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TM ’S SPORTING MAGAZINE SINCE 1991

EDITOR Jeff Centenera jcentenera@insidesport .com.au

ART DIRECTOR Allan Bender [email protected]

ASSISTANT EDITOR James Smith [email protected]

EDITORATLARGE CRICKET Robert Drane [email protected] CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Molly Appleton, Angela Bacic, Ian Chappell, Matt Cleary, Andrew Marmont, Kathy Stone

GROUP EDITOR Kevin Airs [email protected]

Inside Sport on the web www.insidesport.com.au

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES: [email protected], (02) 9901 6100 ITH A change of sporting season, we bring a He, of course, is also our longest-tenured new element to the magazine. For the last contributor to Inside Sport, having covered almost Wsix years, our sister publication Inside every topic you could imagine. ADVERTISING Cricket has covered all the developments in the To start off the new cricket arrangement, Bob Ryan Coombs Advertising Sales Manager nation’s favourite summer pastime, from the tackles the big match-up of the summer, as Tel: (02) 9901 6379 Mob: 0449 671 738 varying fortunes of the Test team, to the tragic makes its way here again. India’s status as world [email protected] death of Phil Hughes, to the cricket’s centre of attention adds growth of the Big Bash League frisson to the season. But more QLD: Damian Martin Ad Manager and the women’s side of the game. BEST LINE IN THE than that, the Border-Gavaskar Mob: 0417 168 663 MAG THIS MONTH: [email protected] Unfortunately, Inside Cricket always has this capacity for will no longer be published as a producing drama, unwanted standalone product over the (think 2008) or otherwise. Virat Executive Chairman David Gardiner summer months. Instead, we at Kohli’s team arrives in Australia Commercial Director Bruce Duncan Inside Sport will continue in its “He has a believing this might be its best Managing Director Hamish Bayliss place, a metaphorical tossing of full-on chance at a first-time win here, Production & Digital Services Jonathan Bishop the ball to a different member of against a host side nursing Production Manager Peter Ryman the attack. It’s a near-seamless fit schedule. serious questions – that alone Circulation Director Carole Jones – Inside Cricket had a lot of Inside All the Indian should stoke the competitive Sport’s DNA, and this magazine feeling of the series. SUBSCRIPTIONS already had plenty of cricket guys do. Plenty of other cricket subjects coverage around this time of year. to prep you for the summer: Matt www.mymagazines.com.au For existing readers of Cricket, I don’t think Cleary takes a deep-dive look at Toll free 1300 361 146 or +61 2 9901 6111 we’re bringing across many Kohli, a star that fascinates as Locked Bag 3355, St Leonards NSW 1590 familiar sections of that magazine: Australians well as infuriates us. Our the retrospective pieces such retrospective pieces look at the as First XI and Timeless Test, a have any idea great Indian spinners of history, Level6,BuildingA,207PacificHighway, regular stats column (how could it of the lives as well as the emotional 2014 Test St Leonards NSW 2065 be a cricket publication without in . We sort out the new Locked Bag 5555 St Leonards NSW 1590 numbers?), reviews of the many these guys TV arrangements with Fox and new cricket books that come out Seven, and learn some all-round Inside Sport is published by nextmedia Pty Ltd ACN: 128 805 970, lead.” Level 6, Building A, 207 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065 © 2017. in the coming months. Another craft with rising women’s team All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, in whole holdover I’m thrilled about: Ian star Ash Gardner. or in part, without the prior permission of the publisher. Printed by Bluestar – Dirk Nannes, on his WEB , distributed in Australia and NZ by Gordon & Gotch. ISSN Chappell will continue to write old IPL team-mate We’ll have a cricket focus over 1037-1648. The publisher will not accept responsibility or any liability for his column – and with Nine no the next few months, but that the correctness of information or opinions expressed in the publication. All Virat Kohli. material submitted is at the owner’s risk and, while every care will be taken longer broadcasting the cricket, doesn’t mean we’ll neglect our nextmedia does not accept liability for loss or damage. it’s heartening to have a place mission to the wider spectrum Privacy Policy to still get a Chappelli fix. of sport. Also in this edition, we preview the We value the integrity of your personal information. If you provide personal information through your participation in any competitions, The most important factor in bringing Inside W-League football, and we have an excerpt from surveys or offers featured in this issue of Inside Sport, this will be used Cricket across, though, is the continued presence Johnathan Thurston’s new book, about how his love to provide the products or services that you have requested and to improve the content of our magazines. Your details may be provided to of Robert Drane, now our cricket editor-at-large. of began. JT also happens to mention third parties who assist us in this purpose. In the event of organisations Bob’s passion for cricket – he has a deep sense his boyhood affinity for cricket – although, as he providing prizes or offers to our readers, we may pass your details on to them. From time to time, we may use the information you provide us to of the game’s history and its significance in its tells, he didn't like getting out too much. inform you of other products, services and events our company has to outposts across the world – has infused the Jeff Centenera offer. We may also give your information to other organisations which may use it to inform you about their products, services and events, unless you magazine since he took it over a few years back. Editor tell us not to do so. You are welcome to access the information that we hold about you by getting in touch with our privacy officer, who can be contacted at nextmedia, Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590 4 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018

56 62 66 74 80

DECEMBER 2018

46 SeriesPreview: IndianTakeaway What happens when India’s road woes meet a depleted Australian line-up? That’s the question that will be answered this summer. BY ROBERT DRANE 56 BlokeOnTop IndiansuperstarViratKohlihasaknack for really geting under our skin. That’s because he playsthegamejustlikeanAussie. BY MATT CLEARY 66 TimelessTest: PlayingInTheShadow In the wake of a real cricket tragedy, the 2014 Adelaide Test produced a classic contest. BY ROBERT DRANE 74 Watch This Space In our W-League season preview, the women’s football comp takes a big, next step. BY ANGELA BACIC & MOLLY APPLETON 80 FindingFooty In this excerpt from his new autobiography, a future legend of rugby league writes about how his passion for his sport began. BY JOHNATHAN THURSTON &JAMESPHELPS

8 20 THINGS YOU MISSED 29 PUB DEBATE 42 IN HINDSIGHT 10 FREEZE FRAME 30 FOURTHINGSYOUMUSTNOTMISS 62 FIRST XI 18 INSIDE CRICKET 32 THE CLUBBIES 72 HOT SHOT #2 20 INSIDE FOOTBALL 34 HOT SHOT #1 78 1 ON 1: 22 INSIDE NBL 36 TEN THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW 87 INSIDER 24 QUARTER TIME 38 THE NUMBERS 94 HOT SHOT #3 26 YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO ... 40 ’S KNOCK 98 WORD PLAY

6 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 CONVERSIONS SCORED MOST MOST PENALTIES ES SCORED MOST PO NTS SCORED MOST TR Jonny W lk nson 58 58 TIME Jonny Wilkinson 15 227 39

ALL ings UB WORLD CUPRUGBY Gav n Has הב SUMMARY

PLAYERS Gavin Hast ngs 15 37 Jonah Lomu Grant Fox 227 22235 3 2 Gavin Hastings Quesada הב 14

TOP Drew Mi chell Gonzalo M chael Lynagh 195 3333 Lynagh 3 M chael 13 4428 lkinson 191 4 33 5 Jonny W Dan el Car er Doug How e t 4 1 Michael Lynagh Adam Ash ey-Cooper 170 55 5 Grant Fox

Rich e McCaw LINEOUTS STOLEN MOST CLEAN BREAKS MOST METRES MADE MOST TACKLES MADE MOST Jonah Lomu 225 1,219 an Jones 37 24

STATS 39

ALL TIME 1,048 Habana Scha k Burger 32 2237 Lomu Bryan 23 2 1,040 3 2 Doddie Weir Jonah הב 30 xƏɎˡƺǼƳ 22 33999 4 àǣƬɎȒȸ PLAYER 3 John Eales Br an Lima David Campese Th erry Dusautoir Jason Rob nson 30 28 44Ma a Nonu Tau upe Fa etau 9 959 Neil Francis Gavin Hast ngs 4 28 K rwan 17 555 5 Paul Moriarty John CONVERSIONS

MOST TRIES SCORED MOST PENALTIES SCORED MOST MOST POINTS SCORED France 226 New Zealand 135

TIME Zea and 311 AMS New 2,302 49 Australia 131 2 England 209 2 122 France 109 3 New Zealand 07 Eng and 07 4 103

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The first father-daughter AFL drat selection is made with Carlton 6 nominating Abbie McKay. She’s the kid of Andrew, a 244-gamer and premiership player for the . Andrew noted to the club website: “You hear of players you played with whose wives are pregnant: when it’s a boy, everyone says ‘fantastic, the next father-son’. If it’s a girl, it’s a ‘congratulations, but they won’t play footy’. Certainly that’s changed now.”

In one hell of a second act, Shane Gould re-emerges into the public 1 eye and wins reality-TV competition Survivor. From watching the show, we see that the 61-year-old can still swim, and is supremely canny with the political machinations. Olympic commitee boss John Coates was moved to say, rather obtusely: “There’s something special about the Olympic spirit. It can produce the very best in individuals, it can bring nations together and can even sway the Tribal Council.”

YoungLiverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold plays world chess champ gets a test notice from ASADA, grumbles that he’s Magnus Carlsen, loses in 17 moves. Alexander-Arnold later says football not a professional footballer yet. The sprint god does eventually 2 and chess share similarities, which should worry Reds fans. 7 get a contract offer, then knocks it back. Former Socceroo Sasa Ognenovski puts the most fiting epitaph on the Mariners’ Newly retired Bolt experience: “In the football world, you’re a nobody.” 3 rugby league star Billy The Parramata Eels say they won’t play in the new Western Sydney Slater moves into a Stadium, leading to the absurd prospect of Parra not playing in a football club front 8 building built in, and for, Parramata. Sanity eventually prevails, as the office – only it club finally agrees to a 15-year deal at the 30,000-seater. happens to be the AFL’s St Kilda. Slater’s role is in leadership development, and judging how the Saints have gone in recent years, Billy will be very busy.

The AFL formalises 4 its long-mooted rule changes, including its diabolical- sounding six-six-six set-up, which will keep a half-dozen players in each third of the ground at centre bounces. The more profound visual change is Cirque du Soleil is making a show based on the life of Lionel the 18m goal square, 9 Messi. This is one of those weird things that makes unusual double the size of the sense, incorporating Messi’s sublime skill into Cirque’s acrobatic current one. The AFL artistry. Can’t wait to see the character representing Luis Suarez. justified the changes, noting a trial in the VFL Kurt Fearnley wins The Don. The produced a 15 percent Paralympic champ becomes the A Queensland government report finds the nation lost $1.06b on 5 sports beting in 2016-17, a 15 percent increase on the previous scoring increase; first athlete with a disability to win 10 stats-inclined observers the award, which recognises the most finding. Sports beting is the big growth category – with all those ads noted that the sample was inspirational sporting feat of the year. and apps, hard to believe, yeah? But electronic gaming/casino/loteries still a miniscule three matches. make up the bulk of the gambling take, as Australians lost more than $23.7b.

8 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 The Australian Financial Review’s Young Rich List places 13 sport- Boxer Canelo Alvarez 16 spersons in the top 100 – only tech and fi nance do bet er. But if you 11 signs an 11-fi ght, want to be fi t and rich, pro sport isn’t the place to be – fi tspo US$365m deal with Instagrammers fare as well, with Kayla Itsines’s near-half-billion fortune streaming service DAZN. It’s crushing any other Aussie athlete. The lesson: kids, if you want to be rich at a touted as the single richest young age, forget about school and get really good at sport or social media. athlete contract ever, and an indicator of the future; rather than put ing the Mexican The idol’s fi ghts on pay-per- 17 Aussie view, where he would be timber- boxing’s biggest draw, he sports team wins can instead be seen for a a record fi t h $10 monthly subscription. world champion- ship. (Why doesn’t Cricket The Gold Coast Suns are slammed all through the off season for a Australia get 12 departure-wracked list that isn’t considered AFL-standard. Enter someone from doyen Kevin Sheedy: “When you think of the Gold Coast, really the Chopperoos they’ve been there for fi ve minutes and they’re ahead of Carlton – and for their Carlton have been there for 140 years ... I’d be worried about Carlton more high-perfor- than Gold Coast.” mance role?) Star woodsman – and man with a name made for his game – Laurence O’Toole wins the individual title.

English racing commentator Mat Chapman claims Winx was 13 regarded as average in Britain, having beaten only “fairly moderate” opponents. Chris Waller and the local racing industry fi re up. Winx, we’re guessing, did not care because she’s a horse.

Everyone’s 14 favourite high-per- Tour de France unveils its 2019 route in what is being touted formance manager, 18 as the “highest in history” (it’s probably less ironic in French). Pat Howard, will The great race will have a record 30 mountain passes and fi ve quit his cricket post summit fi nishes, three above 2000m. In what is seen as a bid to rein in at er next year’s Team Sky’s dominance, the Tour is also pushing for a ban on power Ashes. We’ll watch meters – organiser Christian Prudhomme said the device “annihilates with interest to see the glorious uncertainty of sport”.That surely sounds great in French. which person from another sport The takeaways we’ll always will bring in to tell Ben Simmons 20 remember from Cricket Australia’s our cricketers 19 says he wants ethics review at er the ball-tamper- how they’re doing, to play one ing scandal: that the players live in a “gilded and who all the season in the AFL for bubble” that cuts them off from real life; that ex-players will Essendon before he’s the vice-captaincy should no longer be seen as bitch about. finished his sporting the role of heir apparent; that the career. Bombers’ Medal, self-consciously modelled on footy chief executive B&Fs, didn’t suffi ciently recognise on-fi eld The AFL will play Shanghai matches for another three years. That Xavier Campbell behaviour. Last, best word goes to former 15 Port Power fan club in China is really coming along. St Kilda will be the tweets back: “Just England captain Michael Vaughan, on the other end of the fi xture, and no doubt the Chinese will ask why we let us know.” Players’ Pact: “Cringeworthy. Smile with us, name sports teams at er saints. dream with us. What a load of bullshit.”

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 9 Freeze Frame

10 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 ▼ With apologies to Marlowe, it’s the race that launched a thousand ships – 2689 for the 50th Barcolana, which fills the Gulf of Trieste with one of the world’s largest regatas. Getty Images Getty

photo by

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 11 ▲ Golfi ng great Walter Hagen once said you should stop to smell the roses. He actually didn’t say it, but the fl owers of California’s Napa Valley did look enticing during the Safeway Open.

◀ The cheerleaders of Clemson University in South Carolina fl y high these days, right alongside their championship-winning football team.

▶ Redzel let strapper Christine Duff y know that he was ready for another run at The Everest. Sure was, as the six-year-old banked another win, worth $6m.

▲ The athletes of the Invictus Games were true profi les in sporting courage. Poland’s Jan Koczar teed it up in the golf event at NSW.

▶ England’s Kyle Walker doesn’t spit on the concept of the UEFA Nations League, which pits Europe’s Getty Images Getty top countries more ot en. The English drew

with Croatia. photos by ◀ Reach for the stars: Aussie Caitlin Thwaites and NZ’s Katrina Grant compete in game three of the Constellation Cup series. The Silver Ferns won this match, but the Diamonds held onto the trophy.

▼ Viewers were swept up by Tongan passion during the rugby league Test. Kangaroo Boyd Cordner was instead swept up by ’s tacklers. ▲ Belper Town FC is reminded of the team colours, even when they hang ▼ There’s a story to be told in the reflection of jockey Gerald Mosse’s their heads in the change-rooms. The lads were playing in an FA Cup prelim. goggles, at the Cambridgeshire Meeting at Newmarket Racecourse. Getty Images Getty

photos by 16 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 ▲ We’ll always have that time when Usain played for Central Coast ... Bolt got his kicks with the Mariners, then turned down a contract offer.

◀ Yasiel Puig’s bat was particularly tasty during the MLB postseason, as the Dodgers made it back to the World Series.

▶ The turtle’s-eye view: the age groupers prepare for the start of the Ironman swim leg in Kona. INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 17 INSIDE CRICKET

A Bash for all the world BY FOX CRICKET’S MEL JONES

or players across the BBL08 and extended season with 59 games, theme across worldT20 franchise cricket, it WBBL04, there are two countdowns country fans get more opportunities to With the is the importance of a team’s leg-spin that have well and truly started. The see their teams live with lots of rural longer season option. Seven of the top ten bowlers in the F fi rst is front and centre and marks action and for the fi rst time, there will ICC T20 rankings are leggies. And that the beginning of the Big Bash this summer be more analysis through the week approaching, doesn’t include Fawad Ahmed, who was the in December. with dedicated cricket shows the cream will leading -taker in the recent Caribbean The second sounds a long way off , but dissecting the wins and losses. . believe me when I say the World T20 2020 The only reduction could be in access definitely rise With the longer season approaching, the – which will be staged in Australia – will to international talent for the entire to the top, but cream will definitely rise to the top, but come around very quickly. There are only season – Afghanistan is the only top- picking an eventual winner is harder than two seasons of T20 cricket for players to ten T20 nation that doesn’t have a picking an playing a . Could this be impress selectors and to make a home scheduled series during the Big Bash. eventual winner the season for those teams who haven’t yet World Cup. The women’s fi nal on March 8, The depth of home-grown talent won’t graced the podium: Heat, , International Women’s Day, will be miss a beat though and could well give is harder than Renegades, Stars? Outcomes aside, for at empting a world record crowd at the rise to new home-grown heroes such as playing a Rashid both BBL08 and WBBL04, there is no doubt MCG of 93,000-plus. The men’s fi nal on D’Arcy Short last year. that it’s shaping up to be our biggest Bash November 15 will be hoping for a repeat of If there has been one consistent Khan googly. season yet. home-ground advantage following on from their 2015 ICC World Cup success. This season will be the last time the Big Can anyone stop Bash Leagues will run concurrently. The and her success of the WBBL and the need to give it all-conquering its own space to grow has meant there is ? more than enough confi dence that this world-leading league can stand alone in season 2019-20. The WBBL has undoubtedly not only been one of the leading domestic sporting competitions in Australia, but has also kick- started global leagues like the Super League in England and exhibition matches. Squads are still to be fi nalised but it would be a brave person to think the Sixers won’t go close to a hat-trick of titles. Clever recruiting and long-term contracts have them stacked with Australian and international talent. However, the ever- present Scorchers will be buoyed by confi dence, with the world’s premier bat er and the WBBL's leading run-scorer in the fi rst two seasons, Meg Lanning, returning to the WBBL at er injury and in new colours. It will all kick off at the redeveloped on December 1-2, only a week at er the World ICC T20 fi nal in Antigua. That important result aside, there will be no hangover from Getty Images Getty competing for the fourth World T20 title. For the BBL, we will be treated to an photo by Every match of the BBL and WBBL LIVE and in

18 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 MENTAY 2000

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Pride of a nation BY FOX SPORTS’ ADAM PEACOCK

port, for all its modern-day excess Sudanese (Deng and Mabil’s heritage), is a Going into Parkville was a real eye-opener. and dastardly behaviour, has this horrible thing for Australia. As Mabil and For some time, I really enjoy speaking to them, give them a wonderful ability to present stories Deng’s careers inevitably grow in stature, Australian bit of hope to turn their life around.” Swhich warm the heart. And so it was, they’re happy to take responsibility in Aside from Deng and Mabil, there’s in the pre-dawn blur in early October, we facing up to it. Truth told, they’ve already football has another generation of kids from Africa sat and watched one unexpectedly unfold met it head on. been awaiting coming through. Some matured, like Kenny before our eyes. Through his charity Barefoot to Boots, the top-line Athiu at Melbourne Victory, who has risen As the Socceroos bat ered Kuwait in the Mabil travels back to the Kenyan refugee from shit ing fridges at Harvey Norman fi rst match under new manager Graham camp in which he grew up and delivers breakthrough and playing park football in Melbourne to Arnold, two childhood friends came off the football equipment and medical supplies. of players of starting striker for Victory. bench to make their debuts for their nation. Deng, now in Melbourne, helps his brother King Kenny – was there any other option Their adopted nation. Peter out at Parkville, the youth detention African for a cult hero named Kenny? – still feels Thomas Deng and Awer Mabil grew up in centre, home to misguided souls who have heritage. With the eyes of those that don’t know him trouble. Through no fault of their own, it trouble fi nding their place. Deng and walking down the street. He knows must be said. Out of South Sudan, via “I just want to do my part, with the youth strangers cross the road to avoid walking Kenya, as refugees. Both found their way in my community,” says Deng. “They’re Mabil it has past him. to Adelaide as primary school-aged kids having a hard time at the moment with all happened, and “I never have anything against people and found football. this social media. For them it’s just about who feel scared,” says Kenny. “I just feel Now it’s a romantic thought staying focused, don’t read into things. it is wonderful. sorry for them.” to say fi nding football One day it will change. It automatically made them will change because of people fi nd themselves in a foreign like him. land. There were a number And there’s teenagers of factors, but football was galore, like 15 year-old one of the main ones. Ethiopian refugee Idrus At er the game in Kuwait, Abdulahi, plucked from year in which Mabil scored and nine to sit on the bench for Deng was the fi rst one to Melbourne City in the celebrate with him, creating Melbourne Derby in October. an image to last a lifetime, For some time, Australian the Socceroos squad football has been awaiting the gathered at the team hotel top-line breakthrough of for a special presentation. players of African heritage. Captain Mark Milligan With Deng and Mabil it has spoke beautifully of the happened, and it is wonderful. two young men who had It gives every young African just made their debuts, footballer who comes to and called them up to Australia hope. Along with the offi cially receive their rise of Africans in AFL and Socceroos jerseys. Both basketball, to name two other were humbled, beyond sports, it gives hope to every happy. It meant so much to displaced young person who them. It meant so much to comes here that anything is their family. It meant so possible in their new land. much to their community. And speaking of hope, A perception borne out hopefully it helps drown out of fl ippant comments and the bigotry of certain elected vote-grabbing tactics would offi cials. I know who I’d rather Getty Images Getty have you believe African represent me as an Australian immigration, namely South on the world stage. photo by Every match of the A-League season live, ad break-free and in HD

