Twilight race a new dawn for Volvo

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

THE Red Bull domination was easy enough to pick - but their biggest challenger was a what? A Volvo?

Craig Lowndes won last night's Clipsal 500 Race 2 twilight fight but there was only one man who owned Adelaide on the opening day of the new V8 Supercars season - Volvo sensation Scott McLaughlin.

MORE: CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST CLIPSAL 500 NEWS HERE

The 2013 rookie of the year Scott McLaughlin took his rookie Swedish ride to second in last night's second 125km sprint, holding off defending champion and Race 1 winner Jamie Whincup and upstaging established rivals and manufacturers with a drive built on guts and defiance.

McLaughlin, who also qualified second, was faced with holding off Whincup for 11 long laps after the five-time champ caught him on the 28th lap.

Whincup took second spot at the final hairpin but McLaughlin regained position when Whincup ran wide at the thrilling final turn, prompting a standing ovation on the home straight.

"I gave it some jam and f*** yeah," an exuberant McLaughlin said of the final move.

"My boys, man, I can't thank them enough. All the fans, you guys were playing Volvo jokes, but I guess they're gone now.

So popular was McLaughlin's victory, the Adelaide crowd booed Whincup for almost snatching silver

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Volvo's outright speed and the 20-year-old's skill behind the wheel halted a Red Bull double one-two.

The pre-race concern about glare from the setting sun at turn four amounted to little on track, with no major incidents at the blinding run out of the chicane.

But turn six, with a similar view, tossed up a brush that is likely to reappear on an end-of-season bloopers reel.

James Courtney was left with an open suicide door when his passenger side peeled back after he dived for a tight gap between South Australian Scott Pye and Erebus driver Lee Holdsworth.

The 2010 drivers champion tried to scrape the outer wall to lose the door but was shown a mechanical black flag.

Mechanics yanked the offending bodywork free and Courtney was cleared to continue racing with a door-sized air vent.

Whincup suffered an early setback when he was held up in his pitstop. Just as teammate Lowndes suffered a wheelnut problem in Race 1, there was a delay changing the Whincup's right-rear tyre.

The setback left Whincup behind Lee Holdsworth, who was among the first to pit, and was later dropped behind Mark Winterbottom.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

McLaughlin held his second position off the line, sandwiched between Lowndes and Whincup.

Foreshadowing the closing tustle, it took only until the hairpin on the second lap for Whincup to make his move up the inside.

But McLaughlin refused to be intimidated and swiped the nose of his Volvo past Whincup's rear bumper searching for a quicker exit.

The pair went shoulder to shoulder - the sport's undisputed alpha lion and the kid tipped to one day usurp him - but Whincup stuck the move at the next turn.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Football fans jailed for gruesome attack

Violent history ... Torino fans clash with police during a riot in 2003. Source: AP

THREE supporters of Italian football club Torino have been handed jail terms of up to nine years for the attempted murder of a Juventus fan, Italian media reports.

The sentences were handed down at the end of a trial in which four fans of Torino were charged with attempted murder for the December 2012 attack on a 47-year-old Juventus fan outside Turin's Juventus stadium.

The victim, according to reports from the court, suffered "unprecedented violence" after being surrounded then chased by the group of assailants.

His life was saved in hospital, but despite a number of operations the unnamed victim was left with a "deformed face" and remains in a state of "deep psychological stress".

On Friday two of the assailants, 27-year-old Francesco Rosato and 26-year-old Daniele Tantaro, were handed nine-year sentences while Alessandro Plazio, 25, was jailed for eight years and four months.

A fourth defendant, Domenico Mollica, 31, was acquitted.

A lawyer acting for Tantaro, Marco Moda, said he would appeal the sentence: "We will lodge an appeal. Without detracting from the seriousness of what happened, we find the charge of attempted murder excessive."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Clarke survives brutal pace assault

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

THE battle between Morne Morkel and Michael Clarke in Cape Town showed just what a brutal and beautiful game Test cricket is.

In an intense period between lunch and tea on day one of the third Test, Clarke was on the receiving end of an immense working over from one of the tallest and most intimidating — in actions rather than demeanour — bowlers in world cricket.

Morkel made his intentions clear from the outset of his spell, coming around the wicket and wasting no time in banging in a couple of short balls to rough up Australia's skipper.

It didn't take long for the tactic to bear fruit, with Clarke's dodgy back and a predominantly leg-side field meaning he had little choice but to try defend against the short-pitched barrage heading his way.

Morne Morkel's bouncers were frightening to watch. Source: AFP

It felt like bodyline with helmets.

Clarke's head might have been protected, but his arm wasn't, and Morkel struck it with ferocious force in the 43rd over.

The 32-year-old tried to shake off the blow, but it clearly caused him a fair amount of pain and Australian physio Alex Kountouris was onto the field at the end of the over with the offer of treatment and painkillers.

