Marrara Oval, Gardens Oval and Tracy Village will be host venues for the competing teams, which also includes friendly matches against Papua New Guinea.

CA’s Executive General Manager Team Performance Pat Howard said the series presented a great opportunity to prepare for next year’s Under-19 ICC Cricket World Cup, with the best Australian, Indian and New Zealand underage players on show.

“We are excited about this tournament, which allows us to continue to bring international cricket to the Northern Territory.

“Our Under-19 team will be keen to make up for their loss against India in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup final last year. We look forward to testing ourselves against India and New Zealand, who are always competitive at this level, and using the series as a yardstick ahead of next February’s ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Dubai.

“It is also pleasing to have Papua New Guinea play a part in this series ahead of their qualifying tournament later this year for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.”

CA’s Senior Manager Cricket Operations Sean Cary said the tournament continued CA’s strong relationship with the Northern Territory and their passionate cricketing community.

“We are pleased to return to Darwin again for this year’s Under-19 International Series after the Australian men’s team held their camp up there last year. The Northern Territory has a proud history of hosting our annual Imparja Cup and will also welcome the English cricket team for the Chairman’s XI match in Alice Springs, to be played in November this year.

“We look forward to working in partnership with Northern Territory Cricket and showcasing the excellent cricket facilities at Marrara and The Gardens, as well as the competing teams’ elite skills.

“It also presents a fantastic chance for the community to cheer along their local Northern Territory Strike, when they play the third-placed team on the final day of the Series, as we continue to grow cricket in the area.”

Papua New Guinea has also come on board as a friendly team in the U19 International Series in the build up to their qualification tournament, which will be held on the Sunshine Coast in July, for the next year’s U19 ICC Cricket World Cup.

East Asia Pacific ICC Regional Development Manager Kieran McMillan said: “As cricket strives to be a bigger, better global game with more genuinely competitive teams on the world stage, it is critical that developing cricket nations play more matches against the Test playing members.

“PNG’s involvement in this tournament is a fantastic opportunity for a country ranked 19th in the world and comes ahead of their entry into the inaugural SACA Premier League later this year, further strengthening their connection with Australian Cricket.”
The U19 International Series will be held in Darwin from Sunday 30 June until Friday 12 July as shown below*.

The next ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup will be held next year in Dubai in February.

Sunday, 30 June 2013
AUS v NZ – Marrara Oval
IND v PNG – Tracy Village

Tuesday, 2 July 2013
AUS v IND – Marrara Oval
NZ v PNG – Gardens Oval

Thursday, 4 July 2013
NZ v IND – Marrara Oval
AUS v PNG – Gardens Oval

Saturday, 6 July 2013
AUS v NZ – Marrara Oval
IND BYE

Monday, 8 July 2013
AUS v IND – Marrara Oval
NZ BYE

Wednesday, 10 July 2013
NZ v IND – Marrara Oval
AUS BYE

Friday, 12 July 2013
FINAL 1 v FINAL 2 – Marrara Oval
FINAL 3 v NT Strike – Gardens Oval

* Schedule current as at 23 May 2013. Cricket Australia reserves the right in its absolute discretion to change or amend the program at any time, without notice.

Squads will be announced closer to the tournament.

The following umpires will officiate during the Series:
Shawn Craig (Victoria)
Greg Davidson (New South Wales)
Mike Graham-Smith (Tasmania)
Richard Patterson (Victoria)
Tony Wilds (New South Wales)

The decision came after a deliberate and thoughtful process conducted in conjunction with highly respected search company Heidrick & Struggles, from which an extremely talented group of candidates emerged. The candidates came from strong domestic and international backgrounds, and encompassed the highest levels of the sporting and corporate world.

The priority was to find the outstanding candidate to take Cricket New South Wales forward and return it to the position as the premier domestic cricket organisation in the world.

Jones brings strong credentials to the role, including a broad background in business and extensive experience in cricket. As a management consultant, initially working with McKinsey & Company and then boutique consultancy Centaurus Partners, Jones has advised a wide variety of firms and companies on strategy, organisation, performance improvement and team dynamics.

He has been particularly influential in shaping Australian Cricket strategy, having consulted to Cricket Australia and various State cricket organisations since 2004. Jones was also CA’s first Head of Strategy, beginning in 2010. There he managed a number of important projects, including the Australian Team Performance Review and development of the Strategy For Australian Cricket 2011-15 project.

