Super Mitch twists the knife

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ENGLAND'S batsmen have been condemned as "petrified" after a terrifying Mitchell Johnson continued Australia's charge towards regaining the Ashes.

Former Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan was merciless when Johnson rippled the heart out of England on the third day of the second Test in Adelaide, claiming a remarkable 7-40.

"Say what you want ... It's hard and fast... But England look absolutely petrified of Johnson," tweeted Vaughan as his former side collapsed for 172 to trail by a staggering 398 on the first innings.

Claiming he had never bowled better, Johnson revealed Australia would continue to "cook" England by sending them back into the field on Sunday, resuming on 3-132, an overall lead of 530. David Warner is unbeaten on 83.

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The Ashes could be reclaimed at Perth's WACA Ground in little more than a week, a venue where the stars regularly align for Johnson on the fast bowler friendly pitch.

One of the few England players to cope with Johnson's unnerving pace with an unbeaten 72, Ian Bell admitted many of his team mates were struggling against the rampant left armer.

Bell claimed he was not "scared" of Johnson, adding "but I can't speak for everyone."

"Obviously we're going to have to find an answer because he's blowing us away in the middle and lower order so we need to make sure that we can somehow get through his spells," said Bell.

"When you're playing pace you have to have some serious courage don't you. Every batsman has said that.

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"We've got to get out there and battle hard. You know there are going to be a few past your nose.

"I don't think we should have been surprised by this. He (Johnson) has just gone into the top 10 wicket-takers of all time (for Australia) so he's a quality performer.

"He's bowled a lot more accurately this series than he has in the past but I'm not surprised he's bowled well. I've always respected him as a good bowler.

"When someone is bowling at 150kph you've got to be switched on every ball."

Johnson claimed three wickets in his 14th over and was on a hattrick twice as he sliced through the England middle and lower order with a spell of 6-16 from 26 balls.

"When Mitchell Johnson is bowling at his best, if you get a couple of good ones first up, like Cookie (captain Alastair Cook) got a fantastic delivery (late on Friday), if you get one of those in your first 10 balls it's good enough for anyone in the world," said Bell.

"Obviously it's another disappointing performance. You can't afford in Test matches, certainly the first innings, to get bowled out under 200 or you're not going to win anything.

"There are no excuses, it's just not good enough. We need to make sure we put that right. We'll have an opportunity in the second innings to at least try and show some fight."

Johnson's demolition of England follows a nine-wicket, man of the match performance during the first Test in Brisbane, when England was also dismissed for well under 200 in both innings to lose by a thumping 381 runs.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

What's the Buzz: League v Rah Rahs

Sam Burgess of England in action during the Rugby League World Cup. Source: Paul Thomas / Getty Images

THE Wallabies have agreed to play the Great Britain rugby league team in a $10 million hybrid-game spectacular at Wembley Stadium next year.

London's most famous football venue has been booked for December 6, a week after the Wallabies' last game on their 2014 spring tour.

The game will pit the likes of Israel Folau and Quade Cooper against the Burgess brothers, Gareth Widdop and Sam Tomkins in front of an anticipated full house of 92,000 fans.

All up, organisers are expecting to raise $20 million through gates, corporate sales, TV, sponsorship and merchandise.

An agreement was reached between the two football codes at a secret meeting in London last month.

The codes will be paid $5million each and the players will earn around $50,000 each for a one-off appearance.

On November 11, English Rugby League boss and World Cup tournament director Nigel Wood secretly met with Wallaby supremo Bill Pulver at London's swish Grange Holborn Hotel.

They both agreed to the game, subject to commercial terms, which will be finalised by the new year.

Australia's Quade Cooper in action kicking a penalty. Source: AP

Wood was desperate for the opportunity to promote rugby league in London on the back of the recent World Cup.

The London Broncos are struggling to stay afloat in the Super League because of lack of interest.

A global media company is in the process of selling world-wide television rights and major sponsorships.

A consortium of Australian businessmen and rugby legends Bob Dwyer and Mark Ella were involved in the talks in London that secured the historic agreement.

One half will be played with 15 players with rugby union rules and the other half with 13 players with NRL rules.

The plan was to originally stage a Wallabies v Kangaroos game at ANZ Stadium in December.

NRL chief executive Dave Smith met with Pulver and the promoters but, after showing initial interest, knocked it back.

So the promoters took their $10 million proposal to England.

James Graham im the World Cup semi-final. Source: Getty Images

London based promoter Steve Berrick has been hired to oversee the game.

He has previously been in charge of Barbarians games and major events in the UK.

This will be the first of what organisers believe will become a regular showpiece on the football calendars.

The All Blacks have also been approached and showed initial interest in a game against the Kangaroos.

Previously, Wigan played Bath in a hybrid game in the UK and two Australian school teams played in a trial game at Brookvale Oval.

SAINT

THE NRL's appointment of Sandy Olsen as communications manager - hopefully she will deliver a far more positive message than her predecessor.

SINNER

THE 2014 NRL season draw that leaves fans with only one live free-to-air game each weekend.

SHOOSH

DISTURBING rumours of a serious rort by a senior NRL club official and a player manager are doing the rounds. Their scam apparently involved shaving thousands of dollars off a player's contract and then sharing the ''profits''.

