Wagging tail hurting England most

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FOR all the blood and thunder of Mitchell Johnson's rejuvenated bowling, it is the batting of him and his tailend teammates who have helped put England to the sword.

Australia's lower order from Brad Haddin down have taken the third Test in Perth away from England, just as they did in Brisbane and Adelaide.

In all three Tests Australia's last five wickets have added more than the top five and this was most pronounced in Perth during the second day of the third Test.

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Australia collapsed to 5-143 on the opening day but was eventually bowled out Saturday for 385, adding 242 with the lower order.

This is in marked contrast to England, highlighting the success of Australia's ruthless plans to bounce out the England tail.

Chief amongst those responsible for the rescue mission has been Brad Haddin, with 320 runs at an average of 80.

Johnson did not add to his overnight score of 39 on Saturday but his 147 runs at 49 left him with more runs at a better average than any England player on tour before England began batting on Saturday.

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It also highlighted the lack of contribution from team mates Shane Watson (average 19), Chris Rogers (20) and George Bailey (24).

Johnson had scored almost as many runs as the entire England tail from wicket-keeper Matt Prior down.

Before he bowled a ball in this series it was Johnson's batting which turned the first Test in Brisbane and struck an early blow towards regaining the Ashes.

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On the opening day at the Gabba Australia tumbled to 6-132 and it appeared a case of "here we go again" after some dreadful batting collapses on the recent tour of England.

However Johnson scored an enterprising 64 in a century partnership with Haddin to ensure a competitive score before bombing Australia to victory with the first of two man of the match performances.

Peter Siddle was a thorn in England's side with the bat on day two. Photo: Gareth Copley Source: Getty Images

And again in this Test the match was in the balance when Johnson joined centurion Steve Smith and they added a brisk 59 together.

They were important runs, taking Australia comfortably past 300, a score England had not made in its first innings at the WACA Ground in almost three decades.

While Johnson's ferocious bowling has added a new and stirring dimension to this series, his batting has placed him in a rare and unique club.

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He is one of just four Australians to score 1500 runs and take 200 wickets.

It is a very exclusive club. The other members are Richie Benaud, Ray Lindwall and Shane Warne.

And of the quartet Johnson has the highest score, 123 not out.

He is one of three with a century while Warne has that famous 99 he scored at the WACA against New Zealand, which he terminated with a skied slog against spinner Daniel Vettori.

Warne would also have made a hundred if he was playing today given the umpires have become obsessed with checking no balls when a batsman is dismissed. Video later revealed that Vettori had overstepped.

Johnson currently has 1553 runs at an average of 23 in his 54th Test.

It compares favourably with Benaud (average 24), Lindwall (21) and Warne (17).

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

One wicked Mitch spell from series

Mitchell Johnson appeals for a wicket during day two of the third Test. Photo: Quinn Rooney Source: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

MITCHELL Johnson shapes as a decisive force against England's lower order on Sunday but their top order team-mates have managed improved resistance.

Since Johnson had Alastair Cook hooking in the second innings in Adelaide he has bowled 38.3 overs without taking a wicket, a stark contrast to his 6-16 in 26 balls in the first innings of the last Test.

Australia's bowling effort yesterday did not contain the blistering Johnson star bursts of Brisbane and Adelaide but it was impressive nonetheless as they sandpapered away with good control and constant pressure.

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THE DOMINATORS

Here is some heartening news for Kevin Pietersen following his dismissal to Peter Siddle for the 10th time in Tests yesterday.

Many batsmen have suffered worse at the hands of their bowling nemesis.

Former England captain Mike Atherton occupies three of the top four places on the list of players dismissed by one bowler.

He was snared 19 times by Glenn McGrath, and 17 each by West Indian greats Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh. At first glance, the stats don't look great for Atherton but it does make you appreciated how tough it must have been to bat in an era of so many champion fast men.

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CHARGING RYANO

RYAN Harris may have been trapped in Johnson's shadow this season but his Test record remains superb.

When Harris bowled Michael Carberry his strike rate in Test cricket was a wicket every 46.8 balls, the best by any Australian Test bowler for more than a century.

Only the remarkable South African Dale Steyn (41.4) has a better strike rate than Harris among current world players.

Harris bowled splendidly again yesterday.

Ryan Harris was a nightmare for England on Saturday. Pic: Tony Ashby Source: AFP

A NEW HOME?

The magnificent Perth wicket brings a special flavour to cricket but you wonder for how long ...

It's becoming a financial nightmare for cricket grounds to exist as stand-alone ventures and the lure of playing cricket Tests at a new Burswood football ground will be strong.

As quaint as the WACA is, a maximum crowd of 23,000 struggles to cut it in an era when the new ground would hold almost three times as much.

The prospect of vacating the spring-bounced WACA for a drop-in deck excites no-one but, as Bob Dylan used to say, money doesn't talk, it swears and this is very much a matter of dollars and cents.

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HOT STORIES

The players were not the only ones feeling the heat in Perth yesterday.

At one stage the temperature in the open-air press box reached 42 degrees.

Some journalists had to put their laptops in the fridge to cool them down while others had red ears from using mobile phones which were steaming hot even though they had been placed in the shade.

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RISKY RUNS

They call it the Red Bull Run - Kevin Pietersen's frantic singles to start his innings.

Pietersen is renowned for having a can or two of Red Bull before he bats and the theory goes that the caffeine hit makes him a restless man when he first takes guard.

