Search

Cricket star jailed for eight years

Sandeep Lamichhane, Nepal's highest-profile cricketer and a well-known figure in international T20 leagues, has been sentenced to eight years in prison by a court in Nepal. The 23-year-old leg spinner, who has played for both the Hobart Hurricanes and the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League (BBL), was convicted of raping an 18-year-old woman in an incident that occurred on August 21, 2022. After the Kathmandu district court found Lamichhane guilty of rape last month, the sentence was officially announced on Wednesday. Lamichhane's lawyer stated that they would launch a higher court appeal, expressing dissatisfaction with the court's decision. Saroj Ghimire, Lamichhane's legal representative, told Reuters, "We are not convinced about the decision of the court ... The court has whimsically declared Sandeep to be a convict. Sandeep will go to the higher court for justice." The court not only sentenced Lamichhane to eight years in prison but also imposed a fine and ordered him to pay compensation of approximately $5,630 to the victim, whose identity remains confidential. The legal repercussions are severe, signalling a significant downfall for the cricketer who was once the face of Nepali cricket. Lamichhane's cricket career, which took him to prestigious T20 leagues in Australia, India, Pakistan and the West Indies, has come to a screeching halt. The leg spinner, who had been suspended as Nepal's captain and taken into custody after an arrest warrant was issued, was released on bail during the court proceedings. The victim reported the sexual assault in August 2022, leading to Lamichhane's arrest – but despite the legal proceedings, the cricketer was permitted to continue playing matches, causing controversy and drawing criticism from various quarters. Lamichhane's return to the cricket field in February last year was met with cheers from fans, but it also ignited anger among Nepalis who disavowed the national team due to his involvement. During an international tournament in Dubai, Scotland's cricketers refused to shake hands with Lamichhane Lamichhane's fall from grace serves as a stark reminder of the importance of accountability, even for high-profile individuals in the world of sports. The legal battle may continue with the planned higher court appeal, but the conviction and sentencing mark a significant chapter in the downfall of a once-celebrated cricketer. Images: Getty

Legal

Bruce Lehrmann targeted at the cricket by vigilantes

Bruce Lehrmann has been forced to flee the Sydney Cricket Ground after being targeted by four men who flung relentless abuse at him. The former Liberal staffer was attending the third Test match that saw Australia take on Pakistan at Sydney's Entertainment Quarter on Friday with his best friend, when the men started slinging insults at him. The four men, who appeared to be in their 30s, followed Lehrmann for roughly 300 metres while he was walking back to the SCG, as they taunted him over Brittany Higgins' rape allegations, mocking his physical appearance, trying to spit on him, and telling him to jump off the top bay. Despite always vehemently denying the rape allegations, the men shouted at Lehrmann saying, "Don't you know what consent is Bruce? You f***ing fat pr*ck." "Keep your d*** in your pants, f***ing rapist." After entering the SCG grounds, the men followed him up the escalator while continuing to insult him. "You up in the top bay?" they yelled. "You pr**k, jump off it - we will be ready to p*ss on you." A member of the group taunted him to "go back to your air conditioned mansion, you pr**k", adding that "Channel Seven will protect you". Mr Lehrmann's $2000-per-week rental property, on Sydney's northern beaches, was paid for by the TV network for a year in exchange for two exclusive interviews on its Spotlight program. Lehrmann was so shaken by the incident, that he and his friend fled the venue. Mr Lehrmann later described the incident as "abhorrent" and slammed the men for abusing him in front of children and their parents who were trying to enjoy the Pink Test, which is a special match to raise money for breast cancer. "The abhorrent physical and verbal abuse, threats and taunts from the idiots towards me are a reflection of the intellect and character of those blokes," he said. "What is most concerning is they thought it appropriate to hurl the profanity-laden abuse around dozens of children and families who, like me, simply wanted to enjoy a fun day at the cricket supporting Pink Test." Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