Jones returned to Sydney full-time at the end of 2012, where he has continued his advisory role in media and sport.

He is a lifelong cricket lover who has played in the lower grades for UNSW Cricket Club for over 20 years and has served as Club President since 2009-10.

Cricket New South Wales Chairman, John Warn is delighted with the appointment and finding a candidate of the quality of Jones:

“The Board is extremely happy to have found a candidate with the all-round credentials of Andrew Jones. When we started the process of seeking a new Chief Executive, the absolute priority was finding the individual who had the right balance of business and cricketing backgrounds. Andrew is someone who understands business, has consulted to CNSW at various times and has worked closely with the Board of Cricket Australia in his previous role. He is also connected at grass roots level, as the current president of the University of New South Wales Cricket Club, and has a tremendous passion for the game of cricket and a strong sense of the history and traditions of cricket within this State. I am thrilled that he is going to be joining us.”

Jones was equally enthused:

“I am excited and humbled in equal measure to be asked to lead Cricket New South Wales. I was never a First-class cricketer, but I am aiming to provide the first-class leadership the fans, players, past players, volunteers, country colleagues, staff and Board in this State expect. When New South Wales Cricket is strong, Australian Cricket is strong and it is my aim to return this State to its rightful position as a leader of Australian cricket. To achieve that we will need to harness the great depth of experience and passion we have throughout the State. With everyone working together I am excited about the challenges that lie ahead.

Jones will commence with Cricket New South Wales on 1 July, 2013.

BIOGRAPHY OF ANDREW JONES
Born: Sydney, 1972
Educated: Newington College, UNSW (BA, LLB) and Stanford University (MBA)
Worked:
- McKinsey & Company, Sydney, 1997-2000, 2004-05
- Centaurus Partners 2005-10, 2013
- Cricket Australia 2010-12
Other: President UNSW Cricket Club

Last summer, the Lend Lease Breakers became the first team to win both competitions in the same season, winning their eighth consecutive WNCL title and their first WT20 crown.

This squad will also be the first to benefit from changes to the contracting system for female International and State players, announced by Cricket Australia earlier this week.

Six members of the 2013/14 Lend Lease Breakers squad, Alex Blackwell, Rachael Haynes, Sarah Coyte, Alyssa Healy, Erin Osborne and Ellyse Perry have been awarded Cricket Australia contracts. The remaining members of the squad will benefit from State contracts, while all players will be eligible for match payments for the games they play.

The full list of players selected in the 2013/14 Lend Lease Breakers squad is (clubs/regional zone in brackets):

Cricket Australia Contract

Alex Blackwell (Universities/Riverina)
Rachael Haynes (Universities)
Sarah Coyte (Campbelltown-Camden)
Alyssa Healy (Sydney)
Erin Osborne (St George-Sutherland/Central North)
Ellyse Perry (Sydney)

Cricket NSW Contract

Sarah Aley (Bankstown Sports)
Nicola Carey (St George-Sutherland)
Claire Koski (Campbelltown-Camden)
Katie Mack (Northern District)
Sharon Millanta (Bankstown Sports)
Leah Poulton (St George-Sutherland/Newcastle)
Angela Reakes (Sydney/North Coast)
Kara Sutherland (Universities/North Coast)

Lend Lease Breakers captain, Alex Blackwell, said the 2013/14 season would be one of the most exciting for the squad.

“A lot of work went into winning both competitions last summer and I can guarantee that every member of this squad will be striving even harder to win the double again in 2013/14,” said Blackwell.

“This squad has an enormous amount of potential. We have eight players with International experience and last season we witnessed what players like Angela Reakes, Nicola Carey and Kara Sutherland are capable of. I am really looking forward to seeing what this squad can achieve.”

Selectors have also named 11 players in the Cricket NSW Academy Development squad which comprises the next level of up-and-coming talented players who have excelled either in Sydney Grade or NSW U/18 programs.

The players selected in the Cricket NSW Academy Development squad are (clubs/regions in brackets):

Lily Bardsley (Northern District/Central Coast)
Sohryn Carter (St George-Sutherland)
Kira Churchland (Sydney/Western)
Stefanie Daffara (Campbelltown-Camden/South Coast)
Ashley James (Northern District/Central Coast)
Emily Leys (Gordon/Central North)
Celeste Raack (Campbelltown-Camden)
Georgia Redmayne (Universities/North Coast)
Naomi Stalenberg (Campbelltown-Camden)
Jenny Taffs (Northern District/North Coast)
Keeghan Tucker (Western)

CA also announced today the squad for the upcoming Women’s Ashes Series in England, as well as the 2013-14 Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars and Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars contracted players.