Yesterday he was at it again, charging for the quickest of singles to get off the mark with a bunt to mid-off and having to beat a shot at the stumps.

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FLYING SOLO

AUSTRALIA had a 13th man in England's first innings yesterday - the flies.

English skipper Alastair Cook had to pull away from the line of fire as flies buzzed around his helmet before lunch.

He was jeered by the crowd but escaped without the famous Bodyline taunt received by English captain Douglas Jardine ... "leave our flies alone."

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ON THE UP

PLAYERS can move quickly up the pay scale of Australian cricket these days.

When the last list of contracts were announced before the Ashes tour some judges felt Mitchell Johnson was lucky to be included on the list of Cricket Australia contracts given he was not going to England.

But if he can keep up the form of his first two Tests he will rocket into the top five on the list who have a guaranteed income of close to $2 million a year from Cricket Australia alone.

LARA'S THEME

STEVE Smith's first day century got a strong endorsement from master entertainer Brian Lara.

Lara tweeted he found the innings entertaining which is all the praise you need from one of the greatest entertainers the game has seen.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

State of Origin fight night

State of Origin stars will be offered $30,000 to take their rivalry into the boxing ring. Source: Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images

NSW and Queensland State of Origin players will be paid $30,000 each to step into the boxing ring next year, with the mouth-watering fight night set to be staged in Sydney.

Banking on one of world sport's most bitter rivalry's, the Origin showdown will be bankrolled by the same organisers of next year's inaugural NRL Auckland Nines tournament.

The prospect of Blues captain Paul Gallen and Maroons forward Nate Myles renewing their hatred over three rounds inside the ring has already attracted interest from pay TV network Main Event.

Billy Slater and Mitchell Pearce face off in game two of the SOO series. Source: News Limited

Organisers, who have also held preliminary talks with a major sponsor, are likely to pursue Greg Inglis in a match-up with Jarryd Hayne. The night would also allow NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce to settle old scores with 2013 Origin series nemesis, Billy Slater.

The $30,000 purse on offer to each player for three rounds in the boxing ring is a huge lure given they receive the same amount for 80-minutes of Origin.

With planning already underway, a collection of Origin stars, including Blues enforcer Greg Bird have already been sounded out by event organisers, David Higgins and Dean Lonergan, about pulling on the gloves for their state next year.

"There's definitely a lot of rivalries there that would be awesome to see,'' Bird told The Sunday Telegraph.

"There's even some rivalries from the past which wouldn't be bad to reunite, like Mal Meninga and Mark 'Sparkles' McGaw.

"But seriously, these are the things the fans want to see. They love the Origin hatred and boxing is a big part of our training nowadays.

"I watched Billy (Slater) do some boxing training during the world cup and he can throw them.''

The sticking point for Lonergan and Higgins is when exactly the event will be held following the NRL season, particularly when the 2014 season also includes an end of season Four Nations tournament that will conclude in late-November.

Greg Inglis does some boxing during a Kangaroos training session. Source: News Limited

But given the recent success of their Fight For Life charity boxing events, which was held in Auckland last night and has previously included the likes of Gallen, Bird, Sam Thaiday and Willie Mason, a similar date in December next year is most likely.

Bird said that provided the timing of the Origin fight night suits, the players would support the event, particularly if the proceeds went to charity.

"If you figure out the right time of the year, I'm sure a lot of players would want to be involved in it,'' Bird said.

"You get a good charity involved and a handy pay check, I'm sure it would be supported.''

Lonergan said that as soon as the Nines tournament concluded in February, both he and Higgins would zero in on planning for the Origin fight night.

"As far as we are concerned, we are 100 per cent going to do an Origin Fight for Life next year and we may even rest the New Zealand event for one year to get it done,'' Lonergan said.

"We see these guys tearing into each other each Origin series, but to step into the ring and put their reputations on the line is a different story.

"We want it to be in Sydney and will begin to scout locations early next year.

"We will make this happen.''

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Pietersen losing battle within

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DEEP within the Ashes war on Saturday there was another rugged battle ... Kevin Pietersen versus Kevin Pietersen.

Pietersen's 19 off 59 balls was a tense, awkward struggle of a man fighting to put a muzzle on the tiger stirring within.

It was hubris versus humility and hubris, as it so often does, had the final say when, after 20 overs of robust defiance, Pietersen took a golf swing at a short ball outside off stump from Peter Siddle and holed out to an outstretched Mitchell Johnson at mid-on.

As Johnson got both hands on the ball and Siddle got his man for the 10th time in Tests, Australia put one hand on the Ashes.

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Pietersen walked off a shattered man in full knowledge that the Ashes are slowly slipping out of reach and he has been unable to turn the tide.

With just 120 runs at 24 he has been unable to deliver neither consistency nor the mammoth innings he often produces once a series against Australia.

The greatness of his career was spotlighted during his innings when he became the fifth Englishman to reach 8000 Test runs.

Significantly, he was the youngest and quickest to get there, joining Graham Gooch, Alec Stewart, Mike Gatting and David Gower.

Kevin Pietersen walks off the field as the Aussies celebrate. Pic: Theron Kirkman Source: AP

The joy of watching this great showman, for all his foibles, is that you are never sure of what you are going to get.

Saturday was a great challenge for him because after a week of people questioning his desire for Test cricket he could not come out and play recklessly.

