Australian cricket

January 2, 2026 10:44 AM

‘Still have to fight every single day’: Khawaja calls out racial stereotypes in Australian cricket

Retiring veteran batter Usman Khawaja has hit out at racial stereotypes in Australian cricket, saying he has been treated differently throughout his career because of his race and religion. Khawaja, the first Muslim to play Test cricket for Australia, said at a 50-minute press conference at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), where he announced his international retirement, that he wanted to make life easier for “the next Usman Khawaja”. The veteran batter said he is still battling stereotype...

January 2, 2026 9:46 AM

Ashes: Usman Khawaja announces international retirement, Sydney Test to be his swansong

Usman Khawaja will be retiring from international cricket after this week's fifth Ashes test against England at Sydney Cricket Ground, the Australia batsman said on Friday. The 39-year-old made his test debut at the same ground in the final match of the 2010-11 Ashes series and has since scored 6,206 runs at an average of 43.39 in 87 matches, including 16 centuries. "I'm here to announce today that I'll be retiring from all international cricket after the SCG test match," Khawaja told reporter...

December 31, 2025 12:19 PM

Former Australia batter Damien Martyn in induced coma after meningitis diagnosis

Former Australia batter Damien Martyn has been placed in an induced coma after being diagnosed with meningitis, Australian media reported on Tuesday. The 54-year-old, who played 67 Tests between 1992 and 2006, fell ill on Friday and was taken to hospital, where he is receiving treatment. His condition is being closely monitored. Former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, a close friend and former teammate, said on behalf of Martyn’s family that he was receiving the best possible care. �...

November 27, 2025 10:34 PM

Remembering Phil Hughes: 11 years on, cricket still learns “how hard the cricket ball is”

November 25, 2014. A warm spring afternoon at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and South Australia ambled toward tea, the crowd half-dozing under a pale Sydney sun. Sean Abbott marked out his run. Twenty-two years old, quick, hungry, one of the bright young fast bowlers tipped for higher honours. He turned, gathered himself, and started his approach; long, rhythmic strides building speed across the outfield. The ball left his hand at close to 140 km/...

September 2, 2025 9:48 AM

Australia pace great Starc retires from T20 internationals

Australia's white-ball pace spearhead Mitchell Starc has retired from Twenty20 internationals six months out from the World Cup in India and Sri Lanka to focus on extending his career in test and one-day cricket. The 35-year-old left-armer retires as the nation's most prolific fast bowler in the format, with 79 wickets from 65 T20Is, second on the all-time Australia list to spin bowling teammate Adam Zampa. “Test cricket is and has always been my highest priority," he said in a Cricket A...

April 1, 2025 10:58 AM

Konstas, Kuhnemann earn Australia contracts

Teenage batting prodigy Sam Konstas has been added to Australia's list of contracted players in a huge vote of confidence for the two-test opener. The 19-year-old was named among 23 contracted players on Tuesday, three months on from making a memorable 60 in his international debut in the Melbourne test against India. Konstas was one of three players to earn their first national contracts, joining spinner Matt Kuhnemann and all-rounder Beau Webster. White-ball all-rounders Sean Abbott and Aar...

March 13, 2025 12:24 PM

Former Australia spinner MacGill guilty of cocaine supply

Former Australia test cricketer Stuart MacGill was found guilty of taking part in the supply of cocaine by a Sydney court on Thursday after the jury cleared him of involvement in the commercial supply of the drug. The 54-year-old, who had pleaded not guilty, admitted to the use of cocaine and to introducing his partner's brother to his drug dealer, state broadcaster ABC reported. Prosecutors allege that the pair later made a deal for A$330,000 ($208,197) worth of cocaine but MacGill maintained...

November 10, 2024 6:00 PM

Australian batting hits first-time low in ODI series loss to Pakistan at home

In a new low for Australian cricket, the national team not only lost an ODI series to Pakistan at home for the first time in 22 years but also recorded an unfortunate first by failing to register a single half-century throughout the bilateral series. Pakistan sealed the series with an emphatic eight-wicket victory in the third ODI at Perth on Sunday, marking a historic defeat for the Aussies. Despite having their full squad, no Australian batter managed to score a half-century across the three-...