T20s not compromising Tests: CA

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Pat Cummins ... hasn't worn the Baggy Green in 12 months due to injury. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland denies Australia's preparations for the upcoming Test series have been compromised by the rise of Twenty20 cricket, claiming the longest form of the game remained the most important.

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The assertion comes in the wake of news luckless fast bowling prodigy Pat Cummins is facing another summer without Test cricket after picking up an injury during the Sydney Sixers triumphant Champions League Twenty20 campaign - for which they won $2.5 million.

Cummins has not played a first class match since his Test debut in South Africa in November last year, featuring exclusively in T20 and one-day games in the ensuing 12 months.

But when asked if CA was being compromised by the lucrative Champions League and IPL tournaments, Sutherland told ABC Radio's Grandstand: "I can assure you that Test cricket is worth a lot more to us than $2.5 million.

"... Within (our strategy) is our ambitions to be No.1 in all three formats.

"But we actually take that a step further and we declare that Test cricket is the format that we really set our sights on as the primary format and the format that we'd most desire to be successful in."

Sutherland acknowledged that Australia's preparations for Friday's Gabba Test against South Africa haven't been faultless, with Ricky Ponting (hamstring) and Shane Watson (calf) both battling injury concerns.

But he says it is simply the way of the modern game.

"There's probably a number of players that you could highlight that perhaps haven't had an ideal preparation," he said.

"But I don't think our opponents for this first Test match are in any different boat. It's just the nature of cricket today.

"The reality is we're doing the best we can in the circumstances to prepare players to play Test cricket for Australia.

"It's not as if we're operating in our own little vacuum. Other countries face the same challenges and same problems.

"Let's see how well-prepared the South Africans are for Test cricket next week.

"... I'd suggest we'd need to be paying a significant premium to our players to say that we have them locked up exclusively."

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Gutsy Redbacks snap Shield drought

That winning feeling ... South Australia claim outright victory over Tasmania. Source: Richard Jupe / News Limited

South Australia have notched their first Sheffield Shield outright victory in 20 matches, downing Tasmania by 15 runs in a tense day-three finish at Bellerive.

SHEF - Blundstone Arena

1 November 2012 - Day 3, Session 3

Tasmania 2nd Innings

L. Butterwort...

57

76

10

0

75

The Redbacks dismissed the Tigers for 196 in their second innings after tea to secure outright points in a Shield game for the first time since November 2010.

The South Australia players erupted in celebrations when Tigers' all-rounder Luke Butterworth's rearguard action, which had threatened to steal the match, came to an end when he was caught for 57.

The win came after Tasmania had secured first-innings points with their total of 138 to the visitors' first-dig score of 112.

The Redbacks were bowled out for 237 on Saturday morning after 18-year-old Travis Head had led the way with 75.

Tasmania's target of 212 looked gettable on a flattening deck and in the best weather conditions of the match.

But promising partnerships failed to kick on and Butterworth's lone hand at the death wasn't quite enough to get the Tigers home.

Young Redbacks' quick Kane Richardson led the charge with 4-34, while Chadd Sayers and Johan Botha chipped in with two wickets each.

Four Test squad members started the match - Ricky Ponting, Ed Cowan, Ben Hilfenhaus and Nathan Lyon - but none would have sent a shiver down the spine of tourists South Africa.

Ponting was withdrawn from the match on Friday with hamstring soreness after making just five in the first innings.

Cowan battled tough conditions to make six and 26 and is still yet to pass 50 in seven Shield innings this season.

Hilfenhaus had some much-needed time in the middle, bowling a total of 39 overs for match figures of 4-108.

Lyon, though, was given only four overs by Redbacks' skipper Botha for figures of 0-10.

Hilfenhaus and Butterworth (3-40) cleaned up the Redbacks' tail after they had resumed at 7-225 but Richardson soon had the home side in trouble.

He removed Mark Cosgrove (2) and Steve Cazzulino (0) to have Tasmania 2-2 before Cowan and skipper George Bailey (20) took the home side to 2-49.