20 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018

INSIDE NBL

One giant step for hoops BY FOX SPORTS’ DWAYNE RUSSELL

ustralian basketball is headed for Simmons won rookie-of-the-year last Australia is the fact that our NBL is only its moon landing moment. The season as the hot est young gun on the vibrant and fl ying high because league countdown has already begun, and planet. Ingles has fast become one of the The owner Kestelman is writing the cheques Athis time next year we could be best three-point shooters in the known Australian to make it fl y. Without Kestelmen, the basking in the glory of one of the greatest universe. And Baynes will have a massive NBL would not exist. There would be no ever achievements in Australian sport. say in Boston’s legitimate quest to sporting television deal because the viewer The offi cial big-stage launch of the dethrone the back-to-back championship- landscape is numbers are still low. The star American Boomers’ China World Cup gold medal winning Golden State Warriors. imports would not be lighting up our quest will take place in Australia next There is also no doubt that the standard way too venues. Our national competition would August, with two historic warm-up games of Australia’s domestic NBL has never been competitive be as dead as it was six years ago, before against Team USA at a reconfi gured higher. And the gap between the NBA and for basketball the millionaire with a love of hoops 60,000-seat Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. the NBL has never been smaller. took the reins in an at empt to make The full-strength Aussie team, jam-packed Our domestic league is now seen as to allow this it popular again. with NBA stars such as Ben Simmons the third-best competition in the world golden-era Which is exactly why the two games in and Joe Ingles, will host a ridiculously behind the NBA and the Euroleague. Melbourne, the Basketball World Cup in talented collection of American NBA And many world-class stars who have opportunity China as well as the Tokyo Olympic Games icons, which could include Stephen Curry fallen just short of an NBA contract are to slip. are crucial. and Kevin Durant. now choosing Australia as the spot to The Boomers have never fi nished bet er And if the Aussies can somehow re-launch their NBA quest. than fourth at any major international unite and rise to defeat the Americans But the big elephant in the room in championship. They failed to bring for the fi rst time ever at their own home a medal at the Rio game, it would be a dream come Olympics in 2016, where true for Basketball Australia. And they were expected to win it would also be a fi t ing reward at least bronze. for NBL owner Larry Kestelman, Boomers coach Andrej who is the mastermind behind Lemanis, who was at the helm the recent resurgence of the when we crashed in Rio, still sport in Australia. has the keys for the coming But if the Boomers can do the World Cup and Olympics. unthinkable, and actually beat the Basketball Australia and United States to win gold at the Kestelman desperately need World Cup in China next Lemanis to launch this rocket. September, or bigger and bet er Because the Australian still, the Tokyo Olympics in June sporting landscape is way too 2020, it will change basketball in competitive for basketball to this country forever. It could allow allow this golden-era basketball to plant its fl ag at the opportunity to slip. summit of all-time great Rugby league and AFL Australian international sporting will always be our dominant moments, surpassing our codes. And cricket’s ratings America’s Cup victory in 1984. behemoth, the Big Bash, It is well-documented that continues to eat every other Australia’s presence in the sport in its path over summer. NBA has never been stronger. But if the Boomers can grab Simmons, Ingles, Aron gold, kids around Australia will Baynes, Pat y Mills, Dante be like American kids in 1965, Exum, Jonah Bolden, Thon but instead of telling their Maker, Ryan Broekhoff and mums they want to be an Getty Images Getty Mat hew Dellavedova are all astronaut, they’ll be wanting forging brilliant careers. to be the next Ben Simmons. photo by Every game of the 2018-19 NBL season live and in HD

22 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018

QUARTER TIME

Australian sport’s 100 top chief executives and administrators gath- ered for The Chair’s Round Table for Sport – “Hacking Human Potential” presented by Sportscover.

Potentialforanything MODERN SPORT STARS CAN DO INCREDIBLE THINGS. BUT THE NEXT GENERATION OF HALL-OF-FAMERS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE THAT WILL PUSH PERFORMANCE BEYOND KNOWN LIMITS, ACCORDING TO ONE EXPERT.

ow do you define human potential? snowboarders, as well as people in the moved over to head up Red Bull’s Our top athletes continue to change arts and in music. Recently, he and his performance team, he saw a raw, very H ournotionofwhat’sachievable.Jason team helped Austrian skydiver Felix diff erent side of human potential. Remove Taumalolo,agiantat191cmand117kg, Baumgartner prepare for and execute a the barriers and let people learn from caughtaballaroundhisbootlacesduring historic space-jumping mission (known as their environment. Tonga’shistoricrugbyleagueTestagainst Red Bull Stratos) at 128,000 feet. “What really struck me as I came from AustraliainOctober,thensteppedand “MytimeatRedBullsortofbrokedown the AIS model – they were excellent, their swervedpasthisopponentsinthesame the traditional sports barriers prety science was groundbreaking – was that I breath.Thenthere'syoungAussieMichael well,” Walshe says. “And then I moved ended up with a community of athletes Dickson, whose drop-punt and ability to into music, and arts, and culture programs, who are pushing the limits, who have never control the bounce of the football has spun andnowit’sanything;anyonewhoisgood had a coach, never had a trainer, never had the National Football League on its head. at anything, we are interested in. That’s a nutritionist or a shrink,” he says. Butwhatifwetookourunderstanding howwelearn.” “And it just dawned on me that of human potential, analysed the top Ashereflectsonallthechampionshe’s potentially we were missing something. performersintheirfields,thenusedthis worked with over time, all have certain Because these athletes were able to data to accelerate our performance for traits in common: they are good navigate and learn from their environment. generationstocome?It’sthesekindsof performers, but even beter learners. Structuring the environment around questionsthatDrAndyWalshe,ex-high “Forgetwhatthey’redoing.Howdoyou the talent, so the coach could literally let performancedirectoratRedBull,has make them a beter learner? Give them a it do the teaching, was a powerful lesson spent the last 25 years exploring. greatsenseofvaluesanddeveloptheir of that experience.” Hewasrecentlyintownforameeting character. Those sorts of things transcend Baumgartner was a case in point. How do of Australian sport’s top brass. It was everything.Inthetechnical-tacticalside, the night ater Darren Lockyer, Wendy you’ve got to get more focused. We can be Botha,HarryKewell,GaiWaterhouse, focusedonthecorehumanelementsand “I ended up with a community of RobynMaher,DrewGinn,SamCoffaand helpingtounderstandthatandhowthat Allan Moffat were inducted into the appliesacrosstheboard.” athletes who are pushing the limits, Sport Australia Hall of Fame. WorkingattheAustralianInstituteof Dr Walshe has worked with hundreds of Sportinascienceandcoachingcapacity, who have never had a coach, trainer, athletesatthetopoftheirfields:climbers, he watched how our athletes could go skydivers, surfers, skiers and beyondtheirlimits.Butthen,whenhe nutritionist or a shrink.”

24 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 Andy Walshe shares his tales from the sporting edge [from top]: with surfer Sally Fitzgibbons, underwater with motocross star Travis Pastrana, and the team effort behind Red Bull Stratos .

you prepare for jumping out of a small blip, human element, too. “You go into a grand from a height 30km higher than Mount fi nal. The machine knows everything about Everest? You can replicate that every grand fi nal for the last 30 years in experience. As a vastly experienced base terms of tactics and movement. You can’t jumper, the Austrian was an accomplished remember all that, so you can use it to ask, and confi dent performer. But he had to ‘Remind me about what happened in the overcome severe mental doubts. ’73 grand fi nal.’ But you still need to make it Walshe says this type of athlete had to your own. The coach of the future needs to be open to listening and learning from understand all that and have the ability to every opportunity. “Take a big-wave surfer take meaning from it and apply it. That’s as an example. It is hard to train on really the human element.” big waves because they just don’t happen. In a room full of Australian sport’s How do they develop those skills and 100 top chief executives and characteristics that aren’t teachable in the administrators for The Chair’s Round classic sense? And how do they use the Table for Sport – “Hacking Human environment – like the surf – to do all the Potential”, presented by sports insurer teaching? It’s a fascinating model.” Sportscover, it feels like a line-in-the- Coaches will also need to change the way sand moment when thinking about they approach their trade. Professional our sporting future. Technology will teams use plenty of data and analytics continue to accelerate in a fast way. It’s now. But imagine how technology – things how we, as a sporting nation, approach like machine learning – could assist our and anticipate these shit s to be bet er coaches in 20 years’ time? in our lives. “The coach of the future is going to have Walshe is optimistic about the next to be that expert learner,” Walshe says. phase in our evolution as a country of “They need to be very open to all the stuff sportspeople: “We have an opportunity that is going on around them, but savvy to directionally shit our evolution, either enough to be able to decipher what’s real positively or negatively. and what isn’t. They also have to be aware “I think the opportunity is there to use

that their models of coaching are probably technology to augment our understanding Sport Australia (Round Table) / Red Bull (Walshe) going to change with respect to the and help us drive that in a proactive information they’re using.” and positive way, and to take a leadership Using data in big games could also be a role in this whole massive technology help – or a hindrance. But coaches also arms race.” can’t turn into robots: they need to keep a – Andrew Marmont photos courtesy

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 25 YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO...

Anthony Mundine beefs AS THE MAN SHAPES UP FOR WHAT HE’S TOUTING AS THE LAST TIME HE WILL STEP INTO THE RING, WE RECALL SOME OF THE OTHER FIGHTS OF HIS CAREER – SOME ARE EVEN RELATED TO BOXING.

SOURCE OF AND THEN TARGET OF ANIMUS OUTCOMES DECISION GOES TO … DISCONTENT CHOC SAID …

Mundine was being Went right at er the Mundine played three Mundine’s decision Once called selectors’ LEAGUE REP let out of state stars in his spot, Origins (all off the was to quit footy chair Artie Beetson SELECTORS and Test sides in Laurie Daley and bench) but never entirely – driven out “an Uncle Tom”. the late ‘90s. Brad Fit ler. for Australia. by the snubs.

On ruling out a Inthat great boxing They really helped WWE-level relation- Mundine didn’t much DANNY rematch, in 2009: “It’s tradition, they met each other – they ship set up their see Green as his foil. GREEN like going to Ayers again way past their set a PPV record faux-epic in 2006. But he truly was. Rock twice.” prime, in 2017. in Australia!

Accused the Olympic For what it’s worth, he Credit Mundine for Freeman’s status as CATHY champ of being a “And that ain’t me. has been the Deadlys’ punching up. But it’s the iconic Aboriginal FREEMAN sell-out controlled I’m not fake.” athlete of the year hard to take on Cathy, athlete of the era. by sponsors. three times. no?

Mundine had beaten Geale had some That all the Aborigines Geale won their ’09 Split: Geale laughed DANIEL Geale, a newly minted Indigenous heritage, in Tasmania had been rematchhandily, but last, but lost four of GEALE titlist, four years which surely put wiped out. And Geale’s Mundine stormed off his next six fights earlier. Mundine off . wife was white. protesting the scores. at er Mundine.

Called same-sex I’M A It was really apparent At least he lasted CELEBRITY Wasn’t a big fan of relationships “con- We all found out that that he didn’t like longer (and was more … GET ME doing any work in fusing to society”, and he and Danny Green the jungle. Or being likable) than Bernard OUT the camp. that women dress as actually do get along. covered in snakes. Tomic. OF HERE he tells them to.

Mundine has strict Horn got the big Mundine vowed to He doesn’t like the At er Pacquiao, Horn’s fi nancial incentives JEFF opponent that expose Horn as “hype” national anthem, and promoters said no way to make the 71kg HORN Mundine never did in their November 30 won’t stand for it to a Mundine fi ght. Yet weight – $350,000 Getty Images Getty – and got a win. bout. before the fi ght. here we are ... if he’s over. photo by

26 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 It’s just not cricket! It’s every Test, ODI, T20I & BBL match summ

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Best club Best administrator Best coach NEW Best Use Of Media We’re not necessarily at er the best It’s ot en thankless work running a club. Again, not just the We’re looking to reward the people who get the word winning record. Rather, we’re looking This category recognises formal offi ce coach with the most out about grassroots sport. This can be a reporter at for the club that embodies integrity, holders who show dedication and wins, but a coach who a suburban newspaper, a club ingeniously using sportsmanship and sense of innovative approaches to their is vital to the life of social media or a for-the-love-of-the game blogger. community. administrative duties. his or her club. Tell us about who keeps your comp connected. Bestmasters Best facility Bestsports Beststalwart Without a place to play, what would Everybody knows one – the person at the performance our grassroots sportspeople do? association club who has been there for years, who has This award recognises those Nominate the people who run the They’re more than just the people become a fi xture. This award recognises athletes whose passion for their fi elds, courts, pools, courses, who sort out the draw – these are those volunteers who are not a formal offi ce sport defies age. Their stories of studios or wherever else you get in the people who work selfl essly to bearer at their club, and their outstanding dedication are an inspiration. the game. put on the game. contribution over a long period. NOMINATE NOW! AND YOUR CLUB COULD WIN A SHARE OF OVER $10,000 WORTH OF PRIZES the w men’s game INSIDESPORT.COM.AU/CLUBBIES PUB DEBATE Stadiumnamingwrongs ADDING A SPONSOR’S NAME TO A STADIUM CAN RUIN THE PRESTIGE AND HISTORY OF A SPORTING VENUE … BUT GEEZ THE EXTRA COIN MUST BE HANDY ...

after 1 beer after 2 beers after 3 beers after 4 beers

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HO HUM HEALTHY FUTURE JUST WRONG OUR HOUSE If big companies are willing to fork Doesn’t a naming rights sale mean These naming deals don’t always There’s a cricket ground in India out millions just so they can have that the stadium’s short and/or end well. In February 2011, Farmers called Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy their logo on a building, and have long-term existence is secured? Insurance Group announced it had ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium. Can you their own corporate box at the footy, Most of our favourite sports signed a 30-year, $700 million believe that? Now, I bet the good I reckon good on them. It’s not really venues only have a few days of naming-rights deal for a proposed Doc loves his cricket and is very hurting anyone, is it? No one actually the year to fi nancially benefi t NFL stadium in downtown LA. AEG, generous, but why does his name calls it 1300 Smiles Stadium in from – I’m talking about ticket sales the stadium’s developer, scut led the have to be at ached to the conversation anyway. People still and the like. I’d reckon the extra plan in 2015. Damn ... Here’s another ground? Isn’t charity supposed just refer to the Cowboys’ home income would be very handy for one: to prevent the St. Louis Rams to be anonymous? Each to their ground as “Townsville”. This issue got maintaining the upkeep of stadiums; from moving to the West Coast, in own, I suppose, but that’s get ing dredged up when the horse racing cleaning, fi eld maintenance etc. October 2015 National Car Rental ridiculous. Only legends deserve people wanted to project racing These stadiums cost a lot more announced a 20-year, $158 million to have their names on stadiums. advertising onto the Sydney Opera to run than you might think. deal to at ach its name to a proposed House. I mean, people are being a bit new stadium in St. Louis. The Rams BUILD A BRIDGE precious, aren’t they? It’s the Opera NAME FOR SALE ended up opting for California. Oh again, it’s a building, it’s not your House. It only opened in the 1970s. This whole naming rights business fi rst-born. Get over it. Most of what It’s not as if it’s an ancient relic that is completely out of control. Take the BRAND BALL we do in our daily lives is covered was being poisoned by gambling USA for instance. In 1998, 45 big- This is just rich people put ing their in advertising. If the stadium money. People really need to move league venues over there had a pawprints all over our great sports management has chosen to take the on from this. It’s just another form corporate company as part of their venues. Lot oland? Really? Credit money from a naming rights sponsor, of advertising. offi cial name. Today, there are 114 Union Australia Stadium Penrith, that “prestige” can’t have been all such cases. It’s beyond a joke now. anyone? I couldn’t believe they called that strong to start with. You can’t IF YOU’RE A ROMANTIC Kids one day will be lovingly referring Penrith Park that. And how many blame the companies for wanting Adding a sponsor’s brand to a to the days when their dads took names has Cronulla’s home had over their name out there on game day. stadium name can really ruin the them to Allianz Stadium and Hisense the years? Caltex, Southern Cross Come along now, we have to get to at raction of going to watch sport Arena. It’s just not right. Group; it’s a giant billboard! Marvel Stadium before fi rst bounce! there. I mean, who is going to go to Mend-A-Hose Jungle and be proud of it? Wheldon Road, the Castleford Tigers rugby league team’s home ground, opened way back in 1926 and has a lovely old original title, wouldn’t you agree? But all that’s ruined now. That new name makes it sound like you’re visiting a hardware store.

In 1998, 45 US big- league venues had a corporate company as part of their official name. Today, there are Getty Images Getty 114 such cases. photo by

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 29 things you must not miss

Dirt drama

As the fi nal round of the World Rally Championship, Rally Australia (Nov 15-18) will play host this year to a genuine, dramatic fi nale. Sebastien Ogier has had a lock on the WRC title for the past fi ve years, but in 2018, Belgium’s Thierry Neuville (right) and Estonian Ot Tanak each mounted genuine threats to Ogier’s off -road reign: with two rounds remaining at time of writing, Neuville held a slim lead in the points standings, while Tanak had won three of the last four events. Ogier still had a chance in second place, but should one of his challengers get up on the Coff s Coast, it would break one of the most impressive streaks in sport – the 14 consecutive years that the WRC has been won by a Frenchmen named Sebastien (the other being Loeb). Davis scupper

Pour one out for the Davis Cup fi nal (Nov 23-25), as the venerable team tennis event – one we used to care about, considering we won it 28 times – is over in its familiar form. From next year, it will transmute into an 18-nation, one-week rush, funded by the investment fi rm of (no joke) Barcelona football star Gerard Pique, which top players are already beginning to baulk at. So while Harry Hopman cartwheels in his grave, we have one more chance to enjoy la Coupe Davis, seeing how the fi nal will be held in France (on clay, naturally). And in one of the profound coincidences of sport in 2018, the French will meet Croatia, just like it was for the FIFA World Cup. Choose more Group therapy

In the surest sign that the AFL is really feeling The UEFA Champions League has earned recent itself, the AFL Dra (Nov 22-23) has expanded criticism for its group stage dragging on – just get to two days. You know, because watching footy the super-clubs through already to knockout, and clubs hand guernseys to overjoyed teenagers is get rid of all the Young Boys of the world. (That’s such compelling viewing ... Anyhow, new to the the Swiss club we’re talking about ...) But this year’s AFL’s meat market this year is live trading, which pool play has thrown up some interesting action, would be great if it looked like the fi nal scene from particularly in Group C, which has featured a classic the ’80s fi lm Trading Places, but we’re guessing it three-into-two scenario involving Liverpool, Paris won’t. The event also returns to for the St-Germain and Napoli. An early exit for Jurgen fi rst time in almost a decade, and will be held in the Klopp’s outfi t would be disaster-worthy (but not rat er expansive space of Marvel Stadium. (The harmful to their Premier League chances, it must Getty Images Getty drat gets drat y!) Carlton has the no.1 pick, Gold be said), and the path to advancement is lined with Coast the next two, but the most interested fan a trip to Paris for PSG vs Liverpool (Nov 28), base might be Adelaide’s, as the Crows own four before welcoming the Italians back at Anfi eld in

picks in the top 21. Liverpool vs Napoli (Dec 11). photos by

30 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018

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ALL POLICIES UNDERWRITTEN BY CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYD’S. THE WORD SPORTSCOVER AND THE SPORTSCOVER LOGO ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF SPORTSCOVER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD. ABN 43 006 637 903. AFS LICENCE NO. 230914 Hayley Stevenson: “You do it for the love, and what you see the athlete get out of it, but it’s also nice to get that recognition as well.” Tricoachstokesinnerdrive

ayley Stevenson has just sent squad’s 2018 schedule before a core group her squad out for an “easy run” when takes on the Cairns Ironman in June. SUPPORTING PARTNER HInside Sport catches up with her Stevenson and two others then head to CANTERBURY at the Nundah Criterium. It’s a hard slog Germany for the Ironman Frankfurt. keeping pace with the 2018 Sportscover But being a coach means her Wherever there is team Clubbies Coach of the Year (even on the competitive expectations sometimes sport, there is Canterbury phone). take a backseat. “I can’t get in all the teamwear. Canterbury The seven-day-a-week dynamo kicks training I’d like to – that just really isn’t teamwear is not your usual off her personal training at 3.30am, before possible with the time available,” made-to-order kit – developed put ing her squad of uber-motivated Stevenson adds. using insights from our global ambassadors and teams and athletes through their laps: swimming, “It’s about holding onto the perspective created using the same unique technology and specialised running and cycling. By 6.30am when most that I do this for my health and my mental fabrics, this kit allows you and your team to outplay the fi nal are still in bed, the Wilston Grange squad health and work-life balance. whistle and outperform the toughest of competition. is towelling down at er a gruelling session. “It’s to be an enjoyment in my life and Called upon during World War One to create troop uniforms Stevenson, a mother of two who also that’s what I try to bring to the other guys for both the Australian and New Zealand armies, Canterbury juggles a demanding full-time job with the as well. Remember why you’re doing it.” has long understood the need to develop the toughest education department, knows something Winning the Sportscover Clubbies uniforms and kit imaginable. At ention to detail paired with of what it takes to be a great coach. national accolade has been a huge boost rigorous on-fi eld testing, customer and player understanding “It’s all about creating an atmosphere for the Queensland-based triathlon and the highest level of durable design technologies has where people feel comfortable and are club and the associated Gorillas footy made Canterbury one of the most reliable trailblazers in also challenged to get the best out of outfi t, not to mention for Stevenson global sport to date. themselves,” she says. herself, who has urged others with Strength, passion, trust and resilience are the pillars on “I really try to focus on that internal inspiring coaches to nominate them. which sport in Australia has been built – they’re fostered by motivation as opposed to being that “Absolutely,” she says. “You do it for clubs and teams at local grassroots level, all the way to coach on the sideline yelling. I don’t want the love, and what you see the athlete international leagues and are proudly engrained in the them to be doing it for me ... [I want] them get out of it, but it’s also nice to get that Canterbury philosophy. Investing in these pillars at grassroots to be doing it for themselves.” recognition as well.” will continue to put Australia on the sporting map. Be it on the Stevenson can never be accused of Nominations for the 2019 Sportscover fi eld or court, the sideline or in training, we can help provide monstering the sidelines – she’s ot en in Clubbies Awards close on December 19. you and your team with everything you need for success in the thick of the action. The Sunshine For more information go to www. the game. Get in touch with our teamwear team today at Coast Half Ironman and the massively insidesport.com.au/clubbies [email protected] popular Noosa Triathlon completes the – Kathy Stone

