Month: November 2012

Source: ROAR

In the lead-up to the opening Test in Brisbane, Mickey Arthur, the coach of the Australian team said he believed that Jacques Kallis was second only to Sir Donald Bradman when it comes to the greatest players to have graced the field.

A huge call, but one coming from a man who saw plenty of Kallis up close during his time as South African coach.
As if to add further to Arthur’s claim, Kallis peeled off an innings of 147 at the Gabba, his 44th Test ton, second overall to Sachin Tendulkar’s career tally of 51 centuries.

He has now passed 50 in Test matches on 99 occasions.

So just where does Kallis sit in the pantheon of cricket greats?

His numbers are phenomenal. In the history of the sport, no player has had a greater direct involvement in the game.

The current Test is his 156th, in addition to which he has played 321 one-day internationals and 25 Twenty20 internationals.

During that time he has faced 56,044 deliveries and sent down 30,256.

That adds up to an incredible total of 86,300 deliveries in which he has been directly involved in the contest, more than any other player can boast.

Kallis’ resilience given the incredible workload his body has had to endure is another hallmark of his game.

The bulk of his career has seen him occupy the number four spot in the batting order.

The current Test is his 100th at second-drop, during which time he has averaged a staggering 65.2 and scored 34 centuries, a rate better than one every three matches.

His aggregate of 12,788 runs places him fourth all-time behind Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Rahul Dravid.

As a batsman his career average (57.3) exceeds those of the men who are bracketed as the three pre-eminent players of his era – Tendulkar (55.1), Brian Lara (52.9) and Ponting (52.5).

Kallis never seems to be mentioned in the same breath as that trio, thanks in the main to the way he compiles his runs.

He lacks the dash and aggression of Tendulkar, Lara, or Ponting, yet his way of amassing runs has proved to be incredibly effective.

In many ways Kallis is looked upon more in the Dravid mould – an accumulator of runs rather than a rapid scoring aggressor who plays the more memorable and eye-catching knocks.

But one thing where Kallis has all of the above covered is the fact that he is a genuine all-rounder.

During the bulk of his career, he has been in South African teams that have boasted outstanding pace bowlers – Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and Dale Steyn to name just three.

In lesser quality teams he would have been called upon to bowl even more.

But, as it is, he has captured 280 scalps at an average of 32.6.

Broad of shoulder, Kallis bowls what nowadays is referred to as a ‘heavy ball’.

Off a moderate run-up he can generate considerable pace and has often ventured past 140km/h.

His two catches to date in Australia’s first innings in Brisbane takes his career tally to 189; third place overall behind the retired Dravid (210) and the still active Ponting (194).

When it comes to ticking the boxes as an all-rounder he scores highly in each facet of the game.

When mentioning all-rounders, Sir Garfield Sobers is almost unanimously placed at the top of the tree and the great West Indian is often seen as the number two to Bradman as the game’s greatest player.

It is fascinating however when you compare the raw statistics of Sobers and Kallis.

The most effective way to do so is by averages given that Sobers played 93 Tests, 63 fewer than Kallis’ current total.

In the batting department Sobers averaged 57.8 to Kallis’ 57.3; Sobers a century every 6.1 innings and Kallis a ratio of one every 6.0; Sobers averaged 34.0 with the ball and Kallis 32.6; in the field, Sobers averaged 0.63 catches per innings and Kallis 0.64.

Sobers had the freakish ability to bowl every style – pace, finger spin and wrist spin.

Aside from that though, on a comparison of their raw statistics, little separates the pair.

Once again, many people would lean toward Sobers especially for the cavalier and swashbuckling way he batted.

But what of Kallis against the mighty quartet of all-rounders that graced the cricketing world of the 1980s – Imran Khan, Ian Botham, Kapil Dev and Sir Richard Hadlee?

It can easily be argued that each was a superior bowler to Kallis a but in the batting stakes it is the South African all the way for none of the four averaged in excess of 38.

Yet again though, he is nowhere near as free scoring or aggressive of those four.

So just where does Kallis sit in the pecking order of history?

It is as much a subjective analysis as it is objective.

And how much is Kallis ‘penalized’ by the way he goes about scoring his runs?

Bradman is a nonpareil given the sheer domination he displayed with the willow.

Then perhaps Sobers.

And then … well Kallis is hard to top.

Source: SkyNews

Sydney FC chief executive Tony Pignata is adamant his club’s reputation as a transit lounge for coaches won’t affect their search for a quality replacement following Sunday’s shock resignation of Ian Crook.