Bailey nicked Sayers to keeper Tim Ludeman before Cowan was also caught behind pushing forward for 4-56.

Aiden Blizzard (4) top-edged a pull shot off Richardson at 5-60 before a partnership of 50 between Ben Dunk (34) and James Faulkner (18) briefly threatened to take the game away from SA.

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Parc Ferme: Hogging numbers

Domination ... Sebastian Vettel is racking up the numbers in his 2012 title charge. Source: Mark Baker / AP

Be prepared to duck, and make sure the statistics I'm about to throw at you don't hit you in the face.

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Okay, so that's a bit aggressive. I just feel the numbers that sum up Sebastian Vettel's form are far more exciting than the races he's currently dominating.

There are genuine concerns for the future of both the Indian and Korean rounds of the world championship, and it's hardly surprising when you consider how they've played out over the past two years.

Vettel has led every lap of both Indian events, and all bar two at Korea's Yeongam circuit this season and last. It doesn't matter if you're a grand prix racing purist or not, repeat victories of that nature are rarely enthralling.

The reigning World Champion is the first driver since Ayrton Senna in 1989 to lead three consecutive races from start to finish. While Senna's domination aboard the McLaren in San Marino, Monaco and Mexico didn't ultimately result in that year's crown, it seems unfathomable that Vettel won't make his current run count.

Vettel has led every racing moment since inheriting the lead from Lewis Hamilton on lap 23 of the Singapore Grand Prix. His 206 laps in the lead result in the fifth longest streak in history, with only Senna, Nigel Mansell and Alberto Ascari spending longer up front.

It's an enormous ask, but should the 25-year old still lead on lap 45 of the inaugural US Grand Prix in Austin, he'll break Ascari's record from 1952 of 305 consecutive laps led.

Interestingly, Vettel's Indian win saw him pass teammate Mark Webber's longest streak, which was 159 leading laps in Spain, Monaco and Turkey during 2010. When you consider how that particular run ended, you may conclude that Vettel's actually broken Webber's streak twice.

There are also some numbers that threaten to make the next three races mildly interesting. Vettel has never won five straight, and should he do so in Abu Dhabi he'll draw alongside another great champion. Sir Jackie Stewart claimed 27 grand prix wins from 99 starts, which Vettel will match with victory at Yas Marina. However while Stewart secured three titles in that period, the current star will need at least one extra attempt to confirm his triple.

It seems Vettel has borrowed elements of style from each of his previous titles in making his 2012 charge. Like 2010, he was beset with mechanical issues early in the campaign, before turning up the wick once the championship reached Asia. As if an omen, the top six in India mirrored the final standings of 2010 - Vettel, Alonso, Webber, Hamilton, Button and Massa.

His level of overall domination lately has been 2011-esque, so much so it's difficult to fathom just how unpredictably this season started. It seems incredible that should Vettel win in Abu Dhabi, USA and Brazil, he'll have won seven straight to conclude a year that began with seven different winners. 

The numbers will mean nothing if Vettel fails in the final three rounds, but it's hard to imagine Red Bull not having a clear advantage at all venues. The Circuit of the Americas presents an unknown, but the fact the team has claimed three straight front-row lockouts for the first time in its history proves there's pace to spare.

If the ever-efficient German can just find it in his heart to actually spare that speed, along with a couple of trophies and a few records, we'll get a cracking championship conclusion.

Seriously, he needs to stop hogging the numbers.

---

Richard Bayliss is a reporter for Fox Sports News. Follow SPEED on Twitter and on Facebook.

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Nightmare day for Aussie stars

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Skipper ... Michael Clarke is sent packing cheaply in Brisbane. Source: Peter Wallis / News Limited

A day planned to herald Australian cricket's resurgence has developed into a nightmare with injuries and form cruelling many stars.

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Around Australia in four first-class matches - and sadly a doctor's office in Melbourne - many players in the Test frame and some just outside it have suffered blows a week out from the summer's first Test against South Africa.

