Replay: Boxing Day Test, day three

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AUSTRALIA requires 201 more runs for victory after a superb day in the field for the hosts led by Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Johnson.

The Aussies went to stumps at 0-30, with Chris Rogers not out on 18 and David Warner on 12.

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The openers survived a tricky 40 minute period at the end of the day.

Earlier, Nathan Lyon reached 100 Test wickets and picked up his first five-wicket haul on home soil as he and Johnson sparked an English batting collapse.

The tourists were cruising at 0-65, with Cook notching a half-century, before a wicket, run out and catch by Johnson completely changed the momentum of the game.

Kevin Pietersen (49) led a brief revival before England's tail collapsed, losing their last five wickets for six runs, to be bowled all out for 179.

Follow the action in our live blog below, featuring videos, analysis and reaction from the ground and around the world via social media. Join the conversation by commenting at the top of the blog, or contact us on Twitter @FoxCricketLive.

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Lyon puts Aussies in box seat

Nathan Lyon celebrates his 100th Test wicket with teammates. Pic: Mal Fairclough Source: MAL FAIRCLOUGH / AFP

AUSTRALIA need 201 runs to win the fourth Ashes Test as spinner Nathan Lyon celebrated his 100th Test scalp and a five wicket haul on day three at the MCG.

Aussie openers Chris Rogers (18) and David Warner (12) will begin again on Sunday morning, having faced eight overs on Saturday afternoon to steer Australia to 0-30.

England collapsed on Saturday and was all out for 179 in its second innings - setting the home side a target of 231.

Australia resumed this morning at 9-164 and was all out for 204 chasing England's first innings of 255.

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The visitors looked on top early at 0-54, but lost their last five wickets for just six runs.

Kevin Pietersen (49) was solid for the English before he lofted a Lyon delivery to Ryan Harris in the deep.

The maligned batsman gained few Aussie fans at the MCG after a verbal spat with fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, who again could do no wrong.

Johnson was angered - along with a fair few of the almost 64,000-strong MCG crowd - when Pietersen pulled out of his stance midway through a delivery, prompting the fast bowler to throw the ball past the batsman to the slips. A heated discussion followed.

Lyon took 5-50 off 17 overs - his 100th Test wicket was Stuart Broad, who was caught by Michael Clarke at slip.

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Harris and Shane Watson appeared to be nursed through the day.

Harris (0-34) , who has a chronic knee issue, left the MCG after sending down just two overs in the morning, but returned soon after and bowled 10 overs for the day.

Watson (0-13) had groin soreness on Day 1 and bowled just four overs, looking uncomfortable in the field.

Johnson was pivotal again with his three wickets just after the start.

After snaring the crucial scalp of England captain Alastair Cook (51) lbw after lunch, he threw down the stumps fielding at midoff to have Joe Root (15) run out.

But he wasn't done.

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Ian Bell was out for a duck, lobbing a Lyon delivery directly to yes, Johnson, at midoff.

Cook surpassed 8000 runs posting his half century off 60 balls.

Earlier Root was given out edging to the keeper only for the England No.3 to review and have the decision overturned after both Hot Spot and Snicko failed to detect an edge.

Steve Smith copped a Michael Carberry sweep shot in the left hand while fielding at short leg. It'd be harsh to call it a chance and Smith was forced from the field for treatment but he returned a few overs later.

Peter Siddle had Carberry, who made an agonising 12 off 81 balls, trapped lbw.

Brad Haddin (65) and Lyon (18 not out) batted for about 45 minutes on the morning of day three to improve Australia's first innings total.

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Gazza's career moves forward

AFL star Gary Ablett hands out the drinks to Ryan Harris and Steve Smith. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: Colleen Petch / News Limited

GOLD Coast captain Gary Ablett is preparing to spend more time forward next season as the Suns try to advance their young group's midfield experience.

It has long been speculated that The midfield maestro and dual Brownlow medallist had discussions with coach Guy McKenna at the start of this pre-season about the shift, seen as a way to increase his longevity in the game.

"I'm 29, there is no doubt I'm getting older and I have got a lot of these young kids beside me,'' Ablett said.

"We have got so many of these young kids that can run through the midfield in our team, so I'm probably going to have to change my role a little bit - I'm probably going to spend a little bit more time down forward.

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"I'm happy to play wherever the coach wants me to play. Whatever is best for the team.

"We sat down at the start of pre-season and he just said, 'Look, I wouldn't mind you spending a little bit more time forward so we can give these younger guys a bit more experience in the midfield'.

"I'm happy with that. Wherever he wants me to play, I'm happy to run around there.''