The trouble was he was so determined not to play recklessly that he became bogged down against some high class Australian bowling.

Never before has he taken as long as 15 balls to get off the mark. His first four runs took 40 balls.

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He swatted a smoking cover drive off Johnson but there was no sense of rhythm about his innings.

There has been a lot of ingredients in Australia's Ashes domination and near the top of the list has been the success of Operation Anderson.

The blunting of crafty English seamer Jimmy Anderson has been like taking down the first enemy bayonet spotted advancing from a distance for he is the man who many follow.

If you knew Anderson was going to be reduced to starvation rations you could have had a sizeable bet that Australia would win the Ashes.

And so it has proved.

This series he has dined at the poors man's table - just seven wickets at 43 apiece.

For the moment Stuart Broad is the spiritual leader of the England attack with 14 wickets at 25 for the series.

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For reasons no-one can really explain, Anderson, like most of the bowlers in this series, have been toiling without one key weapon - swing.

The Kookaburra ball in Australia does not swing as much as the Duke used in England and this series has given even less than expected.

There was so little movement on the first day of the third Test in Perth that the entire day went without an lbw appeal which was also a sign that England had their line and length wrong.

Part of the story of Anderson's tour is that he has also been England's most economical bowler and the only one to go for less than three runs per over.

Australia has beaten Graeme Swann by attacking him. They have nullified Anderson, partially, by respecting his best work.

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You wouldn't quite say they have sat on him but there is no doubt Australia has been happy to absorb his finest work without feeling the need to counter attack with relish.

This has been a smart tactic and it has worked well because it has created the impression Anderson has bowled poorly which he hasn't.

Pressure rises quickly on frontline players expected to move mountains and Anderson candidly confessed to England bowling coach David Saker before the Test "I need some wickets."

Cricketers have long memories.

Scars gained early in their careers often take a long time to heal.

When Anderson was a 24-year-old rookie he came to Australia in 2006-07 and had a dreaful tour, taking five wickets at 84 in three Tests as Australia stormed to a 5-0 win .

Some say his hostile sledging towards Australia in recent series is a reaction to those bitter early memories when his dejected body language seemed to be a mirror into a tortured soul.

He has transformed himself from an insecure, inconsistent youngster into a world class force but he may have lost a metre of pace in recent times and when you are only fast medium in the first place that can be telling.

England's bowling plans this summer have been ripped apart.

The destruction of Swann has hurt them, the theory that beanstork fast bowlers would "put Australia on the stepladder" never got off the ground because their tall timber of Boyd Rankin, Chris Tremlett and Steve Finn just didn't fire.

Indian great Rahul Dravid once said to beat Australia you need eight players in form. England have one - Stuart Broad and that was never going to be enough.

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Smith century puts Aussies on top

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THREE years after so surprisingly becoming a million dollar man Steve Smith has played the million dollar innings that may win back the Ashes.

Highly rated from a young age but paid and promoted above his station, Smith played a vital innings to rebalance the third Test in Perth following another flaky Australian batting performance.

Now 24 and playing his 15th Test, Smith was unbeaten on 101 at stumps, his second hundred, as Australia recovered from 5-143 to finish 6-326 at the close. England roasted in near 40 degree heat after Michael Clarke won a third successive toss and had no hesitation in batting.

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Smith and Australia's Mr Fixit, Brad Haddin (55), have set the platform for a barnstorming Mitchell Johnson to unleash on his favourite ground. He is currently unbeaten on 39, frustrating a baked and weary England.

The bouncy WACA Ground wicket is traditionally faster on the second and third days as it dries out.

England has not scored 300 in its first innings at the WACA for almost three decades and the last four have not bettered 215, suggesting Australia is marching ever closer to regaining the Ashes.

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Regarded as a better player of spin than pace, Smith played some crunching pull shots, including the one that raced to the mid-wicket boundary to raise three figures.

He waited until the ball hit the rope before an exaggerated leap in the air and wave of the bat signalled just how much his first hundred on home soil meant.

Haddin has been extra-ordinary during his latest incarnation as Australia's wicket-keeper, playing match-changing innings in every Test.

The 36-year-old now has 320 runs at an average of 80 for the series with a century and three half-centuries.

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Smith and Haddin added 124 in two and a half hours yesterday to right another listing ship.

Four of Australia's top six partnerships this series have featured Haddin, highlighting his own outstanding form and the inconsistency of some Australian batsmen.

Shane Watson is averaging 19, Chris Rogers 20 and George Bailey 24 in this series. All found different ways of throwing their wickets away yesterday.

The match was evenly poised heading into lunch when Michael Clarke (24) advanced to spinner Graeme Swann and drove at him.

The ball took the inside half of Clarke's bat and his 100 Test counterpart Alastair Cook came forward to gather the catch at a strategically placed short mid-wicket, giving England three wickets and the first session.

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Just when it appeared David Warner (60) would be Australia's saviour he attempted to cut a ball from Swann which merely looped to Michael Carberry at backward point.

Rogers (11) pushed the last ball of Broad's first over and the second of the match to mid-wicket and called a quick single only for Jimmy Anderson to swoop from mid-on and throw the stumps down as a diving Rogers was well short of his ground.

Shane Watson (18) made the cardinal Perth sin of attempting to drive a ball too far from him, edging to Graeme Swann at second slip.

Then after Clarke and Warner went George Bailey (7) was caught by a tumbling Pietersen at deep square leg hooking at Broad during a hostile spell.

