LIVE: first Ashes Test, day three

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

AUSTRALIA has declared with a lead of 560 on day three of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba.

After Brad Haddin slammed his second half century of the Test, Michael Clarke decided to end the innings and get the English back in.

Haddin and Mitchell Johnson put on a swift 80-run partnership at a rate of six runs per over after George Bailey was clean bowled by Graeme Swann for 34 just after tea.

Haddin was the last man out for 53.

Clarke's love affair with the Gabba guaranteed the mammoth fourth-innings run chase for the visitors.

Centurion David Warner was dismissed for 124, edging a seaming Stuart Broad delivery to wicketkeeper Matt Prior midway through the second session.

Warner had blasted Broad back over his own head for six just three balls earlier.

England had their fourth wicket three overs later, when Steve Smith was caught behind off Chris Tremlett for a duck.

Clarke, who has now scored more than 1000 runs at the Gabba at an average above 100, reached his century from 115 deliveries but was clean-bowled by Graeme Swann for 113.

Warner's fourth Test century - and first in an Ashes match - poetically came off the bowling of a man who threatened to end his Test career five months ago.

England was forced to turn to the part time off-spin of Joe Root, who was struck by Warner in a London pub in June, for a breakthrough.

On 99 not out, Warner must have taken great delight in punching Root down the ground to amass his first century since November last year.

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

MATCH CENTRE: FULL SCOREBOARD, BALL-BY-BALL COMMENTARY, STATS AND FOXTRACKER

Australia lost two wickets for 10 runs early on day three but Warner and Clarke halted a potential collapse with an immense third-wicket partnership.

Beginning day three on 0-65 and with a lead of 224, Australia's hopes of building a 400-run lead were quickly dealt two unnecessary blows.

Chris Rogers and Shane Watson both fell to poor shots in the opening 35 minutes of the first session.

Rogers fell for 16 to a regrettable stroke in just the second over of the day, as Stuart Broad took his seventh wicket of the Test.

Rogers took 81 balls to reach 16 before looking to slash a wide Broad ball through point but only managing a weak-wristed cut that lobbed to England fielder Michael Carberry.

Then Shane Watson played a reckless pull shot off Chris Tremlett that lobbed to Broad at mid-on and he was gone for six off 27 balls.

Ten minutes of play was lost to rain during the opening session but the clouds have otherwise circled the ground.

Follow our live blog below for all the best updates, videos, analysis and reaction from the ground and around the world via social media.

Join the conversation by commenting in the box at the top of the blog, or via Twitter @FoxCricketLive.

IF YOU'RE ON AN APPLE MOBILE DEVICE, CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST VIEWING EXPERIENCE.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tempers flare as Tander wins

Premat, Courtney lucky to escape clash with no serious injuries. Source: John Morris / Supplied

THE GLOVES are off in the V8 Supercars championship with the four contenders turning the title fight into a bare knuckle brawl on a brutal day at Phillip Island.

Holden charger Jamie Whincup won the four-way fight by out punching his rivals in a V8 classic that has all but ended Will Davison's championship chances.

Garth Tander won the first installment of the Sargent Security 360, but who cares?

The race to open the penultimate round of the championship was all about Ford Performance Racing's (FPR) Winterbottom and Davison and their fight with Red Bull Racing's Whincup and Craig Lowndes.

Relive all the action in stunning High Definition tonight at 7:30pm EDT on SPEED (Foxtel/Austar channel 512)

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

And it was the man hunting his fifth title who went on a mission, fighting his way from 15th to 5th before passing Winterbottom on the final lap to steal back the championship lead.

Whincup was the big winner, taking back the title lead from Lowndes and showing Winterbottom who is boss with his last lap lunge.

Davison and Lowndes both lost out, finishing 17th and 8th respectively thanks to some rough treatment by rivals.

The spectacular race that might just have helped decide the championship saw Holden driver James Courtney involved in a sickening high-speed collision with French driver Alex Premat.

As the championship contenders sorted themselves out with Will Davison the first to fall when he was spun by Shane Van Gisbergen and sent back to 24th, Premat dangerously skidded across the grass, his brakes useless, and collided with Courtney in what of the hardest hits in memory.

The side on side impact saw both cars implode on impact with Courtney's car launching into the air before they speared off the track.

The battle up front was equally brutal.

The race opened in thrilling fashion and did not relent for the entire distance.