Former Test skipper Ricky Ponting has been withdrawn from Tasmania's Sheffield Shield match with hamstring soreness in Hobart.

Rising paceman Pat Cummins has been ruled out for the season with a stress fracture to his lower back.

And some disappointing returns from those batsmen still vertical have left more questions than answers as the Proteas warm up against Australia A in Sydney.

Prospective opening batsmen Liam Davis and Phil Hughes both failed at the SCG, the former a victim of a ripping Dale Steyn delivery.

Australia A captain Andrew McDonald was then trapped LBW by South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir for a fourth-ball duck.

But in perhaps the only good news for Australian batsmen today, Victorian opener Rob Quiney and New South Welshman Steve Smith steadied the ship.

At Allan Border Field in Brisbane, NSW lost Test core David Warner (2), Michael Clarke (8) and Shane Watson (33) by the time the Blues had reached 52 against Queensland.

At the MCG, Cameron White got a golden duck, David Hussey made just four and Matthew Wade eight as the vaunted Victorians capitulated to the swing bowling of WA's largely unheralded Jason Behrendorff.

In Hobart, George Bailey made 32 as Tasmania bumbled along to first-innings points against South Australia, but the worst news from Bellerive concerned the in-form Ponting, who had been dismissed on Thursday night for six.

Cricket Australia made the pre-emptive move after he complained of a sore hamstring during the game.

But CA performance manager Pat Howard said the injury should not jeopardise Ponting's chances of playing in the first Test.

"This is a precautionary move to ensure Ricky has the best possible preparation for the first Test," Howard said.

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"If this wasn't a week out from the first Test, then Ricky would continue with the match, but we don't want to take that risk.

"We expect Ricky to be fit for the first Test against South Africa."

Cummins returns to Sydney this afternoon after learning in Melbourne that the sore back he developed in South Africa during the Champions League Twenty20 was more serious than originally thought.

"Because of his age and past history we decided to investigate the source of the pain and unfortunately he has an early stage stress fracture of his spine, confirmed by scans today," CA physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said.

"Pat had a spine bone stress injury a few years ago, but the current injury is new and in an entirely different part of the spine.

"We expect he will recover fully from this injury and will be closely monitored to determine his return to the playing field, but expect that he will miss most of the 2012-13 domestic cricket season."

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Demetriou lauds Folau's AFL impact

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Job well done ... Demetriou has thanked Folau for his efforts. Source:News Limited

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has praised Israel Folau for the effect he had on the game's profile in the northern states.

Folau announced on Thursday he would leave Greater Western Sydney after one season.

Speculation is rife that he will return to the NRL, probably with Parramatta.

The 23-year-old had minimal on-field impact in his 13 AFL matches, but his switch from rugby league was a massive marketing coup for the AFL and their newest team.

"Israel Folau has been a terrific ambassador for our game in the past two years and his courageous decision to give AFL football a go has helped inspire many children, particularly in New South Wales and Queensland, to play and watch Australian football," Demetriou said in a statement.

"Naturally, we are sad to see Israel leave the AFL community but we understand and respect his decision.

"He goes with our blessing."

Folau was the second rugby league star to switch to the AFL, following Karmichael Hunt's move to Gold Coast Suns.

While Folau struggled on the field this year, Hunt was a big improver in his second AFL season.

"Like Hunt, who showed dramatic improvement this year ... the Giants had confidence that Israel was on the right path and would continue to adapt to our game, despite its many differences to rugby league - the sport he grew up playing," Demetriou said.

"However, our focus is on what Israel feels is right for him as an individual and as a sportsman, and so we support what has been a very tough decision for him."

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Humble departs Tigers for Panthers

Moving on ... Humble faces a tough test to win a spot in the halves at Penrith. Source: News Limited

Penrith believe they have found a replacement for playmaker Travis Burns with utility Tom Humble announcing he has left Wests Tigers to join the Panthers.

As the player exodus from the Tigers continued despite the appointment of new coach Mick Potter, Humble wrote on Twitter he will join the Panthers on a two-year-deal.

