Mata signing 'the first of many'

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MANCHESTER United manager David Moyes has said the club-record acquisition of Spanish midfielder Juan Mata from Chelsea would be the first of many new signings this year.

United completed a move for Mata on Saturday for a reported fee of 37.1 million pounds ($71 million), eclipsing the 30.75 million pounds ($58.7 million) that they paid Tottenham Hotspur to sign Dimitar Berbatov in 2008.

Moyes hopes that Mata will help to transform a desperate season that has seen the reigning English champions fall 14 points off the pace in the Premier League and crash out of both domestic cup competitions.

United have also reportedly opened talks with striker Wayne Rooney over a new contract and Moyes says that efforts to improve the squad will continue over the months ahead.

"This is the first, and there will be many more to come in time. I want the quality of Juan to be the start of it," Moyes told United's in-house television channel, MUTV.

"I don't think we will have any more (new signings) in January. I'm still working on it and looking to do so.

Goodbye Blues ... Juan Mata is ready to help turn Manchester United's season around after his departure from Chelsea.

"But hopefully it will be the first of some new signings, some new players who will arrive, more likely in the summertime."

Mata arrived at the end of a week that saw United beaten 3-1 by Chelsea in the league and dumped out of the League Cup in the semi-finals by Sunderland, and Moyes said it had improved the mood at Old Trafford.

"Undoubtedly we could all do with a bit of a lift," said the Scot.

"We have not done as well as we would have liked to do. We see this as the start, we have to look to improve, and I'm going to try to bring in some new players to make that happen.

"I want to build an exciting team, I want to win and I want to give the supporters something to shout about. I've not done that often enough."

Mata, 25, could make his United debut as early as Tuesday, when Cardiff City visit Old Trafford in the Premier League.

The Spain international fell out of favour at Chelsea following Jose Mourinho's return as manager last year, but he expressed surprise that he had been allowed to leave Stamford Bridge in the middle of the campaign.

"To be honest, I think it's a bit surprising, but I have to say I am really grateful to Chelsea - to the owner, to the people working in the club, and to the fans," Mata told MUTV.

"The last six months were difficult for me. I didn't play as much as I wanted to. I understand that football is a team sport and I respected that situation.

"But the chance to come to Manchester United was a great chance for me to carry on with my career. They are a massive club."

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Marsh hit by injury set-back again

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SHAUN Marsh's Test future will be determined today, with skipper Michael Clarke hoping the left-hander won't miss the South Africa tour with a calf strain.

Marsh was noticeably inconvenienced, leaving the field in the 36th over of England's innings and not returning in Australia's thrilling five-run win in the one-day international at Adelaide Oval last night.

Seven-Test batsman Marsh was treated immediately by team physio Alex Kountouris, putting a dampener on the thrilling Australia Day win that delivered Clarke's side a 4-1 scoreline.

"He went off the field and said his calf was a little bit sore, so hopefully it is not too bad, something small," said Clarke.

"He was still moving around alright. Knowing what we have coming up I think Alex would have kept him off the field even if it was nothing."

However, Marsh's fragile frame will have medicos worried and could yet open the door for rival southpaw and run-machine Phil Hughes in a 15-man tour party to face the Proteas.

Marsh's international journey has been decimated by back, hamstring and knee injuries since making his one-day debut against the West Indies at Kingstown in 2008.

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Failure to be fit to face the Proteas in a three-Test series would be a devastating set-back. Australia also has seamer Jackson Bird in doubt for South Africa with a back injury sustained while representing Melbourne Stars against Hobart Hurricanes last Tuesday at the MCG.

Having made a ton on debut against Sri Lanka in 2011, Marsh suffered a back injury on Australia's subsequent tour of South Africa. Marsh, 30, also jagged a hamstring in the fourth one-day clash against England at Cardiff last September.

Australia's tour of South Africa begins with a tour match in Potchefstroom on February 5, while the series opener against Graeme Smith's champion outfit starts February 12 at Centurion.

Australia secured the No.1 one-day ranking and almost complete dominance with a nail-biting national birthday win. England endured a 7/58 collapse that was the story of its summer having been wiped 5-0 in the Ashes.