Clarke was no fan of the former, opting for the latter to dull the pain he felt at the time and the pain he knew was about to come.

Sure enough the next time the two faced off Morkel sent down more short stuff, with the third ball of the over clipping Clarke on the chest before smashing into his jaw.

Clarke cops one on the chin from Morkel. Source: FoxSports

The Aussie skipper was wounded, and to their credit the South Africans were on the scene quickly to check he was OK, which Clarke eventually was. That meant it was time for hostilities to resume.

The giant South African paceman sent down another short-pitched thunderbolt and it thudded into Clarke's glove, ballooning into the air before almost landing on his stumps.

Next ball, another short one, and once again Clarke copped a blow on the body, this time in the stomach. Once again the Aussie skipper grimaced but got on with the job, just like Ponting, Waugh, Taylor and Border did before him.

Despite Clarke's struggles against Morkel, David Warner was playing the Proteas quick with consummate ease.

Clarke sported a nasty bruise after being hit on the arm by Morkel. Source: FoxSports

He showed just how well he was seeing the ball — or not seeing it — by pulling a short ball from Morkel for four with his eyes closed.

And in fact, the 1.96m paceman never quite reached top pace or bounce for the rest of his spell. Sure, he sent down plenty more short stuff but Clarke eventually came to grips with it and was able to see Morkel off before the tea break.

Not before one final insult though.

The crowd at Newlands was right behind its giant bowler throughout his pace assault and the locals roared with delight as a Warner single brought the Australian captain back on strike.

It was a humorous bookend to a period of play that will long be remembered by those that saw it.

It was brutal, it was beautiful. It was Test cricket.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Live: Warner gone, Pup ploughs on

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

DAVID Warner has sought redemption from his team mates in the best possible way by scoring a century but his captain Michael Clarke has received a fearful battering.

After days of controversy, a $2900 fine and in house punishment for accusing South Africa of ball tampering, Warner ensured Australia made a flying start to the deciding third and final Test at Newlands.

The powerful left hander made 135, his seventh Test century, from just 152 balls with 12 fours and a six as Australia dominated the opening day, moving to 3-238 midway through the final session.

MATCH CENTRE: VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS, LIVE COMMENTARY AND STATS

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

A bruised Clarke was unbeaten on a cautious 45 not out, his highest score in 12 innings since making a century during the second Test against England in Adelaide last December.

While Dale Steyn was off the field receiving treatment on his right hamstring after walking off one ball into his 11th over, Clarke suffered some terrible blows from the dangerous Morne Morkel bowling short from around the wicket with a leg side field.

Clarke received extensive treatment for a blow to his left arm and was then felled by a Morkel short ball which flicked the batsman's shoulder and cannoned into the side of his neck.

Moving back up the order to number four, with Shane Watson returning to the side at six, Clarke went down on one knee and stayed down for some time as team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris ran onto the field again to treat the captain.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

To his credit Clarke continued and stood up to the assault, eventually seeing off Morkel's spell.

It was Warner's fourth century of the summer after scoring two during the Ashes series, along with an 83 not out, and one in the first Test at Centurion Park.

In what appeared a somewhat desperate act, South African captain Graeme Smith called for a DRS review when, on 95, Warner attempted to pull a delivery from Steyn which clearly hit the left hander on the thigh pad.

The way Warner batted with such controlled aggression it appeared a very good toss for Michael Clarke to win on the dry, shaved pitch.

Warner was eventually out to a ball from spinner JP Duminy which turned across the left hander and took the edge. Wicketkeeper AB de Villiers initially fumbled the chance before taking it on the second attempt.

Chris Rogers was dismissed by Dale Steyn. Source: Getty Images

Chris Rogers (25) was the only wicket to fall before lunch, caught at first slip playing a loose drive during the first over of Steyn's second spell after an opening stand of 65.

Alex Doolan (20) looked comfortable playing the anchor role in a 73-run partnership with Warner before skying an ambitious pull to mid-on.

Australia made two changes, Watson for Shaun Marsh and James Pattinson for Peter Siddle.

South Africa included Alviro Petersen and Kyle Abbott for Quinton de Kock and Wayne Parnell.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR MATCH CENTRE!

FOR A BETTER VIEWING EXPERIENCE ON A MOBILE DEVICE, CLICK HERE

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

How Waugh helped Turner join Reds

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

PHIL Waugh will have mixed feelings if Lachie Turner scores a matchwinner for Queensland against the Waratahs at ANZ Stadium.

For one of NSW's fiercest ever warriors, a loss to the Reds will burn just as much as ever but as a good friend of Turner, there will be a hint of happiness as well.

Waugh, as it turns out, was one of the few confidants Turner approached last year when he was weighing up a move from long-time club NSW to Queensland.

