Clarke: I want a fair pitch in Perth

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Perfect pitch ... Michael Clarke wants a 'fair' pitch at the WACA. Source: David Mariuz / News Limited

Australia captain Michael Clarke has taken a pointed swipe at WACA groundstaff, desperate for the world No.1 ranking to not be decided by the coin toss.

So concerned was Clarke after playing a Shield match for NSW in Perth two months ago, he told curator Cameron Sutherland he expected fairer batting conditions for the third Test starting on Friday.

Clarke won the toss and sent Western Australia in on a volatile wicket in September, and the Blues had the game comfortably won within three days.

Australia must win the third Test to usurp South Africa at the top of the Test rankings, and Clarke wants a fair fight.

"I hope so. I spoke to the groundsman when we played the game for NSW and made it very clear I was disappointed that a four day Shield game only just lasted (three) days,'' Clarke said.

"I'm hoping for a wicket that's good for batting but also bowling - a fair contest.

"I think we've seen that in Brisbane, we've seen that here (in Adelaide), two very tough battles.

"I'd like to hope a toss of the coin doesn't dictate who wins this third Test match.''

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Proteas hero sets goosebump record

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Proteas hero ... Faf Du Plessis walks off 110 not out after saving South Africa from a certain loss. Source:AP

Faf du Plessis not only saved a Test match for South Africa, but he reckons he also set a new world record.

"I was going through a lot of emotions, I had goosebumps, it's the record for the longest goosebumps ever," du Plessis said.

On Test debut, du Plessis became South Africa's latest hero: he defied Australia for more than seven and a half hours in scoring an unbeaten 110 to save the second Test in Adelaide.

Du Plessis also made 78 in the first innings, after fearing he would be timed out when losing a boot, then almost tripping down the pavilion stairs.

"The second innings, I took my time going down the stairs," the man-of-the-match said.

Du Plessis, who batted the entire final day on Monday, said the fact Australia got within two wickets of victory "just makes the story so much better".

But he gave the Australians credit for one thing: their relentless sledging.

"They didn't stop for five minutes, they just kept chattering in my ear the whole day," he said.

"But probably we would have done the same thing, they were fighting firstly, and then they were getting frustrated they couldn't get us out.

"Credit to them for speaking the whole day."

The 28-year-old admitted suffering a serious dose of the nervous 90s.

"It felt like forever," he said.

"I think I was on 96 and I went through a stage where I was going 'I'm one boundary away here from getting a hundred so please bowl me a half-volley'.

"I quickly realised that it doesn't work like that in Test cricket."

After reaching his ton, du Plessis battled cramp and exhaustion, but ultimately walked from the field aching yet content.

"It just makes it a little bit more sweeter," he said.

"One day when I look back, I can say I pushed through the physical side of things.

"It just shows you how far you can go if you're mentally strong enough."

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Ferrari riled by Vettel let-offs

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Treble ... Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel is held aloft after winning his third driver championship. Source:AP

Ferrari gatecrashed Sebastian Vettel's triple world title party by insisting that Spaniard Fernando Alonso should have been crowned champion in an acrimonious, season-finale parting shot.

Red Bull driver Vettel's sixth-placed finish in the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday allowed him to become the youngest three-time champion in the sport's history as the 25-year-old German claimed the title by just three points.

But Ferrari insisted that Alonso, who was second at Interlagos, should have been the man celebrating a third career title, pointing to controversial races in Belgium and Japan to support their argument.

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Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said that Alonso paid a heavy price for first lap exits in Belgium and Japan where he was shunted out of contention by Lotus duo Romain Grosjean and Kimi Raikkonen respectively.

The Italian giants had been further aggrieved when Vettel, accused of blocking Alonso in qualifying in Japan before going on to win the race, escaped with just a reprimand.

''We are proud of Fernando,'' Domenicali told www.autosport.com. ''But we are very disappointed because the one who deserved this championship was really him.

''It is a shame because, after such a long season that we really fight in all conditions, we raced 18 races and not 20 -- and being second by three points is not a lot.

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''Watch the facts. Zero points in two races (Belgium and Japan) so we have done what we have done with 18 races. The others had 20 -- and the points were over 20 races.''

But Domenicali remained gracious in his praise of Vettel who had collided with Williams driver Bruno Senna on the opening lap and was sent spinning to the rear of the field in Sunday's rain-lashed race before recovering.

''Sometimes there is a sign of destiny where you really can appreciate what is the direction of the wind,'' he said.

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Alonso, who was second behind Jenson Button of McLaren in the race, also insisted his campaign had been undermined at Spa and Suzuka.