The player found out and sacked the manager. The official remains in his job.

Adam Scott of Australia talks to his caddie Steve Williams. Source: Getty Images

OPEN WATCH

THE incredible drawing power of superstar Adam Scott saw Channel 7's golf ratings increase by 69 per cent year-on-year for the Australian Open coverage last weekend.

GREAT SOUTHERN LAND

THE Shire is still the area of choice for Australia's most famous sporting names.

The latest arrival is former Australian captain Steve Waugh, who has purchased a prestige waterfront property on Port Hacking.

TIGER TAMED

STOP the presses. Benji Marshall is back in Tigers territory. Sadly for Wests Tigers fans it's just a stopover for the wedding of his great mate Keith Galloway. Big Keith tied the knot last night with his long-time partner Serena.

Benji and his stunning wife Zoe flew across from New Zealand for the wedding.

SPOTTED

STEVE Waugh's old manager Robert Joske working on the fairways as a marshal at the Australian Open at Royal Sydney, holding up a "quiet please'' sign.

DYNAMIC DUO

MANLY halves Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans have lots in common. Foran's partner is about to give birth to their first child. They already know it's a girl. It fits in well because Cherry-Evans also has a baby girl.

Dustin with Cristiano Ronaldo. Source: News Limited

A PLANE TO SPAIN

MEET Sydney's luckiest and bravest 13-year-old boy. Dustin Villareal was struck by a car in September last year and spent three weeks in a coma. The very talented Macarthur Rams junior soccer player spent much of the year in hospital, undergoing five brain operations.

While recovering, Dustin had only one wish - to meet Cristiano Ronaldo. The Bossley Park school student made the trip to Spain last week

READY TO GO

SHARKS prop Bryce Gibbs retired from NRL two months ago because of an achilles injury that wouldn't heal.

Last Monday, he marched back into Sharks training and declared he'd give it another go.

Coach Shane Flanagan says it's a massive boost for player morale to have him back.

CARING COUPLE OF KNIGHTS

NOT all rugby league players are ratbags like those who have recently been in the headlines for off-field atrocities.

This is a lovely story about the compassion and kindness of a couple of Knights stars.

Chris Houston and Kurt Gidley recently purchased two Knights family memberships for next year's games.

They will donate one to a local family who have just lost their young dad
to heart disease.

The second one will go to another fan or family who might be struggling to pay for their own membership.

They are running a competition on the Knights' website from tomorrow.

Simply show you are more dedicated than the two boys (with a photo) to win a family membership, judged by the players.

Both memberships will be delivered to the families by Gidley and Houston themselves.

It is something they came up with on their own.

No PR people involved.

Just a couple of caring and considerate fellas doing the right thing by the game and their fans.

Anthony Mundine wins the WBA International super welterweight title bout between Anthony Mundine and Shane Mosley at Allphones Areana, Homebush, Sydney. pic Mark Evans Source: News Limited

CHOC'S OFF TO MEET BIG-HITTERS

ANTHONY Mundine is off to Panama next week for a meeting with WBA heavyweights to map out his future plans.

He says he wants to fight again next month and in March as part of the plan to get a super-fight in the US.

"Mayweather, Pacquia, Cotto, and Alvarez are the big four I eventually want to get to," Mundine said.

"But I can't just sit around for 10 months and wait and wait and wait like I did after the Geale fight.

"I'll meet with the WBA and work on a schedule. I need to stay active. My body and my mind is fresh.

"My goal is the same as it's always been - to be the first man to win three world titles descending in weight."

GALLOP GLOBE-TROTTING

NO wonder David Gallop has no regrets about leaving the NRL.

Since his switch to soccer a year ago, the FFA boss has added lots of exotic stamps to his passport.

Mauritius, East Timor and Malaysia are not spots that were ever included in his NRL travel.

This weekend Gallop is leading the Socceroos delegation at the Costa de Sauipe, a resort on Brazil's tropical Atlantic coast, and a world away from damp, miserable Manchester.

VERY NICE TO MEET ROO

THERE was a nice moment at the FIFA World Cup draw in Brazil when Socceroo coach Ange Postecoglou was sought out by Fernando Santos, the Portuguese-born coach of Greece. The Greek media has made much of Ange's ancestry and hailed him as "the only Greek coach at the World Cup".

Make no mistake, Ange is an Aussie through and through, while his new mate Santos has to make do with honorary Greek status.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sydney to host Socceroos farewell

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SYDNEY is on the verge of being unveiled as the official home of the Socceroos.

Six months after Sydney hosted their World Cup qualification win over Iraq, the ­Socceroos farewell match ­before departing for Brazil next year is expected to be played at ANZ Stadium, ­Sydney Olympic Park.

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The NSW government are planning to torpedo Melbourne's eight-year dominance of the home game swan song, which is expected to attract $16m worth of benefits to the state's economy.

The vital World Cup lead-up match is pencilled in for May 28 - just 17 days before the Socceroos World Cup opener in Brazil against Chile.

The opportunity to witness the Socceroos one last time before the World Cup will attract over 80,000 supporters to ANZ Stadium, with visitors from interstate expected to make up a large contingent of the green and gold fan base.