Citing the building burden of pressure and scrutiny, magnified by the acquisition of Italian superstar Alessandro Del Piero, Crook stepped down after just six games, revealing it was affecting his health.

Sydney have slipped to eighth in the 10-team competition following two disastrous results – a 7-2 away loss to Central Coast followed by Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat by Melbourne Victory, where they let a two-goal lead slip.

Sydney are now searching for their seventh head coach in eight seasons but Pignata was confident Crook’s concerns about the role would not scare off potential replacements.

‘Ian wanted to make the decision, he felt he had to make the decision, we respect that, but does that impact on future coaches? I don’t think so,’ Pignata told AAP.

‘I think everyone will say that they want to have a chance and sometimes you feel you can bring something different, so I don’t think that (reputation) will have an impact.’

Assistant coach Steve Corica will act as a caretaker coach starting with Friday’s away game to fellow stragglers Brisbane.

Pignata, football director Gary Cole and chairman Scott Barlow will initiate the hunt for Crook’s successor, with the club eager to appoint someone quickly.

The list of Australian or locally-based candidates to replace Crook, who may stay on at the club in a development role, could include former national coach Frank Farina, Miron Bleiberg and former Sydney coach Branko Culina.

Another potential contender could be two-time Melbourne Victory A-League title-winning coach Ernie Merrick, who Cole knows from his time at that club.

Del Piero’s name has been mentioned in a player-coach capacity, but it seems more likely the marquee star would recommend someone else, perhaps Italian compatriot and former Chelsea coach Gianluca Vialli.

Crook was adamant he had not been forced out by the club and had actually contemplated resigning several weeks ago.

‘People look at two things. I’m sure they will go were you pushed?’, the answer 100 per cent is no, this is 100 per cent my decision,’ Crook said.

‘But number two, they will say was it because of last week and last night’s result?’

‘They were probably the straw that broke the camel’s back, but I’ve got to admit now that probably for me the catalyst was when we beat Western Sydney.

‘First win (of the season), inaugural derby, big crowd and I went home in the car afterwards and I felt completely flat.

‘At that particular time I thought it was the right time, but I stayed in there because I didn’t want to quit and the one reason I’ve done it now is because I think whoever comes to the job needs to have the time.’

After a long discussion with his wife on Saturday night, Crook texted Pignata at 1.30am on Sunday morning before revealing his decision six-and-a-half hours later.

‘For me it’s not about quitting, it’s about doing the right thing for everybody because the club have been fantastic to me,’ Crook said.

He broke the news to most of the players at a recovery session on Sunday.

‘I think Crookie deserves respect. 11 new players. Short time. Great man,’ Sydney’s Dutch defender Pascal Bosschaart tweeted.

Source: SMS

More than 1000 people gathered in central Sydney to remember the nation’s fallen soldiers, 94 years after the end of World War I.

Two focal points of the usually busy city stopped in unison to observe a minute’s silence at 11am (AEST) on Sunday, marking the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month when guns fell silent in 1918.

A little over 1000 people gathered at the Cenotaph in Martin Place while a smaller group of about 100 came together at Darling Harbour to pay their respects to the fallen.

At Martin Place, a minute’s silence was observed following the playing of the Last Post by an army bugler and the laying of wreaths.

Official guests included NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, Opposition Leader John Robertson, Governor Marie Bashir, federal senator Matt Thistlethwaite representing Prime Minister Julia Gillard and federal opposition frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull.

Also present was Australian Defence Force (ADF) Corporal Daniel Keighran, who this month was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery during a firefight in Afghanistan in 2010.

“I will remember my mates who have passed away, and my family who were involved in the wars through the years as well,” Corp Keighran told reporters.
Many in the crowd – including ex-servicemen, tourists and passers-by – wore poppies as a mark of respect.
The ceremony was punctuated by a vice-regal salute by the Navy band, an affirmation of the Ode of Remembrance and the singing of the hymn, I Vow to Thee, My Country, by the crowd.
Master of ceremonies John Gatfield paid tribute to the men and women who have died in battle.

“Remembrance Day is to remember the sacrifice of those who died or those who suffered in Australia’s cause in all wars and in other conflicts,” he said.
At Darling Harbour, the service began with prayers in a small marquee outside the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Families and ex-servicemen came together to remember in particular those who took part in Operation Jaywick, one of World War II’s most daring raids in which a special unit of Australian commandos destroyed seven enemy ships.

