Roar players at fault too: Smith

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Taking responsibility ... Matt Smith says the players are to blame. Source: A Armstrong / News Limited

Brisbane captain Matt Smith believes the Roar's players must take some responsibility for the A-League club's current plight.

The defending champions are ninth in the 10-team competition after 11 matches with just three wins so far this season, their poor form resulting in Rado Vidosic being moved out of the head coach's role on Tuesday.

Vidosic has been shuffled into a technical director's role at the club with Mike Mulvey stepping into the coach's chair ahead of Friday night's grand final rematch against Perth at Suncorp Stadium.

Central defender Smith, who debuted for Australia in the successful East Asian Cup qualifying campaign in Hong Kong recently, is hopeful the shake-up will spark the Roar's ailing campaign.

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"It came as a bit of a shock," Smith said of Tuesday's developments.

"The players need to be a bit responsible as well but there's no point looking back, it's all about looking forward.

"Mike's come in and he's been very enthusiastic and motivated. He's certainly driven and that's going to be portrayed within the playing group.

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"Hopefully between ourselves, the coaching staff and the club we can be pushing there come the end of the season."

The clash with the Glory is the second meeting between the sides since the Roar's controversial grand final win and will be Perth's first trip back to Brisbane since Besart Berisha's penalty broke their hearts in April.

The Albanian marksman is unlikely to play according to Mulvey after injuring his shoulder against the Melbourne Victory last weekend but the former Queensland Academy of Sport head coach says the rivalry between the two clubs is secondary to getting results at this time.

"It's just the next game," Mulvey said.

"It's history, a very positive part of the Brisbane Roar's history, but tomorrow night is about us finding our mojo again."

The Glory have had their own struggles this week after being forced to deny rumours their offices had been raided by the Australian Federal Police as part of an investigation involving owner Tony Sage.

The club says their premises were not among those entered by authorities and the investigation has nothing to do with the Glory's affairs.

On the field, the Glory will be keen to make it back-to-back wins for the first time this season after their 3-0 victory over Newcastle last weekend.

They welcome young Japanese star Ryo Nagai back from injury for their trip to Brisbane.
Friday's match begins at 9pm (EDT).

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Cowan signs for County stint

Cowan ... will play County cricket leading in to the Ashes. Source: Greg Wood / AFP

Australian opener Ed Cowan will prepare for the upcoming Ashes series in England with a spell at Nottinghamshire.

The 30-year-old will be available to Nottinghamshire until June 21, with his stay covering seven County Championship games and eight one-day fixtures.

Cowan, who has partnered David Warner at the top of Australia's batting line-up over the last 12 months, will be able to get used to the wicket at Trent Bridge, which hosts the opening Ashes Test beginning on July 10.

"I was very keen to play some division one cricket and I'm pleased to have the opportunity to do that with Nottinghamshire," Cowan said.

"There are a lot of good players at the club and Trent Bridge is a great venue so I'm hoping to make a good contribution on and off the field."

Cowan averages 34 across 11 Tests, with 136 against South Africa last month his best score to date.

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Strikers outgun stumbling Thunder

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Got him ... Kieron Pollard celebrates the wicket of compatriot Chris Gayle. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

Adelaide Strikers have heaped more misery on the struggling Sydney Thunder, powering to a 51-run victory in their KFC T20 Big Bash League match at ANZ Stadium.

T20 - ANZ Stadium

20 December 2012 - Day 1, Session 2

Thunder 1st Innings

A. Zampa	3	7	0	0	42.86
D. Nannes	0	0	0	0	0
K. Richardson	3.4	0	9	3	2.45

In the process, the Strikers became the first team this season to win a match when batting first.

With Michael Klinger top-scoring with 60, the Strikers made an imposing total of 6-177 after being sent in to bat by Thunder skipper Chris Rogers.

And the bottom side were never in the hunt, being bowled out for 126 in the penultimate over.

Former Test speedster Shaun Tait made a welcome return to Strikers line-up for the first time this season, generating good pace in taking 3-22 off three overs.

