Arthur defends Lyon's bowling

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Critics ... Mickey Arthur defends Australia Test spinner Nathan Lyon. Source: William West / AFP

Australia Test offspinner Nathan Lyon he couldn't care less about accusations he bowls too fast.

Age: 25

State team: South Australia

Bowls: right-arm offspin

Test debut: Aug 31 2011 v Sri Lanka, Galle

Matches: 17

Test record: 56 wickets at 31.92

This Test summer: 2-136 and 2-41 v S.Africa in Brisbane, 2-91 and 3-49 v S.Africa in Adelaide, 3-41 and 0-128 v S.Africa in Perth, 2-76 and 0-57 v Sri Lanka in Hobart.

"I'm definitely not afraid of tossing it up and seeing if they want to take me on and really explore and get in that contest and try and get some wickets,'' Lyon said.

"I'm not really fazed about what people are coming out and saying.

"We're out there in the middle. We know what pace we have to bowl on that pitch.

"It's easy sitting at home. I'm communicating with 'Pup' (Michael Clarke) and 'Wadey' (wicketkeeper Matthew Wade) every over about my pace.''

Lyon attracted more criticism following his 0-57 in Sri Lanka's second innings in last week's first Test in Hobart.

Former Test legspinner Stuart MacGill said not only was Lyon rushing through his overs too quickly but he was bowling too fast.

"People are going to have their own opinion but I'm really confident in my own skill set,'' said Lyon, 25.

"I have the full confidence of (coach and selector) Mickey Arthur and (captain and selector) Michael Clarke.

"Whatever people are saying outside the Australian cricket room doesn't really affect me.

"I'm learning every time I go out to bowl,'' the 17-Test player added.

"There have been a couple of day-five pitches but in Adelaide South Africa batted fantastic and in Hobart we got the result (with pacemen Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc and Shane Watson sharing the 10 wickets between them).

"There are a lot of expectations on the spinner but I'm not worried about that.

"I'm worried about doing the right thing for the team and working well with 'Pup' and all the other bowlers.''

Arthur took a swipe on at Lyon's critics.

"I've read a lot about Nathan Lyon over the last couple of weeks. He's still the quickest offspinner to 50 wickets,'' Arthur said.

"He's young. He's still finding out about his bowling.

The special guest on Inside Cricket this week is West Indian great, Sir Viv Richards.

Widely regarded as one of the best batsmen of all time, Viv Richards' powerful, swashbuckling style and record-breaking career saw him named as one of the five Cricketers of the Century in 2000.

Viv joins old sparring partner Allan Border on the panel, alongside Mark Waugh and host Brendon Julian as they relive his stellar career.

Viv will also discuss his new coaching role with the Melbourne Stars, after linking up with fellow cricket legend Shane Warne in the BBL.
 

Watch Inside Cricket - Monday night at 8.30pm (EDT) on Fox Sports 2 and 2HD.

"He has immense potential though. Spinners only reach their peak at 28 or 29.

"Nathan's doing everything right.''

Lyon said the Australians had backed their quicks to do the damage on a Hobart pitch that offered variable bounce.

"Hopefully here or even the SCG might be a bit more friendly to spin bowling,'' Lyon said.

"It comes down to the different conditions and the different roles you have to play.''

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Mathews ready for captaincy

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Ready ... Angelo Mathews says he would relish captaining Sri Lanka. Source: Rick Rycroft / AP

If Sri Lanka want Angelo Mathews to become their next cricket captain, he is ready.

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The all-rounder goes into the Boxing Day Test - Sri Lanka's first Test at the MCG since the infamous 1995 Muttiah Muralitharan chucking controversy - in run-scoring nick.

The 25-year-old looks certain to take over as skipper once Mahela Jayawardene steps aside at the end of the current series.

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And he is confident that "his own ways'' of approaching captaincy can succeed, though he admits replacing Jayawardene will be difficult.

"I'm pretty much prepared. If they offer me the captain's job, I'll probably take it,'' Mathews said.

