Healy bowled over by Segway

Updated December 28, 2011 13:00:24

The Segway scooter has claimed another victim at the MCG, clean bowling former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy shortly before the third day of the first Test against India.

The Channel Nine commentator stepped off the front of the scooter after taking a ride around the MCG but it kept going and rode over the top of him.

It proceeded to chew up the turf before being brought under control.

The farcical incident followed yesterday's crash in which cameraman Joe Previtera ran into a helmet while filming the Australian team before play.

The cameraman was being interviewed by Channel Nine on Wednesday morning when Healy jumped on the scooter, completed a number of sweeping circuits on the ground, and took his own tumble.

Previtera became a minor celebrity over a decade ago for confessing to an infamous sledge that was picked up by a microphone.

His comment "can't bowl, can't throw" was directed at a struggling bowler during a Test match in Hobart but was widely blamed on Shane Warne.

Reuters

Tags: cricket, sport, offbeat, human-interest, melbourne-3000, australia, vic

First posted December 28, 2011 12:44:35

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Old heads come to Australia's rescue

By Joel Zander

Updated December 28, 2011 19:17:57

Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting did their best to mask another top-order batting collapse as Australia limped to stumps leading by 227 runs in a topsy-turvy first Test against India.

A whopping 15 wickets fell on day three at the MCG as the tourists lost 7 for 68 to be bowled out for 282 before the home side suffered a landslide of its own, crawling to 8 for 176 in its second innings with Hussey unbeaten on 79.

Australia's batting woes overshadowed an impressive maiden five-wicket haul from Ben Hilfenhaus (5 for 75), who celebrated his Test recall with a rampant display of swing bowling to obliterate India's middle order.

He was a subdued though after Australia's batting line-up failed to capitalise.

"I feel like today we started really well and got the ball rolling but it's obviously disappointing to be down as many as we are tonight," Hilfenhaus told Grandstand.

"They proved today the way they bowled that there's still enough there (in the wicket), so I think if we get to (a lead of) 300 or over 250 I think we're still a chance."

Hilfenhaus led the way for Australia this morning from the moment he rocked the off stump of Rahul Dravid (68) from the second ball of the day.

He has bowled with increased pace and intensity in this match and cleaned up Virat Kohli (11), skipper MS Dhoni (6), and nightwatchman Ishant Sharma (11) to go with Gautam Gambhir (3) yesterday.

"It's obviously a pretty good place to get your first one (five-wicket haul) but I guess the match isn't over yet," Hilfenhaus said.

"I guess we bowled well as a group today, we didn't really give much away and were able to create enough pressure to make chances.

"I never thought it (my Test career) was over.

"I did spend most of the preseason working on a few technical things to get me back bowling the way I was a few years ago, so I think that's starting to pay off and hopefully it can continue to improve."

As has been an increasing trend in recent times, Australia's top-order batsmen failed to capitalise on the toil of their bowlers.

David Warner (5), Shaun Marsh (3) and Michael Clarke (1) all chopped deliveries onto their stumps while debutant Ed Cowan (8) shouldered arms as third-Test rookie Umesh Radav (4 for 49 off 15 overs) unleashed havoc in front of 40,556.

Old-ball specialist Zaheer Khan chimed in with 2 for 32, removing a set Ponting for 60 to end a 115-run stand with Hussey, their seventh century partnership.

The pair came together with Australia languishing at 4 for 27 and turned back the clock with their careers on the line.

Both have stated they have no intention of retiring and they dug in deep for their country today, surviving some nail-biting early moments to help Australia recover from a disastrous position.

Hussey is eyeing his first century since the Sri Lankan tour after woeful series against South Africa and New Zealand.

Ponting's ton drought stretches almost two years now but with two half-centuries in a match for the 14th time in his career, his spot for the second Test in Sydney is assured.

The same cannot be said for Brad Haddin, who once again failed to put a high-enough prize on his wicket and surrendered to Khan for 6.

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

First posted December 28, 2011 18:10:10

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Sixers pip the Stars in SCG nail-biter

Updated December 28, 2011 09:48:29

Silly run-outs and tight bowling at the death have helped the Sydney Sixers to a nervy two-run win over the Melbourne Stars on Tuesday night at the SCG.

