Shinji keen on extra year out West

Big boost ... Shijni Ono (L) has says he wants to stay longer at the Wanderers. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Western Sydney received another boost in their impressive debut A-League season with news Japanese marquee signing Shinji Ono wants to extend his stay at the club.

Just two days after scoring a dramatic 2-0 derby win over Sydney FC in front of a raucous crowd of 26,000 at Allianz Stadium, the 33-year-old on Monday said flares thrown by Wanderers fans won't hold him back from re-signing.

"I don't know what (the Wanderers) are thinking about next season," said Ono, who penned a one-year deal in September.

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"But I can say I want to stay longer."

Ono was still buzzing from the impressive victory over the Sky Blues and believes it's no fluke the Wanderers have climbed to fourth on the ladder in their inaugural season given their "good mentality and fighting spirit."

And that strong bond will be severely tested over the next four rounds when they face fellow top-five sides Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne Victory and Central Coast.

But Ono says his best is yet to come.

"I think my confidence is getting better every day," he said.

Ono wasn't fazed by flares being thrown onto the ground against the Sydney FC, putting the incidents down to the passion of a crosstown rivalry.

Having played 112 games for Dutch club Feyenoord from 2001-05, Ono says that kind of fan behaviour highlights the intensity of the clash.

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"When I was in the Netherlands, there were big derby games," said Ono of the rivalry amongst the three Rotterdam clubs.

"When I saw that (against Sydney FC) I knew it was a big game."

The attacking midfielder is looking forward to testing himself against a speedy Adelaide United at Parramatta Stadium on Friday night.

"They have a lot of good quality," Ono said of classy Reds including Fabio Ferreira, Jeronimo Neumann, Marcelo Carrusca and Cassio.

"But we have been preparing well.

"It's a tough challenge. But I have a good feeling."

Ono expects more Japanese players will make the move to Australia given his successful stint has created plenty of interest back home.

But one clash that would gain plenty of excitement in Japan is firmly on his radar - the A-League All Stars match against Manchester United next July.

Ono has put his hand up for the All Stars in a battle that could pit him against his compatriot and Red Devils star midfielder Shinji Kagawa.

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Haddin in frame as Test batsman

On the radar ... Haddin has been in sparkling form for NSW this season. Source: News Limited

Australia selectors will consider picking former Test keeper Brad Haddin as a specialist batsman if captain Michael Clarke's injury rules him out of matches in Melbourne or Sydney.

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The 35-year-old, who has controversially been overlooked for Matthew Wade this summer, could be thrown a lifeline if Clarke's hamstring problem stops him playing either of the remaining Tests against Sri Lanka from Boxing Day.

Haddin has averaged 67.40 in the Sheffield Shield for NSW this season and former captain Steve Waugh recently suggested he should be considered for a batsman-only role.

"We'll discuss that tonight (Monday night)," Australia coach Mickey Arthur said.

"That batter, whoever it is, would have to be part of our extended squad. There's possibilities.

"Haddin's one of them, (Rob) Quiney's one of them and certainly Usman Khawaja's very much in the frame.

"Alex Doolan has played well."

Australia will no doubt try to everything they can to get Clarke onto the MCG in a week's time but, if he is prescribed a rest period, vice-captain Shane Watson will almost certainly take over as skipper.

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Former Test No.3 Khawaja has thrived playing for his new state Queensland with a brilliant century on a tough Hobart pitch and three 50s in Shield cricket so far.

Bulls coach Darren Lehmann believes Khawaja has addressed selectors' concerns about his sharpness at the crease and in the field.

Tasmania's Doolan made 161 not out for Australia A against South Africa, while Quiney would be getting a second chance after he made just nine runs in his two matches against the Proteas.

Injuries have decimated what had been a deep pool of fast bowlers, with Ben Hilfenhaus one of seven pacemen who could have been considered.

Selectors are likely to turn to 12th man for Hobart Mitchell Johnson, whose return in Perth after a 12-month absence was encouraging.

Tasmania's Jackson Bird sits atop the leading wicket-takers list for the second straight season and will be considered as back-up along with West Australian Nathan Coulter-Nile.

"All I can say is we've had a list of bowlers leading into our summer, and we're well down the list at the moment," Arthur said.

"The names that have been on everyone's lips are a guy like Jackson Bird, it could be Nathan Coulter-Nile, and that will form part of the discussions."

Complicating matters is a lack of first class cricket while the Big Bash League is completed.

The Sheffield Shield season was suspended at the end of November and the next match won't begin until the end of January.

