Harris show the way with bat

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Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris has been impressive with the bat this Ashes series. Source:Getty Images

RYAN Harris has stepped up as Australia's batting bowler.

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Almost all series it has been the bowlers who have been forced to contribute when the batsmen have failed and it happened again tonight.
 
Australia lost two wickets scrambling together the 16 runs required to take the lead from England, which only came when Harris smacked an imperious off drive to the boundary from Jimmy Anderson with the second new ball.
 
Harris also climbed into Stuart Broad, striking three batsman-like boundaries in a row with a pull, flick through mid-wicket and delightful straight drive.
 
When Harris was out for 28 it gave him a series average of 27, only marginally worse than the 28 currently sitting beside Steve Smith and Brad Haddin.
 
It is the same as Phil Hughes and significantly better than Usman Khawaja (18), David Warner (16) and Ed Cowan (7).
 
Heading into this Test Australia's Ashes stats sheet made embarrassing reading despite dominating the third Test at Old Trafford.
 
Michael Clarke's 187 in Manchester was the only century and the next best score was Ashton Agar's 98 when from the 19-year-old's debut at number 11 in the first Test at Trent Bridge.
 
The dropping of Mitchell Starc for Jackson Bird further weakened Australia's batting, with Starc clubbing an unbeaten 66 from just 71 balls with nine fours at Old Trafford.
 
Behind Clarke the next best average was injured fast bowler James Pattinson (36) and Agar (32.5).
 
To his enormous credit the 110 Chris Rogers made in difficult conditions over the previous two days, backing up from his sparkling 84 at Old Trafford, gave Australia a second centurion in this series.
 
Clarke (325 runs at 54), and Rogers (295 runs at 42) are the only Australian batsmen who can feel any satisfaction with the way they have played on this tour.
 
The only other batsman to scramble 200 runs and an average of better than 30 is Shane Watson (214 runs at 30.57) but at least the signs for him are encouraging.
 
The 68 he made on the second day was the best Watson had batted for some.
 
By contrast England had five players averaging above 30 heading into their second innings with Ian Bell averaging 64 thanks to a pair of centuries.
 
Although not everything is cosy with England's batting either. When Joe Root was bowled by Harris for two yesterday it raised one of the great "what ifs" of the series,
 
He has 260 runs at 37 for the series and 180 of those came in the second innings at Lord's when England had collapsed to 3-30.
 
When Root was just eight he edged a ball which Brad Haddin let go sailing through to the boundary believing it was heading to first slip. Had that catch been taken would Root be still in the side?
 
Winning the first two Tests and then saving the third through rain, England retained the Ashes and have made just one change in four Tests, Tim Bresnan for Steven Finn.
 
Australia has instituted the revolving door policy, with reserve wicket-keeper Matt Wade and all-rounder James Faulkner the only two players in the 18-man squad not to play a Test.
 

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Buzz's NRL Team of the Year

George Burgess has had a breakout season for the Rabbitohs. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

IT'S that time of the year again. Winter is on the way out, eight finals positions are up for grabs and the game's individual awards are soon to be determined. I'm getting in early to reveal the team of the year.

Fullback: Greg Inglis
How could you pick a team without the great Billy Slater at fullback? Easy. South Sydney's Greg Inglis has been clearly the dominant No.1 in the game. There have been some other standout performers, none more so than St George Illawarra's Josh Dugan. Anthony Minichiello has had another great year at the Roosters. Brett Stewart is approaching his best form at Manly and Michael Gordon has been outstanding at the Sharks.

Wingers: Jorge Taufua and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Probably the most difficult choice because so many have emerged this year and played better than the established representative wingers. We've gone for the Sea Eagles' Jorge Taufua as first choice. He has to be there on Fox Sports statistics which show, going into yesterday's game against the Warriors, he has broken the line 25 times this season (the most of any player). He has also scored 16 tries, ran 145m per game and made more metres (2748) this season than any player. The Roosters' Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is on the other wing. What a player! The boys at the Wests Tigers, Tim Simona and David Nofoaluma, are extra special. Penrith's Dave Simmons has held his own every week against the best in the competition.

Centres: Michael Jennings and Jamie Lyon
It's never easy leaving out quality players like Justin Hodges at the Broncos or Josh Morris at the Bulldogs. At the same time, you can't ignore the form of Michael Jennings in the Roosters' backline and Jamie Lyon at Manly.