Australia defended 217 on a low and slow strip with clinical displays from man of the match James Faulkner (2/37), Clint McKay (3/36) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (3/34) putting the brakes on the English who lost 7/58 in 14 overs.

"It was as satisfying one-day win that we have had recently," said Clarke.

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Ravi Bopara (25, 44) exited to a controversial stumping on replay determined by the third umpire Kumar Dharmasena. Australian keeper Matthew Wade's rebound onto the stumps standing up to McKay bounced back onto the leg bail with the batsman's foot raised.

"I made it clear I wanted him Wade at the stumps and it worked out," said Clarke.

"The third umpire has the greatest view."

Alastair Cook conceded he would consider his future as England captain after sobering one-day and Test defeats in Australia. However, this would only be after chatting to his pregnant wife and director of coaching Andy Flower.

Cook struggled for 246 Test runs at 24 and 144 one-day runs at 28 this tour. The 2013-14 campaign contrasted with Cook's incredible 766 Ashes runs at 127 here in 2010-11 in which England prevailed 3-1.

"We will cross that bridge in the next week. It has been a real tough tour for me. We have to individually look at our games," said Cook.

"I think there will be some talks. I have been speaking to Andy Flower and we will meet up in the next week and plan a way forward."

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Refs must enforce rules: Cartwright

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TITANS coach John Cartwright has backed the new NRL rule changes, but says it's now up to the referees to enforce them.

The NRL announced nine new rules, interpretations and judiciary warnings yesterday in a bid to speed up the game and improve player safety.

Time wasting will be minimised and pointless scrums are being slowly punted from the code.

Dangerous "cannonball" and "crusher" tackles will receive harsher treatment from the referees and judiciary, but Cartwright said the game had to now back up its words with actions.

"The third man in one is an obvious rule. It's something no-one likes to see," he said.

"They were getting worse and worse I thought. It's good to see they're on top of it.

"The referees want it wiped out of the game so I think they'll be strict with it.

"Once they've made the decision they've got to be strict on them.

"Once the players know the rules then it becomes second nature."

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The Titans had their first taste of the new rules when they appointed NRL referees to officiate at an intra-club trial at Mudgeeraba on Saturday.

They ran an opposed full-contact session against the club's under-20s team, with Cartwright looking to decide on a squad for his side's first pre-season trial against the Warriors on February 9.

Cartwright was still undecided about who his first-choice centres would be, while the front row had also tossed up some headaches.

Maurice Blair, Brad Tighe, Brad Takairangi and Jamie Dowling are jostling for the two centre spots on offer.

In the front row, the club nearly has a full roster to choose from with Luke Bailey, Luke Douglas, Matt White, Ryan James and Mark Ioane all impressing in training.

Nate Myles is still recovering from groin surgery but is considered to be a certainty for round 1 selection.

"It was pretty full-on. We wore jumpers and had a couple of official referees," Cartwright said of the hit-out.

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"There was plenty of contact and we got away with no injuries. They gelled really well.

"The centre spots, back-row and front row have a couple of spots swinging. The fullback, wings and halves are pretty settled.

"Probably 90 per cent of the forward pack (is decided) but Mark Ioane's trained the house down and Matty White is in career-best shape (after missing all of 2013 with a knee injury).

"That's going to be hard. Somebody's going to have to miss out.

"It'll be tough early in the season but they'll all get a crack at some stage."

Young hooker Sam Irwin is recovering well from an ankle injury and is a chance of playing in the Warriors trial but former Bulldogs under-20s star Paul Carter has starred in his absence.

Carter, who is yet to make his NRL debut, will play hooker in the Auckland Nines as Cartwright rests first-choice rake Beau Falloon, with Matt Srama still on the sidelines after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction.

"Paul Carter will be pushing hard for a (NRL) spot. He's going to be a good one," Cartwright said.

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Stars struggle to field 11 players

Pakistan's Mohammed Hafeez is a last-minute injury replacement for Lasith Malinga. Source: Ineke Zondag / AP

THE Melbourne Stars are just one mishap on Monday morning away from fielding a 10-man team for their Big Bash League game against Perth.

And that's provided last-minute recruit Mohammad Hafeez arrives as expected overnight from Pakistan as the runaway BBL leaders face a logistics nightmare for their last regular season match at the MCG.

