Cooper, Botha combine for SA

Tom Cooper flays the ball in the air on his way to an unbeaten 165 for SA against Queensland. Picture: Simon Cross Source: Simon Cross / The Advertiser

A TOM Cooper ton and dodgy stomachs quelled Queensland as South Australia took control of the historic Sheffield Shield clash at Glenelg.

Unbeaten pair Cooper (165) and skipper Johan Botha (59) were united at 4/101 following the loss of debutant Kelvin Smith (1) but struck a 193-run, fifth wicket stand full of aggressive but controlled strokeplay. SA was a healthy 4/294 at stumps.

Cooper struck six sixes and 18 boundaries on the way to the timely ton the Redbacks and his first-class career desperately required.

Cooper made more runs than he did across all forms for the Redbacks in a poor 2012-13 summer and was determined to cash in.

Dashing Cooper (88) raced to his half century in style, smashing Luke Feldman (2/37) out of the ground in consecutive overs which caused a delay in play. Cooper, 25 endured a year to forget with the willow last summer but is making every post a winner this season, also averaging 50 in the Ryobi Cup.

Botha promoted himself to No.6 to accommodate leg-spin recruit Adam Zampa and enjoyed welcome half century after his illegal bowling action ordeal this month.

The Redbacks had looked wobbly in a 3/39 collapse that claimed Travis Head (33), opener Sam Raphael (25,), and debutant Kelvin Smith (1).

Test spearhead Ryan Harris deserved Raphael's scalp after conceding just 1/27 in 15 immaculate overs.

Michael Klinger's Ashes hopes received an early setback while Head threw away an impressive start at lunch. No.3 Head (3) offered a swift return catch to spinner Cameron Boyce off the last ball before lunch leaving SA 2/62.

Luke Feldman claimed inform Australia A opener Klinger (3) with an edge to keeper Chris Hartley.

Bulls batsman Peter Forrest assumed the gloves for the Bulls with regular keeper Chris Hartley suffering a stomach upset that also claimed allrounder James Hopes before the game.
 

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Lockyer joins Broncos boardroom

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HE ONCE owned the football field for the Broncos - now Darren Lockyer has a role to help make the big plays in the boardroom for his beloved club.

The Broncos have announced that former premiership skipper Lockyer has agreed to join the club's four-man board of directors.

Since Lockyer retired in 2011 after a record 355 NRL games and an unequalled tally of 59 Tests, he has built a business career with companies throughout Australia. 

Broncos chairman Dennis Watt said Lockyer would bring an enthusiastic business sense to the role as well as his rugby league experience. 

"He has extraordinary professionalism with everything he does in a corporate setting, but he does have insights into the game few others have. He will study to improve his effectiveness as a director in building the business of the club - it's just guaranteed," Watt said.

Watt said that despite Lockyer's recent vintage as a player he would have no special responsibilities other than those carried by other directors. 

Lockyer said that as a one-club player he found it both "humbling and exciting" to work at the club in another key role.

"My appointment to the board will result in me developing stronger relationships with our key partners, a richer understanding of our supplier arrangements, and having a more vested participation in delivering on key variables to our loyal supporter base," Lockyer said. 

"I look forward to interacting with our board of directors and most importantly, contributing to the ongoing success of the club."

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NRL progressing with new-look cap

Todd Greenberg at Rugby League Central. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

THE NRL is preparing to roll out a new-look salary cap by the start of the 2015 season having nearly completed an exhaustive look at ways to improve the current system.

Chief operating officer Jim Doyle and head of football Todd Greenberg have counselled players, clubs, fans, sponsors and player managers before engaging sections of the media on Tuesday to gauge ideas to overhaul the cap and bring it in line with the modern game.

Transfer windows and fees are being considered, while the abolition of the second-tier mechanism to allow clubs to include players outside their top-25 under one cap is almost certain.

In one of the biggest shake-ups to the game since Super League, the NRL is expected to complete its research and submit a blueprint for approval by the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) by the end of the month.

Marquee players allowances are high on the agenda, with the current figure of $600,000 for each club and how it's used under scrutiny.

Veteran player allowances, which currently involve a $200,000 cap discount for players with eight consecutive years' service with one club, are also being examined.

Discussions have taken place about potentially reducing the number of years served for a player to qualify and spreading it out to more than one player.

Last season saw the clubs' $7 million annual grant from the NRL exceed the $5.85 million cap for the first time.

The cap will rise to $6.3 million next year and by a further $250,000 in 2016 and then by $200,000 in 2017 and 2018.

"We've looked at other sports both domestically and internationally who use a salary cap," Doyle said.

"We're addressing what issues have been coming up for a while and what needs to be changed."

Any changes to how cash is distributed from the cap would require tweaking the new five-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), that was signed off by the RLPA and the NRL last February.

