Nick Murray will remain at the Crows after the club was unable to break a stalemate with North Melbourne.
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BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsSPORTS deskThe Test stalwart on his surreal last stand at the Oval, his ‘shabby’ treatment by Rob Key and the vexed problem of cricket’s drinking cultureOn a rainy October afternoon, after his 20th season as a professional cricketer, Chris Woakes sits down at Edgbaston’s indoor nets and thinks of the advice that helped him when he was 17 and about to start a career in this consuming sport. “The words came from my parents, particularly my dad, and it was to always be myself,” he says in his thoughtful way.Woakes has just won his third County Championship with Warwickshire and he played 62 Tests for England, taking 192 wickets and scoring 2,034 runs. He also won two World Cups and experienced a range of England coaches, from Andy Flower to Brendon McCullum, and played for captains as different as Sir Alastair Cook, Eoin Morgan, Joe Root and Ben Stokes. Continue reading...
BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsSPORTS deskBordeaux No 8 takes on Gloucester in Champions Cup to underline hole he will leave Borthwick for the World CupSwines are swirling above Twickenham, the cows have returned to their roots and hell is an icy sub-zero. Steve Borthwick has been given a free pass to pick one player based outside England. The consensus is that Jack Willis – Toulouse captain and two‑time Top 14 player of the season – would be the obvious choice. The smart money, however, would be on Borthwick picking brother Tom in a flash.For clarity, this is not going to happen. It is not World Cup season without a cause celebre but the reality is that you, dear reader, have more chance of selection. Still, the story of the younger Willis warrants re-examining. Firstly because his decision to head for France after receiving an enhanced contract was unprecedented. Secondly because for Bordeaux he is pulling up trees, forests and anything else in his way this season. England’s No 8 depth is shallow and Willis is the type of player Borthwick would give his right arm for. After Bordeaux have begun their Champions Cup defence at Gloucester on Friday, chances are his left too. Continue reading...
BAGANBAZAR GRAPHSource-attributed newsSPORTS deskKalyn Ponga stars for New Zealand but Australia edge Sydney clash as tournament promises fireworks on the pitch as well as offUnder new rules introduced for this World Cup, nation-swapping is not only possible, it is virtually encouraged. And like the cheeseburger spring rolls at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night, it’s a culture clash that delights as many people as it offends. But based on the intensity of last night’s Cup opener, it’s players and fans who are the winners.Fireworks. Lasers. Shimmering projections. Allianz Stadium was lit up like a Las Vegas casino. This was intended to be a bold new era for rugby league. They had rejigged the tournament format to distil the talent pool, reducing the competing nations from 16 to 10 and boiling down the number of matches from 31 to 18. Continue reading...