With four drivers fighting it out for the closest championship in V8 Supercars history, Lowndes landed the first blow by taking pole position winner Mark Winterbottom on the opening lap.

Opting for low starting tyre pressures, Winterbottom sunk to thrid place when Garth Tander gunned him down.

Whincup had suffered a huge blow in qualifying when he could only drag his Red Bull Racing Commodore to 13th place.

The four time champion was given little hope, but showed his incredible talent by dragging his way to seventh after just a handful of laps.

With Davison gone thanks to a hit that led FPR boss Tim Edwards to call Van Gisbergen "stupid" and an "idiot", the battle up front reached fever pitch as the half-time break loomed with Lowndes and Winterbottom declaring war.

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

With his tyres now up to pressure and carrying a fist-full of speed, a Winterbottom attack at the last corner on the last lap and sent Lowndes into the grass and back to 15th.

Lowndes was filthy at the half-time break with his championship put in doubt by the collision that also saw Winterbottom drop back to 4th and put him within just three places of his bitter championship rival Whincup.

So was team boss Roland Dane.

"It was one of the silliest moves I have ever scene," Dane said.

"He could have gone on side-by-side and been on the front row for the restart. It was academic because there were no points on offer for that part of the race.

"The tracking was bent out from the contact."

Investigations were launched left, right and centre following the first stint that set the scene for an explosive follow up.

Courtney's crash almost overshadowed the championship fight with the Penrith raised star in the worst position possible when the Garry Rogers Motorsport car speared into his drivers door.

Unable to get out of his vehicle because of the huge damage, Premat had to lift Courtney had through the passenger door.

Premat and Courtney discuss their massive accident. Source: Getty Images

The former champion slumped to the grass before being escorted back to the medical centre. Courtney was cleared of broken bones but has soft tissue damage to his right leg.

Relive all the action with SPEED's Live Blog of Saturday at Phillip Island!

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Live: Ashes First Test, day two

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

OPENERS David Warner and Chris Rogers are driving home Australia's advantage with a solid partnership to build a handy lead in the first Ashes Test against England at the Gabba.

Warner (34 not out) and Rogers (12 not out) have brought up their 50-run partnership, guiding Australia to 0-51 in the 17th over of the second innings.

Australia had earlier skittled the England attack for just 136 runs with some inspired bowling led by Mitchell Johnson who claimed four wickets.

Late on day two Australia has a lead of 210 runs.

IF YOU'RE ON AN APPLE MOBILE DEVICE, CLICK HERE TO GET THE BEST VIEWING EXPERIENCE.

- Todd Balym

Follow our live blog below for all the best updates, videos, analysis and reaction from the ground and around the world via social media.

Click here to see a full scoreboard, ball-by-ball commentary, stats and FoxTracker in our Match Centre.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hawks will be better without Buddy

That is the immense challenge for Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, one Geelong was able to tackle successfully when Gary Ablett left the club.

The story of Thursday night's AFL national draft was Dayle Garlett and the risk Hawthorn was prepared to take in recruiting junior football's resident problem child.

Yet as the dust settled on that dramatic selection, it didn't take long to think that Hawthorn might actually improve on its 2013 form.

Even without dual premiership hero Lance Franklin, at one stage a few years back clearly the best player in the game.

GARLETT: I WANT TO PLAY, NOT PLAY UP

For a moment move past the welfare and discipline issues Hawthorn will tackle with Garlett and consider what he might produce for Hawthorn next year.

If he isn't Cyril Rioli, he at least has the same exquisite package.

DRAFT TRACKER: EVERY PICK AND ANALYSIS

Break-neck pace, astounding goal smarts, and a perfect combination of attacking punch and midfield quality.

How about Hawthorn's small forwards next year with Rioli's magic, Luke Breust's hugely under-rated nose for a goal and Garlett's ability to change games in the attacking half.

Only next year will we find out if Jack Gunston (11 goals in three finals) can truly elevate to star status with the opposition's best defender alongside him, if David Hale can thrive in a role with more forward-50 action.

Yet the question of whether Hawthorn can win finals has already been answered this year, with Franklin's finals output modest at best.

Next year Ryan Schoenmakers returns to help Norm Smith Medallist Brian Lake and Crimmins Medallist Josh Gibson, and Matt Suckling should seamlessly slot into retiree Brent Guerra's half-back role.