However, Doyle said he did not envisage any problems if it was of benefit to the players.

"It wouldn't be an issue I don't think and wouldn't take up too much time, providing the players were happy with it," he said.

"But it's very important to note that any changes won't only affect the big-name star players but all players.

"We still have a way to to go before we put all of the ideas together, but we hope to have something before the year is out.

"But anything significant wouldn't kick in until the 2015 season. Clubs have already worked on their budgets for next year and their rosters are completed.

"But if we can bring in some smaller changes in time for next year we will."

The prospect of a so-called "luxury tax" is also under consideration with moves afoot to potentially invoke a cap on a club's football department spending.

The system is being considered by the AFL to try and equalise its competition and is used by Major League Baseball in the US.

Melbourne Storm currently spend the most amount of money on their football department which is currently exempt from any cap, and they recently lost their highly-regarded strength and conditioning coach Alex Corvo to cashed-up Brisbane.

"These are not measures we're saying will be brought in, but they are just things we are looking at," Doyle said.

"We don't want to penalise clubs who have excellent football departments, but it's just another thing that we're assessing."

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Ballon d'Or fantasy football XI

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LIONEL Messi, Franck Ribery, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Neymar are among 23 candidates on the short list for the Ballon d'Or announced by FIFA on Tuesday.

Ribery, who won UEFA's best player in Europe award for the 2012-13 season, helped Bayern Munich win the Champions League and Bundesliga and German Cup titles.

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Messi, winner of the last four Ballon d'Or awards in voting by coaches, team captains and media, was injured late in the season and could not prevent Barcelona from being beaten by Bayern in the Champions League semifinals.

The Ballon d'Or winner will be announced on January 13 in Zurich.

Two now-retired managers - Alex Ferguson of Manchester United and Bayern's Jupp Heynckes - are among 10 nominees for FIFA's coach of the year award.

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Ballon d'Or nominees (alphabetical order, nationalities): Gareth Bale (Wales), Edinson Cavani (Uruguay), Radamel Falcao (Colombia), Eden Hazard (Belgium), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Robert Lewandowski (Poland), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Mueller (Germany), Manuel Neuer (Germany), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Franck Ribery (France), Arjen Robben (Netherlands), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Luis Suarez (Uruguay), Thiago Silva (Brazil), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast), Robin Van Persie (Netherlands), Xavi (Spain).

Coach of the year nominees (nationalities, teams): Carlo Ancelotti (Italy, Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid), Rafael Benitez (Spain, Chelsea/Napoli), Antonio Conte (Italy, Juventus), Vicente Del Bosque (Spain, Spain national team), Alex Ferguson (Scotland, Manchester United, retired), Jupp Heynckes (Germany, Bayern Munich, retired), Juergen Klopp (Germany, Borussia Dortmund), Jose Mourinho (Portugal, Real Madrid/Chelsea), Luiz Felipe Scolari (Brazil, Brazil national team), Arsene Wenger (France, Arsenal).

Here's a Dream XI we've come up with from the shortlist.

                                               MANUEL NEUR

PHILLIP LAHM    YAYA TOURE    THIAGO SILVA    GARETH BALE

                        ANDRES INIESTA    ANDREA PIRLO

CRISTIANO RONALDO       LIONEL MESSI      FRANCK RIBERY

                                                   NEYMAR        

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HAVE you checked out the Fox Football Podcast yet?

The first two episodes have been a raging success and the latest addition to Fox Sports' football stable is back for its third edition.

Host Adam Peacock is joined this week by Simon Hill and Brenton Speed in the studio, and on the phone by Daniel Garb from London.

There's no shortage of fodder for the gang to discuss - from the Sydney derby, the Sky Blues woes, the latest from the EPL and Europe and a look to this weekend's domestic action - and none of our pundits are short of an opinion.

For your mid-week fix of football talk and fun - where else will you hear Simon Hill's Dutch accent - the Fox Football podcast is your place to go.

You can check it out here at the iTunes store, subscribe, and share your rating!

And if you're an Android user, you can find the pod on the iPP Podcast Player app.

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Bell targets more Ashes heroics

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ENGLAND'S Ashes hero Ian Bell insists previous form means nothing as he looks to guide his side to another series victory in Australia this summer.

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Bell was the standout batsman in the five Tests earlier this year, scoring 562 runs – almost 150 more than any other player – and notching three centuries to help the home side secure a 3-0 triumph.

But the 31-year-old is adamant he must continue to improve ahead of one of world cricket's sternest challenges: Australia in its own backyard.

"It certainly doesn't change your appetite for runs and success," said Bell of this year's Ashes campaign, where he averaged 62.44 for the series.

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You want to come out here and play the best cricket you can.

"Whatever's gone now has gone, and this series is the most important.

