Old heads lead ‘new’ Thunder to win

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BENJAMIN Button strapped on the pads and opened the batting for the Sydney Thunder last night.

Actually, there was two of him.

Neither Mike Hussey nor Jacques Kallis has much in common with Brad Pitt but just like the Hollywood movie, the champion cricketers keep getting younger.

ROOKIE IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE

The man they call Mr Cricket started the fireworks against the Brisbane Heat when he smashed 96 off 60 balls including seven massive sixes.

Fellow 39-year-old Kallis joined in the frenzy, belting an unbeaten 97 off 55 balls and clearing the ANZ Stadium boundary six times in a man-of-the-match performance.

The legendary South African all-rounder had a chance to hit a century on debut for the Thunder but swung too early off the last delivery from Heat quick Ryan Duffield.

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With cricket's ageless veterans producing an amazing display of power hitting, the Thunder smashed 1-208 to extinguish the Heat (all out 152). Gurinder Sandhu (3-19) and Andrew McDonald (3-20) were the stars with the ball for the Thunder while Pat Cummins (2-22) was also terrific.

Kallis was in the action again, taking the early wicket of Dan Christian and also catching new Test batsman Joe Burns for 28 in the deep. Burns copped a painful delivery in the ribs from Dirk Nannes but later indicated he would be fine for the Boxing Day Test.

Chris Lynn (40 off 26 balls) slaughtered some massive sixes off Queenslander Nathan Hauritz and Brisbane big-hitter Nathan Reardon whacked 49 off 25 balls but the Heat fell short.

Andrew Flintoff was caught for a duck. Photo by Mark Metcalfe. Source: Getty Images

Twenty20 was meant to be a young man's game but Hussey and Kallis made nonsense of that.

Mind you, former England captain Andy "Freddie" Flintoff was feeling every ache and pain in his 37-year-old body.

Flintoff was introduced in the sixth over and was brutally attacked by Hussey, finishing with the unflattering figures of 0-25 off two overs. Flintoff had a night to forget, out for a duck on his third delivery. However Hussey's extraordinary innings won high praise from current and former cricketers from all around the world.

"I reckon Michael Hussey would still get in every single cricket team in the world," Ashes-winning former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted. And former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody made a valid point: "What's Mike Hussey doing over February and March 2015? #World Cup."

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Hussey was like a little kid in a candy shop as he loved every minute of his knock and thrived on batting with fellow veteran Kallis.

"It was great fun out there batting with Jacques Kallis, after playing against him all those years it is good to play with him," Hussey said.

After winning only one game in the last two seasons and at one stage losing 19 matches in a row, the Thunder have finally crackled to life and started the Big Bash season with a bang.

However one downer was a below-par crowd of 10,152 at the Homebush stadium, especially considering there were 12 former or current international players in action.

With empty seats everywhere, fans chose any vantage they wanted in the 82,000-capacity stadium.

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Hayne on a fast track to NFL dream

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JARRYD Hayne has achieved what most critics thought he'd never do — secure a contract on an NFL team.

Visa complications prevented Hayne from signing with a club two weeks ago.

It's understood the former rugby league star would have most likely already been on a practice squad now.

HAYNE 'HAS A TEAM' BUT VISA ISSUE HALTS SIGNING

This didn't eventuate though and it's why Hayne has been forced to temporarily return home for Christmas, before he can officially sign a futures contract after December 29.

However, any player on a futures contract isn't part of the team's 90-man roster until March 10 when the 2015 league year officially begins.

Hayne refused to reveal the club saying, "you will find out in the due course".

It has been reported that Detroit is 'closing in' on a deal with the 26-year-old and while they are heavily favoured, The Daily Telegraph also understands San Diego could be in the mix given it's his base for training.

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Either way, Hayne has secured a position on a squad and is set to be paid a minimum of $6000 a week — which is more than most NRL players would earn from a full-time contract.