The CA Board has approved a restructure of the contract system with a move from a three-tier payment retainer system to a squad ranking system. The top player retainer increases substantially from $15,000 to $52,000 and the minimum retainer increases from $5,000 to $25,000.

The player tour payments also increase from $100 to $250 per day. With 85 tour days within the next year, players have the potential to earn more than $20,000 in tour payment earnings on top of their contract retainer payments.

With the restructuring of the contract system, Australia’s top female cricketers have the potential to earn approximately $70,000 – $80,000 in the next 12 months.

CA will continue to encourage players to pursue study and work commitments outside of cricket, with the retainers assisting players who are required to take time off work to tour with the national team.

Additionally, CA will provide each state and the ACT with $100,000 a year to help fund minimum standards for female cricketers contracted to play in our national competitions.

CA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James Sutherland said:

“The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars devote a huge amount of time and energy into being the number one team in the world in all formats and we feel that this is a landmark step in recognising their commitment and contribution to cricket as Australia’s favourite sport.”

“The recent success of the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars has led to unprecedented media coverage and recognition, as well as playing a significant role in driving an increase in female cricket participation by 18% in the last 12 months taking us to 180,000 female participants.

“We are still working towards the day when Australia’s female cricketers will be able to earn a full-time, professional living from cricket. But the performances of our female stars justify this step and the day will come when future, full-time professional female cricketers will look back and thank those who went before them.

“It’s an exciting time for Australian cricket. Four of the last seven years have seen record crowds at cricket played in Australia, average TV audiences for cricket rate higher than any other sport and we have 950,000 participants, the highest participants of any Australian sport.

“In the past seven days we’ve signed two of the biggest sponsorships in Australian sports for our men’s home Test and ODI teams and series and research shows that more Australians are fanatical about cricket than they are fanatical about any other sport in the country.

“In the coming weeks we’ll also finalise our new broadcast rights agreement which will enable Australia cricket to further develop the sport,” Sutherland said.

The full Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad will continue to work closely with CA’s Game and Market Development team to fulfil an increased number of appearances in the community.

2013-14 AIS-Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars Contract List
CA today also advised the CA contracted women’s players for 2013-2014, for both the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars and the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars.

The Women’s National Selection Panel (WNSP) has chosen 14 players for the AIS-Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars contract list for 2013-14, who will be the first players to benefit from the restructured contract funding.

Name – State – Age
Alex Blackwell – NSW – 29
Jess Cameron – VIC – 23
Sarah Coyte – NSW – 22
Holly Ferling – QLD – 17
Jodie Fields – QLD – 28
Rachael Haynes – NSW – 26
Alyssa Healy – NSW – 23
Julie Hunter – VIC – 29
Jess Jonassen – QLD – 20
Meg Lanning – VIC – 21
Erin Osborne – NSW – 23
Ellyse Perry – NSW – 22
Megan Schutt – SA – 20
Elyse Villani – VIC – 23

Commenting on the contract list, WNSP Chair Julie Savage said: “The WNSP have elected to reduce the numbers of players on the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars contract list to concentrate on a core group of players we believe can continue to develop the exciting style of play the team has shown in recent ICC World Cup events.

“In terms of age and playing experience, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars are a fairly young group and, while having achieved much in the past season, are yet to reach their playing potential as individuals and collectively as a team. It will be an exciting journey over the next few seasons as the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars continue to develop. The WNSP will add players to the squad if performances warrant during the season.

2013 Women’s Ashes Squad
The WNSP has today announced a 15-player squad for the Women’s Ashes Series in England, which is scheduled for August.

Name – State – Age
Jodie Fields (C) – QLD  28
Alex Blackwell (VC) – NSW – 29
Jess Cameron – VIC – 23
Sarah Coyte – NSW – 22
Sarah Elliott (Test only) – VIC – 31
Holly Ferling – QLD – 17
Rachael Haynes – NSW – 26
Alyssa Healy – NSW – 23
Julie Hunter – VIC -  29
Jess Jonassen – QLD – 20
Meg Lanning – VIC – 21
Erin Osborne – NSW – 23
Ellyse Perry – NSW – 22
Megan Schutt – SA – 20
Elyse Villani – VIC – 23
Note: Jemma Barsby will join the squad after the Test in a development role.