Ablett averaged 31 disposals a game in his 21 matches last year, including a staggering 49 against Collingwood in Round 17, culminating in his second Brownlow Medal.

He has since enjoyed his toughest start to the pre-season in his time at the Suns and the skippersaid he could not be more impressed with the progress the young group had made.

"It has been a lot harder. The first couple of years, because we had such young kids, we really couldn't train them as hard as we would like,'' Ablett said. "So we have really stepped it up again this year. The boys are looking super fit."

"In January, February we are going to focus on just improving their skills and our skills as a team.

"I think we need to do that and hopefully that shows next year.''

After the Suns progressed from three wins in 2012 to eight this year, Ablett was hopeful of a finals breakthrough in 2014.

"There is no doubt I'm missing it (finals). It's been a very challenging three years going up there,'' Ablett said. "It was always going to take time being a very young side. The boys need that experience.

"As soon as we start improving that, we are going to be a better team.''

"We are improving every training session and every game. The boys have been training really well and are as fit as they ever looked. I think the skill side of things is probably the most important thing, so we are going to spend a lot of time on that.

Ablett enjoyed a sporting highlight of a different kind yesterday when he got to deliver the drinks to Australia's cricketers at the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

"It was a bit of fun," Ablett said. "I tried to carry too many bottles out and ending up dropping one, so great start.

"It was a very different experience. Really enjoyed it.''

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Replay: Boxing Day Test, day two

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ENGLAND holds a commanding position in the fourth Ashes Test with Australia sitting perilously at 9-164 at stumps on day two at the MCG.

Stuart Broad dismissed Peter Siddle off the last ball of the day to leave Brad Haddin the not out batsman on 43, with Nathan Lyon to join him tomorrow morning.

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Broad and fellow paceman James Anderson picked up three wickets each as Australia's batsmen gave away their wickets in sometimes-similar ways to the English batsmen yesterday.

It was a very different story early on Friday, as Mitchell Johnson tour through the tourists' tail to see England all out for 255.

But perhaps the biggest victory for both sides came in the MCG nets, as CCN talk show host and Twitter loud mouth Piers Morgan faced six balls from Brett Lee and failed to hit a single one of them.

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Replay: Boxing Day Test, day one

A world record crowd at the MCG watched Australia take the ascendancy late on day one of the Boxing Day Test, thanks to the man of the summer so far, Mitchell Johnson.

England could have laid claim to a successful day when the tourists sat at 4-202 within the final hour, but Johnson claimed the wickets of Ben Stokes and Johnny Bairstow, who replaced Matt Prior as wicketkeeper, to see England go to stumps at 6-226.

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Kevin Pietersen hung around for a gutsy 67, which came off an uncharacteristically slow 152 balls.

Pietersen was dropped twice during his innings, once by substitute fielder Nathan Coulter-Nile on the boundary, which ended up going for six.

Coulter-Nile was on the field as a sub for Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson, who suffered soreness in his groin while bowling, although he returned to middle later in the day.

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Live: Rivals hound Wild Oats

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AFTER an incident-filled start on Sydney Harbour, race favourite Wild Oats XI is now being hounded by a group of rivals as she sails down the NSW south coast.

In a boost for the six-time line-honours winner of the race, Anthony Bell and his team on Perpetual LOYAL revealed they had lowered their protest flag over an incident just after the start.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"I felt it wasn't prudent to continue.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Lisicki says Christmas can wait

Sabine Lisicki gets into the festive spirit before the serious stuff begins on Christmas Day. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: Peter Wallis / News Limited

GERMAN star Sabine Lisicki is keeping her Christmas festivities to a minimum as she prepares for the start of her 2014 assault at the Brisbane International.

The beaten Wimbledon finalist only has plans to train in Brisbane's sweltering heat tomorrow before Sunday's start of tournament at the Queensland Tennis Centre.

"We're used to having it cold outside and warm inside which is the nice part about Christmas in Germany," Lisicki said today.

Sabine Lisicki during a visit to King George Square in Brisbane. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: News Limited

"That's something that I definitely miss. As a professional player, that's one of the hardest parts for me, but it's nice to be out here … I can't complain about that.

"I haven't played since October … you really want to play as many matches as possible.

"You want to peak at the (Australian) Open, but you want to play as good as possible."

The world No. 15, whose 2013 Wimbledon scalps included Serena Williams before losing the final 6-1 6-4 to Marion Bartoli, declared it was time break into the top 10.

"I'm really looking forward to this season. I don't have any points to defend (at the Australian Open) in Melbourne - that's a great thing.

"In the first four months (of the year) I have only points to gain."