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The anticipated announcement will help assist the shock felt by football fans across the country yesterday following the announcement of Australia's group of death World Cup draw, which includes world champions Spain, European powerhouse the Netherlands and South America's Chile.

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HERE'S WHAT WE'LL BE UP AGAINST. GULP!

RE-LIVE OUR INTERACTIVE BLOG OF THE DRAW

The Sunday Telegraph has learned Football Federation Australia has instructed its agents to open talks with European nations who failed to qualify for the World Cup, but who will begin their preparation for qualification of Euro 2016 in France.

Australia's wish list for their Sydney farewell includes Sweden, Denmark, Turkey and Scotland.

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And it's the latter that appears the early front runner.

The Scots would be a huge drawcard because of the huge Scottish ancestry of so many Australians.

The Socceroos are expected to spend two weeks in Sydney where they will come together for a final training camp.

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The FFA have plans to make the team highly accessible to the public which continues coach Ange Postecoglou's focus on helping to build the Socceroos profile.

"Ange wants his players to engage with the fans and understand that the Socceroos belong to the people," an FFA insider said.

Melbourne has held a monopoly over the World Cup farewell games. But the election of the O'Farrell government in 2011 changed the balance of power. After years of NSW being beaten by the aggressive Victorians, Premier Barry O'Farrell and his Major Events Minister George Souris have opened the chequebook.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Johnson evokes memories of Lillee

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NOTHING generates electricity in cricket like a frightening fast bowler.

The roar of another near capacity crowd at Adelaide Oval on Saturday as Mitchell Johnson demolished England again revived the halcyon days of the 1970s.

With that brooding moustache Johnson could have been a mirror imagine of Dennis Lillee with the crescendo of 35,000 fans propelling Australia's latest hero of destruction to the wicket.

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This was raw and brutal stuff as batsmen dodged and weaved, sometimes more concerned about the preservation of their personal safety than their wicket.

In a few overs of mayhem shortly after lunch on the third day Johnson had the crowd roaring like they did when Lillee was steaming in three or four decades ago.

Stumps were scattered and flattened, catches flew into the cordon and twice Johnson was on a hat-trick as he completely dismembered the hapless tourists.

From the beginning of his 14th over to the last ball of his 16th Johnson claimed 5-12 in 18 balls. It was breath-taking stuff.

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He returned to bowl last man Monty Panesar after an annoying partnership, finishing with the remarkable figures of 7-40 and walking off to a standing ovation.

Johnson's dismissal of Matt Prior as part of that ruthless demolition was a metaphor for the sudden and stark reversal of form and fortune on both sides.

After breaking down with a serious foot injury in South Africa two years ago it appeared that was the end of Johnson's Test career. Even he was looking for a way out of the side his form was so poor.

Mitchell Johnson acknowledges applause from the spectators. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN Source: AFP

And as a wicket-keeper batsman Prior, now vice-captain, has been a central figure in the rise of England cricket, which made it all the way to number one before being deposed by South Africa, and winning the last three Ashes series.

Now Johnson is key to Australia's rampaging charge towards regaining the Ashes and Prior's game is a mess, leaving England with a long and often helpless tail.

Prior lasted just four balls on Saturday, all from Johnson, as England's resolve evaporated. The first delivery was straightforward and Prior tucked it to mid-wicket for no run.

But the second was a nasty short ball that hit him in the chest playing an ugly fend and the third was another shot ball which Prior was forced to hastily evade.

With the crowd now baying for blood in this spectacular, new, if as yet unfinished colosseum, Prior pushed feebly at a full ball sliding across him to be caught behind by Brad Haddin.

It was Prior's second duck in his first three innings of the series. He has managed to face a total of 13 balls for just four runs, a single scoring shot during the first Test in Brisbane as England were flogged by 381 runs at the Gabba.

By contrast his Australian counterpart Brad Haddin is leading the series averages (88) and aggregate (265).

He followed 94 and 53 in Brisbane with a century in Adelaide but like many of the well performed Australians, has been pushed into sideshow alley by a rampant Johnson.

There is nothing like a terrifying fast bowler.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Clarke, Haddin put Aussies on top

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THE marauding moustache of Mitchell Johnson shapes as a recurring nightmare for England, with Australia's throwback to raw pace of the 1970s threating to dismantle the beleaguered tourists.

Johnson spectacularly bowled the man most likely to save the second Test for England, captain Alastair Cook, with another near capacity Adelaide Oval crowd of more than 35,000 finding full voice on a day of utter domination by Australia.

A stumbling, fumbling England cost themselves almost 300 runs through dropped catches.

They will resume this morning on a shaky 1-35, still 535 behind Australia's 9-570 declared with three days to play after Michael Clarke (148) and Brad Haddin (118) dismissed the match as a contest.

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It would have been 2-35 had Australia reviewed a not out leg before wicket decision on the last ball of the day when Michael Carberry (20 not out) went a long way across his stumps to Johnson.

Haddin claimed that everyone thought the ball was going down the leg side but he could not say enough about the ferocity of Johnson's bowling.

"That was some serious pace those first four overs and he had some good shape. You could tell by his run-up he was going to come out with some serious pace. It was some very, very good pace there," Haddin said.

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"He just looked smooth, he was running to the crease like he was gliding in.