The Hayne deal comes 12 months after fellow Australian Brad Wing secured a similar futures contract as a punter with the Pittsburgh Steelers where he still plays and is set to perform in the playoffs.

"The biggest hurdle was the visa and they can't get it sorted out until just after Christmas," Hayne told The Daily Telegraph on Sunday.

"That's the main reason I have come home, because there is no point if I can't be with the team.

"You can't even be in the facility for longer than 24 hours if you haven't signed a contract and I couldn't sign a contract without a visa.

"So we'll have that sorted after Christmas and then in the new year I'll have a team.

Will Jarryd Hayne ever play in the NFL?

"But I was meant to start with a team two weeks ago.

"I had packed my bags and was ready to start the next day, but it wasn't until I flew into the facility that the visa concerns came up.

"With the practice squad there is no salary and it's just a week-to-week basis.

"The immigration said I can sign another contract after December 29, so I just felt like that was a sign to shut it down for a bit and get that rest.

"It's a long way away from where I want to be, but I'm definitely taking the right steps in the right direction.

"But the interest has been very overwhelming."

Hayne also revealed he has signed a new coach, former San Diego Chargers offensive co-ordinator Clarence Shelmon.

Jarryd Hayne has come a long way since arriving in LA in October. Source: News Corp Australia

Shelmon is a highly respected mentor who has worked as a running back coach with the Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams.

In a career spanning 28 years as a running back coach, he has worked with a number of greats including LaDainian Tomlinson, Lorenzo Neal, Emmitt Smith and Chris Warren.

These players combined for 11 Pro Bowls under Shelmon's guidance.

He was officially named the Chargers' offensive co-ordinator in 2007, before announcing his retirement from football in 2012.

Hayne praised Shelmon for taking him inside the complex world of NFL playbooks with four-hour study sessions.

"Shelmon has coached some of the greatest running backs to ever play the game," Hayne enthused.

"To have his wisdom and to have him coach me gave me a big boost.

"He has been my running back coach — our first session was four-and-a-half hours in the classroom.

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"That stuff excites me because it is new to me. When you're learning something new that you want to learn, you don't look at the time.

"That's what I've been doing, but I've still got a long way to go.

"This is just the start and the outskirt of what I actually have to do by being in a team and being in that environment."

After moving from his original base in Los Angeles to San Diego, Hayne held a joint session in front of 12 clubs a fortnight ago.

This resulted in him fielding interest from 14 teams.

The former Test and Origin star has since toured the facilities of a number of clubs, including Seattle, Detroit and San Francisco.

Hayne has been "blown away" by the interest and help, but admitted the visa issue was good timing, allowing him to come home and get in some much needed rest after a busy year.

"When I moved camp down to San Diego that's when everything started to ramp up," Hayne explained.

"That's when I had my pro day two weeks ago and we had about 12 teams come out and 14 teams interested.

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"That was huge for me.

"I just did what I could. It has been a huge year for me and I haven't stopped for about 11 months and I'm pretty tired.

"I've been happy with what I've done and so are the clubs.

"The journey thus far has been everything I could have imagined and more.

"The people I trained with in LA and San Diego have been amazing. The ex-players I met.

"I've been blown away by the amount of help I've got, from taking me out on a Sunday just to show me some footage and talk to me about my game and routs.

"It has just been a great experience and I couldn't have asked for more.

"Now it's time to relax and enjoy Christmas with the family and I can start again early next year."

Based on Hayne's application to his NFL mission thus far, you'd have to think twice about not backing him to fulfil his dream.

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Spinnaker start could produce record

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THE million of spectators who watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart race are set for a treat with a frenetic and possible record-breaking spinnaker start on Boxing Day.

It's looming as one of the toughest races south in recent years but sailors are now also bracing for the fastest ever start in the 70-year history of the race.

The arrival of strong southerly winds earlier than originally expected on Boxing Day would mean the 117-strong fleet will be supercharged from the start, with spinnakers providing a stunning sight for spectators.

