Mild upstages wild on Lyon's day

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MITCHELL Johnson is the man who can do everything - and for sheer gladatorial excitement, his duel with Kevin Pietersen late Saturday had the MCG rocking, as only one of the world's greatest sports stadiums can.

But the evil-eyed enforcer was upstaged by the unfashionable, mild-mannered Nathan Lyon - and guess what, another huge crowd probably enjoyed that even more.

If they weren't already doing that, they changed their mind when the smiling off-spinner had England's most controversial cricketer caught in the deep late in the last session, Lyon's 100th Test wicket.

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The crowd of 63,864, which included his family, gave him a rousing ovation when he performed the now ritual gesture of holding up the ball to mark the five-for - and what was probably the decisive wicket of the match.

For any number of reasons, it was a magical moment in what has developed into one of the most interesting - riveting, in fact - Boxing Day Tests in recent memory, the best since England won by 12 runs three tours ago.

And it hasn't been decided yet.

It will be Sunday, with Australia needing 201 with all 10 wickets intact to make it 4-0.

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Given they only managed 204 in the first innings, and the way the match has twisted and turned over the first three days, that's not a doddle, and England wicketkeeper, Johnny Bairstow, insisted on Saturday night that they were confident of turning it around.

But the tourists might be whistling in the dark.

Their' morale won't be helped by the certain knowledge that they surrendered the high ground not once, not twice but three times on Saturday.

They allowed Brad Haddin and Lyon to add 40 for the last wicket - crucial runs in such a low-scoring contest - and then lost 3-1 and 5-6 in embarrassing collapses themselves, bowled out for 179 in just 61 overs.

They squandered a potentially dominating position when they led by 116 with all wickets intact and for their long suffering fans it was beyond disappointing - again.

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Lyon was a big part of both implosions and history is going to record that he has played a bigger part in this summer-long triumph than anyone - himself included, perhaps - would have expected, given he has been dropped from the team twice this year.

He has now taken 16 wickets, more than anyone except the all-conquering Johnson's 31, and it's not just the number but the names - Bell for a first ball duck, Stokes and Pietersen among them on Saturday.

He has become a great story and will remain one whatever happens in the rest of his career, which began in spectacular fashion with a haul of 5-34 on debut against Sri Lanka just over two years ago.

Now, in his 29th match, he has become only the sixth Australian off-spinner to take 100 wickets behind Hugh Trumble's 141 - well over a century ago - Ashley Mallett's 132, Bruce Yardley's 126, former captain Ian Johnson's 109 and, also well over a century ago, George Giffen's 103.

Three years ago he was helping prepare Test wickets in Adelaide, not bowling on them, so it has been a remarkable journey.

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"It seemed a long way away when I started but no-one can take it away from me now," he said.

"It's amazing."

Johnson captivated the crowd, as he had done in the first innings and everywhere else he has been this summer, when he launched the fightback by disposing of England captain Alistair Cook just as he was threatening to take control and put the match out of reach.

Then he threw down the stumps to run out Joe Root and held a good catch to dismiss Bell in quick succession, before challenging Pietersen to a ferocious battle after the tea-break, each man knowing the result of the match might largely hinge on who came out on top.

Johnson was infuriated when Pietersen pulled away during his run-up, saying a child on the boundary was distracting him, and threw the ball towards the slips instead of bowling it.

The pair exchanged plenty of angry words with unpire Kumar Dharmasena forced to order them to cool it.

It might have been ugly but the crowd was loving it.

The running total for the three days is now 233,302, while Channel 9 said 2.6 million watched Friday's play.

If you haven't beern part of it, either on the spot or on the counch, don't miss it on Saturday - it might yet be a thriller.

ron.reed@news.com.au

Twitter: @Reedrw

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Injuries the downside of stability

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THIS is the downside of stability. Ryan Harris has bowled himself to a standstill and Shane Watson is moving like a bullock dray.

Naming the same side in four successive Tests for the first time in almost a decade has given Australia an unexpected look of certainty and confidence levels have gone through the roof with each emphatic victory.

But the last Test in Sydney is a bridge too far.

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Five Tests in six weeks is an enormous ask, particularly for the bowlers, and this side cannot remain intact.

The plan has always been to rest Ryan Harris in Sydney next week following just a three-day turnaround from Melbourne and Saturday produced ample evidence why.

The limp from his dodgy knee has become more pronounced with each passing day and his pace has dropped off a little.

If Harris was to try and play at the SCG next week he would need the postman's motorbike.

On the opening day England managed just two scoring shots off Harris in his eight overs to lunch, and one of them was an edge.

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On Saturday the first three deliveries in England's second innings were all picked off for runs.

Carrying an obvious groin problem, Watson's few overs on Saturday were delivered at Shane Warne flipper pace and the all-rounder was a liability in the field.

There is simply no way Watson can play in Sydney either if he's going to move like that.

How many changes the selectors make and who fills those spots will be intriguing, with the heavy duty tour of South Africa little more than a month away.

If a common sense approach is taken at the selection table now the Ashes have been well and truly won, Harris and Watson should be put on ice until then, lest they do any more damage to their battered bodies.

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The first inclusion should be this summer's permanent 12th man, bowling all-rounder James Faulkner.

Whether he comes in as a straight swap for Harris or the selectors push Brad Haddin to six and include Faulkner as the all-rounder at seven will be a matter of some debate.

In his only Test, at The Oval last August, Faulkner played as the all-rounder with four specialist bowlers during a typically feisty debut.

That would mean dropping George Bailey, who is the least performed of Australia's batsmen this summer and needs something special in Australia's second innings to be sure of holding his place.

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Given stability has been such a key to Australia's success this summer the selectors will be keen to keep changes to a minimum but it is also a chance to look at players ahead of South Africa.

With Watson likely to be missing Australia will need a new number three and the obvious candidate is Alex Doolan, although his form tapered off after a strong start for Tasmania this season.

And he hasn't played red ball cricket for three weeks because of the Sheffield Shield hiatus that makes room for the Big Bash.

Doug Bollinger and Nathan Coulter-Nile have been on standby for the past two Tests, with Coulter-Nile inching towards a Test debut.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lyon puts Aussies in box seat

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AUSTRALIA is tantalisingly poised to claim the fourth Test at the MCG on Sunday on the way to attempting a 5-0 whitewash in Sydney next week.

After an extraordinary recovery on day three, Australia needs a further 201 for victory with all 10 wickets in hand.

The character of the batsmen is on the line on Sunday after the bowlers yet again dragged the team back into a match the batsmen threatened to sacrifice.

At stumps Australia was 0-30 after bowling England out for just 179 in its second innings, leaving Australia 231 to win.

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History says the target is not as easy as it looks. Australia has successfully chased more than 200 at the MCG just three times, with the best 5-287 against England in 1928-29, and the last 8-258 against the West Indies during 1960-61.

Saturday's hero was Nathan Lyon, who claimed 5-50 and became just the fifth Australian off-spinner to achieve 100 career wickets, taking them in front of 63,864 fans. More than 230,000 have watched the first three days of the Test.

Lyon claimed the slow pitch was not to blame for the terrible batting collapses by both teams.

"Australia has to really be patient with our batting. It's going to be a massive challenge, there's no doubt about it," he said.

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"We have to hang in there, be patient and show good intent and try and rotate the strike."

Mitchell Johnson also continued his outstanding summer, claiming 3-25 from 15 overs to have 31 wickets at an average of just 14 apiece.

