Sehwag set to wear specs

Shades ... Virender Sehwag will swap his shades for specs against Australia. Source: Theron Kirkman / AP

Underfire Indian opener Virender Sehwag is set to wear spectacles for the first time in his 102-Test career amid fears his deteroriating eyesight could be exposed by Australia's express pace attack.

The 34-year-old is fighting to save his career in the first Test against Australia starting tomorrow after two lean calendar years which have fuelled speculation the master blaster is on the wane.

Sehwag, who has just one ton from his past 16 Tests, averaged 29.54 in the 2011 calendar year and 31.56 last season, figures well shy of his magnificent career mark of 50.05. 

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But Sehwag's eyesight has emerged as a potential problem. The Delhi dasher had been complaining of mild headaches and a recent visit to the optometrist found Sehwag no longer possessed 20-20 vision, although his decline is said to be only minor.

The veteran of 8559 Test runs wore glasses during last weekend's three-day team camp in Bangalore and also road-tested his new look last month in nets sessions in Delhi to feel comfortable while batting.

He has also trialled the spectacles while fielding.

Sehwag may yet decide to face the Australians without them but it would be a dangerous move considering pace trio James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc will test his reflexes generating speeds in excess of 140km/h.

The Indian slugger would join a select band of Test cricketers to wear spectacles. West Indian great Clive Lloyd, Pakistan's Zaheer Abbas, Kiwi duo Daniel Vettori and Walter Hadlee and Australian batsman Dirk Wellham all carved out international careers using visual aids.

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Former Indian leggie Anil Kumble also began his career wearing glasses before shifting to contact lenses in his final years.

Sehwag, who relies heavily on his hand-eye co-ordination to bludgeon attacks, has scored just one century from his past 37 Test innings.

He faces Australia coming off a second-ball duck in his last knock against England in December in Nagpur.

But it would be short-sighted of Australia to underestimate Sehwag. 

He has a formidable record at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium, having amassed 708 runs at an average of 101.14, including 155 against Australia in 2004 before thumping 319 off 304 balls against South Africa in 2008.

Indian spin great Bishan Bedi has called for selectors to axe Sehwag, saying he is "past his prime", but it may prove a myopic appraisal if the opener reprises his vintage form against Australia.

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Ponting signs on as Ashes spy

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Ricky Ponting ... on an Ashes spying mission. Source: David Mariuz / AAP

Ricky Ponting will be playing cricket in England this northern summer as Australia battles it out for the Ashes after all.

Former Australian captain Ponting has agreed to a two-month deal to join Surrey this county season, the club has confirmed.

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The 38-year-old has been signed to replace South Africa skipper Graeme Smith while he is expected to play in the Champions Trophy with the Proteas.

Ponting, who retired from international cricket in December, will be available in all formats in June and July.

He made an emotional farewell to Test cricket, as the all-time second-leading runscorer, against Smith's South Africa in Perth in December.

Since then Mike Hussey also called time on his Australia career to leave Michael Clarke's side with an inexperienced batting line-up.

While there has been no indication Ponting would look to reverse his retirement call, he has previously stated his desire to play in one last Ashes series before the end of his career.

Ponting, who surrendered the past two Ashes series in England as captain at the Oval, is the second major coup for the club following Smith's signature.

"I'm really excited to be playing for Surrey this season," Ponting said in a statement on Surrey's official website.

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"They are a forward thinking and historic club - and play at one of the greatest grounds in the world. It hasn't been the friendliest place for me but now it will be my home for two months this summer.

"I'd like to think I can contribute a significant amount to the club - on and off the field - and am looking forward to getting stuck in as soon as I arrive."

The first Ashes Test begins at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on July 10.

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Cornerpost Cam set for Charity Shield

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Amazing ... Cornerpost Cam will make its debut in the Charity Shield clash. Source:Fox Sports

Unique angle ... Cornerpost Cam is sure to capture some classic vision. Source:Fox Sports

Just when Rugby League fans thought the era of the corner post was over, Fox Sports has delivered the ultimate reason for its survival.