Having spent the majority of the past two seasons out injured and with an uncertain future ahead under Michael Cheika, Turner has been offered a new start at the Reds by coach Richard Graham.

He looked to Waugh for the nod, despite knowing how many litres of blood his old captain had spilt in battles with the northern enemy.

"It's like with any mate. I will always bleed blue but when a mate is asking your opinion on something like that, you have to take the emotion out of it from days gone by and think about your mate, and think about "right, what's the best for you?"," Waugh said.

The short answer from Waugh was "go for it".

"What comes with experience is probably a little bit more life knowledge and I think for Lachie it was more of a life decision, and stepping out of his comfort zone to get back to his best," Waugh continued.

Phil Waugh was one of NSW's fiercest ever warriors. Source: News Limited

"By moving out of Sydney to a different province, not necessarily Queensland, it would take him out of his comfort zone.

"He'd obviously had a couple of unfortunate injuries and didn't really get the opportunity on the field, and in a lot of ways it was about rediscovering his form, and himself, and having the drive and ambition to fight hard for a spot and a new start.

"His opportunity in NSW, as he saw it, was limited. So going to Queensland, or another province, gave him that new start."

Free of leg injuries that saw him miss most of 2012-13, Turner's debut for the Reds last weekend against the Brumbies was a belter. He scored a try and saved two in defence.

It set up an intriguing rematch on Saturday night with the Waratahs — for whom he played 71 times after debuting as a teen in 2007 — but Turner has attempted to keep his headspace clear of the significance. He imposed a media ban on himself this week, and declined an interview request by the Daily Telegraph.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Waugh has every confidence in Turner being able to return to his best, and even add to his 15 Wallaby caps.

"I thought his debut game for the Reds was excellent. His body looks good and he will only get better," Waugh said.

"In sport, everyone has short memories. He'd had some terrific games for the Wallabies in Europe at the end of 2011; that one game against Wales in particular.

"The unfortunate part as an athlete, when you are injured, is sometimes you forget that as well. For much of it, it was just about getting his body right and then having the self-belief that if his body was right, he can be one of the best wingers in Australia."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

SCG turned major league ballpark

A baseball diamond is installed at the SCG for the MLB opening series. pic mark evans Source: Mark Evans / News Corp Australia

MURRAY Cook shares a name with a Wiggle but his life's work may well have been the basis for one of Kevin Costner's characters.

Or, more accurately, that famous Costner line in the 1989 baseball movie Field of Dreams: "If you build it, they will come".

Cook has been the official field consultant for Major League Baseball for over 20 years, and after building baseball fields in 45 countries worldwide, the guru yesterday unveiled his latest effort in Sydney.

The Sydney Cricket Ground was revealed as a fledgling ballpark after Tom Parker and his groundskeepers — using the precise measurements of Cook — cut the diamond to be used in next month's historic MLB season opener.

Over the course of the next 18 days, the famous cricket ground will be entirely transformed for the series of matches between the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Australian baseball team.

a baseball diamond is installed at the SCG for the MLB opening series. pic mark evans Source: News Corp Australia

It is nothing short of an epic construction.

MLB venues must meet extremely specific standards for consistency, and given an approved clay/soil mix for the infield and nine-tonne pitchers mound couldn't be found in Australia, 250 tonnes of it was imported from San Diego in 11 shipping containers.

Parker's men tore up 3560 square metres of the SCG surface to install the infield, and the warning track, which is made of 300 tonnes of crushed terracotta and lets players know they're headed for a fence.

None of it would have happened, however, without the construction of the new Bradman stand, in front of which the home plate will sit.

"We have been trying to come here a long time, actually," said Cook.

"When we came a few years ago, we were going to be put it (the diamond) on that side in front of the Brewongle Stand. But the slope on the cricket field was too steep and they couldn't change it.

"So when they said: "well, we're going to put up the new stand, the slope might work. We checked and found it was closer, so it all moved forward.

a baseball diamond is installed at the SCG for the MLB opening series. pic mark evans Source: News Corp Australia

"We have such specific requirements of the level of the infield, and that's what we really had to shoot for here, getting that infield level, which we did."

So intertwined was the new Bradman Stand with the baseball adventure, foundations for the dugouts were drawn into the plans and were built after the Ashes Test.

In Parker and his crew, Cook at least has a cluey workforce. He has encountered all sorts in baseball's global march.

"I was in the USSR back in 1989, when it was still a Communist country. We built fields there," Cook said.

"Beijing Olympics in 2008 I was teaching 140 volunteers that didn't know where first base was. Because they just didn't know the sport.

"Here, it is different. It's been great, we've had great support."

a baseball diamond is installed at the SCG for the MLB opening series. pic mark evans Source: News Corp Australia

Parker's men will have six days to re-turf the SCG after the baseball circus moves on, with the NRL Heritage Round on a week later.