He is on course to have the best series by an Australian fast bowler since Rodney Hogg took 41 wickets against England during 1978-79.

No longer the timid church mouse, Johnson literally went toe-to-toe with England's most dangerous batsman, Kevin Pietersen, on Saturday.

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Looking all the more intimidating with his bristling 1970s moustache, Johnson was furious with Pietersen (49) pulling away at the last minute because of what his batting partner Jonny Bairstow said was a baby crawling behind the sightscreen.

Umpire Kumar Dharmasena was forced to step between the pair.

However flaky Australia's batting above Brad Haddin has been in the first four Tests, England's has been so much worse. On Saturday it was catastrophic.

Haddin (65 not out) top-scored in a last wicket partnership of 40 with Lyon, reducing Australia's deficit to 51.

Asked how valuable those runs might be a matter of fact Lyon replied "I'll tell you tomorrow."

England got away well. Captain Alastair Cook looked the best he has all series on the way to a brisk 51 in an opening partnership of 65 with Michael Carberry.

This gave England a 116-run lead with all 10 second innings wickets in hand, and a golden opportunity to bat Australia out of the match.

But England lost 4-22 including an extraordinary collapse of 3-1 in six balls and then followed that up later in the innings by losing the last five wickets for just six runs in six overs.

In Brisbane England lost 6-9 and 5-21, in Adelaide it was 5-43 and Perth 5-43 and 4-17.

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Heart sack Aloisi after horror run

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JOHN Aloisi's tenure as Melbourne Heart coach is over, after the former Socceroos striker was on Saturday night sacked two years into a three-year deal.

Heart officials were on Saturday locked in meetings and it's believed that they delivered the news to him in the afternoon.

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As Heart finally confirmed that sale talks are taking place, it's understood that Aloisi's departure will be announced on Sunday although club officials on Saturday night denied he'd been sacked.

Former coach and now technical manager John van't Schip or Heart's Spanish assistant Gerard Nus are now favoured to take over from Aloisi.

Heart will now have to sort through a compensation package with Aloisi, 37, who was understood to be earning in excess of $200,000-a-season.

It's unclear what role the consortium in talks with Heart - led by Melbourne Storm chairman Bart Campbell - had in Aloisi's sacking.

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Though Aloisi angrily denounced the idea that he would resign in the wake of Friday night's 1-0 loss to Wellington, Heart's board felt obliged to make the change after a disastrous recent record.

Aloisi cancelled training yesterday after Friday night's defeat left Heart six points behind second-last Phoenix and winless in 17 games - two shy of New Zealand Knights' A-League record.

Aloisi has lost 24 of his 39 games as A-League coach while recording just eight wins and seven draws.

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The Herald Sun on Friday revealed a $12 million sale to the new group was imminent and Heart broke its silence yesterday, confirming talks commenced four months ago and were ongoing.

"Melbourne Heart has been approached by a number of parties over the past 12 months,'' the statement said.

"The club has always maintained that the owners would consider transferring ownership if they considered the sale to be in the best long-term interests of the club, which includes players, staff and members.

"Over the last four months the club's ownership has held discussions with one particular group who has expressed an interest in growing the club.

"Any discussions will ensure the club's existing structures remain, in order to prevent dislocation to the club's philosophies or personnel.''

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It's an intriguing backdrop to Aloisi's future.

Sections of Friday's 6486 AAMI Park crowd chanted "Aloisi out'' and "You're s--t, and we still turn up'' at the final whistle.

And around a dozen fans confronted Aloisi in the car park after the game demanding his resignation with eye witnesses claiming the heated exchange lasted almost 10 minutes.

With Harry Kewell back in action only suspended Patrick Kisnorbo and injured marquee Orlando Engelaar were missing from Heart's best XI against the battling Kiwis.

Melbourne Heart have sacked coach John Aloisi. Source: Getty Images

Van't Schip, who returned to the club on a part-time basis this season, flew back to Europe after last week's Melbourne derby but he has had some input in team tactics and selections this season.

Heart's record makes for horrible reading and its on-field performances continue to be wildly inconsistent, the hallmarks of a coach who had lost his team.

There's no respite for Heart, which travels to Central Coast Mariners next Sunday followed by a tough trip to Perth Glory.

Aloisi had refused to declare wholesale changes for next week but revealed some frustration with his players.

He did not address the squad after Friday's loss and, had been planning to review the game at training this week.

Having coached the youth team for just one season Aloisi's 2012 appointment was a surprise after Heart's No2, Ante Milicic, was passed over to replace van't Schip.

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Hussey can't break Thunder drought

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THE Sydney Thunder have extended their losing streak to 736 days in a dramatic Big Bash League match against the Adelaide Strikers at ANZ Stadium.

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Captain Michael Hussey smashed 85 off 56 balls, the highest individual score of the tournament so far, but it wasn't enough to reach the modest 154-run target.

A decent crowd of 11,068 were at the venue for the Thunder's first home game of the season, encouraging the western Sydney team to finally bring their excruciating 14-match losing streak to an end.

And it was a case of what could have been as the Thunder fell six runs short in a dramatic final over that saw Hussey forced to replace his broken bat, which he then used to sky a Shaun Tait delivery down the throat of Johan Botha.

It was game over, leaving a bemused crowd to silently file out of the stadium.

The Thunder's chase got off to the worst possible start when Daniel Hughes was trapped lbw by Johan Botha for a second-ball duck.

Then two wickets in two balls from Michael Neser, first Carl Sandri then Ryan Carters, threatened to derail the home team's innings.

But that brought the crucial pairing of Hussey and Eoin Morgan to the crease and their mammoth partnership brought 109 runs.

Speedster Tait went for 17 runs in the 11th over, feeling the full force of Hussey's bat. The Thunder skipper belted a six and two fours to put his team in a fighting position.

The former Test star brought up his half-century with a massive six off spinner Adam Zampa and it came off just 31 balls.

Michael Neser celebrates a vital Thunder wicket with his Strikers teammates. Pic: Brendon Thorne Source: Getty Images

Morgan was just as brutal at the other end, hitting two memorable reverse-sweeps for four.

It was always going to require a big partnership from the left-handlers to get the Thunder over the line and they were hardly challenged by the Strikers' bowling or the difficult pitch, until the final over.

Earlier, Adelaide openers Alex Hales and Michael Klinger got the visitors off to a fast start, both getting off the mark with boundaries. They rode their luck early on, but it didn't last.

Hales, the Englishman ranked the best Twenty20 hitter in the world, departed for just 16 when he top-edged a Luke Feldman delivery to Kurtis Patterson, who took a good catch running backwards.

That brought Ashes discard Phil Hughes to the crease, but good bowling from Gurinder Sandhu (0-21) and Chris Woakes (1-31) pegged the Strikers back.

The boundaries dried up, causing a frustrated Hughes to mis-hit one from Italian spinner Sandri and Morgan raced in from long on to take a good, diving catch.

Klinger then unleashed the first six of the innings in the 11th over, hitting Sandri hard and high into the crowd. But the opener fell the very next over, clean bowled by Feldman for 44 off 34 balls.

Nathan Reardon added 32 runs at the end of the innings to give the Strikers something to defend, but excellent bowling spells by Feldman (2-41) and in particular Dirk Nannes (2-22) gave the Thunder a rare sniff of BBL victory.