“Greatest innings of any kind ever”: Cricket world stunned

ODI hero Glenn Maxwell has single-handedly rewritten the cricket record books, leaving fans and fellow players alike scratching their heads in disbelief. In the recent ODI match against Afghanistan, where Australia found themselves in a precarious position at 7/91 chasing 292, Maxwell delivered an innings that has now been dubbed the "greatest innings ever" – or, in the words of captain Pat Cummins, "Just ridiculous. I don't know how you describe that." Maxwell's adventure leading up to this awe-inspiring performance involved a mishap on the golf course that left him nursing an injury and missing Australia's previous World Cup game. It seems that the golf course has its share of hazards, but Maxwell was more than willing to make amends with his cricketing prowess. The drama reached its peak when Maxwell, the man of the hour, made his entrance. He defied all odds and stats, forming an unbroken partnership of 202 for the eighth wicket with the skipper, who contributed a modest 12 runs. While Cummins found himself with little to do but admire Maxwell's heroics, he summed it up perfectly, saying, "I couldn't get on strike! I just let Maxi do his thing, how am I going to say anything to someone batting like that?" The cricketing world was equally flabbergasted by Maxwell's performance. Former England captain Michael Vaughan declared, "This is the greatest ODI innings ever. It might be the greatest innings of any kind ever." And the accolades didn't stop there; even cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar couldn't contain his awe, taking to X (formerly known as Twitter) to exclaim, "From Max pressure to Max performance! This has been the best ODI knock I've seen in my life." Maxwell's knock of 201 not out featured 21 fours and 10 sixes and made him only the third batsman in World Cup history to score a double century. His list of records broken during the game is so long that you'd need a bigger scoreboard to fit them all. He set records for the highest score in an ODI run chase, the highest score at No.5 or lower, the first ever 200-run score in a run chase, the highest score for an Australian batter in an ODI, and the second-fastest 200 in an ODI. Maxwell's cramp attack while batting at 146 was just a minor hiccough in his incredible journey. Following on-field treatment, he continued to pummel Afghanistan's attack with an array of shots that had fans gasping for breath. After the match, the exhausted but victorious Maxwell said, "Horrific, I feel shocking. It was quite hot when we were fielding, I haven't done a whole lot of high-intensity exercise in the heat. It got a hold of me today, I was lucky to stick it out until the end." In the end, it was a rollercoaster of a match that had spectators on the edge of their seats. Maxwell's incredible innings will surely be talked about for years to come, and who knows, maybe the golf course will become the secret training ground for future cricketing legends. Image: Getty

