WA face mountainous Tassie task

Late cameo ... James Faulkner (L) scores some handy late runs for Tasmania. Source: Nikki Davis-jones / News Limited

Western Australia face a mountainous task to make Tasmania bat for a second time in the Sheffield Shield match at Bellerive.

SHEF - Blundstone Arena

25 November 2012 - Day 2, Session 3

Western Australia 2nd Innings

S. Whiteman	19	46	1	0	41.3
M. North	33	64	3	0	51.56

The visitors reached stumps on day two at 1-54 in their second innings, still 327 behind the Tigers' first dig total of 448.

The Warriors will resume with Marcus North unbeaten on 33 and Sam Whiteman 19, and with a point to prove to new coach Justin Langer after they made just 67 in their first innings.

The Shield's leading wicket-taker, Jackson Bird (1-16), had already struck in the final session on Monday, bowling Marcus Harris for one.

Earlier, the Tigers piled up a massive 381-run first-innings lead on the back of Ben Dunk's 97, an unbeaten late cameo of 76 from James Faulkner and skipper George Bailey's 66.

A fiery four-wicket haul from former Test spearhead Mitchell Johnson had threatened to limit the lead, but Faulkner put on 93 for the last wicket with Bird as WA's wheels fell off.

Johnson finished with 4-103 after a menacing and controlled display of speed that could have the 31-year-old in the reckoning for a Test return in the absence of injured paceman James Pattinson.

The former international cricketer of the year floored Tigers keeper Tim Paine with a vicious bouncer and hit several others in the home side's batting line-up to answer Bird's 6-25 on day one.

Johnson had Bailey caught at deep fine leg at 4-275 before Paine (4) and Luke Butterworth (2) were out to slips catches from superb deliveries for 6-295.

A short ball at Xavier Doherty's throat had the spinner fending a catch to short leg and on his way for two at 9-355.

A prolonged verbal battle between Johnson and Faulkner then followed as the Tigers allrounder mounted his brave cameo.

Tigers opener Dunk surpassed his previous best of 45 but fell agonisingly short of his first hundred when he was caught behind off the bowling of Nathan Coulter-Nile (2-110).

WA's dire situation didn't stop Johnson - a veteran of 47 Tests - declaring he was back near his best and ready to resume a career that earned him the game's top gong in 2009.

''I know exactly where I'm bowling the ball,'' he told reporters.

''That consistency's right up there again so I'm really happy with how things are going and if the opportunity came along again I'm definitely ready for it.''

He said only a lack of swing in the conditions had stopped him being at his lethal best.

''I think as the game's gone on, I've felt at my best,'' he said.

'' ... I felt like I got the ball through.

''Obviously I got a few quick ones through to Tim Paine.

''I feel like my pace is there but that hasn't been a real focus for me.

''It's more being that 85, 90 per cent (and) being able to bowl that quicker ball.''

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Proteas hero sets goosebump record

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Proteas hero ... Faf Du Plessis walks off 110 not out after saving South Africa from a certain loss. Source:AP

Faf du Plessis not only saved a Test match for South Africa, but he reckons he also set a new world record.

"I was going through a lot of emotions, I had goosebumps, it's the record for the longest goosebumps ever," du Plessis said.

On Test debut, du Plessis became South Africa's latest hero: he defied Australia for more than seven and a half hours in scoring an unbeaten 110 to save the second Test in Adelaide.

Du Plessis also made 78 in the first innings, after fearing he would be timed out when losing a boot, then almost tripping down the pavilion stairs.

"The second innings, I took my time going down the stairs," the man-of-the-match said.

Du Plessis, who batted the entire final day on Monday, said the fact Australia got within two wickets of victory "just makes the story so much better".

But he gave the Australians credit for one thing: their relentless sledging.

"They didn't stop for five minutes, they just kept chattering in my ear the whole day," he said.

"But probably we would have done the same thing, they were fighting firstly, and then they were getting frustrated they couldn't get us out.

"Credit to them for speaking the whole day."

The 28-year-old admitted suffering a serious dose of the nervous 90s.

"It felt like forever," he said.

"I think I was on 96 and I went through a stage where I was going 'I'm one boundary away here from getting a hundred so please bowl me a half-volley'.

"I quickly realised that it doesn't work like that in Test cricket."

After reaching his ton, du Plessis battled cramp and exhaustion, but ultimately walked from the field aching yet content.

"It just makes it a little bit more sweeter," he said.

"One day when I look back, I can say I pushed through the physical side of things.

"It just shows you how far you can go if you're mentally strong enough."

