Hussey says his shoes can be filled

Replacement ... Mike Hussey says there is enough talent to replace him in the team. Source: Lakruwan Wanniarachchi / AFP

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Michael Hussey insists there is quality and quantity to replace him despite leaving a second chasm in Australia's middle order ahead of a critical 12 months.

• PJ Hughes (SA) 518 at 51.8
• CJ Ferguson (SA) 463 at 42.09
• UT Khawaja (QLD) 438 at 39.81  
• AJ Doolan (TAS) 409 at 58.42  
• MJ Cosgrove (TAS) 373 at 37.30
• RT Ponting (TAS) 355 at 118.33  
• BCJ Cutting (QLD) 348 at 38.66
• CJL Rogers (VIC) 340 at 42.50
• BJ Haddin (NSW) 337 at 67.40  
• MC Henriques (NSW) 314 at 78.50

Hussey's announcement on Saturday that he'll retire from international cricket after this summer came exactly a month after Ricky Ponting revealed he was calling time on his storied career.

That leaves another middle-order batting vacancy going into February's tour of India, followed by two Ashes series, in England then Australia.

But 37-year-old Hussey - set to play his 79th and last Test this week against Sri Lanka at the SCG - said on Sunday there was talent available to step in after his surprise decision to retire despite averaging close to 80 this summer.

And he said his 35-year-old brother David, a regular contributor at domestic level for Victoria, should be among those considered.

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"I'm not worried about the team whatsoever. We've got some fantastic candidates to come in - probably too many to name,'' Hussey said.

"Maybe David Hussey could get a run - one Hussey out, one Hussey in. History has shown players have come and gone. But the game continues to move forward, and it'll be no different with me.''

With Phil Hughes already recalled to replace Ponting, Queensland batsman Usman Khawaja is almost certain to get first crack at Hussey's spot, while Victorian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is in the 13-man squad for the Sydney Test as injured Shane Watson's replacement.

Maxwell bats at No.5 or 6 for Victoria, and comes with the bonus of bowling decent off-spin.

The younger Hussey and fellow Victorian Rob Quiney - used and discarded already this summer - will also be among the candidates, along with Tasmania's Alex Doolan and South Australia's Callum Ferguson.

Hussey said his decision to walk away - mostly for family reasons as he didn't want to commit to a six-month-plus stint away from home next year - had shocked teammates.

He rang them all personally on Saturday after he had broken the news to Michael Clarke and Mickey Arthur.

Paceman Mitchell Starc admitted he was surprised, and believed Hussey's replacement would have big shoes to fill.

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"He's still in great form with the bat, as we've seen through this summer so far,'' Starc said in Sydney on Sunday.

"He's going out the way he wants by the sound of things and it's going to leave a big hole.

"It's hard to replace Ricky Ponting. Now we've got to replace him and Mike Hussey, so it's a big gap.''

The Australians will also have to find a replacement for Hussey in his role of leading the singing of the team song after Test victories.

He refused to say who his preferred candidate was, but said he had already spoken to the player.

Hussey said he was comfortable with his decision to walk away after Sydney, despite his great recent form.

"I do still love the game, but I'm not up to the rigours, pressures and stresses of international cricket any more,'' Hussey said.

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Velasquez downs Dos Santos in Vegas

Belting ... Cain Velasquez lays into Junior Dos Santos. Source: David Becker / AAP

Cain Velasquez reclaimed the UFC heavyweight championship by battering Junior Dos Santos on the way to a lopsided unanimous decision in UFC 155 in Las Vegas on Sunday (AEDT).

Velasquez (11-1) took early control of the rematch of his only career loss, flooring the champion with a big right hand midway through the first round.

The American spent most of the match stalking and pounding on Brazil's Dos Santos (15-2), who never fully recovered from the first-round shot that left him bruised and woozy.

Velasquez won every round on every judge's scorecard in the UFC's traditional year-end event in its hometown.

Dos Santos took the UFC belt away from Velasquez in November 2011 in just 64 seconds, earning a first-round stoppage victory with one vicious overhand right in Anaheim, California.

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Rogic to learn from send-off: Arnie

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Tomas Rogic ... will learn from his shocking red card against Sydney FC. Source:News Limited

Central Coast Mariners coach Graham Arnold say Tomas Rogic's wild tackle which earned him a three-match ban was a result of frustration, not a character flaw.

