Replay: fifth Ashes Test, day two

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AUSTRALIA leads by 311 runs after another English batting collapse highlights day two of the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The hosts went to stumps on 4-140, with Chris Rogers (73 n.o) heading towards another century, while George Bailey (20 n.o.) will resume fighting for his spot in the Test side on day three.

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

England has its batsmen to blame for being so far behind, after the tourists were rolled for just 155 before tea on Saturday.

Ben Stokes top scored for England with 47, but he was the only batsman to pass 30 as Alastair Cook's men wilted in the face of aggressive fast bowling from Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson, who took three wickets each.

Relive 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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14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Aussies build lead after collapse

Peter Siddle celebrates the wicket of Ben Stokes at the SCG. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN Source: SAEED KHAN / AFP

ENGLAND'S summer from hell continued on Saturday after a horror day two of the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The tourists trail by 311 runs after Australia went to stumps at 4-140, with veteran batsman Chris Rogers once again leading the way with an uncharacteristically-aggressive knock to be 73 n.o. overnight.

He received good support late in the day from George Bailey (20 n.o.), who is playing for the future of his Test career after a disappointing return from the series so far.

England once again has its batsmen to blame for being so far behind the game, after the tourists were rolled for just 155 before tea.

Not for the first time in this series all-rounder Ben Stokes (47) played a lone hand, the only English player to make it past 30 in the face of another Aussie pace assault.

England's woes began before most fans had even taken their seats at the SCG, with Alastair Cook out lbw to Ryan Harris off the second ball of the day.

Harris should have had Ian Bell out for a golden duck the very next ball, but Shane Watson put down a regulation catch at first slip to hand the new England No.3 a life.

It didn't hurt Australia much at all though, as Bell was dismissed for two by Peter Siddle, joining Kevin Pietersen (3) and nightwatchman James Anderson (7) back in the pavilion inside the opening hour of play as England slumped to 5-23.

Stokes combined with debutant Gary Ballance to launch a mini-revival, but that was soon cut short by an excellent delivery from off-spinner Nathan Lyon, seeing the Zimbabwe-born caught behind for 18 shortly after lunch.

Jonny Bairstow then came to the crease and helped push England past 100, which was greeted by a big cheer from the Barmy Army, but the wicketkeeper never looked completely comfortable at the crease and was eventually removed by Siddle, who finished with innings figures of 3-23 off 13 economical overs.

Harris and Mitchell Johnson then combined to finish off the tail, albeit after Stuart Broad struck some lusty blows on his way to 30, as Australia's pacemen finished with three wickets each.

However, that was after No.11 Boyd Rankin, who had overcome the injury he sustained on day one, helped England pass at least one milestone, avoiding the embarrassing situation of potentially being made to follow on by Aussie skipper Michael Clarke.

Australia began its second innings leading by 171 runs and pushed the lead up to 198 before David Warner fell cheaply for the second time in this Test, out lbw to James Anderson.

England's pace spearhead then appeared to have regained the form that made him such a thorn in Australia's side last July, having Shane Watson caught behind for nine.

Michael Clarke's mini-form slump continued when he was removed by Broad for six, and when he was closely followed by Steve Smith, Australia was in a spot of bother at 4-91.

But Rogers and Bailey combined to push the lead beyond 300 and take Australia to stumps in a position of complete dominance.

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Replay: Fifth Ashes Test, day one

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AUSTRALIA is in a dominant position at stumps on day one of the fifth Ashes Test, with England 1-8 in reply to the hosts' first innings total of 326.

Mitchell Johnson removed England opener Michaael Carberry late on at the SCG, thanks to a brilliant catch by Nathan Lyon, to hand Australia a key breakthrough.

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

Earlier, a century by Steve Smith (115) an another brilliant counter-attacking innings from Brad Haddin (75) helped Australia recover from a perilous position at 5-97.

Ben Stokes was the best bowler for the tourists, picking up his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket on his way to innings figures of 6-99.

