Lankans expect hostile MCG crowd

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Backlash ... Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene expects a hostile MCG crowd. Source: William West / AFP

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene is expecting a hostile reception at the MCG for Wednesday's second Test against Australia amid ongoing tensions over the ball-tampering accusation made against Peter Siddle.

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Sri Lanka made an unofficial complaint to ICC match referee Chris Broad during the first Test in Hobart last week

The allegation was dismissed and Siddle was furious at how his name had been dragged through social media during day five of the match in which he claimed nine wickets.

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The Victoria and Australia pace bowler is a crowd hero at the MCG and can expect his home-town fans to be in full voice on Wednesday in support of their man. However Jayawardene is expecting several thousand Sri Lankan fans to also pack into the ground and make their feelings known in defence of their team.

Australia's major concern is the fitness of skipper Michael Clarke, who completed a series of sprinting and fielding drills and declared he felt good but would wait until Wednesday morning to assess how his injured hamstring was feeling.

"My fitness test ... was really (Christmas Day). Now I need to see how I pull up from that before we make a decision on whether I am 100 per cent fit to play,'' Clarke said on Tuesday.

Despite his side's 137-run loss in Hobart, Jayawardene was in a confident mood on Tuesday.

He said not only would the tourists have strong support in the crowd but they would also be going after Australia's offspinner Nathan Lyon, who failed to take a wicket in Sri Lanka's second innings in Hobart.

Jayawardene needs no reminding about what happened the last time Sri Lanka played a Test at the MCG in 1995, when spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was no-balled seven times in three overs for throwing.

"We have been through a lot of hostile things in the past. 1995 was one and even after that,'' Jayawardene said.

"I don't think that fazes our team. It might give us something extra.

"You have to remember there will be a good partisan Sri Lankan crowd as well so that will be good. It might go against him (Siddle).

"We can't control what happens out there. All we can control is what happens in the middle.

"A lot of the younger guys probably won't even understand what the crowd's going to tell them.''

Jayawardene took aim at Lyon, saying that Sri Lanka's batsmen were playing for a draw in Hobart on a wearing pitch.

"We would definitely have gone after Nathan Lyon if the wicket was half-decent,'' Jayawardene said.

"The way the wicket was behaving we thought if we played shots that would have made life tougher to bat on.

"On a different surface or a different day things may have been different. These are the situations we want to get into in a Test match and see if we can capitalise on that.''

While the Lankans see Lyon as a potential problem area for the home side, the Australians could also be unsettled if Clarke is a late withdrawal through injury.

Clarke is Test cricket's leading runscorer in 2012 and his vice-captain Shane Watson has never led the side at Test level.

Former Test No.3 Usman Khawaja is on standby for Clarke.

Tasmania's Jackson Bird will make his debut in place of injured quick Ben Hilfenhaus while Mitchell Johnson returns for his fellow left-armer Mitchell Starc who has controversially been rested.

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League's biggest moment in 2012

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Another huge year ... what was sport's biggest moment in 2012? Source:FOX SPORTS

Foxsports.com.au has gathered the five moments that defined rugby league in 2012 and it's up to you to decide which was the biggest.

Check out our highlights video of the five big moments before heading to the bottom of the page to tell us if the decision was right or wrong.

Have we missed any of rugby league's defining moments for 2012? Leave a comment with your most memorable moments at the bottom of the page!

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TOOTHLESS TIGERS
It wasn't one moment that consigned Wests Tigers' 2012 season to the scrapheap but the cumulative effect of a number of poorly managed issues. Favourites with the bookmakers prior to round one, the Tigers lost five of their first six games and never fully recovered. First it was big-name signing Adam Blair who copped the treatment for failing to justify his price-tag in a forgettable start to the season then it was talk of a rift between Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall that caused a distraction in Concord. The rumoured power struggle was brought to a head by NRL on Fox, with Farah furiously describing the show as an ambush on Twitter after Matthew Johns probed the Tigers skipper on his relationship with the Kiwi superstar as well as a perception that the team was soft in defence. The Tigers briefly turned things around, winning seven in a row mid-season, but fell away again and failed to qualify for the finals, costing premiership coach Tim Sheens his job at the end of a train wreck of a year. 