"I noticed up on the board he had the six fastest balls of the day after his first seven.

"It's always good to have someone like Mitch bowling that sort of pace. The ball that got Cook was a cracker.

Brad Haddin celebrates after bringing up his century on day two. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN Source: AFP

"It swung late and at 150ks that was a very good delivery."

In a team of comeback kids it continued Johnson's remarkable rise from oblivion to be Australia's brutal enforcer.

A 32-year-old veteran who admitted only last month that he lacked the confidence to take the new ball during most of his 53-Test career, Johnson is now Clarke's main man.

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Fresh from his nine-wicket demolition of England in Brisbane, the crowd noise rose behind Johnson.

Three balls into the opening over he had pushed the speed gun beyond 150kph as a besieged Cook attempted to clear his mind of England's predicament and cope with Johnson's pace.

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After almost two increasingly difficult days in the field Cook could do no more than unconvincingly jam down on full deliveries and twice sparred at short balls that went searing through to Haddin.

Four balls into Johnson's second over Cook was hopelessly beaten for pace and movement. He was stranded on the crease pushing down the wrong line as the ball left him and crashed into off stump with the skipper on just three.

Cook is now facing his fourth difficult series in five against Australia. His tour average is currently 27, remarkably similar to all his Ashes series averages except in Australia three years ago, when it was 128.

The England captain must be wondering what has happened to his team.

They flogged Australia 3-0 in England just three months ago to win a third successive Ashes contest.

On current form they cannot retain the Ashes.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Two Test wins for the price of one

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RUTHLESS Australia will attempt to win two Test matches for the price of one in Adelaide.

Behind the overwhelming priority of winning here lies the significant subplot of trying to leave England's drained bowling attack so broken that they fire like damp water pistols in the Perth Test which starts just four days later.

It's why Alastair Cook is already trying to conserve the energy of his quicks and why Michael Clarke should be no certainly of enforcing the follow on if England go belly up for a small total on Saturday.

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The more torture Australia inflicts on England's bowlers in this Test the more they will be softened up for Perth where robust seamer Tim Bresnan appears certain to make his first appearance of the series for England.

This series has been a shuddering case of Broad or bust for England. The excellent Stuart Broad (11 wickets at 21) has taken more wickets that all of his team-mates put together (10 wickets at 88). The spinners have been destroyed, the seamers, Broad apart, ground to dust.

The lack of pace of England's bowlers was highlighted when Mitchell Johnson's first over contained the fastest six balls of the match including a 152.8kph thunderbolt.

Jimmy Anderson, in his last over in the Australian innings, did not break 130kph.

COOK'S TOUR

TAKE out the captain, take out the team.

It was often the mantra of Australian teams of recent halcyon generations and the theme could rise again this tour.

After almost two days in the field Alastair Cook looked as tired as he deserved to be in his brief innings of three before his stumps were rattled by a ball from Johnson which he missed by a mile.

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Cook has not made a score above his Brisbane Test 65 in his last 13 Test innings against Australia and his demise is a victory for team strategists who ordered bowlers not to bowl short and wide to him and feed the cuts, pulls and flicks off the hips which three years ago destroyed Australia on home soil.

Like several other English captains he found his batting form soared to fresh heights when he took the job but before the stress of the post ground him down.

BUCK THE TREND

The admirable Chris Rogers is unsure how long his Test career will stretch for and at age 36 you can understand the anguish.

Here's our tip. Unless he goes terribly in the back half of the Ashes and be taken to South Africa for three heavy-duty end of season Tests which will be no place for blooding a rookie.

But, unless he goes brilliantly in South Africa, that might well be the end of the road because Australia's planning for the next Ashes series just two years away will start in earnest after that series.

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DOUG'S PARTY

DOUG BOLLINGER has returned to the scene of the Test match which brutally truncated his international career.

Bollinger was scheduled to join the Australian team in camp in Adelaide last night and he, or Nathan Coulter-Nile will replace any fast bowler who feels the pinch in this Test for Perth.

Bollinger's last Test for Australia was, by chance, three years ago in Adelaide against England when captain Ricky Ponting claimed "Dougie hit the wall'' in a damning statement about Bollinger's fitness.

Australia never forgave him and have not chosen him since despite his Test record standing up most impressively against many chosen ahead of him.

The Perth Test could offer a welcome chance to reshape his career.

Jimmy Anderson had little impact on Australia's first innings. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN Source: AFP

THAT HURT

JOE ROOT's dropped chance at midwicket off Michael Clarke when the skipper was 18 hurt England deeply but others have suffer greater pain.

The record for the costliest drop in cricket is held by former Durham keeper Chris Scott who grassed Brian Lara on 18 in a match against Warwickshire in 1994 before claiming "I suppose he will get 100 now.''

And a few more. Lara made 501 - the highest score in first class history.

OVER THE TOP

IN old Ashes highlights the sight of a player hitting a six is greeted with bewildered looks from players and fans as if a UFO has landed on the ground.

Not any more. Big hitting in all forms of the game has desensitised the impact.

The 12 sixes Australia hit in the first two days was the record for an Ashes innings.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lyon lurks for shot at redemption

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BEHIND the major offensive launched by Australia's marauding fast bowlers, a Lyon is lurking for a precious chance for redemption.