Relive 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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Smith leads big Aussie recovery

Steve Smith celebrates his century during day one of the 5th Ashes Test. Pic Mark Evans Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

AUSTRALIA is well placed to continue its dominance of England in the fifth Test after another rollercoaster first day involving a massive middle order recovery.

For the first time all series, Alastair Cook won the toss for England and he was tempted by the greeness of the pitch and overcast conditions to insert the hosts.

As Australia moved along to 78 for the loss of just two wickets, it didn't look like a bad toss to lose, but the dismissal of Michael Clarke for 10 signalled the start of another mini collapse and suddenly the hosts were 5/97.

That brought Brad Haddin, one of the players of the series to the crease, and with Steve Smith the recovery got under way in earnest.

Smith's 115 and Haddin's quickfire 75 putting Australia beyond 300 and right back into position to complete an Ashes clean sweep.

More to come...

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EPL's top four keep up the pressure

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THE battle for the top four in this season of the Premier League is turning into the most intense competition in recent memory.

After a hectic Christmas schedule, Arsenal top the ladder - but the Gunners' lead is whisker-thin, with Manchester City just one point behind them, and Chelsea just one point behind the northerners, with Liverpool four points off the pace.

With the pressure on, all of the top four maintained the pace for the New Year's Day fixture list, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his side showed enough confidence and strength in the 2-0 defeat of Cardiff to suggest they won't buckle under the pressure, as many critics are now suggesting they might.

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"We have a good togetherness in the side," said Wenger.

"The players come on with the right attitude and that makes the difference. You know that if you do not have that in the championship, then you have no chance to do it.

"We have that in the squad. We have to take care of that spirit and show it in every game. If we can manage to do that we will be in a very strong position."

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Man City manager Manuel Pellegrini might perhaps be even happier than Wenger, with his talent-packed squad tucked nicely in second place - and learning to win away from home again.

The 3-2 win over Swansea meant City recorded its first consecutive away wins of the season and Pellegrini admitted success on the road is crucial.

"It is very important that character because at the beginning of the season we dropped too many points away.

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"I think it's not good for this team to win just 11 points out of 27 that we played in the first half of the season.

"Winning here, the first game away this year, is very important for us. I think the key for us was to continue playing exactly the same way we did at the beginning of the season."

Liverpool got back to winning ways after a tough Christmas run and back-to-back away losses. The 2-0 win over Hull was something a routine victory but manager Brendan Rodgers hailed it as his team's "best win of the season".

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"I said to the players afterwards I thought that was our best win of the season, and I am really pleased with that," the Reds boss said.

"In a lot of games, we have been vibrant and scored goals, played with style and show our attacking game. But on the back of a lot of matches over Christmas using essentially the same players against a team in form, we knew we would have to grit it out.

"We did that, we scored two good goals, created chances and restricted them to no shots on target. That is a really positive thing for this side."

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Fittler to make Roosters comeback

Brad Fittler from his glory days with the Sydney Roosters. Source: News Limited

ROOSTERS great Brad 'Freddy' Fittler is set for a stunning comeback - with the NRL premiers keen to use their legendary playmaker in the Auckland Nines.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal, despite turning 42 next month, Fittler will be part of the Tricolour's squad for the inaugural February tournament, pending approval from the NRL.

The move, which is backed by Roosters supremo Nick Politis, will not only provide a huge boost to the event's promotion, but also bring a little relief for the defending champions, who had more players involved in the World Cup than any other club.

Brad Fittler playing for the Roosters in 2000. Source: News Limited

Speaking last night, Roosters Chief Operating Officer Brian Canavan confirmed the Freddy whisper, saying: "We'll be investigating the proposal with the NRL when they reopen on Monday."

Despite retiring way back in 2004, Fittler could be made eligible for the Nines by signing a contract similar to the $1 deal struck a few years ago between Manly and club icon Steve Menzies.

MORE TO COME

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Gerrans chasing third Aus title

Simon Gerrans of Australia and Team Orica-Greenedge. Source: John Berry / Supplied

SIMON Gerrans will try to become the first three-time winner of the Tour Down Under when he rides in a powerful Orica-GreenEDGE team selected for the January 19-26 race.

