Crows, Tippett charged by AFL

AFL ... Adelaide Crows and Kurt Tippett face draft tampering and salary cap charges. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

Adelaide Crows and Kurt Tippett face serious sanctions after being charged over alleged draft tampering and salary cap breaches.

The club, its CEO Steven Trigg, former football operations manager John Reid and the out-of-contract Tippett were all ordered by the AFL to front a hearing in Melbourne on Monday.

Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson last week admitting the Crows expected to be hit hard with sanctions for the next two national drafts.

AFL general manager football operations Adrian Anderson said he acted in in accordance with AFL Player Rule 17 which relates to the enforcement of the AFL Draft and Total Player Payments.

"I have charged the Adelaide Crows Football Club, Adelaide Crows chief executive officer Steven Trigg, former Adelaide Crows general manager of football operations John Reid and Adelaide Crows listed-player Kurt Tippett each with two charges," he said.

"The Adelaide Crows FC, Mr Trigg, Mr Reid and Tippett were advised in writing of the charges ... and will be heard before the full AFL Commission at 1pm."

The Commission has the power to impose penalties as it sees fit, including:

Clubs - financial sanctions and/ or eligibility to participate in up to four draft selection meetings and/ or loss of the right to register any player to whom a rule breach relates.

Players - financial sanctions and/ or exclusion from the right to participate in the draft process.

Club Staff - financial sanctions and / or the right to perform any role for or on behalf of the club.

Adelaide released a statement shortly after the AFL announced the charges.

"The AFL has advised the Adelaide Football Club of charges arising from its investigation into contract arrangements with Kurt Tippett," the statement said.

"The Adelaide Football Club is determined to explain its position to members, sponsors and all stakeholders as soon as possible.

In the meantime, the Club notes that this matter is being investigated by the AFL as a direct result of our decision to report it and offer full assistance to the investigation."

Former Crows captain Mark Ricciuto said based on past cases, the club and Tippett faced heavy penalties.

"The AFL don't do things by half and you look at anyone who's done wrong they've been given a fair whack, so I wouldn't be surprised if they go pretty hard at the Crows," he said.

"At the end of the day if they've done wrong - and it looks like they might have - their going to be hit hard with the salary cap, a fine and draft picks.

"That's not going to affect them so much next year but in four or five years when you're looking for those kids to come through ... then it will hurt a bit."

The news comes on the same day Melbourne Demons escaped immediate punishment for its alleged tanking in 2009.

The Demons still face unprecedented penalties but investigations are continuing, which means its key picks in the upcoming national draft - No.4 and No.27 (reserved for father-son star Jack Viney) will remain in their hands.

Given clubs need a week to respond to any potential charges, there is not enough time for the Demons to reply to any charges.

Should they be charged the penalties would not apply until the 2013 draft, which means Melbourne will be able to take their prized selections.

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Wallabies to ring changes for England

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In the frame ... Barnes could replace Harris at fullback for the clash with England. Source:News Limited

Berrick Barnes is expected to be among a raft of changes Wallabies coach Robbie Deans will make to his starting line-up to face England this weekend as the Australians look to get their European tour back on track.

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Deans has plenty of quality players returning from injury for the clash at Twickenham with flanker David Pocock, winger Digby Ioane, lock Sitaleki Timani and prop Ben Alexander available for Saturday's (Sunday's AEDT) Test.

Hooker Stephen Moore is also expected to come under consideration after making his return from a hamstring injury off the bench in last weekend's 33-6 loss to France in Paris where he became Australia's most capped hooker, while winger Drew Mitchell could also find his way into the team.

Blindside flanker Dave Dennis, who started against France, could be in the firing line with an option for Deans to start both openside specialists Pocock and Michael Hooper.

"We've got a number of blokes we should be able to consider this week," Deans said.

"We were always going to consider that group when they returned and obviously we consider the previous performance in determining our starting line-up at every instance."

Barnes produced a solid cameo at fullback in his return from injury against France with his effort pleasing Deans.