Dwayne Bravo's 52 from 39 was ably supported by some late hitting from Dominic Thornely (29 from 13) to set up a decent 8 for 166, before the hosts chipped away at regular intervals to hold off the Stars in the final over.

Brett Lee was tasked with the last over of the night with the Stars requiring 15 runs to win, and Chris Simpson got off to the perfect start with a stylish square drive for four.

Mitchell Starc then faced the heat and managed to loft Lee over square leg for another boundary, but the experienced paceman restricted the visitors to three consecutive singles to secure the win.

The result puts the Sixers in the top rung alongside the Hurricanes and the Thunder on four points, having played a game more.

David Hussey looked to have put the Stars in control with a pacey 42 from 30 balls, but sacrificed his wicket when going for a suicidal second run and was dismissed by a sharp direct-hit from Ben Rohrer.

Adam Voges looked to pick up where Hussey left off and while his 31 from 22 balls was equally valuable, he gave up his wicket in the exact same fashion, this time to Maddinson's throw on the boundary.

Some stunning work on the boundary rope from Dwayne Bravo saved a certain six - the West Indian star leaping high to get a hand on Wright's big drive before palming it back in play before falling over the rope.

Bravo's piece of acrobatics was almost matched the very next ball as Michael Lumb raced in to snare Luke Wright with a jumping catch in the deep off Steven Smith's bowling, who finished with crucial figures of 2 for 27 from four overs.

Lee said he was not nervous coming in to bowl the final delivery of the game.

"That's the reason you play sport isn't it?" he said after the game.

"When you've got 30-odd thousand people ... to come down and bowl the last ball when there's only four runs to win, that's the reason why you play sport."

The crafty veteran also praised his side's fielding, saying it played a huge part in the victory while revealing he lost sight of the ball during his sensational catch to dismiss Cameron White.

"It went in the lights (and) I thought it was actually going to go over my head at first (so) I hung back a little bit," he said of the catch off Stuart MacGill's bowling.

"But when it came back out of the lights I thought I'd better have a crack at it and I ended up getting it."

Bravo played down his own brilliance on the boundary rope - but was happy to heap praise on Lee's heroics.

"It's good that all the guys will talk about Brett's catch," he said.

"That was a match-winning catch. It changed the game."

The match had been billed as a battle of the veteran leg-spinners Shane Warne and MacGill, and the wily duo did not disappoint.

It was Warne's first match at the SCG since his final Test match - a victory which secured a 5-0 Ashes whitewash over England in January 2007.

And the occasion of playing at the famous ground clearly got to the 42-year-old.

Warne cut a mysterious figure on the ground, wearing the playing gear of team-mate Rob Quiney. As Warne explained during commentary, he let his kids play with his gear after last week's victory over Brisbane Heat and had not been able to locate them since.

It did not rattle the champion spinner too much, with Warne again providing television commentary of his four over spell before taking the key wicket of Bravo to finish with 1 for 27 as the Sixers were restricted to 9 for 166.

Not to be outdone in the showdown of the aging spinners, MacGill chipped in with 1 for 36 for the Sixers.

ABC/AAP

Tags: sport, twenty20, cricket, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, melbourne-3000, vic

First posted December 27, 2011 22:05:08

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Tendulkar and Dravid turn it on at the 'G

By Joel Zander

Updated December 27, 2011 21:22:10

Veteran pair Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid gave the cricket world another reminder of just what it will be missing when they finally ride off into the sunset as they put on another masterclass on day two of the first Test against Australia at the MCG.

The two most prolific run-scorers in the history of the game, Tendulkar and Dravid again showed a crowd of over 50,000 why with a record-extending 20th century stand before Peter Siddle knocked over The Little Master for 72 in the final over of the day.

Cricket Australia's bean counters will rue Tendulkar's absence at the crease on day three, for the man who turns 39 next April was eyeing what would have been a 100th international century.

But this match remains tantalisingly poised with the tourists reaching 3 for 214 at stumps, trailing Australia's first innings of 333 by just 117 runs with seven wickets in hand.

Australian vice-captain Brad Haddin admitted Tendulkar and Dravid, who put on 117 for the third wicket, had tilted momentum in the tourists' favour.