Gerrans, who won the race in 2006 and 2012, is returning from the fractured hip he suffered during the Tour of Spain which ended his standout 2013 season.

The 33-year-old Victorian will be looking for another big win to kickstart his season.

He won a Tour Down Under stage last year before going on to win the third stage of the Tour de France and also wear the yellow jersey after Orica-GreenEDGE's victory in the stage four team time trial.

South African Daryl Impey is the only non-Australian rider in the seven-man Orica-GreenEDGE team named yesterday for the Tour Down Under in South Australia.

Gerrans and Impey are joined by Simon Clarke, Matt Goss, Mathew Hayman, Michael Matthews and Luke Durbridge.

"As an Australian team, this is an important race for us," Orica-GreenEDGE sport director Matt White said.

"We have quite a strong team, and everyone is really motivated to bring home some good results in front of our Australian fans. We're targeting stage wins and focused on the overall. We have a number of options to achieve our goals."

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Hurricanes humbled by Renegades

James Pattinson has taken seven wickets in two matches for the Renegades. Source: Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images

HURRICANES coach Damien Wright continues to lament his side's inability to execute in the first six overs with the ball as Hobart crashed to a disappointing Big Bash League loss to Melbourne Renegades yesterday.

For the third straight match the Hurricanes were unable to control proceedings in the powerplay, only to then watch comeback quick James Pattinson destroy their top order with a blistering two overs.

Although the bowlers, led by Ben Laughlin (3-16), produced a great comeback to restrict the visitors to 8-162, it was the batsmen who misfired to hand the Renegades a comfortable 51 run win in front of 10,924 fans at Blundstone Arena.

Four days after coughing up 3-209 against Brisbane Heat at the Gabba, the Hurricanes again looked like they were going to be chasing a 200-plus target when the Renegades raced to 0-90 in the 10th over on the back of some Aaron Finch (50 from 30 balls) and Michael Hill (40 from 29) pyrotechnics.

After sending down an accidental beamer to Finch with his first delivery of the 10th over, Laughlin got the breakthrough two balls later when the Australian opener was caught behind.

Hill was then run out by a direct hit from Ben Dunk at mid off on the last ball of the over, with the Hurricanes then turning the screws to stem the flow of runs.

Aaron Finch made a half-century for Melbourne Renegades. Source: Getty Images

Doug Bollinger and Laughlin iced the innings by conceding just eight runs from the final two overs, with the Renegades losing 4-4 in the last 10 balls.

"Those first six overs, we can't get that right," Wright said.

"We have to really have a look at how we are going to go about that, particularly with the ball.

"That's three games now we haven't been able to do it well.

"We just have to be better with the ball with our execution. You saw James Pattinson who has been out of the game for a little while, he and Matthew Gale hit a good area.

"It's not difficult, we have got two Test bowlers in there [Ben Hilfenhaus and Bollinger] who are supposed to do that for us."

Unfortunately for Hobart the batsmen couldn't produce the same form they did against the Heat when they peeled off the highest successful run chase in Big Bash history.

Ben Dunk skied Gale to mid-off in the second over, before Pattinson struck twice in two balls in the third over, removing Shoaib Malik and Owais Shah for a first ball duck, both caught behind the wicket.

Ben Laughlin once again impressed with the ball for the Hurricanes. Source: Getty Images

It capped a miserable match for English import Shah, who also dropped a sitter in the field.

Wickets continued to tumble as the required run rate climbed and when Jon Wells holed out to deep square leg and Travis Birt (21) attempted to put Muttiah Muralitharan into the construction site only to sky a catch to short fine leg, the Hurricanes were 5-50 in the eighth over.

Evan Gulbis (16) and skipper Tim Paine (31) steadied to give the home side a glimmer of hope but when they were dismissed the game was as good as over.

Pattinson returned to snare two late wickets, finishing with 4-24 to continue his impressive comeback from a back stress fracture.

"It's always good to get early wickets in any format but Twenty20, if you get early wickets they are on the back foot straight away," said Pattinson.