32 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018

34 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 HOT SHOT

Last stand, while flat on the ground: clung to his crease while Pakistan’s fielders were set to pounce. The Aussie captain would not be removed on the fifth day of the Test,

leading his side to a Ryan Pierse / Getty Images fighting – dare we say defining? – draw. photo by

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 35 things you need to know

This new arrangement, however, has greater implications for Fox Sports, which has 3 started up a dedicated channel, Fox Cricket, along the lines of its Footy and League off erings. Cricket eff ectively becomes the pay-TV network’s new identity over the summer months (with apologies to those dedicated viewers of The surest sign that the times have the A-League). It’s also something of a course a-changed: the cricket is no longer on Channel correction for Fox Sports – it had the rights to 1 Nine. No more Wide World of Sports theme, the BBL in its fi rst year, before Ten took over in what was recognised as a mutual boost for both no more “It’s all happening”, the 12th Man albums becoming an artefact. The association that Kerry the network and the league. Packer forged 40 years ago gives way to the new package of Foxtel and Seven, who will deliver As always, when a sport hops networks, Cricket Australia’s much-desired $1b for the next we’ve been promised a host of innovations six years of broadcast rights, double what Nine 4 that will change the way we see the game. was paying. It’s not just Nine – viewers of the Big (You know what that means: more drone Bash League will no longer fl ick over to Ten, as footage!) On the Fox Cricket front, there’s also a the T20 comp also moves over in the deal. fl ood of extra programming coming down the pipe to fi ll the hours between matches: extension In one respect, it’s an inversion of the of its 360 studio show brand, more of Robert classic summer sporting roles for Craddock’s Legends interviews, and shows from 2 the free-to-air networks: kers Gus Worland (The Cricket The Professor” Rochford (The cricket on Seven, tennis on Nine. Nine had previously scooped the Australian Open for $300m, a move antly, who will be calling the that signalled it was itnessed the most vigorous unlikely to hold onto its arket for commentators, with schedule of Tests, ODIs oing back and forth with and T20 internationals. ncements. Fox has added Seven is paying a lot d as prominent more for bats than it ne-up of , Allan did for racquets, but ndon Julian. It will also have as network boss Tim on, , Bret Lee, Worner noted, they d captain Michael Vaughan get a lot more for it s favourite radio eccentric, – some 70 days and e. Meanwhile, Seven has nights of programming e likes of , compared to 14 for the th, and Grand Slam. er, among others.

36 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 CA boss James Sutherland switches on to Foxtel and Seven. below BJ and Mitch on Fox, live.

Alison Mitchell brings a new voice to the But the most intriguing move in the comm-box. comm-box – and the symbol of a real shit 6 in cricket coverage – is Seven’s choice of Alison Mitchell to be one of their lead ball-by- While the valedictories for Nine’s coverage ball callers. The Englishwoman is highly came pouring out, it should be noted that it regarded for her work with the BBC, and is 8 still has some cricket to broadcast over the already known to cricket audiences here from next couple of years. It will broadcast both the stints with ABC Radio. As Seven’s cricket chief one-day World Cup from England next June, and David Barham noted, Mitchell was offered the flow right into tour ater that; it also job because she’s “in the best two or three” has the rights to the ICC World T20 in Australia cricket callers in the world. By contrast to Nine’s in late 2020. It’s enough material that Nine kept ex-player-heavy rotation, Seven will mark itself under contract, although we’d out with media pros such as Mitchell, Tim personally love to see more Tubby on NRL. Lane and studio host Mel McLaughlin. And, yes, Bruce McAvaney will have a role. Can’t The carousel of sports rights is in full spin wait until the fi rst “special” cricket (Ten takes over the Melbourne Cup from moment of the summer arrives. 9 Seven next year), pushing the price tags ever higher. More than a few observers have The big talking point to emerge noted that such increases point to sports rights out of the new deal was the being overvalued, but the old-line networks are 7 matches that were going clinging to one of the last few televised exclusively to Fox – and thus behind properties that still works. The interesting the paywall. Fox Cricket will have development is what happens on the digital side coverage of the Australian men’s – Foxtel gained streaming rights as part of its ODIs and T20Is, as well as 16 Big package, but will share it with Cricket Australia’s Bash matches, that Seven will own digital platform. How the drit of viewers not. Passionate cricket fans, away from TV will affect the old model will be who were less passionate about something to watch, as will the move that media paying to watch cricket on TV, types are hanging out for – how long until the wondered why the anti-siphon- tech companies enter the bidding war for sport? ing law that keeps certain sport- ing events on free-TV didn’t As Howzat taught us, where TV goes, apply. But as we came to learn cricket will follow. The massive returns (golf and tennis fans have 10 the game is currently pulling in – the known for a while), the legisla- rights to India’s non-IPL, non-ICC cricket went tion doesn’t mandate free-TV for $1.3b last April – would seem to reinforce the stations air these events – if it cricketing status quo. And yet, the persistent refuses to acquire the rights, or is questions over the shape of the sport’s future happy to pass them along, they can sit – the relevance of the Test format, the growth of exclusively on pay-TV. T20, the share of money that goes to the players versus the grassroots – still sit precariously in a time of abundance. What happens when the money doesn’t roll in? Images Getty – Jeff Centenera photos by

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 37 THE NUMBERS

Wreckin’ Bowl It has become a worryingly common refrain – the Australian Test team has suff ered another bat ing collapse. There it was again in the Test against Pakistan in Dubai, when the Aussies crumbled for just 60 more runs at er the openers put on a fi rst-wicket stand of 142. Worse yet, it wasn’t the nation’s worst ten-for this year; that came in the wake of the ball-tampering debacle in South Africa. It’s hardly exceptional circumstances at play, though – over the last three years, Australia has had seven such ten-wicket losses for less than 100 runs.

TENFOR BALLS MATCH TOTAL 50 123 SAf, 2018 107

60 192 Pak, Dubai 2018 202

83 136 SL, Colombo 2016 160

84 192 SAf, Hobart 2016 85

86 211 SAf, Perth 2016 244

90 188 Ind, Bengaluru 2017 112

98 207 SAf, 2018 119

ENGLAND, TRENT BRIDGE, 2015 Australia’s most notorious bat ing collapse of recent times was, like Dubai, a loss of ten for just 60 runs. However, that was right from the start of the innings in Not ingham, which lasted an ominous-looking 111 balls, or 94 111 minutes if you went by the clock.

38 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 YOUR NEW HOME OF AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL

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FTBL.COM.AU INSIDE CRICKET

CAPTAIN's KNOCK Riseof a heavyweight IN THE HALF-CENTURY SINCE HE FIRST PLAYED AGAINST INDIA, IAN CHAPPELL HAS WATCHED CRICKET’S BIGGEST NATION EMERGE INTO ITS OWN. IT CAN TAKE ANOTHER BIG STEP THIS SUMMER.

n the nearly 50 years since I fi rst played Foundation and a stint by Thomson at a against India in a , their fast academy in . performance has evolved in spectacular A strong Indian tour party led by Virat I fashion. A former Indian player once Kohli – a captain in the Ganguly mould – told me: “We’ve had guys who craved now has its best chance of winning their selection just so they could show off the fi rst-ever series in Australia, as they take , sweater and blazer.” on a weakened home side. However, they This at itude was epitomised by a tourist also had a great chance to achieve a similar in 1977-78 who was in fi ne form in the state feat in England in the lead-up to this tour, games. When told he was in line for the but fl uff ed that chance badly. next Test side to play against an Australian It was the bat ing – Kohli apart – that at ack headed by the tearaway Jeff failed India in England, as the fast bowlers Thomson, he responded: “Why me?” performed admirably. This poses two While it was true the odd Indian team questions for Kohli’s side: will the batsmen member actually hero-worshipped players be able to handle a strong Australian pace in the opposition side, this is no longer at ack on bouncy pitches? And will their the case. The tone for India’s present fast bowlers perform well in conditions competitiveness was set by players in the that don’t favour swing and seam as they mould of astute captain “Tiger” Pataudi, did in England? prolifi c batsmen such as The series shapes as revolving around and , the talented all- bat ing: which team will make enough runs rounder and the feisty to provide their at ack with some leeway in competitor . taking the required 20 wickets? The big hurdle for Indian cricket was There’s no doubt Kohli has the class and to become more competitive overseas, the previous history to succeed against especially against strong sides like Australia’s potent at ack but question Australia, England and South Africa. marks abound with the rest of the line-up. The improvement in this regard has Their opening partnership was extremely steadily escalated, boosted by the vulnerable in England and they’ll be hoping combative leadership of Sourav Ganguly that the talented 18-year-old Prithvi Shaw and the advent of the internationally can bolster that weakness. acclaimed IPL. To do so, he’ll need to repeat the success India’s improved showing overseas has of a teenage Tendulkar who scored two also coincided with a concerted eff ort to Test centuries on his fi rst tour of Australia produce fast bowlers to complement their in 1991-92, including a remarkable hundred regular supply of wily spinners. Australians on the bouncy WACA pitch. have played a big part in their pace-bowling With all the questions about India’s production line, with and then batsmen against Australia’s pace at ack, Glenn McGrath in charge at the MRF Pace the selection of the enigmatic Rohit

40 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 Sharma is an interesting gamble. A highly talented and successful short- left Rohit Sharma needs to form batsman, Sharma hasn’t achieved overcome his five-day demons. below Hardik Pandya's consistency in the Test arena. Nevertheless absence will hurt India. he has the horizontal bat shots to succeed in Australia and could be a dangerous opponent if he can overcome his five- day demons. The absence through injury of pace bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya will hurt India as he provided balance to the line-up. Australia’s problems with are well-documented and Pandya’s presence would’ve made it easier for India to include two spinners in the side but that option is now more difficult to achieve. There’s a certain amount of doom and gloom surrounding the Australian bating ater some dramatic collapses in the UAE and the absence of and through suspension. Nevertheless Australia has a chance in the series because they possess a potent atack. There’s no doubt Australia has the class

With a much-improved attack, India won’t flag in their effort because they’ll have in the back of their mind, ‘This team can collapse at any moment.’

to dismiss India cheaply and it’ll be a mat er of whether the fragile bat ing line- up can then amass enough runs to achieve victory. This will require a couple of Australian batsmen to exceed expectations and for the bowlers to adopt the creed of former West Indies fast bowler who proclaimed: “It doesn’t mat er what the opposition bowl us out for, we’ll bowl them out for less.” However, by repeatedly collapsing, the Australian bat ing line-up has made a rod for their own back. India – with a much-improved at ack – won’t fl ag in their eff ort because they’ll have in the back of their mind, “This team can collapse at any moment.” Australia versus India contests have evolved into a heavyweight clash in recent times and this series has the potential to be an entertaining scrap. Kohli’s skill as a batsman is undoubted but it’s his at acking desires as a captain that will be fully tested Getty Images in Australia. The series could well hinge on Australia’s ability to contain Kohli the batsman and also whether they can force photos by him into defensive mode as captain.

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 41 IN HINDSIGHT

Why don't we start with the question all footy administrators hate being asked: what do you do in the off-season? Ha ha! There’s no question it’s quieter. Obviously you’re not running around from week to week thinking about footy games and stuff like that. In Stuart Clark my job we’re very much in the planning stage for N THE following interview, Stuart Clark Going on to enjoy a 24-Test and 39-ODI next year. We’re talking about budgets, funding off ers up a very interesting insight, career, Clark these days is the Chief and the preparation of different bits and pieces. Iespecially in the context of today’s youth Operating Offi cer at the New South Wales We’re also building our NSWRL Centre of development camps and talent ID systems. Rugby League, and is slowly nursing home Excellence out at Sydney Olympic Park; that’s Coming into the Australian national cricket the of the Blues’ brand-new Centre coming to its conclusion. There’s a multi-million- team back in 2006 at the age of 30 meant of Excellence at Sydney Olympic Park, dollar piece of infrastructure that has been siting Clark was already his own bowler. There among many other things league-related. with me for the last two and a half to three years was no journey of discovery in f to say he has certainly kicked on which is about to be completed. So from my point of the NSW quick. He was what nce his cricketing career, but with of view, yes, it is a litle bit slower footy-wise at the was: super-consistent and relia the international stuff about to moment, but we’re still flying along. with the ball. The Aussie get underway on these shores selectors needed someone for another summer, we asked Youhave a commerce degree and also studied resembling Glenn McGrath for him to refl ect on his time in the law at university. Was something in sports admin their tour of South Africa, in national side, and how things a main target for you post-playing career? the days of wife Jane’s illness. In have changed ... and stayed Oh, I don’t really know. Look, I just got the urge to Clark, they had it. the same. study. I started later in life; I was about 25 so I didn’t do it straight from school. I went and played cricket and worked as a real estate agent as well for a litle while. I quite enjoyed the studying side of life. I got myself in and earned my Masters of Commerce. I enjoyed that and then I turned around and thought, you know, I quite enjoyed the law side of it. My marks were good enough to get myself into the law program at University of Sydney. Once I was in, I became immersed in it and away I went. I got my teeth into it and started to enjoy it. Was it a career aspiration to become involved in sports administration? I don’t know. It is fun, I’ve got to say. When I was doing the Sydney Sixers stuff for a litle while for the couple of years I did it, I really enjoyed it and then went and worked as a lawyer for a couple of years. While that was a great experience, I’m not sure I was ever going to be a partner in a law firm; I just didn’t have the “want” to do that. So from my point of view, I think sports admin, whatever the sport may be, I think I would have enjoyed it. I thought maybe this is the calling I’ve been looking for.

As you just mentioned, you were a player/ administrator back in the initial days of the BBL for the Sixers. Did you ever honestly in your wildest dreams think the BBL would explode into what it has, and so quickly? I was at a function today and they were talking about the BBL. Now, I went and played in the first T20 World Cup back in 2007 in South Africa. We thought it was just a bit of a joke; we were having a good laugh. Blokes were missing training to go surfing – no one thought this thing was ever going to kick off. Next thing you know the IPL started, all the mega-contracts were coming out ... people started taking it a bit more seriously. To the credit of Cricket Australia, they created the BBL. We all thought “this might work a litle bit” and, you know, it was all a bit of fun, as long as it didn’t diminish from the other forms of the game, and didn’t take them over. But it’s a juggernaut now, T20 cricket and geting stronger and stronger. Not in my wildest dreams did I think we’d be geting

huge audiences on free-to-air TV and 20-30,000 Getty Images people turning up. One of the Melbourne games atracted 70-80,000 people. That was just unheard

of in domestic cricket. photos by

42 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 You rose up through the Sydney ranks behind Glenn McGrath. You have been described as super-consistent with your line and length, just like McGrath. Did that come from learning from him, or was that just a coincidence that you were similar? I think it was probably a lit le bit of both. We are physically and genetically very similar: tall, skinny and all the rest of it. Neither of us were ever going to bowl as fast as Bret Lee or – it’s just not in us. So you end up having to work with what you have. Glenn created this successful way of bowling, which was nice and simple, no need to bowl overly fast – you’d still be hit ing around the 130km/h mark. Bowl as many balls as you can at a good length, bouncing and hit ing the top of off stump. Whether consciously or subconsciously, I must’ve thought, well, if I do the same thing, it might work. We both played 60-odd games of Sheffi eld Shield cricket before get ing a game for Australia. He had some unfortunate circumstances with his fi rst wife Jane being ill. He couldn’t go to South Africa. I suppose the selectors said, "Oh well, we want someone to do something similar." I was sort-of there or thereabouts and, next thing you know, I’m playing .

Clark had a great time over in Cape Town in his debut Test in 2006. top He is still a Blue, but in rugby league these days.

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 43 IN HINDSIGHT

you bowled one down leg side he’d You fi nished with 5/55 and 4/34 in your Test make a note of it. At er bowling ten debut against South Africa in 2006. These overs and thinking you’d fi nished, he’d were the third-best match fi gures by an say, “You bowled 15 balls down the leg Aussie debutant behind Bob Massie and side – what are you doing? Come back." Clarrie Grimme . Did that mean much to Sometimes as a bowler you start you back then? Were you a stats-focussed almost second-guessing yourself. player at all? Sometimes when you’re not get ing Nah! I knew about it by the end of the game anyone out, you start to really hone in because everyone was saying it; it was on TV on get ing a wicket. It’s almost a bat le the whole time. But if you’d asked me before within yourself not to try to do the game “do you know what the best debut something diff erent. You fi ght with bowling fi gures are for a Test match?” I yourself to try something when you don’t couldn’t have told you. Actually, I had known need to. You’re not backing what you’ve about Massey’s 16 wickets – it was in the back done for a long period of time. You will be of my head because I’d seen footage of it, but successful over time, but you’re living in apart from that ... It’s not something you the moment rather than in the entire particularly think about. To get one game for space and distance of the game. Australia and to get a wicket would have been a highlight. I look back now and think, Should we be co on-wooling our wow, what happened? bowlers, or le ing them bowl as much as they like in an a empt to build up their What was your greatest strength as a resistance to injury? bowler? How was it that you were able to Oh look, we all got injured. I think there is maintain such a consistent line across grounds for the they’re-bowling-too-much your 24 Tests? Were you just a good argument. There’s no question about that. trainer ... good listener? But I’m at the stage now where I think we I had a coach when I was coming through don’t bowl enough. I think there is a nice NSW called . He used to, not middle ground there somewhere; you don’t hound us, but he’d be standing at the back want to over-bowl yourself or under-bowl of the net with a bit of paper. Every time yourself. I think we’re residing on the side of

In the nets for the Sixers. above This T20 thing is a joke, yeah? right With a bloke they call Pigeon.

44 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 caution at the moment rather than testing how far we can go. Bowling is such a natural thing. We’re not all metronomes; not everyone can bowl the same. Some people are physically or genetically able to bowl more balls than others. At the moment, we’re almost cookie-cut er approaching it. There’s no real science to that, other than “this is what they think is going to be the right answer”. My point is: guys are still get ing injured. If all the injuries had gone away, maybe there would be some science to say “well, that advice was right”. We keep going down a path of restrictions in bowling, and you know what, that’s good, but the outcome isn’t any diff erent. They’re still get ing injured. So if we just keep doing that because we think it’s right, but it’s not right ... then why? But in the same breath, I agree that too much bowling .... if you’re bowling a million balls every day, you are going to get injured. “The biggest price It was painful for everyone . above Not a they’ll pay is they’ll have bad bowling attack, that. below The Aussies just to live with this for the couldn't get Sachin out rest of their lives at the SCG. because people will always remember it.”