The under-rated and improving tweaker Nathan Lyon has the chance to step forward and become the match-winning force his country is craving for him to be in the second Test match.

This time last year Lyon failed to bowl Australia to victory against South Africa who started the final day four wickets down.

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He looks a better bowler now.

Though wicketless from five overs in England's first innings on Friday Lyon had his moments.

In his first over he (rightfully) had a confident lbw decision against Michael Carberry rejected, later that over found the edge of Carberry's bat and twice beat Carberry in the following over with more over-spin, bounce and turn than England's slow men could manage.

A century of cricket tradition, however, has taught Australia to be realistic in its expectations of its off-spinners.

No Australian offie has taken more than the 141 wicket career of Hugh Trumble who played the last of his Tests in 1904, the year when the first World Fair featured an exciting new invention - the airplane.

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In merciless Australian conditions, off-spinners are sandpaperers rather than scud missiles and even the great Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan could bag just 12 wickets at 75 in his five Tests on Australian shores.

The good news for Lyon is ...

- He will get late use of the deck in the final few days when it may be more difficult to bat on.

- His confidence is up after Brisbane and he has plenty of runs to play with. Michael Clarke will have the option to set whatever fields he likes and as many vultures around the bat as he wants.

- He knows the wicket like his own backyard because, as a former Adelaide Oval groundsman, it was his backyard.

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But there will also be many challenges such as ...

- For all the hype over England choosing two spinners, Adelaide has been historically over-rated as a spinner's venue. Even the great Shane Warne had to work hard for the 56 wickets at 30 apiece he took here. In terms of averages per wicket for long-serving bowlers, the top six are all quicks on this ground.

- The wicket is giving some turn but not much - and it's slow, as evidenced by the fact that England's tweakers took 3-308 between them.

The moral of Monty Panesar's failure is not to be too mechanical. Simply bowling the same type of ball over after over will not do the trick.

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- There is an off-spinner in ever county and village team in England. They play them quite well.

England's spinners, particularly their key weapon Graeme Swann, are having a nightmare on tour.

Swann, who took a series clinching 34 wickets at 25 in the recent series in England, has been targeted and taken down to the point where his series returns are now four wickets at 91 apiece.

That followed the 15 wickets at 39 he took here last tour - and that was part of a series when England won 3-1.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Live blog: 2014 World Cup draw

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THE time for talking about pots and permutations is almost over.

FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, will in the early hours of Saturday morning (EDT), reveal the eight groups for FIFA's 2014 World Cup at a ceremony at the Costa do Sauipe resort in Brazil.

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Fox Sports will follow the action with a live blog right here - as Ange Postecoglou and the rest of Australia discover who the Socceroos will meet in next year's tournament.

Our blog kicks off from 2am (EDT), with the actual draw to take place from 3am-5am (EDT).

We'll have all the announcements as they come to hand, as well as the best social media reaction from around the world.

CLICK HERE FOR A BETTER EXPERIENCE IF USING AN APPLE MOBILE DEVICE

The action doesn't end there, with Fox Sports News' review show at 7am (EDT) on Channel 513, where Adam Peacock, Andy Harper and Tara Rushton, in Brazil, will wrap up all the action.

If you're confused about the draw - don't worry, we were too - find out everything you need to know below.

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FIFA ANNOUNCE WORLD CUP POTS

THE LOWDOWN ON THE 32 TEAMS

HOW DOES THE DRAW ACTUALLY WORK?

MEET THE BRAZUCA - THE WORLD CUP BALL

WHO ARE THE SHARKS LURKING IN THE DRAW?

THE TOP SEEDS - PLEASE, PULL SWITZERLAND

CAN EPL PLAYERS TURN AROUND CUP WOES?

DEBATE: WHO DO SOCCEROOS WANT?

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Souths talk rock bottom with Dick

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DICK Johnson hit his rock, and consequently his rock bottom, 10 years before Adam Reynolds was born.

Which is why, right now, here in a private room on the second floor of Souths Juniors, the greying V8 legend is providing the gun Rabbitohs halfback with some Bathurst 1000 background.

Explaining not only to Reynolds but the entire Souths squad how that rock, that moment on Mount Panorama way back in 1980, was something like his equivalent of twice being rolled one game short of an NRL Grand Final.

"We mortgaged the house, sacrificed everything to run that car,'' Johnson explains of a moment that has come to define him.

V8 legend Dick Johnson pictured with Nathan Merrit, Adam Reynolds and coach Michael Macguire. Source: News Limited

"It's why that crash, it should've been the end of me."

And continuing, Johnson walks this mob of tattooed tyros through the years of debt, the years of repairing cars in his own garage that were behind him not just competing on that particular Bathurst 1000 weekend, but leading it.

The battling Queenslander suddenly ready to collect on all those years of sacrifice when, coming up through The Cutting with a white flag waving and tow truck on track, he swerved . . . only to hit a rock whose mysterious presence is up there with the JFK assassination.

"It should've ruined him,'' explains Souths coach Michael Maquire, the self-confessed petrol head who approached Johnson about speaking after reading his recently-released biography.

"But that's the thing about Dick, he's spent a lifetime fighting back."