"In a strong southerly those supermaxis are going to be flying,'' said Sydney to Hobart veteran Roger Hickman, skipper of one of the overall handicap contenders Wild Rose.

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"The race to be the first yacht out The Heads, I don't think we will have ever seen a faster one.''

The Mark Richards skippered Wild Oats has traditionally claimed this small but psychologically important victory but she could be under real pressure this year from the America's supermaxi Comanche along with Anthony Bell's big powerful 100-footer Perpetual Loyal, both yachts expected to revel in the start conditions.

But the adrenalin rush start increases the chance of accidents with numerous yachts in the past not even making it out of Sydney Harbour due to damage from starting collisions.

"There is usually a lot of adrenalin and a bit of aggression,'' Hickman said.

The boats in 2009 head out with their sails billowing. Source: News Limited

The the fast start might be the best part of the race for sailors who are bracing for an "old traditional Sydney to Hobart" with a bit of everything in it — including hours of nauseating upwind conditions off the NSW coast.

Wild Oats's objective this year is to become the first boat in history to win eight line honours trophies.

Since her launch in 2005 only two yachts have been able to beat her to Hobart — Neville Crichton's Alfa Romeo in 2009 and Anthony Bell's Investec Loyal in 2011.

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McKay frontrunner for Roar captaincy

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SOCCEROOS midfielder Matt McKay is favoured to regain the Brisbane captaincy when the Roar today announce departed skipper Matt Smith's successor.

The Roar will name the leader to replace Smith — who quit the club this month to join Thai outfit Bangkok Glass — at their Perry Park headquarters on Monday morning.

If, as expected, McKay gets the nod, it will be his second stint as Roar skipper.

McKay led Brisbane to the A-League premiership-championship double in 2010-11 before moving on a few months later.

He spent the next two years playing for clubs in Scotland (Rangers), South Korea (Busan I'Park) and China (Changchun Yatai), before returning to Brisbane for the club's successful 2013-14 campaign.

Matt McKay is frontrunner to be named Brisbane Roar captain. Source: News Corp Australia

McKay, who turns 32 next month, was elevated to the team's leadership group this season and wore the captain's armband in the Roar's last-start 1-0 away win over Adelaide United after coach Frans Thijssen elected to start Smith on the bench in the defender's final appearance for the club.

The armband was returned to Smith when he entered the contest for the final few minutes but it is expected to again belong to the Brisbane-born McKay, a Roar foundation player.

Other contenders for the captaincy job include McKay's fellow leadership group members, 33-year-old German playmaker Thomas Broich, Jade North and Shane Stefanutto, although the contract of the soon-to-be 35-year-old Stefanutto expires at the end of this season.

Roar managing director Sean Dobson is today also set to outline the new captain's "long-term" future at the club.

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When McKay returned to Brisbane in August last year, it was as the club's Australian marquee player in what the Roar said was a two-year deal.

However, The Courier-Mail understands the contract was for four years.

It is believed the Roar have held talks with their former defender Luke DeVere about a return to the club.

The former Australian under-20 international is set to leave his South Korean team Gyeongnam FC, having attracted interest from a host of clubs in Australia and abroad.

As reported in The Sunday Mail yesterday, former Western Sydney Wanderers fullback Jerome Polenz is set to on Monday start trialling with the Roar in the hope of signing with the club during next month's transfer window.

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Broken gear takes wind out of boats’ sails

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AUSTRALIAN supermaxis Wild Oats and Ragamuffin have suffered damage setbacks ahead of the Sydney to Hobart but both camps have declared they will be on the Boxing Day start line of the race south.

Wild Oats had an issue with their goose neck, a piece of equipment which connects the boom to the mast, which was being repaired on Sunday with Ragamuffin's team reportedly dealing with an issue on their deck.

"It's being fixed and there is no problem,'' said Wild Oats tactician Iain Murray of the gooseneck. "We could have sailed with it. It just would have been a pain.