Glory ... Cam Smith holds the Origin shield aloft. Source: AAP

THE TRY THAT WASN'T
In a year that can only be described as forgettable for NRL officials, the Michael Oldfield try in the semi-final between Manly and North Queensland Cowboys was the straw that broke the camel's back. With the Sea Eagles leading 16-12 with just under 20 minutes remaining, a bomb in Manly's attacking zone was contested by Kieran Foran and his opposing five-eighth Johnathan Thurston. Neither was able to come down with a clean catch and the ball spilled towards the Sea Eagles' try line before being scooped up by Jamie Lyon, who offloaded in a tackle to send Oldfield over. The decision went upstairs and, not for the first time in 2012, video referee Sean Hampstead thrust himself into the spotlight by awarding the try despite vision showing Foran propelling the ball forward in the lead-up. The wrong decision condemned the Cowboys to another failed finals appearance and, ultimately, cost referees bosses Bill Harrigan and Stuart Raper their jobs.

STORM REDEMPTION
Melbourne Storm's history was unpleasantly re-written in 2010 when they were stripped of two NRL titles as punishment for rorting the salary cap. But it didn't take them long to get their name back on the premiership honour board with a stirring finals campaign in 2012. The Storm were written off in some quarters after a post-Origin slump. But the Storm's star-studded line-up rose for the big occasion, first with a stunning thrashing of finals nemesis Manly in the preliminary final, then with a near-flawless grand final against Canterbury-Bankstown to claim ultimate redemption with a 14-4 victory. 

Hindy ... the 330-game veteran bids farewell to Eels fans. Source: AAP

MIGHTY MAROONS
After winning an epic battle in 2011, Queensland started the 2012 series as favourites to clinch a remarkable seventh series in a row and they didn't disappoint. Lauded as one of the best teams of all-time, the Maroons soaked up everything a valiant New South Wales side could throw at them before eventually clinching victory by a solitary point in the decider through a 40-metre Cooper Cronk field-goal. It was a fitting way for a series full of controversial moments - headlined by the Greg Inglis try in game one - to end. The seventh series win in a row extended an already history-making dynasty and guaranteed another year of soul searching for the Blues.

FAREWELLING A LEGEND
Almost since the day he started his NRL career, Nathan Hindmarsh was a fan favourite and that status only grew the longer the Parramatta legend's career lasted. So when he announced towards the end of the 2012 season that the round 26 match-up with St George Illawarra would be his last, a sentimental build-up to his finale began. Alas, Parramatta couldn't match the occasion with a fitting performance, going down to the Dragons 29-8 to give another duo of retiring champions, Ben Hornby and Dean Young, the fairytale farewell. While Hindmarsh and his good mate Luke Burt instead went out with their first wooden spoon, it mattered little to the adoring fans, with 45,000 present at ANZ Stadium to scream themselves hoarse in appreciation of all of the decorated retirees.

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AFL's biggest moment in 2012

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Another huge year ... what was sport's biggest moment in 2012? Source:FOX SPORTS

Foxsports.com.au has gathered the five moments that defined AFL in 2012 and it's up to you to decide which was the biggest.

Check out our highlights video of the five big moments before heading to the bottom of the page to tell us if the deicision was right or wrong.

Have we missed any of AFL's defining moments for 2012? Leave a comment with your most memorable moments at the bottom of the page!

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GIANTS JOIN THE PARTY
The AFL's newest franchise, led by the competition's oldest coach, stepped out for the very first time in 2012. Kevin Sheedy guided the young Giants to two victories but couldn't avoid the wooden spoon. A number of exciting youngsters, headed by Toby Greene, Jeremy Cameron and Stephen Coniglio, looked at home in the big time. Israel Folau, however, didn't. The big-money former NRL star turned his back on the code after a trying year.

BUDDY BOOTS A BAKER'S DOZEN
AFL crowds are used to Lance Frankling doing the seemingly undoable, but the game's most mercurial player took it to another level in round 10 against North Melbourne. Heading into the match with just 21.36 from the opening nine rounds, the Hawthorn hero slotted home 13 majors in a career-best performance. Buddy's performance helped his side crush the Kangaroos by 115 points, a record for the Hawks against the Kangaroos. Are you really surprised that, according to IMG Sports Technology Group, Franklin is the AFL's most popular player and more than twice as popular than the second-ranked player, teammate Cyril Rioli? Didn't think so.