Five-eighth: John Sutton
Without doubt the toughest job is settling on a five-eighth. James Maloney, Todd Carney, Kieran Foran, John Sutton, Jarrod Mullen, Josh Reynolds and Johnathan Thurston - what an era for number sixes. Certainly the best since Daley, Fittler, Mundine, Matty Johns, Kevvy Walters and co. Maloney had another blinder on Saturday night for the Roosters against the Raiders, Carney has stormed into Dally M contention but we've gone with Sutton. He's big and makes nearly 100m a game and has grown into a wonderful leader. Mullen is unlucky too. He has had a super year this season playing for the Newcastle Knights.

Halfback: Cooper Cronk
It impossible to go past Cooper Cronk but many others have had greats seasons. Daly Cherry-Evans at Manly, Adam Reynolds at the Rabbitohs, Albert Kelly at the Titans and Shaun Johnson at the Warriors have been outstanding. Trent Hodkinson at the Bulldogs deserves an honourable mention. Mitch Pearce too has exploded back from an ordinary State of Origin series, stylishly steering the Roosters towards the minor premiership.

Lock: Sam Burgess
Sam Burgess has staked a claim this year as the world's best forward, from lock, second-row or prop. Paul Gallen is the defending Dally M lock of the year but hasn't played enough football. The Broncos' Corey Parker and St George Illawarra's Trent Merrin have done well.

Second-rowers: Sonny Bill Williams and Anthony Watmough
It's impossible not to choose Sonny Bill Williams. He has the best off-load in the game and has lived up to all the pre-season hype. Anthony Watmough continues to impress for Manly and has done more than Sam Thaiday at the Broncos.

Front-rowers: George Burgess and Andrew Fifita
The one position where there has been a real changing of the guard this season. We've settled for Souths' George Burgess and Cronulla's Andrew Fifita, two explosive ball-runners. Matt Scott and James Tamou were entrenched at the beginning of the year as the game's No.1 props but have been disappointing in a struggling Cowboys pack. Aiden Tolman, James Graham and Sam Kasiano have been in great form for the Bulldogs. At Manly, Brenton Lawrence has been almost the find of the year. Willie Mason has been strong at the Knights and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves magnificent at the Roosters. I'm also a fan of the Storm's Jesse Bromwich.

Hooker: Cameron Smith
Australia's Test captain Cameron Smith has to be the first man chosen after yet another standout season. The biggest improver is Jake Friend at the Roosters, who is getting so close to the Tigers' Robbie Farah as the game's No.2 hooker that it's not funny. When Smith eventually retires, Friend will play for Queensland and Australia. Michael Ennis is again showing great leadership qualities at the Bulldogs and James Segeyaro has done exceptionally well in his first season at the Panthers.

Coach: Trent Robinson
It has to be the Roosters' Trent Robinson. We know he got Sonny Bill Williams, Michael Jennings and James Maloney but it normally takes more time to mould a potential premiership-winning outfit. This Roosters side is playing like it has been together for years. Ricky Stuart and Phil Gould won premierships in their first year as coaches - and Robinson could do the same at the Roosters. 

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Dons reject AFL demands

Essendon coach James Hird's day of reckoning in fast approaching as the AFL prepares to hand down its sanctions. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: George Salpigtidis / HeraldSun

THE complex nature of the Essendon drugs saga may become slightly clearer today or tomorrow when the AFL announces its charges against the club and individuals, including coach James Hird.

We say "slightly" because after several days of talks with AFL representatives, the Bombers have yet to yield on the league's demands.

The AFL, the Herald Sun has been told, wants the Big Mac: premiership points, personnel, draft picks and a fine.

But there's also a belief the AFL would forsake premiership points if Hird resigned. The AFL has denied this.

If it's true, that means it's a choice for Essendon between Hird and the players.

The Bombers won't sell Hird down the river because they are hellbent on protecting their points and their personnel.

Hird is almost certain to be charged, as will club doctor Bruce Reid and head of football Danny Corcoran, with conduct unbecoming or prejudicial to the interests of the AFL, in that they failed properly to govern and administer the club's supplements program in 2012.

Hird will fight any charge.

Essendon insiders say the only way one of the club's favourite sons will leave Windy Hill is in a body bag.