Cricket Australia has ruled seven of the Stars' squad with various national squad commitments are unable to face the Scorchers.

And while the Stars are playing a straight bat publicly, they're privately fuming that it's possible for English import Luke Wright to play in the match yet his Australian T20 team counterparts Cameron White and James Muirhead are not.

The Stars have spent much of the past week scrambling to find a replacement for Lasith Maligna after Sri Lanka Cricket pulled rank and demanded his return for a national fitness camp.

Hafeez was only granted official clearance on Sunday afternoon as visas were hurriedly arranged for the all-rounder who had originally been part of the Melbourne Renegades' squad before Pakistan Test team commitments forced those plans to be abandoned.

CA said that because Hafeez's Renegades contract was "never executed", he was eligible for the Stars.

The unbeaten minor premier was also told it is unable to promote development rookie Ben Abbatangelo as an official 12th man, although he will be able to act as a sub fielder.

Stars veteran David Hussey joked that the team's "chief hydration officer", comedian Andy Lee, was on standby.

"Andy put his hand up to bat No. 3, but we've got our bare 11 and hopefully we can put on a good show for our fans," Hussey joked.

"I can sort of understand where Cricket Australia is coming from. Their directive is to produce the best possible Australian cricket team and play their best possible players.

"But I'm a little disappointed personally that Luke Wright is available to play for us and our (own) international T20 players aren't available."

Hussey said the Stars were confident there would be no change to the team's momentum despite the influx of new names.

"The depth has been tested, but in saying that, people like Clive Rose, `Frank' (Daniel) Worrall are champing at the bit to get out there and play," he said.

"The momentum and confidence is still high within the group."

Hussey said it would be easy to lose focus on the Scorchers with next week's semi-final against Hobart already locked in.

"You never want to look too far ahead, in T20 cricket especially if you take your eye of the ball eve for one over you lose the game and confidence as well.

"It's definitely good to beat your opposition. We might have to play the Scorchers again."

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Coaltrain with a dash of caveman

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YOU have to feel sorry for big Dave Taylor.

The Titans' juggernaut has a tear in a calf muscle.

The club sent him off to a specialist and it was discovered that the injured muscle only exists in the smallest percentage of the world's population. It is apparently a genetic throwback to our ancestry - a muscle used for climbing trees - and is super rare.

So rare, the specialist said it won't exist anywhere at all in the human race within a matter of years.

The Coaltrain not only has it, he has torn it. Do you think his teammates have been giving him heaps?

The good news is Taylor's pre-season has been tops and there are high hopes of his best season yet after his brutally brilliant finish to 2013.

Ben Barba in action during the first training of the year. Pics Tim Marsden Source: News Limited

BRONCOS SHAPE UP WITH BOXERS

EXPECT to see a couple of new faces at Broncos training in the next few weeks with the recruitment of London Olympic boxers Cameron Hammond and Damien Hooper.

The pair, with trainer Gareth Williams, regularly host the rugby league players at their boxing gym inside the campus of Griffith University at Nathan.

And the The Broncos have invited the pair to take part in their conditioning program at Red Hill in a reciprocal arrangement.

The Broncos' new co-captain Justin Hodges (pictured) and former Bulldog Ben Barba are said to be the best boxers among the Broncos team, with Hooper saying Barba has the skills to make it as a fighter if he wanted to.

Fight training is also proving to be a hit for some of our Olympic swimmers, with Australian coach Michael Bohl sending the likes of Meagen Nay, Bronte Barratt, Brittany Elmslie and Mitch Larkin to work out alongside the fighters at Griffith Uni on a weekly basis.

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MAKING A FIST OF BREAK

WHILE on boxing and the Broncos, the players have been given four days off over the Straya Day weekend to refresh after copping a flogging on the track in pre-season training.

So what did Sam Thaiday do to unwind?

He booked himself in for six gruelling rounds in the ring with boxing trainer and mirror enthusiast Mark "Chopper" Burgess on Saturday morning.

While the rest of his teammates were kicking back with Vegemite sangas in front frontof a Skippy marathon, Sammy was punching on, and then booked himself in for a return session tomorrow.

