Mitchell Johnson of Australia and New Zealand's Scott Styris were found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the Wednesday's One-Day International between the two teams in Napier. Johnson was charged with a Level 2 offence, contrary to clause 2.2.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players or Team Officials, which relates to 'inappropriate and deliberate physical contact between players in the course of play'.
Jos Buttler made an unbeaten half-century as England shrugged off Clint McKay's hat-trick to win the fourth one-day international against Australia by three wickets on Saturday to set up a series decider on Monday.
Mitchell Johnson, who rediscovered his lost form at Headingley during the series-levelling fourth Ashes Test, said he feels more confident by sledging England players and will continue his banters in the fifth and final Test at the Oval as well. The Australian paceman, who helped the visiting team comeback into contention to defend their title with his superb spell of five for 69 to wrap up the fourth Test inside three days.
Hosts Kolkata Knight Riders run the risk of slipping away when they face resurgent defending champions and 'nemesis' Mumbai Indians in an IPL clash, in Kolkata, on Wednesday.
Pakistan scrambled the 40 runs they required to beat Australia by three wickets in the second Test at Headingley on Saturday to level the series at 1-1.
Struggling Mitchell Johnson has found much needed support from teammate and stumper Brad Haddin, who reckons that the Australian paceman was still making an impact in their Ashes defence.
Left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson on Tuesday returned to the 13-member Australian squad while Shane Watson and Doug Bollinger were rested for the last two One-Day Internationals against Pakistan in Perth.
Former Australian Test cricketers have termed struggling fast bowler Mitchell Johnson's second Ashes Test performance as "disgraceful" even as his captain Ricky Ponting stood firmly behind him.
Former Pakistan speedster Waqar Younis has said that he is ready to help Australian bowlers to lift the Ashes once again.
Embattled Royal Challengers Bangalore, who have left themselves with little margin for error after a string of reverses, will face a test of character when they clash against Kolkata Knight Riders, in the Indian Premier League, in Bengaluru, on Sunday.
Delhi Daredevils face a herculean task to revive their IPL campaign when they clash with Kolkata Knight Riders
The 28-year-old Queenslander's manager Sam Halvorsen said Johnson, who would have been one of the most sought-after names at the January 19 auction, is likely to give the third edition of the tournament a miss. The decision could cost him US $200,000. Halvorsen said apart from keeping himself fresh for national duty, Johnson's decision to skip the March 12 to April 25 tournament has been influenced by the newly-laid rules of the auction process.
Shane Watson is not embarrassed by his on-field antics but Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is and will talk to his players about their on-field behaviour. The third Test between Australia and the West Indies was marred by a few ugly incidents, involving players from both the sides.
The second day's play in the third Test between Australia and the West Indies at the WACA on Thursday was marred by an ugly confrontation between Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and Windies bowler Sulieman Benn.
The 11th edition of the Indian Premier League will commence, on Saturday, April 7 and will end on 27th May
Australian left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson admitted that a bitter row with his mother led to his meltdown during this year's Ashes, which Australia lost.
Struggling to be consistent, Kings XI Punjab will have their task cut out when they take on the in-form Chennai Super Kings.
Images from the ICC Champions Trophy match between Australia and Pakistan at Centurion.
Former New Zealand captain John Reid feels some members of the Australian cricket team are "idiots" who need to be reined in.
Australia registered a tense 12-run win over New Zealand in the second one-day international at Auckland.
Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson's contributions in both Tests and ODIs in the last 12 months have helped him win the Allan Border medal on Monday.
'Someone's got to do it and I might put my hand up. It's part of the game and what happened the other day with Shane (Watson) and Wahab (Riaz) was exceptional'
England collapsed spectacularly to 82 for five in their second innings to leave Australia on the brink of victory in the fourth Ashes Test in Leeds on Saturday. Marcus North's patient century guided Australia to a commanding total of 445 on the second day and Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Johnson claimed five wickets in 44 balls to leave England's hopes in tatters.
Australia called up uncapped paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile for the first Test against West Indies on Tuesday as a replacement for left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc, who was ruled out of the series due to a broken foot.
There are reports that the BCCI has signed up several Australian cricketers, including Ricky Ponting, for IPL.
Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has the ability to bounce back quickly after his disappointing performance in the second test loss to England, coach Tim Nielsen said on Tuesday.
Mitchell Johnson claimed two wickets as England's top order was dismissed in the morning session on the opening day of the first Ashes Test.
Australia's long search for a matchwinning all-rounder to counter the feats of England's Andrew Flintoff may finally be over.
Shane Watson scored a quick fifty and Mitchell Johnson claimed three wickets as Australia beat Bangladesh by 38 runs in an ICC World Twenty20 warm-up game in Nottingham on Monday.
Mitchell Johnson's double blow left West Indies reeling at 134 for five at close of play on Day 2 of the first Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, on Friday.
Pacer Stuart Clark's elbow injury kept him out of Australia's practice session in Mohali on Wednesday and team physio Alex Kountouris will assess him on Thursday to find out if he could be fit in time for the second Test against India starting on Friday. In case Clark fails to recover in time, either Peter Siddle or Doug Bollinger is virtually assured of winning their first Test cap.
Australia pacer Doug Bollinger, who destroyed India in the sixth ODI in Guwahati, with a five-wicket haul, says the ongoing series is a good learning experience.
A handful of leading Australians, including Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson, turned down the offer to focus on their international careers.
Australia swashbuckling all-rounder Glenn Maxwellbelieves that the former skipper Michael Clarke didn't have 'that same personal side' as that of his successor Steve Smith.
Their pride bruised following disastrous campaigns, Kings XI Punjab and Rising Pune Supergiants will look for a graceful exit from the ninth edition of the IPL when they square off against each other for one last time in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. Supergiants are coming into the contest after a victory over Delhi Daredevils at the same venue, their home ground, while Punjab have lost their last two outings -- against RCB and table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad. Punjab's fourth and last win this season had come at this very ground, when they had got the better of Mumbai Indians.
The opener was left out because of a hamstring strain from the Australian squad for the Twenty20 match against India.
South Africa completed victory over Australia by an innings and 20 runs in the third Test at Newlands on Sunday, despite an entertaining maiden Test century from Mitchell Johnson.
South Africa will pin much of their batting hopes on a new opening pair in the third and final Test against Australia which starts on Thursday. Imraan Khan has been brought in for his debut and opens with the recalled Ashwell Prince, who normally operates in the middle-order. They come in for captain Graeme Smith (broken finger) and Neil McKenzie (dropped).
Gautam Gambhir, Mitchell Johnson, Andrew Strauss and Mahendra Singh Dhoni have all been short-listed for the top honour at the LG ICC Awards 2009. In addition, Gambhir, Johnson and Strauss are also short-listed for the Test Player of the Year alongside Sri Lanka's Thilan Samaraweera at the sixth annual LG ICC Awards, presented in association with the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA).
Australia exploited England's lack of power hitters at Lord's on Sunday to beat the hosts for the second time in three days and take a 2-0 lead in the seven-match one-day series.