''The championship was not lost here,'' said the two-time champion. ''The championship was lost when (Romain) Grosjean flew over my head (at Spa) or when Vettel surprisingly only got a reprimand after qualifying in Japan.''

Vettel refused to get involved in a war of words although he did allude to his rivals' controversial decision the previous weekend in Texas to break the gearbox seal on Felipe Massa's Ferrari in order to allow Alonso to enjoy a starting advantage on the grid.

''A lot of people tried to play dirty tricks but we did not get distracted by that and kept going our way and all the guys gave a big push right to the end,'' Vettel told the BBC.

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Warne promises all-out attack in BBL

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Leading from the front ... Warne says he'll be an attacking captain in season two of the BBL. Source:News Limited

Australia cricket great Shane Warne has given fans a glimpse of what they can expect in this summer's KFC Twenty Big Bash League, telling Inside Cricket he'll be an attacking captain at Melbourne Stars.

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Warne will assume the captaincy from Cameron White in the second edition of the Big Bash League, the champion leg-spinner saying he'll look to put the pressure on opposition teams from the outset.

"In my experience so far if you can take three or four wickets in the first six to eight overs you're generally going to win the game," Warne told his former Test captain Allan Border on Inside Cricket.

"All the opposition are trying to do is to bat out the 20 overs and actually post a score that they can then be competitive.

"So it's all-out attack for me in the first six overs and if that means you go for a few more runs then so be it – that's a risk-reward thing about the runs."

The BBL quickly found a place in the hearts of Australian cricket fans last season with the games attracting impressive crowd figures and record viewing numbers on Fox Sports.

And Warne said the enjoyment wasn't just confined to those watching on in the stands and at home.

"I think from the captain's point of view it's probably the most enjoyable form of the game to captain," he said.

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"You have to be a couple of overs ahead of the game and you have to adapt straight away.

"You can have all the plans you want in Twenty20 and some guy comes up and can start winning the game and turning the game."

The Stars are $5 favourites to take out the competition despite the presence of defending champions Sydney Sixers, who recently added the Champions League Twenty20 tournament in South Africa to their BBL triumph.

Warne said he was looking forward to leading a team jam-packed with T20 talent.

"It's quite an exciting team to captain, too," he said.

"You look down our list and there's some good international players like (Lasith) Malinga and (Luke) Wright – he got the fastest domestic hundred last year.

"And then we've got the quality of Rob Quiney at the top – he's probably as good as anyone going around.

"And then you've got all the other guys – (Brad) Hodge, (Cameron) White, (David) Hussey … we've got a pretty good side but it's just a matter of everyone gelling together."

One of the great innovations from season one of the BBL was the interaction between players and the Fox Sports commentary team.

Warne was "miked-up" for many of the Stars' matches, giving fans an extraordinary insight into the way he goes about his business.

"I did enjoy it actually and in a funny sort of way it made you concentrate," Warne said of his pre-delivery conversations.

"I think it's fantastic that Foxtel and Fox Sports be able to do that – to bring that to the lounge room of people watching."

Watch every match of the Big Bash League Live and in stunning HD on Fox Sports!

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Robinson quits as Scotland coach

Failure ... Robinson had little success in his time as Scotland's coach. Source: AFP

Scotland coach Andy Robinson has resigned a day after his side lost to Tonga, the Scottish Rugby Union announced on Sunday.

The Englishman had been under contract until after the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but the 21-15 upset loss to the Tongans in Aberdeen meant that the Scots had lost 10 of their last 13 matches, including elimination from the World Cup at the group phase for the first time.

They also lost their three November internationals, all at home, to New Zealand, South Africa and Tonga.

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In a statement issued by the SRU, Robinson, who was appointed in June 2009, said: "It's been a privilege to be the head coach of Scotland and I'd like to thank the fans, players, coaches and staff for all their support over the years.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the players and the coaches in the last few years.

"I believe I have left the team in a better position than when I took over and have great confidence in the players and the coaches for the future.

"I am very disappointed by our recent results but I have belief in the players to develop into a winning team."

Scottish Rugby's Chief Executive, Mark Dodson, said: "Following the sequence of recent results during the EMC Autumn Tests a change in head coach is required to take the team forward and build towards the Rugby World Cup in 2015.

"Andy has overseen some fine results as Scotland head coach since he was appointed in June 2009 but the recent defeats have been very disappointing.''

A recruitment process for a new Scotland head coach will start with immediate effect, the SRU said.

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Panesar puts England on brink of win

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Fiver ... England spinner Monty Panesar has snared two five-wicket hauls in the second Test in Mumbai. Source:AP

Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen struck record-equalling 22nd Test centuries before Monty Panesar spun England into a commanding position at stumps on day three of the second Test in Mumbai.

