Ashes: Hussey spurs Australia past England in first test-Lunch day 3

Michael Hussey on his way to a fine century

Australia has taken a 69 run lead at lunch on day 3 of the first Ashes test in Brisbane and are on 5/329. Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin came out this morning and were faced with some brilliant bowling from James Anderson.


After just 6 overs of batting James Anderson appealed twice in a row for LBW. Luckily for Hussey the umpire gave not out to the second appeal as well which was in fact out. However England had used all their referrals and had to keep on playing. 


The selectors were scrutinised for selecting Mike Hussey and Peter Siddle. These selections have definitely payed off, Siddle bowled a hat-trick and got 6 wickets in England's first innings. Michael Hussey is on 124 not out and is batting beautifully.  


Brad Haddin has batted conservatively and has scored 79 runs and is doing well to stay in. Hussey and Haddin have built a solid 186 run partnership at lunch. 


I think that Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin should be very proud of themselves. The top order failed and all the pressure was on them to perform. Thanks to these two batsmen Australia are now poised to win the first test of the 2010/11 Vodafone Ashes series. 

Cricket: Clarke in, Bollinger out for first Ashes test

Michael Clarke will play in the first test in Brisbane after overcoming injury but bowler Doug Bollinger will be missing the first test due to Victorian bowler Peter Siddle being selected instead. 


I think that Doug Bollinger should have played instead of Peter Siddle. This first test will be very intriguing and will definitely set the tone for the rest of the series. Having said that I think England are currently in much better form than Australia and that was evident in their thumping of Australia A. 


The 2010/11 Ashes series should be a great contest but I'm expecting England to win. 

News: No survivors in New Zealand mine

This afternoon a second blast in the Pike River coal mine has killed all 29 miners trapped inside the mine including two Australians. Queenslanders Joshua Ufer, 25 and William Joynson, 49 were among the 29 miners stuck in the mine since friday after a methane explosion trapped the miners.

Families of the miners entered a briefing thinking positively before being shattered after hearing the bad news from mine chief executive Peter Whittall. The youngest miner was just 17 years of age and  the oldest was 62 years of age. Families were angry and shouted abuse when told of the explosion.

I think that this was bound to happen. I the rescue operation had started as soon as the miners were trapped then maybe they could have saved the miners. It is sad but this is the risk that these miners take when they sign up for this job.

Image courtesy of www.heraldsun.com.au   

News: Jeff Kennett delivers a 'Kool' tip for drink drivers

Hawthorn Football Club president and former premier today told drink drivers to eat Kool Mints to reduce their blood alcohol level. Kennett was live and on the air when he announced the revelation: "If you have had a couple of drinks and you want to absorb the alcohol quickly, Kool Mints will do it,'' he said. Police quickly labeled this as impossible,stating that the only thing that will lower your blood alcohol concentration is time, waiting until your body recovers. 


He also said that he tries to have a packet of them in his car at all times. I think that this is just another stupid comment that is damaging his reputation, wait! WHAT REPUTATION. All I have seen him do is make stupid comments on things that have nothing to do with him. I can't even imagine how he was elected premier of Victoria. 


Jeff Kennett needs to learn that the world does not revolve around him! 

AFL: Sam Crocker drafted to St. Kilda

AFL Prospect Sam Crocker from the Oakleigh Chargers had been drafted in tonight’s AFL Draft 2010. Saint Kilda Football Club has picked up Crocker at Pick 43 in round 2. The Carey Grammar year 12 Graduate in 2010 is a Strong Midfielder who can play forward and use his Wonderful left boot with accuracy and Distance. 

Crocker played for Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup this year and Averaged 19 disposal’s with 65% efficiency. I’m sure everyone is looking forward to seeing an illustrious career for young Crocker and good luck with the saints. 

AFL: Andrew Gaff heading to West Coast

Exciting AFL prospect Andrew Gaff has been picked at no.4 by the West Coast Eagles in the 2010 AFL draft. The year 12 graduate from Carey Grammar is a strong midfielder and has good pace and endurance. 