Friday night's annual Charity Shield battle between St George Illawarra and South Sydney marks the unofficial start to the 2013 NRL season, but the annual pre-season clash will also be remembered for being the first rugby league match with cameras installed in its corner posts.

Fox Sports latest camera innovation Cornerpost Cam will be unveiled for the first time on Friday night after being trialled with great success during a pre-season rugby trial between the Brumbies and an ACT representative team in Canberra earlier this month.

In an extraordinary weekend of innovation for Australia's leading sports broadcaster, Cornerpost Cam will make its debut on the night before Ref Cam makes its maiden appearance in the round two Super Rugby clash between Queensland Reds and New South Wales Waratahs in Brisbane.

Fox Sports chief executive, Patrick Delany, said the breakthrough innovations are aimed at bring fans closer to the game.

"Ref Cam and Cornerpost Cam produce very different but equally stunning vision," Delany said.

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"They are about giving fans a new perspective, something they've never seen before, and bringing them closer to the sports they love.

"During the summer we rolled out FoxKopter and Helmet Cam and the impact on our Big Bash coverage from an entertainment perspective was really felt by cricket fans.

"We are looking at ways to open up an entirely new experience for fans of every sport and we are only at the tip of the iceberg."

Cornerpost Cam features a GoPro Hero 3 camera imbedded in the lower part of the corner post padding and captures stunning vision of flying wingers leaping over the tryline, or spectacular try-saving tackles by desperate defenders trying to protect their line.

The technology is non-obtrusive and is contained within the corner post padding, making it safe for impact by players or the ball.

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Tassie snare crucial WA wickets

Paceman ... Ben Hilfenhaus helped decimate the WA batting line-up. Source: Daniel Wilkins / News Limited

Tasmania's bowlers chimed in with crucial late innings runs and then ripped the heart out of Western Australia's batting on the opening day of their do-or-die Sheffield Shield game at the WACA Ground.

With both teams needing an outright victory to remain in the hunt for a spot in next month's Shield final, Tasmania amassed a 211-run total then went on a bowling rampage to leave WA at 6-54 at stumps.

SHEF - WACA Ground

21 February 2013 - Day 1, Session 3

Western Australia 1st Innings

R. Duffield	4	8	1	0	50
S. Whiteman	6	15	1	0	40

WA captain Michael Hussey won the toss and elected to field first on a green looking WACA deck.

The move appeared to pay off well with Tasmania slumping to 8-138 just after lunch on the opening day, but the lower order did tremendously well to fight.

James Faulkner did well to steady things with 28 with Jason Krejza then adding 36, Ben Hilfenhaus 23 and Adam Maher a not out 14 to help Tasmania post 211.

WA still appeared on top heading into their second innings, but not for long with Hilfenhaus (2-21), Luke Butterworth (2-14), Maher (1-9) and Faulkner (1-8) bowling outstandingly well on what was still a green top.

Tasmania had WA 4-28 with Liam Davis gone for five, Marcus Harris for seven, Luke Towers for two and John Rogers for 14 before Hussey and the returning Mitch Marsh came together at the wicket.

The pair tried in vain to survive until stumps falling for consecutive deliveries. Hussey was caught by Bailey at fourth slip off Butterworth for three and then Marsh was trapped in front by Maher for 10 to be 6-44 .

At stumps they are 6-54 with Sam Whiteman not out on six and Ryan Duffield four.

Earlier, Tasmania's batsmen Alex Doolan (33), Ricky Ponting (28), George Bailey (18) and Jon Wells (16) all made starts but couldn't go on with it.

Tasmania was 3-68 at lunch, but lost both Ponting and Bailey soon after to be 5-86. That's where the lower innings revival kicked in, though, and the Tigers went from being 8-138 to making a competitive 211.

Teenage spinner Ashton Agar collected 3-47 for WA with the returning Duffield taking 3-61, Burt Cockley 2-47 and Michael Hogan 2-54.