It comes after former Tigers players Beau Ryan and Chris Heighington's shock moves to Cronulla.

"Looking forward to the next 2yrs with the panthers. Will miss the tigers boys and fans but new 1's to be found in mighty Penrith," Humble tweeted.

The Panthers' pre-season began at Centrebet Stadium on Thursday where Humble was expected to meet his new teammates for the first time.

The 23-year-old, who played 15 games for the Tigers in 2012 in the halves and at fullback, said it had been a pleasure to play alongside his former Tigers teammates despite being at the club for just 12 months.

It is understood Humble and the Tigers had agreed to part ways before the end of the 2012 NRL season last month.

Humble now faces a tough battle to win his spot in Panthers coach Ivan Cleary's top 17 players with Lachlan Coote and Luke Walsh the incumbent halves.

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Stoner on V8 Supercar move

Stoner ... talks to SPEED News Australia on his retirement plans. Source: William West / AFP

Stoner ... talks to SPEED News Australia on his V8 Supercar plans. Source: Mark Horsburgh / Supplied

Retiring MotoGP Casey Stoner tells us why he would like to race in V8 Supercars, as he talks exclusively on the season finale of SPEED News Australia.

Stoner talks to Jessica Yates. Source: SPEED

The two-time MotoGP champion chatted to host Jessica Yates ahead of his record sixth-straight win at Phillip Island last weekend.

Stoner talks about his career, early retirement, and why the Dunlop V8 Supercar Series might just have a two-wheel world champion in the field in the near future.

Meantime, SPEED's two-wheel expert Kevin Magee will be on hand to review all the action from Phillip Island that saw Aussies Ant West and Arthur Sissis score podiums in Moto2 and Moto3.

Fans will hear from leading V8 drivers ahead of this weekend's Abu Dhabi V8 Supercar Race in an exclusive SPEED News Australia event preview.

The final episode of the year will also take a look at the new Nissan Altima V8 Supercar unveiled in Melbourne on Tuesday.

We'll also go through all the latest motorsport news from around the world including Formula 1, NASCAR, Australian Supercross and more.

---

Watch the season finale of SPEED News Australia, Wed 31 Oct at 7pm EDT on SPEED (512).

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Cooper handed fine, suspended ban

Punished ... Cooper has been hit in the pocket and handed a suspended ban. Source: Sam Ruttyn / News Limited

Injured Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper has been handed a $60,000 fine by the Australian Rugby Union, $20,000 of which is suspended, and a three-match suspended ban for criticising the Wallabies and coach Robbie Deans.

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Both the ban and extra $20,000 are suspended for a period of two years, with the ban only to be enforced if Cooper fails to adhere with the ARU's Code of Conduct.

Cooper said he was happy with the hearing at ARU headquarters and respected the governing body's decision.

"Obviously the sentence that's been handed to me, I have full respect for that," he said.

"I understand I fell well below par about what it means to be a Wallaby and for all the supporters that are out there, my apologies.

"I'm just looking forward to the future and hopefully having a big year with not only my state but the Wallabies.

"And I'm very much looking forward to getting over my injury and getting back on the field."

Cooper was punished for a Twitter tirade in which he described the Wallabies' environment as "toxic".

The controversial five-eighth then backed up his original outburst on Fox Sports' The Rugby Club, where he revealed he wouldn't have played for the Wallabies had he been selected.

Cooper will miss the Wallabies' spring tour to Europe as he continues his rehabilitation from knee surgery.

More to follow ...

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Victory unpaid for Olympiakos game

Out of pocket ... Victory are still waiting to be paid for the Olympiakos friendly. Source: Paul Crock / AFP

Melbourne Victory have taken legal action, claiming they have not been paid for playing a soccer friendly against Greek powerhouse Olympiakos earlier this year.

The A-League club are seeking a promised $110,000, plus interest and legal costs, for their part in the match held at Etihad Stadium in May.

The Victory have lodged a statement of claim in the Victorian Supreme Court.