Wreaths were laid by members of the World War II Commando Association and the Australian Commando Association, and the families of Sergeant Brett Till, who died in Afghanistan in 2009, and World War II commando Horrie Young, on the original Japanese fishing vessel used in the mission.

Ken Gurran, who served in the 2/11 commando squadron in World War II, said the service was “terrific”.
“It has real meaning,” he told AAP.
“A deep soulful meaning, because you start thinking about your mates that are no longer with you.”

Source: ABCNews

The looming “fiscal cliff” in the United States is a key risk to the global economy.

The Reserve Bank of Australia trims its growth forecasts as it warns that the mining boom will peak earlier than expected, reports ABC’s Peter Ryan.

The Reserve Bank has marginally downgraded its growth outlook for the Australian economy and says the resources boom will peak earlier than expected.

In its quarterly statement on monetary policy released Friday (PDF), the RBA has put growth in the year to June 2013 as “a little weaker” at below 2.75 per cent before picking up to nearly 3 per cent in 2014.

The previous forecast had tipped growth as much as 3.5 per cent by June next year.

“Most of this revision to the outlook is accounted for by a change in the profile for mining investment which is now forecast to peak a little earlier and at a lower level than had been earlier expected,” the RBA says.

“This change reflects the reappraisal of spending plans in the coal and iron ore sectors as well as a reassessment of the profile for spending on some large and complex LNG projects.”

The RBA also warned that the outlook for growth is “sensitive to prospects for mining investment and the timing and extent of the anticipated recovery.”

However, the Reserve Bank believes mining exports are still forecast to “grow substantially” given the increased capacity from the current pipeline of investments.

The RBA’s statement sees inflation forecasts largely unchanged with underlying inflation expected to be close to 2.5 per cent over the next year.

Headline inflation could rise above 3 per cent by the first half of 2013 through the combined impact of the carbon price and volatility in fruit and vegetable prices.

The Reserve Bank also highlighted the looming “fiscal cliff” in the United States as a key risk to the global economy.

In a special section of the statement (PDF), the RBA said the automatic triggering of spending cuts and tax increases “would be the largest reduction in the federal budget deficit in a single year since 1969.”

“Such a rapid fiscal reduction would result in annual average growth in the United States 3 to 4 percentage points lower than otherwise in 2013.”

The Reserve Bank believes the threat of such a significant contraction, leading to a recession, means policy makers will ensure it won’t proceed to its full extent.

However, the RBA has signalled that legislative agreement between Republicans and Democrats “will require agreement” to minimise the impact of the fiscal cliff.

The RBA has also downgraded its outlook for global growth to 3.25 per cent in both 2012 and 2013.

The “fiscal cliff” aside, the RBA has noted growth “at a moderate pace” in the United States and signs that China has stabilised.

The Reserve Bank noted that Australia’s cash rate remains appropriate after leaving rates unchanged at 3.25 per cent on Tuesday.

The Australian dollar fell to a low of 103.78 US cents after the statement was released to financial markets after reaching a high earlier in the day of 104.45 US cents.

Source: Mediaspy

Helen Kapalos will not continue as the Ten Network‘s Melbourne newsreader, after a shock decision aimed at cutting costs at the troubled network.

According to an article by Cameron Houston in The Age, Kapalos was told of her redundancy shortly after wrapping up Friday’s evening news, a day before she was to leave on holiday.

Kapalos’ contract will not be renewed after it expires next March, although it is not clear whether Mal Walden will continue as a single presenter, or be joined by a new co-host.

Her axing has been met with disapproval from several commentators, some of whom felt the dismissal was not handled professionally.

Houston’s piece also suggested that Ms Kapalos’ security pass had been deactivated on Friday night, leading to a tense spat between the newsreader and network management.

Ten’s management is said to have relented, allowing Kapalos to use an office computer before she left for her pre-planned holiday.

So far, Ms Kapalos’ only public statement on her axing has been on her Twitter account, where she wrote “Fall down seven times.

Get up eight. Big love to my supporters.” She ended her tweet by asking her followers to read her new blog, helenkapalos.com.au, which is to be launched today.

Helen Kapalos has been co-anchor of Melbourne’s Ten News at Five since 2006.

Prior to that, she reported for National Nine News and presented the now-defunct late news programme Nightline.

Ten faces tough times ahead, as it struggles to manage a $210 million debt pile due to mature by March next year.

The embattled network posted a near $13 million loss in late October after a year of disappointing programs and managerial turmoil.