Until then, it's "an really interesting and enjoyable" ride for the veteran groundskeeper, who hasn't seen his old lady change identity like this before.

He will be asked for advice on wind conditions, too, with Diamondbacks and Dodgers hitters already keen to know if they'll have wind at their backs when trying to land home runs in the Trumper and Brewongle stands.

"There could be a nice tailwind from the northern end, and they're hitting that way to the south. So yep, that'd good for them," Parker says.

Soon it will be built by Cook, and the people are definitely coming. There are only 1000 tickets left on sale.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Halves reason why Reds will topple Tahs

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

A FIVE-POINT Queensland victory may flatten NSW spirits but the 60-point spectacle I'm also predicting is just what rugby needs on this big stage.

Will Genia is a key for the Reds. Source: Getty Images

Two well-coached sides both fancy ball-in-hand tactics and on this score I expect the Reds to dominate through Quade Cooper and Will Genia. No disrespect to Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps, the NSW halves, but they are just good, honest players who lack the creativity of the dynamic duo.

The Waratahs were pretty good last week in beating the Western Force 43-21 on the back of Israel Folau's influence.

The Force game plan was to pump high balls at fullback Folau, let him catch them and then tackle him.

The Force won a turnover and three points from the tactic once in the second half but the rest of time they gave big ''Izzy'' way too much room so his kick returns were telling.

I would imagine Cooper will kick when his team is organised on the front foot and his active defenders will be far more switched on and effective than the Force boys.

The Waratahs have a massive pack. The Reds' smaller, high-workrate forward unit will fancy it can cover more ground for longer in a decisive running game.

Cooper and Genia were on song in the strong win over the ACT Brumbies a week ago.

Cooper reminded me of rugby league's ''Cliffy'' Lyons with the way he floated across the line sizing up a defender to make a mistake.

I liked the Reds' courage to play that triple cut-out pass from Cooper to a flying Aidan Toua. It capitalised on a total misread by Brumbies winger Henry Speight.

Border-jumper Lachie Turner looks like good a pick-up. He is strong, fast and has a good workrate which suits Reds coach Richard Graham.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

NSW coach Michael Cheika relishes the emotion of these interstate clashes so expect the Tahs to be right up for this.

Lock Jacques Potgieter, their South African recruit, is physical but inaccurate. Beware, he may want a piece of Genia.

I remember playing for NSW against Queensland in 1990 after we had won all our South Pacific Championship games to that point.

Michael Lynagh bombed David Knox with high balls. The call from Queensland was simple and direct for Anthony Herbert to smash him every time.

"Herbie'' did and we were beaten easily. The best Reds sides come prepared.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rossi, Pedrosa top MotoGP test

Valentino Rossi powers back from his previous fourth placing. Source: MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP

VALENTINO Rossi topped the time sheet on the last day of MotoGP testing in Malaysia, despite he and Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo voicing frustrations with lack of traction in their rear tyres.

Nine-time world champion Rossi clocked one minute 59.999 seconds, the same time as rival Dani Pedrosa of Honda, whose teammate world champion Marc Marquez has missed testing due to a broken leg.

Andrea Dovizioso of Ducati was third, just 0.068 seconds behind the top two.

Rossi, who finished fourth on Thursday, had earlier said he was struggling to get the maximum from his Yamaha with the new specification Bridgestone tyres at Malaysia's Sepang circuit.

"The main thing at this test is to adapt the M1 (bike) to work well with the new Bridgestone tyres. We've worked a lot and tried many things but at the end of the day we are not very happy," he said late on Friday.

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa clocked the same time as Rossi. Source: AFP

"We're suffering because with this tyre our bike becomes difficult to manage. We don't have much that we can do."

Spaniard Lorenzo came in seventh on Friday, 0.620 seconds behind Rossi and Pedrosa. He was ninth Thursday — over a second down on that day's leader Pedrosa.

Yamaha factory racing team manager Wilco Zeelenberg, however, said that the two-time world champion was "disappointed."

But Zeelenberg refused to state if the tyres were a concern for Yamaha's race competitiveness especially after Honda riders seemed to be able to throttle up with the same tyres.

"I cannot answer that because we are in Sepang, and this tyre does not work well for us here, and at the Phillip Island test we'll see how it is for us there. Then Qatar is again another situation," he said.

Rossi's teammate Jorge Lorenzo also voiced frustration about a lack of tyre traction. Source: AFP

Riders come to the hot, humid and tight-turning Sepang circuit early each year for two three-day test sessions.

Another three-day session follows at Phillip Island from Monday, followed by another at Qatar's Losail circuit.

Marquez, who at the age of 20 last year became the youngest rider ever to win the world title, said Thursday that he would miss the Phillip Island testing after suffering a broken leg during training last week in Spain.