The match was Victory coach Ange Postecoglou's first in charge, with the Greek club winning 4-1 in front of a smaller-than-hoped crowd of 16,877.

According to the Victory's claim, under a written agreement, the club was to receive a $110,000 fee to play the match from promoter John Denison and company Denison Corporation Pty Ltd.

The deadline for the fee to be paid was July 31.

The Victory also claim two other companies, SEQ Global Pty Limited and SEQ Olympiacos Pty Limited, agreed to indemnify the Victory should Denison not pay the fee by the deadline.

The Victory say those two companies have also failed to comply with the agreement.

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Bolton to play on, Pyke re-signs

Veteran ... Bolton looks set to pull on the red and white for another AFL season. Source: News Limited

Dual Sydney Swans premiership player Jude Bolton will be on the club's list when it is lodged with the AFL on Wednesday, increasing the likelihood he will pull on the boots for another season.

Bolton, 32, played 22 games this season to become one of only three Swans players to pass the 300-career-games milestone, behind Adam Goodes (319) and Michael O'Loughlin (303).

Bolton is one of four Swans who played in both the 2012 and 2005 premiership teams: the others are Goodes, Ryan O'Keefe and Lewis Roberts-Thompson.

AFL clubs have a second list lodgement on November 15, a week before the national draft.

Meanwhile, Bolton's 2012 premiership teammates Mike Pyke, Craig Bird and Mitch Morton have all signed new deals with the club this week.

Ruckman Pyke and midfielder Bird have both signed new two-year deals, while Morton is contracted for another 12 months.

Pyke, 28, is travelling across the United States and Canada, but said he was "really excited'' about the prospect of defending the premiership. "It is a challenge we're all looking forward to and I feel privileged to have this opportunity,'' he said.

"I still feel like I have plenty of development left in me, and hopefully I can add a few more strings to my bow this year.''

Morton, 25, kicked four goals in the Swans' three finals, including two vital goals in the second quarter of the grand final against Hawthorn.

"I'm just absolutely pumped to be a part of the club again in 2013,'' Morton said.

Bird, 23, said the future was "looking pretty bright at the Swans and I'm looking forward to being a part of it.''

Sydney has delisted Jarred Moore, Mark Seaby, Brett Meredith and Nathan Gordon, along with rookie-list players Eugene Kruger, Jack Lynch and Dylan McNeil.

They have traded Trent Dennis-Lane to St Kilda, Matthew Spangher to Hawthorn and rookie Campbell Heath to Port Adelaide.

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NRL yet to see Sonny Bill contract

Still on? ... the NRL is yet to see a contract concerning Sonny Bill Williams. Source: Rick Rycroft / AP

Interim NRL chief executive Shane Mattiske says he needs to see a contract in his hands before determining whether or not Sonny Bill Williams will be cleared for a return to the game.

Speculation mounted on the weekend that the NRL are considering blocking Williams' widely-discussed return to rugby league with Sydney Roosters due to the fact the dual international is managed by non-accredited player agent Khoder Nasser.

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Mattiske said no decision had been made on Williams - who walked out on Canterbury-Bankstown mid-contract in 2008 to take up a big-money offer in rugby union - simply because they had not yet been approached by the Roosters.

"The Roosters understand that if they are to bring Sonny Bill to the game, they need to come and approach us about that," Mattiske said.

"They need to get to a point where they've got a contract they can bring to us for registration - at this stage we're waiting for that to happen."

Midway through this year Williams, who is currently on a short-term deal to play rugby union in Japan and will have a boxing bout in Brisbane next month, said he was quitting union to honour a handshake deal with Roosters supremo Nick Politis.

But to date there is no contract in place, an issue recently appointed Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan said would be his first item of business.

Such has been the fanfare ahead of Williams' return that it is believed the NRL has tentatively scheduled the Roosters to open the season against South Sydney.

Mattiske denied any matches had been set in stone other than to say the Roosters would play the Rabbitohs sometime in round one.

"We haven't settled on the draw, so we haven't locked away the first game of the year," he said.