We watched Sandpapergate play out with our mouths wide open in shock earlier this year: as a former player how did you see it all? What were your dominant thoughts along the way as far the penalties were concerned, for example? There’s no question they did the wrong thing and they needed to be given a punishment. The ball- tampering punishment by the ICC, if you think about it, was one match. In my opinion, the penalties they received from Cricket Australia are ridiculously excessive. Yes, they’ve done the wrong thing, but yes, they’ve paid a high enough price. The biggest price they’ll pay is they’ll have to live with this for the rest of their lives because people will always remember it, but if you want to talk we were bowling in those last two about one of the most gut-wrenching and horrible sions, trying to bowl them out, and things that I’ve ever seen, that press conference s great big hole in the pitch which that Steve Smith did when he landed back in hrough wear and tear. The Indians Australia ... I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything as were all looking at it and worried about it. I don’t horrible as that in a cricketing or sporting sense. It think the ball went anywhere near it the whole was unwatchable. You felt like crying yourself. All game. It was just in your eye line and was quite the rhetoric that’s gone around about why and how. off -put ing when you when you were bat ing. Teams generally try to get the ball in a condition I ended up get ing Sachin out; he chopped on. On where it goes reverse. Yes, what he did was stupid. the last day, walked out to bat. They Yes, he needed to be punished, or they needed to were trying to, as all teams do, delay the game and be punished, but a one-year ban? That’s madness. slow it down ... He came out to bat with two let - handed gloves and then sort of halfway-out went: You were fortunate or unfortunate enough to Oh, I’ve got the wrong glove! be a part of another “gate” game – Monkeygate We ended up get ing the three wickets and there back in 2008 in Sydney. With India coming were the celebrations, but unfortunately they were to these shores this summer, what are your marred a lit le bit by what went on post-match with dominant memories of that game? all the enquiries and the hearing, but yeah, a I remember we won ... Andrew Symonds bat ed fabulous game of cricket, went right down to the really well in the fi rst innings and got 100-odd. I fi nal couple of overs. Some of the greats of Indian

Getty Images Getty remember we couldn’t get Sachin out in the fi rst cricket were on the other end, as they’ve done to us innings; I think we got everyone else and he was not over there numerous times. They’re still just so out at the other end. We just couldn’t get him out: good in their conditions. photos by we tried and tried and tried. I remember on day fi ve – James Smith

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 45 The Indians have a Hindi phrase for a “bad trip”: buri yatra. We’re guessing it’s been used a bit lately, as the world’s no.1 Test team has travelled dismally. Australia, on the other hand, can be forgiven for thinking they’ve experienced a bad trip of another kind, and wouldn’t mind waking up from it anytime soon. It will make for an interesting encounter. By ROBERT DRANE

46 INSIDE SPORT |DECEMBER 2018 photo by Getty Images

takeaway INSIDE SPORT SPORT INSIDE | DECEMBER 2018 2018 DECEMBER 47

ustralians and Indians have ball-tampering affair in South Africa. The until the Second Test, when it looked more always served their cricket in embers from that bushfire are proving like a capsizing than a tipping. Were we entirely distinct ways: Australia more deadly than the event itself as they witnessing a thoroughbred foal struggling Awith a meaty sizzle, India a gently alight, one by one, on the combustible to its feet under the watchful eye of its Bart spicy tang. The difference expresses itself eucalypts of Australian cricket. Cummings, or just ugly ungainliness? in the way a shot is made, a ball is spun, a Australian batting was in trouble before Though it’s probably too early to ask press conference is conducted, or how Smith and David Warner were barred; the whether we’ve already given new coach politics manifests itself. Cricket filters entropic forces acting on first-class cricket Justin Langer too much credit for little through two completely diverse cultures have suddenly emerged in a Test team that return, many ask it anyway. The Aussies and serves varying purposes, takes on currently seems to have few of the means foundered in infertile conditions under different guises, in each. to do what winning Test teams do. Darren Lehmann, but he was doing his Still, it’s cricket, and cricket’s a superb level best to turn it around. Has something generator of stories. And don’t we all love QUESTIONABLE CHARACTER? changed under Langer? Were the Aussies’ a good story? The Australia-India rivalry It’s difficult to know how this Aussie team troubles over there in the past as much has, over the decades, spawned drama: will go. In this year-zero for Australian to do with impalpable attributes as the the tie, “Monkeygate”, Simpson’s cricket, what can we go on? They played art and science of technique? Is Langer comeback, the ’69 riots, Mumbai 2001, Pakistan on the desiccated wickets of the somehow better equipped to marshal these Gilly’s win in 2004. There are many more. In United Arab Emirates and, as always, as incorporeal forces? the realm of cricket, these ferocious rivals anyone, struggled. India lost a hard-fought Whatever it is he brings, it’s contagious. have a shared language, common folklore. series in England, then whipped the West Tim Paine, already a leader of men, seems The colourful 2017 edition, printed in India Indies on the subcontinent. But that’s par for to have found a context in this new team. and featuring Steve Smith, might have been the course – their tenth consecutive home Paine’s captaincy wasn’t perfect. Certainly, part one of a brand-new series of stories, victory, given their performances elsewhere, his use of his fast-bowlers and the new but for the fact that several significant tells us nothing. ball drew heavy criticism that would have characters have been written out. There are intangibles in the Australian gained stridency had the team lost that first These series generally have more colour team now. Unforeseen changes have Test. The spirited draw cancelled it out, and than a Hindu temple. Will this one? For occurred; ghosts gradually take form. The Paine’s very own rearguard fight, added to the second time in four years, the Indians fighting draw in the UAE for example: his post-match comments, worked in his arrive at a time of crisis for the Aussies. was it some sort of turning point? Even a favour. He rebuked his team for celebrating Its cause – or was it a symptom? – was the tipping point? It seemed so for a few days, the stalemate, mindful, perhaps, of a certain

The new leadership team of Aaron Finch will have to prove coach Langer and captain that playing as a Test opener is Paine [below] have made an not too much of a stretch ... imprint. Will wins follow? Meanwhile, the team will be sweating on the health of Khawaja, who has swept to top-bat status.

THE FIGHTING DRAW IN THE UAE: WAS IT SOME SORT OF TURNING POINT? EVEN A TIPPING POINT? IT SEEMED SO UNTIL THE SECOND TEST, WHEN IT LOOKED MORE LIKE A CAPSIZING THAN A TIPPING.

astute English captain in 2005, who noted brink together and, through introspection, and media make much of achievements like similar scenes on the Australian balcony have increased self-knowledge. ten consecutive home series wins. Let’s hope after a thrilling deadlock, stored it and Recent public utterances from Paine and they don’t pack smugness in their luggage. fashioned it into bullets. Langer himself exude this new understanding. After all, Australia’s woes are mainly was part of that Australian team. They now understand they have no laurels confined to their batting. At home, they have Putting aside the abysmal Second to rest on; they will need to scrap for every the munitions to devastate any delusional or Test for a moment, where the loss morsel of success. Ultimately – “ultimately” delicate batting line-up. might be attributed to a series of poor seems a long way off in their case – decisions, failure to capitalise on fleeting character translates into victory of some TROUBLESOME TRUTHS opportunities and two key injuries, we might sort. As South African great AB de Villiers So those are the intangibles. Now for have witnessed a watershed in the short- rightly pointed out in his autobiography, empiricism. We see two very different lived life of this particular team, but perhaps those with talent are judged by posterity batting line-ups, in two very different places. also in the life of Australian cricket. This nowhere near as favourably as those with India’s top-six might not be clicking as a new doggedness springs from a new spirit of fight. Langer himself embodies that truth. collective abroad, but it’s established and sportsmanship – a hard-headedness mixed He’ll make them fight. replete with champions and prospects. with big-heartedness that should never have That’s attitude taken care of. But attitude They’ve been infallible at home and just been squared off to “feel-good” events needs complementary aptitude. We’re generally unflappable, despite technical such as the Invictus Games. hoping this new combativeness doesn’t take failures. Australia’s top-six are, at this stage, Langer has had a bit more time to work them from bullish brats to stubborn sprats: neither – although the Langer factor seems with the team since then and knows how tenacious, but tiny in terms of talent. to have gone a long way toward instilling to make lemonade from the lemons of If character is enough to turn this some sangfroid in our specialists. loss. The players are, reassuringly, being Aussie team around, then their UAE Can the coach instil talent? Look, let’s face hard on themselves and resolving to sojourn, regardless of the result, resembles it: Australia’s batting is the pachyderm in improve. This new style of cussedness is preparation of sorts compared with India’s the parlour. Does it have the ability at all not decked out differently, as it was bound to six-day doddle to the corner shop against the just to make a good account of itself, but to

Getty Imags be under Langer. The dress is neat casual. West Indies. post big, match-winning Test scores, and in

The material shall be Kevlar. This team Like a good sparring session, the Pakistan good time? With Warner and Smith in the has prevailed in one tough Test, and been series quickly enabled the Australians to order, this was not only probable, but likely a

photos by thrashed in another. They’ve been to the discover their limits. Indian cricket’s players lot of the time. `

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 49 With Shaun Marsh's place in the order again up in the air [left], is the door open for a bolter such as Will Pucovski?

IF AUSTRALIA’S CURRENT TOPSIX BOASTS ANYONE WORLDCLASS, USMAN IS OUR MAN, ON FORM. HIS TORN MENISCUS MIGHT PROVE TO BE A BIG BLOW

Australia’s selectors lack choice. The A 100-plus Warner innings, or at the very it’s now. He’s proved he can harness his first-class landscape is decidedly barren. least partnership, done these days with neat talents long enough to score a ton or two They now rely on players they might once briskness, is the foundation for a 500-plus in a series. Mitch needs to continue his have summarily despatched. Of course, team score.” rise as a batsman. He’ll still be called upon scarcity also presents opportunity. The Australia needs Finch to serve Warner’s occasionally to bowl, despite his assessment unstintingly positive Langer sees it that way, purpose. It’s not impossible. As Warner’s of the opportunity cost of doing both. He’s but the old batsman knows that everything partner in the one-day team, he was an made it known, and proved, that he might from the choreography of the crease to the indispensable member of the Blitz Brothers. have a bright future as a specialist. But those deployment of defensive and attacking We now know his batting has subtleties not averages since the Ashes series (14 and 16 weaponry needs reappraisal. called upon in cricket’s truncated forms. He respectively) are beginning to annoy the Is Aaron Finch a Test opener? He’s needs time to embed those talents into the cricketing public. popular, and has great qualities as a team long-form game. ? ? man. But no one is more alone than an The most visible improvement, in attitude, Again, we quote Inside Cricket: “There are opening batsman, and the sufficiency of his technique and understanding, is that of new routes to Test cricket, and more robust particular range of skills is unproven. He . His success in the UAE fame. But one thing hasn’t changed: the very got solid scores on debut in the UAE, but seemed the result of some kind of personal best still don’t just peck their way out of the seemed to erode, slice-by-slice, under the epiphany. If Australia’s current top-six egg and into history.” angle-grinder of Mohammad Abbas. boasts anyone world-class, Usman is our Qualities like those demonstrated by Four years ago, Inside Cricket wrote man, on form. His torn meniscus might Labuschagne are required, but they come of Finch's prospects at Test level: “has prove to be a big blow if he doesn’t recover with a first-class average in the 30s. A the native attributes: a sharp eye, range in time for the series. cold, scientific eye will not anticipate the of shots and great reaction. He’s also the In the absence of Smith and Warner, sort of transformation he and Head might archetype of the batting blade. A risk-taker the Marsh brothers have been forced to undergo under a man like Langer, but it’s and the hardest of hitters. But even Warner fill duties higher in the order, just when way too premature for us to make that sort constructs an innings, according to his it seemed they might make the five and of judgement. Certainly, Labuschagne’s Getty Images Getty own frenetic schedule. He’s like the builder six spots their own. The result has had a leg-spin has been a revelation, and he seems who erects the frame before lunch and, depressingly familiar flavour. comfortable with the all-rounder role. remarkably, it’s unshakeable, compliant and If ever there was a time for Shaun to take has so far been ignored photos by perfectly ready for the weight it’s to bear. responsibility and develop consistency, and, as I write, is now trapped in one of

50 INSIDE SPORT DECEMBER 2018 those absurd cycles of modern cricket – perhaps Finch’s perfect foil, and possibly told by Langer to go and get first-class Peter Handscomb, both have the approach runs to guarantee Test selection, he’s Langer is looking for, and deserve missed the start of Victoria’s Shield persistence at home. They must come season because he’s in the UAE preparing into the selectors’ calculations. for inconsequential one-dayers and T20s. Langer cannot possibly have failed to BAD TRIPS identify the effects of this self-dissolving India’s top-six are, as mentioned earlier, reasoning over the last few years as very good but looking more xenophobic cricket boards have tried to give equal as time goes on. Only Virat Kohli and weight to everything at once. It’s been (in flashes) impressed morbidly fascinating; logical autolysis at in England. Both can get runs in Australia. its best. KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane have scored Though the Australian batting line-up well Down Under. now has very little experience, it’s Earlier in 2018 in South Africa, India’s enveloped in a new wisdom, so this Indian batting looked exposed. It’s not that they series might be as good an opportunity were self-doubting or lacking technique. as any to fast-track the inexperienced They simply couldn’t get the likes of but accomplished Will Pucovski. His Morkel, Rabada, Steyn and Philander recent 254 against WA was dashing and away, no matter how they tried. On that carefully constructed. He also showed a and the subsequent England tour, Kohli certain amount of doughtiness after being averaged over 50. The rest were in the hit on the head last March while batting, teens. The records of Rahul, Pujara, becoming the first batsman to be replaced Rahane, Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan under the concussion sub rule. and Rohit Sharma have been slim indeed. But there’s no substitute for experience. Here’s a clue for Australia: neither South Warner and Smith had a combined 138 Africa nor England batted all that well Tests of the stuff. They also happened to against India. It was their fast-bowlers be two of the world’s very best batsmen. who restricted, and then uprooted, India’s Australia needs them back. Matt Renshaw, batsmen. Indian cricket scribe Ayaz ` Looking out for no.1: prodigy Prithvi Shaw and Chet Pu- jara [below] will need to make runs on the road. right There's pace depth with , but Ashwin's spin is still key.

THE REVERSE SIDE OF THAT INDIAN ABILITY TO PRODUCE WINS FROM NOWHERE IS THE ODD TENDENCY TO DISENGAGE HALFWAY THROUGH AN ARDUOUS TOUR IF IT ALL SEEMS TOO HARD.

Memon described their current batting the established stars in India’s line-up an component as “fair-weather featherbed opportunity to relax and concentrate on maestros”. Here, the term we use is flat- accumulation. If he can continue such form track bullies. here, India’s top order might gain a new lease Kohli has identified it as a “mental issue”. on life – an effect Kohli is hoping for. History shows this might not change. The Shaw won man-of-the-series on his reverse side of that Indian ability to produce elevation to Test level against the clueless wins from nowhere is the odd tendency to Caribbeans, prompting Kohli to make a disengage halfway through an arduous tour hyperbolic claim: “I don’t think any of us if it all seems too hard. were even 10 percent of what he is at 18-19.” Savage determination seems confined If Shaw follows that trajectory, he should to Kohli right now. In Adelaide in 2014-15, retire with a Test average of around 500. his second-innings century meant nothing Realistically, though, he didn’t fail at all to him at the time. He had eyes only for the against the Windies, and became India’s required total, and victory. Many teammates youngest-ever centurion on debut. It looks seem to lack that mindset. Talent, combined as though they’ve found a replacement for with ambition and application, wins Tests the much-favoured “Charlie” Dhawan. Cruel, because it makes for great players. If Kohli but he’d understand. This is about survival proved anything on that tour, it’s that any of the fittest. successful team needs a critical mass of It’s been said India’s selectors stuck with those attributes, not a one-man show. Ability Dhawan way too long. Have they done needs stability; aptitude, attitude. Murali Vijay the same favour? It’s difficult to Kohli has made telling comments about say whether his recent form lapse is a result a’s batting in Australia. He wants of age (he’s 34) or poor decision-making ear-old Prithvi Shaw here, despite his born of dwindling confidence.

der years. And who can blame him? One thing we can be sure of: Kohli is Images Getty

aw’s confidence and aggression might undiminished, and no longer has Steve youth thing, but he’s been a thrilling Smith to cancel him out, as he did in 2014-

-getter, and, unleashed, has allowed 15, or outshine him, as he did in India in photos by 2017. He’s primed to rack up another man-of-the- series prize. Overseas, India barely cracked the 200-run mark in 2018, and when they did, it was at the matches at Centurion and Birmingham, when Kohli tonned. But South Africa and England have very well- organised pace attacks. Australia’s has always had a little more of the random about it. Hopefully for the Aussies, consistency and complementarity will feature under the tutelage of Langer. If so, the Indian batsmen, apart from Kohli, will again struggle on a foreign pitch. Maybe. At least they won’t have to contend with the ceaselessly swinging Duke, or the new, bio-degradable version of the SG, a ball the Indians once loved. Both sides are capable of solid batting from no.7 down. India might have Hardik Pandya, if his back issues have been resolved, and Ravi Ashwin and can bat, but we’re not sure they’re coming. India’s tail has folded like a poker player with panic disorder way too often for anyone’s liking of late. Mind you, it helps if the top-three pave the way, and that hasn’t been happening. For Australia, Lyon, Cummins and Starc have proved not only handy, but necessary in recent times to minimise the embarrassment our upper order has caused, if nothing else. But they can be dangerous too, and capable of scoring 100-plus between them, sometimes at critical times. ` Even with all the batting questions, the Aussies are right with the spin of Nathan Lyon ...

THE WAY INDIA’S BATSMEN HANDLE AUSTRALIA’S BOWLERS WILL PROVE THE DIFFERENCE. THEIR ATTACK, LIKE AUSTRALIA’S TOPSIX, IS ESTABLISHING ITSELF. EACH MIGHT BENEFIT FROM THE OTHER’S WEAKNESS

TERRORS AND TURNERS pace-man of an unusual action. He extracts Australia’s ordnance remains unchanged. If anything counterbalances the potential purchase from the stingiest of pitches. Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Lyon, strength of India’s batsmen, it’s the Starc- It goes without saying that India always backed up possibly by Mitch Marsh and Hazlewood-Cummins (and we keep saying has good spinners, but there’s some sort Labuschagne, augmented by Pattinson, this: hopefully Pattinson) fast-bowling of internecine intrigue, incomprehensible just might outweigh India’s. On the other powerhouse, especially on their home strips. to foreigners, going on. Ashwin is in crisis hand, India’s batting is more settled and Steep bounce combined with speed has to the extent that he’s practising leg-spin. established. Even troubled, it should often exposed India’s batsmen in Australia. Jadeja, an impressive cricketer, never have more of what they call in Hindi nihit Kohli wants to concentrate on fast- seems to impress his own Test selectors. kshamata, roughly translated as “inherent bowling Down Under. He has unprecedented Kuldeep Yadav has impressed Kohli with capacity”, than Australia’s. depth and firepower at his disposal. Last his leftywrist-spin, and might be selected The way India’s batsmen handle tour, Umesh Yadav was unveiled: brash, away from home. Yuzvendra Chahal is a wily Australia’s bowlers will prove the difference. aggressive and pretty rapid. He’s a little leggie who plays little red-ball, but might be Their attack, like Australia’s top-six, is costly, but well-suited to our pitches, fit a revelation in the format. He’s an attacker, establishing itself. Each might benefit from and capable of the unplayable. Mohammed and a container. the other’s weakness, and develop gradually Shami, Ishant Sharma, and during the series. Bhuvneshwar Kumar have all fared well RECKLESS CONJECTURE One hidden ingredient that will emerge overseas. Ishant has improved of late under But weaving their web around Australia’s over the summer is Australia’s fitness, the tutelage of . All-rounder green bladesmen won’t be so easy for India’s which will impact on their batting, bowling Pandya, if fit, is a dangerous seamer who spinners if they have small totals to defend. and fielding. Langer emphasises physical shredded England at Trent Bridge, claiming We’re predicting a series characterised by conditioning more than Lehmann did. In a 5/28. Shami fared well on India’s last tour low scores, dominated by bowlers. If that’s crunch, it might the Aussies’ X-factor. here when the tracks were mostly unhelpful. the case, Australia might drag India down to This is a tough series to pick. There’s a Kumar gets nice late swing. The dangerous its level. Sounds cruel, but the only way for fence that goes right up the middle of this Bumrah is quick and has the advantage for a Australia’s batting to go is up. four-Test series, and we’re sitting on it,