Cook (122) made an unprecedented fourth consecutive century as captain and Pietersen cracked a scintillating 186 as both men drew level with three all-time greats in Wally Hammond, Geoff Boycott and Colin Cowdrey as their country's most prolific centurions.

2nd Test - Wankhede Stadium

23 November 2012 - Day 3, Session 3

India 2nd Innings

G. Gambhir	53	109	5	0	48.62
H. Singh	1	1	0	0	100
G. Swann	13	4	39	2	3.00

Cook's second successive hundred against India - following his rearguard 176 in last week's defeat at Ahmedabad - and Pietersen's first since last summer helped England post 413, giving them a useful first-innings lead of 86.

It was then time for England's spinners to take centre stage and, with the pitch beginning to turn and bounce appreciably, they made immediate inroads to leave India tottering on 117-7 at stumps - a lead of only 31.

Panesar, fresh from his five-wicket haul in the first-innings, claimed five more in the final session on day three, a feat which sees him become the first England spinner to take 10 wickets in India since Hedley Verity did so in Madras back in 1934.

The left-arm spinner accounted for Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni and Ravi Ashwin, while spin partner Graeme Swann snared Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli to make England firm favourites to level the four-match series on Monday.

Sehwag was the first of seven India batsman to depart after tea, edging a spinning Panesar delivery to Swann at slip, while Pujara endured a rare failure, presenting Jonny Bairstow with a sharp catch at short leg.

Sachin Tendulkar, playing what could be his last Test match in front of his home crowd, once again fell to Panesar, playing back to a quicker delivery which pinned him lbw for just eight - his 10th successive score of less than 28.

India slumped to 65-4 when Virat Kohli inexplicably hit a Swann full toss straight to sub fielder Joe Root at mid-off and England's day got even better when Dhoni edged Panesar to Swann and Ravi Ashwin spooned the same bowler straight up to Samit Patel.

Gautam Gambhir (53 not out) held firm for India and remains key to the home side's fading chances of posting a target which may trouble England on a wearing pitch.
Controversial

Captain Cook and Pietersen shared a superb 206-run partnership for the fourth wicket to help England claim a vital first-innings lead on the stroke of tea at the Wankhede Stadium.

Cook, out on his own with his fourth century in his first four Tests as captain after his two while standing in for Andrew Strauss in Bangladesh two-and-half years ago, reached three figures with a cover-driven four off Harbhajan Singh.

Pietersen operated at a quicker tempo throughout in an innings which gave England telling impetus and truly rubber-stamped his return to the fold after his disagreements with management and senior players last summer.

Five minutes after Cook completed his century, Pietersen did likewise, from only 127 balls - with a reverse-sweep just wide of slip off Harbhajan for his 15th four.

When Cook finally departed, via a faint edge behind in forward-defence as Ashwin found some turn, Pietersen jogged 30 yards down the wicket and past the stumps to voice his personal acknowledgement as the captain made his way off the pitch.

New batsman Bairstow (9) fell shortly after in controversial circumstances in what proved to be the final ball before lunch, his bat/pad catch being taken by Gambhir at silly point, but not before the ball had deflected off the fielder's grille.

Pietersen continued to take the fight to India, sweeping Pragyan Ojha for three further sixes before the left-armer finally got his revenge with Dhoni claiming a sharp catch behind the wicket.

With the ball spinning and bouncing appreciably, England's tail meekly folded from 382-5 to 413 all out, with Ojha continuing his impressive series with figures of 5-143.

Wicketkeeper Matt Prior was involved in a mix-up with Stuart Broad and as a result run-out for 21, while Broad propped a catch to silly-point; James Anderson went in the same Harbhajan over; and Panesar was last out slog-sweeping straight to deep midwicket.

Read the full story at Sky Sports

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McIlroy ends season in winning style

Unstoppable ... McIlroy charged home to win by two shots. Source: AP

World No.1 Rory McIlroy responded in magnificent fashion to Justin Rose's course record round of 10-under par 62 by making five birdies in his last five holes to win the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on Sunday.

At the Earth course of Jumeirah Golf Estates, McIlroy had fallen two shots behind world No.7 Rose with a bogey on the 13th hole, but regrouped to finish at 23-under par following his final round of six-under par 66.

Rose had started the day six shots behind overnight leaders McIlroy and world No.2 Luke Donald, but his bogey-free round helped him set the clubhouse target at 21-under par 267.

