Teams: Bangladesh Under–19, England Under–19, Sri Lanka Under–19. Winners: Bangladesh Under–19."

December 2005

Chappell–Hadlee Trophy

This is an annual ODI tournament between Australia and New Zealand. The last series, in Australia, ended 1–1, so the trophy was shared before this series in New Zealand. In the first match, Brett Lee became Man of the Match after getting bowling figures of 6–4–5–3, and New Zealand were bowled out for 105 to lose by 147 runs. The second match saw an Australian record partnership between Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds, who added 220 for the fifth wicket, Symonds hitting eight sixes and twelve fours on his way to a record score in ODIs between the two sides. His 156 was the third-highest by an Australian against any opponent, and the stand with Clarke paved the way for a total of 322 for 5. New Zealand had Lou Vincent hit 71 off 49 balls before he was first out, on 93 for 1, but rookie bowlers Mick Lewis and Stuart Clark (with four ODIs between them) shared four wickets, and New Zealand needed 53 from 33 balls when Jacob Oram cut a bouncer to Clark for 41. Brendon McCullum added 24 with substitute James Marshall, before the latter was run out, and New Zealand still needed 24 off the final two overs. That over yielded 18 runs, as Brett Lee bowled a no-ball and a wide, and another ball was adjudged a no-ball as Australia had too few players inside the circle. Lewis was left to bowl the last over, and with six runs required the last two batsmen were run out, leaving New Zealand on 320 – two runs short of victory. Australia thus clinched the Chappell–Hadlee Trophy with a match to spare. In the third match, Mitchell Johnson was given his debut as Super Sub, coming in after Australia had batted to seven for 331 with four half-centuries. Johnson bowled nine overs for 64, without taking a wicket, and Scott Styris hit a hundred as New Zealand chased down the target for the highest successful run chase in ODI cricket thus far.

"Chappell–Hadlee Trophy 2005–06. One-Day International series result: Australia won 2–1."

February 2006

ICC Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka

The 2006 Under-19 World Cup will take place in Sri Lanka from 2005-02-05 to 2005-02-19 - once again in the Indian subcontinent, after the 2004 instalment was held in Bangladesh.

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After the group stage, the top two teams qualified for the Super League quarter-finals, while the bottom two teams played in the Plate Championship quarter-finals. The teams knocked out in the quarter-finals at each stage qualified for the play-off tournaments for the Super League and the Plate Championship.

Indian Women in Australia and New Zealand

The Indian women's team toured Australia in February, and went across the Tasman Sea to tour New Zealand in March.

"Indian Women in Australia in 2005-06. Test match length: 4 days. Test match: Australian Women won. One-day international series: Australian Women won 3-0."

"Indian Women in New Zealand in 2005-06. One-day international series: New Zealand Women won 4-1."

Kenya in Zimbabwe

Kenya toured Zimbabwe for a series of five One Day Internationals in February and March 2006. The series was drawn 2-2.

"Kenyans in Zimbabwe in 2005-06. One-day international series: Drawn 2-2."

Pakistanis in Sri Lanka

"Pakistanis in Sri Lanka in 2005-06. Test match length: 5 days. Test series: Pakistan won 1-0. One-day international series: Pakistan won 2-0."

New Zealanders in South Africa (Test leg)

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References

* [http://www.cricket.com.au/default.aspx?s=mediareleasedisplay&id=35011 Australia A squad announced for Travelex Tour of Pakistan] from Cricket Australia, published 11 August 2005, retrieved 1 September 2005
* [http://usa.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2005-06/ The Cricinfo Archives 2005-06]
* [http://www.supercricket.co.za/default.asp?des=article&Id=155567&cl=&scat=supercricket/saateam Kruger replaces Thomas in SA 'A' team] from SuperCricket, published 25 August 2005, retrieved 1 September 2005
* [http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/FORTHCOMING/YEARLY_CRICKET_CALENDAR.html Cricinfo - International Cricket Calendar - Yearly]
* [http://in.rediff.com/cricket/2005/may/07india.htm India to tour Pakistan next January] - from rediff.com, published 7 May 2005, retrieved 1 SeptemberInternet pornography 2005

Notes