V8 legend Dick Johnson pictured with Nathan Merrit, Adam Reynolds and coach Michael Macguire. Source: News Limited

Indeed, with Johnson in town for the Sydney 500, Maguire knew there was no better man to help ready the Bunnies for 2014.

Understanding that be it a boulder, bankruptcy or that brutal Bathurst treeline smash, time and again this legendary Ford driver has overcome.

A truth recognised even by that halfback born 10 years too late to see it.

"Past couple of years, yeah, we've come close to a Grand Final, had some broken hearts,'' Reynolds shrugs.

"But nothing in life needs to be a negative if you take something from it."

22.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Short-lived slaughter job for Bailey

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GEORGE Bailey used sheep as fieldsman when batting on his family farm and for a while on Thursday made England feel like lambs to the slaughter.

Bailey's early batting skills were honed on a farm outside Launceston where he placed feed in key fielding spots in an attempt to lure sheep there.

The main difference between those days and England's fielding effort was that the sheep were better at catching.

Bailey versus England was a rousing contest with honours finishing about even when he was caught at square leg for 53 off Stuart Broad who gave him a fierce send-off.

It was a provocative innings because it raised the question of just what is Australia looking for in its Test batsmen.

Since Mike Hussey retired - and Matt Hayden and Justin Langer before him - Australia has become consumed with the search for the long-innings Test player who starts batting and dawn with a hell-bent ambition to last until stumps.

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But modern cricket just is not churning out this sort of player. Australia may be looking for something that does not exist.

Even Hayden admitted at the end of his career that repeated exposure to the shorter forms of the game had corrupted his thoughts processes for the long innings.

Maybe cricket has to get its head around the fact that innings are constructed differently these days and the way of the future will be storm troopers like Bailey who, in his two Test career, has scored five sixes.

England captain Alastair Cook, by comparison, scored 2047 Test runs before he hit his first.

STOKED UP

England all-rounder Ben Stokes did not set the Adelaide Oval alight in his Test debut but was no damp squib either.

In his first spell as an international bowler Stokes pushed the speedometre to a highly honourable 142.9kph which was faster than any England bowler managed in the first Test.

New Zealand born Stokes is the son of former Kiwi rugby league international Ged Stokes who used to sneak out of boarding school on Saturday mornings to play rugby league for Canterbury, often returning returning to get his backside caned by angry house-masters.

"Sometimes it bled,'' Stokes senior said.

STAR BUCK

IN his own, quirky homespun, way Rogers is a fine role model for the youngsters queuing up to elbow him into retirement.

By no standards is the old timer pretty to watch.

At age 36 you can see him almost fight the ageing process every innings.

He is probably not the player he was in his prime yet he scraps and scratches, kicks and bites his way through.

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Quality spin still bothers him and Thursday was the seventh time Graeme Swann has bagged him in his seven Test career.

But when the ball enters his favourite scoring zone for his pet cut shot it's almost as if the sirens ring, the heavens open and he feels young again.

There is a touch of the Allan Border about him in the way he is prepared to done the blue overalls every innings.

Australia went through a period a decade ago where it hoped every new batsman would be a long-serving Test player but in these turbulent times it has accepted there are openings for industrious players who can make a neat 20 contribution before. Rogers is one of those men.

DRS into play

STANDBY for the DRS system to storm onto centre stage in the second Test.

The DRS system effectively put its feet up at the Gabba Test with not a single lbw verdict given on the high bouncing Gabba next.

But low bouncing Adelaide is a far different proposition.

Amazingly there are still no lbw decisions in the series but don't worry ... they are coming.

A BIT PITCHY

The controversial Adelaide Oval pitch cannot be mentioned in the same breath as the first Test deck at the Gabba but it still got a first day pass mark.

With just enough turn to keep the slow bowlers interested it at least gave something to one form of bowler and the first day scoreline of 5-273 tells of a surprisingly even contest between bat and ball.

England were bold in choosing two spinners but the longer this Test goes the more sense that decision may make.

22.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ashes masking cricket's ugly side

Graeme Swann and Matt Prior celebrate a moment of joy in the Ashes. Pic: Sarah Reed Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

THE history, tradition and pulling power of Ashes contests camouflages the fragile state of cricket in most other countries and the sorry state of its administration.

Then there is the game's dark underworld, which continues inducing players into match and spot fixing despite the many millions of dollars spent over the years on the International Cricket Council's largely invisible anti-corruption unit.

Contrast the opening day of the second Test in Adelaide and its near sell-out crowd at a spectacular new venue with what took place at the University Oval in Dunedin on Thursday.

As the once mighty West Indies were forced to follow-on by a particularly modest New Zealand team in front of a meagre crowd, NZ Cricket chief executive David White responded to reports that former international players were being investigated by the ICC's ACU for alleged corruption. No players have been charged with any offence.

NZ cricketer Lou Vincent, pictured handballing a football, is under investigation by the ICC. Source: News Limited

The players under investigation, Chris Cairns, Lou Vincent and Daryl Tuffey, all played together in the privately run and now defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL) Twenty20 tournament for the Chandigarh Lions.