Rising star Rogic has always been singled out for talent rather than tempest during a meteoric 12-month rise to become one of the A-League's best players.

But the 20-year-old's shocking challenge on Sydney midfielder Rhyan Grant in an ill-tempered end to the Mariners' loss last week brought a new layer of scrutiny for a player likely to be a key Socceroo for the next decade.

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The lunge could have had dire consequences for Grant - also a young player feeling his way in the game.

Tellingly, the Mariners accepted the match review panel's three-match ban which rules Rogic out of the New Year's Eve clash with Perth Glory.

Arnold admitted it "wasn't a great tackle".

But he defended the youngster's character, saying he would learn from an incident the coach blamed on pent-up frustration from a succession of fouls committed against the youngster.

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"It's a learning lesson for Tommy,'' Arnold told reporters on the Central Coast on Sunday

"He's got to realise in his career, a player of his style is going to attract physical attention.

"(The ban) is very disappointing, because Tommy's not that type of player.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	13	8	3	2	12	27
2	Adelaide	13	8	1	4	4	25
3	Victory	13	7	2	4	-1	23
4	Western Sydney	13	6	2	5	5	20
5	Perth	13	5	3	5	3	18
6	Wellington	13	4	4	5	0	16
7	Newcastle	13	5	1	7	-8	16
8	Brisbane	13	4	2	7	0	14
9	Sydney	13	4	1	8	-11	13
10	Heart	13	3	3	7	-4	12

"He's an entertainer, he puts bums on seats and you see players get away with a lot plenty of other times."

Arnold reiterated his post-match call that referees needed to do more to protect Rogic and players like him, saying the midfielder had been "lined up" several times during the match.

Also on Sunday, Sydney FC coach Frank Farina made a similar plea about his Italian star Alessandro Del Piero.

He will miss the Sky Blues' away clash with Adelaide United on Monday because of niggling injury - Farina saying it was as a result of increased physical attention the 38-year-old has been getting during matches.

Arnold will also be without captain John Hutchinson, another sent off against Sydney FC, and leading goalscorer Daniel McBreen through suspension.

With veteran centre-half Patrick Zwaanswijk also out injured, Arnold has made Kiwi midfielder Michael McGlinchey skipper against the Glory at Bluetongue Stadium.

"It's a great honour to be the stand-in captain for Hutch," said McGlinchey, one of his side's best in their top-of-the-table season so far.

"I've been at the club four years now and hopefully it can add to my game."

Arnold will bring Adriano Pellegrino, Adam Kwasnik and Oliver Bozanic into the starting side to replace his suspended trio.

The Glory will be without centre-back Michael Thwaite following a bad calf injury sustained in the team's draw with Western Sydney Wanderers last week.

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Unsung Hughes helps Sixers survive

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Match-winner ... Daniel Hughes (L) and Brett Lee celebrate the victory. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Sydney Sixers captain Brad Haddin has told Sydney Thunder's star import Chris Gayle to start earning his monster pay packet as a four-wicket win extended the Thunder's KFC T20 Big Bash League losing streak to 11 games on Sunday.

T20 - ANZ Stadium

30 December 2012 - Day 1, Session 2

Sixers 1st Innings

D. Hughes	51	36	4	2	141.67
B. Lee	12	6	2	0	200
S. Coyte	4	0	26	0	6.50

On the back of an unbeaten 51 off 36 balls from youngster Daniel Hughes, the Sixers made 6-136 chasing the target of 133 to keep their slim finals hopes alive with a tense victory.

Brett Lee hit back-to-back fours off Scott Coyte to seal the victory with an over to spare.

But it was Haddin's hefty sledge which ensured the rivalry between these two teams stayed fiery following another disappointing failure from Gayle (9) and a face-saving innings from Test aspirant Usman Khawaja (66no).

Gayle, lauded as the world's premier Twenty20 batsman when he arrived for his second Big Bash League campaign on a $250,000 deal, has been well below his best - averaging just 13 from six innings.

His poor form became the subject of ridicule when Haddin was piloting the Sixers' chase.

But Gayle, who finished with 2-17, claimed a minor victory by enticing a rash shot from Haddin who was caught for 18.