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Bell, Trott secure England's series win

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Super finish ... Bell was unbeaten on 116 when the game was declared a draw. Source:AP

England batted for more than two sessions on day five to secure a draw in the final Test in Nagpur and beat India 2-1 in the series.

4th Test - Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium

13 December 2012 - Day 5, Session 3

England 2nd Innings

I. Bell	116	306	16	1	37.91
J. Root	20	56	1	1	35.71
G. Gambhir	2	0	4	0	2.00

England needed to avoid defeat in the final Test to secure a first series triumph in the country in 27 years.

And the result was never in doubt on the final day as Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell both secured centuries before the players finally shook hands after tea with the tourists on 4-352.

Having resumed in the morning on 3-161, the first hour was always going to dictate how the day would play out, but Trott and Bell remained largely untroubled as they kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Bell, who had looked out of sorts after missing the second Test to return home for the birth of his child, brought up his half-century off 130 balls.

And then Trott, who had found himself at the centre of the action during a fiery fourth day, reached his century off 232 deliveries.

Piyush Chawla came closest to removing Trott in the final overs of the morning session - with a huge appeal after a quicker delivery held its line and struck the Warwickshire man on the back pad, however umpire Rod Tucker was unmoved.

It was more of the same in the afternoon session until Trott was finally out five overs before tea, tickling Ravi Ashwin straight into the hands of Virat Kohli at leg slip for 143.

He and Bell had put on 208 for the fourth wicket with Bell adding just 26 runs in the second session to move on to 87 not out, having had one escape on 75 when a fierce cut at Chawla was edged and put down by Virender Sehwag at slip.

He was joined by debutant Joe Root who promptly lofted the ninth ball he faced, from Ashwin, into the stands as England went to tea on 4-310.

They resumed after the break with the only remaining question being whether Bell would reach his 17th Test hundred and his first in India.

It, like the result, was a formalilty in the end and he got there with a leg glance from the 293rd ball he faced, eventually making 116 not out while Root remained on 20 not out before the players called it a day an hour into the final session.

Read more: http://www.skysports.com/cricket/match_report/0,,11066_13370_1,00.html
 

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Oldham fans set fire to rivals' hair

Lighting up ... Wanderers fans ignite flares during the Sydney derby. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Western Sydney may have its own issues with fan behaviour at the moment, but they can take comfort in the fact they don't have Oldham Athletic's supporters.

On several occasions the English third-tier club's fans have been caught trying, sometimes successfully, to light rival fans' hair on fire.

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In recent matches multiple fans have reportedly been ejected from Boundary Park – Oldham's home ground – for the bizarre attacks, which has prompted the club to issue a warning to the culprits.

"Latics are warning fans that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated at Boundary Park," read a statement on the club's official website.

"We have recently had supporters ejected for such offences as bottle throwing and attempting to light people's hair with cigarette lighters.

"This is totally unacceptable behaviour and cannot be tolerated.

"Greater Manchester Police have "spotters" attending all games that are not policed and are aware of these incidents."

The League One side's drive this season to boost attendances with cheap £10 ($16) tickets is being blamed for the rise in anti-social behaviour at matches.

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Scorchers stop the rot with easy win

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Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

The Sydney Sixers' golden Twenty20 run came to an abrupt end on Sunday as the Perth Scorchers began their road to recovery by cruising to victory in the Big Bash League grand final rematch at the SCG.

T20 - Sydney Cricket Ground

16 December 2012 - Day 1, Session 2

Scorchers 1st Innings

H. Cartwright	5	6	0	0	83.33
S. Katich	8	4	0	1	200
L. Feldman	3.2	0	13	1	3.90

In a game where anything can happen, the Sixers' 12-match winning streak was something to behold.

But Sunday's seven-wicket loss proved even the world's best can have a shocker in the T20 form, as the Sixers suffered a devastating early collapse before turning in a sloppy effort in the field defending their modest total of 9-113.

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Sixers all-rounder Stephen O'Keefe, who top-scored for his team with 29 and also snared a wicket, said it was Sydney's worst ever performance.

"We scrapped out 113 which I thought was going to be competitive, but we just didn't turn up," he said.

"It was probably in my short stint here at the Sixers, our worst overall performance as a side. We definitely didn't deserve to win that match."

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Led by a 51-run opening stand by Herschelle Gibbs (40 from 42) and Shaun Marsh, the Scorchers chased down the total with four balls remaining to record their first win of the season and get themselves off the bottom of the ladder.