Commenting on the squad, WNSP chair Julie Savage said: “The WNSP has selected a squad of 15 to contest the Women’s Ashes Series in England in August. Sarah Elliott has been included for the Test match and will fly home at the conclusion of the Test. Jemma Barsby will join the squad at the conclusion of the Test match to gain valuable touring and training experience, with a view of accelerating her development.

“This is a very important series. Australia currently hold the number one ranking in all formats and England will be extremely motivated to change the status quo.”

2013-14 AIS-Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars Contract List
The WNSP has chosen 13 players for the AIS-Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars contract list for 2013-14.

Name – State – Age
Jemma Barsby – QLD – 17
Kristen Beams – VIC – 28
Nicole Bolton – WA – 24
Erin Burns – TAS – 23
Nicola Carey – NSW – 19
Grace Harris – QLD – 19
Emma Inglis – VIC – 24
Delissa Kimmince – QLD – 24
Beth Mooney – QLD – 19
Angela Reakes – NSW – 22
Molly Strano – VIC – 20
Kara Sutherland – NSW – 21
Gemma Triscari – WA – 23

Commenting on the contract list WNSP Chair Julie Savage said: “The Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars squad is primarily a training squad to underpin the future depth requirements of the Australian Women’s program. The current contract list is heavily weighted with players who are spin bowlers. The WNSP anticipate that some of these players, with the aid of programs provided for them, will perform well in the domestic competition and earn elevation to the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad.”

The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars are supported by the Australian Government’s Women in Sport Media Grant program, which is designed to increase the profile of women’s sport through increased media coverage.

Every year since 1977, International Museum Day is held worldwide sometime around May 18. This year, more than 30,000 museums are getting ready to celebrate the event in around 100 countries on the five continents!

The theme: Museums (Memory + Creativity) = Social Change

The theme of the International Museum Day 2013, Museums (Memory + Creativity) = Social Change, aims at showing that the richness of our historical heritage, preserved and displayed by museums, together with the inventiveness and vitality that have characterised the museum sector’s action in recent years, are where the strength of museum institutions lies today.
This truly optimistic theme in the form of an equation dynamically gathers several concepts that are essential to define what a museum is today, highlighting the universal nature of those institutions and their positive influence on society.

Activities around the world
Museums take advantage of the International Museum Day to meet their public and organise original activities. For instance:

• In Canada, the Bank of Canada’s Currency Museum offers to gather around collections brought in by the visitors;
• In Nigeria, objects from the reserves of the National Museum Lagos will be displayed in the museum courtyard on 20 May. The next day, a conference on the IMD theme will be animated by a museum professional, followed by a traditional dance show and a theatre play performed by the museum staff;
• In Mexico, the Museo de la Luz in Mexico City organises the reading of tales in the museum’s rooms, spectacular demonstrations on the use of lights, a science rally and a conference on the theme “The Scientific Culture in Museums and the Informal Education”.

Partners
Since 2011, ICOM patronizes the European Night of Museums, which is held every year on the Saturday closest to the International Museum Day. In 2013, both events will coincide since the European Night of Museums will take place at the same time as International Museum Day, on Saturday, May 18.

On the occasion of the International Museum Day 2013, ICOM is partnering with the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2012.

Finally, the European Museum Forum (EMF) will grant the European Museum of the Year Award on May 18, 2013, in the Gallo-Romeins Museum of Tongeren (Belgium), within the frame of a partnership with ICOM.

For More Information visit the ICOM (International Council of Museums) Website http://icom.museum/press-releases/press-release/article/international-museum-day-2013-museums-all-over-the-world-have-the-place-of-honour/

We offer a range of venues that will marry perfectly with any manner of requirements. Our appointed caterers, Food Wine Design have a stunning reputation in the district that has been established by their successful ongoing restaurant at Centennial Vineyards. A fantastic range of menus, drinks packages and bespoke dining options are available.

Imagine your company’s name up in lights on the enormous video screens in The International Cricket Hall of Fame or delivering your next sales briefing in our theater, finishing up with a VIP tour of the museum and a cocktail reception. The options are endless…

Call Mike 02 4862 1247 or email tourism@bradman.com.au to discuss your requirements.