"I'm happy today how they came out early on, but it is just the start of things and hopefully I can keep pushing through and stay on the park.

"I had a bit of breeze behind my back so that helped a little bit, I could hit the bat a bit harder with that.

Relive the action as it unfolded in our blog.

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Tomic courageous Cup comeback

Australia's Bernard Tomic returns a shot from Italy's Andreas Seppi Source: Daniel Wilkins / News Limited

BERNARD Tomic breathed life into Australia's Hopman Cup hopes and his own summer campaign with a courageous comeback win over Italian Andreas Seppi at Perth Arena.

Down a set and appearing to be struggling physically, Tomic turned the match around to get home 4-6 6-3 6-2.

Tomic's win levelled Australia's tie with Italy at 1-1, setting up a live mixed doubles after Flavia Pennetta had earlier disposed of Sam Stosur 6-4 6-4.

It was a significant performance from Tomic, who had received renewed criticism over an inability to fight out matches after losing the second set to Milos Raonic on Saturday night in just 22 minutes.

Tomic, the highest-ranked Australian male at 51, has targeted a top-20 ranking in 2014 and will defend his title at the Sydney International next week.

The 21-year-old said he was completing an intense block of training while in Perth with an eye on the Australian Open.

"Yesterday I trained a lot. I trained about five or six hours and this morning I did two hours, so it was very difficult for me,'' he said.

"The main focus is playing the best I can in the Australian Open and in Sydney.

"This week's a training week for me. I'm playing very tired, but who cares. At the end of the day I've got to push myself.

"I know I was feeling a bit tired out there, but it's only going to make me stronger I guess for the big one in a few weeks.''

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Australia began the tournament with a 2-1 loss to Canada on Saturday night, with Tomic and Stosur losing their singles matches before winning the mixed doubles.

Stosur remains winless for the tournament in singles, with her straight sets loss to Pennetta coming after she went down to Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard on Saturday night.

Serving at 4-4 in the second set, Stosur double faulted three times in her service game before Pennetta prevailed after a long rally at her third break-point opportunity.

Pennetta, aged 31 and ranked 31 in the world, served out the match despite having difficulties with the sun.

Stosur, who has never beaten Pennetta, conceded she was becoming frustrated with her results in her home country but was confident she would be playing better by the time the Australian Open begins.

"It's really frustrating. I definitely want to play my best tennis here in Australia and so far I haven't been able to quite show that yet,'' she said.

"But hopefully with each match I can start building on something and a little bit better each day. Hopefully by the end of this week, by Hobart and in Melbourne hopefully I can be playing some of my best tennis.

"Every year I've managed to play well at some point. It's not like you start not so well in the first couple of matches and your whole year's shot.

"I think time on court is the most important thing at the moment. That's why this tournament is so great.''

Mark Philippoussis and Jelena Dokic in 1999 remain the only Australian team to win the unique mixed teams event.

Australia's final tie is against Poland on Thursday night.

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50 questions: The 2013 AFL quiz

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<b>(QUESTION) MARKS OF THE YEAR </b>

A lot happened in the AFL last year - the question is, how much do you remember?

TAKE SUPERFOOTY'S 50-QUESTION AFL QUIZ NOW:

1. Which Magpie was required to serve voluntary night shifts for the Salvation Army as punishment for continually parking in CEO Gary Pert's car space?

Swan to be a Magpie for life

2. Which team beat Geelong by five points after trailing by 52 points late in the third quarter?

3. Which team finished ninth on the premiership table despite having the equal-sixth highest number of premiership points?

4. Which AFL club president (and university dropout) was awarded an honorary doctorate by RMIT University?

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5. Which team won the minor premiership?

6. "I am going to kill you," said a man in a Perth park to which former Brownlow medallist, according to a witness report?