News

Cricket legend Greg Chappell's dire situation sparks rally of support

Australian cricket has seen its fair share of legends, but few have left a mark as indelible as Greg Chappell. The former Australian cricket captain, who graced the pitch during the 1970s and early 80s, has fallen upon challenging times, leaving his friends, teammates and fans deeply concerned about his well-being. At the time of writing, the cricketing community has rallied to support him in a bid to provide the assistance he so desperately needs. Chappell, a figure synonymous with the sport, recently organised a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/gc-tribute-lunch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe page </a>with the ambitious goal of raising $250,000. The campaign has garnered almost $90,000 in donations, with a substantial contribution of $25,000 from high-profile businessman and cricket enthusiast, Greg Boorer. This heartwarming response signifies the deep respect and admiration that people have for the cricketing icon. Chappell's plight came to the forefront when a testimonial lunch was held in his honour at the Melbourne Cricket Ground last Monday. The GoFundMe initiative was launched after it became apparent that arranging donation facilities at the event would be logistically challenging. The driving force behind the lunch, businessman and close friend Peter Maloney, expressed his concerns for Chappell's well-being, stating, "Greg is a very proud man. He's doing it tougher than what he says." It is worth noting that Greg Chappell is also the face of the Chappell Foundation, which has raised an impressive $1 million this year for homeless youths. However, Maloney emphasised that Chappell has never taken a cent out of the foundation, despite being entitled to do so. This selflessness exemplifies Chappell's commitment to making a positive impact on society, even during his personal hardships. During the 1970s and '80s, Chappell was a cricketing sensation, sharing the field with other greats like Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh and Jeff Thomson. As a member of the illustrious Chappell family, which includes brothers Ian and Trevor, he is part of a dynasty that holds a revered place in Australia's rich sporting history. However, unlike many of today's athletes, Chappell's era did not offer the financial rewards that modern sports stars enjoy. Even after retiring, he chose to maintain a low profile and never fully embraced the spotlight of full-time commentary roles or media engagements. Instead, Chappell worked behind the scenes on cricket boards, undertook selector roles, and had a brief stint as a coach for the Indian cricket team. Chappell, displaying his characteristic humility, stated, "I'm not on the bones of my arse. I certainly don't want it to sound like we're in desperate straits, because we're not... but we're not living in luxury either. I think most people assume that because we played cricket, we are all living in the lap of luxury. While I'm certainly not crying poor, we're not reaping in the benefits that today's players are." The initiative to organise the testimonial lunch for Chappell came from Peter Maloney, who recognised his friend's health issues and financial difficulties. Maloney's suggestion that Chappell deserved a testimonial dinner finally saw the light of day after a heartfelt conversation with Greg and his wife. The outpouring of support for the Australian cricketing legend on the GoFundMe platform is nothing short of heartwarming. People from all walks of life have come forward to express their admiration and appreciation for Chappell's contributions to the sport and society: "Greg Chappell is a cricket great, an inspiration for all aspiring players. He certainly deserves our support, in whatever small way we can," wrote one supporter. "Dear Greg, What a phenomenal cricketer you were! It is still a treat to watch your batting videos on YouTube. Wishing you all the best..." wrote another. "You're a true Australian sporting legend. I remember doing a school project on you back in high school. Enjoy your retirement Greg, you deserve it," wrote a third. It's evident that Greg Chappell holds a special place in the hearts of cricket fans and Australians alike. As he faces his current challenges, the cricketing community is rallying together to ensure that this iconic figure receives the support he needs during this difficult phase of his life. It's a reminder of the enduring impact and admiration he has garnered throughout his remarkable career. Image: GoFundMe

Retirement Income

"Till we meet again": Aussie cricketer's heartbreaking family news

Australian cricketer Fawad Ahmed has shared devastating news about his four-month-old baby. The cricketer and his wife welcomed their second child in June, but the baby boy quickly developed a range of health issues. The baby stayed at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne to undergo numerous tests in an effort to diagnose why he was sick. On Monday, Ahmed shared the heartbreaking news that his son had tragically died. “Till we meet again my little angel,” he wrote on social media. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> انااللہ وانا الیہ راجعو ن Till we meet again my little angel 💔, Unfortunately after a long struggle my little man has lost the painful & tough fight, I believe you are in a better place,we will miss you so much💔, I hope no one ever goes through this pain, Request for Prayers 🤲🏽 <a href="https://t.co/cpAn29Wvnf">pic.twitter.com/cpAn29Wvnf</a> — Fawad Ahmed (@bachaji23) <a href="https://twitter.com/bachaji23/status/1716364730909270094?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2023</a></blockquote> “Unfortunately after a long struggle my little man has lost the painful and tough fight." “I believe you are in a better place, we will miss you so much. ‎I hope no one ever goes through this pain.” Ahmed, who joined the Australian cricket team after leaving his native Pakistan, recently opened up about his son’s heath battles. “It’s a tough time, to be honest,” the 41-year-old told the <a title="www.cricket.com.au" href="https://www.cricket.com.au/news/3682046/fawad-ahmed-family-baby-child-son-hospital-daughter-melbourne-islam-playing-future-coaching" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cricket Australia website</a> last month. “We don’t know what’s going to happen. Neither do the doctors. It’s pretty bad. You want to know. This is something that is aching the heart.” “It’s something that’s so unexpected,” Ahmed said. “You’re excited, you’re happy about the birth of your child, and then suddenly you go to some dark places, and you don’t know what’s going to happen." “Our lives have completely changed. Every morning, we just wake up and get ready to go to the hospital. Then in the evening, we come back. That’s it, nothing else.” Ahmed also opened up about the struggle of looking after his family, especially his three-year-old daughter, during the hardship. “We don’t want to lose her while looking after the little fella. But it’s winter, such less time to go out … I don’t want her to get sick,” the cricketer said. “So we are trying, but it’s getting harder. This afternoon she just wanted to play outside, play soccer with me, but it was cold and windy, and we had to go to the hospital. She was so upset. “I love her so much. She’s an absolute legend. She loves me as well, and it’s such a good feeling.” Image credits: Getty Images / X (Twitter) <div class="media image portrait side-by-side" style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; width: 338.492645px; float: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 14.099264px; max-width: 100%;"> </div>