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Things got a little tight for the Scorchers towards the end, until captain Simon Katich came to the crease with his side needing 12 from 12 and smashed a six off the first ball he faced.

And it was the fact that their backs were against the wall that pleased spinner Michael Beer the most about the Scorchers' performance.

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"If we didn't win we were out of the competition pretty much, so we had to be right up for it," he said.

"We let ourselves down the other night so we had to do it.

"Confidence probably wasn't there but we made a commitment to each other that we were going to go out and have fun and back ourselves and not be scared.

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"(The Sixers) are world champions so it's a feather in our cap to beat them."

Since the Sixers beat Perth in last summer's BBL grand final, the Sydney-siders went from strength to strength to be crowned Champions League kings in October.

The Scorchers on the other hand made headlines for all the wrong reasons in the tournament held in South Africa - failing to get out of the group stage and finding themselves embroiled in off-field controversy after an alcohol-fuelled night out.

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Perth promised to make things right in the BBL and Sunday's breakthrough win after back-to-back losses to open the tournament proved the West Australians cared about restoring pride.

It's Justin Langer's first win as coach since taking over as Warriors and Scorchers mentor in mid-November.

Just four nights ago the Scorchers were skittled for a BBL-low 69 in an emphatic, albeit controversial loss to the Melbourne Stars in Perth.

But this time it was their turn to decimate an opposition, as they left the Sixers reeling for 5-18 and 6-28, before allowing the tail to score 42 runs from the final five overs.

The Scorchers' triumph after winning the toss meant the chasing team has now won nine out of nine times this BBL season.

Alfonso Thomas, Beer and Hilton Cartwright took two wickets each for the Scorchers, with Brad Haddin (10) the only batsman out of Sydney's top six to reach double figures.

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Save of the Week - round 11

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Outstanding ... Galekovic's penalty save was a brilliant piece of goalkeeping. Source:News Limited

Adelaide United skipper Eugene Galekovic confirmed his place as one of the A-League's finest goalkeepers on Sunday with a superb save against Wellington.

The Reds had the game in the bag at 3-1 when the Phoenix were awarded a penalty just moments before the final whistle.

Teenager Tyler Boyd stepped up to the penalty spot and fired his shot to Galekovic's right, the Reds shot-stopper thrusting his hand above his head to block the attempt.

And Galekovic's brilliant effort didn't end there as he returned to his feet to block Boyd's second attempt on the rebound.

Fox Sports football commentator Mark Bosnich paid tribute to Galekovic while awarding him his Save of the Week for round 11.

"Outstanding," Bosnich said of Galekovic's effort.

"It's very, very difficult to change your direction in terms of the height that you dive.

"You have to decide as a goalkeeper when you're facing a penalty whether you're going to dive low or a little bit high.

"He decided to go low and halfway through realised he had to put up his left hand and not only that … the agility he showed in getting up."

The former Socceroos keeper said Galekovic's save will have given the Reds some extra confidence ahead of next week's battle with the in-form Western Sydney Wanderers.

"You saw the reaction from his teammates – it fills you with so much confidence as a team when you've got a great goalkeeper behind you," Bosnich said.

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England close in on famous victory

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Solid ... Jonathan Trott put England in a strong position on day four. Source:AAP

England are on the brink of securing a famous Test series victory on Indian soil after reaching stumps well-placed on 3-161 on day four in Nagpur - an overall lead of 165.

Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell kept India at bay throughout the majority of the evening session and time is quickly running out for the hosts to force the victory they need to square the four-match series.

4th Test - Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium

13 December 2012 - Day 4, Session 3

England 2nd Innings

J. Trott	66	153	9	0	43.14
I. Bell	24	67	4	0	35.82
P. Ojha	23	10	39	1	1.70

If they fail to do so, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni may well rue a baffling morning session on the penultimate day which saw India add just 29 runs in over an hour before declaring on 9-326 still four runs adrift of England's first-innings total.

At no great rush, England then began adding to their advantage, with openers Alastair Cook and Nick Compton sharing a 48-run partnership before both fell in controversial circumstances in the afternoon session.

Not for the first time in the match, Cook was left perplexed when umpire Kumar Dharmasena gave him out with evidence suggesting he should not have been.

Ravi Ashwin was the beneficiary on this occasion with Dhoni claiming a thin edge behind the stumps.

Compton also fell to spin, however he too could count himself unlucky after appearing to get an inside edge on to the ball before he was adjudged lbw to Pragyan Ojha in the last passage of play before tea.