Gayle celebrated Haddin's wicket by thumping his chest and starting an impromptu Gangnam-style dance - before the Sixers captain continued the sledging in a sideline interview.

"He's been all talk so far this tournament and they haven't won a game," Haddin told Fox Sports.

"It's disappointing to get out then, I was feeling pretty good but at least the Thunder fans have seen Chris Gayle do something for his money."

It ensured there was still some spark in the all-Sydney derby between the competition's two worst-performed teams, which drew an impressive crowd of 20,986.

And they witnessed a capitulation from the Thunder top-order, a solo recovery mission from Khawaja and successful Sixers' run chase led by Hughes.

Hughes offered just one chance, on 48, when he was dropped by Scott Coyte off the bowling of the always-impressive Dirk Nannes (3-24).

Gayle wasn't alone in struggling at the top of the Thunder top order - Matt Prior (4) and Chris Rogers (7) also couldn't deliver.

The loss ensures the Thunder will finish 2012 without a single victory, their last coming on December 23 last year.

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This year has been far kinder for the Sixers - they won the inaugural Big Bash tournament in January and the Champions League in October, but both their victories this summer have come against the hapless Thunder.

In worrying news for the Sixers, batsman Steve Smith suffered rib damage during his brief knock of 14.

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Even Gayle's two wickets weren't enough to impress Haddin: "But they lost.

"It was the local derby, and you don't want things to roll on without a bit of fun. Chris bowled well tonight.

"It's always very good to get Chris cheaply because he can take the game away from you so quickly.

"He hasn't been doing that so much with the Thunder the past couple of years, but he can definitely take it away from you very quickly.''

Gayle lamented his own dismissal as well as the Thunder's miserable season, but paid credit to the Sixers' pace bowlers.

"I tried to express myself (with the bat) but it didn't happen," he said.

"Even though I'm not timing the ball well you have to give the bowlers credit."

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Relive the game with our Match Centre, featuring videos of every wicket and boundary!

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Croatian star turns German for day

Distraught ... Andrea Petkovic's injury paves the way for Donna Vekic to make history. Source: Tony Ashby / AP

Luckless Andrea Petkovic has been ruled out of the Australian Open after suffering a knee injury in the Hopman Cup - which inadvertedly creates an unusual piece of tennis history.

With no German players available to take her place in the team, she is expected to be replaced by Donna Vekic of Croatia, the first time in the 25 years of Hopman Cup that a player has been asked to represent a nation other than their own.

The German had powered into the top 10 in the world last year when she suffered back and ankle injuries which forced her out of action for seven months, her ranking tumbling to 126 as a result.

She had to retire after winning the first set of her match in Perth against Australia's Ashleigh Barty, and scans have revealed she has ruptured her meniscus which means a month of recuperation and no trip to Melbourne.

"I had an MRI this morning and they found out it is a rupture of the medium meniscus," Petkovic said.

"They don't know yet if they have to trim it. If they do it will be fine and I will only be out for a month. I could probably be playing already after two weeks, hitting balls. That would be really great.

"My team and I are able to take it as tragically funny. People are strange and actually get used to chaos in their life, and I got used to a lot of mess this year.

"Every bad thing that could happen has happened to me so there's nothing there to surprise me anymore. I'm just hoping I can have a quick recovery."

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/8371944/Luckless-Andrea-Petkovic-creates-small-piece-of-tennis-history

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Ref red-faced over yellow error

Mistake ... Referee Mick Russell booked a player twice but failed to send him off. Source: By Joe Castro / AAP

An English referee is in hot water with football bosses after booking a Sheffield Wednesday player twice - but failing to send him off.

Jeremy Helan, on loan from Manchester City, had already been shown an early yellow card for diving in The Owls' Championship game against Huddersfield when he was booked again after 26 minutes for a foul.

Referee Mick Russell was surrounded by furious Huddersfield players who tried to point out the error, but the official restarted play and the game continued.

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Huddersfield manager Simon Grayson described the blunder as "staggering".

"The players were aware and, at half-time, people pointed out to him what had happened, including the assessor. I spoke to the referee after the game and he apologised. He said he had written down the wrong number - which is staggering," he said, following the 0-0 draw.

"The linesman should be helping out. He's not done it deliberately but you can't make mistakes like that."