7. Who won the Coleman Medal?

8. Why was Peter Blucher stripped of his AFL player-manager accreditation for a year?

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE ANSWERS

9. Which coach accused the AFL of undermining the code's drugs investigation through repeated leaks?

10. Which teams played the only draw in home-and-away matches?

11. Post-season, Dustin Martin toured which interstate club's headquarters before re-signing with Richmond?

Newly-signed Richmond star Dustin Martin. Source: News Limited

12. Which legend retired after a 679-game coaching career?

13. How many non-Victorian teams finished in the top eight?

Fremantle made the Grand Final. But how many non-Victorian sides featured in September. Source: News Limited

14. "The moment it's in your system, you're gone, full stop." The reference was to the Essendon supplements scandal. Who was the speaker?

15. Which team won the wooden spoon?

16. On which medium did Eddie McGuire infamously suggest Adam Goodes could promote the King Kong musical?

COLLINGWOOD'S BEST 22

17. Who won Essendon's best-and-fairest?

18. Name the sports scientist who was a central figure in the Essendon anti-doping probe.

19. Which Carlton player was dropped after showing poor body language in a match against the Bombers?

20. The Giants' only win came against which team?

The Giants sing their song for the only time in 2013. Who did they beat? Source: News Limited

21. Who unleashed an expletive-laden outburst at two Port Melbourne players at quarter-time in a VFL match against Box Hill?

22. Which team was fined $500,000 by the AFL?

23. Who was arrested in Alice Springs less than a week after being found not guilty of attacking a relative with a machete?

24. Who came second in the Brownlow Medal?

25. Which teams played each other in consecutive weeks?

26. Which public figure called for the sacking of Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson only to later apologise for the outburst?

27. St Kilda forward Ahmed Saad began a suspension for taking a banned stimulant. What was the name of the energy drink that contained the substance?

What banned substance did Ahmed Saad consume? Source: Getty Images

28. The book Accept the Challenge is about which former player/coach?

29. Who won Richmond's best and fairest?

30. Which Giant finished third in the Coleman Medal?

31. A double-arm fracture ended the season of the brother of which Brownlow medallist?

32. Which team won the NAB Cup?

James Hird after Essendon's AGM late this year. Source: News Limited

33. "I hate them more than anyone," according to the ABC's 7.30 was a text sent by James Hird in reference to which club?