Kevin Pietersen was undone by left-arm spin yet again after the break, inexplicably leaving a straight ball from Ravindra Jadeja, which crashed into off

Trott, who survived a huge caught behind appeal from Ishant Sharma when on 43, is unbeaten on 66 and will resume alongside Bell (24no) with the second new ball due in one over's time.

Despite still trailing by four first-innings runs, India captain Dhoni had earlier declared after a dull opening hour on day four, where his team added just 29 runs.

Not a single boundary was scored by India, who showed little intent to score quickly, while England were more than content to let them take time out of the game.

Ashwin (29 no) continually turned down runs, while Monty Panesar (1-81) could barely muster the enthusiasm to celebrate when he bowled Ojha for three.

Read more: http://www.skysports.com/cricket/match_report/0,,11066_13370_1,00.html

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Chelsea shocked in CWC final

Shock ... Corinthians beat Chelsea to become world champions. Source: AAP

Corinthians shattered Chelsea's dream of becoming world champions after Paolo Guerrero's second-half header secured a 1-0 win in the Club World Cup final in Japan.

Guerrero pounced decisively on 69 minutes to deny Rafa Benitez his first trophy as Chelsea boss as the Barclays Premier League giants finished with 10 men after Gary Cahill was sent off late on.

Goalline technology has been available in the competition and it almost came into use on 10 minutes when Gary Cahill's prodded shot was stopped on the line by Corinthians goalkeeper Cassio.

The first half lacked any real tempo as Corinthians did well to stifle Chelsea, although the Brazilians did carry a threat, with Emerson wastefully blazing over on 29 minutes after Cahill had failed to cut out Guerrero's pass.

Chelsea perked up in the final 10 minutes of the opening period and Fernando Torres showed excellent control to bring down Frank Lampard's long ball before hitting a tame volley straight at Cassio.

The Corinthians keeper then produced the save of the half, diving full length to tip Victor Moses' curler around the post before making a more routine stop from Juan Mata's dipping drive.

The second half started much livelier and Cassio was again called into action on 54 minutes as he rushed out to thwart Eden Hazard following a fine through ball from Mata.

Paulinho flashed a shot wide before Corinthians made the breakthrough on 69 minutes as the unmarked Guerrero headed home from close range after Danilo's shot had looped into the air off Cahill.

Benitez threw on Oscar in search of an equaliser and the golden chance arrived four minutes from time when the ball broke to the unmarked Torres six yards out, but the Spanish striker could only drill his shot at Cassio's legs.

Cahill was shown a red card in the last minute before Torres was rightly denied the equaliser by the offside flag after he had glanced home Oscar's ball into the box.

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/280650/

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Wanderers exact derby revenge

Sweet revenge ... Beauchamp scores the winner against his old club. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Western Sydney turned the tables on cross-town rivals Sydney FC with a classy 2-0 win in their A-League derby at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.

After losing 1-0 at home in the first clash between the sides in October, the Wanderers always looked in control as they sealed a sweet maiden derby triumph in front of 26,176 fans.

Wanderers coach Tony Popovic said the win against his former club ranked as one of the club's greatest moments yet.

"There've been a lot of milestones at this club from the first pre-season game, winning our first (A-League) game against Brisbane, now this one," Popovic said.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Central Coast	11	8	2	1	13	26
2	Adelaide	10	7	1	2	8	22
3	Victory	11	5	2	4	-3	17
4	Western Sydney	11	5	1	5	0	16
5	Perth	11	4	2	5	2	14
6	Newcastle	11	4	1	6	-8	13
7	Wellington	10	3	3	4	1	12
8	Heart	11	3	3	5	-2	12
9	Brisbane	11	3	2	6	0	11
10	Sydney	11	3	1	7	-11	10

"This was sweet. This was special. I certainly enjoyed that."

Popovic said the performance illustrated how far his side had come since the derby loss at Parramatta Stadium, when the coach felt his side had been overawed.

"We matched them this time with intensity," he said.

"... I think it just shows how much we've improved as a club, from round three to now. We're certainly on the right track."

Goals in either half to Ethiopian-born midfielder Youssouf Hersi and captain Michael Beauchamp ensured the Wanderers climbed up to fourth spot and continued a superb debut season.

The Sky Blues remain last after failing to build on a valuable win away to Wellington last week.

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They welcomed back Brett Emerton and Terry Antonis from Socceroos duty but marquee star Alessandro Del Piero started on the bench as he continues to battle a troublesome hamstring.