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Clarke: I want a fair pitch in Perth

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Perfect pitch ... Michael Clarke wants a 'fair' pitch at the WACA. Source: David Mariuz / News Limited

Australia captain Michael Clarke has taken a pointed swipe at WACA groundstaff, desperate for the world No.1 ranking to not be decided by the coin toss.

So concerned was Clarke after playing a Shield match for NSW in Perth two months ago, he told curator Cameron Sutherland he expected fairer batting conditions for the third Test starting on Friday.

Clarke won the toss and sent Western Australia in on a volatile wicket in September, and the Blues had the game comfortably won within three days.

Australia must win the third Test to usurp South Africa at the top of the Test rankings, and Clarke wants a fair fight.

"I hope so. I spoke to the groundsman when we played the game for NSW and made it very clear I was disappointed that a four day Shield game only just lasted (three) days,'' Clarke said.

"I'm hoping for a wicket that's good for batting but also bowling - a fair contest.

"I think we've seen that in Brisbane, we've seen that here (in Adelaide), two very tough battles.

"I'd like to hope a toss of the coin doesn't dictate who wins this third Test match.''

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Ferrari riled by Vettel let-offs

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Treble ... Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel is held aloft after winning his third driver championship. Source:AP

Ferrari gatecrashed Sebastian Vettel's triple world title party by insisting that Spaniard Fernando Alonso should have been crowned champion in an acrimonious, season-finale parting shot.

Red Bull driver Vettel's sixth-placed finish in the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday allowed him to become the youngest three-time champion in the sport's history as the 25-year-old German claimed the title by just three points.

But Ferrari insisted that Alonso, who was second at Interlagos, should have been the man celebrating a third career title, pointing to controversial races in Belgium and Japan to support their argument.

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Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said that Alonso paid a heavy price for first lap exits in Belgium and Japan where he was shunted out of contention by Lotus duo Romain Grosjean and Kimi Raikkonen respectively.

The Italian giants had been further aggrieved when Vettel, accused of blocking Alonso in qualifying in Japan before going on to win the race, escaped with just a reprimand.

''We are proud of Fernando,'' Domenicali told www.autosport.com. ''But we are very disappointed because the one who deserved this championship was really him.

''It is a shame because, after such a long season that we really fight in all conditions, we raced 18 races and not 20 -- and being second by three points is not a lot.

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''Watch the facts. Zero points in two races (Belgium and Japan) so we have done what we have done with 18 races. The others had 20 -- and the points were over 20 races.''

But Domenicali remained gracious in his praise of Vettel who had collided with Williams driver Bruno Senna on the opening lap and was sent spinning to the rear of the field in Sunday's rain-lashed race before recovering.

''Sometimes there is a sign of destiny where you really can appreciate what is the direction of the wind,'' he said.

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Alonso, who was second behind Jenson Button of McLaren in the race, also insisted his campaign had been undermined at Spa and Suzuka.

''The championship was not lost here,'' said the two-time champion. ''The championship was lost when (Romain) Grosjean flew over my head (at Spa) or when Vettel surprisingly only got a reprimand after qualifying in Japan.''

Vettel refused to get involved in a war of words although he did allude to his rivals' controversial decision the previous weekend in Texas to break the gearbox seal on Felipe Massa's Ferrari in order to allow Alonso to enjoy a starting advantage on the grid.

''A lot of people tried to play dirty tricks but we did not get distracted by that and kept going our way and all the guys gave a big push right to the end,'' Vettel told the BBC.

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Warne promises all-out attack in BBL

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Leading from the front ... Warne says he'll be an attacking captain in season two of the BBL. Source:News Limited

Australia cricket great Shane Warne has given fans a glimpse of what they can expect in this summer's KFC Twenty Big Bash League, telling Inside Cricket he'll be an attacking captain at Melbourne Stars.

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Warne will assume the captaincy from Cameron White in the second edition of the Big Bash League, the champion leg-spinner saying he'll look to put the pressure on opposition teams from the outset.

"In my experience so far if you can take three or four wickets in the first six to eight overs you're generally going to win the game," Warne told his former Test captain Allan Border on Inside Cricket.

"All the opposition are trying to do is to bat out the 20 overs and actually post a score that they can then be competitive.

"So it's all-out attack for me in the first six overs and if that means you go for a few more runs then so be it – that's a risk-reward thing about the runs."

The BBL quickly found a place in the hearts of Australian cricket fans last season with the games attracting impressive crowd figures and record viewing numbers on Fox Sports.

And Warne said the enjoyment wasn't just confined to those watching on in the stands and at home.