The 21-year-old aims to recover before the new season kicks off at Losail on March 23.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Brazilian job to help Frosty

Winterbottom will do a one-off V8 race in Brazil in March. Source: Tim Hunter / News Corp Australia

AN already hectic start to the V8 season will be even busier for reigning Bathurst winner Mark Winterbottom.

Already committed to four events in the next six weeks, starting with this weekend's Clipsal 500, Ford's leading title hope is squeezing in a fifth — halfway around the world.

Between the Australian Grand Prix and the Tyrepower Tasmania 400, the man they call 'Frosty' will fly to Brazil to co-drive in the local version of V8 Supercars, Stock Car Brasil, at the Interlagos F1 circuit.

So far he is the only full-time V8 Supercars driver to sign on for the race, but he doesn't expect the South American trip will hurt his bid for a maiden championship.

"No, I don't think so," Winterbottom told SPEED. "It's not a money making thing or anything like that, I'm actually using it to get a bit of experience."

Entering his ninth campaign with Ford Performance Racing, he believes that the one-off gig could be the spark he and his team need.

"I think it's actually quite good to go and work with another team. If you can get another run in a different category and learn something it's probably going to benefit you.

"I'm using it as a positive, not a deterrent from winning the championship."

Winterbottom will head to Brazil with the blessing of his team, who could easily have shot down his plans given their title goal.

"I was pretty lucky that they have (let me). Obviously when you sign to a team you're fully focused on trying to win a championship here.

"But I've never raced anything overseas away from our category, and they knew how much I wanted to do it.

"They've been great to let me go."

He admits, though, that the logistics of flying to Brazil and back during a busy time of the season are "not that flash."

"I leave on Tuesday after the Grand Prix and get back on Tuesday before Tasmania.

"We rock up to Tassie on Thursday, so that'll give me two days before practice starts to get back on the timezone.

"As long as you stay awake and sleep when you have to you should come back pretty fresh, but that will be the hardest part."

Winterbottom will swap his Falcon for a Peugeot, getting his first taste of his new ride on simulator software sent to him by the team, but his focus remains on the task at hand.

"I'll concentrate on trying to win Clipsal and the Grand Prix, then on the Monday after I'll sit on the simulator and have a play and try and learn the track.

"The cars are a little bit more technical than what our cars are, but they're still a sedan and a V8. It's a paddle shift but still a sequential gear change, and there are driver changes, so there are a lot of similarities."

The trip will see Winterbottom banging doors with a who's who of Brazil's best racers, headlined by ex-F1 star Rubens Barrichello, in a series that is as close and competitive as our own.

"It's pretty cool that they picked an Australian as their most competitive chance.

"They went looking for international co-drivers with sedan experience and tried to get the best they could.

"The engineer from the team sent an email and put the feeler out and it went from there.

"It's pretty cool to get the call up, especially when you look that guys like Bruno Junquiera, maybe Felipe Massa and Bruno Senna will also be on the grid."

Although the series might be unfamiliar to Australians, Winterbottom said its one of many he keeps an eye on.

"I watch F1 and stuff but it's not as appealing as what these sort of categories are.

"It's really competitive — I think 40 cars were covered by a second in their last race — so it's kind of like NASCAR and V8s."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pup: our biggest game of summer

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

TEST cricket does not get any better than this.

The third Test against South Africa, beginning in Cape Town tomorrow, shapes as one of the biggest Tests of my decade-long career.

We all know the Ashes is special and to beat England 5-0 was amazing.

But to be lining up for the deciding Test of a delicately balanced series against the top-ranked team in their own back yard is as exciting as this game gets.

Shane Watson is hoping to return to the Test team after overcoming a calf injury. Source: Getty Images

It is a wonderful opportunity for us to finish the summer on a high.

I'm so proud of what the guys have achieved over the last few months and hope we can continue that at Newlands.

South Africa proved what a great team they are by coming back hard in Port Elizabeth but it was only a week earlier that we had a strong victory at Centurion Park, so we know that if we play our best cricket we can beat them.

It's been attacking, high-quality cricket from two very competitive teams that has seen both Tests finish in four days.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

The intensity of the cricket against South Africa has never been any different.

The last time we came here two and a half years ago the series was tied at one-all after two remarkable Tests but sadly there was no decider.

This time there is and we can't wait.

Exactly what conditions we will face in Cape Town remain a bit of a mystery. Traditionally it has helped seam bowlers, but with South Africa comfortably winning in Port Elizabeth on a dry, grassless wicket I'm not quite sure what to expect.

Shane Warne speaks to Nathan Lyon during an Australian nets session at Newlands. Source: Getty Images

There was such a contrast between what we faced in Centurion Park during the first Test and more recently in Port Elizabeth that predicting how a pitch will play can be fraught with danger, particularly during the days leading into the Test.