54 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 ... while the pace and bounce of Starc and co. will PERFECT PRACTICE have the Indians watching out. with the JUGS Cricket Bowling Machine

predicting a 2-2 result. However, we’ll be specific: Adelaide is an opportunity for India to start with a victory. It’s no longer a bowler’s graveyard offering grudging assistance to spin as it ages. The groundsman has made it spin- and seam- JUGS machines enable players of friendly, yet rewarding of good batting technique. Australia’s pace attack will fare well, but India’s will Ăůů ĂŐĞ ŐƌŽƵƉƐ ƚŽ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞ ĞdžŝƐƟŶŐ be effective, too. It will come down to Australia’s strengths and assists in overcoming batting. India to win a low-scoring thriller. Perth doesn’t favour quicks as it once did, and it’s weaknesses. All types of deliveries can possible India will bag a big total. But Australia’s be simulated with the independently fast-bowlers are more used to the strip and Lyon will bowl well there. Australia, just. variable speed motors; in-swing, out- India’s spinners will find their feet in Melbourne, and if they bat first, the Indian line-up will rack swing, medium or fast, slow spin and up a match-winning total before the inevitable short rising deliveries. deterioration. India, better equipped for poor pitches, will win decisively. Sydney no longer packs little surprises for spinners, but does provide a good, equal contest. Contact: Andrew Went Australia’s bowlers will prevail. Lyon, who knows how to over-spin a ball for Aussie conditions, will JUGS Australia be a factor, as in Perth. The Indian bowlers’ side- 96a Herald St, Cheltenham, 3192 Victoria spinning habits will be hard to break. Australia will finish on a winning note, Paine will be good for Ph: (03) 9584 1588 the captaincy at least for the series, and Fax (03) 9584 1688 Australia’s top-six, whoever they end up being, will be more settled. [email protected] The dancers are diminished, but the dance will captivate, as ever. ■ www.jugs.com.au 56 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 Virat Kohli is mega-wealthy, super-famous and extremely good at cricket. We dislike him, because he is good enough to beat the Aussies, and let us know about it while he does it. But the sentiment against the Indian captain is misguided – he plays the game just like us. By MATT CLEARY

he Swami Army has a quite in , is married to a Bollywood star, funny chant that goes, “We’re and drives many fast cars. It’s hard to so rich it’s unbelievable!” drive them, however, at least in the day and repeat on high rotation. time, because people know which ones T It’s illustrative of confident, are yours and believe that you are a rock modern, thrusting India. It’s New World god reincarnate. thumbing nose at Old. It’s unapologetic, But he’s doing okay. He owns a football aspirational and understood: you have club, FC Goa, and the UAE Royals, a the coin, you may show it off. MK Gandhi tennis team in Dubai. He’s a shareholder wore the humble dhoti as pants. MS in a squad of pro wrestlers called the Dhoni rode a red Ducati into 16th on a Bengaluru Yodhas. He has dozens of Forbes list. endorsements. He has created a shoe. The same magazine has declared that He has 27 million followers. Indian captain Virat Kohli sits 83rd on Time magazine says he’s one of most their sports star hierarchy with annual influential people in the world. Which earnings of $34m. He lives in a flash joint you would say is a good thing. `

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 57 Yet with the tattoos and bling similarly gone from boy prince to fashionable among his generation, “OTHER BATTERS, pro statesman. and eyebrows that form a “V” above a YOU MIGHT MUTTER Yet the prince thing was bullshit spade-shaped black Beard of Evil, many A COUPLE OF THINGS. anyway. Kohli’s from middle-class West Australians – because it’s how many Delhi. Older brother, older sister, his father Australians are, we are a weird mob BUT WITH HIM YOU died of a stroke when Kohli was just 18. He – think of Kohli as we once did Javed DON’T. HE LOVES IT. scored 90 the next day and saved a match Miandad and Arjuna Ranatunga and dear for Delhi. He scored a welter of runs as a old Dougie Jardine: the villain. Feisty, HE WANTS TO GET boy. Everyone knew he could play. They competitive. Wanker. IN THE GAME HE didn’t know the half of it, didn’t see the But those many Australians don’t know LOOK HT.” depths in the kid, the steel. the man. Most people don’t. So Inside Since Dhoni’s abdication, Kohli is Sport spoke to several Australians who by some margin the most famous and do. Cricketers all of them, they’ve played wealthy Indian cricketer. He’s the name with the man and against him. And get that’s yelled out most by fans. Young this: they like him. “Funny,” they said. women are big fans. He wouldn’t host “Humble,” they added. Even the ultimate team-mates to a barbie – it’s not really the Aussie epithet: “Top bloke.” Bet you didn’t Indian way. But in the main he likes his think he’d get that. team-mates, Aussies included. They do admit he can carry on like a As a boy he spent time at the Cricket pork chop on occasion, and reckon he Academy in Brisbane and didn’t know would do well to tone it down. But they’re how to shave. He’d only ever had barbers mostly forgiving of the man because do it for him. Doesn’t mean he’s posh; it’s they understand him – Kohli reminds what barbers in India do – cut your hair. Australian cricketers of an Australian It meant, though, that he couldn’t use a cricketer. And if you, Australian cricket razor. So he rang locals for help. Guys fan, need a reason to like and better went to his room, found shaving cream appreciate the man, the bat, the captain of everywhere, blood seeping out of little cuts all India, Virat Kohli, then it would be this: on his chin and neck. They patched him up he plays cricket like an Australian. And like Norman Gunston and explained the he’s really, really bloody good. operational aspects of the Gillette Mach 3. And they liked him. He wasn’t into self- VIRAT THE LAD deprecating gags – few Indians are, they Young Australians played against Virat don’t really get Australians’ shit-stirring, Kohli in under-19s and he clanged. He even caustic humour. But he was cool, came over like a princeling, a poor man’s funny, up for a laugh. They took him out Sourav Ganguly: petulant, born-to-rule, for beers at the Breakfast Creek Hotel, and Joffrey from Game Of Thrones. Yet as onward to the night spots. Kohli’s never Ricky Ponting went from black-eyed forgotten it. He’s mates with blokes still. Kings Cross curb crawler to leader of the “You can sit down and yap about cricket holy order of the baggy green, Kohli has with him,” says former Royal Challengers

58 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 Bangalore quick Dirk Nannes. “He’s a good fella. People are quite divided because of the on-field persona. But he’s curious about team-mates’ lives. He’s curious about Australian cricket culture.” Moises Henriques, another team- mate at RCB, would get around the team hotel in ill-fitting white slippers. He’d wear them everywhere, including to IPL after-parties, events that could turn into fashion shows as the players went around sporting the latest designer duds. Kohli found Henriques’ lack of vanity quite cool. Soon Kohli began wearing white slippers to parties himself. At training, he would disappear on occasion and be whisked away in a private jet. Then he’d be back the next day and you wouldn’t know he was gone. “He has a full-on schedule,” says Nannes. “All the Indian guys do. I don’t think Australians have any idea of the lives these guys lead.” He wouldn’t turn up to training in a flash car or helicopter – when you’re a part of Indian teams, you’re on a team bus. Which means plenty of time to talk. Money is a subject, with half-serious distance clockwie from below left wee-wee competitions about who has the From petulant youth to fiery most sponsors. Kohli was once ribbing leader to stylish icon, Virat Kohli can just be a funny bloke Dhoni that he had more sponsors. “Yes, on a cricket field, as Eoin I have half as many sponsors,” replied Morgan knows. Dhoni, always the coolest guy in the room. “But they pay me twice as much.”

PASSION PLAYER ... AND PORK CHOP Virat Kohli’s white-line fever, they say, is ridiculous. As he walks out onto the cricket field, his whole persona changes. His mannerisms. He becomes a cricket- playing beast. He’s like used to be: he doesn’t seem to realise people are watching him. Our Watto, off the field, you would not meet a nicer bloke. On it, he could carry on like the proverbial. Australian cricketers have a very poor reputation internationally. We largely don’t realise how poor it is. What we might consider “banter”, others consider, you know, “insults”. Kohli has been confused by Australians, doesn’t get why they’d have an actual plan to target batters with verbals. Yet he’s a cricketer who relishes the fight. admires him for it. “He can carry on a bit, I suppose. But if he’s on your side you don’t mind. It’s a tough one, ‘the line’. I think if you say something about someone’s family or their country or religion, that’s over it. Otherwise you can say what you want. If it puts someone off, that’s what it’s for. That’s the idea – you’re competing against them. You’re trying to put them off, distract them. You’re trying to win.” It’s wasted on Kohli. “Other batters, you might mutter a couple of things,” says Harris. “But with him you don’t. He `

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 59 loves it. He wants to get in the game. He looks for a fight. He won’t pick one. But he’s waiting for it.” Yet like David Warner’s rictus face of anger, Kohli’s send-offs and verbals look uglier than the reality, according to Harris. “It’s his passion coming out. He wants to win so badly. You can sit back and watch and think he’s carrying on. But it’s hard to describe. You can be criticised for not caring. Virat, he’s the sort of guy you’d love to a have on your side. He’s like us – he really doesn’t like losing.” He’s not the chippy antagonist? “I had five years with him, never knew him to be antagonistic,” says Trent Woodhill, the former Bangalore batting coach and mentor to Warner and Steve Smith. “The 2016 series in India, Australia went over with a view to be antagonistic, and Virat didn’t understand why. He knows in the heat of the battle things can be said – he’s said them himself. But he couldn’t understand it as a plan. “The Australians under Darren Lehmann thought they could pick a fight with India and win. It was stupid, really dumb. They can’t beat Virat. Virat won’t stop until he’s won. If Virat comes in, don’t talk to him, don’t engage him, take the wind out of his sails.” He’s like an Aussie then? To a degree, according to Moises Henriques. “He’s probably a lot more emotional than most Aussies on the field. People say it’s his passion that makes him so good. I don’t necessarily agree. He’s so good because he works so hard and has done for a very also the fittest. Basu, they say, has the long time. He’s a smart cricketer and gets Indians ripped. They’re lithe, athletic, the game. He learns extremely quickly on flexible, mobile. “If you had to pick the run.” someone behind the emergence of Virat, Kohli’s not above a send-off. Any game it would be Basu,” says Woodhill. “There’s of cricket he plays, he’s mouthing off at the nobody in better shape.” opposition – and at his team-mates. He’s Kohli has changed the attitude around easily frustrated by mates on the field. He what was acceptable for Indian players. expects a lot out of them. He expects to India had a reputation for not taking win. “He’s just very passionate on the field physical training as seriously as skills. But and very normal off it,” says Dirk Nannes. Kohli has been progressive and worked “He loves the game, loves his job, and his bottom off – running, skipping, boxing, loves his country – that’s the best way to lifting weights, performing footwork describe him.” drills, plyometrics. “He’s also very in tune with escaping THE PRO cricket when he can,” adds Moises “What sets Virat Kohli apart is he can Henriques. “When he gets quiet time, he channel his energy to what he’s dealing looks to learn about some fairly off-centre with at the moment,” says Trent Woodhill. things. He has a huge appetite for learning, “If he’s in the gym he’s focused only on about anything. Philosophy, psychology. being in the gym. If he’s out to dinner He’s a big reader.” with you, his phone’s away and he’s totally Yet when they made Kohli captain engaged. And when he’s batting, he’s only people thought, what the hell is India concerned with that. doing? He was once regarded as a petulant “There was a thought it could change kid. And inherently selfish, as most when he became captain in all three batters just about have to be. “But you forms. But there’s been nothing to suggest talk to blokes and he’s been absolutely that. He’s in the moment better than any brilliant,” says Dirk Nannes. “He’s giving cricketer in the world.” to the young guys. No one’s had a bad word Courtesy of trainer Basu Shankar, he’s to say about him.”

60 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 He plays aggressive, competitive cricket. He’s like an Aussie. We target their best with verbals. He loves that stuff. He’ll throw it right back. And he won’t stop until he’s won.”

VIRAT THE BAT Virat Kohli’s Test average against Australia is 50.04. His average in Australia is a remarkable 62. On the last tour in 2014-15, he plundered 499 runs at 83.16. “I bowled against him one match,” says Dirk Nannes. “The only way we thought we could get him out was bowling a super- wide one and hoping he’d throw the bat at it, get caught off a top edge. You couldn’t get him out bowling straight. You’re like a bowling machine.” Kohli likes bat on ball, the feel of it. Ryan Kohli has pulled Harris reckons bowl tightly, though wide together the Indians of off stump. Bore him out early, get him [left] with a vigorous approach to training. nicking. Not easily done, though – Trent below Let him bat, in Woodhill says Kohli is much like Smith the nets or the middle, and he won't stop. and Kane Williamson in that he wants to be in good position once the ball’s released, and is not interested in how it looks. He cares how he feels. “WWHAT SETS VIRAT KOHLI APART IS “That’s synonymous with Smith, Williamson. So many of us, commentators, HE CAN CHANNEL HIS ENERGY TO WHAT HE’S fans, we like what we like to look at. The DEALING WITH AT THE MOMENT … IF HE’S OUT difference with Virat, Smith, Warner, Williamson, it’s about how they feel. Kohli TO DINNER WITH YOU, HIS PHONE’S AWAY is really good when things aren’t working. AND HE’S TOTALLY ENGAGED. AND WHEN HE’S In competition, all he worries about is BATTING, HE’SS ONLY CONCERNED WITH THAT.” watching the ball and reacting to what the bowler’s trying to do.” Moises Henriques says Kohli and Smith India’s more forthright approach to are very similar as cricketers. “They both cricket began under the great MS Dhoni. just love batting. They never want to stop Woodhill reckons if Dhoni was Australian, batting, whether training or in a game. he’d be touted in the same breath as Mark They’re constantly trying to find ways Taylor. Dhoni’s won everything – IPL to improve. Never have I heard them say tournaments, World Cups, champions ‘that’s just the way I play’, which is a bit of leagues. India’s been the no.1 team in the a cop-out. They are constantly evolving world in all forms. Kohli has run with that to become the best versions of themselves and added polish. with the bat. No amount of runs is enough. “Under Dhoni they found their own It’s just however many runs it takes to win way,” says Woodhill. “The players would the game.” run through walls for him. Now they’ll Woodhill says Kohli, like Ricky Ponting, do the same for Virat. There’s 11 players isn’t driven by records. “Ponting was the on the same page: a group that wants to first, I think, who didn’t care. He just do well. There’s warmth for individual wanted to bat.” achievements. Their cricket is hard but But the numbers are huge. With his fair. Virat drives that. There’s such burden 38th century in October, Kohli passed as captain of India. Virat is befitting of 10,000 ODI runs. He has 24 Test centuries, the role.” placing him fourth among Indians behind Yet captain Kohli is a different man Sachin Tendulkar (51 centuries), Rahul on and off the field. On it he’s emotional, Dravid (36) and Sunil Gavaskar (34). In sometimes overly. He has such eagerness 200 Tests, Tendulkar scored 15,921 runs to win, to make the opposition feel at 53.78. Kohli’s scored 6331 at 54.57 in 73 uncomfortable. He wants to show the Tests. He’s just turned 30. Harris believes world and he wants India to be strong. Kohli is thinking legacy. Nannes reckons Kohli is the perfect “I reckon he’s chasing Sachin,” he says. captain for India. "No one will replace Sachin. But I reckon “They’ve always been pushovers in Virat would like to be known as one of terms of on-field persona. But he’s put India’s greatest.” spine in them and they play around him. It’s not unbelievable. ■

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 61 SUBHASH GUPTE (KANPUR, 1958-59) Bare figures deliver no justice to Gupte. Garry Sobers FIRST XI believes to this day he was a better leg-spinner than Warne. Gupte played at a time when Indian teams featured the world’s worst fieldsmen. At Kanpur in 1958–59, he took on the powerful Caribbean batsmen, and in one innings dismissed nine of them for 102. The only batsman he missed had been dropped. At 6-88, captain Ghulam Ahmed bafflingly removed Gupte from the attack and INDIAN brought himself on, letting the Windies off the hook, as Joe Solomon and steadied with a 100 partnership. Sanity was restored – Gupte was brought back and removed Solomon, SPINNERS before ’keeper Tamhane TURNING POINTS dropped Gibbs. We can’t blame Tamhane. Throughout his Test career, it seemed Gupte mystified team-mates as lthough India found wins hard to come by when instated as a Test-playing nation much as he did the opposition, in 1932, they enriched the game with three distinctive attributes: spin, exotic and dozens of chances were Abatsmanship and indomitable spirit. They brought with them greater emphasis on grassed off his bowling. wrists, fingers and feet. Indian cricket has negotiated hard roads since, but on those occasions when they’ve turned the right way, a great spinner or two has stood at the crossroads. Here are ten outstanding match-winning efforts by India’s spinners, and one that almost turned a momentous series – for even when the great Indian twirlers were not match- winners, they were always game-changers. JASUBHAI PATEL (KANPUR, 1959-60) Like Gupte, Patel rarely comes up in discussions of T great spinners. Yet, with (CHENNAI, 1952) Gupte, he sits in illustrious Left-arm orthodox spinner, company as a man who has opening batsman and one of India’s taken nine wickets in a Test best-ever all-rounders, Mankad innings. Patel was a greying was slightly round-arm, but his 35-year-old in 1959-60, flight and control were something called to Test cricket at the to behold. He never relied on the insistence of chairman of pitch for help, varying instead selectors, Lala Amarnath, to his arm angle and grip. Mankad play Benaud’s Australians. appears on the Lord’s batting and Most of the Aussies he bowling honours board with only dismissed didn’t lay bat on two others to achieve that double ball, and were bowled. honour: one Miller and one Sobers. His match figures were In 1952, at that very venue, he 9-69 and 5-55. Alan Davidson, flayed the Poms for 72 and 184, with a neat 12 for the match and took 5-196 in England’s himself, managed to swing innings, in a losing match. Earlier it back Australia’s way on that year, though, Mankad starred several occasions, but the in India’s first-ever win over the Indians came out 119 runs to vaunted English, taking 8-55 and the better, thanks to Patel’s 4-53 at Madras. nippy offies.

62 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 T BISHAN BEDI (PERTH, 1977-78) One of the great ironies of Bedi’s career was that his best match figures of 10-194 came at a pace paradise, the WACA. In 1977-78, in the Second Test against Bobby Simpson’s team, Bedi took two five-fors. There has been no greater master of the variations and subtleties of finger spin, which Bedi applied without any change to his action that a batsman could discern. The ball has never done much spinning in Perth, and Bedi relished the opportunity to show us what flight and loop could do. It was a game of heroics from batsmen and bowlers on both sides. Australia chased down the 339 target with only two wickets to spare. With nine runs to go, Bedi reminded them who they were dealing with, removing Toohey and Rixon. The game was already inside its final ten overs, and for a panicky moment, Australia saw the prospect of victory slip. India lost, but after a thrashing in Brisbane, the closeness of that Test, thanks to Bish’s left-arm orthodox mastery, gave India the confidence they needed to pull off victories in Melbourne and Sydney to level.

S SRINIVASARAGHAVAN VENKATARAGHAVAN (PORT-OF-SPAIN, 1970-71) Though Venkat’s stats were not as distinguished as those of others in India’s famed quartet, and his variations and flight not as notable, he was indispensable to them, often setting up opposition by building pressure with accurate off-spin. Venkat would occasionally break out and star on his own, though, and his 8-72 against New Zealand at age 20 was the best innings performance of any of the foursome. In 1970-71, a golden period for India happened to coincide with Venkat’s most prolific success. Before defeating England, the team went to the Caribbean, and he took 5-95 in a rare away victory in the Second Test at Port-of-Spain. It also gave India the series, 1-0.

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 63 TBHAGWATH CHANDRASEKHAR ERAPALLI PRASANNA (THE OVAL, 1971) (CHENNAI, 1972-73) He’s the only bowler to give nightmares, When Indian cricket hit its first peak according to the Blaster himself. internationally, Erapalli Prasanna During a win drought for India in the 1960s and ’70s, planted the flag. Chandra was often the star of the spin quartet. We wrote last Ian Chappell once described how month of his withered bowling arm, and how he turned it to Prasanna seemed to make the ball an advantage, his whippy action propelling poppers that were drop, even disappear, just as the sometimes as unreadable for him as they were for batsmen. batsman thought he had it covered, Chandra often produced remarkable match figures, but his controlling it, seemingly, after it left 6-38 against England at The Oval in 1971 helped his team win his hand. Prasanna’s philosophy was its first Test in England and secure the series, 1-0. inadvisable for most other disciplines: India came from well-behind to win that deciding match. “Promise plenty, deliver nothing.” Leading by 71 runs on the first innings, England intended to What he did deliver was wickets. use much of day four establishing an unassailable lead. After It wasn’t Indian skipper Ajit despatching opener Brian Luckhurst, with two successive Wadekar’s expectation to win the home deliveries Chandra dismissed John Edrich and Keith Fletcher. series against England in 1972-73. It opened the floodgates, and later he discharged Illingworth India rarely won Tests. England had and the tail. All out, 101. India’s batsmen almost made a meal won the first, India the second, and a of the 174 run chase, losing six in the process, which only drawn series was, to Wadekar’s mind, a underlines the importance of Chandra’s effort. moral victory. When he threw the ball to Prasanna during the Third Test, all he wanted was that the talented offie “bowl tight”. But in the second innings, the complacent Poms didn’t know what hit them. His mysterious flight had them playing strokes they’d never contemplated before, and his biting spin was the clincher. Pras took four key wickets, giving his team 86 for the win. India gained a 2-1 lead in the series and never relinquished it.

DILIP DOSHI (MUMBAI, 1979) Doshi was one of only two bowlers to that point who’d claimed 100 Test wickets after debuting in his 30s ( was the other). Unfortunately, he was forced to compete with Bedi for the left-arm off-spinner’s position. Upon his debut, against Australia at Chennai in 1979, he made up for lost time, taking eight wickets (6-103 and 2-64). Coming into the Sixth and final Test in Mumbai, India was 1-0 up on the Aussies, who felt they had a good chance of levelling. But in response to India’s 8-458, they were spun out for 160, the smooth and clever Doshi taking 5-43. In their second innings, Doshi prised Border out when he looked doggedly dangerous on 61. The other two wickets were easy. Another match-winning eight. Bill O’Reilly wrote of Doshi that he “taught us by example … Refined, thoughtful and brilliantly executed spin can offer the game an exciting future.” Bill was right, and, coming after the celebrated spin quartet, Doshi was a harbinger of that future.