"They played well and they're obviously class players, that innings from Tendulkar is one of the better 70s you'll see in Test cricket," Haddin told Grandstand.

"I think that they've probably got the better of things leading into tomorrow, it's important for us I think to shut down that scoreboard early.

"Doing that will build pressure and give us the opportunity to take some wickets."

The final eight overs of the day made for some unmissable cricket with Siddle bowling Dravid on 65, only for the man known as The Wall to be called back when it was revealed the bowler had overstepped the mark.

Siddle's misfortune unsurprisingly spurred the Victorian on and he got his just rewards with the invaluable scalp of Tendulkar, his four-over spell to close out the day reaping 1 for 5 with a maiden.

"That's cricket, you don't like to see those things happen but we can't do anything about it now," Haddin said of Dravid's reprieve.

"But the thing about it is, he (Siddle) was bowling well and creating chances which is a good thing.

"He's shown for a long time he's a class act and it was a great effort today."

Tendulkar's dismissal halted his world record union with Dravid at 6,747 Test runs and the man from Mumbai has now gone 18 innings without an international hundred, although he has clocked up seven half-centuries in that time.

Dravid dug in to remain unbeaten on 68, while opener Virender Sehwag played a typically cavalier knock of 67.

India is unbeaten in the six previous Tests the trio have all scored half-centuries in the same innings.

James Pattinson was the pick of the Australian bowlers with 1 for 35 from 15 overs, knocking over the well-set Sehwag with a delivery which caught the inside edge and castled middle and off.

In a typically brazen innings from Sehwag, he faced just 83 balls for a strike rate of 80.72 and was livid with himself at not going on, having been given lives by Mike Hussey on 11 and Haddin on 58.

Hussey grassed a particularly difficult diving chance at gully but Haddin's was a sitter and he is lucky it only cost Australia a further nine runs.

Siddle finished with 1 for 53 off 15 overs while Ben Hilfenhaus (1 for 50 from 14) was the other wicket-taker, snaring the scalp of the struggling Gautam Gambhir caught behind for 3.

Gambhir, like Ricky Ponting, has now gone almost two years without a Test ton.

Australia folded for 333 late in the first session, adding a further 56 runs after resumed on 6 for 277.

Siddle (41), Hilfenhaus (19) and Pattinson (18 not out) added some respectability to Australia's total after debutant opener Ed Cowan (68) and Ponting (62) led the way on day one.

Zaheer Khan was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 4 for 77.

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

First posted December 27, 2011 18:29:50

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Cricket News - Keep Your Passion Updated

MacGill nominates for IPL

Updated December 26, 2011 17:50:51

After an eight-year break from Twenty20 cricket, Stuart MacGill is finally ready to get on board with cricket's money-making phenomenon, the Indian Premier League.

MacGill, who did not play any Twenty20 cricket between a five-game stint with Nottinghamshire in 2003 and this year's Big Bash League, revealed on Monday that he has nominated for February's IPL player auction.

The 40-year-old had long been thought of as a specialist of the longer form of the game but with a successful comeback with the Sydney Sixers he believes he can deliver in the IPL - if someone is willing to pick him up.

"I really don't want to get too far ahead of myself here, but I'm playing in the BBL because my kids thought I was getting old," MacGill said.

"I'm proving to them that I can still cut it with the young blokes."

MacGill, who retired from all forms of cricket in 2008, played some warm-up games with Sydney University and said once he could prove that his body was up to it, the decision to apply was an easy one.

"I just wanted to see if I could keep together physically and once I ticked that box I thought 'hey, maybe it's worth my while,'" he said.

"Having played a couple of Twenty20 games now, I know I can do it. I don't get too sore.

"I know I can run around enough. It's worth a go."

He hopes to have generated some interest from IPL franchises after some eye-catching performances for the Sixers, including taking 2 for 21 against Brisbane in the opening match.

Champion spinner Shane Warne has been a key figure for the Rajasthan Royals since the inception of the IPL in 2008 and he believes MacGill will also enjoy some success.

AAP

Tags: twenty20, cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia, india

First posted December 26, 2011 17:50:51

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Live Blog: First Test Day Two

By Joel Zander

Updated December 27, 2011 18:35:02

Welcome to our coverage of day two of the first Test between Australia and India at the MCG.