Sabine Lisicki helps six-year-old Pippa Moore with her swing. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: News Limited

Lisicki was thrilled, rather than daunted, about the possibility of facing world No. 1 Williams in Brisbane.

"It gave me a lot of confidence to beat Serena, especially on grass where she was favourite,'' the 24-year-old right-hander said.

"She's No. 1 in the world and she's the best player, so I think it's a great tournament.

"We have a very good line-up, so you have to play well and I'm excited to play."

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MCG ton to cap big year for Warner

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IT HAS fallen - surprise, surprise - to Davey Warner to provide a clue or two to what the Australian team really thinks about the shock mid-series retirement of one of England's most senior cricketers, Graeme Swann.

"It's different ... it's like a little bit of a knockout blow," the outspoken opening batsman said at the MCG on Christmas Eve.

"It's weird with Trotty going home and now Swanny retiring. We look at that and don't know what to think in a way - but credit to us, we're playing good cricket."

That's as close as anyone in the Oz camp has come to expressing a sense of triumph at having battered a key opponent into submission long before the fight is finished, which is hard for the English camp to deny with their matchwinning off-spinner reduced to seven wickets at 80 apiece.

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Swann's unexpected exit, which follows the earlier withdrawal of senior batsman Jonathon Trott with psychological problems after the first Test, has attracted plenty of acidic criticism from Australian fans despite his explanation that his body is simply no longer up to the task of delivering 70 or 80 overs across a gruelling five-day match.

Swann's explosive barb about some players - whom he declined to identify, even by nationality - being up themselves didn't help.

"Who cares what he thinks? He has left his mates for dead and run away. Weak as!" was one tweet that thudded into my in-box, encapsulating a widespread sentiment.

Despite the willing sledging that has been a much-debated feature of this series - or at least the early part of it, before it became obvious that the scoreboard was going to speak more loudly than anyone - the Australians have been mostly careful not to bad-mouth a player they do respect now that they have put him down for the count.

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To a man, they have been generous in their applause for a fine career, which Swann certainly did deliver with 255 wickets in 60 Tests making him England's sixth most successful bowler, fast or slow, in history.

But there is no doubt they were surprised to see him walk away as if there was nothing left to play for.

"I couldn't believe it," skipper Michael Clarke said in his column this week.

"(He is) the one player I am most surprised won't be stepping out to play against us."

Warner provided Swann with his last two wickets, but only after giving him plenty of stick on the way to making 60 and 112 in Perth.

He said he heard the retirement news as he boarded a flight to Melbourne for the Test.

"At first it was a bit of a surprise," he said. "As he said, he came out here to try to win four (Ashes series) in a row.

"From our point of view it was a bit of a shock to the system, but he's had a fantastic career and its been a privilege to play against him.

"I wish him all the best in his retirement.

"As we have all said, we don't really care about what happens in the English setup - we have to keep playing our brand of cricket."

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Warner's turbulent year, which has involved a twitter row with senior journalists, a physical altercation with England batsman Joe Root in a bar and a rebuke for failing to keep an appointment to play club cricket, is ending in a good place, with 454 runs at 91.4 in the series so far.

This will be his third Boxing Day Test and he is yet to make a Test ton at the MCG, where he first made his name with an explosive 89 in a Twenty20 match against South Africa in January 2009.

There was a huge crowd that day and Boxing Day will probably bring an even bigger one.

"You've got to pinch yourself really because you don't get 90,000 people every day of your life," he said.

Time was when the adrenalin surge created by such an audience might have been enough to see him cut loose regardless of the situation or the quality of the bowling.

But maturity has kicked in on and off the field, it seems.

"I've started to learn my game a lot more and it is helping me out," he said.

"It has a lot to do with the way I've been playing. I'm still at the crease longer, watching the ball harder, feeling much more comfortable at the crease.

"You've got to treat every ball that comes at you as if it is the first one and then try to play the role you can for the team."

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With comparisons being made in the past few days about Australia's pace attack and South Africa's - bowling coach Craig McDermott claims his troops have the edge on Dale Steyn and Co - Warner was asked if he was already switched on by the next big challenge.

"Not at all," he said.

"I'm thinking a bout today's training session rather than Boxing Day. We live in the present, not in the past, and that's what I'm focused on.

"I probably did get too far ahead of myself and was playing each innings in my head 15 times. I've worked out the way to keep thinking about now rather than a few days time."

Few players would be more acutely aware than Warner of how quickly, and profoundly, things can change in cricket. Fortunately for him, the pendulum has been swinging in nothing but the right direction as his year of living dangerously comes to a more peaceful end.