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Cheika: It's all about ourselves

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It starts with us ... Cheika isn't worried by what the Reds have to offer. Source:News Limited

Queensland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie and New South Wales Waratahs counterpart Michael Cheika are predicting another typically physical battle when the two fierce foes meet in Brisbane on Saturday night.

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The Reds completed the double over the Waratahs in 2012, their bonus-point victory in the final round securing the Australian conference and ensuring their bitter rivals ended a miserable season in the worst possible fashion.

But with new coach Michael Cheika at the helm and star recruit Israel Folau turning heads at fullback, another Reds thumping appears unlikely.

"I think that the interstate clash is something that all the rugby fans should be looking forward to," Cheika said on Fox Sports' Rugby HQ.

"And you're not going to win it unless you front up physically and try to lay a platform down for any type of attack you want to play.

"It's part of my psyche that we have to front up physically and challenge the opposition to see if we're up for the battle, and that's something we're going to have to do because we're going to have 40,000 people opposite us."

Disappointed with how his side performed at the tackle in their round one loss to the Brumbies, McKenzie said the Reds had spent much of the week focusing on the breakdown.

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He also alluded to Cheika's selection of five-two bench and the prospect of another forward-dominated contest, something Super Rugby fans have come to expect from the two sides.

"The Brumbies were very good at that part of the game, the breakdown is always a big part of the first four or five rounds," McKenzie told Rugby HQ of last week's loss.

"You've got to get that right and understand what the referees are going to tolerate, we had no trouble in the trials. It certainly didn't work out last week so that's a credit to the Brumbies.

"It's an area that we've never been poor in so we've made some adjustments this week. It will feature heavily in the game as it's always a key part so we're looking forward to doing a bit better there.

"He's (Cheika) obviously picked a very big side, and that's reflected with a five-two bench as well. So that might give an indication of how he thinks the game will be played."

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The usual pre-season optimism in Sydney, perpetuated this year by the addition of Folau, has again been a feature of the Waratahs build-up despite the absence of key playmaker Berrick Barnes.

But Cheika isn't promising anything, the Heineken Cup-winning coach admitting he was still getting to know the playing squad and that success could be some way off.

"The focus for us has been pretty much on ourselves," he said.

"I'm still getting to know the guys and this will be the first time I get to see them in competition where the pressure can change a lot.

"For us this season, we've really decided to put all the accent on what we're doing and hopefully we can cause enough trouble for the opposition that they have to worry about us.

"Obviously they've (Reds) got runs on the board; without being an admiration society they've been the conference winners for the last two years and they're going to be at home with a full house.

"We've just got to front up with plenty of courage and really care about the performance."

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Harbhajan predicts India whitewash

Sweep ... Harbhajan Singh is in line to play his 100th Test against Australia. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

India's fiery offspinner Harbhajan Singh says he has learnt what works and what doesn't in terms of on-field aggression as he prepares to reach his 100-Test milestone in the clash with Australia on Friday.

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The "Turbanator'' - who played a leading role in the 2008 Monkeygate scandal in Sydney -- has been recalled for just his second Test in the past 12 months.

Harbhajan boasts a magnificent record against Australia of 90 wickets in 16 Tests.

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And he's predicted a 4-0 sweep for the home side.

"Your question is such that I have mellowed down and all that,'' Harbhajan told a media conference on Thursday.

"With time you learn things. I have made a few mistakes early in my career due to my extra aggressions.

"Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't.

"Of course with time I have learned a lot and I'm looking forward to doing even better as a person.

"You might play this game for 15 years or so, but what sort of person you are matters the most. Everybody wants to be a better person than he was yesterday.''

Harbhajan was suspended for racially abusing Australia's Andrew Symonds during the Sydney Test of 2008 although the three-match ban was reduced to a fine for abuse on appeal.

Harbhajan's 99-Test career includes includes 32 scalps in three Tests in 2001.

"I can't keep on thinking about the same thing again and again and hoping I can repeat it,'' the 32-year-old said.

"That kind of thing happens only once in your life when everything clicks.''