Australia resumed at 6 for 277 after winning the toss on day one and opting to bat.

Join us for updates throughout the day as well as audio snippets for all the dismissals and milestones.

6:00pm: That's stumps on day two at the MCG with India reaching 3 for 214, still trailing Australia by 119 runs. What a massive blow late on with India losing Sachin. It goes without saying how much Australia needed that wicket. That four-over spell from Siddle reaped 1 for 5, just what the doctor ordered.

5:56pm: WICKET! S Tendulkar b. Siddle 73 (India 3-214, Dravid 68*) - Listen to the dismissal

This one counts and what a big one it is! Siddle sneaks one through the gate of The Little Master and this one's not a no ball. No 100th international century for Sachin this time around at least. What an innings though - 98 balls, eight fours and a six.

5:31pm: WICKET? No! Well, we've seen it all now. Siddle gets one straight through the defences of The Wall with a peach, but replays reveal it's a front-foot no ball! Dravid survives and it's turning into one of those days for Australia now. Listen here.

5:28pm: There's a few (not surprisingly) questioning why Warner is bowling. Listen here. Geoff Lawson reckons Michael Clarke could do worse than give himself a bowl. True that. His best Test figures of 6 for 9 are against India, although on a pitch with just slightly more turn.

5:22pm: That's the 100-run stand for these two, from 169 balls. Century stand number 20 in fact. And then they bring up the 200 for India. 2 for 200 with both batsmen on 64. Very ominous indeed.

5:15pm: David Warner's on to bowl now. Desperate measures by a desperate captain or a masterstroke? Tendulkar tries to hit the case off the first delivery, which is pretty ordinary to be honest, and it hits him in the guts. What entertainment!

5:02pm: This won't make pretty reading for Australia: "Oz up against it - 6 times Sehwag Dravid Tendulkar all 50+ in the same innings. 1 draw, 5 wins for India." (via @ricfinlay)

4:57pm: And that's Sachin's 50, off just 55 balls with six fours and that memorable six. Listen here. That's his 64th Test half-century and he's halfway to that magical 100th international ton. Dravid's 50 was his 63rd. He was level with Sachin's record for all of about six minutes there.

4:51pm: Another hairy moment for Dravid, whose edge off Hilfenhaus falls just short of Clarke at floating slip. The next ball Dravid gets some more bat on and it flies straight through third slip, that's his 50 off 137 balls with five fours. Listen here.

4:45pm: That's drinks and India has reached 2 for 167, with Dravid on 48 and Tendulkar on 47. Now for some more stats, via that man @ricfinlay: "This Ind team sets a new world record for agg runs going into a Test 53560."

4:35pm: Hussey's back on in place of Lyon, so let's see if the wily veteran can trouble either of these batsmen. We've added a stack of pics to our photo gallery today - check it out here.

4:29pm: Sachin moves past Dravid with a four through midwicket and another couple off Lyon. He's on 44 now, with The Wall on 42 and India 2 for 158. Another 25 21 overs to go today by our count. (Who said I could count...)

4:22pm: That's the 50-run stand between Tendulkar and Dravid. They average 50.7 together.

4:03pm: Sachin is starting to mow down his partner now. He cover-drives Hilfenhaus for his fifth boundary and he's raced to 28 off just 26 balls. Dravid's on 34 from 94.

3:59pm: Joe the cameraman (seriously, you couldn't make this stuff up) and his runaway Segway have hit YouTube. Enjoy.

3:46pm: @ricfinlay has this on Sehwag: "Sehwag 23rd to 8000 Test runs 93 m, 160 inns. 4th fewest mtchs, 5th fewest inns behind Sangak 152 SRT 154 Sobers 157 Dravid 158. Fastest Aussie Hayden 164, Ponting 165."

3:35pm: Huh? The first ball of the third session is delivered by the Siddler and Tendulkar uppercuts him over slips for six! "That's an outrageous shot," says Geoff Lawson. Agreed.

3:13pm: And the Huss very nearly gets him! Bat onto pad and it falls just short of silly mid-on. Tendulkar steals a single off the last ball to move to 2 and that's tea, with India reaching 2 for 99. Dravid on 25.