There's no evidence the AFL visited the city morgue in recent days but, make no mistake, the AFL is playing for keeps on this one.

Bombers chairman Paul Little has spoken to Hird and senior assistant Mark Thompson in recent days and his support for them is absolute. He said as much in his pre-match speech yesterday.

The Bombers board might accept that its governance and management-level diligence was poor, but there's a strong undertaking that if the club accepts premiership points being stripped, it also accepts it is pleading guilty to cheating on drugs.

The Bombers have argued that after seven months of investigation, the players have not been found guilty of taking performance-enhancing drugs.

That the AFL is acting on an interim report is also of concern for the Bombers, and individuals, who are speaking to their lawyers as much as they are talking to their players.

More to the point, how can the AFL take premiership points if the players are yet to be found guilty of anything?

A fine and loss of draft picks for its governance issues would be more to the club's liking.

The difficulty is the need for the AFL and Essendon to find penalties that will satisfy both parties.

At the moment it's a face-off. And if it continues over the next fortnight, the possibility of court action is real.

The Bombers are open to the suggestion. They could then tell their side of the saga, as they have been promising, and that would probably include league heavyweights Andrew Demetriou and Gillon McLachlan being called to give testimony, as well as former Dons chairman David Evans, Hird, Reid, Corcoran and others.

Some at Essendon stand by their belief - which has been denied by Demetriou and Evans - that Demetriou warned Evans his club was under investigation for use of performance enhancing drugs.

We know of conversations Demetriou had with Evans on the eve of the club reporting itself on February 5, and claims were reported in The Weekend Australian about conversations held between Demetriou, McLachlan and Evans on Sunday, February 3, the day before the infamous meeting of Essendon figures at Evans' home.

Demetriou has stated he did not have information that Essendon was being investigated on February 3 and 4.

The Weekend Australian report said Evans had passed on the Demetriou information to a club official.

That official is Reid, who was asked by Evans: Did the players take performance enhancing drugs? Reid said no.

Despite the AFL denials, just why the Bombers self-reported remains an issue.

Indeed, there are issues galore.

Among many, one has intrigued the Bombers.

It's understood the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority's 400-page interim report does not detail what correspondence was had between Essendon and ASADA about the status of AOD-9604, the drug central to the investigation.

Chief investigator Paul Simonsson has been quoted as telling the players it would be very unlikely they would be charged for taking the anti-obesity drug, despite the World Anti-Doping Agency announcing in April the drug was banned under its S.0 category.

Former Essendon sports scientist Stephen Dank says he has documentation that allowed the drug's use, although the documentation has not seen the light of day.

As it stands, today or tomorrow will be about the club and Hird. If he does go for being irresponsible in his duties, and Corcoran and Reid are the same, Thompson would also walk from the club.

That would mean Hird, Reid, Corcoran, Thompson, Evans, chief executive Ian Robson, football manager Paul Hamilton, Dank and high performance manager Dean Robinson would be the casualties.

That's what you'd call a Big Mac - with fries and a bucket of blood.

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Barba pays the Gold Coast a visit

Bulldogs Ben Barba leaves the field with an injury. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

BEN Barba's manager says the Dally M medallist was only visiting family and the Gold Coast's theme parks when he was spotted on the Glitter Strip this weekend.

Barba set tongues wagging at Piggabeen Oval on Sunday when he made a surprise appearance to watch younger brother Marmin play for Tweed Heads in the Intrust Super Cup.

The Bulldogs fullback's future has been the talking point of the NRL for the past two months and many believe he will leave Canterbury at season's end to link with a Queensland-based club.

Barba, who's out of action because of an ankle injury, is contemplating leaving the Bulldogs because the mother of his two daughters, Ainslie Currie, is reportedly keen to move closer to family in Brisbane.

But he did not meet with Gold Coast Titans, or any other club, according to his manager Gavin Orr.

"They had the week off and he only just got out of the moon boot," Orr said.

"He wasn't allowed to go anywhere until he got out of the boot.

"He was happy to go and watch his brother play.

"There was nothing more than that. He wasn't up there meeting anyone.

"He has gone on a break with his family to meet up with his brother. They went to the theme parks yesterday."

Titans coach John Cartwright said in June the club would not be pursuing Barba.

The Broncos are favoured to snare his signature if he seeks a release from Canterbury.

