30 SPORT TUESDAY APRIL 12 2016 Day-night Test plan Elite cricket causes stir SOUTH Africa’s cricketers is a woman’s have taken a dim view of a pro- posed day-night Test in Adel- aide next summer and world too Australia may have to splash the cash to change their minds. Australia has unofficially slated day-night Tests against South Africa in and Pakistan in next sea- son, but South Africa’s players remain deeply sceptical. Given South Africa has beaten Australia twice in Test series in Australia in recent times, the Proteas have much to live up to and are wary of being part of the day-night ex- periment. South African players union ONE of the only elite female Women’s tournament in India. boss Tony Irish, who is also cricket umpires in the world is Polosak will speak at the president of the international coming to the Top End. Waratah Cricket Club about players body FICA, said the Claire Polosak was the first her pathway through umpiring players’ caution was under- woman to umpire in first-class and give her behind-the- standable. 50-over men’s cricket in Aus- scenes insight into the World “From a South African tralia, as third umpire in the Cup. Elite female cricket point of view, the players feel it Matador Cup final in 2015. Polosak will be in the Terri- umpire Claire Polosak would be extremely disadvan- This year, Polosak and New tory on Sunday, May 1, from is coming to Darwin tageous to agree to playing a Zealander Kathy Cross be- midday until 2.30pm at Wara- day-nighter at this stage and in came the first women to be ap- tah Sports Club. such a big series,” he told pointed umpires at an ICC elite Contact the Waratah Crick- South Africa’s Super Sport. event, the World Twenty20 et Club for tickets to the event. “I think it’s highly unlikely that Cricket South Africa will agree. “Not a single one of our players has played with the pink ball under lights at any level of cricket and, despite the fairly widespread praise of the concept in Australia, player McKay eager to make up feedback from Australia and New Zealand indicates that there are still significant on- field concerns. “A number of players from both teams said they had for missed sitter in semis trouble seeing the ball in the evening and that conditions had to be doctored to preserve MARCO MONTEVERDE “This is a step up again. It’ll the condition of the ball.” A-LEAGUE be interesting to see some of Irish stressed South African IT’S the missed chance that the new guys in the team, how players were not “totally Matt McKay will remember Elimination finals they handle that pressure but I against” the concept or “anti for the rest of his life, but the Friday: Brisbane Roar v think they’re fine. “They’ll innovation” but felt it was “still Brisbane skipper has promised Victory definitely get a rocket from very experimental” for such an there will be no repeat of such (7:05pm) some of us if they’re not.” important series. mistakes in Friday night’s sud- Sunday: Melbourne City v The Roar’s previous three “They don’t want to be out den-death semi-final against Glory (4:30pm) championships have come there not knowing what to ex- Melbourne Victory. after finishing the regular sea- pect in what could be a match McKay somehow failed to son in the top two but to win a which decides the series,” he hit the target from inside the our finishing could have fourth they must defy history said. six-yard box in the opening worked better.” McKay said. by becoming the first team to Cricket Australia put a mil- minutes of the Roar’s 0-0 “I’ll definitely never forget win the grand final from out- lion-dollar purse up for grabs weekend draw with Victory at (the missed chance), but it’s side the top two. in the first day-night Test won AAMI Park. part and parcel of football. You “There is a genuine chance by Australia against New Zea- It set the tone for a frustrat- have successes and you have of doing that this season, so land last summer as a sweet- ing night for the wasteful Roar, failures. We’ve got the team tight has the competition been, ener to both teams. whose failure to win cost them that can forget about that and Brisbane Roar Coach , Matt McKay and the Head of but … first we’ve got to get past CA officials were adamant the Premier’s Plate and threw move on pretty quickly.” Hyundai A-League Damien de Bohun Picture: GETTY the Victory,” McKay said. the concept worked so well them into a do-or-die playoff Three championships in The Roar are hopeful of a they would not offer financial against the same team this five years suggest that the Roar mer La Liga midfielder “We don’t really falter in 25,000-plus crowd on Friday inducements again for future week at Suncorp Stadium. lift when it matters. has a ton of experience. these games,” McKay said. night. Their cause will be day-night Tests. “I’m disappointed with the The likes of McKay, Thom- Not forgetting excitement “I think it’s really important helped by Football Brisbane’s But if South Africa refuse to one I missed and throughout as Broich, Jade North and machine and that people react differently to decision to postpone all local play the day-night Test, they the whole team we’ve all got Henrique have all won mul- sharpshooter , pressure, and so far I think matches that had been sched- may have to open the purse those individual stories of how tiple A-League titles, while for- the scorer of 18 goals this season. we’ve handled that. uled for that night. strings again. Dubs equal Bulls’ record Mariners cleaning house Socceroos instilling fear

GOLDEN State remain on The trip to San Antonio, CENTRAL Coast have started Heffernan’s signing before ASIA’S heavyweights still will become known in Kuala track to create NBA history, the against a Spurs team that had their off-season overhaul, an- the start of the season was a stand between the Socceroos Lumpur today when the 12 re- reigning champions beating won 48 consecutive regular- nouncing they will not be re- move away from the Mariners’ and a fourth consecutive maining Asian confederation San Antonio 92-86 to match season games at home, shaped newing the contracts of Dan traditional gravitation towards World Cup, but coach Ange countries are drawn into two the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ as the crunch game in Golden Heffernan, Tomislav Uskok youth, with coach Tony Postecoglou is quick to point groups of six, with two auto- mark for most regular season State’s chase for the record. and Francesco Stella. Walmsley giving the 28-year- out that his side is one of those matic tickets to Russia 2018 up victories. But Steph Curry’s 37 points Attacking midfielder Stella, old rookie a chance but only big hitters. for grabs in each. The Warriors equalled Mi- proved too much for the Spurs. 24, has barely been in Gosford using him for 209 minutes. And far from being fearful Thanks to last week’s surge chael Jordan’s Bulls’ achieve- “We are in the moment and three months, having arrived There could be more of drawing tough opponents in up the FIFA rankings, Austra- ment with their 72nd win, and enjoying the ride, but the goal is in January from the Victorian changes in the works for the the last qualifying phase, he’s lia (No.50) are now the second- can take the record for them- to win a championship,” Curry Premier League, while Uskok Mariners, who will be looking betting that most will be pray- highest-ranked team in Asia, selves with victory at home in said. “We’ve put ourselves in a earned his first crack at pro- to turn around a horror season ing they won’t have to face meaning they’ll avoid top- their regular season finale great position to do something fessional football when he in which they won just three Australia. ranked Iran (No.42) in the against Memphis tomorrow no other team has ever done.” signed in November. matches and notched 13 points. The Socceroos’ final tasks round starting this September.

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