Friday, December 17, 2010
Sports World |
- Can Johnson maintain his form and bowl the Aussies to victory?
- Magic fatality casts cloud over re-routed Peterborough Chase
- Sarries ready for Metro revenge
- Australian Open players warned not to make trouble
| Can Johnson maintain his form and bowl the Aussies to victory? Posted: 17 Dec 2010 09:10 AM PST Despite the fact that England are still the side that is firmly in control of the current Ashes 2010 series, the return to form (and to the series) of Mitchell Johnson is something that will have the England batsmen worrying about how they can fight off a bowler who ripped them to shreds during their first innings. However, whilst they will certainly be worrying about just how good Mitchell Johnson can be, they will also be aware that the Ashes odds on him improving are just as likely as the ones that suggest he will go on and do a Peter Siddle and have a moment of magic and then flop back to looking like a bowler who cannot seem to get a wicket for love nor money and, in the process, become a man who cannot stop himself from giving away runs to England's batsmen. Whilst Johnson is perhaps slightly less likely to do this than England would like in an ideal world, the fact is that whether he returns to form or not will be a decisive factor in deciding if England are going to end this series still in possession of the Ashes. Should Johnson show that he is back in the game, then the momentum that had been in England's favour will rapidly starting heading back to an Australian side which is desperately seeking to avoid the ignominy of being the first Australian side to lose possession of the Ashes on home soil for the first time since the 1980s. Whatever the outcome, the fact is that this is turning out to be one of the most exciting Ashes series on Australian soil for a long, long time.  |
| Magic fatality casts cloud over re-routed Peterborough Chase Posted: 17 Dec 2010 05:49 AM PST Racing lost one its most talented performers at Newbury on Wednesday when the high-class chaser Twist Magic took a fatal fall whilst leading at the second last fence of the re-routed Grade 2 Totesport.com Peterborough Chase, bringing to a sudden end a career that had seen the popular eight-year-old scale the heights of the winter game, writes Elliot Slater. One of the highest rated horses currently in training, with an official BHA mark of 175, Twist Magic had been a shade mulish in the parade ring and also gave trouble at the start before being led in, but he consented to jump off with the rest of the field. This was not the first time the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding had shown himself to be a shade quirky (he refused to race at Punchestown in April), but the 10-time winner of very nearly £580,000 in career prize money travelled sweetly throughout the race and appeared to be going best under Sam Thomas, when coming down at the second last while holding a length lead over stable companion Breedsbreeze and Tom George's Tartak (the eventual winner of the contest). It was very quickly assessed by Horse race betting pundits that Twist Magic had sustained a shattered fetlock and the veterinary team on hand had no option than to humanely destroy the popular chaser. A winner of five Grade 1 races during his career, Twist Magic will probably be best remembered by those studying the Horse racing betting odds for his two victories in Sandown's Tingle Creek Chase, in 2007 beating the high-class Voy Por Ustedes by three lengths and then, in 2009, slamming the smart Forpadydeplasterer by a massive 15 lengths. His last victory came in the Grade 1 Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot in January where he again slammed the opposition, Petit Robin finishing a distant second, beaten 12 lengths.  |
| Sarries ready for Metro revenge Posted: 17 Dec 2010 04:28 AM PST Saracens coach Brendan Venter has promised to get things right on and off the pitch in their return game with Racing Metro this weekend. Venter found himself in the news for all the wrong reasons last week when, after his side's 21-24 defeat at Vicarage Road, he gave a bizarre post match interview in protest at perceived mis-treatment by European rugby officials. The interview, now a YouTube hit, was said by those looking at live scores to have been inspired by a character in the film Mike Bassett:England Manager, who simply agreed and repeated what the interviewer asked. Needless to say the ERC was not impressed and have warned him regarding his future conduct, with Venter later trying to make light of the incident. On the field things aren't quite as amusing - he pretty much needs a miracle if his side are to qualify from Pool two. They have lost all three matches, sitting six points adrift at the foot of a group containing Leinster, Clermont and Racing Metro. Those studying the Live rugby scores believe that he will make five changes to the side that lost last week with Michael Tagicakibau, Hayden Smith, Hugh Vyvyan, Kelly Brown and Justin Melck all coming in as they at least attempt to go down fighting. You get the impression though that, with Sarries virtually eliminated, most people's attention will be on what Venter says after the game, rather than what he and his side does on it.  |
| Australian Open players warned not to make trouble Posted: 17 Dec 2010 03:26 AM PST The organisers of the Australian Open have issued a warning to players as they look to ensure the media talk about the great tennis being played and not any more controversial incidents. It comes days after an ugly incident occurred at a junior tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, the infamous home of the Australian Open. In this particular incident a brawl erupted in which one man was arrested for assault and the police needed to be called to separate a fist-fight between two men. The incident was fuelled by an argument between two teenage tennis players over a point during their match. This is a shocking example of behaviour by players and parents, and has been deemed serous enough for Tennis Australia to issue a warning to all players intending to perform at the Australian Open that problematic behaviour will not be tolerated when the tournament gets underway, although it is likely people will be able to concentrate on the Australian Open tennis tips as on-court behaviour is usually pretty restrained in the majors. Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley has said the organisers of the tournament want to send a "clear message" to all players, families and fans that such extreme behaviour is not acceptable. He stated he was very disappointed about the incident and stated clearly those behind the Australian Open "will not tolerate anti-social behaviour" in any way, shape or form. The Australian Open betting predictions suggest it should be an exciting tournament, and fans will be hoping to concentrate on the tennis. It remains highly unlikely that such an incident would occur again at such a prestigious tournament as the Australian Open. But tensions and emotions run his in professional tennis and incidents can flare up from time to time, but all the players know they need to set a good example to their fans.  |
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