34. Name the two Hawthorn players who made All-Australian.

35. How many home-and-away matches did the Hawks lose?

36. Gary Ablett won his second Brownlow Medal - by one vote. How many votes did he poll?

Gary Ablett with his second Brownlow Medal. Source: HeraldSun

37. Majak Daw became the first player from which African country to play in the AFL?

KANGAROOS' BEST 22

Majak Daw dominated against the Bulldogs. Source: News Limited

38. Lance Franklin kicked how many goals in his last game for Hawthorn?

39. Which Fremantle player scored the most goals in the Grand Final?

40. Who replaced Michael Voss as stand-in coach when the Lions sacked their triple premiership captain?

41. Who likened Sydney to Frankenstein in the wake of Lance Franklin's $10m move to the Swans?

42. Which AFL assistant coach was fined $30,000?

43. Who was All-Australian full-back?

44. Who won Hawthorn's best-and-fairest?

45. Rising Star winner Jaeger O'Meara was recruited to the Gold Coast from which state?

Jaeger O'Meara was a clear winner of the Rising Star. Source: News Limited

46. How many 2013 home-and-away games did Mark Neeld coach before he was sacked by Melbourne?

47. Who won Carlton's best-and-fairest?

48. Essendon was stripped of draft picks for how many years?

49. St Kilda hosted Sydney in which city in 2013?

50. Who did Campbell Brown hit outside a Los Angeles nightclub, an action that led to his sacking by the Suns?

The Gold Coast Suns announce the sacking of Campbell Brown. Source: News Limited

SUPERFOOTY AFL QUIZ ANSWERS

1. Travis Cloke.

2. Brisbane.

3. Essendon.

4. Eddie McGuire.

5. Hawthorn.

6. Ben Cousins.

7. Jarryd Roughead.

8. Acting "negligently" over Kurt Tippett's 2009 Adelaide Crows contract.

9. James Hird.

10. Fremantle and Sydney.

11. Greater Western Sydney.

12. Kevin Sheedy.

13. Three (Fremantle, Port Adelaide, Sydney).

14. WADA chairman John Fahey.

15. GWS Giants.

16. Radio (Triple M).

17. Brendon Goddard.

18. Stephen Dank.

19. Chris Yarran.

20. Melbourne.

21. Alastair Clarkson.

22. Melbourne (tanking investigation).

23. Liam Jurrah.

24. Joel Selwood.

25. Sydney and Hawthorn (Round 23, first qualifying final).

26. Jeff Kennett.

27. Before Battle.

28. Leigh Matthews.

29. Dan Jackson

30. Jeremy Cameron.

31. Adam Goodes (Brett).

32. Brisbane

33. Hawthorn.

34. Sam Mitchell, Jarryd Roughhead.

35. Three.

36. 28.

37. Sudan.

38. One.

39. Matthew Pavlich (three)

40. Mark Harvey.

41. Mick Malthouse.

42. Mark Thompson.

43. Scott Thompson (North Melbourne).

44. Josh Gibson.

45. Western Australia.

46. Eleven.

47. Kade Simpson

48. Two years.

49. Wellington, New Zealand.

50. Steven May.

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Onya Casey, Azarenka up next

Casey Dellacqua hits a forehand on her way to a come-from-behind win over Galina Voskoboeva. Source: Tertius Pickard / AP

CASEY Dellacqua grabbed a second-round shot at world No.2 Victoria Azarenka at the Brisbane International by today wearing down higher-ranked Ukrainian Galina Voskoboeva.

Dellacqua, who considers four-month-old son Blake her "lucky charm", beat Voskoboeva 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, riding the home support to victory at Pat Rafter Arena.

Dellacqua's partner Amanda Judd sat at courtside watching, four months after the West Australian left-hander revealed to reporters that she was in a same-sex relationship and had a new-born son.

Voskoboeva sends a return back but was ultimately outclassed by the lower-ranked Dellacqua. Source: AP

The Australian Fed Cup stalwart, 28, is ranked No.141, 74 places lower than her Ukrainian opponent, and made good use of the wildcard entry she had earned to book a second-round match against Azarenka.

Dellacqua's win followed the first-round success of compatriot Marinko Matosevic earlier in the day on Rafter Arena.

Azarenka won the most recent of her matches against Dellacqua in straight sets at the 2012 Australian Open and holds a 3-0 career edge over the Australian.

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

The new guy: who is Alex Doolan?

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ALEX Doolan was leaving Melbourne Renegades training on Sunday night when John Inverarity's name flashed up on his mobile phone.

The national chairman of selectors was ringing to inform the elegant Tasmanian batsman that he had been included in Australia's 14-man squad for the fifth Ashes Test.

"It was a big thrill last night to get the phone call,'' Doolan said. "I was a little bit stunned, still am a little bit stunned."

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It set in motion a frantic 24 hours for the 28-year-old right-hander. He fronted the media on Monday morning, turned out for the Renegades in a Big Bash match against Brisbane Heat that evening and booked a Tuesday morning flight home to Hobart to pack his bags in preparation for the SCG.

"I'll fly home and collect all my gear, my bats and pads, and head up to Sydney after that. Get back into the red ball stuff and make sure I'm sharp for that," Doolan said.

"I don't have any of my white pads or my red-ball bats with me, so I need to go home, without trusting my fiancé (Laura) to get everything ready for me. I think it's better that I go home and collect it myself."

Asked how his red-ball bats were different to the blades he wielded in Twenty20 cricket, Doolan, a self-confessed "bat nuffie" joked that they were "an extra foot wide''.

"It's a bit silly, but my best bats I like to use for four-day cricket," he said. "And then for Twenty20 cricket I use the other bats because they get bashed up so quickly and break. So I want to prolong the life of my good ones."

Doolan is something of a cricket purist, a top-order batsman whose stylish and upright technique has drawn comparisons to former Australia captain Greg Chappell. He was in contention for a Baggy Green at the start of this series, having scored 715 Sheffield Shield runs at 42.05 last summer, as well as an unbeaten 161 for Australia A against South Africa at the SCG.