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Henrique makes way for Miller

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BRAZILIAN speedster Henrique has been axed from Brisbane Roar's starting team to make way for Irish playmaker Liam Miller at Westpac Stadium today.

The inclusion of Miller from the opening whistle is one of two changes Roar coach Mike Mulvey has made for this afternoon's clash against Wellington Phoenix, with fit-again goalkeeper Michael Theo returning at the expense of the unlucky Matt Acton.

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Miller's impressive second-half cameo last Friday in Brisbane's 2-1 away win over Adelaide United, coupled with a below-par performance from Henrique, convinced Mulvey to give the former Manchester United midfielder his first start since tearing his calf in October.

The return of Miller allows Socceroo Ivan Franjic to revert from the midfield to the right wing, the spot Henrique has occupied in recent weeks.

"We were better last week after Liam came on and Ivan moved out wide," Mulvey said from Wellington yesterday.

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"Ricky (Henrique) wasn't as dynamic as he has been, so we'll give him a rest this week.

"But he's done a good job for us and scored a few goals."

Acton will join Henrique on the bench, despite producing what most considered a man-of-the-match performance in the Roar's win victory over Adelaide.

Despite the young gloveman's heroics in just his second A-League match, Mulvey had little hesitation in opting for Theo once convinced the experienced custodian had recovered from a shoulder injury.

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"Michael will start, but Matty's done a great job for us," the Roar boss said.

"We've picked up six points from the two games Matty's played and he should be proud.

"He's taken the news well. He's got a good mindset. We've got a good goalkeeping unit at the club."

The first-placed Roar are aiming for their fourth straight win and their eighth of the season. They will start as raging favourites against the winless Wellington, but Mulvey is adamant complacency won't be a factor.

Liam Miller of Brisbane wins the ball during the round nine against Adelaide United. Source: Getty Images

"We'll need to control the tempo from the start better than we did against Adelaide," he said.

"Wellington have got a lot of attacking weapons and I thought they would have done a lot better so far."

The Phoenix will welcome back playmaker Carlos Hernandez, who has recovered from a leg injury, and hardman Manny Muscat, who returns from suspension.

Wellington coach Ernie Merrick was confident his side could reverse the result of the first-round clash between the two teams at the same venue, where Brisbane prevailed 2-1.

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Winning team saving Watson: Crash

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SHANE Watson has become a fortunate beneficiary of Australia's cricketing resurgence.

Had Australia been one down in the series he would be facing mounting pressure to retain his place in the side after making just 22, 6, 51, 0 and 18 in this summer's Ashes.

But one of the joys of having a winning team is that you can carry out-of-form players and the pressure on the selectors is to conjure stability not change.

So Watson lives on as Australia's great cricketing enigma.

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Watson's failure on Friday took his Test average to just over 35.

As good as he is when the planet's align, someone with that average should not be holding the number three spot for Australia in modern Test cricket.

It is not a case of he should be batting down the list because the stats show us the further down he bats the less he scores.

In 13 Tests in the last 12 months Watson has averaged around 30 and even with his handy bowling that is less than a pass mark.

If he was a 22-year-old you might get away with calling it an investment for better days in a Steve Waugh sort of way because all-rounders traditionally take time to develop.

But the trouble is he is a 32-year-old who should be in the prime of his career.

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Yesterday Watson fell in familiar fashion, sparring at one he should have left, edging high to the glue-fingered Graeme Swann at second slip who took the ball with both feet off the ground.

It was one of those shots that would have sailed harmlessly to third man had this been a white ball game and the slips area was near vacant.

But Test cricket demands more scrupulous radar and Watson's has been scrambling all series.

His dismissal was not a mortal sin.

Edges behind or to the slips comprise the lion's share of wickets at this pepper-decked venue.

But it was part of England's plan for him.

The press box at the WACA is located at the side of the ground and it gives you the chance to appreciate that a significant feature of Watson's technique is that he moves forward to almost every ball he faces.

The England team celebrates the dismissal of Shane Watson. AFP PHOTO / GREG WOOD Source: AFP

England know this so they try and drop the ball a fraction short to him in the hope he will reach for balls that will fool and foil him as they rise from just short of a length.

They want him driving on the up and are happy to see the odd half volley whistle to the cover fence in the knowledge that his commitment to thse sorts of strokes could eventually trigger his demise.

This plan has done the trick in Adelaide and Perth.

Planning for Michael Clarke is more difficult for England because his nimble footwork takes him forward or back so quickly he transforms the length of the ball to area where he wants it to be.

Watson has only bowled 11 overs in the series but his canny medium pace should get more exposure here with the famous Fremantle Doctor breeze enhancing the potency of his outswinger.

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Mitch to turn WACA into a demon

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YOU just would not want to be an English batsman at the WACA on Friday.

Punters may have read tweets from fans and ex-players saying this is a true, even paced deck and it was - while England bowled on it.

We said the same in Brisbane and Adelaide after England's first day bowling efforts but when Mitchell Johnson emerged on day two those tracks suddenly sprouted claws.

This deck has more new ball bounce than Adelaide and looks roughly similar to Brisbane.

Former Test firebrand Jeff Thomson expects it to be quicker and bouncier on Saturday.

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Near the end of a blistering hot day, England's exhausted fieldsman looked up at a scoreboard trivia question asking what was Johnson's bowling average in Perth Ashes Tests just before the ground announcer revealed "9.11 per wicket.''