It was superseded by the Indian Premier League (IPL), run by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

The IPL's first commissioner, Lalit Modi, who later fell out badly with the BCCI, was successfully sued by Cairns in London's High Court after accusing the former Kiwi all-rounder of corruption on Twitter. Cairns was awarded almost $200,000 damages.

He was commentating on the Test in Dunedin on Thursday but left the ground once his name became public.

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The ICL and IPL have been dogged by allegations of corruption.

Earlier this year former Indian fast bowler Sreesanth and three domestic Indian players were found guilty of corruption in the IPL following a BCCI investigation, while two other players were found guilty of failing to report approaches from illegal bookmakers.

The players were amongst 39 people arrested by Delhi police on corruption charges, with most believed to be illegal bookmakers.

Also arrested was the son-in-law of BCCI president N.Srinivasan.

In a massive conflict of interest Srinivasan is also owner of IPL franchise the Chennai Super Kings although his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan ran it.

Chris Cairns is swamped by the media after being named as a player under investigation for fixing. Photo: Geoff Dale Source: Getty Images

In Dunedin White dead-batted a tense, impromptu media conference, claiming he could not comment because it was an ongoing ICC investigation.

"We have been aware of this investigation for a number of months and we are shocked and surprised by the allegations," White said.

"Shockedand surprised" appeared to reinforce the perception that cricket's corruption is somehow a sub-continental problem, which of course it is not.

The first head of the ACU, former London police chief Lord Condon, identified India as the engine room of match-fixing and betting in his inaugural report 13 years ago.

Yet the tentacles stretch everywhere.

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We may have been shocked and surprised in 1999 when it was exposed that the then Australian Cricket Board had secretly fined Shane Warne and Mark Waugh for selling information to illegal bookmakers five years earlier. There was no allegation of match-fixing against Warne and Waugh.

We may have been shocked in 2000 when a cornered Hansie Cronje admitted to match-fixing and his illegal Indian bookmaker later gave police a list of prominent players from around the world he claimed to have dealt with.

Nothing was proved against those players.

But more than a decade on no one should be shocked and surprised these latest allegations.

The shock and surprise will be if the ICC's ACU actually does something substantial.

22.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Clarke, Bailey limit day one damage

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BELLIGERENT Stuart Broad's screaming send-off to George Bailey late Thursday highlighted England's satisfaction at wrenching the second Test back from Australia.

Broad's rant was matched by a crescendo from the Barmy Army and a celebration from its trumpeter Billy Cooper, signalling that England finished ahead on the opening day in Adelaide with Australia 5-273 at stumps.

While Broad clearly ignored the "it's important we play in the right way" plea from his captain Alastair Cook a day earlier, there was enormous jubilation after Bailey was well caught hooking by Graeme Swann at backward square leg for 53.

Australia's top scorer Chris Rogers (72) was unconcerned by the sledging.

"A lot has been said but I don't think either side is upset about it. It is pretty good," Rogers said.

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"I didn't see excessive sledging or anything like that. It is still very competitive between the two sides but you expect that."

Michael Clarke stares down Jimmy Anderson in the final session. Picture: Scott Barbour.

Fighting to come back from a 381-run demolition in Brisbane, England would be in a position of total domination if they could catch.

A middle order collapse of 3-19 could have been so much worse if Joe Root had taken a lunging catch at mid-wicket off Michael Clarke from Graeme Swann when the Australian captain was just 18.

And Michael Carberry dropped a sitter at backward point off Brad Haddin late in the day when the Australian wicket-keeper cut hard at the recalled Monty Panesar.

Clarke was unbeaten on a subdued 48 at stumps and Haddin seven.

Rogers was delighted to see the catches go down.

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"Particularly first innings runs, it could prove to be quite crucial so we still have to field well and catch them but those chances have helped us and to have Michael going out there tomorrow morning, that is massive for us," he said.

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"Anytime you drop him he is going to try and make you pay."

As Australia's only world class batsman Clarke is England's prize wicket and no more so than in Adelaide, where he averages over 100 with five centuries in eight Tests, including 230 against South Africa last season.

A brave Bailey counterattack saved Australia the embarrassment of yet another collective batting failure but it proved more cameo than killer blow.

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The Tasmanian captain smacked three sixes in his first half century and the third of the innings as Australia recovered from 4-174 at tea but no one pushed on for a hundred.

Playing just his second Test Bailey, 31, dominated an 83-run partnership with Clarke.

In Brisbane he hit two sixes during the first Test and yesterday Bailey twice lifted Panesar back over his head and beyond the boundary.

But it was the nonchalant swing over square leg off a short ball from Broad with the second new ball which brought the near-capacity crowd of almost 34,000 to full voice as Bailey notched 50.

It was also the reason that Broad gave Bailey such a gob full when he succumbed to the same shot a short time later.

And this when it appeared England had adopted a restrained attitude to sledging after the nasty scenes which marred the end of the first Test.

Even serial sledger Jimmy Anderson did no more than smile when he took a fine caught and bowled to dismiss Shane Watson for 51.

22.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lions won't be lambs in Adelaide

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CONDITIONS may change but our approach must stay the same - we must maintain our aggression in Adelaide.

I spoke last week about the Australian team playing tough cricket, about reviving the raw aggression of bygone eras.

That's how we play our best cricket.