Caring

What is the difference between the laws of cricket and the ‘spirit’ of cricket?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/vaughan-cruickshank-396715">Vaughan Cruickshank</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a> The second Ashes Test ended in tense scenes on Sunday following the controversial dismissal of English batsman Jonny Bairstow. His stumping infuriated a pro-England crowd at the famous Lord’s ground and divided the cricketing world. While the Australians would no doubt have preferred to win with less controversy, did they actually do anything wrong? In answer to that question, it’s widely accepted, even by the English team, that his dismissal was within the laws of cricket. But critics then invoked the “spirit of cricket” to suggest the Australians should not have asked for the dismissal to be upheld. So what is the difference? The <a href="https://www.lords.org/mcc/the-laws-of-cricket">laws of cricket</a> detail the rules of the game of cricket worldwide. They have been owned and maintained by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in London for over 200 years. The rules are clear and the many English fans and past players, along with the <a href="https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/the-ashes/ashes-2023-jonny-bairstow-stumped-by-alex-carey-cricket-rule-explained-was-he-out-was-the-decision-right-second-test-at-lords-reaction-news/news-story/41f36dc48a1515effb69a5c18acccf5a">current captain and coach</a>, have acknowledged the umpires were correct according to those laws. That’s when we get to the “spirit”. Since the late 1990s, the laws of cricket have also had an introductory statement or preamble. It states that cricket should be played not only according to the laws, <a href="https://www.lords.org/mcc/the-laws-of-cricket/spirit-of-cricket">but also in the “spirit of cricket”</a>“. This preamble is aimed at reminding players and officials of their responsibility for ensuring cricket is played <a href="https://www.lords.org/mcc/the-laws-of-cricket/spirit-of-cricket">in a truly sportsmanlike manner</a>. The two captains have the main responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play is upheld. This primarily involves making sure players show respect for other players, officials and the traditional values of cricket. It is against the spirit of the game to do things such as dispute an umpire’s decision, verbally or physically abuse a player or umpire, or cheat. The problem is the "spirit of cricket” is a subjective and slightly hazy concept. Respected English cricket writers have even suggested it has not existed since 1882, using an <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2023/07/04/the-ashes-cheating-bairstow-spirit-of-cricket-tradition/">example of conduct</a> by the “father of cricket”, W.G. Grace himself. While cricket is united under its laws, cricket is a global game and the idea of the “spirit” differs around the world. Consequently, opinions about Bairstow’s dismissal have been highly polarised. Many English players and fans are very angry at what has occurred, accusing Australia of going against the “spirit of cricket”. The fact they narrowly lost the match no doubt intensified this feeling. Their anger is reflected in the front-page stories in <a href="https://twitter.com/cric_blog/status/1675808745656573954">numerous English newspapers</a> and in social media posts. Twitter has had tens of thousands of tweets under trending hashtags such as #Ashes, #Bairstow and #SpiritofCricket. Interestingly, a look at these hashtags also reveal numerous accusations of hypocrisy by the English, backed up with <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ashes-cricket-2023-eight-times-england-broke-the-spirit-of-cricket-as-bairstow-incident-ignites/52QFZT4ES5FG5OUBZMUKGJHEYI/">examples</a> of England’s questionable, and sometimes very similar, conduct. These examples have included central figures such as English players <a href="https://twitter.com/BigOtrivia/status/1675643613689311232">Stuart</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MitchellGlenn/status/1675685369898242048">Broad</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/1116sen/status/1676076294306689026">Jonny</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyIKnow/status/1676246531387846657">Bairstow</a> and coach <a href="https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/the-ashes/cant-reward-stupidity-brendan-mccullums-words-come-back-to-bite-him/news-story/b4f114547671fa325b11a3acef806ae2">Brendon McCullum</a>. Additionally, the only player who has been fined for displaying <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/3542860">conduct contrary</a> to the spirit of the game in this Ashes series is English player Moeen Ali. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting noted that a key part of the spirit of cricket was <a href="https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/the-ashes/ashes-2023-cricket-news-ricky-ponting-hits-out-at-ben-stokes-response-to-lords-furore/news-story/cd9859c2dfc32c007e6e9c76a22136be">respecting the umpire’s decision</a>, which in this instance he said the English players, fans and press had not. Indeed, several MCC members have been <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/66082409">suspended</a> over their abuse of Australian cricketers returning to their dressing room. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yiuo50uCL9s?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Perhaps the key lesson that both sides could learn can be encapsulated in the old saying that people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, particularly in the modern age when evidence can be quickly <a href="https://www.thechronicle.com.au/sport/cricket/jonny-bairstow-footage-all-but-silences-englands-spirit-of-the-game-debate/news-story/4a4b6d8f9ce801fb23169e6d8c87a5f3">found on the internet</a>. Neither country has a clean slate when it comes to the “spirit of cricket”. Both should be careful about trying to take the moral high ground. Trevor Chappell’s <a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/icc-world-cup-2015/when-trevor-chappell-rolled-the-ball-down-the-pitch-to-brian-mckechnie-he-did-the-kiwis-a-favour/news-story/9e6cdec155f23674f3abf0629a96abaa">underarm bowl</a> is one of the most infamous Australian examples, still remembered over 40 years later. Bairstow’s dismissal is the most recent controversy and unlikely to be the last. As the Australian team heads to Leeds for the third Test starting on Thursday, there are concerns tensions could boil over, on and off the field. Leeds is known for its raucous atmosphere. Cricket Australia has <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/australia-news-live-rba-interest-rates-joko-widodo-pwc-scandal-20230704-p5dlpf.html?post=p54ztv">increased security</a> for the Australian team and reportedly told players to remain <a href="https://au.sports.yahoo.com/cricket-ashes-jonny-bairstow-stumping-controversy-exposes-worrying-aussie-truth-014432845.html">extra vigilant</a> when dining out in restaurants during the remaining weeks of the Ashes. We may never get complete agreement on the “spirit of cricket” and whether the Australians breached it on this occasion. Perhaps the closest we can get is to agree with former Australian bowler and Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie, who <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-12256795/Mail-Sports-experts-weigh-controversial-stumping-Englands-second-Test-defeat.html">believes</a> that "by playing within the laws of the game you are playing within the spirit of the game." Let’s hope the remainder of the series sees a cooling of tensions and more focus on the last three Tests being <a href="https://www.lords.org/mcc/the-laws-of-cricket/preamble-to-the-laws-spirit-of-cricket">played hard but fair</a>, without reigniting “spirit of cricket” debates that no one wins.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/209124/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/vaughan-cruickshank-396715">Vaughan Cruickshank</a>, Program Director – Health and Physical Education, Maths/Science, Faculty of Education, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-difference-between-the-laws-of-cricket-and-the-spirit-of-cricket-209124">original article</a>.