Johnson must be frothing at the mouth.

England beware.

FANCY FEET

STEVE SMITH's first Test century on Australian soil was a major moment for a nation who needs him to excel for all sort of reasons.

His homemade technique has its soft spots but Smith's footwork to slow bowlers is something to behold.

To see him move three metres out of his ground and smack Graeme Swann for six - to get off the mark, if you don't mind - confirmed him as a player of rare adventure and skill.

With so much cricket now played on the turning decks of the Indian subcontinent, Australia needs to unearth more players of his ilk against the turning ball.

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WACA MAGIC

Perth will not host a Test next season and we are missing it already.

Sadly India will play just four Tests and the WACA, mainly because of its small capacity, has missed out.

The facilities here are vastly inferiors to other Australian grounds but you just have to love the rampaging, blood and thunder tone of WACA cricket.

SETTLED AT LAST

AUSTRALIA has played the same side for three Tests in a row for the first time since the 2006-07 Ashes series when it beat England 5-0.

Half of Australia's top order - Chris Rogers, Shane Watson and George Bailey - are averaging under 25 but winning takes the pressure off everyone.

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BROAD SWORD

STUART Broad continues to be heckled as an Ashes anti-hero but it is time for Australians to concede he is an exceptional player.

Australian batsmen say privately Broad just feels all over them when he is bowling and that is how it was yesterday in a world class, post-lunch spell in which he supremely tested e Smith, Brad Haddin and George Bailey who he claimed to an airy pull shot.

Broad's returns for the series at that point were 13 wickets at 23 and no other English bowler in the Test had a series average of less than 54 per wicket.

NO SLIP UPS

At their team meetings before the game England's bowlers were told - and retold - that batsmen don't get bounced out at the WACA, they get caught in slips.

The bowlers were ordered to pitch the ball up and they duly did.

The problem was, with the ball not swinging, they were driving fodder and duly conceded 17 boundaries in the 24 overs before lunch.

Only one of the first six wickets fell to an edge.

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SILLY BILLY

ECCENTRIC umpire Billy Bowden made his first Ashes appearance of the series and that splash of controversy that seems to shadow him arrived as well.

Bowden twice failed to call "over" at the correct time, - cutting a Stuart Broad over to five legal deliveries after failing to have an extra one for a wide then making Ben Stokes bowl a seventh delivery in the 45th over.

YOU'RE HIRED

WACA curator Matthew Page should pick up a fulltime job on the strength of his excellent debut Test strip.

Page was a six year deputy to former curator Cam Sutherland who two months ago left after a dispute with WACA management.

He has yet to be appointed on a fulltime basis but the job should be his after a producing a strip which has been warmly praised by both camps and should provide a gripping contest between bat and ball.

TOSSED OUT

When England's Alastair Cook lost the toss a collective groan drifted from English supporters on the terrances - but history offered them salvation.

The side winning the toss at the WACA has won 14 and lost 19 Tests confirming what Darren Lehmann said before play that it does not really matter whether you bat or bowl first at the WACA, it is generally a sprited contest between bat and ball for most of the match.

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Can Pup remain a successful tosser?

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CAN Australia take advantage of a WACA pitch that looks greener than Kermit the Frog's selfies and go to Melbourne with the series tied at 3-3?

Yes, 3-3. Because, incredibly, we might soon have to visit our psychoanalysts and exhume the repressed memories of that other Ashes series to keep this summer interesting.

You vaguely recall that series don't you? The one where England played the moustachioed villain tying their helpless victims to the railway tracks and Australia couldn't untie the ropes before the express streamed through?

Back home Australians were curled up in the foetal position in front of the fire barely able to watch Stuart Broad put the top order to the sword. Manly, Collingwood, Robert Mugabe and whoever wrote that annoying Coles jingle were then ahead of England in the sympathy queue.

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Now, entering the Perth Test, Australia is expected to do to England what a five year old with a new magnifying glass does to an ant. Which leaves those holding tickets for the Boxing Day and New Year's Tests with a tough choice.

Do you want Mitchell Johnson to finish the job in Perth? (I'll leave the psephology to Antony Green, but I'm guessing the 'yes' response is about 99.72 per cent.) Alternatively, do you hope England can somehow sneak out of Perth with a draw - hell, even a win - and thus ensure the MCG and SCG witness more than a ritual burial? (Unless the Barmy Army have Clive Palmer's resources, I doubt they're getting the numbers here.) Personally? Paul Keating famously told John Hewson he had not yet called an election because ''I want to do you slowly''. Australia's defeat in England is still too raw to entertain the notion Michael Clarke's men can pick and choose where and when they reclaim the urn.

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With Broad and Graeme Swann's feats with the ball, and even the flagging Kevin Pietersen's pyrotechnics still in mind, Australia - and Australians - will want to do England right now. Before they get off the spit and take the apples from their mouths.

Is there any prospect England could turn the heat back on Australia? Clarke has proven to be quite a tosser in this series, and not in the way some unfairly imagined in his sports car driving, model dating days.

But should Australia be forced to bat first in Perth there is still some chance they will be hoist on their own very green petard. Stuart Broad showed what he could with the new ball in Brisbane. He doesn't have Mitchell Johnson's pace but he has more guile.

Joe Root's stubborn innings and Matt Prior's half century were small things salvaged by England from the Adelaide rubble. Ryan Harris has a sore knee, which might provide some respite for the English batsmen, at least at one end.