This season he has scored 391 Shield runs at 39.10, including an impressive 132 in a successful run chase against New South Wales at Blacktown Oval in November.

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Australian batting coach, Michael DiVenuto, described Doolan as a fine young batsman who had begun to believe in himself over the past 18 months.

"I think he benefitted greatly last year from having Ricky Ponting around at Tasmania quite a bit and learnt a lot from being up the other end with him,'' DiVenuto said. "He was involved in a few partnerships with him and matched it with him quite a few times and I think that is where he got his belief that he is a very good player."

Doolan agreed that Ponting had been "a huge influence'', as had former Tasmanian coach Tim Coyle.

"(Ponting) is just a determined little monster when he's playing. That's probably what I got out of it ... He just tried to instil the belief in me, firstly that I did believe I was a good player and could do it, and to not be satisfied with anything you've done.

"I think there's a difference between belonging (at first-class level) and wanting to dominate and contribute in every game. I've probably felt that I belonged at the level for a while, but probably had been happy just belonging and not wanting to be one of the best players in the competition. And that's probably one of the differences for me, after having chats with Ricky, that I wanted to play for Australia.

"It hadn't really been a goal or an ambition of mine, I hadn't set goals in place to play for Australia. Once he spoke to me and told me that he thought I was good enough to do it, that's what I wanted to do."

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Doolan said it was exciting to be acknowledged by the selectors and to be involved with the Test team, but felt he was in the squad as a back-up No.3 batsman if Watson was unavailable through injury. He believed his Tasmanian skipper, George Bailey, was a "reliable and dependable" batsman who deserved more chances to establish himself in the Australian middle order.

"I guess No.3 is probably where I'm best suited, however I've had most of the season batting at four for Tassie," Doolan said. "But if I got an opportunity I'd bat at 11. I'm happy wherever."

THE KEY FACTS

Age: 28

Hometown: Launceston, Tasmania

Role: Right-hand batsman, preferably No.3

THE STATS

First-class debut: January 2009 (for Tasmania v New South Wales)

First-class matches: 53

Runs: 3,375

Average: 37.92 (39.10 in 2013-14)

Highest score: 161 n.o. (for Australia A v South Africa, 2012)

WHAT THEY SAID

Ricky Ponting

"I played a lot with Doolan last year and he's a class player.

"He elevated his game to a new level last year, and hopefully he can start the season the same way this year.

"He's got class, time, a simple technique, and is a good striker of the ball. He keeps things simple.

"When I've batted with him, you can just see he's got that little bit of time on his side. He never seems rushed, and that's always a sign of a good player."

Greg Chappell

"Alex is an exquisite player with an ability to play classic cricket shots off both the front and back foot.

"His game has evolved well over the last few years and is a key player for Tasmania in both one day and four-day cricket."

Michael Clarke (after Doolan led Tasmania to victory against NSW in November)

"He played very well, that was a fantastic innings no doubt about it, and played a huge part in getting Tasmania home so deserves a lot of credit.

"I thought he batted with great patience but played his natural game.

"He played a really good innings but he helped his team win batting on a fourth day wicket.

"To play with so much freedom and the patience he showed has certainly done him a lot of favours I would imagine."

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Harris in doubt for Sydney Test

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AUSTRALIAN spearhead Ryan Harris is in doubt to be fit for the fifth Test in Sydney, but will use the extra day's rest in a desperate bid to overcome his various ailments and press to be part of an Ashes whitewash.

"If he's not fit he won't play; if he's fit he plays," Australian coach Darren Lehmann said. "We go down the same path all the time. I'd say he'd be doubtful, but we'll see how he recovers. An extra day helps. There's a five-day turnaround now, but we'll just have to wait and see.

"At the end of the day he's a valuable bowler for us, so we won't take any risks. But again, if he's fit and he can get through and do a job for his captain he'll play."