"Mahela's done a wonderful job and it's not easy to take those reins and do as well as Mahela. It will be a tough challenge.

"But let's see how it goes.''

Mathews has made 79, 84 and 75 in his past three Tests, but despite 11 half-centuries has only once scored a Test century.

That was against Australia, and Mathews has also shone at the MCG in a one-day international when his 77 not out as part of a 132-run ninth wicket stand gave Sri Lanka an extraordinary one-wicket win over the Aussies in 2010.

With Australia set to hand paceman Jackson Bird a Test debut, Mathews admitted the Sri Lankans knew little about the Tasmanian.

"To play for Australia, he has to be a good bowler - we cannot take him lightly,'' Mathews said.

"We have to try and be careful and take on the challenge. We need to get hold of his videos and analyse him.''

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Milligan banned for two games

Banned ... Victory's Mark Milligan has been outed for two matches after last weekend's Derby. Source: JOE CASTRO / AAP

Melbourne Victory midfielder Mark Milligan has been banned for two A-League matches for a jab to the stomach of Heart rival Jonatan Germano in last weekend's derby.

Milligan's first half hit on Germano was missed by match officials, but was picked up by the match review panel in its deliberations on Monday.

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The Socceroo will miss the Victory's clash with Newcastle at AAMI Park on Friday night, and the New Year's Day match at Western Sydney Wanderers.

"The MRP determined that the player had committed the offence of assault on a player (violent conduct when not challenging for the ball) against Jonatan Germano," the panel said in a statement.

It is a double blow for the Victory, who have already lost skipper Adrian Leijer for the Jets match after his suspension for exceeding the yellow card limit.

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Fischer tips Sydney-Hobart drag race

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Drag race ... Ragamuffin and Wild Oats ready for battle. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Ragamuffin Loyal skipper Syd Fischer is tipping a drag race between Wild Oats XI and his boat in the battle for line honours in the Sydney to Hobart.

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The two super maxis remain favourites to secure line honours with Wild Oats XI having previously been first to reach Hobart on five occasions and Investec Loyal - as she was known then - claiming the honour last year.

"I think it's going to be a bit of drag race actually, because they are going to be watching us and were going to be watching them,'' Fischer said.

The oldest competitor in the race at 85, Fischer is confident his boat is ready to go after an eventful leadup.

It required repairs to rigging after the mast struck Sydney's Anzac Bridge just under two weeks ago.

"We were struggling, we had a couple of problems that we've had to overcome but we're pretty right,'' Fischer said.

Eternally respectful of the weather's influence on the race, Fischer was cautious about talking up his boat's line honours prospects.

"I think we're confident we've got a good chance, but I don't like overestimating a situation that you can't control,'' Fischer said.

The fleet of 77 is expected to start in south easterly breezes of around 15 knots on Wednesday.

The winds will lighten after a few hours but forecast northerlies will kick the fleet along on Thursday.

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With a westerly change now likely to arrive earlier than expected on Thursday it may be hard for any boat to break the race record.

"The race record to us is a bonus ... it all depends on the conditions,'' Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards said.

"It's possible, the nor-easter may stay in for an extra three or four hours and that's a big deal in these boats.''

Richards acknowledged for the record to fall, his boat would have to cover as much of the 628-nautical mile course as possible before the westerly change hits.

"Don't back off, push as fast as you can and hopefully you can sail the shortest course possible and the rest is in the hands of the gods.''

There was nothing in the latest weather forecast to concern Fischer, who will be doing the race for the 44th time.

"I don't think we're going to get knocked around too much,'' Fischer said.

"It will be a race in which attention to detail will be the main thing.''

Richards emphasised it wouldn't be all smooth sailing, especially with southerlies to contend with on the first night.

"It's going to be big and bumpy and uncomfortable,'' Richards said.

The latest forecast still appeared to favour the bigger boats in the battle for overall honours.

