Starc inclusion a look to Ashes

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Eye on the future ... Starc's age may have given him the selection edge. Source:News Limited

Australia selectors are likely to have had one eye on the upcoming Indian and Ashes tours when they preferred Mitchell Starc over Mitchell Johnson for the first Test against Sri Lanka.

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The Australia team heads to India in February, part of a tough 2013 campaign that will also feature the Ashes series in England from June.

Whether they have room for two left-armers in their attack remains to be seen, but Johnson, at 31, is nearly 10 years older than 22-year-old Starc.

Selectors may view a home series against opponents Australia are expected to beat - Sri Lanka - as valuable Test experience for the New South Welshman.

Captain and selector Michael Clarke said his focus in picking an XI for the opening Test at Bellerive in Hobart was purely on beating Sri Lanka.

But he conceded others in the Cricket Australia set-up were looking further ahead.

"The reason Mitchell Starc's there is because he's been next in line in the queue for a while," Clarke said.

"Whoever we left out in this Test match it was always going to be a topic of conversation.

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"(Chairman of selectors) John Inverarity, (coach) Mickey Arthur and (performance manager) Pat Howard need to continue to look to India and then to the Ashes.

"But for me as a player and for the rest of this team, we're focused on this Test match."

Johnson returned strongly in the series-deciding loss to South Africa in Perth after he was recalled due to Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus being rested.

The West Australian finished with match figures of 6-164, while Starc also impressed at times in grabbing his 8-209.

Starc, though, had previously jumped ahead of the 48-Test veteran, whose injuries and erratic bowling had left him starting from scratch to get back to the form that made him the 2009 ICC international cricketer of the year.

"It probably wasn't as simple a choice as that," Clarke said.

"Sidds and Hilf come back into the team being two guys who've performed very well over the past 12 months for us (and) both being 100 per cent fit.

"Mitch should feel unlucky, there's no doubt about it."

Johnson needs four more Test wickets to join the 200-club, his 196 coming at 31.17 each.

Starc has 18 wickets from his five matches at 29.66.

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Tinkler saga won't stop privatisation

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Adamant ... John Quayle says private ownership of NRL teams will continue. Source: Liam Driver / News Limited

Veteran rugby league administrator John Quayle says privatisation will continue to be a part of the NRL despite Newcastle owner Nathan Tinkler's continued financial woes.

On Thursday, the Australian Tax Office applied for the Knights to be wound up due to unpaid debts of $1.4 million according to documents filed in the Federal Court.

The move follows continued speculation over Tinkler's money problems and his ownership of the NRL club.

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It continues an uneasy run with private ownership for rugby league with Michael Searle's time as owner of the Gold Coast a failure, both Melbourne's and Manly's struggles under privatisation and uncertainty over South Sydney's future after part-owner Russell Crowe's decision to quit his share in the Rabbitohs at the end of the 2013 season.

But Quayle said private ownership in rugby league would not die.

"The Tinkler situation is especially disappointing given the game has just started a new era," Quayle said.

"But I don't think it will disappear.

"This is not the first time we have seen this kind of thing in sport in Australia. What you have to remember is that Tinkler saved the Knights.

"You have to look at the positives. I think one of the main points is that you have to ensure that there are provisions in place and that you do not completely hand the licence over without those."

A $20 million bank guarantee was a condition of Tinkler's Hunter Sports Group's privatisation of the Knights.

Quayle said the game's governing body the ARL Commission needed to ensure that such strict restrictions continued to be a condition of private ownership.

"Whoever ensured that bank guarantee was doing their job and ensuring that things would not go wrong with private ownership of the Knights under Tinkler," the long-time general manager of the NSWRL said.

"That guarantee means the club's future is secure. The NRL needs to ensure that each time a licence is handed over it is done so with similar guarantees in place."

Quayle is the chairman of Venues NSW, which the Knights still owe around $600,000 for the lease of their home ground Hunter Stadium, another matter that is currently before the courts.

Hunter Sports Group issued a statement saying that the monies owed to the ATO would be paid as soon as possible.

Knights chief executive Matt Gidley said: "We are looking forward to regrouping after the Christmas break and looking forward to a positive 2013 on and off the field."

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Clive wants Coolum stay for Aussie PGA

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Confident ... Clive Palmer wants the Aussie PGA to stay at Coolum. Source: Megan Slade / News Limited

Billionaire Clive Palmer has dismissed reports the Australian PGA Championship is being played at his Coolum resort for the last time.