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DRS could cost Bailey his spot

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A CONTROVERSIAL DRS decision could cost George Bailey his brief and joyful Test career following another calamitous Australian batting collapse.

Bailey was given out caught behind for a duck as Australia collapsed to 9/164 on the second day of the fourth Test at the MCG to trail England by 91, but top scorer Chris Rogers (61) claimed that the Tasmanian captain was "adamant" he did not hit the ball.

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"Maybe there's still a few glitches in the system, but overall I think it's working pretty well," Rogers said of the umpire decision review system.

Umpire Aleem Dar gave Bailey not out caught behind cutting, only for the line on real time snicko to vibrate as the ball went past the bat.

England's Joe Root was given out in Perth when there was less movement from the real time snicko line, so third umpire Billy Bowden had no choice but to send Bailey on his way.

It continued a run of largely poor and unconvincing first innings scores from Bailey which may see him miss the next Test in Sydney, let alone the South Africa tour in February, unless he can bat Australia to victory with a significant score.

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Given Brad Haddin's outstanding form it may be better to move him to number six for the last Test, beginning next week, and include all-rounder James Faulkner, who has been 12th man for the first four Tests.

This would take the load off an attack that has been unchanged during all four Tests - although Ryan Harris may not play in Sydney - and cover for Shane Watson, who is unlikely to bowl after suffering a groin problem.

Brilliant pace bowling has regained the Ashes and continues to camouflage inadequate batsmen who have left Australia in a hole again.

Following on from a record Boxing Day crowd of more than 91,000, another 78,346 turned up at the MCG on Friday to watch culpable batting from both sides.

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Bailey scored a 19-ball, 38-minute duck on Friday as Australia collapsed to 6/122 before the imposing Haddin attempted another rescue mission with a blistering counter attack.

He second-top scored with an unbeaten 43 at almost a run a ball. The veteran gloveman is currently Australia's second highest run scorer in the series behind David Warner with 368 at 74.

Australia lost 3/0 in England earlier in the year and all three losses involved terrible batting collapses.

Not surprisingly, Rogers described Friday as Australia's worst of the series as 13 wickets fell for just 193 runs on a slow pitch.

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"We're up against it, but there's a lot of the game to go in this match and we have to fight well for the rest of it," Rogers said.

"The pitch is hard work. If the bowlers put it in the right areas, it's very hard to score. It's a bit two-paced, but you have to adjust and we didn't do that today."

Bailey's series average of 27 isn't a whole lot worse than other modest performers Shane Watson (30), Rogers (31) and Steve Smith (34).

Rogers was the only Australian in the top six who batted properly on Friday for his third half-century of the series.

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Johnson bouncer elevates his game

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KEVIN Pietersen kindly exposed Mitchell Johnson's two card trick on Friday.

It's an oldie but a goodie, bowl a brutal bouncer that messes with the batsman's mind then pitch the ball up and knock him over.

Now someone playing his 103rd Test may have seen this trick before against genuine pace, not that there are many seriously fast bowlers in modern cricket.

Pietersen had already witnessed Johnson's one card trick with his opening delivery of the second day at the MCG, with England struggling to remain in the fourth Test.

Bowling the second over of the morning, Johnson delivered a searing short ball to useful tailender Tim Bresnan which he meekly fended to George Bailey at short leg.

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Four balls later Johnson bowled an even nastier delivery to Pietersen which followed the right hander, forcing him to back away.

Then Pietersen had a brain explosion which, even for him, was volcanic, stepping away and having a wild slog at a ball which bowled him.

That was two wickets in five balls during another devastating Johnson spell which have suddenly appeared at crucial times this summer.

It is impossible to have the foggiest notion what is going on in Pietersen's head but the standard theory is that he was unsettled by the short ball.

It is blindingly obvious that many of his team mates have been at times during this series.

This was highlighted by a new victim, Jonny Bairstow, late on Boxing Day.

Brought in to replace the hopelessly out of form Matt Prior, who has been stitched up by Johnson at times during the first three Tests, Bairstow proved to be exhibit A with how sheer pace can disturb a batsman.

Two balls after top-edging a six off Johnson, Bairstow was well back in his crease when a full delivery went through a gap between bat and pad so wide a herd of cattle could have made the same journey untroubled.

Mitchell Johnson celebrates another Ashes wicket. Pic: Phillip Hillyard Source: News Limited

Stuart Broad is another who tries to hide in his crease. Having badly bruised one of Broad's feet in Perth Johnson appeared to be aiming for the other when the England fast bowler was compressively leg before wicket.

That gave Johnson a wicket to wicket spell of 5-14 from 6.5 overs with the second new ball either side of a good sleep.

It wasn't quite as devastating as his Adelaide spell, when Johnson claimed 6-16 from 26 balls to set that Test up for Australia.

He now has 28 wickets in the series at a most remarkable average of under 15 apiece.

This is more than any Australian bowler has taken in any series since Shane Warne claimed a gigantic 40 wickets in England during 2005.

And it is the most by an Australian fast bowler since McGrath took 32 wickets in England during 2001.

Even more impressively, it is the best by an Australian fast bowler at home since Craig McDermott's 32 wickets against a similarly beleaguered England in 1994-95.

So now the recently forgotten Johnson sits on 233 career wickets, moving past Ray Lindwall into ninth place on the list of Australia's all-time wicket-takers.

England must be surprised.

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Wild Oats strengthens lead

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THE oldest sailor to race to Hobart and a man who grew up on a chicken farm have emerged as the most likely roadblocks to Wild Oats XI claiming a record-equalling seventh line-honours win in the Sydney to Hobart today.

As the Mark Richards-skippered Wild Oats and Anthony Bell's Perpetual LOYAL slugged it out last night, octogenarian Syd Fischer (Ragamuffin) and Grant Wharington (Wild Thing) moved within striking distance of the leaders as they raced through Bass Strait.

Aiding both Ragamuffin and Wild Thing's bids for an upset victory is the fact both yachts have aboard special sails they are hopeful of using in the final stretch of the line-honours race.

"This is one hell of a race and it really could go all the way to the line,'' Bell said.

"We aren't looking that flash right now but things can change, things can happen and we will be fighting to the end.''

Fischer, 86, and already planning to be part of the fleet next year, last claimed line honours in 1990.

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Wharington, who grew up on a farm but has spent most of his life on the water, won in 2003. Each has positioned his yacht to take advantage of any slip made by the frontrunners or even the slightest change in the weather, which last night favoured Richards and his crew.

Bell will also be hoping for a change in fate after his yacht was overtaken by Wild Oats late yesterday thanks to ultralight winds on the racetrack.

"We are going to every playbook and we are not giving up the fight until it's over,'' said Bell, who is hoping today's forecast stronger winds will be fresher than anticipated.

Hong Kong businessman Karl Kwok's 80-footer Beau Geste is also still in the mix.

Meteorologist Roger Badham said the key to victory this year was how the yachts dealt with light winds overnight - and pockets of no wind - and then fast running conditions to the finish.

Wild Oats XI leads Perpetual Loyal north east of Flinders Island in Bass Strait on day two. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Limited

Wild Oats XI will equal the record of Morna/Kurrawa IV if she takes her seventh line-honours victory in the Sydney to Hobart.

At 11.30pm last night, she was 20 nautical miles in front of Perpetual Loyal, with Ragamuffin almost 12 nautical miles further back. Giacomo was 55 nautical miles behind Wild Oats, with Black Jack in fifth place, 53 nautical miles astern.