The Port Elizabeth pitch had a lot of patchy, tufty grass on it until midway through the day before the match, when it was shaved off.

Centurion Park proved to be a dangerous pitch that was up and down and helped raw pace.

The bottom line is that the conditions are the same for both sides.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Adapting to a variety of surfaces on away tours is one of the most important aspects of being a successful international player and team.

We adapted well at Centurion Park but failed to do the same in Port Elizabeth.

How we handle the Newlands pitch will have a major bearing on whether or not we win the series.

One of the most pleasing things for me is that we have a fully fit squad to choose from after a few hiccups earlier in the tour, meaning we have a variety of options for whatever conditions are presented.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

There has been some discussion about my lean trot.

As captain and the team's most senior batsman it is up to me to lead the way. I haven't done that recently, but there is no better time than this Test to lead from the front given what is at stake.

I've been working hard and doing extra training sessions to be sure I'm as ready as I can be for this Test.

I am excited for the team that we have put ourselves in a position to win this series.

In my opinion, this is our biggest game of the summer.

If this does not excite you as a player you are in the wrong place.

The third Test can't start soon enough.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Marquez to miss Phillip Island test

MotoGP champion Marc Marquez will miss Phillip Island. Source: Lai Seng Sin / AP

HONDA'S Marc Marquez said he would miss next week's Phillip Island test due to his broken leg.

Marquez, who is also absent from Malaysia's Sepang circuit this week, said his surgeon had advised him against taking "unnecessary risk" so that he is fit for the season's opening race on March 23.

The 21-year-old Spaniard, who last year became the youngest rider ever to win the world title and the first rookie in 35 years, suffered the broken leg during dirt bike training last week in Spain.

"I'm obviously disappointed that I'm not in Sepang at the moment and to miss Phillip Island is also unfortunate," Marquez said in a statement.

"So I will take time to rest and get myself as fit as possible to return to Qatar for the first race."

Since 2009 no premier-class rider has won the MotoGP title back-to-back.

It came as teammate Dani Pedrosa set the pace on day two of MotoGP testing in Malaysia.

Marc Marquez (L) and Dani Pedrosa (R).

It was a solid run for Pedrosa, who is seeking to capture an elusive first MotoGP world title, after hitting the top of the time sheet in 2 minutes 00.039 seconds and ahead of Yamaha pair Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.

"My performance today was better than yesterday. The bike was stable on the corner. We will work on the rear tyre tomorrow," Pedrosa said.

But the Spaniard's best lap time was 0.5 seconds slower than the marker set down by Marquez in the previous Sepang test as riders again complained the track was greasy forcing the 22 riders to throttle back.

Yamaha's Aleix Espargaro who dominated early testing came in second at 2:00.320 while Honda's Alvaro Bautista who posted the fastest time on day one of a test session in this notoriously tricky circuit was in third position — 0.461 seconds behind Pedrosa.

Nine-time Italian world champion Rossi came in fourth, 0.566 seconds slower than rival Pedrosa.

Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso who came in fifth with a time of 2:00.787 was again the fastest in the Italian team.

Lorenzo — a two-time MotoGP champion — came ninth with 2:01.049.

The current session ends on Friday. Another three-day session follows at Phillip Island from Monday, followed by another at Qatar's Losail circuit.

The new season kicks off at Losail on March 23. Malaysia will host the championship on October 26.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dumbrell goes back for future

Dumbrell won with Whincup at Sandown last year. Source: Michael Klein / News Limited

TWELVE years ago, Paul Dumbrell was king of the kids, so to speak.

A then 19-year-old Dumbrell romped to the 2002 V8 development series crown, stepping up to the big leagues with Perkins Motorsport the following year.

But flash forward to 2014 and you will find the 32-year-old Bathurst-winner's name on the entry list for this year's Dunlop Series.

Why? The astute businessman, who by day runs the vast Autobarn automotive group, knows it's his best chance of returning to the top step of the Mount Panorama podium.

He returns to partner V8 champ Jamie Whincup at this year's Enduro Cup. After a couple of crucial errors last year, the Dunlop gig is to make sure he's match fit for Bathurst.

Dumbrell won the 2002 Konica V8 Series. Source: News Limited

"After Gold Coast last year Roland (Dane, Red Bull team boss) and I were talking about what to do this year," Dumbrell said.

"Certainly my preference was to do a couple of other races throughout the year, and obviously the Dunlop Series was an option."

Crucial to the plan was for Dumbrell to compete in the supporting Dunlop race at Bathurst, but to be eligible a driver must do all the preceding rounds.

"So we through 'hey, if we're going to do that we might as well do the whole year!'"

Dumbrell made a couple of crucial errors in last year's Enduro Cup. Source: News Limited

He lines up this weekend for Egglestone Motorsport in a car with fine pedigree: it's one of Craig Lowndes' Bathurst winning Holdens.