While India didn't name a side on Thursday, it's expected Harbhajan will form a four-pronged spin attack with Ravi Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja.

India are under pressure following their 2-1 series loss at home to England in December.

"I said we can beat Australia four-nil and why not? If you don't believe in yourself, who will?,'' he said.
Harbhajan said previous Australia sides had been packed with superstars as Matthew Hayden and Shane Warne.

"This is a new team. They have hardly played in India,'' he said.

"We know Australians come hard no matter what team they have got. We have just got be there and stick to our job.''

Harbhahan says it will be a great moment to become the 10th Indian to play 100 Tests and join the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Rahul Dravid and the game's leading runscorer Sachin Tendulkar in the exclusive club.

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FOX FOOTY Supercoach preview: Blues

Carlton key men ... Marc Murphy, Kade Simpson and Heath Scotland. Source: AAP

Which Carlton players should you pick in your FOX FOOTY SuperCoach team and who should you avoid?

Perhaps the most intriguing team of the looming SuperCoach season. The questions leap off the tongue _ How will Mick Malthouse effect the Blues' fantasy output? Can the high-scoring _ but horribly injury-prone _ Jarrad Waite string games together? What effect will the captaincy have on A-graders Marc Murphy or Andrew Carrazzo?

Will Malthouse finally elevate Bryce Gibbs' game to the level many believe he is capable of?
But a closer look at Carlton and its new coach sheds some light on the uncertainty. Malthouse's Collingwood sides of 2010 and 2011 were renowned for their tackling pressure, forward press and contested possession hunger.

At Visy Park, Malthouse inherits a side that was already second and fourth in contested ball and tackle differential respectively last year.

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Midfielders Carrazzo, Murphy, Gibbs, Chris Judd, Brock McLean, Kade Simpson and Mitch Robinson are all primed for big seasons. The cattle is there to implement Malthouse's blueprint.

Chris Yarran has already admitted that Malthouse "is all about everything on the boundary line", but this shouldn't hurt the disposal tallies of the Blues' prime movers. Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan and co. racked up some huge numbers playing to Malthouse's philosophies.

The spate of injuries at Visy Park spelled disaster for many SuperCoach sides in 2012. Do you put it down to a year of bad luck, or are Carlton players simply too risky to take on? Another question.

SUPERCOACH SUPERSTAR: Marc Murphy (midfielder) $602,900.
Plays 16 matches in an injury-interrupted season and still averages 112. An amazingly consistent player who hasn't averaged under three figures since 2008 when he averaged 99. Good inside, good outside and clean in possession, he is the ideal midfield choice.

BANK `EM: Heath Scotland (defender/midfielder) $535,600
Yes, yes, Scotland will miss the first two games courtesy of a club-imposed suspension for an off-season incident. But given head-to-head league matches don't start until Round 3 he could slot in nicely. One of the most consistent defenders in the game and rarely puts in a stinker. Of course, if you're gunning for overall SuperCoach honours you will want to avoid him.

Kade Simpson (midfielder) $501,300
Another in the super-consistent category, but one who not many coaches pick. Sits below the rung of A-graders at Carlton, but that gives you a point of difference.

BUY `EM: Chris Yarran (defender) $362,00.
Here is a player who could really improve under Malthouse. Comes at a bargain $362k, which suits the mid-priced strategy _ a winning formula last season _ perfectly.
"Yaz" has declared himself fitter than this time last year and has aspirations to break into the Blues' midfielder this in 2013. Easier said than done, but if Mick gives him the odd crack it the points will pour in.

Bryce Gibbs (defender/midfielder) $509,800
The sort of player who could really respond to a Malthouse rocket. Also dual-position, so play him in defence and watch him closely in the NAB Cup to monitor his midfield minutes. Should increase in value.

BURY `EM: Andrew Carrazzo (midfielder) $517,800
Controversial omission, but he loses his DPP status this year, meaning you can only pick him in midfield. Unique pick, but at nearly $520k there may be better options.