And while Billy Hartung, taken at pick 24, will take time to find his feet, he is truly an endurance monster.

PICK ME: EXCLUSIVE HIGHLIGHTS OF HARTUNG IN ACTION

The Hawks think he will challenge Isaac Smith for running power, with Hartung having smashed Bradley Hill's 16.1 beep test draft camp record.

Hill had a super finals series himself and can take the next step, as can Jed Anderson, unlucky not to get a Grand Final call-up after a solid sub's performance early in the finals series.

Then there is Ben McEvoy.

His limitation is clear - he doesn't win enough hit-outs, or hit-outs to advantage.

But Hawks insiders yesterday were throwing up the example of Hale and Jarryd Roughead, who both get it done in the centre square without the leap of Nic Naitanui.

Much of that is testament to the ruck coaching of Damien Monkhorst, who will enhance McEvoy's body positioning and encourage him to charge forward to kick goals.

McEvoy almost never did that last year, kicking only seven goals to give him a tally of 27 from 91 games.

The midfield trio of Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge and Brad Sewell are another year older, but only Sewell has so far showed signs of fading form.

Back-to-back premierships are immensely hard to win.

But how many premiership teams have the ability to bring in a ruckman entering his prime, a teenage goalkicker with a massive upside, and two defenders from injury who are easily in the club's best 22?

Hawthorn lost just one game for the year apart from twin defeats against Geelong, a hoodoo itself broken in the preliminary final.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Boycott's Stenson sledge

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

THE prickly Geoff Boycott was a fine England opener but the acid-tipped commentator for the BBC's Test Match Special radio team at the Gabba also fancies himself as a golfer.

Commentary partners Jonathan Agnew and Michael Vaughan delight in this classic "Boycs" tale when he discovered his partner for a pro-celebrity golf day in Dubai early last year when the England-Pakistan series was being played there.

"Hello, I'm Henrik Stenson. You were obviously a fantastic cricketer. We'll go well. I'm No.230 in the world," the tall Swede said.

Boycott's retort was priceless: "If I were No.230 in world, I wouldn't be going around telling everyone."

The same Stenson is now on golf's hottest roll at No.3 in the world and has won nearly $20 million this year.

***

DURING his playing days it was baked beans on demand, but now Shane Warne's favoured dietary request is salt and vinegar flavoured peanuts.

Warne's former Test teammate Matthew Hayden made a special visit to the Channel Nine commentary box yesterday to deliver some of Queensland's finest nuts for the spin king.

Maybe the nuts are the secrets to Warne's slimming ways.

***

THE Victorian who set up the "Stuart Broad is a Sh*t bloke" website was the only Aussie with a smile, albeit a pained one, when the English medium-pacer smashed through the Aussie top order yesterday.

Gold Coast fan Warwick le Cudennec, 29, and a gang of 10 mates were all wearing the gold SBIASB T-shirts they bought for $20 online. T-shirt and singlet sales are going off and they will become an icon of Ashes memorabilia like the Boonie doll.

***

THE Australian Government is in all sorts of strife for eavesdropping on mobile phones in Indonesia. Thankfully, no phone bug will pick up anything from the Australian dressing room in the hour after play.

Australian coach Darren Lehmann insists on a no-phones policy for the 60 minutes after play so players are undistracted at the most important time of the day when they are dissecting the day's events. So simple and so smart but sadly with the same old topic..."Don't lose wickets in clumps or you can kiss the Ashes goodbye."

***

AUSTRALIA'S most prolific run scorer will be retiring after the Gabba Test match, with Queensland stalwart Judy Harris to end her stellar scoring career.

Harris is the official scorer in her 30th and final Test match in Brisbane.

If only Australia's top order had her composure. She's handled every dramatic collapse by the Aussies with more poise than any willow-wielding millionaire.

***

YESTERDAY'S Courier Mail front page featuring a 27-year-old medium-pace bowler will take some serious beating as one of the most viewed pages of the Ashes series.

Not only did most of the English newspapers either publish or tweet a photo of the page, popular media commentator Piers Morgan also tweeted it to his more than 3.5 million followers.

Plenty of Pommy cricket writers and commentators have taken great offence at our treatment of the Ashes this week. Without the banter the lead up to this Test would have been drier than the doctored pitches England produced last series.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Live: Ashes first Test, day one

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

STUART Broad claimed the new-ball breakthrough for England completing his five-wicket haul with the scalp of Mitchell Johnson in the shadow of stumps on the opening day of the first Ashes Test match at the Gabba.