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But the level of defeatism in the England camp is measured by their laments about Perth temperatures forecast to be in the high 30s. Should the tourists spend more than a day in the field, it might be one of the few times the term ''well done'' has applied to them this series.

Which brings us back to the bright prospects of another Australian victory, and the idea of a home and away Ashes score. Something given some credence by Ian Botham who boasted England would win 10-0.

How satisfying then, if Australia can climb back to level things at 3-3. And go to Melbourne and perhaps Sydney looking for the winner.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Penn pours $1m into Manly juniors

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THE Penn family has confirmed its commitment to the Manly Sea Eagles with a $1 million pledge to fund junior rugby league on the northern peninsula.

Majority shareholder Rick Penn yesterday scuttled rumours his family wanted out in light of the bitter battle for control of the district football club.

"We are here for the long term, and to prove that, we will provide a $1 million propagation to junior rugby league on the peninsular over a 10-year period," Penn said.

Penn is one of Australia's wealthiest men and is determined to ensure the Sea Eagles survive at Brookvale Oval, despite the NRL's move to play at bigger stadiums.

He has challenged the NRL to match his offer dollar for dollar to fund the juniors over the next decade.

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"We would expect the NRL to match our propagation and give an assurance that the Sea Eagles remain at Brookie," Penn said.

"Our juniors should be run by a committee with representatives of the District Football Club and the Leagues Club.

"We would ask someone of Bobby Fulton's legendary standing and passion for junior development to chair the committee and use the Leagues Club as headquarters for meetings.

"This way the Leagues Club is reunited to the heart of the Sea Eagles. It's 16,000 members deserve nothing less.

"I'd also like to see junior matches played at a redeveloped 'Brookie', in addition to the Sea Eagles home games.

"There are some outstanding possibilities for our future growth."

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Penn is one of Australia's most successful businessman who has enjoyed enormous success in the seven years since becoming involved as an owner at Manly.

The club has reached the finals every year, made four grand finals, won two premierships and a world club championship.

In the hope stability among warring factions on the Manly board, Penn has offered to get behind the appointment of an independent chairman.

The position is currently held by his son Scott, who is having to spend increasing time on overseas business.

He also wants prime minister Tony Abbott on board as the club's No. 1 ticket holder.

"Once we feel that we have a stable Sea Eagles board working to good governance principles we would be very happy to have an independent chairman and we would be very proud and honoured to have the prime minister as our No. 1 ticket holder," Penn said.

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Passion pit: Can England fire up?

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IT IS not the Perth heat or WACA pitch bounce which shape as England's greatest hurdles but a lack of fire in the belly to comeback from 2-0 down.

With Australia raging hot favourites to continue its clear sweep in Perth during the third Test, beginning today (Friday), Ashes winning captains Mark Taylor and Mike Gatting are the latest big names to question England's passion.

Taylor singled out England's batting trump Kevin Pietersen after some soft dismissals in this series, which Australia lead 2-0 after thumping wins in Brisbane and Perth.

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"They're playing with more passion," Taylor said of Australia. "They've had enough of losing.

"They've lost the last three series and four of the last five and want to turn it around and they have.

"England can turn it around but they've got to find the passion.

"It's difficult. Kevin Pietersen has played more than 100 Tests. I sense watching him play that passion may have gone but during the second innings in Adelaide he played much better.

"Hopefully if he can turn it around so can the rest of the England side. "

Gatting dismissed the notion that England should be comfortable with its success in recent years.

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"I didn't see the great Australian team of the `90s get tired of winning and didn't see the brilliant West Indies teams of the `80s and `90s get tired of winning," he said.

"When you're winning you've got to keep momentum because it's a very precious commodity. Winning is a habit."

Not surprisingly England captain Alastair Cook denied that passion was a problem with his team.

"I don't think it's about lifting the players," Cook said before training. "The hunger and desire which everyone has talked about has always been there with this side. We have got another chance to try and show it this week.

"It is about making sure we are clear with our plans with bat and ball and how we are going to operate."

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One of just two England captains to win a series in Australia over more than 30 years, Gatting believes passion is central to the success and failure of the current sides.

"At the moment Australia are certainly playing with a huge amount of passion. It's there for all to see," he said.

Gatting congratulated Cricket Australia for making the "brave" decision to replace Mickey Arthur with Darren Lehmann as coach.

"It wasn't a leap of faith, we all know what Boof (Lehmann) is like, he a tremendous character, good with people and he's been able to instil something different in the Australian team.

"We knew it would be quite difficult.

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"Mitchell Johnson's come in, his radar's been good, and we haven't played with the passion the Australians have.

"Everyone worries when we come down here and start dropping catches and things don't go right for you. It's a long way back.

"It's going to be like Custer's last stand in Perth. Let's hope history doesn't repeat itself and our lads can come back.

"They've got to dig deep and find that bit of passion. They've all got pride and dedication but they have to find the passion that is going to hopefully get them out of a tight spot."

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O'Donnell exit robs Chooks of record

Luke O'Donnell (L) during the grand final. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: Philip Hillyard / News Limited

THE Roosters were so close to creating another small piece of history - until yesterday.

With Anthony Minichiello re-signing, the Roosters were on the verge of becoming the first premiership winners in 30 years to retain their entire grand final squad. Then forward Luke O'Donnell decided to retire yesterday.