64 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 W HARBHAJAN SINGH (CHENNAI, 2001) In the decisive Third Test of 2001 against Waugh’s Australians, Harbhajan’s stunning 15-wicket haul was pivotal. The series was locked at 1-1, Australia’s winning streak of 16 had been broken, but by the time Chennai came around, it seemed normality had been restored. Certainly it had for , who added 203 to his already mountainous series. In Australia’s first-innings 391, Harbhajan ominously took seven and, as the pitch deteriorated, the Aussies knew he was ready to repeat the effort. A versatile and effective off-spinner with a mean doosra and a provocative manner, Harbhajan had been named by Murali himself as his successor. The “Turbanator” lived up to his billing, but despite Harbhajan having already sliced through a powerful batting line-up on day four with formidable bounce and spin, the Aussies began the final day at 7-241, hoping still for a substantial lead. Skipper Waugh was still in but Harbhajan swept aside the final three, including the obstinate Waugh, taking 8-82 overall. India had plenty of time to knock off the 155 needed. They did so with a mere two wickets in hand. In a tense finish, Harbhajan hit the winning runs. Almost half his 32 wickets for the series came in this one match.

W (HEADINGLEY, 2002) The lanky leggie was the first Indian spinner to break the 300-wicket mark and the second player ever to take all ten wickets in a Test innings. He didn’t spin it much, his trajectory was flat and his pace generally fast, but not for nothing did he finish up with 619 Test wickets. Kumble was the Glenn McGrath of spinners. He didn’t have too much movement – he had just S enough. Anything else was a waste. He relied (CHENNAI, 2013) on his height to extract bounce from the flattest strips, excelled on fast-bowlers’ wickets and The 2013 tour of India turned things commanded a presence that seemed to get him around for the Aussies. Their utter as many wickets as his leg breaks. inability to handle subcontinental Wisden, smitten with his 10-for against Pakistan conditions, specifically the off-breaks in 1999, described it as the second-greatest of Ravichandran Ashwin, led to the bowling performance of all time. Kumble himself overblown “homeworkgate” saga, the doesn’t rate it as highly as his effort at Headingley sacking of coach Mickey Arthur, the in 2002, unremarkable though the figures seem hiring of Darren Lehmann and the rise to be. Kumble only took seven for the match, and of Steve Smith. he had an Indian total of 8-628 to defend, but his India’s eight-wicket win in the First 62.5 overs were a big reason his team was able to Test came after Australia posted a half- dismiss the opposition twice in two-and-a-half decent 380. Ominously, Ashwin took days. He controlled England and the match. Every 7-103. The pressure he applied was a clue time the doughty Poms looked like challenging, for the Indians. They amassed 572 in Kumble would dismiss one of them. response, and then the tall off-spinner Kumble’s epic effort ensured a win by an innings again got amongst it, his carrom and arm and 46 runs. He didn’t have a great series by his balls virtually undetectable. He came standards. The rubber was drawn. Three England away with 5-95, Australia was out for batsmen averaged over 100, and two more over 241, India easily chased the 50 required. 50. Yet Kumble describes the win as a “defining Ashwin continued his tormenting ways moment” in his career and Indian cricket. and was named man of the series.

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 65 TIMELESS TEST PLAYING IN

The first Test of the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series was no ordinary game of cricket, dominated as it was by unfamiliar emotions, and a familiar spirit: . By ROBERT DRANE

hillip Hughes’ death united us in intense, it was numbing. It wasn’t just that the silent multitude had something of the that way any disaster does. It was a they lost a teammate – a teammate who, fugue state about it. Preminder that catastrophe doesn’t according to chief selector the Then the bats appeared, and the laurels, in discriminate. More than just a moment to day before the awful incident, was a special the streets, outside houses and shops, here grieve, or to contemplate our mortality, it player on the verge of re-joining them. Four and in other far-flung nations, from Tibet stirred up a slurry at the bottom of our daily of the players selected for Australia arrived to Trinidad. The spectre was there when fears and anxieties. Mired in the stuff, we at Hughes’ side that abysmal moment when strangers met, sparking xenos of emotional stopped in our tracks. We had no choice. The he pitched forward in terrible, ominous connection. Phil Hughes had achieved workaday denial of death enables us to keep delayed reaction to a blow to the neck. an amazing thing. Brendon McCullum going even as it hamstrings us with neurosis. Not since boxing was a headline sport expressed well how cricketers from other Other, distant, cultures threw their and the popular, skilful and ill Archie Kemp nations felt: “After Phil’s death, we didn’t ingredients into one pot with ours, and for a died in the ring in 1949 had a sporting really care about the result. The fact that short time we realised, respectfully, humbly, death in Australia brought such dread, nothing we could or couldn’t do on the that we all belonged there together. stewing silence. The media did its best field really mattered … had an amazingly For the Aussie cricketers, it was all so to mediate, but their movement through liberating effect.”

66 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 THE SHADOW

For cricket, time stopped. In Sharjah, day an enmity that, arguably, has been the most ironic would be lynched and it would be two of the Third Test between Pakistan acrimonious of modern times. But sport is fully justifiable. and New Zealand – the match McCullum life going on. It made the first Test of the Border- was referring to – was abandoned. India’s Gavaskar Trophy series compulsory viewing tour match against the Australian XI was he blend of emotional fuels for even for the non-cricket watcher. There cancelled. The first Test in Brisbane was the eventual first Test in Adelaide were denouements to savour, resolves to be postponed. Sydney grade cricket was Twas highly unusual: grief, wistful satisfied, utterly unanticipated things. suspended. Cricket Australia had no way to ellipsism, loss, anger, longing and fear. The first day of Australia’s first domestic proceed, except carefully and reverentially. Eternal questions, feelings that we Test of the season, traditionally held in The word “appropriate” featured in every can never really see where we’re going. Brisbane, normally contains the formative public announcement, and they saw it as Whimsical, dormant, curious emotions, or power of the first note in a symphony. their first duty to support the Hughes family. emotional curios, emotions without names, Beginning in Adelaide felt, on this occasion, The Indian team itself felt only empathy species of sentiment we thought were all but right. Adelaide was among other things a and sorrow. There was syncretism in extinct. Feelings that only get dusted off now city of churches. The lifeblood of this Test the way they consoled the Australians, and again, if at all. When it seemed all the was an incessant flow of extraordinary referring to heaven, eternity and the soul. fellow-feeling broke down on day four, there performances. In the shadow of a death, Two nations that normally express with was even something different about that – Test cricket affirmed life. sharp differences everything they do came almost a grasping for normality. Emotion It began with David Warner, seemingly together under the hegemony that death ruled. Such an environment was no place for fuelled by rage against the dying of Phil institutes. It was a strange way to resume heretics of reason; the sceptical, arch and Hughes’ light. If the circuit of grieving `

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 67 does indeed segment itself neatly into seven contest with his sort of preparation. He stations, Warner arrived at anger before shouldn’t have played, and admitted as anyone else. After seven high-octane overs, much afterwards. He’d been washed up onto Australia had 50 on the board, Warner 38. the shores of this series on powerful waves Chris Rogers, no man to even attempt to of grief. His brief for this mission included match Warner’s furious pace, was out for playing, scoring a ton, and winning the First nine shortly after. Shane Watson followed. Test. After it was completed, he’d venture Captain Michael Clarke, washed out after no further into the series. an admirable performance in the aftermath The pair added another 50 before Clarke of Hughes’ death and during the miserable fell, lunging painfully, to leg-spinne vigil, suffering with his ailing back and Karn Sharma for 128. Again the ele a doubtful starter, gallantly steadied the intervened, this time the light, and p innings while The Bull reached his ton from was halted next over. Smith was 106 balls before the rest of the side had put unbeaten on 162 when Clarke The bats were on 170. Warner leapt defiantly heavenward, declared overnight, at 7-517. out for Hughes, Warner was in typi- kept looking there as he alighted, walked What a pity Ryan Harris and cally feisty mode steadfastly over to the 408, painted on the were thrown [right], while Smith saluted. field in large numbers to signify Hughes’ together at a late age after dallying, Test cap number. in different ways, in their respective Warner’s innings was manically clinical. youths. As a fast-bowling combinat It contained no sixes. In daring the universe, they showed glimpses of what their he took no dares. Every well-timed four he legend might have been: intimidati hit had historical inevitability on it. He was smart, effective, heroic. Possibly never not going to get his ton. record-breaking. Clarke had no anger. He was still driven Here, they bowled well together despite by duty. He says that he being hobbled by a hesitancy put his head in his hands to use their every weapon. before his public statement If the circuit To intimidate a batsman is of Hughes’ demise, urging of grieving to play upon his fears. No himself quietly: “Just do your bowler desires to hurt a man, job.” He might have done the does indeed but the possibility of it is same before he took the field, segment itself like the necessary potential because we could see none of of the knockout in boxing. It it was easy for him. neatly into satisfies a certain appetite On 60, though, he was seven stations, in fans. Matters of survival, forced to retire. His death and our rebelliousness burdensome back had Warner against it are at the bottom of become a danger to him. arrived at so many of our fascinations. It only took for the Indian It’s likely sportspeople, quickstowakeuptothefact anger before many of whom immerse that a few bouncers would anyone else. themselves in danger every have finished him. That day, underestimate the tactic was, of course, out of the question, admiration followers of sport have for but still he moved rigidly when forced onto those who defy it as well as dispense it. the back foot. India began briskly before Harris bowled Later, his team lost quick wickets. Haddin Dhawan for 25. A partnership of 81 followed was dismissed on the day’s final ball, and between Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Australia slumped to 6-354. Clarke returned Pujara, before Pujara was caught behind the next day, braced in a truss, played some off a faintly gloomy Johnson. A fast bowler clever, sharp-eyed shots with minimal like Johnson, in particular, dispenses movement, and featured in a 51-run danger in great volume. At his brief zenith, partnership with Steve Smith. Oddly for he made batsmen question the terms Adelaide, rain played a part, leaving Smith of life itself, and relied upon it. Now, to on 98. An early lunch was taken, and upon paraphrase Johnson himself, that seemed resumption, he gained his century first like irresponsible intent. ball. It was an innings of brilliant efficiency He needed coaxing to bowl short, and and vision, a masterpiece of controlled when India’s best batsman and stand-in aggression. He paid his homage to Hughes, captain Virat Kohli came in, he gave lifting up his hands to the holy heavens it a try, first ball. It caught Kohli half- where they all wanted to believe he was. ducking and struck his helmet, and Then the rain returned, and Clarke, Johnson immediately found himself at the too, was stranded on 98. Upon epicentre of a ripple of panic that washed recommencement, he reached a ton over everyone watching. He was first on peppered with improvisation, hobbling, the scene. Clarke walked Johnson back stiff-backed singles, wincing pull shots, to his mark, desperately trying to shrink off-side punches without follow-through. the incident to its right size before it Rarely has anyone fared so well in a sporting overwhelmed Johnson’s mind.

68 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 Kohli was fine. Extremely so, it turned out. Johnson never really came out of his cringe, and Kohli batted with that confidence that makes everyone incredulous, with that clear, unshakeable vision and complete mastery of his vast armoury. He, too, looked to the heavens upon scoring his century, but not before an angry verbal salvo at the Australians. Kohli fumes when he fights. Despite an offensive from Nathan Lyon, Rahane and Kohli managed to last until tea, 3-223. Johnson got Kohli with four overs left, but not before he’d posted 115.

ome day four, it looked as though the Indians were settled on a draw, Cand at 5-369, and seemingly under no threat from pitch or pitchers, they were on target. Then, in the first session, Lyon did something he’s done on odd occasions since: he arrived suddenly, taking three quick wickets. The tourists wound up on 444. Mitchell Johnson's Lyon 5/134. strike of Kohli ignited serious When normal hostilities broke out again concern, under the on day four, Warner was, almost predictably, circumstances. like some projection of our id, in the thick of it. It was Australia’s task to pile up an insuperable mountain of runs. Warner wanted to do the job single-handedly. On 66, dismissed by Varun Aaron, he was given an aggressive send-off. He walked off as meekly as is possible for David Warner, but as soon as he saw the replay of the big no-ball up on the screen, he didn’t wait to be recalled, spinning on his heels and going for Aaron like a junkyard dog. Other Indians, including Dhawan, joined in, as did Warner’s batting partner, Shane Watson. Warner reached his second ton after another reprieve at 89, but in the meantime, he’d lost Watson. When Steve Smith engaged in a heated exchange with Kohli, Warner couldn’t resist and got between the pair. It had the satisfying (for Warner) effect of making Kohli, cricket’s fiery face of anger, even madder. And so it went. Big hitting from big boys Watson and Mitch Marsh, and a nifty unbeaten 53 from Smith, got the Aussies to a lead of 363 at stumps. Again Clarke declared overnight, giving India 364 to get on the final day, and his team 98 overs to thwart them. They were reduced to 2-57 courtesy of Johnson and Lyon. By lunch, they were 105. Umpiring suddenly came into its own on the final day. Dhawan, India’s Warner equivalent, fell victim to a poor decision and the BCCI’s refusal to use the DRS for the series. A Mitch Johnson riser had hit him on the bicep. It ballooned to Haddin and he was adjudged out by umpire Gould. When it comes to stealing matches from improbable positions, India had form – too much form for it ever to be considered luck. There’s something in their character Aussies can only admire, no matter how often they’re on the receiving end of it. `

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 69 Australia conceded 205 in the first two A wrung-out sessions, and had dismissed only two Indian Michael Clarke was batsmen. The second session might have battling his ailing back too, and he been a turning point. Kohli and Murali Vijay didn't finish the put on an even 100 with no further damage, match. setting up a thrilling final session, and an unlikely Indian victory. By this stage, was stand-in captain, Clarke having left the field with a hamstring injury. He was never to return. Steve Smith became the 45th Australian captain in the next Test. Kohli, debutant leader after MS Dhoni’s withdrawal due to injury, was determined to get the total and, in the process, inspire a possibly complacent team with the way he went about the challenge. He became the second captain, after , to score a century in each innings of his captaincy debut. Making Kohli mad is only ever a short-term satisfaction. Long-term, you pay. Unfortunately only one of his teammates was on board with him. Umpire Erasmus denied Lyon three straightforward LBWs: Vijay twice, on 24 and 64, and Kohli on 85. Seven times, off Lyon’s bowling, Erasmus stood like a statue, refusing to raise his hand when no one would have thought anything amiss if he had. Lyon’s extensively zinc-creamed face increasingly resembled a mask of greasepaint. With every appeal he got down theatrically on a knee as though pointlessly imploring a portly Lady Liberty who’d downed her torch in protest. He had to work for every wicket. Lyon looked spent after tea. His first four overs cost his team 25 precious runs. India was poised. Kohli was resolute. The target of 159 runs from 37 overs with eight in hand looked attainable. Vijay, with deft running and judicious hitting, got himself to 99. Next over, Kohli pushed Harris to mid-off and sprinted to his second hundred. There was less of the anger this time. Having drilled through to his core, he emerged for Murali Vijay and a moment to glance heavenward. It was, the Indians were on despite the hitches, a great hundered in a track to come from behind, but Lyon second innings hundred. took flight with a Lyon got Vijay back on strike. The ball ten-for. pitched, yet again, in the rough, changed direction like a goaded King Brown and scooted suddenly at the right-hander. Thi time, as if to give Erasmus no choice, the ball hit Vijay and lodged momentarily at the apex of his legs, just beneath his crutch, as he stood motionless in front of the stumps. It was as though someone had paused the image for a moment for Erasmus’ benefit. The still was enough evidence. Incredulous at seeing the finger rise, Vijay remained in that attitude after the ball dropped. The second-wicket partnership had been 185 at a good clip. With seven wickets in hand, chasing a further 122, the Indians could afford to get aggressive. But then Lyon got the dangerous Rahane, caught in close. As Vijay had done, Rahane ostentatiously

70 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 affected scepticism, rightly it seemed, as dropping ball before settling on two, replays showed the ball had hit only the reaching out, taking it low to his right, roll of his pad, no bat in its proximity. fingers still awkwardly pointed skyward. The total remained unincreased. Kohli stood, head bowed on his bat, soaking It was the signal for Kohli to slip into that up the implications, overwhelmed. next gear many batsmen only wish they It had, after all, been decreed. Australia had. With destiny-defying force he pulled, would win. There were 16.2 overs left, 60 hooked and cut Lyon, Johnson and Harris, runs to get, and India’s tail would not be up and the requirement was suddenly below a to it. hundred. Most ominously, he swept Lyon Kohli got himself the second-biggest with a decisive punch, flat-batting him ovation of the day from the appreciative for boundary after boundary. But Lyon, crowd. The biggest came soon after, when not seeming so weary now, relished the Lyon captured the last wicket. The players challenge. In fact, he looked inspired, as converged on the 408 after Haddin’s though the wonders of the stumping of Ishant Magnus effect had just Sharma and celebrated dawned on him. Coming AUSTRALIA VERSUS intensely. Australia were forth from Lyon’s hands, INDIA 1ST TEST home by 48. India had lost the ball changed character , Adelaide 8-73. Lyon had taken six accordingly, seemingly December 9-13, 2014 of those, seven all-up. His as conscious of its own 12 for the game earned quest for perfection AUSTRALIA 1ST him man-of-the-match in flight as Jonathan INNINGS 7-517 DEC honours in a game of Livingston Seagull. DA Warner 145 heroes. The cost of 286 Rohit groped forward to MJ Clarke 128 runs is testament to the one that dropped sharply work he did for every one SPD Smith 162* outside off. It disappeared of them. upon contacting the pitch INDIA 1ST INNINGS 444 and reappeared bouncing ichael Clarke off his glove, to be M Vijay 53 hobbled onto enveloped by the hands of CA Pujara 73 Mthe field to be Warner at leg slip. Eighty- V Kohli 115 with his team. five to win, with Kohli still Every player who ran to AM Rahane 62 smoking and a recognised Phil Hughes’ assistance bat to come. RG Sharma 43 when he collapsed had Wriddhiman Saha NM Lyon 5/134 played a significant followed his captain’s part in the win: Watson, example, taking the risk of AUSTRALIA 2ND Warner, Haddin and hitting against Lyon’s spin INNINGS 290 Lyon. Smith and Clarke, and collecting a six and DA Warner 102 profoundly affected by a four. But Lyon seemed SPD Smith 52* his demise, made their undeniable now. Every offerings with wonderful MR Marsh 40 well-spun ball he bowled individuality. had historical inevitability It was indeed the first INDIA 2ND INNINGS 315 on it. He sent one up. note. The series was Wriddhiman charged. It M Vijay 99 symphonic; remarkable plummeted with velocity V Kohli 141 in so many ways, intense and fiercely turned, NM Lyon 7/152 and hard-fought. The unhindered by contact run aggregate was the with anything but the AUSTRALIA WON BY most-ever for a series crumbling turf. Bowled. 48 RUNS of four Tests or fewer. Destiny kept Kohli at the Smith and Kohli went on other end, watching. to score centuries in all Kohli had a need to defeat Lyon. He’d Tests, four each for the series, and attain handled his best all day. But Lyon was the captaincy of their national side, Kohli getting smart. He was, before our eyes, permanently after Dhoni sensationally, becoming a better bowler. A good bowler inexplicably, retired halfway through the knows a batsman’s pride. He knows when series. Both teams had two skippers for the to deliver his worst. It was long-hop worthy series. Clarke would come back to replace of . Kohli, on 141, leant back Smith for the 2015 Ashes. Australia won the with the intention of killing it, crushing Border-Gavaskar 2-0, the final two Tests Lyon’s misguided desire to win the game being hard-fought draws. for his team. The story of India and Australia’s He shaped to pull but only hit it half- complex cricket relationship might only solidly. Mitchell Marsh was at deep be considered a pot-boiler compared with mid-wicket. Looking up, he demonstrated other sporting rivalries, but once again it four different ways to catch the fast- had proved a page-turner. ■

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 71 72 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 HOT SHOT

“Probably still on NASA settings”: and the stars of the Big Bash and WBBL travelled to Parkes and its famed CSIRO radio telescope to recreate the cricket scene from the movie Matt King / Getty Images

The Dish, with an assist from local children from the NSW central west. photo by

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 73 W-LEAGUE PREVIEW

W-LEAGUE CLUBS HAVE MANAGED TO SIGN 33 INTERNATIONALS  INCLUDING 25 MATILDAS  FOR THIS SEASON, THE MOST IN THE LEAGUE’S HISTORY. ADELAIDE UNITED For the new season, Adelaide United will hope their forwards fire them to new heights, after the 2017-18 season saw the struggling Reds take the wooden spoon. The offseason has seen the side bolster its attacking ranks with a WATCH revamped strike-force combination of all-time W-League leading scorer , young American forward , plus the experienced Icelandic winger Fanndis Fridriksdottir. The Reds will be hoping their central midfield finds the right THIS balance of youth and experience, with the mix of Iceland’s Gunnhildur Jonsdottir and Young Matilda Emily Condon there to provide for their attacking options. To shore up the side’s defence, they have secured the services of American , an accomplished centre-back for the SPACE of the NWSL, who The women’s football comp takes a big leap in the 2018-19 will partner with captain Emma season, and with next year’s World Cup in France, a host of Checker (below). potential Matildas promise to push the sport even higher. With only one way up from last season, Adelaide United will be By ANGELA BACIC Previews By MOLLY APPLETON seeking to dazzle the W-League in their upcoming campaign with their attacking prowess. t’s taken 11 years but finally women’s come after last season's historic collective football in Australia has made a bargaining agreement, which saw players landmark leap into the future. For signing professional contracts for the first Ithe first time, every single minute of time and allowed the W-League to take every single game of the W-League will be vital steps to becoming a fully professional available to watch live … at last. league in the future. It may not seem like a big deal in the Women’s football in Australia has context of men’s sport – but it’s a long- generally been considered semi- awaited major milestone for women’s professional, with the season spanning just football. Also, for the first time in the 16 weeks and 12 regular round matches, W-League, a club has signed a player on a forcing players to move to the United States marquee contract, with Perth Glory tying or Europe to extend their playing season. down the Matildas’ backflipping superstar But combined with international (pictured) on a premium deal. competitions, some players are now After 17 years in the game, Matildas committed to 18 months of solid football and Sydney FC forward Lisa De Vanna without a break. Despite that though, says Australian women’s football is W-League clubs have managed to sign 33 finally moving in the right direction. internationals – including 25 Matildas – for “We’ve taken a lot of steps forward with this season, the most in the league’s history. the W-League this year with the ‘Who’s The next step is to bring even greater Your Hero’ campaign, which I think is success on the world stage. The W-League fantastic because it gives the kids an was introduced off the back of a successful opportunity to see the big players come quarter-finals appearances at the 2007 out and play,” she said. FIFA Women’s World Cup. “A lot of the Matildas are now back Since then, the Matildas have won the playing W-League and Fox Sports have Asian Cup. While they have shone at jumped on board as well. invitational events such as the Tournament “All the games will be televised or of Nations, they have yet to repeat that