"She will get the bells and braces — the never-to-break again fix."

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Murray said Wild Oats will likely do two more days of sailing before Christmas to test out a new sail only recently delivered to the yacht for use in the Sydney to Hobart.

In past years numerous masts have broken and sails have exploded in training, requiring replacements to be rushed to Australia at the last minute.

Last year Anthony Bell watched one of his spinnakers shred in a lead-up race and only received a replacement for it on Christmas Eve.

In other years crews have worked until just hours before the start to have their yachts ship shape and ready.

Mark Richards at the helm of Wild Oats XI. Source: News Corp Australia

This year numerous days of "fresh to frightening'' winds have allowed crews to tests their yachts, crews and equipment in similar conditions to those they can expect in the Sydney to Hobart and to sort any issues well before the race start.

Forecast hours of upwind sailing after the Boxing Day start is expected to result in a relatively high attrition rate in this year's race.

Traditionally, unless it is an usually benign race, around 10 yachts fail to finish the 628 nautical slog to Hobart.

But in 1998 when a deadly storm ripped the fleet apart, 71 yachts retired from the startling fleet of 115.

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Hussey, Kallis wind back the clock

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​WHO said Twenty20 was no country for old men?

Thirty-nine-year-old stars Mike Hussey​ and Jacques Kallis proved class is ageless when they guided the Sydney Thunder to a comfortable opening BBL win over Brisbane in the BBL.

Hussey (96) and Kallis (97 not out) flayed the Heat attack to all parts of ANZ Stadium and the hosts' total of 208 was too many for the Brisbanites, who could only manage 152 in reply.

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'IT'S THE BIG BASH LEAGUE, BABY': SAMMY

In his BBL debut, Kallis couldn't stay out of the action with the South African legend winning man-of-the-match by also taking a wicket and a catch in the 56-run win.

"He showed why he is one of the best players to have ever played the game," Hussey said.

"It was just nice to have him on our team for once instead of having to play against him."

Jacques Kallis hits the ball over cover on his way to an unbeaten 97. Photo by Mark Metcalfe Source: Getty Images

In stark contrast, the debut of Heat recruit Andrew Flintoff was as cold as a Lancastrian Christmas. The English star scored a three-ball duck and took 0-25 runs from two overs.

At an age where most of their contemporaries are straining shirt buttons up in the commentary box, however, Hussey and Kallis looked as comfortable as ever in the middle with a display of pure hitting in their opening partnership.

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It was a first-wicket record for the Thunder and in hindsight, should have come as no surprise.

Between them Hussey and Kallis boast 235 Test caps, 513 international one-dayers and almost 40,000 runs in the two forms.

But when knocking on the door of 40 and playing a game supposedly suited to kids half that age, does doubt creep in?

Yeah, nah.

Hussey began the entertainment by racing to 50 from 36 balls, and after a slower start, Kallis just about matched him by bringing up his half-century from 37 balls.

Mike Hussey hits a six over the mid-wicket fence. Photo by Mark Metcalfe. Source: Getty Images

At one point the Thunder's opening game could have been mistaken for an over-35s league, with Flintoff (37) and Daniel Vettori (35) trundling in to the everlimegreen 39-year-olds.

On a pitch with plenty of pace and against a Heat attack bowling too short, Hussey belted four sixes and seven sixes Hussey picked up the pace and looked set to cruise to a century but was caught behind just four short.

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It was enough to make you wonder: why exactly is a player as good as Hussey not in contention for the World Cup?

Unlike his Aussie teammate, Kallis doesn't carry the exact same frame as he did when he was 21 but blessed with the timing of a Swiss watch, who cares?

Joe Burns takes one in the ribs during his innings. Pic. Phil Hillyard Source: News Corp Australia

Kallis looked to be no hope of a ton after Hussey departed but he freed burly shoulders in the last three overs and smashed 33 runs. It was too late, though, and Kallis fell three runs short.