The match referees’ on duty for the tournament will be Chris Broad, Javagal Srinath and Andy Pycroft of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees.

The 12 Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, namely: Billy Bowden, Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena, Steve Davis, Marais Erasmus, Ian Gould, Tony Hill, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Asad Rauf and Rod Tucker, will officiate the tournament.

Umpire appointments for the warm-up matches to be played at the three tournament venues – Cardiff Wales Stadium, Edgbaston and The Oval were also announced. As at previous ICC events, the warm-up matches will not carry official ODI status.

Appointments for the semi-finals and the final will be announced in due course.

WARM-UP MATCHES

*30 May – Sri Lanka v Pakistan (D/N), Edgbaston – Bruce Oxenford and Rod Tucker (on-field umpires), Marais Erasmus (third umpire), Richard Kettleborough (fourth umpire)
*1 June – India v Sri Lanka (D), Edgbaston – Tony Hill and Ian Gould (on-field umpires), Bruce Oxenford (third umpire), Rod Tucker (fourth umpire)
1 June – Australia v West Indies (D/N), Cardiff – Kumar Dharmasena and Asad Rauf (on-field umpires), Billy Bowden (third umpire)
*3 June – Pakistan v South Africa (D), The Oval – Michael Gough and Tim Robinson (on-field), Martin Saggers (third umpire), Mike Burns (fourth umpire)
4 June – Sri Lanka v West Indies (D), Edgbaston – Nick Cook and Peter Hartley (on-field), Paul Baldwin (third umpire)
*4 June – Australia v India (D), Cardiff – Rob Bailey and Neil Mallender (on-field), Alex Wharf (third umpire), Neil Bainton (fourth umpire)

*Indicates televised matches

TOURNAMENT MATCHES (first round)

6 June – India v South Africa (D), Cardiff – Ian Gould and Bruce Oxenford (on-field umpires), Rod Tucker (third umpire), Asad Rauf (fourth umpire), Andy Pycroft (match referee)
7 June – West Indies v Pakistan (D), The Oval – Steve Davis and Nigel Llong (on-field umpires), Tony Hill (third umpire), Richard Kettleborough (fourth umpire), Chris Broad (match referee)
8 June – England v Australia (D), Edgbaston – Kumar Dharmasena and Marais Erasmus (on-field umpires), Billy Bowden (third umpire), Aleem Dar (fourth umpire), Javagal Srinath (match referee)
9 June – Sri Lanka v New Zealand (D), Cardiff – Rod Tucker and Asad Rauf (on-field umpires), Ian Gould (third umpire), Bruce Oxenford (fourth umpire), Andy Pycroft (match referee)
10 June – Pakistan v South Africa (D/N), Edgbaston – Billy Bowden and Richard Kettleborough (on-field umpires), Kumar Dharmasena (third umpire), Nigel Llong (fourth umpire), Javagal Srinath (match referee)
11 June – India v West Indies (D), The Oval – Tony Hill and Aleem Dar (on-field umpires), Steve Davis (third umpire), Marais Erasmus (fourth umpire), Chris Broad (match referee)
12 June – Australia v New Zealand (D), Edgbaston – Kumar Dharmasena and Nigel Llong (on-field umpires), Richard Kettleborough (third umpire), Ian Gould (fourth umpire), Chris Broad (match referee)
13 June – England v Sri Lanka (D/N), The Oval – Billy Bowden and Aleem Dar (on-field umpires), Marais Erasmus (third umpire), Tony Hill (fourth umpire), Javagal Srinath (match referee)
14 June – West Indies v South Africa (D), Cardiff – Steve Davis and Asad Rauf (on-field umpires), Bruce Oxenford (third umpire), Rod Tucker (fourth umpire), Andy Pycroft (match referee)
15 June – India v Pakistan (D), Edgbaston – Richard Kettleborough and Ian Gould (on-field umpires), Nigel Llong (third umpire), Kumar Dharmasena (fourth umpire), Chris Broad (match referee)
16 June – England v New Zealand (D), Cardiff – Rod Tucker and Bruce Oxenford (on-field umpires), Asad Rauf (third umpire), Steve Davis (fourth umpire), Andy Pycroft (match referee)
17 June – Sri Lanka v Australia (D), The Oval – Tony Hill and Marais Erasmus (on-field umpires), Aleem Dar (third umpire), Billy Bowden (fourth umpire), Javagal Srinath (match referee)

The current owners purchased the Victorian-era property in 2008 and embarked upon an enormous project to carefully restore Bradman’s childhood home to its former glory.