South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire. Picture Gregg Porteous Source: News Limited

MAGUIRE BRISSIE BUZZ

BRONCOS coaching rumour No.1: Whispers linking South Sydney coach Michael ­Maguire with the Broncos in 2015 won't go away, especially with news coming out of the Rabbitoh warren that the coach and the board are tetchy at each other over "demands" from the coach and "broken promises" from the board.

With Cameron Smith tipped to be joining the Broncos in 2015, and assistant coach Steve Kearney already at the club, it would be like a Storm Old Boys reunion.

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BENNETT STAYS IN TOUCH

BRONCOS coach rumour No.2: Wayne Bennett was spotted having a long chat with a couple of Broncos staffers while in Brisbane with the Emerging Origin squad last week.

Catching up on old times, or renewing acquaintances for down the track?

CLUB LOGO MAKEOVER

A CASE of identity crisis in the Intrust Super Cup?

One club is considering a change of logo for 2015.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR CRONULLA

IF the rumour mill is to be believed, the messy and seemingly endless ASADA investigation will come to a head this week. Stand by for the earthquakes.

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Gerrans' 'perfect day' Down Under

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THE man they call the Sniper has taken aim at producing the best season of his career, with Simon Gerrans claiming the first major tour of the season at the Tour Down Under yesterday.

The 33-year-old described his historic third win over Tour de France winner Cadel Evans on Australia Day as "the perfect day out''.

"It is a huge honour to win the Tour Down Under and to cap it off on Australia Day, racing for an Australian team, it doesn't get much better,'' said Gerrans (Orica GreenEDGE) who survived a hectic finish in yesterday's street circuit finale in Adelaide to claim a one second victory over Cadel Evans (BMC Racing).

Gerrans, chasing stage wins in the Tour of France, Giro d'Italia and Tour of Spain this year, now leads the World Tour rankings thanks to his victory in the opener of the series. Incredibly five Australians (Gerrans 1, Evans 2, Richie Porte 4, Nathan Haas 5, Adam Hansen 9) feature in the top 10 thanks to their performance in the six-day Tour Down Under.

It was a day for the history books yesterday as the race set new crowd record with an estimated 766,000 watching the six-leg Tour.

Simon Gerrans of Australia smiles prior to the final stage of the Tour Down Under. Source: AFP

Tour de France stage winner Andre Greipel rode off with a record 16th stage victory after beating Bathurst rider Mark Renshaw in the final 85km criterium in Adelaide yesterday while Gerrans became the first man to win three Tour titles.

The 16th edition of the race has been labelled the best ever thanks to the calibre of field, large crowds and thrilling, close racing.

"The racing was fantastic and the fans really make this race. They make the ambience,'' said Evans "I am so pleased and proud of us as a country and as a cycling nation, but also a sporting nation, to see this event and what the ambience makes of us.''

Matt White, team director of Australia's first pro team Orica GreenEDGE,said the 2016 was a tour to remember.

"The best thingt is the best Australians battling it out,'' he said. "These are the best guys in the world at what they do,'' he said.

"To have Richie (Porte), Cadel (Evans and Simon (Gerrans) going hammer and tongs for the overall of their own tour, it's been a great week.''

ends

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Evans vows he'll be back Down Under

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CADEL Evans has vowed to return for another tilt at the Tour Down Under after finishing one second behind this year's winner, Simon Gerrans.

Evans has conquered the brutal switchbacks and punishing mountain climbs of Europe, but his home roads have again proved tougher to crack.

The Tour de France great fell agonisingly close to his first Tour Down Under title yesterday after 800km of racing.

The loss is now likely to lure Evans back for one last shot at his first major victory on home soil since winning the Tour of Tasmania in 1998.

"If Adelaide will have me back that would be so cool for this to be my last racing appearance,'' Evans said.

Evans indicated during this year's Tour Down Under he would reassess his career after the Giro d'Italia in May but would not be rushed into retirement.

Tour Down Under - Stage 6 - Adelaide Street Circuit. Simon Gerrans over 2014 champion. Source: News Limited

The 36-year-old dreamed of a fairytale finish to what many had believed would be his last race in Australia but instead he was beaten to the punch by Gerrans, the man who defeated him by centimetres for the Australian road title two weeks ago.

It was a loss which has disappointed the 33-year-old Evans but also fired him up.