IF YOU'RE ON AN APPLE MOBILE DEVICE, CLICK HERE TO GET THE BEST VIEWING EXPERIENCE.

Johnson was clean bowled by the paceman for 64 runs, bringing to an end a crucial seventh wicket partnership with Brad Haddin that had yielded 114 runs.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR GALLERY OF THE DAY ONE ACTION

Broad held the ball in the air and waved at the crowd after taking the wicket, his figures of 5-63 truly match-defining on the opening day of the series.

Australia is now 7-254 and desperately trying to survive to the close of play with Haddin unbeaten on 72 joined by Peter Siddle at the crease.

Get all the best updates, video highlights, reaction and analysis from the ground and around the world in our live blog below.

Join the conversation by commenting at the top of the blog, or tweet us @FoxCricketLive.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Who are Australia's best openers?

IT'S the age old debate that gets even the most sedate of cricket fans hot under the collar.

Who are the best players of all time?

Cricket bible the Wisden Almanack felt the full force of the furious fanatics when it revealed it's All Time XI to coincide with the release of its 150th anniversary.

While every inclusion bar Sir Donald Bradman is likely to provoke controversy, Wisden attracted the ire of Aussie cricket fans by picking England wicketkeeper Alan Knott ahead of legendary Australian gloveman Adam Gilchrist in the XI.

But that scenario won't be possible in the Gatorade Australian Team of The Century.

We want you to tell us who the greatest players to ever pull on a Baggy Green are, although it's not quite as simple as that.

Have you selected your Fantasy Test Cricket side yet? Get cracking now for your chance to win $5,000!

You'll need to compile a balanced XI that comprises two openers, a middle order, all-rounder, wicketkeeper, spinner and pace attack. You'll also be able to vote on who the captain of the side will be.

This week, we want you to tell us who would open the batting in your Aussie team of the century.

Would you go for a pair that knew each other inside out, like Hayden and Langer or Taylor and Slater?

Or would you simply go for the men who notched up the best stats even if they didn't bring fans rushing through the gates, such as legendary opener turned commentator Bill Lawry?

Get involved in the debate and vote now by heading to https://www.facebook.com/FoxSportsCricket.

We'll be running polls for each of the positions available in the side throughout this summer, so stick with foxsports.com.au and Fox Cricket on Facebook to have your say.

Get all the best Ashes preview on Inside Cricket, from 8.30pm (EDT) Wednesday on Fox Sports 1.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Players v fans: the blow-ups

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

FROM Eric Cantona to Jim Richards, Gorden Tallis to Ron Artest, sportsmen through the years have returned fire, often with interest, to abusive fans.

We take a look at some of the great blow-ups.

GORDEN TALLIS v NSW FANS

It's game three, State of Origin 2002 and two youths in the stands at Sydney's Olympic stadium hold up a banner reading: 'Gordy, your mum's a rig.'

Following the Maroon's win over NSW, the fiery Queenslander doesn't hold back, delivering an almighty spray in the direction of the banner-holding kids.

ERIC CANTONA v CRYSTAL PALACE FAN

Perhaps the king of player retaliations. Manchester United great Eric Cantona did not take kindly to abuse from Crystal Palace supporter Matthew Simmons during an EPL match in 1995 and launched a flying kung-fu kick in Simmons' direction.

Cantona copped a nine-month ban for his efforts.

Manchester United's Eric Cantona takes to the air at Selhurst Park in 1995. Source: News Corp Australia

Andrew Symonds poleaxes a streaker at the Gabba. Source: News Corp Australia

Jim Richards tells fans they're a 'pack of arseholes'' after winning the Bathurst 1000 in 1992. Picture Channel 7 Source: Supplied

John Daly throws Brad Clegg's camera against a tree. Source: News Corp Australia

MICHAEL O'LOUGHLIN v WEST COAST FANS

The Sydney Swans legend had been copping abuse from a section of the West Coast Eagles cheer squad during the Swans' AFL qualifying match against the Eagles at Subiaco in 2006. After kicking the winning goal O'Loughlin ran to the fence and roared his delight to shocked Eagles fan Daniel Williams. Other Eagles fans were quick to fire back however.

