Home team eliminated after losing mixed doubles rubber
Alex de Minaur had kept hopes alive with battling win
Australia have been knocked out of the United Cup by Poland despite a battling performance by Alex de Minaur that lit up the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.
The Australian men’s No 1 repelled everything Hubert Hurkacz could fire at him before sealing a pulsating 6-4 4-6 6-3 victory over the power-serving former Wimbledon semi-finalist on Friday night.
Continue reading...Special Ks lose topsy-turvy match 6-0 1-6 (10-6)
Performance bodes well for Kyrgios’s wild card hopes
Nick Kyrgios was a motivational speaker, a part-time masseur and a dancer on the way to an entertaining doubles loss in Brisbane, with the defeat unlikely to harm his Australian Open wildcard hopes.
Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis looked set for an embarrassing Brisbane International loss after copping a first-set “bagel” in their round-of-16 doubles match against No 6 seeds Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul.
Continue reading...Former fast bowler called head of cricket James Allsopp a ‘grade coach’ and said selector George Bailey lacks gravitas
Cricket Australia has boycotted player interviews with the ABC, furious with the national broadcaster over former Test quick Stuart Clark’s criticism of selector George Bailey and head of cricket James Allsopp.
Clark created headlines on Monday when he criticised the Australian setup in his role as an ABC commentator, labelling Allsopp a “grade coach” and suggesting Bailey was just a yes-man without gravitas to stand up to players and coaches.
Continue reading...‘Special Ks’ reunite for 5-7 6-4 10-8 defeat of Matt Ebden and Rajeev Ram
Kokkinakis had donor achilles tendon attached to shoulder in radical surgery
Thanasi Kokkinakis’s tears after a doubles match told the story as the injury-plagued Australian won in his latest and most dramatic return to the sport alongside old friend Nick Kyrgios.
The 29-year-old hadn’t played in almost a year, after groundbreaking pectoral surgery that involved attaching a donor’s achilles tendon to his shoulder.
Continue reading...Steve Smith defends allrounder but refuses to confirm his place in side
Beau Webster and Todd Murphy in the mix to face England at the SCG
Steve Smith has launched an impassioned defence of Cameron Green but can’t guarantee the out-of-form allrounder’s place in the XI for the Ashes series finale.
Australia’s stand-in captain insists all options are on the selection table for the fifth Test, including using both allrounders Green and Beau Webster at the SCG and leaving out spin for the third time in four starts.
Continue reading...Brisbane coach’s red card ignites drama on New Year’s Eve
Central Coast coach Warren Moon calls opposition disgraceful
Central Coast interim coach Warren Moon has labelled the conduct of Brisbane’s staff an embarrassment and a disgrace, revealing even police had to get involved at half-time of the Roar’s drama-filled 2-1 win.
Brisbane forward Justin Vidic headed home a 92nd-minute winner to spark wild celebrations, but it was the drama earlier in the A-League Men match that stole all the headlines.
Continue reading...Australia coach Andrew McDonald guarantees veteran will play at SCG
39-year-old’s future beyond series finale against England still in doubt
Australia coach Andrew McDonald has guaranteed Usman Khawaja will play at the SCG, but is unsure if it will be the veteran’s last Test.
After turning 39 earlier in December, Khawaja’s future will continue to be a talking point until he announces his retirement.
Continue reading...Australian captain: ‘I doubt I’ll be playing in Melbourne’
Spinner set to miss final two Tests with hamstring injury
Australia captain Pat Cummins could join spinner Nathan Lyon on the sidelines for the rest of the Ashes.
Lyon is expected to be ruled out for the last two Tests against England after suffering a hamstring injury in Adelaide on Sunday. And Cummins is unlikely to feature in the fourth Test in Melbourne from Boxing Day, while he is also doubtful for the Sydney finale from 3 January.
Continue reading...Former fast bowler says attack has gone past his group from early 2000s
‘The Australian public won’t recognise how good they are until they’re gone’
Brett Lee has labelled Australia’s current bowling attack as the country’s greatest ever, declaring that Pat Cummins’ side have now surpassed his group from the early 2000s.
Australia’s attack will take one step closer to being reunited in Adelaide this week, with Cummins and Nathan Lyon back in the team alongside Mitchell Starc.
Continue reading...Gavin Morris, a former NRL referee, found guilty of putting pupils in choke holds and twisting their ears
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A former NRL referee has been spared jail after abusing his position of trust as a school principal by putting Indigenous students into choke holds and painfully twisting their ears.
Gavin Morris was found guilty of four counts of aggravated assault and on Thursday was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment fully suspended for two years on condition he be of good behaviour.
Continue reading...Four independent directors sacked by Holman Barnes Group invited back
No bearing on Shane Richardson’s exit as hunt for new CEO starts
Barry O’Farrell is set to return as Wests Tigers chair alongside his ousted independent directors after the joint-venture club’s owners bowed to NRL demands.
In the latest bizarre twist after 10 days of Tigers turmoil, the Holman Barnes Group (HBG) on Thursday agreed to invite back the board members sacked last Monday.
Continue reading...Paceman has struggled with hamstring and achilles issues
‘It’s really flat for him,’ says Australia coach Andrew McDonald
Australian fast-bowler Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes series amid hamstring and achilles tendon injuries.
Injuries have thwarted the reliable right-arm quick in recent years and had forced him to watch from afar as Australia took a 2-0 series lead at the Gabba last week.
Continue reading...Head doctor, assistant doctor and head trainer issued breach notices
Storm player to sit out 2026 season after surgery for bleeding on brain
The NRL is proposing to ban three members of Tonga’s medical staff for two years, claiming serious concerns over the handling of Eliesa Katoa’s multiple head knocks.
More than a month after Katoa required surgery for bleeding on the brain following seizure activity, the NRL handed down findings into the matter on Monday.
Continue reading...Australian ends 2025 season third in driver standings
McLaren driver determined to learn lessons from low points
Just as calm and measured amid his obvious disappointment as he’s been level-headed during the highest points of a remarkable season, Oscar Piastri is confident of rediscovering that giddy feeling of being “unstoppable” behind the wheel of his McLaren.
Taking his title disappointment on the chin on Sunday after finishing runner-up in Abu Dhabi and third in the championship race, the Australian said he was ready to use any sense of anti-climax to fuel a push to become a world champion of the future.
Continue reading...Dane makes stunning up-and-down on final hole to beat Australian
Rory McIlroy finishes 14th but says it has been an ‘amazing week’
Cameron Smith has come up just short in his bid for a coveted maiden Australian Open title as Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen made an up-and-down for the ages on the final hole at Royal Melbourne.
The pair were tied at 15-under coming to the par four-18th on Sunday and it looked as though Smith was in the box seat when he landed his second shot on the green.
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