"I think from the captain's point of view it's probably the most enjoyable form of the game to captain," he said.

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"You have to be a couple of overs ahead of the game and you have to adapt straight away.

"You can have all the plans you want in Twenty20 and some guy comes up and can start winning the game and turning the game."

The Stars are $5 favourites to take out the competition despite the presence of defending champions Sydney Sixers, who recently added the Champions League Twenty20 tournament in South Africa to their BBL triumph.

Warne said he was looking forward to leading a team jam-packed with T20 talent.

"It's quite an exciting team to captain, too," he said.

"You look down our list and there's some good international players like (Lasith) Malinga and (Luke) Wright – he got the fastest domestic hundred last year.

"And then we've got the quality of Rob Quiney at the top – he's probably as good as anyone going around.

"And then you've got all the other guys – (Brad) Hodge, (Cameron) White, (David) Hussey … we've got a pretty good side but it's just a matter of everyone gelling together."

One of the great innovations from season one of the BBL was the interaction between players and the Fox Sports commentary team.

Warne was "miked-up" for many of the Stars' matches, giving fans an extraordinary insight into the way he goes about his business.

"I did enjoy it actually and in a funny sort of way it made you concentrate," Warne said of his pre-delivery conversations.

"I think it's fantastic that Foxtel and Fox Sports be able to do that – to bring that to the lounge room of people watching."

Watch every match of the Big Bash League Live and in stunning HD on Fox Sports!

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Tippett hearing rescheduled

Delayed ... The AFL Commission hearing is pushed back to November 30. Source: Darren England / News Limited

The AFL Commission will now meet on November 30 to hear 11 charges relating to Kurt Tippett's expired contract with Adelaide.

The hearing was due to start on Monday afternoon, but was adjourned after the Crows and their football manager Phil Harper sought more time to prepare their submissions.

The Crows, Tippett, Harper, club chief executive Steven Trigg and their former football manager John Reid will all front the commission hearing.

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Adelaide also started pre-season training on Monday and coach Brenton Sanderson said all other AFL clubs will be nervous in the wake of the Tippett controversy.

The Crows and Tippett have been charged by the AFL with salary cap cheating and draft tampering in relation to the key forward's expired contract with the club.

"I probably shouldn't comment on other clubs but I'm sure this is going to make a lot of other clubs nervous, too," Sanderson told reporters on Monday.

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"There is a lot of greyness surrounding ASAs (additional services agreements) and how players are paid so probably the other 17 clubs are just double-checking and ensuring that everything is above board.

"But as far as I know ... Adelaide has been squeaky clean for 22 years and this has been something that they are going to have to work through and we will certainly get through it."

If found guilty, Tippett could be deregistered as a player and the Crows banned from up to four national drafts, as well as fined any amount the AFL determines.

"It's a bit out of my hands, to be honest," Sanderson said of likely future draft penalties.

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"As we stand today, really happy to be involved in this year's draft and we'll bring some good young talent in and, until the investigation is completed, I guess we have just got to wait and see."

Tippett became the Crows' highest-paid player on signing a multi-million dollar, three-year contract extension in 2009.

But Adelaide admitted last month they had a once-secret deal, outside the contract, with the ruckman-forward who walked out on the club at the end of last season.

The investigation prevented Adelaide trading Tippett, who remains on the club's list until he likely nominates for December's pre-season draft.

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I won't change style: Warner

Determined ... Warner walks off after losing his wicket cheaply in the first Test. Source: Adam Head / News Limited

Australia opener David Warner has no intention of changing his boom-or-bust approach to Test cricket.

Warner says he will continue his aggressive method in the second Test against South Africa starting in Adelaide on Thursday despite a failure in the drawn series-opener.

Warner made just four in the first Test in Brisbane and has passed 30 runs just five times in 17 Test innings.

"The way I play, I'm going to be hit and miss here and there,'' Warner told reporters on Monday.

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"But I have got to try and learn to be a bit more consistent too. If I get myself in, I have to try and be there and get those big hundreds.

"But my job is to try and get us off to a good start.

"If I show intent and try and build pressure on them by getting a couple away, then I am winning the battle.''

The powerful left-hander said he was "raring to go'' on an Adelaide pitch expected to offer true batting conditions.

"Play hard, hit the ball into the gaps - that is my game and that is what I'm going to try and do,'' he said.

"My game is trying to hit the ball ... if the ball is there, I'm still going to hit it because that is my game - that is how I score my runs for the team.''