Michael O'Loughlin returns fire to West Coast Eagles fan Daniel Williams. Source: News Corp Australia

Michael O'Loughlin gives it to the Eagles fans after kicking the winning goal. Source: News Corp Australia

Ron Artest (right) is separated from Detroit Pistons players in the 'Malice at the Palace' brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills in 2004. Source: News Corp Australia

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Haddin slams Arthur as 'insecure'

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

BRAD Haddin has launched a scathing attack on former Australian coach Mickey Arthur.

Praising new coach Darren Lehmann for bringing stability to the side, Haddin claimed that Arthur, a South African, did not understand the way Australia played its cricket.

"I think with Darren coming in, the message he's got across, the brand of cricket that we want to play," Haddin said after training at Brisbane's Gabba yesterday ahead of the first Test, beginning tomorrow.

"The brand of Australian cricket we have played forever and a day, I think that got lost in the period that Mickey had a hold of us.

"I don't think he understood and was secure enough in himself to get us to where we needed to go and it's actually been refreshing coming into a campaign with smiles on guys faces enjoying the game for what it is, a great game of cricket.

Mickey Arthur after conciliation talks with Cricket Australia in Sydney over his dismissal in July. Source: AFP

"I think what Boof (Lehmann) does is he understands the game and he encourages guys to talk about the game and the bottom line is it's a game of cricket.

"He's a very well respected person in cricket circles and he's a good person. He gives the group things that Mickey didn't.

"He (Arthur) was very, very insecure and that came across in a lot of our selections and our plays I think, to be perfectly honest.

"Under Darren we've got a clear message of where we want to go and how we're going to get there. He's able to help guys on the way to get to that point."

Arthur was sacked just 18 days before the first Ashes Test in England midyear, with Cricket Australia citing continuing disciplinary problems.

David Warner's punching of young England batsman Joe Root in a Birmingham bar during the Champions Trophy before the Ashes appeared to have been the last straw.

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

The most spectacular unravelling of the team took place in India earlier this year when then vice-captain Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson and Usman Khawaja were suspended from the Mohali Test for not doing their homework.

Haddin was out of the Test side at that stage but had flown into Mohali as a replacement for the injured Matthew Wade, who subsequently lost his place for the Ashes. Haddin returned to the team as vice-captain.

"That wasn't the Australian cricket team that I knew when I flew into Mohali," Haddin said.

"That was a unique situation which in all seriousness I can't really explain it.

"It was uncomfortable, walking into it, guys jumping at shadows and the insecurity around everything that was being done.

"So it's just refreshing to get back here now and enjoy the game for what it is, a great game. It's been great for all of us."

IS HADDIN MERELY MAKING EXCUSES OR IS HE RIGHT? HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ange benches Cahill, Leckie starts

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

TIM Cahill will start on the bench in Ange Postecoglou's Socceroos debut tonight against Costa Rica, with youngster Matthew Leckie preferred up front.

Cahill, who will almost certainly come on in the second half, is just one goal away from matching Damian Mori's record of 29 goals in A internationals while Lucas Neill will captain the Socceroos for the 61st time, surpassing legend Peter Wilson.

Meanwhile Postecoglou has sprung another surprise with Club Brugge's Mat Ryan preferred in goals to Borussia Dortmund's Mitch Langerak, in the wake of Mark Schwarzer's retirement.

Mark Bresciano, who was used as a holding midfielder by Holger Osieck but faces an uncertain future with a four-month ban hanging over his head, will be pushed further forward playing in the no.10 attacking midfield role.

And FC Sion's Dario Vidosic has been picked on the left win ahead of FC Utrecht's Tommy Oar for tonight's clash at Allianz Stadium.

Neill will lead an inexperienced back five, partnered by Middlesbrough's Rhys Williams with Brisbane Roar's Ivan Franjic and Heracles Almelo's Jason Davidson at right and left-back respectively.

Celtic's Tom Rogic is also likely to feature in the second half as Postecoglou plans to experiment with Australia's next game not schedule until March next year.

Postecoglou will ditch the no number 9 (central striker) system he favoured at Melbourne Victory, returning to a more conventional 4-2-3-1 formation.

"I've really got two games to get my head around what the squad will be going into the World Cup," Postecoglou said.

"This game is an opportunity to make some of those decisions and find out where we're at.