The Bob Oatley yacht won the race on debut in 2005 and is the only yacht in history to have claimed the race record twice - in 2005 and in 2012 when she covered the course in one day 18 hours 23 minutes and 12 seconds.

The race for the overall honours is still wide open with the early money on a bigger yacht claiming the handicap prize over one of the smaller boats in the fleet.

While the line-honours winner is expected to be docked in Hobart by late today, the majority of the fleet will still be sailing south and battling a nasty sou'westerly front packing a punch.

The crew aboard Perpetual LOYAL rest on the bow during very light conditions off Flinders Island in Bass Strait. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Limited

Sailors may have to deal with 50-knot gusts down the east coast of Tasmania.

Last night, Wilperina, the smallest yacht in the fleet at 34-foot became the third casualty of the race. The immediate reason for her retirement was unknown.

Just before 2pm yesterday, Wild Oats XI reclaimed the lead, coming from 13 nautical miles behind to again assume the leader's role in the southbound ocean classic.

"We have just taken them,'' Wild Oats navigator Tom Addis told The Daily Telegraph.

"We passed them approximately 300m away.''

It set the scene for a great battle in Bass Strait between the two frontrunners.

In the early hours of Friday morning, Perpetual LOYAL had established a 10 nautical mile lead over Wild Oats XI in light wind conditions.

But Wild Oats XI made steady inroads into that gap as the morning progressed, closing within three miles of the frontrunner, which was 44 nautical miles south east of Gabo Island off the Victorian coast.

Perpetual LOYAL can see her arch rival as she trails Wild Oats X1 across Bass Strait. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Limited

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A crewman aboard Wild Oats told The Daily Telegraph the yacht had sailed into a major wind hole off the NSW far south coast that had seen her concede her early lead to Perpetual LOYAL during the night.

But around midday the Mark Richards-skippered champion was back up there with her rival with the pair leading the 91-strong fleet into Bass Strait.

The 2013 race was billed as a thriller and it is living up to its pre-race hype with more than seven yachts still in the mix to claim the fastest time honours in this year's race.

These include the New Zealand 70-footer Giacomo, which early Friday was in third place and leading the race handicap overall despite being 30-foot smaller than the fleet headliners, Syd Fischer's Ragamuffin, the Queensland yacht Black Jack and Hong Kong's Beau Geste.

Round the world navigator Adrienne Cahalan, aboard the 55-footer Wedgetail, said the conditions at sea were pleasant but very light on the opening night.

"It is sunny and warm and a nice change to the normal wet and windy and bumpy approach to Bass Strait,'' she said.

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Perpetual LOYAL lies 65 miles off Eden on Friday. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Limited

On Thursday, the pre-race prediction of Perpetual LOYAL skipper and owner Anthony Bell that navigators would play an important part in the race appeared spot on.

After an incident-filled start on Sydney Harbour, Wild Oats XI was hounded by a group of rivals as she sailed down the NSW south coast before surrendering her lead.

In a boost for Wild Oats XI, Bell and his team on Perpetual LOYAL revealed they had lowered their protest flag over an incident just after the start.

This means there is no protest against Wild Oats, which could impact on her race result.

"We've had a meeting and decided not to proceed with the protest,'' Bell said.

"At first we thought we had been fouled, but in a sense we had not.''

Perpetual LOYAL sits about 65 nautical miles off Eden on day two. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Limited

The early leading pack included the four supermaxis Perpetual LOYAL, Wild Oats XI, Ragamuffin 100 and Wild Thing; new 80-foot boat Beau Geste and the Volvo 70s Giacomo and Black Jack.

But the news was not all good in the early afternoon, with the fleet reduced to 92 following the retirement of Audi Sunshine Coast (mast damage) and Dodo (torn mainsail).

The fleet was making slow work of the 628 nautical mile race because of headwinds but sailors were optimistic their journey south would speed up overnight when more favourable nor'easterlies hit the fleet.

Wild Oats XI makes good time on the opening day. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Limited

Skipper Eric Holden, aboard the clipper round the world race leader Henri Lloyd, reported that conditions at sea were pleasant after a hectic start.

"It was organised chaos as usual,'' said the Canadian who is skippering one of the 12 70-footers using the Sydney to Hobart as a leg of their round the world event.

"The conditions are fine and no one has any problems. We are chugging along quite nicely.''

The protest, retirements, and the thrilling early duel between Wild Oats XI and Perpetual LOYAL combined to make it the most eventful and exciting start of recent times.

Wild Oats XI off Port Kembla on day one of the Sydney to Hobart. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Limited

Cloudy skies gave way to a spectacular and sunny start to the 69th edition of the race, with Wild Oats winning the honour of leading the fleet up Sydney Harbour and out to sea.

Rival supermaxi and race debutante Perpetual LOYAL looked to have the inside running on Wild Oats XI approaching the first mark.

Perpetual LOYAL seemed to hesitate, with some commentators suggesting she might have been confused over which marking buoy to round.

Wild Oats XI, going for a record-equalling seventh line honours title, swept past the Sydney to Hobart rookie to be first to exit Sydney Harbour and turn south, followed by new 80-foot Hong Kong yacht Beau Geste and then Perpetual LOYAL.

Ichi Ban, skippered by Matt Allen, during the start of the Sydney to Hobart. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Limited

Perpetual LOYAL raised a protest flag soon after, though the reason for it wasn't immediately clear.

The race fleet was quickly reduced by two with Audi Sunshine Coast and Dodo retiring.

Queensland 50-footer Audi Sunshine Coast was forced out inside the first 30 minutes with rig damage, completing an unfortunate double. It was also the first boat out of last month's Cabbage Tree Island Race.

Crew of Audi Sunshine Coast during the start of the Sydney to Hobart. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

"The code zero masthead fitting failed and the halyard tore down the side of the mast to the hounds fitting,'' owner and skipper Rod Jones said.

"I felt it wasn't prudent to continue.

"I feel subdued, very disappointed, but the world moves on.''

Sydney-based 52-footer Dodo had to pull out with mainsail damage.

The 2013 Sydney To Hobart start viewed from North Head. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Limited

Fears of a rainy start to the race were allayed, as the sun broke through around an hour before the start and the fleet set sail in 15 to 18 knot southerly winds.

Supermaxi Ragamuffin 100 was right up there alongside Wild Oats XI and Perpetual LOYAL at the start.

The 1997 line-honours winner, maxi Brindabella, broke the start and had to turn back and go around again.

Thousands jumped aboard an array of vessels to be close to the action at the start, with the harbour foreshore crammed with spectators keen to farewell the fleet at the start of their annual trek south.

"It is just so exciting, I cannot wait," said Grace Kennedy, making her debut aboard Faceboat Sailors with disABILITIES.

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While Kennedy and the other sailors in the race will enjoy some fast downwind sailing tonight, they and other mid-sized yachts will be clobbered by a big front late Saturday night which comes with huge gusts and 4-5m seas.

While there have been reports of 12m seas they are unlikely to eventuate on the racecourse, with the fleet likely to tuck in close to the coastline to avoid the worst conditions as they sail towards the finish line on the Derwent River.

"I doubt if any of the boats will be seeing that where they are," top maritime weather specialist Roger "Clouds" Badham said.