"I've had good times and bad times against Australia, but the important thing is not to look at what's gone now, the important thing is to look at this series and trying as hard as I can to put in good performances."

Bell and the rest of the England squad spent time in the middle today at Floreat Oval ahead of their three-day warm-up fixture against WA at the WACA Ground.

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Perth holds special significance for Bell, who spent a season playing club cricket for the University of WA in 2003-04 before going on to make his Test debut just months later.

"It was massive," Bell said.

"It spent a lot of time in the England system, from the Under 19s to the Academy, but coming here I think changed a lot of things.

"It was a lifestyle lesson as much as the cricket, and I certainly went a much better player, a tougher player."

The man who encouraged Bell to head to Perth was none other than Australia's current chairman of selectors John Inverarity, who was Bell's coach at Warwickshire at the time.

Bell said the change in roles had meant a change in approach from the former Western Australia captain this tour around.

"He didn't invite us around for lunch like he did last (tour), so he's keeping his distance a bit more now," Bell laughed.

England skipper Alastair Cook sat out the practice session after receiving treatment on a sore back, but Bell said he was confident the injury was only minor.

"I'm sure he'll be fine," Bell said.

"He's had the odd niggle with the back…but we all have certain areas we have to keep working on.
"A long flight isn't always easy, so I'm sure he'll be fine in the next week or so."

Stuart Broad was also absent from the session.

Follow Chris Robinson on Twitter: @CJKRobinson
 

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Fellaini reveals Arsenal snub

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Marouane Fellaini has claimed that he snubbed interest from Arsenal before joining Manchester United.

The 25-year-old Belgium midfielder joined United on deadline day from Everton in a £27.5million move, the only substantial deal that the Premier League champions managed over the course of the summer.

Despite seeing Arsenal in top form, and some way ahead of United at this stage - Fellaini says he does not regret his decision to move to Old Trafford.

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"I don't want to tell you everything what happened during the transfer," he said to beIN Sport. "This was done at the last minute.

"In a transfer window, there is always a list of players, you never know if it's true or not. But for me, I knew [Moyes] was interested in me.

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"Chelsea? No comment. Arsenal? It's true, they were interested, but Manchester United convinced me to sign for them."

Fellaini says he could not turn down the chance to work with David Moyes again.

"David Moyes has given me confidence," he said.

"When I was in trouble early at Everton, he helped me and supported me. He did everything for me to become a great player.

"I was criticised, nobody knew who I was. I succeeded because I worked a lot. That's why I'm playing for Manchester United today.

"[I am not trying to] replace Scholes or Carrick or anyone. I try to play my own game. It is difficult at the moment, but I will succeed."

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/8997318/manchester-united-midfielder-marouane-fellaini-says-arsenal-wanted-to-sign-him

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Gomes homer lifts Sox over Cards

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JONNY Gomes clubbed a three-run home run and David Ortiz batted three-for-three as Boston rallied to defeat St Louis 4-2 and tie the World Series at two games each.

Unheralded Gomes smashed his two-out homer into the Red Sox bullpen off Cardinals reliever Seth Maness just moments after Maness had come in to replace starter Lance Lynn in the top of the sixth inning.

"I got a good pitch,'' Gomes said. "If I am fortunate enough to get a mistake, my bat is going to come to the zone hot.''

Gomes wasn't even supposed to start the game for the Red Sox, whose victory insured the best-of-seven series will go at least six games.

Manager John Farrell inserted him into the lineup just before game time after right fielder Shane Victorino was scratched with a bad back.

Game 5 is set for Monday night (Tuesday AEDT) at Busch Stadium.

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JOIN US FOR LIVE UPDATES OF GAME 5 FROM 11am AEDT TUESDAY

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Ortiz led off the fifth inning with a double. He also had two singles, walked once and scored two runs for the Red Sox, who were able to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss the night before when the game ended in chaos after the umpires ruled that Boston third baseman Will Middlebrooks had interfered with Cards baserunner Allen Craig.

"We have seen it many times. Granted the stage is bigger,'' Farrell said. "This is consistent with the way we have responded with a tough night the night before.

"That is just who these guys are, they have shown it many times over.''

Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz lasted only four innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out two. His bullpen did the rest, including Japanese closer Koji Uehara who shocked everyone with a surprise pick off of Cardinals base runner Kolten Wong at first for the final out of the game.

"That was on his own,'' Farrell said of Uehara. "It was all on Uehara.''

This is the fourth time Boston and St. Louis have squared off in the World Series and the first since 2004, when the Red Sox snapped their 86-year drought with a four-game sweep.

The loss snapped the Cardinals' eight game win streak when they had scored first in the playoffs.

"We didn't have a lot of movement,'' said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny. "We didn't get a lot going, and didn't have any momentum offensively.''