"We've consistently played in the first round Roosters v Souths - it's one of our biggest games so we intend on playing that (in the first round)."

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Lyon unruffled by Shield stats

Lyon ... is under pressure to perform for Australia after a tough patch in Shield. Source: AAP

For Australian spinner Nathan Lyon, there's lies, damned lies and his statistics this summer.

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The Test offie has managed just six wickets in three Sheffield Shield games at the unflattering average of 66.33.

It contrasts with his 42 wickets in 13 matches for Australia at 27.83 and, says Lyon, it's not a problem heading into a series against the world's No.1 team, South Africa.

"I've been quite happy with the way they've come out," he told reporters in Hobart, where South Australia will play a one-dayer against Tasmania on Tuesday.

"I've been creating chances and unfortunately they haven't been held.

"I'm really confident in my own skill set."

The 24-year-old was considered to be in a battle for a Test spot with Jon Holland until the Victorian's season was ended by a shoulder injury.

But Lyon took seven wickets in his last Test, in the West Indies in April, and Australia captain Michael Clarke said he had the ability to lift for the national team.

"We've been concerned about Nathan's form but he's performed very well for Australia and we're hoping that in the 10 or 11 days leading into the Test he really recaptures his old form and he's bowling at his best," Clarke said.

"But he's got a very good record for Australia. He's served us well overseas and in Australia."

Australia could play four pacemen at the seam-friendly Gabba but, like spin legend Shane Warne before him, Lyon says the Brisbane pitch will suit him.

He finished with match figures of 7-88 against New Zealand there last summer.

"I'm pretty confident I'll be part of the 11," he said.

"I love bowling there just because of the bounce you get there and early on day one it tends to spin a little bit with a bit of tackiness under the pitch.

"The bounce that you're able to generate there's fantastic."

---

Australia coach Micky Arthur and captain Michael Clarke will appear on the season-opening episode of Inside Cricket – Monday November 5, 8:30pm (EDT) on Fox Sports 2HD.

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Mariners scrape past Heart

Battle ... Richard Garcia for the Heart takes on the Mariners' Tomas Rogic at AAMI Park. Source: AAP

Central Coast come out on top against Melbourne Heart in a tight contest at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon.

The only goal of the game came from an unlikely source, with Mariners defender Pedj Bojic scoring from a free kick early in the second half.

The fullback notched his first of the season with a curling effort from just outside of the penalty box which Clint Bolton couldn't quite tip round the post.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Adelaide	4	3	0	1	4	9
2	Newcastle	4	3	0	1	1	9
3	Central Coast	4	2	1	1	1	7
4	Perth	3	2	0	1	2	6
5	Wellington	4	1	2	1	0	5
6	Brisbane	4	1	1	2	3	4
7	Western Sydney	4	1	1	2	-1	4
8	Heart	4	1	1	2	-2	4
9	Sydney	3	1	0	2	-2	3
10	Victory	4	1	0	3	-6	3

The two sides came into the contest with matching records, but the Mariners will move up the A-League table where they will feel they belong, while the Heart remain without a win since triumphing in the Melbourne derby on the opening day of the season.

More to come...

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Relive the clash, with all the key stats and highlights, at our A-League Match Centre.

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Stoner takes sixth Island win

Domination ... Stoner takes unprecedented sixth and final Phillip Island win. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

Casey Stoner showed us once again that fairytale finishes do happen, the Aussie signing off on his final MotoGP race on home soil with his sixth-straight win, as Jorge Lorenzo wraps up the 2012 MotoGP title.

Stoner capped off a dominant weekend with another dominant performance, finishing nine seconds ahead of Lorenzo, with Briton Cal Crutchlow completing the podium in third.

However the day was a disaster for title contender Dani Pedrosa, an early lead turning to dust at Honda Corner on lap three with the Spaniard crashing.

The accident handed a lead he wouldn't lose to Stoner, while Lorenzo tried to give chase but, with the title in his pocket, elected to take the points for second.

More to follow.

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