The Thunder's listless start to their innings was epitomised by Chris Gayle's uncharacteristically slow 8 from 19 balls.

Only a seventh-wicket partnership of 51 between Ryan Carters and Scott Coyte saved the Thunder from more embarrassment after they crashed to 6-64.

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Sydney were eventually dismissed for 126 in the 19th over, with Coyte top-scoring with a breezy 33, including two sixes.

Earlier, Adelaide built a highly competitive score based on a strong opening partnership of 81 between Klinger and Tim Ludeman. Klinger top-scored with 60 off 46 balls.

Fellow opener Ludeman struck 46 off 39 balls, while Nathan Reardon smashed 42 off just 20 deliveries.

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Despite the run-fest, Thunder paceman Dirk Nannes impressed to take 4-17 off his allotted four overs.

Strikers paceman Tait was delighted with his first outing of the season after a recent spell with Wellington Firebirds in New Zealand.

"Two (wins) and one (loss) makes the next few games a bit easier. It gives us a bit of momentum going into the Sixers game, which is good for us," said Tait.

"It was nice to come out and get a couple of wickets.

"I have been training pretty well.

"The ball has been coming out well, probably the best for a couple of years to be honest.

"I was looking forward to getting a run and it come off tonight and my form is still there from training."

Dirk Nannes, whose left-arm seamers provided one of the few highlights of the night for the Thunder, lamented another defeat.

"The last few games we could say we were OK with the ball but tonight we struggled right across the board," said Nannes.

"It's going to be a long season if we keep playing like that."

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Relive the game with our Match Centre, featuring videos of every wicket and every boundary.

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We let ourselves down: Hodges

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Switching? ... Justin Hodges is keen on a move to fullback. Source: Peter Wallis / News Limited

Justin Hodges was so dirty about the way Brisbane Broncos finished the 2012 season he returned for pre-season two weeks early.

The Broncos were the early pace setters in 2012 and looked well on their way to a crack at another premiership before the wheels fell off during the State of Origin period.

In the end they just scraped in to the top eight and were bundled out of the play-offs in the first week by northern neighbours North Queensland Cowboys.

The slide was so severe, it included a six game losing streak and tugged at the pride of one of the game's top centres.

"Obviously I was a little bit dirty with how we finished," Hodges said on Fox Sports program NRL Summertime.

"We started so well and we finished so poorly. For me, it's still burning because we didn't deserve to go out the way we did."

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For NRL Summertime's full chat with Justin Hodges, click on the video at the top of the page!

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Hodges has endured a number of injury plagued seasons and hasn't always been considered the best trainer going around, but even at 30 the Queensland and Kangaroos rep is working on ways to improve his game.

"I came back a little bit early," Hodges said.

"Obviously I want to be in the best shape I can. It's the best shape I've been in with the skin folds and obviously my fitness test.

"I did my fitness test today and it's the first time in a long time I've actually got my goal before we finish our pre-season. Normally it takes me well into the new year but I've beaten that already and obviously it's the best I've felt."

And his determination to lead from the front might see the veteran take on a positional change in 2013.

Hodges started his career at fullback and after watching the exploits of Greg Inglis - his Origin centre partner - for South Sydney last season, the damaging ball runner is ready to make a similar impact from the back.

"Yeah, I spoke about it with the coach," Hodges said.

"It's something I've always enjoyed - I always played fullback since I started playing footy and only really moved into the centres when I went to the Roosters.

"So, for me, I'm hopeful I can get the chance.

"There's a lot more room at the back and when you're in the centres you're limited to one side, whereas playing fullback you can pop up wherever you like."

While Hodges is eying some extra responsibility on the field, he says he's not the kind of player to put too much time into off-field leadership.

"I just concentrate on playing footy first, that's my main priority," Hodges said.

"I know I'm one of the oldest guys, one of the senior players here but for me, I just put my footy first.

"We've got a great bunch of blokes here that look after themselves. And me and Sammy (Thaiday) and a few of the other boys watch over them sort of like a dad.