Despite the quality equipment, and a resume that includes three V8 Supercars wins to his name, Dumbrell isn't expecting to mop the floor.

"There's some really good talent there," he conceded.

"I understand it's the feeder series and I'm at the other end if my career, but we'll have a real crack to win as many races as we can.

"We're in a good car with a good team, but I reckon it'll be a really hard slog out there this year."

Although his growing business commitments forced him out of the cockpit full-time at the end of 2011, Dumbrell explained that it wasn't hard to fit a full Dunlop Series schedule into his calendar.

"I was already going to be at three of the rounds for the Enduro driver practices, plus Bathurst. I was planning to come to Clipsal as a spectator and I always go to Homebush, so it's only really a couple of rounds I've had to squeeze in.

"And anyway, racing a car is not a bad weekend hobby to have."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Skier paralysed after Sochi crash

Russian freestyle skier Maria Komissarova broke her back after crashing in a training even in Sochi. Source: AP

THE Russian freestyle skier who was hospitalised following an accident at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games says she has no feeling from the waist down.

Maria Komissarova, 23, was flown to Germany for treatment on a fractured spine following a crash in training for the ski cross event at Sochi 2014, by far the worst accident of the Winter Games.

She has undergone several operations in Russia and Germany after the accident but until now there had been no specific information about her condition.

However Komissarova revealed in a message on her Instagram account that she was currently paralysed from the waist down.

"I do not feel my body lower than my belly button," she wrote.

"But I am strong and I know that some day I will definitely be on my feet again."

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Komissarova in a hospital in Sochi. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

Komissarova posted a picture of herself lying down with her fiance Alexei Chaadayev, also a Russian skier, saying that she would not have stayed sane without his support.

While still hospitalised in Russia, Komissarova received a visit from President Vladimir Putin at her bedside.

It was soon after that visit that the decision was taken to evacuate the injured skier to a clinic in Munich, Germany, which has treated several high-profile Russian athletes in the past.

Ski-cross is one of the most frenetic and risky events of the Games, where several skiers race down a slope filled with jumps, obstacles and banked corners.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Season can be gone in 60 seconds

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

ONE hundred and fifty points, gone. Drained in 60 seconds.

And Mark Winterbottom still can't wipe the memory — not when he finished up 300 points on the bum end of the closest V8 Supercars championship in the sport's history, and half his total season deficit detonated on the opening lap of the opening race of the 2013 season in Adelaide.

MORE: CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST ON THE CLIPSAL 500

Defending Bathurst champion Winterbottom was an outside chance for his maiden driver's title heading into the final race of last year in Sydney in December.

Hindsight says had his Falcon not locked in second gear while he held the lead in the first minute of Race 1 at Clipsal 500 last year, he could have been more than just a Steven Bradbury chance of challenging Red Bull pair Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes for the crown.

Instead, for 54 laps of Clipsal's 78-lap opener, he sat in his Ford Performance Racing garage, watching rival cars tussle for points while mechanics tried desperately to repair his car's problem.

WHINCUP: ATTITUDE WORTH MORE THAN SKILL

V8 Supercars drivers, from left, Craig Lowndes, defending champion Jamie Whincup, Mark Winterbottom and Chaz Mostert.

"But that's Clipsal," Winterbottom shrugged on Wednesday.

"You do go pretty hard and try to win it — but you also have to finish.

"There's no doubt you have to start the season not being behind.

"Last year I had a gearbox failure on the Saturday and I'm 150 points down on day one.

"To get 150 points back over the season on these guys, who are all so talented, it takes so much — and that's if you ever can get it back.

"So going for broke and crashing, around here, isn't ideal. That's the idea — but when you put a helmet on, well, it's always different."

Winterbottom resumes his quest to dethrone five-time champion Whincup on Adelaide's streets this weekend.

The pair, whose 15-year racing history dating back to teenage go-karts battles, are among the 25 drivers who will start the 2014 season at Clipsal 500.

HIGHLIGHTS: CLIPSAL 500'S 10 BIGGEST MOMENTS

Winterbottom said while all races were crucial, Adelaide's notoriously tough conditions coupled with a need to avoid a leaderboard duck to start the season meant a win-at-all-cost approach was not on the menu.

"You can bend the car being conservative or you can bend it being aggressive," he said.

"If there's half a gap you've just got to go for it because if you hesitate that's when you usually come off second best.

"But you've also got to smart because this track can catch you out at the best of times.

"You can be absolutely on your game and then on whatever lap, a bit of oil, or anything can happen. It's that easy."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pakistan picks Latif as selector

PAKISTAN has appointed former Test captain Rashid Latif as chief selector and tasked him with helping in the fight against corruption.

The straight-talking 45-year-old is known for taking a stand against match-fixing, which has dogged cricket in Pakistan over the years.

