Former Suns cracks it at the ump
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West Australian
41 minutes ago
- West Australian
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg says scarcity still key for Test series as tier system looms
New Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg says scarcity is still part of Test cricket's charm as the sport investigates splitting its best teams from the rest. Greenberg is the nation's representative on a working group set up by the International Cricket Council to explore the proposal for a two-tier system in Test cricket. That could see Australia play arch rivals England and India on a more regular basis, with little to no series against weaker nations. The tiered system would be one of the most radical changes to the long-form of the sport in its history and would likely include the international landscape split into two divisions of six teams. Greenberg will sit on the eight-person working group — established in an ICC meeting in Singapore earlier this month — which also includes England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Richard Gould and the world governing body's chief executive Sanjog Gupta. There has been a resurgence in Test cricket's interest — particularly series between its three big teams — in the past two years and this summer's Ashes series in Australia has prompted unprecedented ticket sales. Perth — which did not host a match in the COVID-ravaged Ashes of 2020/21 — has joined every other Test this summer in selling out the opening day. Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney have all sold out the first three days of their Test matches. In an interview with The Nightly, Greenberg said one of the factors being considered was the risk of overloading fans with matches between the three powerhouse nations and removing some of the mystique around those key series. 'Completely. Finding the right balance of making sure Test cricket is played with meaning and purpose and that is creating scarcity and making sure you take advantage of that,' he said. 'I think the Ashes series is a very good example of that and Test cricket as well is a very good example of that. People know this is the one opportunity — over a four-year cycle — to see this competition and you get to see it up close and personal. 'That's why I think we are seeing the volume of ticket sales we have seen.' A blow-up between Australia's two biggest rivals, England and India, during their Test series in the UK earlier this week thrust long-form cricket back into the headlines again and ramped up anticipation for the Ashes. Greenberg said Cricket Australia didn't have a clear position on the two-tier proposal but was pleased it has a 'seat at the table'. He also said creating jeopardy and meaning in all forms of cricket was one of the key goals of the new working group. That includes white-ball series outside of World Cups. 'We have got to answer some of these questions about the tiers of Test cricket and making sure we create jeopardy in T20s and ODIs going forward,' Greenberg said. 'We have certainly got jeopardy with T20s now with the Olympics in 2028 and we have made sure that every game layers up with the outcomes and qualification for the Olympics. 'I think they are all open challenges on us, but they are good challenges to have as a sport in this country. With lots of different competition from all different codes in summer and winter, we have this ability to have a global significance and as the national sport of this country what we've got to do is continue to grow.' Cricket Australia this week released the key findings from an independent report into the potential for growth in the Big Bash League. That included advice for the league's eight franchises to be opened up to private investment by selling minority stakes as well as a push for a clearer window for the domestic T20 competition to be played, allowing for Australia's Test stars to take part.
The Advertiser
42 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Jezza to kick 100 goals? I'd like to see that: Hinkley
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley would love to see star Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron kick 100 goals this year - as long as he has a quiet game this weekend. Cameron sits on top of the Coleman Medal race with 69 goals to his name from 19 games. No AFL player has reached 100 goals in a season since Lance Franklin achieved the feat while playing for Hawthorn in 2008. Franklin kicked 102 during that home-and-away campaign before adding another 11 goals across three finals. Cameron needs 31 goals in four games plus finals to crack the magical 100-mark. Playing in his favour is the fact Geelong face Port Adelaide, Essendon, Sydney and Richmond in their final four games - all teams sitting in the bottom half of the ladder. "Jez is a great player. I think it would be outstanding for football to see 100 goals kicked again in the game ... as long as he doesn't get many against us," Hinkley said. Port (8-11) are limping to the finish line in Hinkley's last season as coach, with injuries to key players hurting their cause. "This year we've had 18 surgeries since January," Hinkley said. "And they're collision injuries, they're really unfortunate injuries, you can't do much about them." Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley would love to see star Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron kick 100 goals this year - as long as he has a quiet game this weekend. Cameron sits on top of the Coleman Medal race with 69 goals to his name from 19 games. No AFL player has reached 100 goals in a season since Lance Franklin achieved the feat while playing for Hawthorn in 2008. Franklin kicked 102 during that home-and-away campaign before adding another 11 goals across three finals. Cameron needs 31 goals in four games plus finals to crack the magical 100-mark. Playing in his favour is the fact Geelong face Port Adelaide, Essendon, Sydney and Richmond in their final four games - all teams sitting in the bottom half of the ladder. "Jez is a great player. I think it would be outstanding for football to see 100 goals kicked again in the game ... as long as he doesn't get many against us," Hinkley said. Port (8-11) are limping to the finish line in Hinkley's last season as coach, with injuries to key players hurting their cause. "This year we've had 18 surgeries since January," Hinkley said. "And they're collision injuries, they're really unfortunate injuries, you can't do much about them." Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley would love to see star Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron kick 100 goals this year - as long as he has a quiet game this weekend. Cameron sits on top of the Coleman Medal race with 69 goals to his name from 19 games. No AFL player has reached 100 goals in a season since Lance Franklin achieved the feat while playing for Hawthorn in 2008. Franklin kicked 102 during that home-and-away campaign before adding another 11 goals across three finals. Cameron needs 31 goals in four games plus finals to crack the magical 100-mark. Playing in his favour is the fact Geelong face Port Adelaide, Essendon, Sydney and Richmond in their final four games - all teams sitting in the bottom half of the ladder. "Jez is a great player. I think it would be outstanding for football to see 100 goals kicked again in the game ... as long as he doesn't get many against us," Hinkley said. Port (8-11) are limping to the finish line in Hinkley's last season as coach, with injuries to key players hurting their cause. "This year we've had 18 surgeries since January," Hinkley said. "And they're collision injuries, they're really unfortunate injuries, you can't do much about them."