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Changing Jared Polec

Jared Polec training with the Power at North Adelaide. Source: Samuel Wundke / News Limited

A "SHOCKED" Jared Polec has already transformed his body at Port Adelaide as he tries to resurrect a career in danger of going off the rails.

After arriving from the Brisbane Lions in poor physical shape and struggling at his first running session with his new club, Polec has turned the corner according to Power coach Ken Hinkley.

The talented, 21-year-old left-footer - pick five at the 2010 national draft - has "embraced'' Port and Hinkley's strong training methods and is on track to complete his best pre-season and force his way into its round one line-up.

PORT ADELAIDE'S BEST 22

"Jared's been really good as far as embracing Port Adelaide and the way that we train and the way that we work," said Hinkley, who told Polec in no uncertain terms that he wasn't happy with his first-up session last month.

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"I'm sure he'd be the first to admit he got a little bit of a shock when he first turned up and that's not because he left a club that wasn't training hard, he just didn't have the conditioning in his body.

"He himself admits about 40 per cent of pre-season is all he's been able to do.

"He's had a month with us and you can just see the change in his body, but also the intensity in his body - that's the thing I've noticed the most."

Port has made a big investment in the Woodville-West Torrens junior, beating hometown rival Adelaide in a bidding war for his services from the Lions, where he played just 16 games in three injury-riddled seasons.

Polec is lightning quick and highly-skilled but his work ethic has been questioned.

The midfielder admitted he would need some "tough love'' from Hinkley to get the best out of him.

So far, so good.

Polec impressed at the club's torturous 10-day training camp in Dubai and, in a short time at Albetron, looks as fit as at anytime in his career.

Ace Port onballer Hamish Hartlett said Polec had impressed his new teammates with the way he had attacked the pre-season.

"Jared's been really good,'' said Hartlett, "he's attacked everything we've asked of him''.

"He's naturally probably not the fittest guy but that's no issue as long as he is out there just giving everything a real crack, which he is doing.

"He's been fantastic and has been really good in the gym as well. He probably needs to put on a little bit of size, which he looks like he is trying really hard to do.

"But Jared been fantastic and he has fitted into the group really well.''

Hartlett said Hinkley was the right man to get the best out of Polec.

"Kenny sets really high expectations and standards on all of us and Jared, by his own admission, said he needed someone to help him do that,'' Hartlett said.

"I think Kenny has done that and just the way we train and the intensity with the way we go about things has probably opened up his eyes a little bit as well.''

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Melbourne's best 22

The Demons are ready to finally improve under Paul Roos. Mark Jamar goes for a run at training. Source: News Limited

HERALD Sun football experts go deep inside each AFL club to predict how each team's best line up could look next year.

MELBOURNE

IN:

Jesse Hogan (Claremont)

Viv Michie (Fremantle)

Dom Tyson (Greater Western Sydney)

Bernie Vince (Adelaide)

Daniel Cross (Western Bulldogs)

Aidan Riley (Adelaide)

Jayden Hunt (Brighton Grammar)

Jay Kennedy-Harris (Oakleigh Chargers)

Christian Salem (Sandringham Dragons)

Max King (Murray Bushrangers)

Rookies: Alex Georgiou (Norwood), James Harmes (Dandenong Stingrays)

OUT:

Aaron Davey

Joel Macdonald

David Rodan (retired)

Colin Sylvia (free agent - Fremantle)

Troy Davis

Tom Gillies

James Sellar

Rory Taggert

Josh Tynan

Rookies: Tom Couch, James Magner, Nathan Stark

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COACHES

Paul Roos

George Stone (midfield/strategy)

Ben Mathews (midfield)

Jade Rawlings (backline)

Daniel McPherson (forward line)

Brett Allison (development)

Brad Miller (development)

BEST 22

B: Colin Garland (25, 101 games), James Frawley (25, 118 games), Dean Terlich (24, 20 games)

HB: Jack Grimes (24, 68 games), Joel McDonald (21, 39 games), Lynden Dunn (26, 117 games)

C: Dom Tyson (20, 13 games), Jack Viney (19, 13 games), Jack Watts (22, 73 games)

HF: Jeremy Howe (23, 56 games), Chris Dawes (25, 83 games), Bernie Vince (28, 129 games)

F: Sam Blease (22, 10 games), Mitch Clark (26, 97 games), Jesse Hogan (18, 0 games)

R: Mark Jamar (30, 133 games), Jack Trengove (22, 79 games), Nathan Jones (25, 157 games)

INT: Viv Michie (21, 1 game), Daniel Cross (30, 210 games), Jimmy Toumpas (19, 14 games), James Strauss (23, 6 games)

Jeremy Howe comes down after taking a big grab. Source: News Limited

HOW THE DEMONS WILL PLAY

With a new coach and some new faces, plus forward/ruckmen Mitch Clark and Chris Dawes hopefully over their injuries, the Demons can look forward to taking the first step to becoming competitive on a regular basis.