Broncos CEO Paul White told ABC Radio on Sunday the club would not enter negotiations with Barba or Raiders star Anthony Milford unless they were formally released by their clubs.

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Cordner out, SBW's future in doubt

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Sydney Rooster's Sonny Bill Williams looks on. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

BOYD Cordner is likely gone for the season, while Sonny Bill Williams is in fresh talks to quit the club as the Sydney Roosters' premiership campaign faces its first real test.

Only weeks after debuting for NSW, Cordner last night underwent ankle surgery that is expected to sideline the gun 21-year-old forward for between six to 10 weeks.

The grand final is eight weeks away, leaving Cordner with little time to recover.

The back-rower's absence is set to have a huge impact on the Bondi Junction club and comes as Williams again heads into talks with rugby union with hopes across the ditch that he will be playing with the Waikato Chiefs as early as next season.

The New Zealand Rugby Union, with a three-year deal on the table for Williams, wants the code-hopper back after rugby league's World Cup to join the Chiefs' for the next Super Rugby campaign.

When quizzed on the fresh contract discussions late yesterday, Roosters chief operating officer Brian Canavan insisted: "There have been no new discussions anywhere, at any level."

It's understood that while the NZRU is willing to let Williams have his second season at Bondi Junction, the Rooster is also concerned his ambitions to represent the All Blacks at the next Rugby World Cup could be at risk if he leaves himself only one season to push for selection.

"We have made Sonny and Khoder (Williams' agent Khoder Nasser) an offer," NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said in New Zealand. 

"We have been talking to them and the dialogue has been positive but we don't have any ink on paper. We would obviously love Sonny to come back and play rugby here and we have made that clear. It is up to Sonny and Khoder now."

Williams will return from a two-match suspension for Monday week's clash against Wests Tigers.

Cordner, meanwhile, went under the knife after injuring his ankle in Saturday night's 28-22 win against the Canberra Raiders. 

The forward visited a specialist yesterday where the news, despite him being booked in for more scans today, was serious enough to take immediate action.

Initially, it was feared he may be suffering syndesmosis, the same ankle problem currently sidelining reigning Dally M medallist Ben Barba.

The recovery rate for that is four to six weeks.

"He's got the syndesmosis disease, which every player seems to get these days, a high ankle sprain and something to do with ligaments tearing apart," Brad Fittler said on the Nine Network's Footy Show.

"(It is) eight weeks, so I think it's grand final at best.

"He'll be a great healer. He's so dedicated to what he's got to do."

The Roosters' victory over Canberra - their seventh in a row - lifted them two points clear of South Sydney at the top of the ladder.

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England steady after Harris onslaught

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Ryan Harris celebrates the dismissal of Joe Root, thanks to a peach of a delivery. Source:AFP

PACEMAN Ryan Harris took three early wickets to put Australia in a good position at tea on the third day of the fourth Ashes Test at Chester-le-Street.

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Harris bowled Joe Root before lunch for two; then had both England captain Alastair Cook (22) and the tenacious Jonathan Trott (23) caught behind as England collapsed to 3-49.

But Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell, both unbeaten on 37, had gone some way to pulling England out of the mire. They combined in an unbroken 74 run stand to take England to 3-123, despite some tight Australian bowling. That gave England an overall lead of 91.

The 33 year-old Harris bowled with his customary aggression, knocking over Root's off-stump with an inswinger to get the early breakthrough Australia needed, after they had squandered the chance to build a more substantial first innings lead.

The out of form Cook had looked set for a long stay before he flashed at a wide ball and gave Brad Haddin an easy catch. Trott then gloved a ball down the legside, with Haddin making an athletic take.

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Harris's early wickets were vital as Australia looked to restrict the second innings target in conditions that, with the ball swinging under heavy skies, were still difficult for batting.

Harris had also led the way with the bat, scoring an aggressive 28, as the Australian lower order and tail was unable to provide much resistance in the morning session.

Resuming at 5-222, Australia was dismissed for 270, a first innings lead of just 32. That meant Australia had failed to capitalise fully on Chris Rogers' hard fought maiden Test century, and the veteran opener's innings savings day two partnership of 129 with Shane Watson.

Swann, who again looms as a major danger to the Australian batsmen on yet brown wicket, had helped limit the damage for England. The off-spinner dismissed both the overnight batsmen Rogers and Brad Haddin, before James Anderson and Stuart Broad knocked over the tail with the new ball.