"But everyone's just doing their job."

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Would the Broncos be better off with Hodges at fullback? Have your say below!

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Video: amazing team-catch in BBL

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What a catch ... Borgas flicks the ball back into the field, where Coyte was waiting. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

Sydney Thunder might have bean comprehensively beaten by Adelaide Strikers at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night, but the home side did provide the highlight of the night in the field.

Thunder players Cameron Borgas and Scott Coyte combined to take a screamer on the boundary, with Borgas acrobatically controlling a high shot from Nathan Reardon before throwing the ball back into the field for Coyte to catch.

It almost made up for an otherwise sloppy night in the field from the Thunder, with Borgas himself guilty of dropping a sitter while young spinner Adam Zampa had insult added to injury after he dropped a catch on the boundary, with the ball bouncing over the rope for six.

Zampa also had the misfortunate of missing out on a wicket - because he didn't appeal for it.

A quicker ball from the young leg-spinner caught Tim Ludeman on the pad before it hit his bat, and replays showed the ball would have gone on to cannon into off stump.

Zampa and wicketkeeper Ryan Carters didn't notice the connection with the pad - and fair enough too, given how quickly it happened in real time - but eagle-eyed Fox Sports commentator Mark Waugh did, and was quick to point out that they probably would have got the wicket if they'd simply asked the umpire.

Apart from those slip-ups, Zampa was actually fairly impressive with the ball on debut, and eventually got Ludeman's wicket by having him stumped.

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Man Utd draw Real Madrid in UCL

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Blockbuster draw ... Cristiano Ronaldo returns to his old club Manchester United. Source: Andres Kudacki / AP

Real Madrid will face Manchester United in a mouthwatering Champions League last-16 clash, sending Cristiano Ronaldo back to where he made his reputation, and Jose Mourinho to the club many believe he wants to coach one day.

"It is going to be thrilling for everybody,'' Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno said.

Galatasaray (Tur) vs Schalke (Ger)

Celtic (Sco) vs Juventus (Ita)

Arsenal (Eng) vs Bayern Munich (Ger)

Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukr) vs Borussia Dortmund (Ger)

AC Milan (Ita) vs Barcelona (Esp)

Real Madrid (Esp) vs Manchester United (Eng)

Valencia (Esp) vs Paris Saint-Germain (Fra)

FC Porto (Por) vs Malaga (Esp)

In another blockbuster pairing, Champions League favorite Barcelona were drawn to play seven-time winners AC Milan.

Arsenal will face Bayern Munich, last season's beaten finalist, and big-spending Paris Saint-Germain were paired with Valencia.

Also, it was Celtic v Juventus, Shakhtar Donetsk v Borussia Dortmund, FC Porto v Malaga, and Galatasaray v Schalke.

First-leg matches are to be played from February 12-20.

Return matches are from March 5-13.

The storied history of nine-time European champions Madrid and three-time winner United would be enough to ensure top billing for the tie, with the first leg in Spain on February 13.

The friendly rivalries of Mourinho and Alex Ferguson in the dugout, and star forwards Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney on the pitch add an extra dimension.

''(Mourinho) is a fantastic manager, a fantastic coach and of course this tie is going to be a challenge for all of us,'' Butragueno said, declining to discuss speculation that the Portuguese will leave Madrid after the season, and covets the United job.

It was at Old Trafford where Mourinho truly arrived on the international scene when his Porto team eliminated United in the last 16 in 2004, the first of Ronaldo's six seasons in England before joining Madrid.

United defender Rio Ferdinand wrote on Twitter: "Oh yes, Madrid!! What a great couple a games that'll be!! (at)Cristiano see u soon bro!!''

Milan had the misfortune to draw Barcelona again after being unable to beat the Catalan side in four matches in last season's group stage and quarterfinals.

"They're not pleased, we're not pleased but this is what the destiny is,'' Milan director Umberto Gandini said.

"We have to go over the most difficult team on the planet.''

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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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