Brock McLean (midfielder) $568,600.
Deserves credit for an amazing 2012 that knocked the critics flat on their backs. But can he go any better? At 568k are you really going to give him a midfield berth before the likes of Judd, Hayes, Dal Santo, Goddard or Stanton? Probably not.

WATCHLIST: Jarrad Waite (forward) $520,000
If you're willing to pick a bloke like this for Round 1 you're either a serial risk-taker or the most one-eyed Carlton fan on the planet. As injury-plagued as anyone in the game, Waite hasn't played 20 games in a season since 2008. But if he starts stringing them together and churning out the numbers he may prove hard to resist in the second half of the season.

Matthew Kreuzer (ruckman) $494,100:
Hasn't quite lived up to the hype yet, but he was recruited at No.1 because he starred as a No.1 ruckman. We know Mick is a big Kreuzer fan and if he plays him permanantly in his preferred position, big scores could ensue.

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Mathews named new Test skipper

New blood ... Angelo Mathews will take the reins as Sri Lanka skipper. Source: Theron Kirkman / AP

All-rounder Angelo Mathews has been appointed Sri Lanka's new Test and one-day captain for next month's home series against Bangladesh, selectors announced on Thursday.

The 25-year-old replaced prolific batsman Mahela Jayawardene, who stepped down after leading on a recent tour of Australia where Sri Lanka lost the Test series 3-0 and drew a one-day series 2-2.

Dinesh Chandimal, named Mathews's deputy in Tests and one-day internationals, will lead the side in T20 matches.

Mathews and Chandimal will lead the teams until the end of January 2014, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said in a statement.

Bangladesh will play two Tests, three one-dayers and a one-off T20 match. The Tests will be played in Galle (March 8-12) and Colombo (March 16-20), while Hambantota (March 23 and 25) and Pallekele (March 28) will host the limited overs games.

Mathews, with 1,668 runs in 31 Tests, has also scored 1,784 runs and taken 54 wickets in 90 one-day internationals.

Jayawardene, with more than 10,000 runs both in Tests and one-dayers, led Sri Lanka to the finals of the 50-over World Cup in the West Indies in 2007 and then the World T20 at home last year.

The 20-man Test squad has six uncapped players - batsmen Ashen Silva and Kithuruwan Vithanage, seamer Dushmantha Chameera, spinners Tharindu Kaushal and Jeevan Mendis, and wicketkeeper-batsman Kushal Perera.

Middle-order batsman Thilan Samaraweera and opener Tharanga Paranavitana, who toured Australia, were dropped while unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis returned to the Test squad.

Mendis, who played his last Test in May 2011, has so far bagged 62 wickets in 16 matches.

Kumar Sangakkara's participation in Tests is subject to recovery from an injury, according to the SLC statement.

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Crusaders edge Waratahs in trial

Israel Folau ... impresses again for the Waratahs in a trial. Source: News Limited

NSW Waratahs knocked back a whopping nine kickable penalty shots at goal as they fell 16-14 to the Crusaders in a scrappy Super Rugby trial at Allianz Stadium.

Waratahs coach Michael Cheika stuck with his policy for the trials of not taking three-pointers as they looked to get their attack fine-tuned ahead of their Super Rugby opener against Queensland on Saturday week.

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Young five-eighth Ben Volavola had an indifferent night at the office for the Waratahs but showed glimpses of class and enough to please Cheika with playmakers Berrick Barnes and Bernard Foley in doubt for the Reds' clash.

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Israel Folau was named man of the match as the star fullback made the most of his limited opportunities with several line breaks for the hosts who scored two tries to one.

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Folau brought the small crowd to their feet every time he chimed into the backline and showed enough to suggest he's in for a big year.

Although Cheika wasn't pleased with the amount of dropped ball, overall he was happy with the performance and defended the choice not to take penalty shots.

"I thought we weren't too bad considering we had about probably nine or 10 guys in their first game at the start of the game, so they were blowing like crazy from the start which I could tell.