Wild Oats XI surrounded by spectator fleet outside The Heads. Picture: Tim Hunter Source: News Limited

Wild Oats XI heads out into open water. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

Perpetual Loyal (left) and Beau Geste make their way out of Sydney Harbour. Source: AP

Wild Oats XI (left) leads Black Jack and Perpetual LOYAL out of The Heads. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

A yacht drags its spinnaker during the start of the Sydney to Hobart. Picture: Craig Greenhill Source: News Limited

The fleet heads out to sea as they begin their long journey south. Source: Getty Images

The crew onboard Wild Oats before the race start. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Limited

Wild Thing, skippered by Grant Wharington, makes good time as she leaves The Heads. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

The crew onboard Black Jack ready themselves before the start of the trek south. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Limited

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ruthless Rhino suffocates Poms

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IT is cricket's equivalent of the sleeper hold.

Unlike a raw fast bowler Ryan Harris doesn't skewer his victims but starves them of oxygen.

He slowly tightens his grip, with the victim knowing that the fatal squeeze can come at any time.

In cricket's largest cauldron before a record Boxing Day crowd Harris took hold and refused to let go.

Overcoming his chronic knee problem to play an unprecedented eight Tests in a row, including four in this series, he bowled eight overs in the opening session and just two of those 48 deliveries were scored from.

One was edged between wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and Shane Watson at first slip for four from a late Alastair Cook attempt to leave in Harris's third over, and the other was turned by Joe Root off his hip for a single in his seventh over.

This gave Harris lunch figures of eight overs, six maidens, five runs and no wickets.

It took a surprisingly long time for the burly paceman to take his first wicket, with Root (24 from 82 balls) offering the inevitable nick to an outswinger.

Root's inability to play off the front foot has been embarrassingly exposed by the Australians on this tour. Yesterday it was just a matter time before he nibbled.

Ryan Harris celebrates with his teammates after taking the wicket of Joe Root. Source: News Limited

It gave Harris figures of 1-12 in his 11th over and notched 84 wickets in his 20th Test, with number 85 coming when he bowled the perfect ball to Ian Bell (27 in 98 balls), leaving the right-hander off the pitch to take a thin outside edge.

And Harris would have been closer to his 100th Test wicket if Kevin Pietersen (67 not out) had not been given two chances.

On seven, substitute Nathan Coulter-Nile caught a hook shot at fine leg but stumbled over the boundary rope, and on 41 George Bailey at shortish mid-wicket fumbled a sharp pull which should have been taken.

Even so, with Boxing Day figures of 2-32 from 20 overs, Harris pushed further into elite company.

In 20 completed Tests, Dennis Lillee claimed 91 wickets and Jeff Thomson 94, along with Australia's first great fast bowler Fred Spofforth well over a century ago.

To be so close to these greats is an extraordinary performance by Harris, given his patched-up body and late start in life as an international fast bowler.

Ryan Harris in action during day one of the Boxing Day Test. Source: News Limited

He is now 34, an age when many an Australian paceman had faded or disappeared completely, yet Harris is at the peak of his powers.

So dodgy is his chronic knee problem that Australia's selectors refused to make the final call on him until yesterday morning before the toss, along with a new ailment of sore feet.

And the current wisdom among those who pick the side is that Harris will be a no-go zone for the final Test in Sydney.

The inevitable swelling in Harris's knee managed to subside enough for him to make the three-day turnaround from the second Test in Adelaide to the third Test in Perth but they don't wish to take that risk again.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Swishing KP finds unlikely allies

AS Kevin Pietersen came to the crease with England fiddling about at 2-96, the taunts of a record crowd of 91,092 rang in his ears and a large swarm of flies covered the sticky backs of umpires and fielders.

So isolated did the South Engfrican seem in the middle of the cavernous MCG you half-expected to hear the rasping voice of Yabba reprising a taunt from an era when fans were capable of more than mindless obscenity: "Leave our flies alone Pietersen, they're the only friends you've got.''

That could well be true inside the England rooms. Only Graeme Swann's granny knows for sure.

But Pietersen would find some unexpected allies on the field. Australian fielders Nathan Coulter-Nile and George Bailey, whose dropped catches meant neither the crowd's dearest wish, nor Pietersen's appetite for self-destruction, would be satisfied.

Actually, self-destruction is not entirely accurate. With their wonderfully disciplined line and length the Australian bowlers have this summer made England wickets a form of assisted suicide.

Kevin Pietersen has a swing and a miss at a Peter Siddle delivery on day one of the Boxing Day Ashes Test at the MCG. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: News Limited

On Thursday, Ryan Harris, who finished with 2-32 from 20 miserly overs, played Head of Euthanasia as England eked out 226 runs between six mostly self-inflicted wounds.

In Pietersen's case, denied of the attacking shots that are his oxygen, it had at first seemed only a matter of time before his resolve cracked and he died by his own fidgety hand. Tick, tick, tick, tick.

Yet as Pietersen took 13 balls to get off the mark, then faced a further 25 balls before scoring again, for once in this series "duck and cover'' were merely nought and a fielding position, not a warning for those near the scene of another Pietersen brain explosion.

Perhaps Pietersen had been stung by the trenchant criticism of his various swishes and swats. Perhaps he had learned of Jacques Kallis's retirement and had his mind set on filling the vacancy in the South African middle order.

Whatever was going through Pietersen's mind - the lyrics to the song I'm Too Sexy seems a reasonable first guess - his intention to occupy the crease was obvious. So much so that the inevitable ill-disciplined stroke came out of the blue.

On six, Pietersen top-edged a Harris bouncer straight to fine leg where substitute Coulter-Nile took the catch - then stumbled over the rope and tried to flip the ball back into the playing field.

Except Coulter-Nile kept the ball out of play, conceding a six and bringing a premature end to his career as a professional juggler.

Then, having fought his way to 41, Pietersen played a loose pull shot. This one straight in - and out - of Bailey's usually reliable hands.

That was irritating for Harris who was again denied his just reward, and infuriating for the crowd which, by now, wanted Pietersen's head on a stick. Instead he survived to be 67 at stumps, mostly nudged from an unusually laborious 152 balls.

For some the chants of "Boring, boring…'' that rang out as England scored just 13 runs from 15 overs during a period between lunch and tea will vindicate Cricket Australia's assertion - via the Big Bash League Twitter account - that there was a "much bigger'' Boxing Day match on in Perth.

But to borrow a phrase first used about baseball, the day was only dull to dull minds.

Kevin Pietersen acknowledges the crowd after scoring reaching his half-century. Source: AFP

More pertinent than the entertainment value was whether Michael Clarke's captaincy had this time been too "funky'' when he invited England to bat. Even under a heavy sky you can't imagine Clarke taking the same risk if the series had been 1-1.

It was an indulgence accommodated by circumstances as much as the conditions and justified by some poor shots rather than the tight, probing but not consistently threatening Australian bowling.

Which is easy to say if, unlike Pietersen and Tim Bresnen, you are not ducking and weaving to survive Mitchell Johnson's evening bombardment.

Alastair Cook, Michael Carberry and Root seemed to believe they were at the Boxing Day sales, not the Boxing Day Test, selling their wickets at bargain basement prices.

Only Pietersen went on. And but for a couple of dropped catches even he would not have hurt a fly.

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22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Aussies have captain Cooked

IF all things were equal, Victorian Peter Siddle picking up the English captain as the first wicket on a Boxing Day Test would have been cause for riotous celebration.

But things are far from equal this summer.