Swans ... flew to the flag in 2012. Source: AAP

RATTEN OUT, MALTHOUSE IN
Carlton great Brett Ratten never really won over Blues fans as coach. The likeable Ratten helped the club return to the finals after a seven-year drought in 2009. They were bundled out by a kick, then again in 2010, before thumping the Bombers in an elimination final in 2011. Big things were expected in 2012 - a premiership, perhaps - but when Gold Coast rolled them in round 22, that was it for 'Ratts'. Mick Malthouse got the nod in no time and the former Footscray, West Coast and Collingwood coach will be paid handsomely to do so.

THE TIPPETT SAGA
He's not the biggest name in the game but Kurt Tippett has commanded more column inches than anyone in 2012. The off-season - and much of the season itself - was dominated by the former Adelaide Crows big man. Would he stay or would he go? Then, where would he go? And, then, what would the AFL commission decide. Collingwood superstar Travis Cloke did his best to keep pace with the Tippett for headlines before opting to sign a new deal with the Magpies.

SUPER SWANS
Hands up if you tipped the Swans to make the top four? Didn't think so. And forget it if you claim you had them as your pick for the flag. Sydney, powered by a blue-collar midfield, a dependable defence, and honest attack, upset the more-fancied Hawks in a classic grand final. Lewis Jetta's run down the wing with Cyril Rioli in pursit, Nick Malcesski's stunning goals, and Lance Franklin's third quarter were memorable.

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Sixers need some Lumb luck

Call up ... Batsman Michael Lumb will play for Sydney Sixers on Boxing Day. Source: Stephane de Sakutin / AFP

Sydney Sixers have called upon star batsman Michael Lumb in a bid to revive a flagging KFC T20 Big Bash League title defence ahead of their Boxing Day clash with the Hobart Hurricanes at the SCG.

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Sydney suffered a heavy nine-wicket loss to the Adelaide Strikers on Sunday and with just one win from the opening four games sit in second-last place, ahead of only winless rivals the Sydney Thunder.

The Sixers lost just two games on their way to winning last year's title, and have so far come up with few solutions as to how they halt their current three-game skid.

They've already fallen three games behind competition leaders the Melbourne Renegades, and have just four games left to improve their position to fourth to secure a finals berth.

But star allrounder Steve Smith insists they haven't given up hope yet.

"It is obviously going to be hard work from here on in. We are going to have to play some good cricket and turn it around,'' he said.

Helping matters significantly will be the return of English batsman Lumb, who arrived on Christmas Eve after missing the start of the tournament and has been named in a 13-man Sixers squad.

Lumb starred for the Sixers in their triumphant Champions League campaign, finishing as the tournament's leading scorer with 226 runs and a top score of 82 not out.

Much of the Sixers' troubles this summer have stemmed from a lack of runs at the top of the order, highlighted by their scores of 113 and 135 in losses to Perth Scorchers and the Strikers.

Young pair Kurtis Patterson and Daniel Hughes have also been added to the Sixers' squad after missing the first half of the season through injury.

Hobart enter the clash in strong form having belted the Thunder by 30 runs for their second win of the season, leaving them in fourth spot on the ladder.

Sydney Sixers: Brad Haddin (capt), Luke Feldman, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Josh Lalor, Brett Lee, Michael Lumb, Sunil Narine, Stephen O'Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Dan Smith, Steve Smith, Dominic Thornely (12th man to be named, one to be omitted)
Hobart Hurricanes: George Bailey (capt), Tim Paine, Aiden Blizzard, Scott Boland, Doug Bollinger, Travis Birt, Xavier Doherty, Michael Hogan, Jason Krejza, Ben Laughlin, Ricky Ponting, Owais Shah, Jon Wells (12th man to be named, one to be omitted)

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Mathews ready for captaincy

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Ready ... Angelo Mathews says he would relish captaining Sri Lanka. Source: Rick Rycroft / AP

If Sri Lanka want Angelo Mathews to become their next cricket captain, he is ready.

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The all-rounder goes into the Boxing Day Test - Sri Lanka's first Test at the MCG since the infamous 1995 Muttiah Muralitharan chucking controversy - in run-scoring nick.