"It would have been nice to get 100 but I am happy with my performance," Kallis said.

The pace in the pitch gave the Heat some confidence of hauling in the Thunder total.

Dropping a first wicket with only one run on the board wasn't the best start but some crisp hitting from new Test batsman Joe Burns (28), Chris Lynn (40) and Nathan Reardon (48) kept them in the hunt.

Andrew Flintoff after being out caught for a duck. Pic. Phil Hillyard Source: News Corp Australia

The Heat needed one of to emulate Hussey and Kallis however, but none did. By the time Reardon departed, the wheels fell off.

Old men Flintoff and Vettori must have felt like ANZ Stadium was not country from them, though, after the pair both posted ducks chasing a rapidly disappearing victory.

The Thunder's big win was a bright start to their new era, after several seasons of underperformance.

The only slight edge of disappointment was a crowd of 10,552 but that figure will undoubtedly grow if the old dogs keep up the same tricks.

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Vonn crashes out at Super-G

Lindsey Vonn speeds on her way to win Saturday's downhill ski, before crashing out on Sunday. Picture: AP Source: Pier Marco Tacca / AP

AMERICAN Lindsey Vonn's bid for a record-equalling 62nd World Cup win will have to wait a little while longer.

The four-time World Cup winner crashed out of Sunday's super-G race after entering a gate slightly too wide, as Elisabeth Goergl beat Olympic champion Anna Fenninger by .05 seconds to lead an Austrian 1-2.

Although Vonn did no damage to her troublesome right knee — after only starting to race again recently following two operations — she landed heavily on her right elbow.

"I was risking everything and attacking the course. That sometimes happens in super-G, you don't have any training runs and you have just one inspection," Vonn said.

"I hit my elbow, somehow funny. I have some ice on it. It's just a little bit swollen but no big deal."

Crashed ... Lindsey Vonn, her right arm blocked, leaves after falling during an alpine ski women's World Cup Super-G in Val d'Isere, France. Picture: AP Source: AP

After winning Saturday's downhill, Vonn was looking for a fourth consecutive podium finish and was .01 ahead of Georgl's time on the first split.

"I didn't feel quite as sharp as I normally do," Vonn said.

"I was a little bit tired, yesterday was a very long day."

She was looking to move level with Austrian great Annemarie Moser-Proll for highest wins.

Perhaps fittingly, Vonn can now do so at the Austrian resort of Bad Kleinkirchheim, where there is a downhill and a super-G set for Jan. 10-11.

After going too tightly into a turn, Vonn went inside on her skis and slid off course, prompting gasps from fans at the bottom of the Oreiller-Killy course.

She lay on her back for a few moments then flexed her right leg, before getting up.

"I was on the limit and hit some softer snow and lost a little bit of elevation, and then I wasn't able to make the gate," the 30-year-old Vonn said.

"The most important thing is my knees are good."

Derailed ... Lindsey Vonn inspects the course prior to an alpine ski women's World Cup Super-G in Val d'Isere, France on Sunday. Picture: AP Source: AP

Overall leader Tina Maze of Slovenia finished third, .13 behind Georgl.

"The course today was really tricky and I kind of like that," the 33-year-old Goergl said. "My coaches reported that there were some weird turns."

It was the former super-G world champion's seventh World Cup race win, and her first since winning a super-G in the Italian resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo in January. Goergl finished second in Saturday's downhill.

Fenninger has three podiums this season, having won the season-opening giant slalom in Soelden, Austria, in late October and finishing second in downhill at Lake Louise, Canada, earlier this month.

Swiss skier Lara Gut was looking for her second super-G win of the season and finished .23 behind in fourth.

Italian Nadia Fanchini placed fifth ahead of American Julia Mancuso.

The course on Sunday, with its fast top section and sudden changes of direction, proved hard to tame.