"There are guys who I'm pretty certain of what they can do, others who I want to see if they can adapt at this level, and some I hope can fit into the style. Some won't start because they're already in my plans, and there are others I want to form strong opinions of.

"Our No.1 objective is to win the game, but No.2 is to see certain individuals and how they fit into our system."

Australian line vs Costa Rica (4-2-3-1): Ryan; Franjic, Neill, Williams, Davidson; Milligan, Jedinak; Kruse, Bresciano, Vidosic; Leckie.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ange keeps faith in skipper Neill

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

ANGE Postecoglou has sprung a surprise by sticking with long-term Socceroos skipper Lucas Neill as his captain after initially naming a squad without one.

Speaking at a Monday afternoon media conference, Postecoglou said that with Neill to take his place in the starting XI, the obvious choice was to stick with him as leader.

"With Lucas starting tomorrow night it was pretty logical that there wasn't a decision to be made as far as I was concerned," Postecoglou said.

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

"My whole focus rather than the individuals in the group is to get this whole group up and running and so the individual things within that - and as I say the captaincy, there's a fascination with that at the moment, which I can sort of understand to a certain extent - but beyond that it hasn't taken up too much of my time or thought."

Sitting next to his new coach, Neill was clearly pleased to have held onto the armband, but was cautious about what that might mean for the future.

"This is definitely a reminder to us that there's a great sense of pride in the shirt at the moment. We're always on trial and there's a certain standard of football (Postecoglou) expects. As a result the intensity and competition in training has been great this week," Neill said.

So was he worried his time in the armband, or even in the national team altogether, may have passed?

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

"No, I wasn't worried," Neill said.

"I've been honoured to do it (captain the side) 60 times. As the manager just said, this is not about any individual. In fact it's not about the team now, it's about the country.

"We're in an exciting time six months out from a World Cup and it's about Australia, it's about everybody.

"I've got a training session to get through tomorrow, and I'll be honoured to lead the team out again tomorrow night if that is the case, touch wood.

"But it's important to kick off Ange Postecoglou's era in a very positive way and to buy into all the things he's been talking about this week and the style he's trying to implement for us.

"And it's up to us to embrace that and go out and perform to the best that we can in the manner he expects - whether that be me or the other 22 players involved." 

For running commentary and live squad debate click here.

Choose your own Socceroos squad with our new squad selector.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Boxing keeps Fergo out of trouble

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

BLAKE Ferguson has credited the rigours of boxing training for keeping him out of the trouble he believes cost him a place in Australia's Rugby League World Cup squad.

Without an NRL contract for 2014 after being sacked by Canberra, the classy back will make his heavyweight boxing debut on the undercard of the Anthony Mundine-Shane Mosley fight in Sydney on November 27.

Ferguson was dumped by the Raiders in September after failing to front the board following breaches of the club's code of conduct.

He has also had to deal with two court cases regarding charges of indecent assault and driving indiscretions.

Blake Ferguson trains at Tony Mundine's Gymnasium in Redfern. Pic Attila Szilvasi Source: Supplied

Ferguson was thrown out of the NSW State of Origin squad following a drinking session with another former Raiders star, Josh Dugan.

His off-field indiscretions wrecked any chance he had of playing in the World Cup now being contested in Europe.

``If I wouldn't have played up, I reckon I would have been over there as an emu (a fringe squad member) ... supporting the boys,'' Ferguson said.

He would like to play in the NRL in 2014 but his league career is in limbo.

``I think it's all up to the (NRL) integrity unit, they are the guys that are running the show there,'' Ferguson said.

``I'm waiting to hear back from them and we'll go from there.

``The last time I spoke to (the integrity unit) was about a month ago. I think it's just up to the court case next month.''

Blake Ferguson trains at Tony Mundine's Gymnasium in Redfern. Pic Attila Szilvasi Source: Supplied

Ferguson said he had found boxing harder than rugby league because it was an individual calling rather than a team sport.

``Waking up early in the morning has been pretty tough,'' Ferguson said.

``It's been awesome, though. It got me out of trouble, so it's a good thing.

``It's been pretty good staying out of trouble, staying out of nightclubs and that, just chilling.''

He expects to enter the ring about his NRL playing weight of just more than 100 kilograms.

Ferguson wasn't sure whether he would fight Luke Turner, the man he was meant to face before the Mundine-Mosley promotion scheduled for October 23 was cancelled.