Getty Images Getty streamed, which has never happened before success at major competitive competitions, and with Sammy as the marquee, it shows despite impressive performances. The that the game is moving forward.” challenge now is simple: win the World Cup photos by The new broadcast and marquee deal … and preferably in France next year. `

PORT | DECEMBER 2018 75 BRISBANE ROAR and World Cup winner Yuki UNITED other exciting young players Last season’s premiership Nagasato of Japan will look to After missing out on the such as Nikki Flannery, Karly winners will be looking for a link up with American forward top four for the first time in Roestbakken and Taren King. repeat – and will be chasing and Matilda the club’s history last season, Scotland captain Rachel Corsie a championship title too this , who is returning Canberra United will aim to will add experience and will time. With Mel Andreatta from serious spinal injuries. avoid any deja vu. Canberra has anchor the side from the back, once again at the helm, the Brisbane will once again be a been a side in transition since as well as guest signing and core of last season’s Roar side difficult side to break down, but took the NWSL championship winner remains, despite the big losses whether they can find enough reins last season. But the club’s Denise O’Sullivan. of Tameka Butt, Emily Gielnik goals in a comp full of attacking ethos to develop youth players Canberra looks set to be and . teams will be the question. remains at its core. the surprise package of Boasting last season’s Many familiar faces will be this season’s competition, stingiest defence, the missing, such as last season’s particularly with a talented club has retained all their co-captains Michelle Heyman pair of South Africans, Refiloe key defenders, including and Ashleigh Sykes. But Jane and Rhoda Mulaudzi. Matildas goalkeeper Matildas star If the team finds chemistry (below) crucially remains quickly, it has the potential (pictured), joint 2017-18 with the club and is set to and talent pool to make a huge Julie Dolan medal winner lead the charge with a host f statement this new season. and international signing . The midfield will see familiar faces in American Celeste Boureille rejoining for a second season in orange, and supplying the engine to the side. However it is the side’s attacking ability which will determine their season. To supply the forwards, new arrival

PERTH GLORY with defender Consistency will need to making the switch after be the theme for Perth Glory, previous seasons at Adelaide, after a blitzkrieg first half of and the return of the season last time round and , who will couldn’t be sustained and both provide energy to the side saw the side tumble down the in midfield. The team’s other order for a mid-table finish. international signing, Rachel Securing the services of Sam Hill (below), returns after her Kerr on a marquee deal is goal exploits caused havoc early crucial for Glory, after her last season. blinding form saw her win The young talents of Jacynta numerous accolades, including Galabadaarachchi and Golden Boot awards both in the goalkeeper join NEWCASTLE JETS , after an W-League and abroad. the squad to add further depth. The Newcastle Jets will be outstanding first season with Glory has wisely invested in Perth showed they’ve got the looking to build from a strong the club. a core group of internationals talent to beat any side, and if campaign last season, which (above) from the , they can be consistent, they will saw a third-place finish with will once again dictate play in be a formidable side again. extra time the difference the Jets’ midfield. Whoever between a spot in the grand assists Van Egmond in the final. Losing two key defensive middle will be the question – players from last season’s , out through injury, set-up to Canberra shouldn’t will be a challenge to replace. hinder the Jets too much Importantly, as they have fullback Gema returns after a ten-goal haul Simon – returning from an last season and an impressive injury plagued 2017-18 season half-season at the Utah Royals. – plus the signing of freshly The Jets have added speed to converted defender Larissa their side through the versatile Crummer. Essential for the American , who, if side’s defensive stability partnered with , is the returning American will have pace to burn in attack.

76 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 photos by Getty Images have kept much oftheircore Wanderers, theSky Blues rivals Western Sydney making theswitch tocrosstown and youngster Amy Sayer. the returning AlanaKennedy further Matildas experience in Logarzo (above) andadded Vanna, andChloe held onto thelikes ofLisaDe in thegrand final.Sydney finish andbeingoutclassed season, withasecond-place for bothsetsofsilverware last campaign, beingbridesmaids to goonefurtherinthenew big-name players, thedefence football. Inasideloadedwith the club’s possessionstyleof will bothbecomfortable with of EliseKellond-Knight, who Tameka Butt andthereturn gained theservicesofMatilda architect , theside seasons inthecompetition. premiership intheirthree championships anda an impressive three silverware, winning known aseasonwithout Melbourne Cityhasnever championship winners, SYDNEY FC SYDNEY MELBOURNE CITY Despite aspateofplayers Sydney FC willbewanting Despite thelossofmidfield Back-to-back-to-back bridesmaids thisseason. expecting tobemore than side, Sydney FC willbe an otherwisevery experienced of thefieldandamixyouth in players intheW-League. Colaprico, bothexperienced of SofiaHuertaandDanielle been madewiththeadditions Further reinforcements have season atWashington Spirit. Bledsoe returns from astrong In goals, American Aubrey Julia Vignesallremaining. youngsters PrincessIbiniand and ElizabethRalston,plus of , together, withtheexperience more successs. should lay thefoundation for difficult tobreak down, andit best against City, be butthey’ll Every sidewillbringtheir tosupplymore. guest appearance ofEngland’s be lookingtoKyah Simonanda Jasmine Spencer, andwillagain signed thepacey American score attimeslastseasonhas and Theresa Nielsen. internationals and StephCatley are joinedby – Matildas best intheNWSLlastseason Reign’s, whichwas thesecond is almostareplica oftheSeattle With balanceacross allareas A sidewhichstruggledto the forward line.Kyra support anddepthacross Gielnik provides further The signingofEmily from Canberra United. Maher, whohasswitched last season,andGrace from theW-League Nairn, backafterabreak American Christine talents ofreturning the attacking midfield (right) more supportwith forward sought toprovide English last season,Victoryhas back Laura Alleway. experienced centre- Dumont aswell as their goalkeeper Casey with Victoryretaining top four, willbethetarget again, comparable withany sideinthe impressive defensive statistics, from bottom Lastseason’s spot. single point separating them at seventh lastseason,witha Melbourne Victory, pullingin seasons have beenleanfor neighbours, thelastfew defender team-mate midfield, herUtahRoyals returning totheside’s LaBonta (picutred) the park,withLo’eau will bespread across of internationals who form oftheirselection at theclubcomein scorers intheleague. and Siesmenbothproven lacking goals, with Khamis a forward linethatwas experience, especiallyto the squadwillbring . Siesmen andthereturning Yeoman-Dale, Remy , Georgia club inLeenaKhamis, of Sydney FC players tothe made changes, bringingahost coach DanBarrett immediately better. Freshly appointed but withinawhisker ofmuch sitting aplacefrom thebottom, Western Sydney Wanderers of thetablelastseasonsaw the MELBOURNE VICTORY WA SYDNEYWESTERN Unlike theirnoisyCity Looking tobuildfrom Further reinforcements These additionsto The tight contest atthefoot NDERERS NS I set lastseason. to thebenchmarkdefence early sotheirattack can live up side willbewanting togel to stay steadyattheback, viral onsocialmedia. stunning strike whichwent W-League lastseasonwitha disposal aftershelitupthe isalsoattheir Cooney-Cross formidable outfit. formidable outfit. of players a willmeanthey’re chemistry early, themixture the Wanderers are abletofind host ofqualityyouth players. If of experience andyouth witha seeking tofindtherightbalance Addo allsetfor thenewseason. Ghanaian forward Elizabeth Sydney Miramontez and IDE Provided Victorycontinues The Wanderers willbe SPO RT | DEC EMBER 2018 ■ 77 ONE ON ONE WITH... LISADEVANNA

THE VETERAN STAR AND LEADING GOAL-SCORER IN INTERNATIONALS AMONG AUSTRALIAN WOMEN IS A KEY PIECE FOR THE MATILDAS, WHO LOOK AHEAD TO A WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN NEXT YEAR. BUT FIRST, THE BUSINESS OF A DOMESTIC SEASON WITH SYDNEY FC …

There has been a buzz arou or tournaments. You win W-League this season, more he nation, all the little girls than usual. A lot has happen das and then they all want in the o -season, lots of arr ll. als and departures along wi ds o of that. If we can steps taken to improve the nation to grow, because through promotion and cov we’re not a no.1 sport, What are some of the things n make it the no.1 sport you’re looking forward to? ale participation. I think it There have been a lot of chang appen, but it comes down es. We’ve taken a lot of steps he grassroots game, and forward with the W-League esting a bit more money this year, with the Who’s Your nd time into the future of Hero campaign for example, women’s football. which I think is fantastic be- cause it gives the kids an oppo You’ve had your fair tunity to see the big players co share of World Cup out and play. A lot of the Matil campaigns. With the are now back playing W-Leagu e only eight months and Fox Sports have jumped o now is the time for Aus- board as well. All the games w players to be securing be televised or streamed, whic spots on the plane to has never happened before. Al e. Will that make this with Sam Kerr as the marquee n more competitive? it shows that the game is mov- lot of [current Matildas] ing forward. rs are contracted for the ight months, but this sea- You’ve been in this league a really for the young ones long time now. It is your 11t ave had a taste of an op- season and you’ve played ity to go to France. Those across a number of clubs. ones you have to watch Are you optimistic about th those who are borderline future of the W-League? You ting to go. Younger players mentioned Sam Kerr’s mar ers who are in and out of quee deal, the new stream- nal team camp, those are ing deal – do you think the ou’ve got to look out W-League will end up bein ey’re the ones who are a fully professional league i ave the hunger. The the next fi ve-to-ten years? d Matildas players are here I hope so, but that all comes e league and individually down to the success of the r best for their clubs, so it’s Matildas. If you look at the US oth. I think there will be the Germans, the French, the e unknown names who English, it all comes from how could come forward and successful they are in the Wor surprise people. Cups and in the Olympics and – Angela Bacic You win the hearts of the nation, all the little girls see the Matildas and then they all want to play football. It then all feeds off of that. Images Getty photos by

78 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 79 FINDINGOOTY By JOHNATHAN THURSTON

ey, Johnny,” Dad said, Iplayedmyfirstgameofrugbyleague abigsmileonhisface. forSouthsAcaciaRidgeJuniorRugby “ “Reckon you can score a LeagueFootballClub(JRLFC)whenI Htrytoday?”Ishrugged. wassix.AndapparentlyIwasprettygood “I’llgiveyouadollarifyoucan,”hesaid. fromtheget-go.Istartedplayingfootball My eyes lit up. not long after one of my cousins came to “Infact,I’llgiveyouadollarforeverytry livewithus.MichealJanson,mymother’s that you score,” he continued. “So you’ll get nephew, moved into our house for a while threedollarsifyoucangetthree.”Ismiled. whenIwassix.Iamnotsurewhy,butone “How much money you got?” I asked. dayhewasbunkingdownwithmeand it Helaughed,atleastuntiltheendof was great. We all called Micheal “Mickey the game. Motor”, and he fast became my best mate. Iscoredninetries.“Yougotaten-dollar He was right into his football and he ended note?”Isaid,handoutthemomentthefull- upgettingmeintoit,too.Hehadalready time whistle was blown. There was barely playedaseasonwithSouthsandhewanted aspecofdirtonmyoversizedblack-and- me to join him. white jersey. “Come and play with me, Johnny,” he said. This is an extract from Johnathan “I’lloweyouadollaruntilIscorenext “Wecanbeinthesameteam.”Micheal was Thurston: The Autobiography by week.” Dad gave me the ten. “Just keep it,” a year older, but the Under-6s and 7s players Johnathan Thurston with James Phelps. hesaid.“Thiswasaone-timedeal.” were combined into the one side. Published by HarperCollins Australia and available in all good bookstores and online. Dad never offered me another incentive “Yeah, righto,” I said. “Beats watching when it came to rugby league. you.”Andsoitbegan… `

80 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 photo by Getty Images NS I IDE SPO RT | DE C EMBER 2018 81 Soon I was surrounded by footballs; my backyard was full of them. So too the front yard, the neighbour’s yard and that bloody ball- swallowing bush down the end of the street. Yep. It was footy, footy and footy at the Thurston house. Seriously, we played so much we wore the grass out. With an endless supply of both team-mates and opponents – think big family – both front yard and back were reduced to tufts of green swimming in baked, brown dirt. My uncles never said no when I nagged them for a game. “Righto,” Uncle Stephen, who lived with us for a few years, would say. “I’ll go and get your other uncles, too.” Soon Uncle Brett would be there, Uncle Phillip and Uncle Dean, too. Sometimes we had enough to make it 13-on-13: a full-on, international-rules match. And my uncles were all so young. Mostly in their early 20s, they were full of energy and spark. And they had to be to keep up with me. “We can’t play here,” Uncle Stephen said, first looking at the desert that was our backyard and then the grazes and cuts on my legs, given to me by the rock-hard surface. “Which of the neighbours aren’t at home?” Mostly it was the older lady down the street. She had the thickest, greenest grass I had ever seen – at least until I had finished with it. I actually caught up with her years later when I went back to that street to do some filming with Channel Nine. She told me it had taken years for her grass to grow back. Anyway, after a quick knock-and-run, house empty and replacement field ready to roll, we started the game. Back and forth, tries a plenty, we were still going when the sun went down. “Next try wins,” Uncle Stephen barked. “Winner takes all.” He picked up the ball and started his run. Okay, hand it over … Did I mention that I was a bad loser? Yeah, I was a terrible sport. So my uncles would let me win. Well, most of the time. I was waiting for Uncle Stephen to drop the ball, already thinking about my victory dance. And Johnny does it. The crowd goes wild. But Uncle Stephen was running. Fast. What’s he doing? He can’t score. He always lets me win. He burned down the sideline, a cheeky smile on his face, try line closing fast. Surely he’s going to drop it? Or just throw me an intercept? He didn’t. Uncle Stephen planted the ball and raised his arm towards the sky. “Yeah! The trophy is mine!” he beamed. “Last- minute try to win the grand final. I’m a bloody legend. Give me the Clive Churchill Medal now.” I looked at him, my face blank. What’s happening? And then I cried. “Nah, next try wins,” I demanded. “Game’s not over. It’s next try wins.” But it wasn’t. Uncle Stephen was already putting the imaginary Clive Churchill Medal around his neck. He had opened and was drinking his celebratory beer. Game over. So I ran, back through the always-open sliding door, bolted across the lounge room

82 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 “I HAD TO WIN. THE ROUGH STUFF DIDN’T WORRY ME A BIT; I COULD TAKE A BEATING, BUT ONLY IF I WON.”

oppoite page top to bottom Winner of the under-12s State carnival; barefoot footy at Souths Sunnybank; his first team – Souths Acacia Ridge Under-7s; Indigenous hero, with one of his own idols Darren Lockyer.

and into the kitchen. Mum’s arms were describe myself as a pretty good student, I was into a bit of everything when I was warm and accepting, as always. “I’m never at least until I got to high school. young. It wasn’t just footy and cricket. I playing with Uncle Stephen again,” I said, But … I was also one of those kids who also played a lot of snooker, table tennis my eyes wet, my face red. Whether it was would have “easily distracted and needs to and squash. If it had a ball, I was in. I was cricket, football or the last jellybean in choose his friends carefully” written in the pretty handy at snooker in particular. the jar, I had to win. The rough stuff didn’t comments section of his report. Maybe I should have become a snooker pro. worry me a bit; I could take a beating, but Want to guess what my favourite subject It certainly would have been easier on the only if I won. was? Yeah, you are right: it was sport. I shoulders; the liver, not so much. I was even worse when it came to cricket; liked class, but I loved recess and lunch: I excelled in all forms of athletics. From I was never out. “Nah, I didn’t knick it,” I that is when we played sport – cricket in the the 100 metres to cross country, I pretty would scream, even if it tore off a chunk summer, footy in the winter. much won them all. I went to state level of willow from the side of my self-scooped Later on, in Years Five and Six, I got for both track and field. I think the only imitation Gray-Nicolls One Scoop. “That’s to play both cricket and football for the discipline I sucked in was shot put, but then .” I would throw the bat away in school. We would travel around taking on again, the shot was heavier than me. disgust when the decision wouldn’t be other schools and that was something I My best friend during primary school HarperCollins overruled. And then, of course, I would really enjoyed. was my second cousin Latoya. We started go running to Mum. “I love you, son,” she Have I told you that I was competitive? school together on the same day and got on would say. “But stop being a baby. Go on. Whack! I hit it sweet, straight out of the from day dot. Get back out there.” meatiest part of the willow. I was running Latoya’s grandmother lived near our down the pitch, my eyes following the path school. My mum and dad both worked late, o yes … This mummy’s boy had a of the ball. I was a Test cricketer in the so I would go back there and wait for them cry on his first day of school – of making, an opening batsman, an opening to pick me up. And yes, I probably played course. “I don’t want to go, Mum,” bowler, and no doubt, on this day, on my way Barbie dolls with her, experience that SI said. “I want to stay home with to scoring a ton. would come in handy later in life when I you.” She gave me a hug and sent me on my Oh no! I hadn’t got as much on it as I became a father to three girls. thurston youth photos courtesy way. I was dropped at Acacia Ridge State thought. It was coming down and heading I had male friends, too; well at least School for my first day of school in a taxi. towards a pair of cupped hands. Hands that one. Dusty Morton was one of my great I have no idea whether or not it was because belonged to a girl! And she caught it. Yes! childhood friends. My dad played footy Getty Images we didn’t have a car. Maybe it was getting She caught it. I threw my bat down hard, with his father and we had a lot in common. fixed. I am not sure, but I clearly remember before steaming off the field. A friggin’ girl? We used to spend a lot of time together both Mum and Dad taking me to school in a I fancied myself as a bit of a cricketer. I when our old men were playing footy or cab. I also remember crying. loved it as much as footy. Maybe even more. having a beer. My first teacher was Mrs Shaw and I And then a girl got me out. I kicked the kit. You probably know JT as a proud liked her a lot. Maybe she reminded me I huffed and puffed. I don’t think I spoke to Aboriginal: a footballer who wears of Mum. Anyway, school ended up being anyone for the rest of the day. I just fumed. black, yellow and red boots to publicly okay. All my report cards from primary I walked over to Mum. I looked at her, acknowledge his heritage, a guy who school were good. I was hungry for waiting for her to say something to make campaigns for the rights of his Indigenous information and did my work. I was never me feel better. She giggled. So I went back brothers, someone who won the Human in trouble and believe it or not, I would and kicked the kit again. Rights Commission medal for his ` farrightandbottomleftphotosby

