Australia national cricket team facts for kids
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The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket. They were in the first Test match in 1877. The team also plays One Day International cricket and Twenty20 International. They were in the first ODI, against England in the 1970–71 season. They were in the first Twenty20 International, against New Zealand in the 2004–05 season. They won both games.
The Australian team has played 744 Test matches, winning 350, losing 194, drawing 198 and tying two. Australia is ranked the number-one team overall in Test cricket in terms of overall wins, win-loss ratio and wins percentage. Australia is ranked fourth in the ICC Test Championship behind England, South Africa and India. They led the Test rankings for a record time of 74 months from 2003 to 2009.
Australia made a record six World Cup final appearances (1975, 1987, 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2007). They have won the World Cup a record four times in total; 1987 Cricket World Cup, 1999 Cricket World Cup, 2003 Cricket World Cup and 2007 Cricket World Cup. Australia is the first team to be in 4 consecutive World Cup finals (1996, 1999, 2003 and 2007).
The team was undefeated in 34 consecutive World Cup matches until 19 March at the 2011 Cricket World Cup. There Pakistan beat them by 4 wickets. Australia won the ICC Champions Trophy twice – in 2006 and in 2009 – making them the first and the only team to become back to back winners in the Champions Trophy tournaments. The team has also played 39 Twenty20 Internationals.
2018 ball-tampering controversy
On 25 March 2018 during the 3rd Test match against hosts South Africa; players Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith, David Warner and the leadership group of the team were implicated in a ball tampering scandal.
Smith and Bancroft admitted to conspiring to alter the condition of the ball by rubbing it with a piece of adhesive tape containing abrasive granules picked up from the ground. (It was later revealed that sandpaper was used.) Smith stated that the purpose was to gain an advantage by unlawfully changing the ball's surface in order to generate reverse swing Bancroft had been filmed tampering with the ball, and after being informed he had been caught, he was seen to transfer a yellow object from a pocket to the inside front of his trousers to hide the evidence.
Smith and Warner were both stripped of their captaincy roles by Cricket Australia and sent home from the tour (along with Bancroft). Tim Paine was appointed as captain for the 4th Test. Cricket Australia then suspended Smith and Warner from playing for 12 months, and Bancroft for 9 months. Smith and Bancroft cannot be considered for leadership roles for 12 months after the suspension, while Warner is barred permanently from leadership. In the aftermath of these events, Darren Lehmann announced his resignation as head coach, to be effective at the end of the 4th Test against South Africa.