Fastidious documentation and craftsmanship went in to restoring the property to its 1911 state when Don Bradman and his family first lived in the house, including a faithful recreation of the famous tank stand where young Don hit a golf ball against the tank’s base with a cricket stump.

The Bradman Foundation congratulates the owner of 52 Shepherd Street and the team that undertook the restoration  - heritage architect Ian Stapleton, of Clive Lucas, Stapleton & Partners and Lenarduzzi Builders of Moss Vale.

Visitors to Bowral can externally view the property as part of “The Bradman Walk, Bowral” and can follow in Sir Donald’s footsteps by practicing their cricket skills on the full scale replica tank-stand in the nearby Museum’s Bradman Gallery.

Daniel Vettori, Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara are set to join an exclusive club of cricketers to play in six ICC Champions Trophy tournaments after they were named in their respective squads for the elite event to be staged in England and Wales from 6-23 June.

In addition to New Zealand and Sri Lanka, the six other countries have also confirmed their best cricketers in their final line-ups for one of the most prestigious nation versus nation cricket tournaments in which 15 matches will be played over 18 days with no team in a position to lose more than one match.

Vettori played in the 1998, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2009 editions while the Sri Lanka pair has featured in five consecutive events from 2000.

When the three cricketers will take the field for their first matches in the tournament, they will join the group of Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka), Rahul Dravid (India), Ricky Ponting (Australia), Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis (both South Africa) who have played in all the six tournaments from 1998 to 2009.

Vettori, in 14 matches to date, has captured 16 wickets at an average of 28.5, Jayawardena has scored 574 runs at just over 38 and Sangakkara has aggregated 461 runs at 30.73.

If all goes well and according to the plan for Jayawardena and Sangakkara, then on 17 June at The Oval against Australia, the two will achieve another milestone of becoming the most capped players in the history of the ICC Champions Trophy – 21. The two are currently sitting on 18 matches apiece and have Jayasuriya (20) and Dravid (19) firmly within their sights.

Sri Lanka will be led by world’s fourth-ranked all-rounder Angelo Mathews. Apart from Jayawardena and Sangakkara, the 2002 joint-champion have also retained Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara from the side that played in the ICC Champions Trophy 2009 in South Africa.

New Zealand, which won the tournament in Nairobi in 2000, has kept faith in a number of players from the side that reached the final in 2009, including captain Brendon McCullum, Grant Elliott, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Kyle Mills, Ross Taylor and Vettori.

Mills is the joint-second most successful bowler in the ICC Champions Trophy, having taken 22 wickets in 12 matches at just over 19. He trails Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralidaran by just two wickets.

Australia will aim to complete a hat-trick of titles after it won the event in Mumbai in 2006 and then defended the crown three years later at Centurion.

The four-time world champion will be led by Michael Clarke, who returns to the event after missing out four years ago. The squad also includes Mitchell Johnson, Adam Voges and Shane Watson who played in South Africa in 2009. Clarke, Johnson and Watson were also part of the squad that defeated the West Indies by eight wickets in the final at Brabourne Stadium in 2006.

Watson was named player of the final in 2006 for his contribution of two for 11 and 57 not out and three years later in 2009 won the player of the tournament award after aggregating 265 runs at an average of 88.33 and claiming six wickets at 25.16.

World champion India will defend its status as the number-one ranked ODI side in the world at the ICC Champions Trophy. While it will be captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, it includes Ravichandran Ashwin, Virat Kohli, and Suresh Raina who were members of the side that won the ICC Cricket World Cup final at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai just over two years ago.

From the side that played in the ICC Champions Trophy 2009, India has retained Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Kohli, Amit Mishra, Raina and Ishant Sharma.

Dhoni’s side, besides attempting to retain its top ranking, will also try to match Australia’s feat of holding both 50-over titles at the same time. Australia has achieved this rare distinction twice – 2006 and 2009.

Host England has named a very balanced side for the event it last hosted in 2004.

James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Eoin Morgan and Graeme Swann have been retained from the squad that reached the semi-final in 2009, while in Alastair Cook, England has a captain who has not only inspired his side to second position on the Reliance ICC ODI Championship table, but he also occupies eighth position on the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen through his consistent performances with the willow.