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 83 84 THAT ITWAS MERUNNINGOVERTHETOPOFDEFENDERS.” was never disadvantaged because of because disadvantaged never was I that is Iknow All helped. that Maybe Ridge. Acacia at myschool wentto kids ofAboriginal Plenty ofracism. form serious any encountered Inever and against discriminated never I was anon-issue. itwas because background one. a non-Indigenous against team Indigenous an pitted which match, Stars All NRL ofthe introduction forthe itnotbeen had happened have wouldn’t probably that And 20s. late my in Iwas ituntil about conversation a having remember even Ican’t history. myfamily about athing know Ididn’t lot. an Australian Aboriginal. Iwas lived. met never Ihad asister where Aplace football. and cricket in played we away. Anation ocean an was Zealand New tree. family Mum’s ofthe side with Iidentified Australia, in living also and cousins, and myuncles to close so being but heritage, New Zealand Ihad I knew school. primary in Aboriginal an as myself identifying Istarted Queensland. in … part in Well, one. was I that fact forthe except nothing meant it then, even And school. Iwentto until was Aboriginal an what know even I didn’t Seriously. akid. just Iwas school; primary in back ambassador noIndigenous I was But education. Indigenous to contribution IN I guess I never asked about my cultural mycultural about asked Inever I guess Not awhole mean? that did what And bred and born Aboriginal, an is My mum WATCHING HIMTRAMPLEBLOKES.IUSEDTOIMAGINE S IDE “MAL WAS ALWAYS MYFAVOURITE. IUSEDTOLOVE SPORT DE C EMBER 201 8 Michael Morgan, it was JT and Josif … Josif and JT itwas Morgan, Michael and JT and Cronk, Cooper and JT Lockyer, Darren and JT before Long Yep. inseparable. webecame pass, after pass kick, after Kick his. and house my at butalso club, footy the at only We outnot hung thieves. as thick as We became Mladenovic. Josif was name His forthem. whoplayed ason had mates best oneofmydad’s because club that Iwentto eight. whenIwas JRLFC Sunnybank Souths to whenImoved from ofabruise. short never up and roughed getting always Iwas ahit. copping to used Iwas myuncles, and mybrothers my dad, to Thanks tough. butIwas tiny, been have –ha. Ican now, as much outthere as get to try Istill wing. onthe Iplayed because young whenIwas ‘D’ domuch to have didn’t I Thankfully, down. boys big the pull to Istruggled and fella atiny Iwas much. so Dad. ask Just field. ofthe length the run and sideline the towards off take Iwould ball. the Icaught hold ofmeonce get could people Not many fast. Real fast. Iwas But forasix-year-old. even small, Iwas tries. scoring was mything And ha! – ha thecolourofmyskin. Josif had an idea. “Why don’t you just don’tyoujust “Why idea. an had Josif are ofplaying memories real My first ago.Imight Ihad seriousness, all in But Not Yep, Tackling? it. tries? loved Scoring football. butIloved school, mind I didn’t aKiwi being up to own Ididn’t Lucky It was early morning, the grass drenched drenched grass the morning, early It was Under-8s. the up into wemoved until kicks drop been ithad Souths: with year first years. forthree agame lose We didn’t Under-8s. in sets structured running were we that amazed pretty Iam back looking And butitworked. Bellamy-spec Craig quite It wasn’t score. and run just I would easy. itwas there From onmychest. and outfront me, to ball the get Hewould space. pass. a15-metre talking Iam And me. outto ball along throwing before forwards of acouple run hewould set every So fast. Iwas talker. and passer agreat was Josif plans. and structures thinking started whenwe nine just wewere And wing. the on Iplayed and halves the in He played tackled.” being like don’treally “I Josif. of mycareer. try easiest the scored –and middle the in still defenders the all with to, Ineeded that –not line the to myway Isprinted of me. front in nobody was there up and I looked chest. onthe meright hitting pass, spiral aperfect threw and receiver first at ball field.” the of middle the in stand tacklers the All you. touching anyone without line the to run can you and pass doabig just can “I sideline. standoutthere,”hesaid,pointingtothe I kicked my first proper goal during my during goal proper myfirst I kicked in Iwas so myself positioned I always player. football good abloody was Josif to Isaid time,” the all let’s dothat “Yeah, the grabbed Josif Idid. what is that So

photos by Getty Images with dew. The surface was as slippery as an ice-skating rink, as cold as one, too. My bare feet were numb; we didn’t wear boots until we were ten. I built a little sandcastle to place the ball on. I had no idea what I was doing, but I had seen it done on TV. I stuck the ball on top after eyeing off the little posts made from PVC pipe. I walked back and moved in. Whack! I got it. I struck the ball pretty well from the start; I can’t remember missing many. I guess I had a fair bit of God-given talent. My first pair of footy boots came from Kmart: a pair of budget black Trax. I got them when we moved into the Under-10s and were allowed to wear boots. They must have been complete crap, but I thought they were brilliant. It was like strapping on a Superman cape, but instead of flying, they gave me footballing powers: the from left Thurston finds step, the skip and the speed. space; arguing the toss; an- other hero, ; JT They were black with molded rubber studs. could handle the knocks – if And I loved them; I might have even taken he won in the end; prepping for his Origin debut in 2005. them to bed and cuddled them like a teddy bear. I would score a lot of points in them before wearing them out. My feet didn’t grow a lot back then, so I had them until they were ruined. We always watched the footy when it was on. Dad, the brothers, the uncles and me. We would all pile into the lounge room and watch the match of the day on our old-school TV, a square screen buried in a hefty wooden box. The first season of top-grade footy I can remember is 1989. I watched rugby league before that but I didn’t really know what was going on. Mum was a Canberra Raiders fan so I followed them, too. Dad went for the Bulldogs and so did my brother; it created some fun. It was always mayhem when the Dogs played the Raiders. We would get right into it. Supporting the Raiders ended up being a pretty good move – Canberra were an incredible side in the early 1990s, up there with the great South Sydney teams of the 1950s, the of the 1960s and the Melbourne Storm of today. There was Mal Meninga (big Mal), Laurie Daley (Loz), Ricky Stuart (Sticky) and Steve Walters. They were a side with talent to burn. And they won a lot more games than they lost. Mal was always my favourite, all tree-trunk legs and palms of steel. He was so bloody big. I was tiny and was completely in awe of his size. I used to love watching him trample blokes. I used to imagine that it was me running over the top of defenders, left arm in a cast, scoring under the posts. Fair to say Mal was my first idol. Later it was Allan Langer, Darren Lockyer (Locky) and then Andrew Johns (Joey). Origin was my favourite type of football. It was a huge occasion in the Thurston house. We would always throw a party and the house would be full of colour and noise. And we hated New South Wales. So did I dream of becoming a State of Origin star? You betcha. Yep. It started with a dream. ■

INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018 85 Australia’s only dedicated women’s sports website

The New Home of Women’s Sport! The NEW Women’s Game is your ultimate homepage for the best of Australian women’s sport. Now more than just football, the new-look website delivers expert news, interviews and analysis on the sportswomen making headlines in Australia. HEAD TO thewomensgame.com NOW!

The Women’s Game is an Inside Sport website, part of nextmedia. 88 90 93 HOW TOALLROUNDER CHRISTMASGIFT GUIDE KNOWMORE HOW TO One of the rising stars of the women's With the festive season fast In our cricket book special, this year's national team, Ash Gardner, explains approaching, get some gift ideas for Wisden, a tribute to and how she excels with bat and ball. the sport-made people in your life. what went into Sandpapergate. Getty Images Getty photo by

▲ On tour in steamy Sri Lanka, the best time to have a net can be in the cooler temperatures of night time. Ben Stokes, no stranger to vigorous activity in the late hours, gets in some batting practice in Pallekele. EXCEL WITH BAT AND BALL

WITH ASH GARDNER

ricket’s batters and bowlers are picked to do a job: mostly to either bat like a run-scoring machine or C bowl like a demon. In that realm, all-rounders aren’t just selected to be okay at both – they need to be at the top of their game across all departments, including fielding. It is double the workload and responsibility. Players like Sydney-born right-arm batter and right-arm off-spinner Ash Gardner are a unique lot. They’re ultra- talented but boast a ruthless work ethic. At just 21, this rising Indigenous star is already a master stroke-player who can pile on the runs when her team needs her; last summer in an amazing display at she hit the fastest-ever century in the WBBL – 114 runs from just 52 deliveries. Part of the Aussie squad which clean-swept New Zealand in their recent T20 series on these shores, Gardner was then selected for Australia’s T20 and ODI Tour of Malaysia. So with the first delivery of WBBL|04 to be bowled December 1, the Sydney Sixers star kindly shared with us how she keeps up with the demands of both bowling and batting at the sport’s top level.

BATTING VS BOWLING

I guess when you’re a kid, you’re always wanting to be doing everything; I was even a wicketkeeper when I was younger. I was wanting to be doing and playing literally everything I could. But I guess batting’s probably one of the things that people find the most fun. Obviously being able to hit big sixes is always really cool. So yeah, I would have to say batting was probably my favourite out of the two aspects of cricket while growing up. TRAINING TIME

As far as allocating training time to each, you do what’s put down for you by the coaches, but there’s generally a section of time at training to do extras. If you feel like you need to top up on anything in particular, you can. But generally I’m doing about 50-50 bowling-batting prep. It’s all about being able to target both disciplines evenly. Keeping on top of both is quite hard. The training isn’t bad, but in a game sense ... At least you can rely on hopefully one skill working for you on the day, unlike a batter or a bowler, who have one specialised area of the game. At least I’ve got two – I’m pretty fortunate that I get to use both. It’s a pretty cool thing that I’m able to do. NET GROWTH

Personally, early in a net session I’m just trying to settle in, trying to read the pitch and find out photos by Getty Images INKLING AS TO THE TYPE OF DELIVERYTYPE OF BE BOWLED FROM THAT’S GOING TOTHAT’S GOING THE FIELD THAT’S FIELD THE DEFINITELY GET SOME SORTSOME OF GAME YOUGAME SET FOR YOU. IN A XMAS GIFT GUIDE

GOING RETRO

Sporting a retro and stylish design, the FUJIFILM X-T100 offers a host of features including a high-magnification electronic viewfinder, a horizontal tilting rear LCD screen, built-in Bluetooth technology for easy, seamless image transfer, along with long battery life. The X-T100 weighs just 448g and has an anodised coating on an aluminium top cover, delivering a retro and luxury feeling. It boasts a powerful 24.2 megapixel APS-C size sensor, equipped with a phase detection autofocus system. A newly developed autofocus algorithm offers faster and precise focusing. Combined with FUJIFILM’s renowned outstanding image quality and the company’s proprietary colour reproduction technology, the X-T100 is stylish, portable, and highly versatile, making it the ideal companion for everyday photography. The FUJIFILM X-T100 with XC15-45mm lens kit retails for RRP $1049. Available in dark grey, black and champagne gold colours from leading retailers and photographic stores.

SUMMER READING

Not long after he was born in 1990, Dylan Alcott was found to have a tumour on his spine. In his book Able, we discover that the surgery to remove it was successful, but left Dylan a paraplegic. Growing up, Dylan experienced his fair share of bullying and loneliness. By early high school, he was depressed, overweight and fearful for his future. Then he discovered sport: swimming, basketball, and tennis. Dylan has climbed to the top of not just one sport but two, winning gold and silver medals at three Paralympic Games and in two sports. He is also a multiple winner of the US and Australian Opens. RRP $39.99.

When the 12 young members of the Wild Boars soccer club walked into a Thai cave with their assistant coach, they expected to be out by nightfall. Then a sudden monsoonal downpour flooded the passage and they were trapped. So began the greatest search- and-rescue mission in living memory. C’MON AUSSIE ABC foreign correspondent Liam Cochrane was on the ground as the dramatic events unfolded. Using his The Cricket Australia Replica ODI Home Shirt local knowledge and working with a features a lightweight performance polyester, with team of Thai researchers, in The Cave contrast panels and piping. It has a self-fabric he puts us at the centre of the story, collar and contrast round-neck design, moisture witnessing the boys’ agonising wait wicking and 40+ UV-rated protection. RRP $119.95. and the divers’ battle against muddy Visit www.asics.com.au to find out more. torrents. RRP $29.99. Visit www. harpercollins.com.au to find out more about these two awesome titles. of New Zealand to be the most technologically advanced jersey of its kind, the Alternate jersey will seal a place ROCK GODS in State of Origin’s rich and diverse past as the Mighty Rock is a two-CD compilation featuring new benchmark for Australia’s greatest rock groups! It is curated by legendary advanced on-field broadcaster, host and voiceover extraordinaire Trevor apparel. Gift a piece of Smith, whose voice is synonymous with Australian history to a Blues fan rock music, having been one of the original employees this Christmas and of the Triple M Network. This compilation features a cross cheer on the boys as section of Australian rock band classics from over the they look to defend the decades. From Cold Chisel, Dragon, Hoodoo Gurus and 2018 State of Origin Skyhooks, to Silverchair, Eskimo Joe, Grinspoon, title! RRP $179.95. Visit Noiseworks and Gang Of Youths – arguably Australia’s www.canterburynz. hottest band right now. RRP $24.99. Visit www.sonymusic. com.au to find out com.au to find out more. more.

The SPERA 2019 Ultimate Sports Diary collection is a must for the ultimate sports fan in your life. SPERA products include fixture information for all major and minor Australian WIN a SPERA gift pack! sporting codes including AFL, NRL, Super Rugby, football, cricket, netball, basketball, tennis, motorsports, golf and more. For Christmas they are kindly giving Inside Sport readers the chance to win one of three SPERA Gift Packs which include an A4 Day-to-Page Ultimate Sports Diary (RRP $89.95), Ultimate Wall Planner ($19.95) and Rollerball Pen Set ($24.95). You can head to www.sperastore.com.au to find out more about SPERA’s awesome range, but to be in the running to score our amazing prize, simply nominate your favourite sporting moment for 2018. Hit up www.insidesport. com.au/win and complete our online entry form. Best of luck! KIT BAG

CRICKET GIANT

The first batsman to hit a six in Captain of three Ashes tours to Test cricket, Joe Darling is one of England in 1899, 1902 and 1905, he the giant figures of cricket’s golden guided Australian cricket through its era, best remembered as a record- coming of age and captained the most breaking batsman and outstanding successful Australian teams in leader of men. England until Bradman’s Invincibles. Larger than life, Joe Darling, by his discipline and democratic approach, was admired by all cricketers who served under or played against him. During the latter part of his life, farming and politics in Tasmania took him to prominence, as he applied the same personal attributes which had brought him cricketing success. ON A ROLL A member of the pioneering Australian The Mentay Aqua Wizz is a must-have for the cricket season. It is a dynasty, Joe achieved versatile pedestrian absorption roller with a tare weight of 42kg and is greatness like many fitted with a 60-litre internal reservoir. The foam is 25mm thick, high- other renowned Darlings absorption and high-density. The Mentay Aqua Wizz is designed for removal through the generations. of surface water on covers, but has many other uses. To find out more, call A father of 15 children, he 1800 037 075 or to view the Mentay product range online, go to www. was a devoted and loving mentay.com.au. You can also find us on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. family man.

GLOW IN THE DARK

The all-new Scotopia is the latest addition to the Crazy Catch training system range. “Scotopia” relates to the adaption of the eye’s retinal rods MAN VS MACHINE and light receptors in enhancing vision in low light conditions. Now you can train for low-light-level game-day conditions, further enhance your JUGS machines enable players of all age groups to improve existing strengths reaction times, improve your concentration in inclement weather and overcome any weaknesses they may have in their batting. All types of conditions and most of all, add some good, old-fashioned fun back into deliveries can be simulated with the unit’s independently variable speed motors: your training! The frame starts to glow at dusk, while the ball lights up in-swing, out-swing, medium or fast, slow spin and short, rising deliveries. upon impact, creating a next-level Crazy Catch challenge! RRP $199. RRP $4180. Check them out at www.jugs.com.au Now available at Rebel sports stores. KNOW MORE

STEVE SMITH’S MEN Radio and The Guardian, among other places, who penned BEHIND AUSTRALIAN CRICKET’S FALL a memorably trenchant critique a few years ago of the BY GEOFF LEMON, HARDIE GRANT, $29.99 Nine cricket commentary style. Lemon is the rare cricket When applied sandpaper to ball less writer who can drop a Matrix reference after a Cardus than furtively in Cape Town earlier this year, the public citation, and not have it feel forced. outrage was at once unmistakable yet also complicated – While the book plays as an account of the South African people knew they were angry, but at what, exactly? series, its great strength is in the portraits of the Ball-tampering? That had long been cricket’s most tolerated protagonists, the players whose personalities set them offence. Cheating in such a blatant way? Plain naive. That inexorably toward tragicomedy. The contradictions of a other nations were making fun of us? Closer, but not “bristling” David Warner are a central element here, as is a sufficient as an explanation. Steve Smith who is yet to fully inhabit the role of leader. The sharper observers of our oldest national game But from the level of the individual, the picture of the whole recognised something else: a full-on malaise, something that becomes evident – this was a playing group that had would be immediately recognised as “bad culture” in other become entitled. But the worst criticism of all is reserved sports. Sandpapergate was not merely one wrongheaded for Cricket Australia, the organisation that enabled this moment, or a touring party under stress, or a losing team behaviour with its commercially driven, just-win directives. that had just lost it – it was the end product of forces that Good for: A comprehensive explanation of what the ball- had pushed Australian cricket into moral free-fall. tampering scandal means. A superb read. Geoff Lemon is one of those sharps, a contributor to ABC – Jeff Centenera

BILL LAWRY THE IMMORTALS OF CHASING A CENTURY AUSTRALIAN CRICKET HARDIE GRANT, $45 BY LIAM HAUSER, ROCKPOOL PUBLISHING, $9.99 In a funny way, this book introduces us to Bill Even in today’s world of performance measuring and Lawry just as we’re saying farewell to him and the the like, cricket’s quirkiest aspect (apart from five-day Nine commentary team during the transition of the draws) remains its inability to be judged merely by its game’s broadcast partners in Australia. If you’re 40 numbers. Check out any scorecard; the game is an and under, you never saw him play live. You grew up accountant’s dream, and hasn’t changed that much, listening to his arguments with great mate and surely, over the years to stop us from comparing sparring partner . You knew he played Bradman to Boon, Lillee to McGrath. As the author of for and captained Australia, but you probably Immortals Liam Hauser pontificates in this outstanding didn’t know how honoured and respected he was book’s intro though, the practice of judging and amongst his ilk. In Chasing A Century, you’ll find comparing players on their career stats alone is pretty out. Written about Bill, not by him, nonetheless it much pointless. He makes a good argument about lining still features the odd quote from the great man the numbers up of a batsman who starred in the 1960s himself, as well as snippets from opinion columns alongside those of a batsman strutting his stuff in the he’s produced over the years. But mostly you’ll hear modern era. Turns out the game has changed – a great about him from other legends of the game: Keith deal. Consider the introduction of the various new Stackpoke, , Greg Chappell ... We love forms of cricket, equipment technology and full-time to reminisce about ’s voice being the WISDEN CRICKETERS ALMANACK 2018 professionalism over the years and suddenly the old sound of summer for many of us for many years, and new forms of the game seem galaxies apart. In this but Lawry isn’t far behind. Featuring a superb EDITED BY LAWRENCE BOOTH, JOHN WISDEN, $99.99 realm you have to appreciate the bravery of Hauser in collection of historic, rarely seen photographs, this attempting such a task as picking an all-time great 11. book is an absolutely outstanding celebration of Every year, we get our hands on the latest His final selections are bound to cause debate around one of the great contributors to . edition of cricket’s little yellow book, at once the barbeque this summer. Cricket’s like that. Good for: Those who want to discover the declaiming how it’s always the same, then Good for: People who don’t mind an argument, number- inspiration for Billy Birmingham’s loveable and succumbing to its charms – like its early crunchers and fans of cricket history. enduring “got him, yes – piss off you’re out” larrikin. “taste” page, which, in noting the death of JS – James Smith Maturi Sridhar, reports the he surpassed W.G. Grace’s record score by a medical professional. New in the 155th edition: there’s a new section devoted to domestic T20, and Wisden also recognises the world cricketer of the year in the shortest format for the first time (hint: he’s an Afghan). The abbreviation for left-arm wrist-spin, notably, has been changed from “SLC” to “SLW”. On the features front, there’s a neat piece on England playing its thousandth Test match, and a timely look at sexism in cricket, not quite scrubbed by the advances in the women’s game. For our local interest, Geoff Lemon recounts the history of Indigenous cricket, while Gideon Haigh does his thing on the subject of cricket mannerisms. Good for: The kind of people who read Wisden. – JC HOT SHOT

X marked the spot at Homebush, as the X Games flew into – and over – Sydney for the first time. American wunderkind Asher Bradshaw, all of 14 years old, created quite the Cameron Spencer / Getty Images

sight at the Showground during the skateboard big air event. photo by

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MA/IS324 WORD PLAY

“I think it was a disgraceful performance from a captain who got his sums wrong today.” – Richie Benaud

What else he said The quote in context “We keep hearing and reading that the players are under a It was February 1981, lot of pressure, and they’re and worn-out Australian tired and jaded, and perhaps captain Greg Chappell their judgement and their skill didn’t have a spare over is blunted. Perhaps they might from Dennis Lillee to bowl advance that as an excuse for the 50th over of the ODI what happened out there today.” fi nal against New Slight shake of the head: “Not Zealand. He handed the with me, they don’t. I think it was ball to brother Trevor, a very poor performance, one of and when the Kiwis the worst things I have seen done required six from the on a cricket fi eld.” last delivery, Chappell orderd him to bowl the ball underarm. Reaction to the unsporting decision was swit : the 50,000-plus at the MCG More talk booed, and in the TV The aggrieved New Zealanders studio for the post-match authored their own memorable wrap, host Richie Benaud quotes, the best coming from was warming up to deliver their Prime Minister, Sir Robert a broadside. Muldoon, who accused Chappell’s team of cowardice: “It was most appropriate that the Australian team was dressed in yellow.”

Speak of the speaker Entry into lore Benaud was our cricket Benaud was elevated to Legend conscience, everything status in the Sport Australia Hall that was dignifi ed about of Fame this past month, more the sport and the way the than three years at er his death. nation aspired to play it. Combined with the cricket As a commentator, he coverage leaving the Nine famously made every Network this summer, the sense word count. And in 40 of an era having well and truly seconds of speaking ended is unmistakable. Benaud into the camera, would surely have been acknowledging that disappointed at what occurred many would disagree with the Australian cricketers and with him, he let the ball-tampering incident in everybody know how South Africa – but the rest of us he felt. Because it was would have wanted to hear what Getty Images Getty Richie, it counted extra. the great man had to say about it. photos by

98 INSIDE SPORT | DECEMBER 2018