"The overall winner is likely to come from a boat 60 foot or larger and it depends on who gets through some of those transition periods the best,'' said Matt Allen skipper of the 70-foot Ichi Ban.

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Pattinson to resume in one-dayers

Return ... James Pattinson is set to play in Australia's one-day series against Sri Lanka. Source: AFP

Pace bowler James Pattinson is set to resume from a rib injury in the one-day series against Sri Lanka in January, Cricket Australia's team physio Alex Kountouris said on Monday.

Pattinson broke down during last month's second Test against South Africa in Adelaide but was able to train with Australia's Test squad at the MCG nets on Monday morning.

"James is making good progress from the rib injury he sustained against South Africa," Kountouris said.

"He has resumed bowling and building up his bowling workloads to be available for the series against Sri Lanka."

The five-match ODI series starts on January 11 at the MCG.

Pattinson has a tremendous record in his seven-Test career of 31 wickets at an average of 22.09 and the 22-year-old is a key part of Australia's plans for the 2013 Ashes tour.

All-rounder John Hastings, who made his Test debut in Perth last month against South Africa before being rested from Big Bash League games for Melbourne Stars because of a back injury, is also returning to full fitness.

"John has recovered from the back injury. He is preparing to play in the BBL for the Melbourne Stars later this week," Kountouris said.

The Stars' next BBL game is in Adelaide against the Strikers on December 27.

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Tinkler supported at Knights meeting

Support ... Tinkler received the backing of at least one KMC member on Monday night. Source: Liam Driver / News Limited

A member of the Newcastle Knights board that approved Nathan Tinkler's takeover has called for caution over the rising rancour about the NRL club's future.

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The Knights Members Club (KMC) directors and Hunter Sports Group (HSG) met on Monday night, with the former airing concerns about the direction of the club and Tinkler's spiralling debt.

Tinkler's right-hand man, HSG chief executive Troy Palmer, Knights boss Matt Gidley and coach Wayne Bennett addressed the KMC and did their best to allay fears at the meeting.

Palmer and Gidley reinforced their view that a tax bill of approximately $3 million would be paid, all of HSG's creditors would be paid, and that an audit report into the Knights' 2012 financial operations would reveal HSG had met all requirements.

Despite rumblings otherwise, KMC chairman Nicholas Dan wasn't ready to demand Tinkler hand back the NRL licence.

"It's a privately owned club and it's in their hands what happens from here," Dan said on Monday.

It was the first KMC meeting since the tax office moved last week to liquidate eight companies linked to Tinkler, including the Knights, and Newcastle Jets.

Tinkler's public perception problem has become a crisis over the past week, but one man who was sitting on the club's board when the white knight rode into town in 2011 leapt to his defence.

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"It's disappointing that such a great bloke is sitting on hard times," said the board member who did not wish to be named.

"The good thing about him is the one love he has got is for his Knights and the players he's formed a bond with.

"You can pat a horse but it won't talk back to you.

"He'll bounce back and I know the players aren't worried."

Tinkler offloaded his prized racehorse All Too Hard on the weekend, with some suggesting the funds could be used to pay off HSG debts.

Even if the KMC was to make a stand against Tinkler, it's unlikely to happen before an independent audit into HSG's finances, which will examine whether Tinkler has met all obligations in his takeover.

Gidley and Dan agreed in principle last Wednesday to change the audit date from December 15 to January 21.

Brent Perkins, partner of Knights auditors Crosbie Warren Sinclair, noted on Monday the delay had nothing to do with Tinkler's precarious financial situation.

"As the financial reporting year is to 31 December, this (audit) obviously could not be completed and issued for the full year by that date (December 15)," Perkins said.

"We understand that the recently proposed amendments will allow the audit to be completed and our report to be issued by 21 January each year."

Even if HSG makes good on its debt-clearing promise, Dan still has concerns about the club's reputation.

"We're very happy with the way memberships have increased and the money spent on facilities but we've got to look more broadly at the brand,'' Dan told Sky Sports Radio on Monday.