Alastair Cook, the barometer of the crestfallen England unit he leads, is in such bad form that his wicket has become more a matter of time than the motivation for a public holiday that it was on the previous Ashes tour three years ago.

The execution on Thursday took slightly longer than most of the previous times in the first three Tests of his wretched tour that has yielded just 181 runs in seven knocks at 25.8.

It's about as far removed from his dominant 2010/11 tour - when he clubbed 766 runs at an imperious 127.7 - as possible for a player of his talent and who once, at least, was revered for his powers of concentration.

But, a day after his 29th birthday and the candid admission that this Ashes debacle had exposed cracks in his captaincy, Cook was still a matter of "when" not "if" to the Aussie bowlers.

The Australians, with ample justification, believe that if they keep plugging away with balls on a length outside off stump that he will eventually fall into their slips cordon trap because he simply doesn't stretch far enough forward in defence.

So, after glimpses of at least some of his armory of strokes on Thursday, it barely engaged a yell from Siddle when, on 27, Cook just shuffled across without conviction and gave Michael Clarke catching practice at second slip.

On Christmas Day, Cook had said he'd have to shoulder more of the batting load.

And when he shuffled forward nervously on the first ball, specifically to cover the possibility of a repeat of the magical Ryan Harris ball that skittled him for a golden duck in the second innings in Perth, there were signs he'd dug in for the fight.

But in the second over, when he pushed a full toss on his pads from Johnson's second ball for two, his complete lack of confidence was evident for all to see because, on his previous Ashes tour, that ball would have crashed into the mid-wicket fence.

He played a couple of nice pushes through the off side and belatedly displayed the cut shot that was the trademark of his previous cavalier best.

There was even a hint that his luck might have changed when he attempted to withdraw his bat from a Harris delivery, but the resultant bottom edge flew short and wide of keeper Brad Haddin and the ball scurried to the third man fence.

But, after reaching 17 before opening partner Michael Carberry troubled the scorers, the frugal Harris tied Cook down and his demise looked ever more imminent.

There'd been some less-than-flattering jokes made during the week that he was the third most popular Cook - behind Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson - as a choice to lead England this week.

The lame dismissal on Thursday won't have done anything to ease that perception.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Navigators key as LOYAL hits lead

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THE strategists aboard the Sydney to Hobart leaders are set to earn their keep with potentially the closest race in years unfolding, as Perpetual LOYAL took up the running early this morning.

The supermaxi held a handy three nautical mile lead over nearest rival Giacomo, with race favourite and six-time line-honours winner Wild Oats XI a further four nautical miles astern.

The pre-race prediction of Perpetual LOYAL skipper and owner Anthony Bell that navigators would play an important part in the race appears spot on.

After an incident-filled start on Sydney Harbour, Wild Oats XI was hounded by a group of rivals as she sailed down the NSW south coast before surrendering her lead.

In a boost for Wild Oats XI, Bell and his team on Perpetual LOYAL revealed they had lowered their protest flag over an incident just after the start.

This means there is no protest against Wild Oats, which could impact on her race result.

"We've had a meeting and decided not to proceed with the protest,'' Bell said.

"At first we thought we had been fouled, but in a sense we had not.''

REVIEW ALL THE ACTION IN OUR BLOG OF THE HARBOUR START BELOW

The early leading pack included the four supermaxis Perpetual LOYAL, Wild Oats XI, Ragamuffin 100 and Wild Thing; new 80-foot boat Beau Geste and the Volvo 70s Giacomo and Black Jack.

But the news was not all good in the early afternoon, with the fleet reduced to 92 following the retirement of Audi Sunshine Coast (mast damage) and Dodo (torn mainsail).

The fleet was making slow work of the 628 nautical mile race because of headwinds but sailors were optimistic their journey south would speed up overnight when more favourable nor'easterlies hit the fleet.

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Skipper Eric Holden, aboard the clipper round the world race leader Henri Lloyd, reported that conditions at sea were pleasant after a hectic start.

"It was organised chaos as usual,'' said the Canadian who is skippering one of the 12 70-footers using the Sydney to Hobart as a leg of their round the world event.

"The conditions are fine and no one has any problems. We are chugging along quite nicely.''

The protest, retirements, and the thrilling early duel between Wild Oats XI and Perpetual LOYAL combined to make it the most eventful and exciting start of recent times.

Cloudy skies gave way to a spectacular and sunny start to the 69th edition of the race, with Wild Oats winning the honour of leading the fleet up Sydney Harbour and out to sea.

Rival supermaxi and race debutante Perpetual LOYAL looked to have the inside running on Wild Oats XI approaching the first mark.

Perpetual LOYAL seemed to hesitate, with some commentators suggesting she might have been confused over which marking buoy to round.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ON AN APPLE MOBILE DEVICE

Wild Oats XI, going for a record-equalling seventh line honours title, swept past the Sydney to Hobart rookie to be first to exit Sydney Harbour and turn south, followed by new 80-foot Hong Kong yacht Beau Geste and then Perpetual LOYAL.

Perpetual LOYAL raised a protest flag soon after, though the reason for it wasn't immediately clear.

The race fleet was quickly reduced by two with Audi Sunshine Coast and Dodo retiring.

Queensland 50-footer Audi Sunshine Coast was forced out inside the first 30 minutes with rig damage, completing an unfortunate double. It was also the first boat out of last month's Cabbage Tree Island Race.

"The code zero masthead fitting failed and the halyard tore down the side of the mast to the hounds fitting,'' owner and skipper Rod Jones said.

"I felt it wasn't prudent to continue.

"I feel subdued, very disappointed, but the world moves on.''

Sydney-based 52-footer Dodo had to pull out with mainsail damage.

The 2013 Sydney To Hobart start viewed from North Head. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Limited

Fears of a rainy start to the race were allayed, as the sun broke through around an hour before the start and the fleet set sail in 15 to 18 knot southerly winds.

Supermaxi Ragamuffin 100 was right up there alongside Wild Oats XI and Perpetual LOYAL at the start.

The 1997 line-honours winner, maxi Brindabella, broke the start and had to turn back and go around again.

Thousands jumped aboard an array of vessels to be close to the action at the start, with the harbour foreshore crammed with spectators keen to farewell the fleet at the start of their annual trek south.

"It is just so exciting, I cannot wait," said Grace Kennedy, making her debut aboard Faceboat Sailors with disABILITIES.

Crowds gather to get a glimpse of the fleet as it makes its way out of Sydney Harbour. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Limited

While Kennedy and the other sailors in the race will enjoy some fast downwind sailing tonight, they and other mid-sized yachts will be clobbered by a big front late Saturday night which comes with huge gusts and 4-5m seas.

While there have been reports of 12m seas they are unlikely to eventuate on the racecourse, with the fleet likely to tuck in close to the coastline to avoid the worst conditions as they sail towards the finish line on the Derwent River.

"I doubt if any of the boats will be seeing that where they are," top maritime weather specialist Roger "Clouds" Badham said.