"Latif accepted the offer to become the chief selector with effect from 1st April 2014,'' said a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) release.

The position was left vacant after the appointment of another former captain, Aamir Sohail, was cancelled by the new PCB chairman Najam Sethi earlier this month.

Sohail had been appointed chief selector and director of game development by Zaka Ashraf, who was replaced as PCB chairman on February 10.

The PCB said Latif will also assist in giving training and lectures on anti-corruption matters.

Latif said he was excited at the challenge.

"I will endeavour to build a strong team, keeping in view the ICC cricket World Cup 2015,'' he said in the release.

"I will also assist PCB in whatever way I can in anti-corruption matters,'' said Latif, who famously blew the whistle on his team-mates in 1994.

His stance forced the government to initiate an inquiry into match-fixing, which resulted in a life ban for former captain Salim Malik and fines for Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmed, Inzamam-ul Haq and Saeed Anwar.

PCB chairman Sethi hailed Latif's nomination.

"I have keenly followed his forthright views on cricket in the past and I trust he will be able to bring about positive change in our cricket,'' Sethi said.

Latif played 37 Tests and 166 one-day internationals for Pakistan as a wicketkeeper-batsman.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Victory lets two-goal lead slip

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

NEW signing Alessandro Diamanti starred with two magical strikes as AFC Champions League title-holders Guangzhou Evergrande fought back from two goals down to beat Melbourne Victory 4-2.

In a dream debut, the 30-year-old Italian international inspired a rousing second-half comeback as the Marcello Lippi-led Chinese champions opened their trophy defence in style.

The departure of influential midfielder Dario Conca had raised questions about Guangzhou but his replacement, Diamanti, quickly settled those doubts with a memorable performance at a packed Tianhe stadium.

First-half goals from Pablo Contreras and Leigh Broxham threatened a huge upset in Group G but after the break, Guangzhou scored four sparkling goals in 26 minutes through Huang Bowen, Elkeson and Diamanti.

Alessandro Diamanti of Guangzhou Evergrande celebrates his goal. Source: Getty Images

Both sides had early chances with Victory's Mark Milligan and Guangzhou Evergrande forcing top-drawer saves at opposite ends of the pitch around the quarter-hour mark.

Victory got their opener on 36 minutes, when a Jesse Makarounas free-kick from the left was poorly dealt with, Kosta Barbarouses fired in a shot and Contreras tapped in the rebound.

The goal stunned Guangzhou and their massed ranks of red-clad fans, but there was worse to come just five minutes later - and again from the delivery of Makarounas, also from the left but this time from a corner.

Again the high ball was not cleared and Broxham was perfectly placed to lash home a superbly controlled volley from the edge of the box and give the visitors a shock 2-0 lead at half-time.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

However, Lippi's men returned from the break fired up and a dipping Diamanti free-kick drew a diving header off the line from Contreras.

Diamanti had a hand in Guangzhou's first goal when he fed Luo Jiacheng for a cross which was emphatically volleyed into the net by Huang, a goal which was every bit the equal of Broxham's strike earlier.

And the Italian made it 2-2 when, after timid defensive work from Victory's Adama Traore, he turned and hammered a fierce shot on his favoured left foot past static goalkeeper Nathan Coe.

Brazilian striker Elkeson put the champions 3-2 ahead when he brilliantly controlled a long, high ball from the halfway line on hisu's first goal when he fed Luo Jiacheng for a cross which was emphatically volleyed into the net by Huang, a goal which was every bit the equal of Broxham's strike earlier.

And the Italian made it 2-2 when, after timid defensive work from Victory's Adama Traore, he turned and hammered a fierce shot on his favoured left foot past static goalkeeper Nathan Coe.

Brazilian striker Elkeson put the champions 3-2 ahead when he brilliantly controlled a long, high ball from the halfway line on his chest and squirmed a low shot through the legs of Nicholas Ansell.

Victory looked a beaten team but Diamanti made sure of the win when he effortlessly shimmied past Contreras and prodded a pinpoint strike inside the far post with the toe of his left boot.

RE-LIVE THE ACTION IN OUR BLOG BELOW. CLICK HERE FOR A MORE ADVANCED VIEWING EXPERIENCE ON MOBILE DEVICES

ACL RESULTS

Group G

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 3 (Lee Seun-Gi 60, 68, Leonardo 70) Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) 0

Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) 4 (Huang Bowen 59, Alessandro Diamanti 65, 85, Elkeson 71) Melbourne Victory (AUS) 2 (Pablo Contreras 36, Leigh Broxham 41)

Group H

Western Sydney Wanderers (AUS) 1 (Brendon Santalab 1) Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 3 (Kim Shin-Wook 35, Ko Chang-Hyun 43, Kang Min-Soo 66)

Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 1 (Renato 31) Guizhou Renhe (CHN) 0

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More