Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Michael John Clarke

Full name    : Michael John Clarke
Born    : 2 April 1981 (age 31)
Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
Nickname :    Pup, Clarkey, Top Dog, Nemo, Eminem[1]
Height    : 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Batting style :    Right-hand
Bowling style:     Slow left-arm orthodox
Role    : Batsman, Australian Captain
National side:     Australia
Clarke married model and presenter Kyly Boldy on 15 May 2012,

During the Australian Cricket tour of New Zealand in March 2010, Clarke left the tour to return to Sydney for "personal reasons". Clarke's management confirmed he and then-fiance, model Lara Bingle, had decided to terminate their engagement in a late night press conference on 12 March 2010. Speaking to GQ Australia  in November 2010, Clarke said of his decision to leave the tour of New Zealand, "My decision that I made there, was what I thought was right. I respect playing for my country that much that I thought, if I’m going to let anybody down, I shouldn’t be here — there’s somebody else who could be doing a better job than me. Going home was the right decision at the time for me. I don’t regret that decision."

Ricky Ponting

Full name      : Ricky Thomas Ponting
Born              : December 19, 1974, Launceston, Tasmania
Current age    : 37 years 282 days
Major teams  : Australia, ICC World XI, Kolkata Knight Riders, Somerset, Tasmania
Nickname      : Punter
Playing role    : Top-order batsman
Batting style   : Right-hand bat
Bowling style  : Right-arm medium
Height      : 1.78 m
Education     : Mowbray Primary; Brooks Senior High School, Launceston
Relation   : Uncle - GD Campbell

Ricky Ponting, the most uncompromising player of his generation, grew into Australia's most successful run-maker and only sits below Bradman in the country's overall ratings. It takes an extremely critical eye to diminish his run-scoring achievements, which seem to collect new records in every series. Like spotting a celebrity, it's necessary to look twice when analysing Ponting, first as the archetypal modern batsman, then as the country's 42nd Test captain. There is no doubt about his greatness after taking guard, but his leadership has been under scrutiny for much of his reign. While his blade has sparkled, his stewardship is pock-marked by three Ashes defeats - two in England and one at home - and stumbles to South Africa and India.

Richard Ernst Levi

Full name   : Richard Ernst Levi
Born         : January 14, 1988, Johannesburg
Current age      : 24 years 256 days
Major teams   : Cape Cobras, Mumbai Indians, Somerset, Somerset 2nd XI, South Africa A, South Africa Academy, South Africa Under-19s, South Africa XI, Western Province
Batting style    : Right-hand bat
Bowling style   : Right-arm medium

A student of the Cape Ivy League schools, Richard Levi represented South Africa in the Under-19 World Cup in 2006, and quickly developed a reputation as a fearsome striker of the new ball, especially in the shortest format. Two Twenty20s into his international career, no one was in doubt of his abilities. In February 2012, opening the innings in South Africa's chase of 174 against New Zealand, Levi plundered 13 sixes - a record - in an unbeaten 117 off 51 balls. He reached his century off 45 balls, breaking the record for the fastest ton in Twenty20 internationals. Granted, the Seddon Park in Hamilton isn't the biggest ground, but several of Levi's strikes sailed well past the boundary, and would have been sixes in most arenas. Levi's success could provide South Africa with an exciting long-term replacement for Graeme Smith at the top of the order in the limited-overs formats.

Abraham Benjamin de Villiers

Full name        : Abraham Benjamin de Villiers
Born               : February 17, 1984, Pretoria
Current age     : 28 years 222 days
Major teams    : South Africa, Africa XI, Delhi Daredevils, Northerns, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Titans
Playing role      : Wicketkeeper batsman
Batting style     : Right-hand bat
Bowling style   : Right-arm medium
Fielding position : Wicketkeeper

A batsman of breathtaking chutzpah and enterprise, as well as the skills and the temperament required to back up his creative intent. A fielder able to leap tall buildings and still come up with the catch. A wicketkeeper who is perfectly at ease donning pads and gloves. A fine rugby player, golfer, and tennis player. All AB de Villiers needs to show off his abundant gifts is a ball. Just about any ball.

Johannes Albertus Morkel

Full name      : Johannes Albertus Morkel
Born             : June 10, 1981, Vereeniging, Transvaal
Current age   : 31 years 108 days
Major teams  : South Africa, Africa XI, Chennai Super Kings, Durham, Easterns, Somerset, Somerset 2nd XI, South Africa Under-19s, Titans
Batting style   : Left-hand bat
Bowling style : Right-arm medium-fast
Relation Father - A Morkel, Brother - M Morkel

Albie Morkel, a right-arm fast-medium bowler and left-handed batsman, was earmarked as the new Lance Klusener, but hasn't quite been able to live up to his billing despite some glimpses of match-winning skills.