It is not a conditional pledge. You should not be a lion at one venue and a lamb at the next.

The Adelaide Oval is a flatter wicket than Brisbane but you can still play aggressive cricket on flatter decks.

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We did it in the last few Tests in England.

Obviously we may change plans how we bowl which is fine but I think here will be a lot of heat in this Test as well.

This Ashes will be like a boxing contest over five Tests.

I don't buy the chatter that the Test will be a draw. We are playing for a result.

As delighted as we were with our win in Brisbane, the reality of cricket being just a game was brought home to all of us with the tragic death of Marcus North's elder brother Lucas in a car accident.

Marcus is a part of the Australian cricket family and we all feel deeply for him and his family at this sad time.

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I am particularly pleased for Ryan Harris today that he will get to bowl in front of his former home crowd in such a big game.

It is a proud moment for Ryan and his family and also for me having seen him grow up.

I first saw him when he was an 11-year-old and I was playing state cricket and the memory is still strong.

Even then he stood out. There was just something about him.

The thing that appealed about him even at that age was that everything he did was fast - his bowling and even his running between wickets.

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He was a game changer with an X-Factor which he still contains.

He was cheeky little bugger but he still had great respect for the game and the other players.

Ryan always had promise but the key to his career was becoming stronger, fitter and heavier and being able to bowl a heavy ball.

In three years in state cricket he went from being a bloke who was bowling 125-130kph to 140kph plus.

It is never a formality that cricketers are going to achieve their potential.

He worked behind the scenes on every part of his game and the thing I really love about him is that he is a real competitor.

You can always tell a true competitor because they play as keenly for their club and their country.

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Ryan is like that. He knows no other way.

Harris is now one of the premier fast bowlers in the world. If you did a poll among the top batsmen in the world about the fast bowlers they least liked facing I bet he would be on every list.

There has been a lot of media speculation about whether Ryan would play in Adelaide but my view has been the same throughout.

If he is fit he plays.

That is what our nation of devoted cricket fans would want us to do so as a selection panel so that is what we should do.

We are not about rotation.

One of my great hopes for this Test is that the fanatical crowd support we received in Brisbane surges again at the Adelaide Oval.

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The Brisbane crowd was like a 13th man to us.

The newly renovated Adelide Oval looks wonderful. The fact that 55,000 will fit into it when its finished will make it even more special.

It is great to be back back home.

It is my first Test as national coach in Adelaide and already there has been a tremendous vibe about the match.

Test matches in Adelaide are not simply sporting contests.

They are major events which the whole city embraces.

Bring it on.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Poms' Gabba whinge is hypocritical

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THE whingeing Poms appear guilty of blatant hypocrisy after making veiled threats to boycott future Gabba Tests over the behaviour of Brisbane fans.

The country whose unruly cricket supporters viciously abused fast bowler Mitchell Johnson when he was suffering a personal meltdown during the 2009 Ashes in England has now leapt on its high horse.

According to a UK newspaper report, some members of the England and Wales Cricket Board were so outraged by Gabba fan chants of "Stuart Broad is a wanker" they complained to Cricket Australia.

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The report went further by suggesting official representations had been made to CA about the possibility of not playing at the Gabba on future Ashes tours.

Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland had late Wednesday heard nothing official from the precious Poms over the apparent boycott threat and Queensland Cricket said it was the first they had heard of it.

Even England media boss Colin Gibson claimed he had "no knowledge" of any complaint from England.

Given those denials, the threat appears a sneaky shot across the bow of Australian cricket from someone within an embarrassed England group which was flogged in Brisbane and is searching for someone to blame.

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Queensland Cricket said it had received no reports of anything too sinister from the Gabba crowd.

"There were no issues reported involving player abuse or complaints received from either side," a Queensland Cricket spokesman said.

"Evictions for crowd misbehaviour were actually down from our previous Ashes Test (in 2010)."

It is believed that some of the precious Poms believed all spectators jeering Broad should have been ejected from the Gabba.

ECB officials are now playing the victims, despite England supporters having a poor record for abusing rival players.

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In 2009, Barmy Army and other England fans heckled the then-troubled Johnson with far worse taunts than what Broad appeared to cop in Brisbane.

The Australian fast bowler's personal life was in turmoil at the time but England fans had little compassion and greeted him with a volley of insults whenever he stepped up to the bowling crease or ventured to the outfield.

As recently as the Ashes tour this winter, Aussie opener Dave Warner was singled out for personal insults by Pommy crowd and Warner laughed them off rather than complain.

While some ECB officials are keen to create a storm over Gabba crowd behaviour, England skipper Alastair Cook, a one-time choir boy, doesn't appear too worried.

"We can't worry about that kind of stuff," Cook said.

"In that last game we didn't do ourselves justice and they got on top and that's what home supporters do when you get on top.

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"Last tour we had the same hostile environment when we got here, but towards the end of the series especially we played some really good cricket and that hostility changes because I thought everyone was very respectful of the way we played."

Despite the bleating from the Poms, it is impossible to imagine the Gabba being dropped as a Test venue.

Kevin Mitchell's pitch is regarded as one of the finest Test surfaces in the world and Australia's record in Brisbane is so imposing it has not lost a Test here since 1988.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More