The Italian striker came on with 20 minutes to go but had little impact as the Sky Blues struggled to penetrate a well-organised Western Sydney defence.

The early stages were evenly contested but the Wanderers quickly began causing problems for Sydney's defence.

Mateo Poljak was allowed space to shoot in the eighth minute but his effort went just wide.

Lacopo La Rocca also wasted a good chance before Shinji Ono came close with an ambitious volley in the 17th minute.

Western Sydney continued to mount pressure and capitalised when Hersi struck his first A-League goal in the 24th minute.

Sydney defender Seb Ryall failed to clear a dangerous Jerome Polenz cross and Hersi showed great composure to turn and score from close range.

Ono almost doubled the advantage six minutes later with a curling, long-range effort floating just wide.

Sydney created little in attack with Adam Griffiths wasting their best chance of the half, hitting a header wide from Jason Culina's 33rd minute free kick.

Sky Blues coach Frank Farina injected Ali Abbas off the bench midway through the second half but the home fans got the substitution they wanted when Del Piero replaced Culina in the 70th minute.

However it failed to halt the Wanderers, who doubled their advantage seven minutes later.

Sydney were again punished for failing to clear, with Ono's cross finding its way to Beauchamp on the back post and the former Sky Blues defender smashed it into the roof of the net.

Farina gave an honest assessment of the performance, and the job ahead for the club.

"I think the disappointing thing is we were outplayed tonight pretty much on all fronts," Farina said.

"You've got to be honest about it. They were more enthusiastic and it's disappointing coming off the back of a good win last week and not being able to back it up, at least performance-wise.

"We've got work to do. I knew that when I came here and we have to try and get that consistency."

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Stars edge out Hurricanes at MCG

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Close call ... this seagull escaped after nearly copping Cameron White's bat. Source: Michael Klein / News Limited

Melbourne Stars all-rounder James Faulkner has survived an appeal for handling the ball to steer his side to a tight KFC T20 Big Bash League win over Hobart Hurricanes at the MCG.

T20 - Melbourne Cricket Ground

15 December 2012 - Day 1, Session 2

Stars 1st Innings

J. Faulkner	6	4	1	0	150
P. Handscomb	2	2	0	0	100
E. Gulbis	3.1	0	28	0	8.84

Chasing just 135 to win, the Stars made tough work of their chase before getting home with five balls and four wickets in hand on Saturday night.

Faulkner was given not out off a handling-the-ball appeal in the penultimate over, bowled by medium-pacer Ben Laughlin (3-14), who almost proved a match-winner.

But with just five needed off Evan Gulbis' final over, Faulkner top-edged the first ball for four, before a no-ball finished the game.

Faulkner said fellow Tasmanian Laughlin was "clutching at straws" with his vehement appeal for handling the ball.

"He's like that all the time, he carries on like a two-bob watch, what you see is what you get," Faulkner said.

"Having said that, he was one of the first to come up and shake hands."

Hurricanes skipper George Bailey agreed there was nothing in it.

"Benny Laughlin gets pretty excited, I think Jimmy Faulkner gets pretty excited. They're both pretty competitive," Bailey said.

"I think even Benny when he saw the replay realised there wasn't much in it."

The Stars had struggled early in their chase in the face of a fiery opening spell from left-arm quick Doug Bollinger, whose first two overs were just the third and fourth maidens of the BBL season.

But after reaching just 1-38 from their first eight overs, the introduction of New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris for the ninth proved disastrous for Hobart, yielding 21 runs including three sixes.

Despite losing three wickets in the next five overs, including two in a quality spell from Laughlin, the Stars were always likely winners from that point.

Laughlin bowled a tight 19th over, which included the appeal against Faulkner when the ball brushed his hand after he fended a delivery off his body.

Earlier, the Hurricanes struggled to 8-134, with Stars quicks Clint McKay (3-25), Faulkner (2-23) and in-form Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga (2-19) dominating with 7-67 between them.

Tim Paine (46 from 46 balls) was Hobart's top-scorer, while Styris (24 off 17) provided some inventive shot-making late, but Ricky Ponting (eight) failed in possibly his last MCG innings.

The Stars have now won two of three games and the Hurricanes one of two.

Man of the match McKay said the Stars were building momentum but had clear areas to work on.

"We're always looking to improve and play the perfect game that coach Greg Shipperd talks about and get a bit more clinical with the batting," he said.

"But at the end of the day we got over the line and got the points and that's what we came here tonight to do and it sets us up beautifully."

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