The NSW Waratahs star came on early in the second half for fullback Mike Harris who was struggling at the back for the Wallabies.

"Berrick did well. He did what he does well. He's a good communicator," Deans said.

Deans was asked if Barnes was ready start against England.

"Yes. He's obviously returning from injury and we sort of managed him through that but he reported as being fine after the game."

Until his French cameo Barnes hadn't played since suffering a punctured lung against Argentina in September.

"It was my first time back for a while and I really felt it out there," he said.

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"It'd be good to start (against England). I've got a bit of work to do fitness wise but some coaches like to start returning players then bring them off later but that's Robbie's call to make."

England are coming off a seven-try 54-12 annihilation of Fiji last Saturday and are looking to chalk up a third straight Cook Cup win over the Wallabies.

"They'll be puffing their chests out. They had a very good win against the Fijians," Barnes said.

"They'll be confident but we have to lick our wounds and get on with it. There's no better motivation than playing the Poms in their own backyard."

Australia's recent nemesis, winger Chris Ashton, is available to make his return for England after missing the Fiji game due to suspension after picking up three yellow cards in the Heineken Cup.

Ashton has scored three tries in three Tests against Australia and coach Stuart Lancaster said the speedster will be raring to go.

"Chris was desperately disappointed to miss this game (against Fiji)," Lancaster said.

"He likes scoring tries and, if anything, this will fuel his hunger and desire to get back into the side. It was a tough lesson to learn.

"(Australia) are a top-three side and we recognise the quality of players we will need to beat them."

Lancaster is also expecting to have prop Alex Corbisiero and centre Jonathan Joseph available to face the Wallabies.

Watch the Wallabies battle England Live and in HD on Fox Sports 3 from 1.30am (EDT) Sunday!

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Ponting deserves more time: Viv

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Under pressure ... Richards says Ponting deserves to make the call on his Test career. Source:AFP

West Indies master blaster Viv Richards says Ricky Ponting deserves to control the timing of his exit from Test cricket.

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Ponting, who turns 38 next month, sparked a fresh bout of speculation over his playing future after being dismissed for a duck on Sunday in Australia's first innings of the first Test against South Africa in Brisbane.

Richards - one of Wisden magazine's five cricketers of the 20th century - says champion players like Ponting are special cases.

"You should give him the benefit of the doubt, for him to bow out when he likes because I think he deserves that," Richards said on Monday at a Melbourne pro-am golf event.

"When you have guys who have done so well, it's important you enjoy them for a long time and when they go, appreciate that also."

Former Australia skipper Ponting is Test cricket's second-leading run-scorer.

However, he's followed his modest tour of West Indies in April (146 runs at 24.33) with a first-up failure to begin the home summer.

Richards's career ended in 1991 at the age of 39, scoring 376 runs at an average of 53.71 in his farewell series in England.

The powerful hitter and five-star entertainer finished with an overall average of 50.23 including 24 hundreds.

The Shane Warne-led Big Bash League team Melbourne Stars are holding talks with the 60-year-old Richards about a possible mentoring role with the squad this summer.

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Cowan reveals Test inspiration

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Relief ... Cowan locked up his spot for the series against the Proteas with a fine century. Source:AFP

Gazing toward the heavens after reaching his maiden Test ton at the Gabba on Monday, besieged Australia opener Ed Cowan at first looked like a man simply relieved to have silenced his critics.

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But when the dust settled on a remarkable fourth day of Australia's first Test against South Africa, Cowan, 30, revealed a much more poignant reason behind his emotional salute.

Twelve months ago to the day, his mentor and close friend Peter Roebuck was found dead at a Cape Town hotel while covering Australia's Test tour of South Africa.

"I am well aware of the date. That was why I looked skywards upon making a hundred," Cowan said after his 136 helped Australia reach 4-487, 37 ahead of South Africa.

"I had a conversation (about him) with my wife this morning on an earlier than normal walk because I couldn't really sleep.

"(And) it was this day last year that started my season, the day I found out that he had died.