McIlroy had already wrapped up the Race to Dubai European money list crown by taking an unassailable lead coming into the tournament. He also topped the money list on the USPGA Tour, only the second player to do so after Luke Donald last year.

Donald (71) finished tied for third place at 18-under par 270 along with 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.

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'Time for Ponting to call it quits'

Time ... Malcolm Conn says Ricky Ponting must make Perth his final Test. Source: Greg Wood / AFP

What a tragedy it has come to this.

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Ricky Ponting, rated by Allan Border as Australia's greatest batsman after Bradman, should jump before he is pushed.

A retirement announcement and a fitting farewell during the last Test against South Africa in Perth would help to recapture some of the dignity lost in Adelaide.

The rehabilitation of Phil Hughes continues apace. His 158 against Victoria in Melbourne on Sunday made the left-hander the leading Sheffield Shield run scorer this season with 510 runs at 57.

He turns 24 on Friday and already has 20 first class centuries.

If there is ever a time to give Hughes another chance it is against Sri Lanka in the three-Test series starting in December, although the first Test in Hobart could be a torrid affair given Western Australia were bowled out for 67 there on Sunday.

Australia must try and put together a settled side for the Ashes in England next year, and clearly it is unrealistic to believe Ponting will make the trip, however much he wants to.

It is not just that Ponting has made 0, 4 and 16 in this series while Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey have filled their boots, or the fact that Ponting turns 38 inside a month.

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Hussey will turn 38 in May before next year's Ashes tour. His age is not an issue after 257 runs in this series at 86, with two centuries and a second innings top score of 54 on a wearing wicket on Sunday.

Ponting has 20 runs at an average of under seven and does not look like playing an innings of substance.

Tellingly, this is just the second time in a 167-Test career extending almost two decades that Ponting has been bowled twice in the one match.

The first would be a dim and distant memory when the India spinners got him on a dodgy Feroz Shah Kotla pitch in Delhi back in 1996 during just his fourth Test.

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This Test will be seared in his mind. First there was the full outswinger from Jacques Kallis which forced Ponting to overbalance and land on all fours as the ball clattered into his off-stump.

Then there was the tentative chop on to a regulation delivery outside his off-stump on Saturday, one of the worst shots, or non-shots, he has played during a long and illustrious career as Australia's most prolific batsman.

This is not a sudden tumble from the brief 60 career-average Ponting achieved with a century against England during the 2006-07 whitewash. It has been years in the making.

Ponting went two-and-a-half years scoring only one century and averaging just 33 before his amazing series last summer, when he played a central role in beating India 4-0 with a hundred and a double hundred.

A more detailed look shows his 108-run series average was a deluge amidst the drought.

During the past two years, Ponting's series averages have been 16 against England, 31 in Sri Lanka, 17 in South Africa, 33 against New Zealand, 108 against India, 24 in the West Indies and under seven in this series.

It's time.

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Ten-man Victory defeats Wanderers

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Against the odds ... Archie Thompson celebrates his goal. Source:News Limited

A ten-man Melbourne Victory overcame a controversial first-half send-off to secure a gritty 2-0 win over Western Sydney at Parramatta Stadium.

The Victory, already without star playmaker Marcos Flores through suspension, looked in for a tough night after defender Sam Gallagher was shown a red card just 16 minutes into his first A-League game for the club.

But the Wanderers failed to make their numerical advantage count, with captain Michael Beauchamp having a night to forget.

The centre back's own goal just before halftime gave Melbourne the lead and he was at fault again as Archie Thompson doubled the visitors' advantage in the 60th minute.

It was a valuable win for Ange Postecoglou's side, given the circumstances, and they climbed into equal third on the table with a third win in four games.

The Victory looked unlucky to be reduced to 10 men in the first place.

Wanderers striker Dino Kresinger appeared to have fouled Gallagher from behind but play was allowed to continue.

Kresinger then broke on goal before being brought down by Gallagher just outside the box and referee Ben Williams produced a red card without hesitation.

Shinji Ono fired the resulting free kick just wide and Western Sydney tried hard to get on top before the break.

But the nearest they came was a close range header by Mark Bridge in the 22nd minute that was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Victory goalkeeper Nathan Coe.

Instead the home side went into halftime behind, after Beauchamp accidentally turned the ball into his own goal while trying to clear a dangerous Gui Finkler ball.

The Wanderers put Melbourne under some pressure early in the second half and were perhaps unfortunate not to get a penalty after Adam Traore appeared to hand-ball in the box.

But again they conceded against the run of play when Socceroos striker Thompson struck.

Beauchamp coughed up possession on the halfway line, allowing Marco Rojas to streak downfield and find Thompson with a deflected pass.

