SATURDAY MAY 22 2021 SPORT 51 Siddle is MCG has back to his best PETER Siddle has hit the ground running on his return for County Championship side eyes on Essex, snaring four wickets in a devastating display against Warwickshire. Siddle took just one wicket in his first three innings this season and was left out of Essex’s last match against Cup final Derbyshire. But he was back to his best when he sent down nearly 20 JESSICA HALLORAN finals and major events, in- overs against Warwickshire JOHN STENSHOLT cluding three Bledisloe Cup and took 4-36. matches with an average at- The 36-year-old was also THE Melbourne Cricket tendance of 81,529,” Fox said. comfortably Essex’s tightest Ground is a hot favourite to “There isn’t another venue bowler, being hit for just 1.83 host the rugby World Cup final in Australia that could host up runs an over. if Australia secures the rights to 100,000 passionate rugby Siddle’s efforts restricted for the 2027 tournament. fans and we would relish the Warwickshire to 7-159 at And insiders say it is largely opportunity to support Rugby stumps on a day when fixtures due to Peter V’landys. The Australia in their bid to host were once again heavily rugby league supremo has the World Cup in 2027.” impacted by rain. been lobbying the NSW gov- But chairman of Venues Meanwhile, towering ernment to invest in smaller NSW Tony Shepherd still be- Queensland quick Billy Stan- boutique stadiums instead of lieves Sydney is the rightful lake suffered a devastating an $800m redevelopment of home of World Cup showpiece blow this week as he was ruled Stadium Australia, which in- games. out of the rest of the County siders say is a reason for Syd- Shepherd said Victorians Championship with a stress ney dropping off the pace for “didn’t even know the rules” of fracture. Stanlake had just the right to host the 2027 rugby. “It’s almost a no-brain- made his debut for Derbyshire, World Cup final. er, why would you go down to taking 2-91 which included the No decision has been made a city where people don’t even wicket of England legend Ala- on where the money will go, know the rules?” he said, stair Cook. But it was later re- and rugby officials are still laughing. vealed that Stanlake injured pushing the NSW government “Despite what the Queens- his back in the process. for a roof to be placed on Stadi- landers may think, NSW and um Australia if it secures the Sydney are the home of rugby 2027 World Cup. and this is where the Wallabies “Upgrading Stadium Aus- are based, this is the logical PSL TO WRAP tralia, placing a retractable place to have it. roof on the stadium, would “It’s done it before, it was an leave a terrific legacy from the absolutely magnificent event, UP IN GULF World Cup for Australia,” an outstanding event, it’s the PAKISTAN’S Twenty20 league Rugby Australia’s World Cup home of Australia’s Olympics, Gabi Simpson of the Firebirds is wary of the threat from Collingwood. Picture: Getty will resume in Abu Dhabi in bid chief Phil Kearns said. it’s a logical place to have it.” June, months after it was While World Rugby will Former rugby boss John suspended over a COVID-19 have the major say in where O’Neill, who won the bid for outbreak among players. the World Cup final will be 2003 and oversaw the hosting MAGPIE SWOOP WARNING Pakistan Cricket Board said hosted, Victorian sporting offi- of the “wildly successful” Cup, the Gulf state had approved its cials are pushing hard to said that tournament’s aim was request to host the final games snatch the 2027 event from to spread the “rugby gospel” EMMA GREENWOOD The Magpies won just one And while the Firebirds of the Pakistan Super League. Sydney’s Stadium Australia, near and far, but to keep the game last season but it was headed into the season as “The holding of the the venue of the 2003 final, final in Sydney. THE Queensland Firebirds against the Firebirds and one of the most fancied remaining matches in Abu when Jonny Wilkinson’s drop In 2003, they didn’t use the are preparing for a Magpie Queensland captain Gabi teams, given the addition of Dhabi will allow our fans to goal broke Wallabies’ hearts. MCG. attack, predicting Super Simpson is not prepared to Gretel Bueta and Kim once again follow and support Stuart Fox, chief executive of “The MCG is a wonderful Netball’s wooden-spooners write them off. Ravaillion to their side, they their favourite players and the Melbourne Cricket Club, venue for cricket and AFL, I was Collingwood pose a “huge “I think any team with a have also just one win to teams,” PCB chief executive manager of the MCG, con- the one who first took the Bled- threat” despite their lowly Geva Mentor, Ash Brazill and their name this season. Wasim Khan said. firmed the ground’s interest in isloe out of Sydney and Bris- finish last season. Kelsey Browne, that in itself Simpson believes there is The season started in hosting the blockbuster event at bane in ’97 and we got 90,000 The teams meet in is a huge threat,” she said. a real resolve from her group February but had to be the 100,000 capacity stadium. there to the MCG,” he said. Tasmania today, The Magpies opened their to improve with every outing postponed a month later “The MCG is a world-class “Stadium Australia’s not a per- with the Magpies taking account last week with a and build momentum after seven players and venue with a proven track fect place, but it is a better stadi- their home match to 60-56 victory over the throughout the year, as they support staff tested positive record in hosting World Cup um for rugby than the MCG.” Launceston’s Silverdome. Adelaide Thunderbirds. did last season. for the virus. FASTEST LAP FOR FERRARI Bedridden Zerafa promises no excuses FERRARI’S Charles Leclerc stormed around his hometown track with the fastest time in second free JAMIE PANDARAM he could have a bowel infection. The results to come through – hopefully practice for the Monaco Grand Prix, after being last 29-year-old from Melbourne may it’s nothing more than what they in the morning session. A DEPLETED Michael Zerafa has need to return to hospital next week think. They said if the pain continues Leclerc only managed a handful of laps in the vowed to be fully fit for his July 7 to have a camera tube inserted into they want to do a gastroscopy. morning after gearbox problems, but under crisp showdown against Tim Tszyu de- his body, however he declared there “The body is a lot better than blue skies showed he can’t be discounted in spite succumbing to a mystery illness would be no excuses when he takes three days ago, I was bedridden and Sunday’s fifth GP of the season. that has left him on an intravenous on Tszyu (18-0, 14KO) at the New- couldn’t move I was in so much pain. It was an impressive performance from Ferrari drip in hospital this week. castle Entertainment Centre. “For me there’s going to be no ex- as new boy Carlos Sainz was second fastest, Zerafa still doesn’t know what “The fight is seven weeks out, I’m cuses, I’m not going to play that, with seven-time world champion and current caused the severe stomach cramps super fit and we’re gradually coming ‘Seven weeks ago I had stomach is- championship leader Lewis Hamilton in third and vomiting, with tests still being good,” Zerafa said. “I’m taking it sues.’ It is what it is and it’s on God’s for Mercedes. Michael Zerafa. analysed by doctors, but it’s possible slowly and waiting for the rest of the hands now.” V1 - NTNE01Z01MA.