"I firmly believe creditors need to be paid in a timely manner."

Palmer suggested there were issues HSG "should apologise for" but was steadfast the club was in safe hands.

"I talk to Nathan every day ... there is no chance of Nathan going under," Palmer said.

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Shinji keen on extra year out West

Big boost ... Shijni Ono (L) has says he wants to stay longer at the Wanderers. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Western Sydney received another boost in their impressive debut A-League season with news Japanese marquee signing Shinji Ono wants to extend his stay at the club.

Just two days after scoring a dramatic 2-0 derby win over Sydney FC in front of a raucous crowd of 26,000 at Allianz Stadium, the 33-year-old on Monday said flares thrown by Wanderers fans won't hold him back from re-signing.

"I don't know what (the Wanderers) are thinking about next season," said Ono, who penned a one-year deal in September.

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"But I can say I want to stay longer."

Ono was still buzzing from the impressive victory over the Sky Blues and believes it's no fluke the Wanderers have climbed to fourth on the ladder in their inaugural season given their "good mentality and fighting spirit."

And that strong bond will be severely tested over the next four rounds when they face fellow top-five sides Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne Victory and Central Coast.

But Ono says his best is yet to come.

"I think my confidence is getting better every day," he said.

Ono wasn't fazed by flares being thrown onto the ground against the Sydney FC, putting the incidents down to the passion of a crosstown rivalry.

Having played 112 games for Dutch club Feyenoord from 2001-05, Ono says that kind of fan behaviour highlights the intensity of the clash.

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"When I was in the Netherlands, there were big derby games," said Ono of the rivalry amongst the three Rotterdam clubs.

"When I saw that (against Sydney FC) I knew it was a big game."

The attacking midfielder is looking forward to testing himself against a speedy Adelaide United at Parramatta Stadium on Friday night.

"They have a lot of good quality," Ono said of classy Reds including Fabio Ferreira, Jeronimo Neumann, Marcelo Carrusca and Cassio.

"But we have been preparing well.

"It's a tough challenge. But I have a good feeling."

Ono expects more Japanese players will make the move to Australia given his successful stint has created plenty of interest back home.

But one clash that would gain plenty of excitement in Japan is firmly on his radar - the A-League All Stars match against Manchester United next July.

Ono has put his hand up for the All Stars in a battle that could pit him against his compatriot and Red Devils star midfielder Shinji Kagawa.

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Haddin in frame as Test batsman

On the radar ... Haddin has been in sparkling form for NSW this season. Source: News Limited

Australia selectors will consider picking former Test keeper Brad Haddin as a specialist batsman if captain Michael Clarke's injury rules him out of matches in Melbourne or Sydney.

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The 35-year-old, who has controversially been overlooked for Matthew Wade this summer, could be thrown a lifeline if Clarke's hamstring problem stops him playing either of the remaining Tests against Sri Lanka from Boxing Day.

Haddin has averaged 67.40 in the Sheffield Shield for NSW this season and former captain Steve Waugh recently suggested he should be considered for a batsman-only role.

"We'll discuss that tonight (Monday night)," Australia coach Mickey Arthur said.

"That batter, whoever it is, would have to be part of our extended squad. There's possibilities.

"Haddin's one of them, (Rob) Quiney's one of them and certainly Usman Khawaja's very much in the frame.

"Alex Doolan has played well."

Australia will no doubt try to everything they can to get Clarke onto the MCG in a week's time but, if he is prescribed a rest period, vice-captain Shane Watson will almost certainly take over as skipper.

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Former Test No.3 Khawaja has thrived playing for his new state Queensland with a brilliant century on a tough Hobart pitch and three 50s in Shield cricket so far.

Bulls coach Darren Lehmann believes Khawaja has addressed selectors' concerns about his sharpness at the crease and in the field.

Tasmania's Doolan made 161 not out for Australia A against South Africa, while Quiney would be getting a second chance after he made just nine runs in his two matches against the Proteas.