Wild Oats XI surrounded by spectator fleet outside The Heads. Picture: Tim Hunter Source: News Limited

Wild Oats XI heads out into open water. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

Perpetual Loyal (left) and Beau Geste make their way out of Sydney Harbour. Source: AP

Wild Oats XI (left) leads Black Jack and Perpetual LOYAL out of The Heads. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

A yacht drags its spinnaker during the start of the Sydney to Hobart. Picture: Craig Greenhill Source: News Limited

The fleet heads out to sea as they begin their long journey south. Source: Getty Images

The crew onboard Wild Oats before the race start. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Limited

Wild Thing, skippered by Grant Wharington, makes good time as she leaves The Heads. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

The crew onboard Black Jack ready themselves before the start of the trek south. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Limited

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hales ignores Bailey 'lucky' jibe

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ADELAIDE Strikers star Alex Hales will let his bat respond to Hobart Hurricanes skipper George Bailey's prediction some teams will work him out during the Big Bash League.

Hales enhanced his reputation as the No. 1 Twenty20 batsman in the world when he smacked 49 runs off 19 balls in the Strikers' abandoned match in Hobart last week but Bailey believed the innings was "lucky".

"That's a couple of innings now where I feel like he's a lucky Twenty20 player,'' Bailey told media after the match.

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"He's a beautiful striker of the ball. He's a big strong man and he hits it really clean, but I think that the balls that sort of fly to third man, I've seen him do that a lot.

"There'll be times, I think, when he'll come off just through his brute force and power but I think there'll be teams that work him out.''

Hales hadn't heard Bailey's comments when he arrived back in Adelaide yesterday and wasn't going to be drawn on them.

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"Every team has their plans for you, and that's the game of T20, to try to get one over on an opponent," he said.

Hales Twenty20 numbers suggests there's more to his game than luck. He averages 39.11 at a strike rate of 135 in 21 internationals for England and is the No. 1 rated batsman in the world on the ICC's shortest form rankings.

The 24-year-old admitted his innings was a little streaky against Hobart but hopes to time the ball better against Sydney Thunder on December 27 and against Perth Scorchers in his home debut for the Strikers at Adelaide Oval on New Year's Eve.

English import Alex Hales: "every team has plans for you". Source: News Limited

Anyone who wants to bring in the New Year with fireworks might pay to head to the ground.

Hales took once took 55 from a single over in English Twenty20 tournament. He hit eight sixes and a four from a nine ball over which included three no-balls.

Adelaide will fancy itself to head to ANZ Stadium and beat the Thunder on December 27 with the struggling Sydney side almost certain to be without its two best batsmen.

David Warner will be on Boxing Day Test duties while Usman Khawaja suffered a hamstring injury during the side's six wicket loss to the Sydney Sixers on Saturday night.

The pair put on 116 for the first wicket during the match but the Thunder failed to capitalise, only managing 166, a score the Sixers comfortably ran down.

The Thunder has struggled in the opening two years of the BBL but features a new look side captained by retired Australian Test champion Mike Hussey.

"Two of our best batsmen are going to be unavailable,'' Hussey said. "I still think we've got the ability to cover it."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bozza plays A-League Santa

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The A-League will continue on through the Christmas and New Year period and here is my proposed wish list from Santa for all 10 clubs.

BRISBANE ROAR

League leaders at Christmas, one would assume that the Roar would not want much but more of the same - that would be near enough true.

But the pitch at Suncorp Stadium needs to be better for their football to flow.

No major injuries to key players would also be high on the list and the re-signing of Besart Berisha is the top item on the list. There would be nothing worse for Brisbane fans than to see Besart lining up against them in another A-League shirt.

Wanderers must tie down Youssouf Hersi to a new deal. Source: Getty Images

WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS

Wanderland is travelling very well indeed. Sold out crowds at home and second in the league is tremendous for their second season. However, success can breed its own problems. Hersi, Polenz and Ono are all players that are key and coming up for contract renewal - a wish list would be to secure all three of them to long-term deals.

MELBOURNE VICTORY

Travelling along nicely, although the departure of coach Ange Postecoglou to the Socceroos job was not planned for. Should be higher up the table but for sloppy finishing. Their wish? A striker to be gained in January to finish off what they are creating regularly - chances.

NEWCASTLE JETS

Surprising many with their position on the ladder but a much better outfit than people realise. One wish would be to sign Nathan Burns permanently. He has been overall excellent and would be a big loss if he left.

Alessandro Del Piero and Shinji Ono. Source: Getty Images

SYDNEY FC

Quite simple for Frank Farina's boys, wish that when they are without Alessandro del Piero they can win! Also that they can carry their home form into away games. Their inconsistency is driving their fans, coaching staff and owners bonkers.

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS

The reigning champions need to stabilise in terms of losing their best talent. Too many times in recent years they have had to sell players to balance the books. Also they need to realise as a club that their heart and sole support and sponsorship comes from the Central Coast, not North Sydney. Their wish will be to keep punching above their weight.

PERTH GLORY

Well what does one say other than they need to get their best players fit and on the park and put this Alistair Edwards saga behind them. Their main wish will be to use this saga to band them together rather than pull them apart.

Josep Gombau, coach of Adelaide. Source: Getty Images

ADELAIDE UTD

A great example to Perth on how to use adversity to your advantage. Josep Gombau is trying to change their whole way of thinking and playing, and that takes time. Still one of the most entertaining teams to watch. Their wish must be to translate performance into victories.

WELLINGTON

Enjoyed their first win of they year against Sydney on Sunday night. Ernie Merrick's team will be wishing to turn their chances they are creating into goals. Much better position in the league awaits if they can do this.

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MELBOURNE HEART

Need to decide in which direction they wish to go as a club. Rumours are about that the club will be sold, and that can't be good for John Aloisi and co. First and biggest wish will be a simple one - to start winning games. Sixteen games, including last season, without a win is not good enough, nor is four points at Christmas. Starting Friday against Wellington, they need to win.

*Catch every game of Hyundai A-League's Summer of Football LIVE on FOX SPORTS.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

The Clashes: what chance a revival?

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CAN England recover from three humiliating Test defeats and the controversy that has accompanied Graeme Swann's sudden retirement? News Corp Australia chief cricket writer Malcolm Conn previews the Boxing Day Test with his counterpart from The Sun, John Etheridge.

Malcolm Conn: Graeme Swann's retirement is the latest drama in a shambolic tour for England. What's going on with your lot?

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John Etheridge: Now that England are 3-0 down, he decided it was time for someone else to have their chance. And also I think his elbow is causing a lot of discomfort, particularly when he bowls long spells. That was part of his decision as well. He can't apply the same number of revs to the ball as he used to, so it's time to go. One thing you can say about Graeme Swann, he's certainly funnier than any of the Australian players.

MC: Well I must say I'm going to miss him dreadfully, not only for the way he bowled in the Perth Test when Shane Watson got after him but also because he gives the best press conferences in world cricket. He is a genuinely funny guy and I hope he goes into the cricket media or somewhere similar where we can see some of his best attributes. I thoroughly enjoyed his press conferences and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing him smacked all over the WACA.

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JE: He did jovially say his last ball in Test cricket was hit about 120 metres by Shane Watson and indeed his final over went for 22, but he'll have a career in TV or the media. He'll be on Strictly Come Dancing type programmes and I'm sure he'll do some cricket commentary too. Behind the jocular exterior he's got a very sharp cricket brain; probably the best brain in the England team. He'll be missed for his bowling, his catching at second slip, and also for his character.

MC: It's a remarkable career. I think he played for five years and took 255 Test wickets. He came into the game fairly late and had a fair bit of success.

