Home comfort gives Aussies the edge: Warne

Updated October 23, 2012 13:52:08

Shane Warne has backed Australia to win the upcoming Test cricket series against the Proteas, but only because it is the home team.

The leg spin legend said on Tuesday there is very little separating Australia, South Africa, England and India - and perhaps Sri Lanka as well when it plays at at home.

The three-Test series against South Africa starts on November 9 at the 'Gabba in Brisbane.

"When you're at home, you're expected to win," Warne said.

"There's no real standout side for me.

"Anyone can beat anyone and when it's at home, I would expect Australia to beat South Africa.

"It will be a great contest - it will be the bowlers who are on display for both teams, they will really test the batsmen's techniques.

"Young (James) Pattinson is really on fire here at the moment."

Warne expects Victorian Matthew Wade to be named wicketkeeper for the first Test, but said there could also be room in the side for fellow gloveman Brad Haddin.

"Brad Haddin is a good friend and he's done well, but maybe there's a spot for him as a batsman," Warne said.

"Whichever way the selectors go will be fine, but I think Matthew Wade will probably get the nod."

While Jon Holland is out with a shoulder injury, Warne also predictably called on selectors to pick a spinner in the first Test team.

"I mean, c'mon, you always play a spinner no matter what the conditions are," he said with a grin.

Warne added it was a shame Holland could be a long-term casualty because of his shoulder injury, which might need surgery.

"Jon Holland is a big loss, I had him pencilled in about 12-18 months ago that he and Nathan Lyon would be on the Ashes (tour) next year," he said.

"I was hopeful that both would play, especially with the balance of the team when you have guys like Shane Watson, Mitchell Marsh who could play as all-rounders.

"It's a real big loss to lose 'Dutchy' (Holland), he's really improved."

Warne called for patience with the current crop of Australian spinners, saying it would take time for them to develop.

He said the strength of Australia's pace bowling meant the spinners could bide their time.

"When the times comes, when the pitches start to 'rag' ... then that's when it's pay day for them," he said.

But Warne is unimpressed about the lack of wrist spinners coming through Australian cricket, blaming it on impatience at junior level.

"I don't want to bang my chest ... it would be a long conversation, but to try to have it in a minute or two - it's hard," he said.

"You need encouragement and sometimes the captaincy at junior level that I found with a lot of the kids ... they get smacked around the park, they bowl a few double-bouncers, the encouragement's not there."

Meanwhile, the 43-year-old, who will captain the Melbourne Stars in this year's Big Bash, admitted he has no idea when he will pull up stumps.

"I have to 'never say never', because in 2007 I said I'd never play cricket again," he said.

"I think I've retired nine times.

"But 18 months later the IPL came up, so that was something that interested me, to captain coach and do it the way I always thought it should be done.

"It's the way it all panned out.

"I do love cricket, I'm passionate about the game and if I can help Australian cricket in any way, shape or form then I will."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, south-africa

First posted October 23, 2012 13:45:40

View the original article here

Comfort the priority in SCG renovation

Updated January 03, 2012 14:29:54

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the Federal Government will contribute $50 million to the redevelopment of the Sydney Cricket Ground, with the money going towards rebuilding the Bradman, Noble and Messenger Stands.

Reconstruction work will begin in March, which will see the Noble, Bradman and Messenger stands demolished and replaced by a multi-level grandstand.

The works will raise the capacity of the ground from 45,758 to just below 48,000 and could be completed by the Ashes Test of January 2014, according to Fairfax reports.

The NSW Government will spend $86 million on the refurbishment while the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust will commit $50 million.

Ms Gillard says the upgrade is needed.

"Three stands need redevelopment so that they can have better facilities for those who love their cricket and those that love their football," she said.

"Better lines of sight, better amenities, better facilities for corporate entertaining as well as the biggest screen that there will be at a ground in Australia."

The SCG Trust says the revamp will add only 2,500 extra seats because the changes are more focused on improving spectator comfort.

"It's not about extra seats. If I had my way, it would be a smaller capacity," chairman Rodney Cavalier told ABC Radio on Tuesday.

"The future of spectator sport is not in capacity but comfort for those who come.

"That's the trend across the world, especially in North America."

Mr Cavalier said disability access would also be improved, with the renovations also offering better dining rooms and bar areas.

Spectators would also have a better view.

"We won't be going into reclining seats and we won't have computer terminals on every seat but they will have excellent sight lines," Mr Cavalier said, adding there would not be posts holding up the roof to interrupt the view.

The announcement also coincides with the start of the 100th Test match at the SCG.

The revamp was officially unveiled at 9:30am (AEDT) before the start of the Test match between Australia and India.

ABC/AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted January 03, 2012 11:07:12

View the original article here