"We knew what we were trying to do which is good. I like that. One of the big things we want to do is be very clear about how we want to play and just keep playing like that.

"... We want to win but I think you see by the way that we decided to take penalty kicks for goal that we understand the balance of what we want to get out of practice matches as well."

The Waratahs fought back well in the second half after trailling 13-0 at halftime.

Brendan McKibbin's injection at halfback for Grayson Heart in the 27th minute was pivotal for the Waratahs with the classy No.9 giving his side some much-needed direction.

NSW scored their first points of the night when back-rower Lopeti Timani charged onto a pass from McKibbin close the line with the big Tongan barging his way over on 60 minutes.

McKibbin slotted the goal from the sideline to make it 13-7.

The Waratahs hit the lead for the first time about seven minutes later when replacement hooker Luke Holmes scored after a rolling maul from a lineout close to the Crusaders' line with Brendan McKibbin kicked the conversion to make it 14-13.

The Crusaders hit back with a penalty goal to Tom Taylor to make it 16-14 much to the disapproval of the enthusiastic small crowd.

The first half of the match which was split into 20 minute periods didn't reach any great heights with the Crusaders scoring a try through prop Pa'ea Fununu off a rolling maul while the other points came from a conversion and penalty goal to star No.10 Dan Carter while replacement five-eighth Tom Taylor slotted kicked the first of his two penalties in the first half.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder said the trial was a typical scrappy affair for this time of the year.

"These pre-season games are all like this. We were pretty disjointed and and pretty messy and for the last two weeks we've just been doing the same sort of thing. You just try and play with some structure, try some moves," he said.

"There's some things that need tweaking but nothing major, everything's in place."

The former All Black was impressed by Folau.

Blackadder confirmed that Carter left the field with a corked knee but said the injury was nothing serious.

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Quade: the past is in the past

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Long road back ... Cooper is keen to make amends for his forgettable outburst. Source:News Limited

Controversial Queensland Reds playmaker Quade Cooper is eager to put a topsy-turvy 2012 behind him and use his recent boxing success as a building block towards regaining the Wallabies No.10 jersey.

Cooper returns to the rugby field on Saturday night in the Reds' season-opener against the Brumbies and if his recent knockout of Barry Dunnett is anything to go by, he appears to be in the best physical shape of his career.

"I think it helped my footwork and when I started boxing … it helped with my knee rehab," Cooper told Fox Sports' Rugby HQ.

"I feel like I'm in a good space leading into the season from a footwork point-of-view and a fitness point-of-view as well."

Boxing aside, Cooper knows there's still plenty of hard work to come on the rugby field if he's to regain the superb form of 2011.

He's also chasing redemption with the Wallabies and coach Robbie Deans, who were the targets of his now famous "toxic" environment Twitter tirade and follow-up comments on The Rugby Club.

"It's a very important year but I'm not going to get clouded and all that sort of stuff from the past," Cooper said of the comments that saw him fined $40,000 and handed a two-match suspended ban.

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"I said a few things and I also apologised for a few of the things that I said.

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"There was a lot of emotions, up and down, with the way I was playing and a few things behind the scenes.

"But I'm not going to get caught up in that … I'm hoping that this year will be a positive year."

The 24-year-old fly half wants to make that unfortunate period a distant memory by winning back the Wallabies No.10 jersey and securing a place against the British and Irish Lions.

But that's easier said than done with good mates Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor both keen to fill the playmaking role, and talented Brumbies five-eighth Christian Lealiifano also on Deans's radar.

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"It's been a great building block with the start of the season with the boxing and getting fit and having a pre-season with the Reds boys," Cooper said of his start to 2013.

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"So I'm really excited about the opportunity of gaining back my spot in the Wallabies and it's a big year ahead with the Lions.

"And if I'm fortunate enough to put the gold jumper on and play again for the Wallabies this year, against the Lions, then that will be great.

"But then again, if I'm not selected for it then all I can do is play the best football I can and hopefully be a part of the 2013 set-up."

Cooper's journey back to the top begins at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.

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