The 25-year-old looks certain to take over as skipper once Mahela Jayawardene steps aside at the end of the current series.

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And he is confident that "his own ways'' of approaching captaincy can succeed, though he admits replacing Jayawardene will be difficult.

"I'm pretty much prepared. If they offer me the captain's job, I'll probably take it,'' Mathews said.

"Mahela's done a wonderful job and it's not easy to take those reins and do as well as Mahela. It will be a tough challenge.

"But let's see how it goes.''

Mathews has made 79, 84 and 75 in his past three Tests, but despite 11 half-centuries has only once scored a Test century.

That was against Australia, and Mathews has also shone at the MCG in a one-day international when his 77 not out as part of a 132-run ninth wicket stand gave Sri Lanka an extraordinary one-wicket win over the Aussies in 2010.

With Australia set to hand paceman Jackson Bird a Test debut, Mathews admitted the Sri Lankans knew little about the Tasmanian.

"To play for Australia, he has to be a good bowler - we cannot take him lightly,'' Mathews said.

"We have to try and be careful and take on the challenge. We need to get hold of his videos and analyse him.''

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Milligan banned for two games

Banned ... Victory's Mark Milligan has been outed for two matches after last weekend's Derby. Source: JOE CASTRO / AAP

Melbourne Victory midfielder Mark Milligan has been banned for two A-League matches for a jab to the stomach of Heart rival Jonatan Germano in last weekend's derby.

Milligan's first half hit on Germano was missed by match officials, but was picked up by the match review panel in its deliberations on Monday.

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The Socceroo will miss the Victory's clash with Newcastle at AAMI Park on Friday night, and the New Year's Day match at Western Sydney Wanderers.

"The MRP determined that the player had committed the offence of assault on a player (violent conduct when not challenging for the ball) against Jonatan Germano," the panel said in a statement.

It is a double blow for the Victory, who have already lost skipper Adrian Leijer for the Jets match after his suspension for exceeding the yellow card limit.

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Fischer tips Sydney-Hobart drag race

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Drag race ... Ragamuffin and Wild Oats ready for battle. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Ragamuffin Loyal skipper Syd Fischer is tipping a drag race between Wild Oats XI and his boat in the battle for line honours in the Sydney to Hobart.

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The two super maxis remain favourites to secure line honours with Wild Oats XI having previously been first to reach Hobart on five occasions and Investec Loyal - as she was known then - claiming the honour last year.

"I think it's going to be a bit of drag race actually, because they are going to be watching us and were going to be watching them,'' Fischer said.

The oldest competitor in the race at 85, Fischer is confident his boat is ready to go after an eventful leadup.

It required repairs to rigging after the mast struck Sydney's Anzac Bridge just under two weeks ago.

"We were struggling, we had a couple of problems that we've had to overcome but we're pretty right,'' Fischer said.

Eternally respectful of the weather's influence on the race, Fischer was cautious about talking up his boat's line honours prospects.

"I think we're confident we've got a good chance, but I don't like overestimating a situation that you can't control,'' Fischer said.

The fleet of 77 is expected to start in south easterly breezes of around 15 knots on Wednesday.

The winds will lighten after a few hours but forecast northerlies will kick the fleet along on Thursday.

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With a westerly change now likely to arrive earlier than expected on Thursday it may be hard for any boat to break the race record.

"The race record to us is a bonus ... it all depends on the conditions,'' Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards said.

"It's possible, the nor-easter may stay in for an extra three or four hours and that's a big deal in these boats.''

Richards acknowledged for the record to fall, his boat would have to cover as much of the 628-nautical mile course as possible before the westerly change hits.

"Don't back off, push as fast as you can and hopefully you can sail the shortest course possible and the rest is in the hands of the gods.''

There was nothing in the latest weather forecast to concern Fischer, who will be doing the race for the 44th time.

"I don't think we're going to get knocked around too much,'' Fischer said.

"It will be a race in which attention to detail will be the main thing.''

Richards emphasised it wouldn't be all smooth sailing, especially with southerlies to contend with on the first night.

"It's going to be big and bumpy and uncomfortable,'' Richards said.

The latest forecast still appeared to favour the bigger boats in the battle for overall honours.

"The overall winner is likely to come from a boat 60 foot or larger and it depends on who gets through some of those transition periods the best,'' said Matt Allen skipper of the 70-foot Ichi Ban.