The Demons had practically no midfield last season and have recruited Dom Tyson, Daniel Cross and Bernie Vince, all capable on-ballers.

Throw in other recycled recruits Aidan Riley and Viv Michie as back-ups and the Demons suddenly appear to have some depth in the middle.

Melbourne no doubt will inherit a fair touch of the defensive mindset that Paul Roos introduced to the Sydney sides that were so successful under him.

The spotlight will shine brightly on Clark, who has played just 15 games in his two seasons at Melbourne, and Dawes (12 games in one season as a Demon). They have never played in the same side.

With a bolstered midfield, the hope that Dawes and Clarke will remain fit and the addition of young gun Jesse Hogan, who is a walk-up start after playing for the club's VFL affiliate Casey Scorpions last year, Melbourne will go into 2014 with high hopes, and just as many unknowns on how it will perform.

On paper, arguably Melbourne's best side doesn't look too bad but needs pace.

READY TO FLY

ALTHOUGH he's the oldest and, at the same time, one of Melbourne's newest players, former Western Bulldog Daniel Cross is setting a superb example on and off the field.

At 30, he will provide his new and younger teammates with leadership and guidance, not only in the hurly burly of games, but on the training track.

He has plenty of respect and will show his teammates the professional way to go about their trade. And fans who have witnessed training are excited with the speed of flashy recruit "JKH" - Jay Kennedy-Harris - who will play as a small forward.

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Rain reigns, Hales shines in Hobart

Alex Hales belted 49 runs before rain ended the match at Blundstone Arena. Source: News Limited

THE world's No.1 Twenty20 batsman Alex Hales lived up to his reputation by blasting 49 from just 19 balls in Adelaide Strikers' rain-marred Big Bash League clash with Hobart Hurricanes.

Englishman Hales smacked nine fours and a six to help the Strikers bolt out of the blocks at Blundstone Arena in a match reduced to eight overs-a-side before rain caused it to be abandoned.

The 24-year-old took full toll of all-rounder Evan Gulbis's only over, cracking four boundaries and the six after he was dropped by a diving Ben Laughlin when on 33.

He infuriated Hobart paceman Doug Bollinger (0-21 from two) when he top-edged two hook shots to the boundary in the fourth over.

Hales had Adelaide rocketing along at more than 16 per over before he was run out attempting to reach one of the quickest fifties in BBL history.

The visitors finished at 1-87 from six overs, opener Michael Klinger unbeaten on 32 (17) and Phil Hughes 0 (0).

The weather denied Hurricanes fans their only chance to see skipper George Bailey in action after he was released from the Test squad to play.

Persistent drizzle mean the the game was delayed by around an hour-and-a-half and reduced to eight overs per side.

Bailey had won the toss and sent the Strikers in, but only on the second attempt.

A local child's guest toss went straight to ground but was won by Strikers skipper Johan Botha before Bailey threw the coin in the air.

Relive the action live in our live blog below!

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Monty or bust: UK's grim reaction

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GRAEME Swann's retirement has been met with a mixture of tribute and trepidation from English cricket personalities, with some expressing a sense of dread at the departure of one of its greatest ever spinners.

Just as Shane Warne's retirement from Tests sent Australia into a whirlwind search for a long term replacement, a talent vacuum in England's spin department has put Swann's retirement into perspective.

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan summed up the domino effect started by Jonathan Trott's return to England to deal with a stress related illness with a comparison to Australia's Ashes clean sweep in the 2006/07 series.

Vaughan went on to say that Swann had gone too soon, although that was not the view taken by everyone.

David 'Bumble' Lloyd believes a clean slate is only a matter of time, and taking matters out of the selectors' hands will help massage the process.

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While concern over England's future has been compounded by their meek surrender of the Ashes urn this tour, it is also a great compliment to a bowler who has won friends across the cricket world with his performances on and off the field.

With 256 Test wickets at a tick under 30 apiece, Swann will rightfully be remembered as one of the best tweakers the game has seen, but it's his ability to keep dressing room morale high that will arguably be missed even more.

That's been reflected in the Twittersphere, where Swann's sense of humour has come in for as many accolades as his matchwinning ability.

Swann has been the immediate focus of the cricket world's attention, but it's perhaps fitting that the final word is left to Vaughan, looking to the man who's been left to shoulder England's spin burden alone: "Over to you Monty."

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