"I was battling away a little bit (for Tasmania) so that kick-started me."

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By the 2011 Boxing Day Test, the memory of the respected commentator, player and writer had helped a rejuvenated Cowan earn his first baggy green.

But by the time Cowan had arrived for the Gabba Test against the world No.1 Proteas, he again seemed in need of inspiration.

On borrowed time after failing to reach triple figures in his 12 previous Test knocks, Cowan had also been passed over when Cricket Australia handed out their 17 contracts this season and had averaged only 21 in Shield cricket this season.

However, Cowan finally got the monkey - and selectors - off his back as he chimed into a record 259-run fourth wicket stand with captain Michael Clarke (218 not out) on Monday.

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The usually patient Cowan appeared to follow a new attacking gameplan in his six-and-a-half hour knock - featuring 18 fours - that was abruptly ended after lunch by a freak run out.

But Cowan revealed the plan had been set at his last Test knock - 55 on a difficult Roseau deck against West Indies in April.

"A lot of you weren't watching but in the last innings in the West Indies ... I thought that was a pretty good blueprint," Cowan said.

"Before that I had a heart to heart with JL (batting coach Justin Langer); he was all about going out there and playing my shots.

"I felt like I backed that up."

Cowan survived a caught behind shout at 47 on Sunday before a run out scare on 106 and being dropped on 123 on Monday.

One of Cowan's few complaints was the fact the Gabba crowd's warm applause for notching his ton woke up his 12-week-old daughter Romy while she was being nursed by wife Virginia in the stands.

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Redbacks pay for dropped catches

Punishment ... Marcus Harris dropped twice on his way to a century for Western Australia Source: Alf Sorbello / News Limited

Western Australia opener Marcus Harris made the most of South Australia's butter fingers to put the Warriors in a strong position after day one of the Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA Ground.

Harris made 114 to lift the Warriors from a precarious 3-60 to a competitive 7-327, but the 20-year-old rode his luck along the way.

SHEF - WACA Ground

12 November 2012 - Day 1, Session 3

Western Australia 1st Innings

M. Marsh	51	99	9	0	51.52
M. Johnson	4	5	0	0	80

Michael Klinger was left to rue the one that got away after dropping Harris at first slip when the left-hander was on just six.

Then when Harris was on 51, wicketkeeper Tim Ludeman grassed a tough chance diving to his left.

The double reprieve came back to haunt the Redbacks, with Harris spending 276 minutes at the crease and cracking 19 boundaries to post the second century of his fledgling first-class career.

In March last year, Harris became the youngest player in Australian first-class cricket history to reach 150 when he made 157 against Queensland.

Harris was just 18 years and 227 days old at the time, and admitted he had struggled to string consistent performances together since then.

"It was a difficult year for me last year. I couldn't consolidate my spot,'' said Harris, who averaged 28.75 from 13 first-class hit-outs before this match.

"And I've had a frustrating start to this season.

"I've been hitting the ball quite well and I haven't been able to get past that 35-run sort of mark.

"So it's good to get a big score under my belt today and hopefully set up a good result for WA.''

After winning the toss, WA were in all sorts of trouble at 3-60 following the cheap dismissals of Liam Davis (four), Sam Whiteman (14) and Marcus North (7).

Harris should have been added to that mix, but Klinger spilled a chest-high catch at first slip off the bowling of paceman Chadd Sayers.

It was a day to forget for Klinger, who also dropped North when the former Warriors skipper was on seven.
North failed to add to his tally before hitting out.

Harris wasn't as generous, but his day was finally brought to an end when he tickled a Jake Haberfield leg-side delivery through to the keeper.

All-rounder Mitch Marsh picked up where Harris left off in making an unbeaten 51, while Nathan Coulter-Nile (52 off 52 balls) and new Warriors skipper Adam Voges (47) also made handy scores.

The Warriors, who will announce Justin Langer as their new coach later this week, sit last on the Shield table following three outright losses, while South Australia have one win from four games.

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