It has been a week full of championing cricket for different reasons, with a Batting For Change XI, including former Outlaw Ed Cowan, taking on Barker College in a match full of star names.
Away from Australia, Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne have taken their All-Star series to America where Graeme Swann was one of the names on the star-studded list.
Meanwhile, Paul Franks’ UAE have struggled against Hong Kong, David Warner smashed 244* on the first day against New Zealand and Vernon Philander injured himself in a football warm-up and will miss the start of England’s winter tour.
Here’s a round up of this week in cricket.
Batting For Change
A company founded by Australian Ryan Carters three years ago, Batting For Change aims to raise money through cricket to support young people living in poverty across the cricketing world and give them the ability to gain an education.
Carters was one of a number of Sydney Sixers batsmen who has each six they hit sponsored for the charity and the wicketkeeper was joined by some of his Big Bash teammates for the game to the 125 year anniversary of Barker College.
Cowan, Nic Maddinson, Josh Lalor and Alyssa Healy were the star names from the cricketing world whilst Matt Cooper and Brett Kimmorley also joined from rugby league.
The money raised from the game in front of a large crowd will go towards three new computer labs in Sri Lanka to help with the education of the children.
Cricket All-Stars
The much-anticipated series finally landed in America with Warne’s Warriors winning the first two matches to secure the series with one game to go. In game one, New York got to see the best of the recently retired Virender Sehwag, who smashed 55 off 22 balls at the top of the order including six maximums. However, the rest of the innings fell away, Sachin’s Blasters finishing on 140-8, former Outlaw Daniel Vettori taking 1-13 off his four overs to add to Shane Warne’s 3-20.
The Warriors made easy work of the chase despite an inspired quick bowling spell from Shoaib Akhtar, in which he removed Matthew Hayden and Kumar Sangakkara. Ricky Ponting (48*), Sangakarra (41) and Jonty Rhodes (20*) recovered to guide their side to a comfortable six-wicket victory, one they backed up with a huge score in the second match.
The second game was all about power hitting with the likes of Hayden, Jacques Kallis and Michael Vaughan all showing their abilities to clear the ropes for Warne’s charges. Graeme Swann was on hand to trap the former England captain LBW before adding an unbeaten 22 from eight deliveries for Sachin’s Blasters as they finished on 205-8 in reply to Warne’s Warriors’ 262-5.
International Round Up
Elsewhere around the globe, Paul Franks’ UAE have struggled to get a foothold in their ICC Continental Cup with Hong Kong, going in to the final day needing a further 377 runs to win. After bowling Hong Kong out for 378, they replied with just 181 before a spirited fightback bowled the visitors out in their second innings for 184, leaving a target of 382 for UAE.
Back in Australia, David Warner continued his fine form against New Zealand by racking up 244* on day one of the second Test after scoring hundreds in both innings of the first Test victory, as the hosts finished on an imperious 416-2.
Off the cricketing field and Vernon Philander will miss the start of England’s tour to South Africa after injuring ankle ligaments during a football warm-up ahead of their second Test with India.
The 2015 season has seen dramatic last-gasp four day victories, thrilling limited-overs contests and an historic Investec Ashes Test, all in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.
Next season, we’d wager, will be no less enthralling and frankly we’d hate for you to miss out.