3:10pm: Pup throws Hussey the ball. He's going to bowl to the great man Tendulkar. This could be interesting.

3:04pm: WICKET! V Sehwag b. Pattinson 67 (India 2-97, Dravid 25*) - Listen to the dismissal

Bowled him! Fine delivery from James Pattinson, it looked like Dravid who was struggling but the dangerous Sehwag is the man to go. Doesn't move the feet, gets an inside edge and it clatters into middle and off. Massive breakthrough for the Australians and Sehwag is filthy as he trudges off. He faced just 83 balls for a strike rate of 80.72 and put on 75 with Dravid.

3:01pm: Hilfenhaus beats Dravid with a jaffa, the Aussies appeal for an inside edge but nothing doing.

2:56pm: Sehwag, on 66, is given not out caught at short leg despite a vociferous appeal from Pattinson and co. Hot Spot can't find an edge.

2:50pm: Crowd up to 51,000 today says Drew Morphett. It is a lovely day for watching cricket in Melbourne. India has reached 1 for 90 after 25 overs with Sehwag on 66 and Dravid on 19.

2:33pm: Dropped! Oh no, that's a shocker from Haddin. Only one ball after being beaten comprehensively by Pattinson, Sehwag gets the edge this time and the Aussie wicketkeeper grasses what should have been a straight-forward chance. That's two lives Sehwag's had now, this one on 58, and he'll probably make the home side pay now. Listen here.

2:31pm: "If Warner can't get to a ball then it's not a dropped catch," says Harsha Bhogle. Point well made.

2:28pm: Sehwag lofts Lyon down the ground for four and that's his 50, off just 59 balls (Listen here). Next ball, same treatment. Then is he dropped by David Warner on 55? Another ridiculously tough chance, it appears to have barely carried. Would be a tough call to say that's a dropped chance.

2:24pm: Does Kerry O'Keeffe have a crystal ball? Or is he just a genius? It's always rewarding when a prediction comes to fruition immediately. Listen here.

2:21pm: It really is quite a scary thing looking at India's batting card. As soon as Australia removes one of Sehwag or Dravid, one SR Tendulkar will stride to the crease chasing his 100th international century. It blows the mind to think SRT has had 464 opponents and 104 team-mates in his glittering career (thanks, @ricfinlay). Do you reckon Sachin could remember all of his team-mates?

2:09pm: Another interesting stat from @ricfinlay: "Of Oz bowlers 50 wkts +, Hilfy highest proportion of openers, 33.9%. Reiffel 32.7, Cotter 30.3, Bollinger 30. Lowest quick Bichel 17.2." Impressive from Hilfy. Can't imagine Bich would have got much of a run at the openers though.

2:04pm: Sehwag is looking dangerous now. Two straight boundaries off Siddle move him to 39 - once he gets past 50, heaven help the Aussies.

1:57pm: Some spin now, with Lyon replacing Hilfenhaus. India 1 for 42 with Sehwag on 29 and Rahul Dravid 3. Meanwhile Ed Cowan, who's been off the field with a back strain, has come back on. Lyon bowls a maiden - "a feather in your cap son" says Drew Morphett.

1:43pm: We've had 10 overs and Aussie skipper Michael Clarke makes his first bowling change, bringing on Siddle to the delight of his home crowd.

1:31pm: WICKET! G Gambhir c. Haddin b. Hilfenhaus 3 (India 1-22, Sehwag 18*) - Listen to the dismissal

That's been coming to be honest - Gambhir has looked anything but comfortable since arriving at the crease. Hilfy gets one to move away from him a touch, Gambhir hangs the bat out and it's catching practice for Brad Haddin. The Wall strides to the crease.

1:20pm: Dropped! Mike Hussey puts down Sehwag at gully on 11. Very tough chance, it was travelling, but we've seen the Huss take those before. Listen to the miss here.

Just a ball earlier Sehwag had laced Pattinson through cover for his first boundary.

1:16pm: Sehwag's living a charmed life as usual early in his innings but the bloke's averaging 52.16 with almost 8,000 Test runs and a high score of 319. So he can play a bit.