Although Coe was forced into action a couple of time as the Wanderers chased the game, the Victory held their lead well from then on.

Postecoglou praised his players for sticking to their natural game even after going down a man.

"It was a challenge today for sure,'' Postecoglou said.

"We've spoken about it in the last couple of weeks, we're playing some good football but I guess from our point of view if we're going to be contenders we need to show a little bit more character and resilience under difficult situations.

"I thought today we were tremendous in that area.''

Postecoglou said he had not seen the send-off but but been told Gallagher was clipped by Kresinger first.

"If that's the case it's disappointing, because it's a big decision,'' he said.

Wanderers coach Tony Popovic was pleased with his side's ball movement but felt his players tried to force things too much in attack.

He felt the send-off may have actually worked against the Wanderers.

"It's frustrating really because we started the game so well and it was almost as if it was the worst thing that happened to us,'' Popovic said.

"I felt the players seemed a little stressed and a little bit nervous having the extra player and we kind of forced things a little bit too often.''

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Kallis out and Pattinson in doubt

Doubts ... Jacques Kallis (L) is out and James Pattinson is very doubtful for the Perth Test. Source: AP

It looks likely that two of the key men in the Australia-South Africa series have been ruled out of the third and final Test at the WACA.

Australia's fiery quick James Pattinson is a major doubt after being rushed for scans on a side injury on day three of the second Test, while Proteas' star all-rounder Jacques Kallis may be playing his last Test in Australia after aggravating a hamstring injury during a gallant innings.

2nd Test - Adelaide Oval

22 November 2012 - Day 3, Session 3

Australia 2nd Innings

M. Clarke	9	25	1	0	36
M. Hussey	5	8	1	0	62.5
M. Morkel	9	2	24	1	2.67

Australia could be on the verge of securing the world No.1 Test ranking in Perth, but they might have to enter the crucial third Test without the 22-year-old.

It will be a nervous wait for results, but it would seem he's at least very long odds to contribute to Australia's bowling efforts in the fourth innings.

Backing up for another Test just three days later in Perth on Friday would be a big ask.

Pattinson's explosive pace would be keenly missed on the fast bowler's paradise that is the WACA.

The Victorian, complaining of pain along his left side, left Adelaide Oval during the opening session on Saturday.

It's the latest blow in his injury-plagued career.

The express quick missed most of last summer with a foot injury and suffered from stress fractures in his back as a teenager.

He's also been forced to miss matches in the past year due to abdominal and buttocks strains.

Meanwhile South Africa superstar Kallis will not be fit for the series-deciding third Test.

The 37-year-old defied his torn right hamstring, and Australia's bowlers, for nearly two hours in making 58 on Saturday's third day of the Adelaide Test.

Frequently grimacing in pain, Kallis will bat again in the second innings in what could be his last Test appearance in Australia.

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"It's unlikely he will respond in time to be fit to take his place for the Perth Test match because we have got a quick turnaround,'' South Africa's team doctor, Dr Mohammed Moosajee, told reporters.

"Selectors are considering who to send over as cover.''

Kallis, batting at number nine, was in great discomfort during his courageous knock.

The 37-year-old strolled between the wickets and leant on his bat for support numerous times during breaks in play.

His pain was never more obvious when ducking to avoid a series of short balls from Australia's fast bowlers, instinctively reaching with his hand for the torn muscle after ducking.

"We knew he was always able to bat, the challenge was what is going to happen,'' Dr Moosajee said.

"Safe to say that he probably aggravated his injury by running and batting.

"Every time he stretches forward or he ducks under a bouncer or takes off or stretches or lunges forward, he is straining that area particularly.''

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Log on to Foxsports.com.au to follow our live Test blog with Trent Hile on day four of the Adelaide Test.

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Kallis tore the hamstring while running in to bowl during Australia's first innings on Thursday.

The 157-Test veteran will become the second South African batsman ruled out of the Australian tour, after JP Duminy ruptured an Achilles tendon in a freak injury during the first Test in Brisbane.

Duminy will miss six months of cricket, having collapsed during a warm-down after the opening day of the Brisbane Test.

NSW tearaway Mitchell Starc shapes as favourite to replace Pattinson should he be ruled out.

Starc has carried the drinks for Australia at the Gabba and in Adelaide and his 2012 performances in shorter-form cricket have been excellent.

WA quick Nathan Coulter-Nile, rising NSW paceman Josh Hazlewood and Victorian allrounder John Hastings would come into contention for a call-up to the national squad if Pattinson is ruled out.peHowever, Starc would almost certainly be the man to play.

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