"Don't underestimate the competitive fire," Evans said.

In a warning to rivals ahead of his full-throttle bid to become the first Australian to win the Giro d'Italia.

Evans has also rated his form ahead of where he had thought he would be at this stage of the season.

Simon Gerrans of Orica GreenEDGE celebrates on stage. Source: Getty Images

"Of course we would prefer to win, that's what we are hard-wired to do, but to be second by one second shows we are starting to work towards May (and the Giro),'' he said.

Earlier Evans said he was satisfied with what he has gained out of the six-day Tour.

"My goal for this year was to start off well and somewhere near my best level, " said Evans who lost the race lead on Saturday to Gerrans, supported by a purpose-built team, on the only hilltop finish of the race.

"I come away from the race satisfied. I am riding as well as I had hoped, maybe even better and I think my performances have demonstrated that.

"Certainly I think I am riding as well as I hoped [and] the performance I think have demonstrated [that]."

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Ex-cricket chiefs slam 'big three' plan

Former ICC chief Malcolm Speed added his name to a letter attacking the governing body's proposal to boost the decision-making power of the three wealthiest cricket nations. Source: News Limited

FORMER cricket chiefs attacked the International Cricket Council's (ICC) proposal for greater decision-making powers for a three-strong group of the Board of Control for Cricket.

The trio concerned are India, Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board - who between them represent the game's wealthiest nations.

The ICC are due to discuss the controversial plan - which has been drafted because of an apparent threat by India to withdraw from major global events unless there is radical reform of the ICC - in Dubai on Tuesday and Wednesday.

However, a growing number of respected former cricket chiefs have expressed their alarm at such moves - which would also include a two tier test league with Australia, India and England being protected from relegation owing to their financial weight.

Pakistan's former ICC president Ehsan Mani has written a letter to the ICC - which significantly has been co-signed by Malcolm Speed and Malcolm Gray formerly high up in the Australian cricket administration and then respectively chief executive and president of the ICCe - saying the paper needed to be withdrawn.

Instead he and the other signatories - which also include former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd - agreed the ICC needed to re-examine the conclusions of the 2012 Woolf Report into ICC governance, which recommended, among other things, an improvement in governance standards, the appointment of independent board directors and greater transparency.

Mr Mani estimated that if the draft was given the thumbs up the loss in projected revenue to Associate and Affiliate Members would be more than $312 million, an amount that would instead be redistributed largely to the boards of India, Australia and England.

"The biggest gainers are BCCI, ECB and CA," Mr Mani wrote.

"In addition, ICC events for the period 2015-2023 will be held only in India, England and Australia.

"These Boaads will receive hosting fees for the events in addition to the ICC Distributions they propose.

"A point that also needs to be addressed is; why does BCCI need more money at the expense of other countries?

"The domestic and international media fees that BCCI receives from playing with other members are massive and underpin BCCI's financial position.

"It is the richest cricket board in the world.

"If cricket is to grow and develop around the world more investment is required in the Associate & Affiliate countries, not less.

"The Associate & Affiliate countries represent some of the biggest economies in the world.

"If cricket could be established properly in the United States of America and China and become an Olympic sport, the ICC could double its revenues in real terms over the next 10-15 years.

"This requires vision and a less parochial approach.''

Ali Bacher, who was managing director of the then United Cricket Board (now Cricket South Africa) from 1991 to 2001 and tournament director of the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, added his powerful voice to those of Mani and Speed in arguing for a more prudent approach to be taken.

The 71-year-old former South African Test captain wrote a letter to present ICC president Alan Isaac saying that cricket risked being torn apart if the proposal went through.

"The Position Paper put forward by BCCI, ECB and CA if accepted would lead to division and strife in world cricket as never seen before," he wrote.

"ICC member countries should never forget the animosity that existed particularly in the Sub-continent and the Caribbean when England and Australia had veto rights prior to 1993.

"I am therefore associating myself with the sentiments expressed by former ICC President Mr Ehsan Mani in his critique of the Position Paper where he espoused the recommendations of the Woolf Review."

Mr Bacher said Mr Mani had left no stone unturned in his perusal of the proposal.

"A lot has happened in the last 24 hours. I have got enormous respect for Ehsan Mani and he has made a thorough assessment of the position paper."

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