Fabienne Suter of Switzerland, Austria's Regina Sterz and German Viktoria Rebensburg, who was third in Saturday's downhill, all made much the same mistake, taking a right turn too fast and veering off course as they approached the midsection.

"I don't know why the others had so (many) problems. My timing was pretty good," the 25-year-old Fenninger said. "You never know because Super-G is so different from downhill. Everything has to be perfect on the course."

Maze thought she could have done a little better.

"It was a little tough at the top, I had some trouble," said Maze, the 2013 World Cup winner, who is competing in all five disciplines. "If I hadn't lost too much time, it would have been a better race."

Maze leads overall with 656 points; Fenninger is second with 407, while Vonn is third with 312.

"It's hard doing all the events," Maze said. "I didn't have so much energy."

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Burns’ Dad didn’t believe Test call-up

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JOE Burns describes himself as a massive Australian cricket fan ... who just happens to play cricket himself.

He thought the biggest test he would face in the next month was his final exam for his economics degree at a Brisbane university.

But study books will now be tossed aside for this self-confessed cricket nuffy who will become Australia's 441st Test player on the biggest stage of the MCG Boxing Day Test.

Burns has been opening for Queensland, so his inclusion opens the possibility of out-of-form Shane Watson being shifted down the order to accommodate the newcomer in the top three.

The Queensland batsman is a huge selection bolter, so much so that Dad Reg refused to believe him when his son rang to tell him he was replacing injured Mitch Marsh in the baggy green.

"My Dad didn't believe me, so that's a little bit disappointing," Burns quipped.

"I am a massive Australian cricket fan who just happens to play cricket himself.

Joe Burns is studying an economics degree at a Brisbane university. Source: News Corp Australia

"I am a cricket nuffy. I follow the game closely and I love it. That makes Boxing Day even more special, knowing how big this day is in the Australian sport calendar.

"As an Australian cricket fan the Boxing Day Test is always something that comes to your mind, the day after Christmas when you sit on the back deck watching the cricket."

It was a madcap day for Burns yesterday who found out he would be making his Test debut, played for the Brisbane Heat last night and will be on a plane to Melbourne this morning.

Burns, one of Australia's smartest cricketers, may now have to put study for his final university economics exam on January 19 on the backburner.

The subject is called contemporary application of economic theory, something that many of Australian cricketers would not even be able to spell.

Burns, who has scored 439 Sheffield Shield runs at 54.87 this season, has always had a big fan in now Australian coach Darren Lehmann.

Lehmann coached Burns at the Queensland Bulls and knew he had a big future.

Joe Burns shows his ball-striking ability for the Heat in the BBL. Source: Getty Images

"I am looking forward to having Boof (Lehmann) as Australian coach as I really enjoyed playing underneath him," Burns said.

"It is going to be with great pride that I can say he is my Australian coach."

Burns may have been a bookworm rather than an Australian cricketer if he had not gone to after-school care as a nine-year-old.

The young Burns had no interest in cricket until his young best mate from after-school care started playing and he was encouraged to give the game a shot.

Burns then started playing backyard cricket with his older brother Dom — and the rest is history.

A composed batsman and deep thinker, Burns says he is ready for Test cricket and plans to simply enjoy the biggest week in Australian cricket.

"In terms of the pressure I think I will just enjoy the experience and enjoy the moment," Burns said.

Joe Burns has leapt over Ed Cowan and Adam Voges to win a Test call-up. Source: Supplied

"It is something that I've always dreamed of, and now I'm pinching myself thinking it may become a reality."

Burns has leapt over a queue of hopeful Test batsmen including Ed Cowan and Adam Voges, the two top runscorers in the Shield competition this season.

He feels for his Queensland teammate and former Test batsman Usman Khawaja, who may have got the Boxing Day call-up if he had not sustained a serious knee injury last week and been ruled out for more than six months.

"It is a challenging game and I certainly do feel for Ussie," Burns said.

"There are plenty of players who dream to be in this situation and you feel for them when other circumstances take that away."

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