JE: He played in the one-day team back in 2000, and it didn't go well, he was only 20 years old. He kept missing the team bus and didn't create much of an impression. Duncan Fletcher banished him to the sidelines and he didn't reappear for more than seven years. When he did come back, his entire Test career was condensed into just five years - he took 255 wickets and no other bowler in the world took more Test wickets in that time than Graeme Swann. He's an orthodox spin bowler who's won matches with no doosra, no wrong-un, no carrom ball, and bowling with a straight arm as well.

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MC: An old-fashioned off spinner.

JE: Anyway Mal, it's all nicely poised isn't at 3-3 in the 10-match series. You can't get more exciting than that!

MC: Your juggernaut's rolling along beautifully isn't it? Or I should say bumping along. How many changes are you going to make this Test? Swann will be replaced by Monty Panesar. Stuart Broad's on one leg, he won't play, so you'll pick that Irish one day bowler Boyd Rankin I imagine, and then young Jonny Bairstow is doing all the keeping drills at training, so he'll come in instead of Matt Prior. You'll be missing a quarter of your side going into Melbourne.

JE: I don't want to give away a secret plan, but if five or six more players retire or get injured we won't have enough players to make up a team and the game will be cancelled - that would be quite good, wouldn't it?

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MC: I guess the one great achievement for England is instead of relying on South Africans the New Zealand-born Ben Stokes actually played very well in Perth. I guess that's some sort of beacon amongst the rubble.

JE: He was very impressive in his second Test match. An allrounder who can score Test hundreds and bowl at 140km/h. Sounds like the sort of cricketer that Shane Watson's always dreamed of being!

MC: Shane Watson's coming up to his 50th Test. The way he's launched into it in Perth, the next 50 will probably be much more fulfilling than the first 50, particularly if they keep playing England. Peter Siddle's also playing his 50th Test match and that will be quite exciting considering Kevin Pietersen's playing again.

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JE: Siddle's effectively played on KP's ego and dried up his runs and just eventually Pietersen can resist no longer and he makes a mistake. He's given his wicket away four or five times in this series already. One would hope there'll be a big Boxing Day crowd, the Boxing Day Test is one of the highlights of the sporting calendar. With 90,000 people there you'd hope the likes of Pietersen will be inspired by the occasion.

MC: Should we read Kevin Pietersen's name in brackets when Graeme Swann had a swipe at at least one, if not more, of his teammates?

JE: Graeme Swann is perturbed that one or two players have disappeared up their own backsides and cricket's got a habit of biting people on the arse, and he hopes that when that happens those people will be very embarrassed by their conduct. What he didn't do is specify which players he meant, he refused to name names and indeed didn't specify which country the players came from, so it might be that he was talking about Australians.

MC: I just wonder if he was talking about Englishmen or South Africans...

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Only Swann can defend parting shot

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MONTY Panesar drew the short straw on Monday, assigned to try to defuse the latest eruption to rock the shell-shocked England dressing room - and he was the wrong man for the job.

Only one person could adequately explain to whom newly-retired teammate Graeme Swann was referring when he claimed some Test cricketers were up themselves - and that was Swann himself.

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Weakly, he chose not to - he didn't even identify a team.

Just when the tour from hell seemed it could get no worse, it did with Swann's ambiguous outburst raising new questions about team unity and morale.

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The veteran off-spinner had said: "Some people playing the game at the moment have no idea how far up their own backsides they are.

"It will bite them on the a--- one day and when it does I hope they look back and are embarrassed about how they carried on."

Assuming Swann was referring to English players, former captain Michael Vaughan asked on Twitter "which ones exactly?" adding that he agreed some players were getting ahead of themselves but "I don't think he should have said it the day after retiring."

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Journalist Derek Pringle, a former Test player, suggested Swann's outburst was "a barely disguised swipe at some of his fellow England players for not respecting the game."

Pringle said Swann "refused to name the guilty players but it is well-known he and Kevin Pietersen do not send each other Christmas cards."

Swann replied to Vaughan's tweet, denying he was referring to teammates.

"Don't jump to conclusions Vaughney. I wasn't talking about the England dressing room or anyone in it. You too BBC," he posted, and then deleted it.

Graeme Swann pictured at the MCG after sensationally retiring on Sunday. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Limited

Vaughan hit back with: "We all make mistakes @Swannyg66 . I make plenty ... I am afraid on this occasion you have made one."

So who has earned Swann's disdain?

If it's not Pietersen or any of the other tourists, the next most obvious candidates would be the Australians - but which ones?

Whoever he's talking about, he might well be on the money - and if so, go for it. There's been worse sledging than that lately.

But its not acceptable to just to tip a bucket in the general direction of all and sundry.

If you're going to point fingers in this fashion, you should have the guts to stand up and be counted on it.

Swann's unexpected retirement was already controversial, with outspoken English media figure Piers Morgan leading the charge in one direction with: " ... it's not courageous to quit an Ashes series before its finished, its selfish."

British media firebrand Piers Morgan - a close friend of Kevin Pietersen - couldn't resist unleashing on Twitter.

Most, though, accepted that with his 34 year old body arcing up at the workload, he was entitled to time his sign-off as he saw fit.

He said he regarded his teammates as family and was nervous about moving on without their mateship.

He also said playing international cricket was like winning the lottery. "It annoys me when people take it for granted and get above their station because they shouldn't.

"It's the most privileged thing any man can do."

That was seen as an applaudable exit line which might have retrieved any goodwill he lost when he was forced to apologise for a regrettable social media gaffe in which he compared the Perth defeat with being raped.

Now, for all his humour and popularity, the loose cannon side of him has people off-side again.

Team management chose not to respond themselves on Monday, instead sending Swann's replacement to the daily media conference.

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Predictably Panesar had no criticism and said he had "no idea to be honest" who Swann was referring to. "We are right behind him," he said several times.

Whistling in the dark, he also repeatedly insisted the dressing room was hungry and determined and would now demonstrate fight and character.

But the impatient, aggressive tone of some of the questions told its own story when he was asked whether the campaign had become a joke and should there be an apology.

Mild-mannered Monty didn't think so.

ron.reed@news.com.au

Twitter: @Reedrw

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England set to make three changes

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ENGLAND is poised to make up to three changes to the team that meekly surrendered the Ashes in Perth last week.

Left-arm tweaker Monty Panesar will be rushed from Sydney grade cricket back into the fray after Graeme Swann's shock retirement on Sunday.

But as the tourists went through a demanding first training session at the MCG on Sunday, two more switches became distinct possibilities.

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Jonny Bairstow, who has batted well in limited opportunities on tour, was heavily involved with the gloves during fielding practice and took additional practice after the main session, appearing to try to familiarise himself with the backdrop of the giant stands.

With regular wicketkeeper Matt Prior going through the batting horrors and coming off a bad Test with the gloves in Perth, a change to bolster the feeble England middle-order seems likely.

And Stuart Broad was badly hampered by the foot injury he suffered when hit by a Mitch Johnson missile at the WACA Ground.

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Broad clearly looked in pain and it would be a huge surprise to those who watched him hobbling if he could recover sufficiently before Thursday.

This leaves the path clear for another non-English player to pull on the navy blue cap for the first time with Northern Ireland-born Boyd Rankin the most likely replacement.

Rankin, who has played all bar five of his 42 one-day internationals for Ireland, has moved past the erratic Chris Tremlett and Steve Finn, who has struggled for even the most basic rhythm throughout the tour.

It's a remarkable rise for Rankin, 29, who for most observers would have been a distant last among the three beanpoles in consideration for a Test berth when the tour began.

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