He was a member of the 2010 NAB Under-18 Championships All-Australian team and averaged 27 disposals a game. The left footer and Melbourne supporter should be very proud of himself and I have no doubt that he will bring immense talent to the West Coast Eagles. 

Cricket update: Sri Lanka all out for 115 at the GABBA

Australia has bowled Sri Lanka out for 115 runs in the third One Day International in Brisbane. The Australians have already lost the series after losing in Melbourne and Sydney. Clint McKay bowled a new personal best of 5-33. 


I think that Australia should definitely win this match. They have put themselves in a perfect position to win and should not lose.  


  

Cricket: Australia lose to Sri Lanka again

The Australian cricket team have continued their horror run just 20 days out from the start of the Ashes. Last night the Australians lost the One Day International series against Sri Lanka. 


Sri Lanka was full of confidence after winning the first match at the MCG in stunning fashion. The tourists won the toss and elected to bat first. In a rain effected innings Sri Lanka reached 240 from 38 overs using the Duckworth-Lewis rule. 


Australia now needed a strong batting performance but it wasn't to be. Brad Haddin was bowled for 1 while the skipper Ricky Pointing was caught on the boundary after amassing a "solidly impressive" 10 runs (yeah right). It was more of the same as the innings progressed, Shane Watson scored a high for his team with 44 runs before being trapped by Muralidaran. 


Cameron White and Steve Smith got started but ran out of time to score the winning runs as Australia slumped to a 29-run loss, losing the series. Australia's losing streak in all forms of the game has reached seven matches, the longest since the 1996-97 season. 


I think that this is just ridiculous, Australia used to be regarded as a powerhouse in cricket. It is shocking to watch such bad cricket, Mitchell Johnson needs to improve his bowling considerably, every over at least one ball is either close to a wide or is a wide. In fact every player needs to improve their cricket before the Ashes. It certainly doesn't help when you have your captain getting out for poor scores. With the Ashes so close I think the result has already been determined. Australia will have to play at their best just to match England's scores. At the moment something is definitely not right within the squad and big changes need to be made. 

So You Think likely to retire

The owner of the stallion said he would let the dust settle after So You Think's fighting third in today's Cup, but added: "I would say there is a good chance he could be retired now.

The horse had high expectations after winning many races throughout the carnival including the Cox Plate for the second year running. However he failed to deliver in this afternoons Melbourne Cup, he finished third. 

He has had a remarkable career and will be missed by the racing world if he does retire. 

Americain wins 150th Melbourne Cup

Americain made an amazing late run to steal a victory in this years Melbourne Cup. 
The Geelong cup winner stayed beautifully in the 3200m race and timed his run perfectly to beat Maluckyday and red hot favourite So You Think. 


Bart Cummings failed to win his thirteenth Melbourne Cup, So You Think looked like a winner half way up the straight but ran out of steam on his sprint to the finish.  Zipping finished fourth for the third time, edging out Harris Tweed. 


Our family spent the afternoon with some friends and it sure was an exciting race. I had put money on a place for So You Think, Descerado and Harris Tweed. However my friend won hundreds of dollars after he put five dollars on a trifecta and tipped it correctly. 


It was a great race but a disappointing result for me and for several other punters who bet thousands of dollars for a win on favourite So You Think.     

The finishing order in the 2010 Melbourne Cup:

1. Americain

2. Maluckyday

Advertisement: Story continues below

3. So You Think

4. Zipping

5. Harris Tweed

6. Holberg

7. Manighar

8. Precedence

9. Illustrious Blue

10. Mr Medici

11. Once Were Wild

12. Tokai Trick

13. Shoot Out

14. Monaco Consul

15. Master O'Reilly

16. Campanologist

17. Profound Beauty

18. Shocking

19. Red Ruler

20. Buccellati

21. Linton

22. Zavite

Descarado failed to finish.

Bauer was scratched