Haddin added only one run to his total before being trapped LBW by Swann for 13. Rogers followed soon after for 110, the victim of a smart catch by wicketkeeper Matt Prior - and the DRS system, which, after an England review, showed a small Hot Spot on his glove.

Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon both fell to James Anderson, while Harris, who had hit three consecutive boundaries from Stuart Broad, became the English seamers fifth victim when he was trapped LBW.

Broad finished with 5-71, fair reward for the brilliant spell of swing bowling that had helped reduce Australia to 4-76 on day two. Under overcast skies, Broad had been a time virtually unplayable as he collected the top order wickets of David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Michael Clarke.

Rogers, 35, became the second oldest Australian batsman to record his debut century, behind Arthur Richardson who was 37 and 351 days when he scored his first century against England at Leeds in 1926.

That was an emotional moment for player whose sole Test, before this series, was more than five years ago, and who admitted he believed he would not play at the top level again.

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Southern Stars make bright start

Sarah Elliott played a steady knock for Australia on day one.

UPDATE: Veteran Sarah Elliott played a crucial role in the Southern Stars batting attack, making 54 not out as Australia progressed to 3-170 off 67 overs at tea on day one of the women's Ashes Test.

Opener Meg Lanning was run out on 48 just after lunch, while Jess Cameron played an entertaining innings to be out LBW the ball after she brought up her 50.

Cameron brought up her 50 , which included 10 fours from 96 balls, with a pull shot to the boundary in the 66th over just before the tea break, but was out LBW to Laura Marsh the next ball

Elliott, who made 81 in a six-hour stand to help deliver the 2011 Ashes, was happy to leave first-change bowler Jenny Gunn early on, handing the Englishwoman five maidens in the first stage of her innings.

The 31-year-old, who came to the crease half way through the tenth over,  was patient, but later started to play her shots.

She made her 50, which included eight fours, off 149 balls.

She survived a big LBW shout on 27.

Cameron was tentative early but quickly found her stride.

Lanning was facing the second ball of the second over after lunch and hit a solid shot through cover point.

Lanning and batting partner Elliott took two runs as Katherine Brunt fielded the ball out near the boundary.

When Lanning turned to take a third, Elliott sent her back, but she failed to make her ground as wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor took off the bails.

It brought Victorian Jess Cameron to the crease with Australia 2-87.

Lanning, in her Test debut, was 45 not out at lunch alongside Elliott (24) as Australia reached 1-84 from 33 overs.

Lanning, who made 104 off 124 balls in a tour match against England A last week, was watchful early before unleashing with nine fours, including a powerful back-foot pull shot. 

She was dropped by England keeper Sarah Taylor when she was on 13 and appeared to edge another ball which Taylor couldn't reach, but the umpire didn't think Lanning had hit it.

She survived an lbw shout in the 30th over, appearing to be a fair way down the track.

Pace bowler Anya Shrubsole snared the wicket of opener Rachel Haynes (10), bowled, in the 10th over.

Shrubsole and fellow English opening bowler Katherine Brunt troubled the Aussies early with their pace and movement.

Australia took four Test rookies into the game as they began their quest to retain the Ashes.

Lanning, Erin Osborne, Megan Schutt and 17-year-old speedster Holly Ferling were named alongside six veterans from the team that won the last Ashes Test, in 2011.

Captain Jodie Fields, who won the toss and elected to bat, was named despite injuring her finger during a tour game last week.

Swing bowler Julie Hunter, who had a slight side strain and missed the tour match, failed to make the XI.

Australia: Meg Lanning Rachel Haynes Sarah Elliott Jess Cameron Alex Blackwell Jodie Fields Erin Osborne Ellyse Perry Sarah Coyte Megan Schutt Holly Ferling Julie Hunter (12th)

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Live: fourth Ashes Test, day three

Ian Bell played a crucial knock for England on day three in Durham. Source: AFP

CAN Australia capitalise on their strong position on day three of the fourth Ashes Test, or will England launch a fightback?

Stick with us throughout the evening as we bring you the best analysis, reaction and colour from the ground and around the world via social media in our live blog.

Join the conversation by leaving a comment in the blog below, or let us know what you think by getting in touch on Twitter, @FoxCricketLive.

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