"I've had some time to reflect and think about my future since the grand final, and this definitely hasn't been an easy decision but it's the right one," O'Donnell said.

"I'm so grateful for everything rugby league has given me. Each of the clubs I've played at have made me a better man and I've made so many friends along the way.

"I've had a great career. I count myself incredibly lucky to have represented my state and my country and it was a dream come true to return to the NRL with a proud club like the Roosters, and to cap the year off with a premiership."

Luke O'Donnell has announced his retirement. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Limited

O'Donnell represented Balmain, Wests ­Tigers, North Queensland, Huddersfield and then the Roosters. He played 215 first grade matches - 188 of them in the NRL.

"Popular with his teammates, staff and supporters, Luke did a fantastic job in buying into our goals at the start of the season,'' Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.

"He had an overwhelming impact on and off the field in mentoring our young forwards in such a short time.''

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Soliman books rematch with Sturm

Sam Soliman vs Les Sherrington fight at the Melbourne Pavilion Picture Norm Oorloff Source: Norm Oorloff / News Limited

BOXER Sam Soliman's dream of a late-life world title remains alive with German star Felix Sturm squarely in his sights for the second time this year.

The popular Melbourne veteran knocked out Queenslander Les Sherrington _ just as he promised he would _ in the ninth of 12 scheduled rounds at The Pavilion in Flemington last night in his first fight for almost a year.

The International Boxing Federation had confirmed Soliman as the No 1 contender for its middleweight title provided he won last night and now he is on the brink of his first shot at a world crown, which he has craved throughout a 16 year professional career.

Sturm reclaimed the title when he knocked out England's Darren Barker in Germany last weekend, but was surprisingly outpointed by Soliman in Germany in February, which was later declared a no-contest after a disputed drug test positive.

Soliman's manager David Stanley says theyhave a written guarantee, signed by IBF president Daryl Peoples and Sturm, that the confrontation must now take place, althoug boxing policits can be unpredictable.

"I want to let Felix Sturm know that he has tried to take me politically and failed and tired to take me in the ring and failed and now I''m coming after him," Soliman told his fans, who brough the rooof down with three cheers.

"Now I'm going to smash him _ put a hole in him."

Soliman turned 40 last month and knows his next loss will be his last fight but that never looked like happening last night, even though he was giving away nine years and several cenitmetres to his opponent..

After a scrappy start. Soliman took control in the second round with slippery, aggressive ringcraft with which Sherrington simply could not cope.

Soliman knocked him down in the eighth and ahgain two minutes and 12 seconds into the ninth, at which point Sherrington's trainer Brendon Smith told the breferrr Charlie Lucas: "Enough is enough."

"I was beaten by a way better fighter _ I tried but I had no answer," Sherrington said.

"He's No 1 in the world and showed that."

The win was Soliman's ninth in a row _ counting the one over Sturm_ dating back to August, 2005, when Sydney's Anthony Mundine beat him for the second time in Melbourne. He has now 43 of 54 fights, 17 of them by knockout.

Last night's victory earned him the WBA Pan Asia Boxing Association's interim title and a top-10 ranking with that sanctioning body, but that was of little importance compared to at last having a world title within reach.

The IBF title has changed hands three times in little more than a year, with Australian Danial Geale taking it off Sturm, England's Darren Barker relieving Geale of it earlier this year, and Sturm knocking out Barker in Germany last weekend.

Having come from behind _ he was knocked down early _ to emphatically upset Sturm last time, Soliman is supremely confident he can do it again.

Sherrington, who had won his last six and 14 of his last 15 for an overall record of 33-6, looked to be a dangerous opponent given his age and height advantages, but had never fought anyone of Soliman's class and experience _ and it showed.

Soliman earned the TKO of Sherrington after keeping his tempo high and staying busy inside. This allowed "King" Soliman to dictate the pace of the fight for the opening rounds.

Soliman then flicked the switch, landing a huge left hand that rocked Sherrington in round seven. Sherrington's corner threw in the towel mid-way through after Soliman dropped the Queenslander for the second time.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Inside Manly's dysfunctional board

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MANLY icon Peter 'Zorba' Peters has lifted the lid on Australian sport's most dysfunctional board.

In a remarkable interview with The Daily Telegraph, Peters told of the in-fighting, the spite, name-calling and bitterness inside the Sea Eagles boardroom.

''It's toxic, aggressive and horrible,'' Peters said. ''There have been threats made.''

Bulldog: Just how volatile is it inside those infamous Manly board meetings?

Zorba: It's as volatile as you could imagine. I have grown-up in a tough school - I give as much as I get - but it is toxic and dysfunctional. It's aggressive, it's horrible.

Peter Peters, veteran Manly official, inside the Sea Eagles' boardroom. Source: News Limited

Bulldog: How personal does it get?

Zorba: There are plenty of people that have been called liars in that boardroom.

Bulldog: Sounds utterly spiteful.

Zorba: Absolutely. I am happy that we have a female representative (Kerry Chrysiliou) on the board who is also a lawyer. I think her presence has probably kept it from spilling over. But there has been walk-outs and threats made in the boardroom. It has become bitter and shouldn't be like that. We were always a club that was together.

Bulldog: Is it true the Sea Eagles board is split on most decisions?

Zorba: It is a 4-3 vote on almost every issue. That is sad and shouldn't happen. That is where the problem lies. There is no sensible decisions being made, they are being made on party lines. We need more independence.