PGA chief executive Brian Thorburn revealed earlier this week ongoing discussions with current hosts Palmer Coolum Resort had failed to reach a new hosting agreement despite months of talks.

But Palmer was bullish when asked his thoughts on losing the tournament at a press conference on the Gold Coast on Thursday.

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"I think the PGA will stay at Palmer Coolum Resort ... I'm pretty confident there's not a better place in Australia to have the PGA," he said.

"It's got all the facilities. It's got international standing and, as we know, the players love it.

"The PGA is the Professional Golfers' Association so if the players love it, the ayes have got the number.

"I'm sure it's going to stay there."

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What will definitely be staying regardless of where the PGA is hosted is Palmer's controversial animatronic dinosaur - a lifesize Tyrannosaurus Rex called Jeff.

The large model, the first of several dinosaur replicas Palmer plans to install, moves and growls and has caused much debate in the build up to this week's tournament.

Large signs dedicated to assassinated US president John F Kennedy as well as promoting Palmer's Titanic II project have also caused a stir.

But Palmer says golfers, signs and dinosaurs will come together in harmony for next year's event.

"I don't think the PGA is annoyed," Palmer said.

"I think they love it. They love the media attention. They love how the brand's being sent around the world.

"I'm sure the board is very happy with what's happening at Palmer Coolum Resort, so happy they want to come back next year and we want to have them."

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India start strongly against England

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Fourth Test ... Ishant Sharma struck early for India in Nagpur. Source: David Mariuz / News Limited

India made a strong start in their quest to level the four-match series after reducing England to 5-199 at stumps on day one in Nagpur.

In what can best be described as a turgid opening day's Test cricket, England's batsmen struggled to adapt to a slow, low pitch at the VCA Stadium, with only Kevin Pietersen (73) reaching a half-century.

4th Test - Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium

13 December 2012 - Day 1, Session 3

England 1st Innings

J. Root	31	110	1	0	28.18
M. Prior	34	83	3	0	40.96
I. Sharma	19	7	32	2	1.68

Pietersen's contribution helped England recover from 2-16 after Alastair Cook, fresh from winning his first toss as captain, and opening partner Nick Compton had fallen early to Ishant Sharma (2-32).

Pietersen and Jonathan Trott shared an 86-run partnership for the third wicket to put the tourists back on track, however the former failed to kick on and join Cook on 23 Test centuries when he clipped debutant Ravindra Jadeja (2-34) to Piyush Chawla at midwicket shortly after tea.

Jadeja had accounted for Trott earlier in the afternoon, while Warwickshire team-mate Ian Bell (1) fell cheaply to Piyush Chawla, but England debutant Joe Root and Matt Prior shared an unbroken 60-run partnership in the evening session to lift spirits heading into day two.

Root, selected at No.6 in place of Samit Patel in one of two changes made by England - Tim Bresnan also replacing the injured Steven Finn, reached the close unbeaten on 31, with Prior (34no) playing a useful hand alongside him.

Having won the toss for first time in the series at the start of the day, England captain Cook opted to bat first - however it was a decision he may have been regretting when he became the second wicket to fall inside 11 overs.

Somerset batsman Compton, who has been awarded an incremental contract by the ECB after playing in four successive Tests, managed just three before he was back in the pavilion, with the opener edging a short delivery from Ishant (2-25) through to MS Dhoni.

Sharma also removed Cook, although in controversial circumstances. Cook (1) was struck on the pads outside off stump by a delivery that was angling away, however umpire Kumar Dharmasena raised his finger - and with no DRS in play, there was little the England captain could do.

Trott and Pietersen safely negotiated the rest of the morning session and calmly took the score along to 2-102 before an inexplicable lapse in concentration led to the England No.3's demise.

After compiling 44 in some 133 balls, Trott's stay came to an end when he left a straight delivery from India left-arm off-spinner Jadeja, which knocked back off-stump

Fellow Warwickshire Bear Bell then came to the middle, however he struggled to come to turns with the slow, low surface, making just one from 28 deliveries before driving Piyush Chawla (1-25) straight to short cover, where Virat Kohli took a sharp, low catch.

Pietersen carried on undeterred and, having passed 50 for the 28th time in Tests, he then went past 15,000 career first-class runs.