Injuries have decimated what had been a deep pool of fast bowlers, with Ben Hilfenhaus one of seven pacemen who could have been considered.

Selectors are likely to turn to 12th man for Hobart Mitchell Johnson, whose return in Perth after a 12-month absence was encouraging.

Tasmania's Jackson Bird sits atop the leading wicket-takers list for the second straight season and will be considered as back-up along with West Australian Nathan Coulter-Nile.

"All I can say is we've had a list of bowlers leading into our summer, and we're well down the list at the moment," Arthur said.

"The names that have been on everyone's lips are a guy like Jackson Bird, it could be Nathan Coulter-Nile, and that will form part of the discussions."

Complicating matters is a lack of first class cricket while the Big Bash League is completed.

The Sheffield Shield season was suspended at the end of November and the next match won't begin until the end of January.

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Bell, Trott secure England's series win

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Super finish ... Bell was unbeaten on 116 when the game was declared a draw. Source:AP

England batted for more than two sessions on day five to secure a draw in the final Test in Nagpur and beat India 2-1 in the series.

4th Test - Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium

13 December 2012 - Day 5, Session 3

England 2nd Innings

I. Bell	116	306	16	1	37.91
J. Root	20	56	1	1	35.71
G. Gambhir	2	0	4	0	2.00

England needed to avoid defeat in the final Test to secure a first series triumph in the country in 27 years.

And the result was never in doubt on the final day as Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell both secured centuries before the players finally shook hands after tea with the tourists on 4-352.

Having resumed in the morning on 3-161, the first hour was always going to dictate how the day would play out, but Trott and Bell remained largely untroubled as they kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Bell, who had looked out of sorts after missing the second Test to return home for the birth of his child, brought up his half-century off 130 balls.

And then Trott, who had found himself at the centre of the action during a fiery fourth day, reached his century off 232 deliveries.

Piyush Chawla came closest to removing Trott in the final overs of the morning session - with a huge appeal after a quicker delivery held its line and struck the Warwickshire man on the back pad, however umpire Rod Tucker was unmoved.

It was more of the same in the afternoon session until Trott was finally out five overs before tea, tickling Ravi Ashwin straight into the hands of Virat Kohli at leg slip for 143.

He and Bell had put on 208 for the fourth wicket with Bell adding just 26 runs in the second session to move on to 87 not out, having had one escape on 75 when a fierce cut at Chawla was edged and put down by Virender Sehwag at slip.

He was joined by debutant Joe Root who promptly lofted the ninth ball he faced, from Ashwin, into the stands as England went to tea on 4-310.

They resumed after the break with the only remaining question being whether Bell would reach his 17th Test hundred and his first in India.

It, like the result, was a formalilty in the end and he got there with a leg glance from the 293rd ball he faced, eventually making 116 not out while Root remained on 20 not out before the players called it a day an hour into the final session.

Read more: http://www.skysports.com/cricket/match_report/0,,11066_13370_1,00.html
 

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Oldham fans set fire to rivals' hair

Lighting up ... Wanderers fans ignite flares during the Sydney derby. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Western Sydney may have its own issues with fan behaviour at the moment, but they can take comfort in the fact they don't have Oldham Athletic's supporters.

On several occasions the English third-tier club's fans have been caught trying, sometimes successfully, to light rival fans' hair on fire.

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In recent matches multiple fans have reportedly been ejected from Boundary Park – Oldham's home ground – for the bizarre attacks, which has prompted the club to issue a warning to the culprits.

"Latics are warning fans that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated at Boundary Park," read a statement on the club's official website.

"We have recently had supporters ejected for such offences as bottle throwing and attempting to light people's hair with cigarette lighters.

"This is totally unacceptable behaviour and cannot be tolerated.

"Greater Manchester Police have "spotters" attending all games that are not policed and are aware of these incidents."

The League One side's drive this season to boost attendances with cheap £10 ($16) tickets is being blamed for the rise in anti-social behaviour at matches.

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