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Pattinson to resume in one-dayers

Return ... James Pattinson is set to play in Australia's one-day series against Sri Lanka. Source: AFP

Pace bowler James Pattinson is set to resume from a rib injury in the one-day series against Sri Lanka in January, Cricket Australia's team physio Alex Kountouris said on Monday.

Pattinson broke down during last month's second Test against South Africa in Adelaide but was able to train with Australia's Test squad at the MCG nets on Monday morning.

"James is making good progress from the rib injury he sustained against South Africa," Kountouris said.

"He has resumed bowling and building up his bowling workloads to be available for the series against Sri Lanka."

The five-match ODI series starts on January 11 at the MCG.

Pattinson has a tremendous record in his seven-Test career of 31 wickets at an average of 22.09 and the 22-year-old is a key part of Australia's plans for the 2013 Ashes tour.

All-rounder John Hastings, who made his Test debut in Perth last month against South Africa before being rested from Big Bash League games for Melbourne Stars because of a back injury, is also returning to full fitness.

"John has recovered from the back injury. He is preparing to play in the BBL for the Melbourne Stars later this week," Kountouris said.

The Stars' next BBL game is in Adelaide against the Strikers on December 27.

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New coach puts Roar on notice

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On notice ... Roar coach says he will be "active" in next month's transfer window. Source: Adam Armstrong / News Limited

Mike Mulvey has put his struggling Brisbane Roar squad on notice, saying he will be "active" in next month's transfer window after a 1-0 home loss to Perth Glory.

Having last week inherited a squad put together by master mentor Ange Postecoglou and failed successor Rado Vidosic, the new Roar coach has acknowledged the need for some fresh faces in all positions.

"I've got some phone calls to make overseas," Mulvey said yesterday less than 24 hours after his first game in charge of the Roar ended in a 1-0 home loss to Perth Glory.

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"We know we need some additions to the squad, and at the same time the players need a bit of a boost.

"We're certainly going to be active in the January transfer window.''

And that potentially means buying and selling players.

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Catch Adelaide United v Brisbane Roar LIVE on Wednesday 7.30pm (EDT), Fox Sports 3HD

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Mulvey had a lengthy discussion at yesterday's recovery session with midfielder Erik Paartalu, who has made no secret of his desire to leave the champions.

Another player likely to be headed for the exit door, either next month or at the end of the season, is disgruntled defender Matt Jurman.

The former Sydney FC centre-back has fallen even further down the Roar pecking order, with Mulvey saying he was going to persevere with youngster James Donachie as skipper Matt Smith's central defensive partner.

Jurman will play in today's National Youth League clash between the Roar and the Glory at Goodwin Park.

"I expect him to be disappointed that he's not in the first team,'' Mulvey said of Jurman.

"It's now up to Matt to put pressure on those guys (Smith and Donachie).''

Certain to miss Brisbane's clash against Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Wednesday is fullback Jack Hingert, who suffered a serious hip injury just minutes after coming on as a substitute against the Glory.

Mulvey said he was yet to decide whether Ben Halloran would again be left out of the starting side after he surprisingly watched most of the Perth loss from the bench.

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Ronaldo to United; it could happen

Switch hint ... Cristiano Ronaldo is open to a move back to Manchester United. Source: Andres Kudacki / AP

A move back to Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo may not be as far-fetched as first thought.

But it would require paying an incredible €1 billion ($1.27 billion) get-out clause on top of a huge transfer fee.

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The 27-year-old told friends and former teammates he wants to "come home", according to The Sun newspaper.

Ronaldo, who will head to Manchester to face United in the next round of the UEFA Champions League early next year with his Real Madrid teammates, reportedly wants to work with Sir Alex Ferguson again.

The United manager earlier this week spoke of how he would love to have the Portuguese international back at the club. The pair are still on good terms despite the forward's departure from the club three years ago.

But even if Real were willing to let their biggest star leave, United would face a huge financial hurdle to seal the deal. His get-out clause at the Bernabeu is reported to be €1 billion and his current contract has two-and-a-half years to run.

Since his move to Spain in 2009, Ronaldo has bagged 170 goals in 169 games and his performances have seen him shortlisted for this year's Ballon d'Or.

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