But he could not go on, falling into the trap set by Dhoni after two near misses when he clipped Jadeja to Chawla, who caught well diving forward.

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

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Heat trump Strikers in BBL thriller

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Powerful ... Kireon Pollard wasted little time adjusting to life in the Big Bash. Source:News Limited

West Indian whirlwind Kieron 'Polly' Pollard played a cracker for Adelaide Strikers but Brisbane Heat pinched a dramatic last-ball win in Thursday night's KFC T20 Big Bash League match.

T20 - Adelaide Oval

13 December 2012 - Day 1, Session 2

Heat 1st Innings

P. Forrest	12	7	0	1	171.43
C. Hartley	5	2	1	0	250
G. Putland	4	0	39	0	9.75

Pollard, a day after arriving in Adelaide, smashed 48 runs from just 23 balls as the Strikers posted 8-185 from their 20 overs.

The Trinidad star then took two clutch wickets and fluked a run out as Brisbane were left with four runs to win from the final ball.

Brisbane's Chris Hartley hit the ultimate delivery from Striker speedster Gary Putland over cover towards the boundary and the batsmen ran three as Callum Ferguson dived to stop the ball.

But replays showed Ferguson failed by a whisker to halt the ball and, after an agonising minute-long review as players stood mid-pitch awaiting the verdict, the Heat were winners, finishing 7-186.

"I'm still trying to work out what happened," Hartley said of hitting the final ball for four to win.

"It's a cliche in cricket, but the more you think about what you're trying to do, the more you usually stuff up.

"A little bit of luck goes your way ... and you're able to take advantage of it but there are no secret formulas."

Adelaide captain Johan Botha said the loss was particularly bitter.

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"It's never nice to lose close games," he said.

Botha remained uncertain from initial replays whether Hartley's strike was a four.

"The one replay we saw on the field, you can't say from that far out from the big screen," he said.

Brisbane's run chase was on track when one-time ticking time bomb Luke Pomersbach exploded with the bat, making 65 from 39 balls.

Pomersbach, who considers himself lucky to be alive after a period of alcohol abuse, hit eight fours and two sixes to propel Brisbane to 1-105 in the 12th over.

But in the next 14 balls, Adelaide's Pollard claimed Joe Burns (37 from 30 balls), Pomersbach fell to spinner Cameron Boyce, and Pollard struck again to dismiss Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera.

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And with the Heat needing 35 runs from their final three overs, Pollard dropped a tough caught and bowled chance from Chris Lynn, only to watch the ball rebound into the bowler's end stumps with Brisbane's Ben Cutting stranded out of his crease.

The Heat required 14 runs from Putland's final over, with Peter Forrest blasting a six before Hartley's last-ball heroics.

Earlier the Strikers made 8-185 with Pollard muscling three sixes and five fours to overshadow his teammate Ferguson's stylish 52 from 36 balls.

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Chelsea into Club World Cup final

Juan Mata ... scored the first goal in Chelsea's 3-1 victory in Yokohama. Source: AAP

Chelsea eased into the final of the Club World Cup with a comfortable 3-1 win over Monterrey in Yokohama on Thursday.

Juan Mata set Chelsea on their way with the opener in the first half and two quick-fire second half goals from Fernando Torres and an unfortunate own goal from Darvin Chavez earned the Barclays Premier League side victory.

Chelsea will now face South American champions Corinthians in Sunday's final.

Chelsea made the breakthrough with a fine effort from the in-form Mata.

Ashley Cole played a neat one-two with Oscar, with the Brazilian cleverly flicking the ball back into the path of the full-back, who in turn picked out Mata inside the box and the Spaniard drilled home his left-footed shot to claim his 11th goal of the season.

Chelsea came flying out of the blocks at the start of the second half and scored two goals in two minutes right after the restart to put the game beyond the Mexican side.

Hazard was the creator of the second goal as he burst past the full-back and cut the ball back for Torres who saw his shot take a massive deflection to totally wrongfoot Jonathan Orozco in the Monterrey goal.

Chelsea made it 3-0 on 48 minutes as Torres got down the left and picked out Mata at the far post and his effort was deflected into his own net by the unfortunate Darvin Chavez.

Monterrey pushed forward in search of a consolation goal in the closing stages and they got it injury-time as de Nigris got clear and lifted his shot over Cech, but it mattered little as Chelsea coasted into the final.

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/280592/report

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