Jonathan Trott, however, is the highest-ranked England batsman in fifth position while Ian Bell, who in the only current England player to play in the 2006 tournament, is in 24th position.

Steven Finn is England’s highest-ranked bowler in third position and James Tredwell is inside the top 50 in 46th spot.

Other than England, Pakistan is the only side in this strong field of eight sides not to have won the ICC Champions Trophy.

The Pakistan side includes Abdur Rehman, Mohamamd Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Imran Farhat and Shoaib Malik who played in the 2006 tournament in India. Of these players only Kamran and Shoaib managed to retain their places in the side for the 2009 tournament in South Africa. Apart from Kamran and Shoaib, other survivors from the 2009 tournament are captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Saeed Ajmal.

Spin duo of Saeed and Hafeez feature inside the top four in the bowlers’ rankings while in the batting table, Misbah sits in 18th position, Hafeez occupies 36th spot and Nasir Jamshed, who hit back-to-back centuries against India in 2012, holds 40th spot.

South Africa has named seven players from the side that played in its backyard four years ago. They are captain AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Robin Peterson, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn and Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

De Villiers shares the top batting slot with teammate Amla, while Steyn and Morkel share ninth spot in the bowlers’ rankings.

South Africa’s only ICC title has been in this tournament (then called ICC Knock-Out) when it defeated the West Indies by four wickets in the final in Dhaka in 1998.

The West Indies will be skippered by Dwayne Bravo and includes of a number of players who featured in the side’s successes at the ICC Champions Trophy 2004 and the ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012.

Bravo, as well as Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Darren Sammy were members of the 2004 squad. Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Gayle, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Smith, besides Bravo, were instrumental in helping the West Indies win its first ICC title since 2004 when it defeated host Sri Lanka in Colombo in the final of the ICC World Twenty20 2012.

Gayle is the leading run-getter in the ICC Champions Trophy, having scored 695 runs in 14 matches at an average of 57.91. The Jamaican has also taken 17 wickets at just under 22.

Final squads:

AUSTRALIA – Michael Clarke (captain), George Bailey, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Phillip Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Clint McKay, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, Matthew Wade, David Warner and Shane Watson

ENGLAND – Alastair Cook (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, Graeme Swann, James Tredwell,
Jonathan Trott and Chris Woakes

INDIA – Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Vinay Kumar, Amit Mishra, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Murali Vijay

NEW ZEALAND – Brendon McCullum (captain), Trent Boult, Grant Elliott, Andrew Ellis, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Colin Munro, Luke Ronchi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori and Kane Williamson

PAKISTAN – Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Abdur Rehman, Asad Ali, Asad Shafiq, Ehsan Adil, Imran Farhat, Junaid Khan, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Irfan, Nasir Jamshed, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin and Wahab Riaz

SOUTH AFRICA – AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson, Aaron Phangiso, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn and Lonwabo Tsotsobe

SRI LANKA – Angelo Mathews (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Shaminda Eranga, Rangana Herath, Mahela Jayawardena, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Jeevan Mendis, Kushal Perera, Thisara Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Sachithra Senanayake, Lahiru Thirimanne and Chanaka Welagedara

WEST INDIES – Dwayne Bravo (captain), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Ramneresh Sarwan and Devon Smith

One of the most famous towns in the Southern Highlands is historic Bowral. What makes Bowral so special? Bowral was home to Australia and perhaps the world’s most famous cricketer, Sir Donald Bradman. It is due to this fact the Bradman Museum was established in Bowral in 1989 and further expanded to include the International Cricket Hall of Fame in 2010.

This year, 2013 marked the joining of Brigadoon and the Bradman Museum for the first time with the Museum hosting a stall at the Scottish festival. It isn’t just the locality of the two enterprises that joined the festival with the Museum, but rather cricket has always had a place in Scottish history with the first recorded match played in Scotland in 1785. In 1994 Scotland became a member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) competing at the 1999, 2003 and 2007 world cups.

The Museum stall drew much attention with a number of the Museum’s Scottish items placed on display as well as in image of Bradman with King George VI at Balmoral Castle which taken at the end of the 1948 Australian tour of Great Britain.

The Bradman Museum would like to thank Cricket Scotland for their support in preparing for the festival and we look forward to working together again to prepare for next year when the mist rises once again on Brigadoon!

Written by Belinda McMartin, Bradman Museum Assistant Curator