1:10pm: We're back for the second session and a cameraman has come to grief with the turf. Hilarious. Meanwhile, Grandstand's @ricfinlay has questioned whether Australia's total is under par? "333 or fewer 1st inns at MCG won 29 lost 28, but since WW2, won 14 lost 19."

12:30pm: That's lunch and Gambhir and Sehwag somehow survived a very nervy three overs. India 6 without loss with Sehwag on 4 and Gambhir on 2.

12:28pm: Massive swipe from Virender at Pattinson and it's missed the lot. This is the best entertainment we've had all day (save for Hilfy), and Virender's not even connecting. "You only shoulder arms with a gun," says Kerry.

12:26pm: Sehwag is beaten by a pearler, actually leaves one and then is beaten by another. "Sehwag would make a good nightwatchman. He'd be out caught at long-on for 6 second ball."

12:23pm: Hilfy sends in an outswinger and Sehwag has a crack over the top, getting a couple for his troubles. "Sehwag believes leaves are for autumn." Anymore Kerry?

12:20pm: Terrific first over by Pattinson says Kerry O'Keeffe - incidentally a maiden. "Sehwag doesn't do singles, he does boundaries". Uh huh. Lyon trots back onto the field, crisis averted.

12:17pm: Pattinson sends down the first ball of India's innings to Gautam Gambhir. Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon is not on the field - he's sitting outside the boundary rope rubbing his right elbow. Appears he got hit by Khan while batting. Ouch.

12:06pm: WICKET! N Lyon b. Ashwin 6 (Australia all out 333, Pattinson 18*) - Listen to the dismissal

That's it, Nathan Lyon plays all around that one and over goes the castle. Australia's fallen short of the 350-mark but a respectable total all the same. With just over 20 minutes till lunch, India's going to have to face a few tricky overs here.

11:49am: WICKET! B Hilfenhaus c. Kohli b. Ashwin 19 (Australia 9-318, Pattinson 9*) - Listen to the dismissal

Hilfy sends one soaring into Melbourne's blue skies and it's an easy take for Virat Kohli. 32 balls with three fours for the Tasmanian, an entertaining cameo.

11:30am: They've taken drinks with Australia on 8 for 311, with Hilfenhaus on 14 and Pattinson on 7. The home side lost 2 for 34 in that 'mini session'.

11:19am: Pattinson gets in on the act now, thrashing Ishant Sharma straight down the ground for four. Love watching tailenders go the tonk.

11:16am: Fear not - Hilfy to the rescue! A few short, sharp blows with his trusty blade and Australia's cracked the 300-mark.

11:10am: The extra slo-mo replays of Siddle's dismissal are showing tiny shards of wood flying off the edge of his bat. How quaint.

11:03am: WICKET! P Siddle 41 c. Dhoni b. Khan 41 (Australia 8-291, Pattinson 1*) - Listen to the dismissal

Whoops... the Siddler gets a feather behind to MS and Khan picks up his fourth scalp. Australia might be lucky to crack the 300-mark now - disappointing considering they were 3 for 205.

10:51am: Peter Siddle still hanging tough, on 40 now. His highest Test score is 43 and his highest first-class score is 45. Have we jinxed him? Let's find out.

10:42am: Haddin's dismissal brings James Pattinson to the crease. The weather is far better in Melbourne today, by the way. Blue skies with white clouds, so hopefully we can avoid those pesky rain delays. Then again, this is Melbourne we're talking about.

10:40am: WICKET! B Haddin c. Sehwag b. Khan 27 (Australia 7-286, Siddle 37*) - Listen to the dismissal

A bit of delay while the umpires checked whether the catch was taken cleanly and whether Zaheer Khan had bowled a front-foot no-ball, but it's all clear and Haddin is sent on his way. He faced 70 balls, an uncharacteristically slow innings for the New South Welshman.

The partnership with Siddle was worth 72 very valuable runs.

10:30am: And play is underway with Umesh Yadav sending down the first delivery of the day to Brad Haddin, who resumed on 21 not out. Peter Siddle began on 37.

Prior to play, Grandstand's sideline eye Dan Lonergan caught up with Ricky Ponting, who said he's been disappointed not to turn some recent starts into big scores:

And for those wanting a recap of yesterday's highlights, look no further than below:

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

First posted December 27, 2011 10:33:49

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