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited have launched an investigation into Russell's blunder.

"The official has subsequently admitted making a genuine error and PGMOL need to determine why this arose and what sanction, if any, should be administered to the match officials," the organisation said in a statement.

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Video: Haddin, Gayle in sledge-fest

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The man ... Chris Gayle does know how to celebrate a wicket. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Brad Haddin and Chris Gayle ensured there would be plenty of spice in next season's Sydney derby after engaging in a war of words during and after Sydney Sixers' clash with Sydney Thunder at ANZ Stadium on Sunday night.

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Gayle greeted Haddin when he walked out to bat and the pair looked to be on friendly terms as they jovially chatted in the middle of the field.

But somewhere along the line the rivalry became more than just a friendly one, as Gayle repeatedly taunted Haddin for not playing a shot to balls bowled by the West Indies star.

This eventually frustrated Haddin into playing a rash shot that resulted in the former Australia wicketkeeper being caught in the deep, prompting an eye-popping Gangnam Style celebration from Gayle.

But Haddin wasn't done yet, saving some choice words for Gayle during his boundary interview with Fox Sports' Jessica Yates.

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Watch the video at the top of the page to see Gayle's interesting celebrations and Haddin's post-innings sledge.

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"He's been all talk so far this tournament and they haven't won a game," Haddin said.

"It's disappointing to get out then, I was feeling pretty good but at least the Thunder fans have seen Chris Gayle do something for his money."

Gayle laughed off Haddin's comments as friendly banter - and pointed to his growing list of scalps this tournament that includes retired Test great Ricky Ponting as well as Haddin.

"I've done a lot for (the Thunder) from last year," Gayle said.

"(Haddin) is going to be in my pocket just like Ricky and the rest of the big names who I got out."

Relive all the action from the Thunder v Sixers game with our Match Centre, featuring videos of every wicket and boundary.

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Jamshed ton helps silence India

Nasir Jamshed ... his unbeaten century helped Pakistan defeat India. Source: AFP

Opening batsman Nasir Jamshed's century guided Pakistan to a six-wicket win over India in the opening match of the ODI series in Chennai.

1st ODI - MA Chidambaram Stadium

30 December 2012 - Day 1, Session 2

Pakistan 1st Innings

N. Jamshed	101	132	5	1	76.52
S. Malik	34	35	3	0	97.14
A. Dinda	9.1	0	45	1	4.91

Jamshed's 101 not out ensured India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's rescue act earlier in the day went unrewarded.

Dhoni came to the crease with his side on 5-29 after Pakistan left-arm seamer Junaid Khan (4-43) had run through the top order and struck 113 not out to guide them to a final total of 227-6.

Pakistan's run chase also got off to a poor start, India debutant Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowling Mohammad Hafeez with the first delivery of his ODI career.

Kumar also removed Azhar Ali (9) to leave Pakistan on 2-21 but Younus Khan counter-attacked to the tune of 58 off 60 balls to ensure the required-rate was always under control.

Jamshed went to his second ODI hundred from 127 balls in the 47th over and finished off the job alongside Shoaib Malik (34no) with 11 balls to spare.

A bad day for India got worse when Virat Kohli left the field injured. Kohli slipped in his delivery stride while bowling the 41st over and appeared to twist his right knee. He was able to walk off the field but did not return.

Junaid had earlier done the damage for Pakistan with the new ball, bowling Virender Sehwag (4), Virat Kohli (0) and Yuvraj Singh (2), and following up by having Rohit Sharma (4) caught at third slip in his opening spell.

Suresh Raina helped his skipper repair the innings with a 79-run stand spanning 33.4 overs, Dhoni enjoyed a life on 17 when Misbah-ul-Haq put down a catch at midwicket off Hafeez's bowling.

Off-spinner Hafeez (1-26) did eventually pick up a wicket, bowling Raina for 43 with the second delivery of the 34th over - the first of the batting powerplay - before Ravichandran Ashwin (31no) helped Dhoni up the tempo.

Dhoni brought up his eighth ODI century from 118 deliveries - the second 50 of which came from 32 balls - and finished with seven fours and three sixes in his undefeated 125-ball contribution.

The three-match series continues at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on January 3.

Read more: http://www.skysports.com/cricket/match_report/0,,11066_13783_1,00.html

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