Matheny said one of their biggest problems in the World Series has been getting offence from the bottom half of their batting order.

"We tried moving guys around a little bit to see if something will spark there,'' he said. "We've got guys that can contribute at the bottom of our lineup, and right now it's not happening.

"It's just a matter of somebody getting it going. Right now, yeah, we're having trouble.''

Cardinals starter Lance Lynn struck out five and allowed three runs on three hits in 5 2/3 innings of work in front of a crowd of 47,469.

Lynn got the first two outs of the sixth inning but was then replaced by Maness after Lynn had walked Ortiz.

Maness then gave up the three-run homer to Gomes which gave the Red Sox a 4-1 lead. Gomes was a career five-for-41 in the playoffs prior to his sixth-inning blast.

In the fifth, Lynn decided to pitch to Ortiz who doubled to centre field. Ortiz ended up scoring on a bases-loaded, none-out sacrifice fly by Stephen Drew. Ortiz beat the throw to home to tie the game 1-1.

St Louis' Carlos Beltran opened the scoring by hitting a single to centre field to drive home Matt Carpenter from second base.

Carpenter got on with a hit to centrefield and was able to stretch it out to a double when Boston outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury let the ball slip past him. Ellsbury was given an error on the play.

See how the game unfolded in our live blog below

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Gysberts chopped by North

Jordan Gysberts gets a handpass away as Matthew Bate lays a tackle. Picture: Colleen Petch

NORTH Melbourne has been unable to develop high draft pick Jordan Gysberts into an AFL player, delisting the former Demon along with ex-Hawk Will Sierakowski.

Gysberts crossed to Arden St at the end of 2012 but was unable to crack Brad Scott's senior side after playing 19 games in three seasons at Melbourne.

The Eastern Ranges product was taken by Melbourne at No. 11, the pick acquired for losing Brock McLean to Carlton.

Sierakowski, 23, was chopped despite lining up seven times this season.

SUPERFOOTY'S PHANTOM DRAFT

Ayden Kennedy and Ben Mabon were also culled.

Kennedy, a defender, endured an injury-wrecked 2010-11 while Mabon, a 200cm ruckman, couldn't crack a game with Todd Goldstein, Drew Petrie and Hamish McIntosh (until last year) well ahead in the pecking order.

"Obviously it's a really tough time of year when players leave the club, but we thank all of the guys for their efforts and wish them all the best for the future," Roos list manager Cam Joyce said.

Rookies Cameron Richardson and Ben Speight were delisted in September while Luke Delaney was traded to St Kilda last week.

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Tremlett lining up Clarke

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ENGLAND paceman Chris Tremlett has endured his fair share of physical and emotional pain in recent years.

Now, he wants to transfer some of that misery onto Australia's batsmen during this summer's Ashes series, with skipper Michael Clarke already in his cross-hairs.

Tremlett's future hung in the balance after he was forced to undergo complicated spinal surgery in February last year.

His comeback barely got off the ground before he tore cartilage in his knee and was forced to go under the knife yet again.

Tremlett terrorised Australia's batsmen three years ago when England retained the urn on enemy territory.

In that series, Tremlett snared 17 wickets across three Tests, including a match haul of 8-150 in Perth.

Although he failed to fire during the recent English county season, his previous hot form in Australia has him right in the mix to feature in this summer's return Ashes series.

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And the 32-year-old knows just how crucial it will be to snare the wicket of Clarke, who remains Australia's best batsman despite his own ongoing back issues.

"It's always important that you target the captain in any side and obviously he's been their form player in the last few years," said Tremlett, who dismissed Clarke twice in Perth three years ago.

"If you can get one over the captain in any side, obviously it's an advantage.

"So he's one player we'll target, as well as some other guys."

This week's three-day tour match against a WA Chairman's XI could end up becoming a crucial bowl-off for Tremlett, Boyd Rankin and Steven Finn, who are all battling for a spot in the first Test at the Gabba starting on November 21.

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England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who only arrived in Australia on Sunday following the recent death of a close friend, hit the nets on Monday.

Pietersen remains one of England's biggest weapons, and Tremlett hopes the 33-year-old will fire this series.

"He's in good spirits," Tremlett said.

"It's nice to have him rejoin the camp.

"We know how destructive he can be.

"He's capable of taking any situation away from any opposition.

"We're hoping Kevin will be fine when it comes around to going out there."

Tremlett has snared 49 wickets at an average of 26.75 during his 11-Test career, and is hopeful his body will allow him to play into his mid-30s.

"There were some pretty tough and painful times coming back," Tremlett said.

"But also having played Test cricket and done well at Test cricket and then having to be forced out with injury, it's always that extra motivation to get back.

"So that's something that's really driven me to keep going.

"Sitting back here today and being back on a tour to Australia ... it's worth the pain of going through those tough times."

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