Peter Peters, veteran Manly official, inside the Sea Eagles' boardroom. Source: News Limited

Bulldog: To be fair, you are aligned to the Penn faction.

Zorba: I am. I have always been up-front, I declared that a long time ago. They are a wonderful family but they didn't save my job (as former Manly media manager).

Bulldog: Have you ever thought of walking away to secure peace?

Zorba: I did walk away and then a lot of people phoned me and said come back because they didn't like what was happening. A lot of ex-players.

Bulldog: How has the club survived all this with such wonderful on-field success?

Zorba: This an amazing and fabulous club. I have just come back from the World Cup and Petero Civoncieva, who I think is one of the greats of our game in any era, told me off his own bat that whenever he played Manly he hurt for three or fours days after. He said what we have at this club, no other club has. It's gratifying that we are so good on the field, but so bad off it.

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Bulldog: Do you think fans are fed-up with the bickering at board level?

Zorba: Absolutely. And I don't blame them. I am too.

Bulldog: Do players come to you also expressing their dismay?

Zorba: They are sick and tired of it. They hate it.

Bulldog: You are 68-years old. What keeps driving you?

Zorba: It is what this club has done for me. To see the guys that dug the well we could all drink from. We are sitting in Manly Leagues Club which used to be an old house. I owe to the people who built it to keep up the fight. This meeting (on December 19) coming up is probably the most important in the club's history and less than 600 people are going to decide the future of the club.

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Bulldog: The meeting you talk of is a District Club election and there is a strong rival ticket challenging the board. Are you prepared to support that rival ticket publicly?

Zorba: I most definitely am. There have to be changes.

Bulldog: Where will this all end?

Zorba: A volcano is about to erupt.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

ASADA closes net on Kennedy

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MARTIN Kennedy is poised to become the next NRL player to receive an infraction notice as ASADA considers evidence against the Broncos prop that is more advanced than its case file against 14 past and present Sharks players.

After the ARLC board yesterday received a detailed briefing of the NRL's internal report into Cronulla's 2011 supplement program, The Daily Telegraph learned that ASADA is preparing to swoop on Kennedy for alleged possession of banned substances.

When contacted earlier this week, Kennedy promised to vigorously defend any possible charges, maintaining that he had never possessed or attempted to procure banned substances.

Martin Kennedy suffers a serious knee injury last year. Source: News Limited

Text messages between Kennedy and other figures central to the inquiry - including banned winger Sandor Earl - are believed to be key to ASADA's case against the former Rooster and Queensland State of Origin 18th man.

The messages include correspondence with long-time friend Ben Darcy, who is also close to Earl and formerly lived in the same Bondi apartment block as Kennedy.

The trio attended top league nursery Matraville High together, and were briefly united in the Roosters junior ranks.

Martin Kennedy on the attack for the Roosters. Source: News Limited

ASADA interviewed Kennedy a week after the grand final, shortly before he moved to Brisbane to begin a new two-year deal with the Broncos.

Sources close to the investigation have confirmed Kennedy was questioned about a series of text exchanges with Darcy.

The 24-year-old expressed deep shock when The Daily Telegraph informed him about ASADA's latest movements, stating that he believed the interview had gone smoothly and the matter was now closed.

Martin Kennedy against the Titans. Source: News Limited

A source familiar with the file said the text messages contributed to a compelling case for possession-related charges, which carry a potential maximum two-year ban.

It's understood the texts were taken from mobile phones seized at Sydney Airport, while their owners were returning from Thailand earlier this year.

It's believed that any possible charges against Kennedy will not include use or trafficking, which were both levelled against Earl in late August.

Sandor Earl is the only player to receive an infraction notice so far. Source: News Limited

The ex-Raiders winger has admitted guilt to both charges, which carry a maximum four year ban. Earl is attempting to have his suspension reduced to 12 months by providing ASADA with substantial assistance, but his co-operation is aimed at supplying damning evidence against the man who allegedly organised the prohibited treatments - sports scientist Stephen Dank - rather than fellow players. Dank has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

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Kennedy's fate is set to be announced before that of the 14 players who participated in Cronulla's controversial 2011 supplement program: Paul Gallen, John Morris, Ben Pomeroy, Wade Graham, Nathan Gardner, Nathan Stapleton, Stewart Mills, Jayson Bukuya, Anthony Tupou, Matt Wright, Jeremy Smith, Kade Snowden, Luke Douglas and Albert Kelly.

The NRL sanctions against Cronulla purely relate to code of conduct breaches, with no infraction notices to be handed to any former or current Sharks player this week.

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NRL boss Dave Smith yesterday briefed the eight commissioners on his Intergrity Unit report, which has canvassed supplement programs at all 16 clubs. The Sharks board was sweating on an announcement last night, but the NRL said its investigation was continuing.

The latest information suggests a decision will be made on whether to issue infraction notices against Cronulla players early in the New Year.

ASADA has made enormous headway in recent weeks because of new coercive powers that compel persons of interest to attend interviews and submit documents.

As revealed by The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, an information sheet discussing two banned peptides - CJC-1295 and GHRP-6 - that ASADA believes was distributed to players has been obtained.

The sheet carries the nickname and contact details of the supplement salesman, Darren 'The Gazelle' Hibbert, whom an independent club report found injected Sharks players at training sessions in 2011. Hibbert received a notice to appear before ASADA almost a month ago and is expected to speak with investigators this week.

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