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Lehmann said whether all-rounder Watson could shake off a groin niggle and bowl might have an impact on Harris's selection

"I personally like having five bowlers in the side," Lehmann said.

"I think it's the way to get 20 wickets. It's very hard for three quicks and a spinner to get the wickets you need each and every day. Unless you have Shane Warne in the side, who was a spinner and a half. So from our point of view I think you need that workload off with the fifth bowler, so we'll have to have a look at that."

He said Watson "obviously batted very well today and got us across the line, so that was pleasing."

"I think that Shane would admit he's been a little bit disappointed with his output at No.3, but at the end of the day he's an all-rounder who has to bowl.

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"But we'll have to take a look at the Sydney wicket and assess all of those situations and how he's going, whether he's capable of doing both of those things."

Lehmann also said he would take local advice on whether playing two spinners at the SCG was a serious option, adding it was "a possibility".

He said Nathan Coulter-Nile and Doug Bollinger were in thre frame to play should Harris be unavailable because they bowled with "good velocity".

"We think that's a really big area for us. In our bowling attack you need to have speed these days. Gone are the days of (having pacemen) who bowl at 120-125kmh, you need to bowl 140 if you possibly can. Speed is a really big issue, especially in Australia."

Lehmann felt there was room for Australia to improve its batting and acknowledged that George Bailey needed to make some runs to shore up his spot in the middle order.

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"The simple fact is that our first-innings batting hasn't been good enough," Lehmann said.

"We've been very good in the second innings of games, but to be the side that we want to be we need to make runs in the first innings.

"I think both teams have a bowling attack capable of taking 20 wickets, it's about batters adapting to the conditions and making runs.

"It was a good performance to come from behind. I didn't think we batted very well in our first innings, and to play like that today was exceptional. Obviously Watson and Rogers, and Warner last night, got us what we needed to do done well today. We certainly learned from our mistakes in the first innings."

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Both Lehmann and skipper Michael Clarke defended the decision to bowl first at the MCG, saying it was a late decision made with an eye to the overcast conditions and the green tinge to the wicket.

"I don't think we bowled as well as we should have in the first innings either, and we bowled England out for 255. We would have liked to have bowled them out cheaper," Lehmann said, adding that even had Australia lost he would have felt it was the correct decision.

Clarke said: "When you win the toss and bowl, the result always dictates whether you're going to be criticised or applauded.

"Was it the right decision or not? The result will say yes, but after the first five overs on day one, the wicket certainly played better than I expected it to."

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Trying the Kiss of life

Joe Pride is looking at running Destiny's Kiss in the Tatt's Cup after a faltering campaign. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

THE summer hasn't gone to plan for Destiny's Kiss and Joe Pride will consider options to salvage something from the gelding's campaign.

The five-year-old is among nominations for the Tattersall's Cup (2400m) at Randwick on New Year's Day but the trainer is also thinking about delaying his next start until the Gosford Cup the following week.

Destiny's Kiss was an unlucky runner in the Villiers Stakes (1600m) on December 14, running sixth after being on the receiving end of interference at the start and again in the straight.

He finished a close third in the Summer Cup (2000m) on Boxing Day after dropping back from the outside gate then being trapped wide.

"I'll take a look at the acceptances for the Tatt's Cup on Monday before I decide whether he runs there or we wait for Gosford," Pride said.

"I feel like it's been a campaign of lost opportunity and he has missed his grand final.

"He is well in himself but it's just not happening for him.

"He is racing well without luck, so hopefully we can get something out of the summer.

"But the Villiers-Summer Cup double had a ring to it." Destiny's Kiss beat his Nick Moraitis-owned stablemate Fiumicino to win the Winter Cup (2400m) in July on a heavy track but Pride said he could be just as effective on hard tracks.

The gelding is one of 13 nominations for the Tatt's Cup with the field to be declared on Monday.

The Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) is on January 10.

Wherever Pride decides to go, he knows Destiny's Kiss will give his all.

"He is 420 kilograms and 400 of those is heart," he said.

"He is just a lovely horse to do anything with and I would dearly love for him to get another good win."

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