Warner expected South Africa's vaunted bowling attack to respond to their disappointing Brisbane Test where only five Australia batsman were dismissed - with one, Ed Cowan, run out.

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Pakistan players cleared for BBL

Relief ... Umar Akmal will now be able to take up his place with Sydney Sixers. Source: AAP

Pakistan will allow their players to compete in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash League, following a request from Australian cricket authorities.

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Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal and Umar Akmal had all signed up to play in the league from next month, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) last week refused permission.

Afridi had been due to play with Sydney Thunder but ended his contract, saying he wanted to play in Pakistan's domestic competition.

"I have ended my contract in the Big Bash League, because I want to play in the national event to improve my form and justify my selection in the team," he said.

Ajmal signed for Adelaide Strikers and Umar for Sydney Sixers but the PCB ordered them to feature in a domestic Twenty20 event being used to test players ahead of the matches against arch-rivals India.

But on Monday, PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said they would be allowed to play in the Big Bash following a request from Cricket Australia that said they had already signed their contracts.

"We will allow these players to go to Australia at the end of our Twenty20 tournament around December 8," Sarwar told AFP, adding that the players will have to return for the national camp for the Indian tour.

Pakistan will play India in two Twenty20 matches and three one-day internationals between December 25 and January 6 - the two countries' first series since 2007.

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Doping saga hits Aussie cycling

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Claims ... former cyclist Martin Vinnicombe says a current high-ranking official helped him dope. (Photo from 2006)

Controversial Australian former cyclist Martin Vinnicombe claims a current high-level figure in the sport once helped him with an injection.

Vinnicombe has spoken about the crisis that continues to rock cycling following Lance Armstrong's lifetime ban.

Vinnicombe, a 1988 Olympic silver medallist, tested positive to steroids in 1991, but made a successful legal challenge against the case.

"There are still people existing in cycling at the moment, in powerful positions, (who) at one point in their careers were exposed to doping and knew about doping methods," Vinnicombe told the ABC's 730 Report.

The ABC said the anonymous man that Vinnicombe specifically referred to is now "a senior Australian cycling figure".

It was known you'd have a sudden drop in blood pressure, therefore you needed someone there to assist you," Vinnicombe said.

"At that time ... was a person I trusted and thought he would assist me and he did so.

"He was present in the room."

While Vinnicombe said he sometimes did not know what he was taking, he added: "I don't think it was water".

Olympic cycling gold medallist Dean Woods said he competed clean throughout his career, but added some Australian cyclists should be nervous about their pasts.

"I would think if anyone was involved in road cycling from the late `90s right up until say 2005-06, certainly there are probably a few nervous guys around," Woods said.

"If they're implicated, they should be held accountable."

The federal government has announced an independent inquiry into Cycling Australia and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency are also looking into the sport.

"Today cycling above all else needs the truth," noted Australian anti-doping expert Michael Ashenden said.

"It needs accountability, for the people in charge of cycling to make sure that what they say is what they do.

"Every cyclist who comes forward and tells the truth is going to help us to get to that position."

Former Australian road professionals Matt White and Stephen Hodge have lost high-level roles in the sport after admitted they doped during their racing careers.

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Reds striker Suarez going nowhere

Staying put ... Superstar striker Luis Suarez is set to stay at Anfield. Source: AFP

Pepe Reina has praised Luis Suarez while Liverpool chairman Tom Werner insists the Uruguayan forward will not be sold.

Suarez scored two more goals in the weekend win over Wigan and is reportedly a target for Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City.

Reds goalkeeper Reina acknowledged that interest in the 25-year-old is inevitable but stressed that Suarez is happy at Anfield.

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"Luis is on fire," said the Spaniard. "He is in really good form and he looks like he can score every game and for us that is very important because we need to profit from that.

"He will attract the interest of many clubs, it is only normal, but he is quite happy at Liverpool and that is the important thing for us and the supporters.

"Jamie Carragher said even if he is not the best player then he is the player in better form than anyone in the league right now.

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"He is certainly a world-class striker and that is a good thing he is playing for Liverpool."

Liverpool chairman Werner was in attendance for the 3-0 EPL triumph over the Latics and is adamant Suarez is staying at the club.

Asked if there was any chance of the player being sold, Werner was quoted in the Telegraph as saying: "Absolutely not. He's a beautiful player to watch and, as a Liverpool fan, I hope I'm watching him for many years to come.

"We made a long-term contract with him in the summer and we are going to see a lot of his play at Liverpool."

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11669/8259189/Pepe-Reina-and-Tom-Werner-expect-Luis-Suarez-to-stay-at-Liverpool

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