He dismissed rumours he would have pulled out of the fight had it gone ahead on that date and confirmed his participation in next week's promotion.

``Whoever the matchmaker picks, I'll fight. I'll try and knock them out,'' Ferguson said.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Scott retains Australian Masters title

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

ADAM Scott shot a scrambling even-par 71 on Sunday for a two-shot victory and a successful defense of his Australian Masters title at wind-swept Royal Melbourne.

American Matt Kuchar, who led by two strokes with four to play, double-bogeyed the 18th after taking two shots to get out of a bunker and finished second after a 68.

Vijay Singh finished third after a 71, four behind Scott. He was attempting to win his first tournament since 2008.

Scott, who won last week's Australian PGA in his first tournament back in Australia after winning the U.S. Masters in April, had a four-round total of 14-under 270.

Kuchar held a two-stroke lead until Scott birdied the 15th and the American bogeyed the 16th. A hole earlier, a birdie and Scott's double-bogey after a plugged lie in a bunker gave Kuchar his two-stroke lead.

Scott's faltering on the back nine revived memories of the 2012 British Open when he bogeyed the final four holes to lose by a shot, but this time he managed to hold on.

His day got off to an ominous start. His birdie putt from three feet lipped out while Singh had a tap-in birdie to reduce the lead to three, but a Singh bogey on the second restored the four-shot gap.

While Scott and Singh dueled in the final group, Kuchar, who will team with Kevin Streelman for the United States at next week's World Cup, also at Royal Melbourne, moved up the leaderboard.

The American bogeyed the first hole, but birdies on five of the next eight holes left him as Scott's closest pursuer. He birdied the 11th and then the 15th to take the lead for the first time in the tournament before his late collapse.

Scott will partner Jason Day for Australia at the World Cup.

Jarrod Lyle, playing in his first tournament in 20 months since his recovery from his second bout of leukemia, finished with an 8-over 79, including bogeys on his final three holes. He didn't expect to make the cut.

At the 18th, the large gallery applauded, even playing partner Michael Long, as Lyle walked gingerly around the green.

"I played five days in a row, including the pro-am, and the last nine holes I started to feel it," Lyle said. "I got around, and it's not the end I wanted. But it's better than I thought it would be: three good rounds and one shocker, that's golf."

Relive all the action from the course in our blog.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE BLOG ON A MOBILE DEVICE

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bailey and his call for help

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

GEORGE Bailey will know by this time next week whether it is a good or bad thing he has phoned last year's Gabba Test rookie, Rob Quiney, for advice.

Victorian Quiney was like the Halley's Comet of batsmen, flaring brightly on the way to making his Test debut before disappearing just as quickly as he emerged.

Quiney was dumped after his second Test in Adelaide last summer, when he made a dreaded pair, but Bailey was keen to have a chin-wag about his experiences.

"One of the reasons why I wanted to talk to Bobby was to see how his perspective was and see how he felt about his couple of Tests," Bailey said.

"(I wanted to know) how he dealt with the pressure and expectation and externally how he dealt with it himself.

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

"He's a good man to talk to, such a terrific bloke and down to earth.

"The main message from him was to make sure you enjoy it, which is the main message that past players have drilled into me."

Quiney admitted to the Sunday Mail recently that if he had been an Australian selector he would have dropped himself after his ill-fated pair of Tests at the start of last summer.

Bailey, 31, has surged into the Australian Test squad on the back of stunning white-ball performances in India but has not been able to translate that form into red-ball cricket in the last fortnight.

Two Sheffield Shield matches for Tasmania have produced scores of 37, 16, 34 and 41, which is hardly an ideal lead-in to the biggest week of his life before the Gabba Test.

Despite some critics believing he has flaws in his game against the short ball, Bailey indicated he was looking forward to getting out onto Kevin Mitchell's bouncy Gabba pitch.

"It's going to be a pretty different wicket, the Gabba wicket, compared to the two we have played on where bowled and lbw's were the preferred mode of dismissal. It's going be good to get on something with more bounce," Bailey said.

"I'm still feeling really good. I'm a bit frustrated I haven't been able to go on with starts but in terms of how I'm feeling and hitting the ball, I couldn't be happier."

As he deals with the pressure of Test week, Bailey has also phoned Xavier Doherty and Matthew Wade to talk about how to handle his first Test.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More