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Coffs Harbour preview: Wet conditions and home track advantage can help Ostracised in his Cup bid
Ostracised, once touted a Kosciuszko horse, could in fact be a Big Dance horse if he can deliver a hometown boilover in the Coffs Harbour Cup. Apart from its prestige and a whopping $150,000 purse, the added incentive of Big Dance Eligibility has drawn together a first class field of New South Wales, Queensland and Canberra housed gallopers. So deep is this year's Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m) that Ostracised went up as a $51 shot. A mission which his part owner and trainer Donna Grisedale acknowledges is a difficult one but not impossible. 'I wouldn't put him in it if I didn't think he would run a decent race,' Grisedale said. 'Home track, wet track, good barrier, he has got a few things in his favour but there are some outstanding city-class horses in the race. Ostracised claims the Maclean Cup! ðŸ�† â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 20, 2025 The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'He has gone up 19 points in two runs so I have kind of been forced into these sort of situations with him.' One of those benchmark accruing performances came as a result of Ostracised's emphatic on-pace win in the Maclean Cup (1425m). What made the gelding's victory all the more important; the outcome - and the manner of it - was inspiration enough for a tilt at the Cup. That said, Ostracised running a mile is not something anyone would have expected, least of all Grisedale herself. 'We only had him down as a 1000m, 1100m horse completely and then everything just sort of changed because he was just getting run off his legs,' she said. 'So we just stepped him up 1100m to 1200m and it has just gone from there. 'He was strong through the line (in the Maclean Cup) so 1600m is certainly worth a try. 'Six is a good barrier for him, he should be up there on the speed for sure.' Grisedale will also have a runner in the co-feature Daniel Baker Showcase Sprint (1200m), namely Bow. Ostracised wins the Woolgoolga Diggers Cup! ðŸ�† @mallyon_andrew â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 20, 2025 A son of Black Caviar's sire, Bel Esprit, Bow will require a further upgrade in the track it seems to have any chance of capturing the time-honoured annual event. 'He hasn't drawn too bad and again the home track is always good for him,' Grisedale said. 'It is a suitable race for him, it's just that it is going to be wet.' The Coffs Harbour Cup Day meeting coincides with the start of the new season. Grisedale is rightfully looking forward to what the stable's raw but talented now four-year-old Piedi Veloci can deliver in the Rob Young Country Boosted Showcase Maiden Plate (1400m) and throughout 2025/26 up to an including even the Country Championships. 'He is going to go out after Friday's run and I dare say he will come back a more furnished horse and certainly a lot more switched on and hopefully not doing so many things wrong,' says Grisedale. 'He just needs to mature. 'He'd have to win a couple of races and he is certainly capable of doing that so if he can come back and put one or two wins together (the Country Championships) would be ideal for him.' â– â– â– â– â– The weather, the weight and the lure of a crack at a $3 million race on the first Tuesday in November are the three reasons why It's A Knockout will be at Coffs Harbour and not at Rosehill this weekend. The Ciaron Maher -trained It's A Knockout is a red-hot favourite for both her city and country (proposed) missions off the back of a booming first-up win at Royal Randwick followed by her honourable third there at her subsequent start. While the daughter of Triple Crown winner Dundeel will have a 1000km round trip on the first day of the new season, it could pay off in spades both in the immediacy and later in the year, November 4 to be exact. 'It's a business decision,' said Dean Watt, the founder of Dynamic Syndications, who bought the stakes-placed mare at the Gold Coast for $150,000 as a yearling. 'First of all, we have got one eye on the weather but that's not the be all and end all however, whether Rosehill gets all-the-way through on Saturday is a question mark. It's A Knockout KO's them first up at Randwick! 🥊 @cmaherracing @NockBraith @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2025 'And Coffs (Harbour) at this stage has only had a sprinkle of rain that Sydney has had so you know the races are going to go on up there.' Watt, who has won a Golden Slipper and a Blue Diamond (among other features), was also keen to shield It's A Knockout from any potential huge rise in her benchmark rating should she have won in Sydney on the weekend. 'The Coffs Harbour Cup is Big Dance eligible and if you don't win it but you run second, you're Little Dance eligible,' he added. 'And there is only six grands worth of difference (between Rosehill and Coffs Harbour). 'Her benchmark is still going to go up but the horse becomes eligible to run in a $3 million or $1 million race.' The 2024/25 season concludes the 20th season that the ubiquitous Dynamic Syndications silks have been worn (including in this year's Everest). Watt's clients shared in 61 winners for the season, 20 of them city winners, taking his firm's overall tally close to 1000. In that time, Dynamic horses have returned a 90 per cent winners to runners while a phenomenal 98.1 per cent of the string earned prizemoney.