Legal

Widow of late cricket legend Dean Jones’ lists their family home

The family home of the late cricketing legend Dean Jones has been listed for sale by his wife Jane. The Macedon Ranges property where late Australian cricketer, coach and commentator lived with his family has been listed by his wife, Jane Jones with price hopes of $2.4 million. The batsman resided at the<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-romsey-142041376"> 9-13 William St, Romsey</a>, estate for over 30 years with his wife and their two daughters, Phoebe and Isabella, before his tragic death in 2020. Ms Jones said her husband always enjoyed coming back to the tranquil property after the “hustle and bustle of cricket life”. “With the amount of travelling he did, he had a big career overseas in India and Pakistan so he wasn’t home very much,” she said. “But when he did come home he just loved the country lifestyle and kicking back and relaxing after being on the road for eight months of the year.” The sprawling 3501sq m property has a history dating back to 1900 when it was built by the local White family, who were one of three owners of the estate over its lifetime. Jellis Craig Woodend agent Leanne Pearman said the property also had “beautiful oak trees” in the backyard which were planted in the 1890s and were now heritage listed. Over the Jones’ 33 years in the four-bedroom house, Jane completed and oversaw many renovations including upgrades to the kitchen and bathrooms. There are also seven original fireplaces throughout, plus glass doors leading to an indoor heated swimming pool with a sauna and a gym, all opening to the outdoor kitchen and terrace. Image credits: realestate.com.au

Real Estate

Classic NON catch as kid takes a tumble at the cricket

As cricket fans descend on Australia’s stadiums to see the T20 World Cup play out, an incident off the field has gone viral online. Day two of the competition saw Scotland face off against the West Indies, but midway through the innings a moment of amusement and terror was captured in official footage. As the camera panned over Hobart’s Blundstone Arena, a young child was spotted climbing over the railing between the stands and a hill where spectators can sit, when he flipped over and toppled head-first to the ground. A man, assumed to be the child’s father, was seen frantically running after the toddler and hopping over the railing. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"> Had to GIF this 🤣🤣 <a href="https://t.co/SZe0CBa6aD">pic.twitter.com/SZe0CBa6aD</a> — SuperCoach Insider (@SCInsider100) <a href="https://twitter.com/SCInsider100/status/1581938384477786114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2022</a></blockquote> Footage of the incident was shared on Twitter with the caption, “Just a dad and his son at the cricket….”, when it quickly went viral. “This has made me laugh a lot more than it should of so far today,” one viewer joked. “Narrator: It was precisely this moment Steve knew his afternoon at the cricket had took a turn for the worse,” another quipped. Others referenced WWE wrestler Jeff Hardy, who is known for his ‘swanton bomb’ dives from great heights, with one user writing: “Jeff Hardy, famed from the top of the ladder!” The video racked up over 300,000 views, but the clip has since been disabled due to a “report by the copyright owner”. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/banned-t20-vid.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The clip went viral online but has since been disabled. Image: Twitter The camera cut away before the child was picked up, and with no reports of injuries it seems the boy came out okay. Back on the pitch, Scotland claimed victory a day after Namibia defeated Sri Lanka. Australia will be going head-to-head with New Zealand at the SCG on Saturday. Image: Twitter

Travel Trouble

Cricket star Nathan Lyon ties the knot

Aussie cricket legend Nathan Lyon has tied the knot with Emma McCarthy in an intimate weekend wedding ceremony. They both shared snaps of their big day on Instagram, with the newlyweds smiling for their first official photos as husband and wife. McCarthy — who has changed her name to Emma Lyon on the social media platform — shared the picture with a simple love heart as the caption, while Lyon wrote, “Mr and Mrs.” The congratulations were quick to flood in for the couple, with NSW star Baxter Holt commenting on Lyon’s post, “Happiness is an understatement!! So happy for you two!!” <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgY79LQOAmj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgY79LQOAmj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Nathan Lyon (@nath.lyon421)</a> </div> </blockquote> Former Australian bowler Trent Copeland wrote “congratulations lovers”, Alex Carey said “beautiful mate, congratulations guys” while Lyon’s fellow Test spinner Mitch Swepson added, “Yes Gazza! Congrats to you both.” Australian T20 star Chris Green chimed in with the obligatory “Nice Garry”, adding a GOAT emoji in reference to Lyon’s nickname. Nathan and Emma started dating in 2017, with heir relationship being made public after they were spotted together in Perth. The beginning of Lyon and McCarthy’s romance marked the end of Nathan’s 10-year relationship with ex Melissa Waring, who he shares two children with. Image credits: Instagram

Relationships

Cricket legend Rod Marsh farewelled by sporting royalty

The sporting world has farewelled cricketing legend Rod Marsh at a private funeral at Adelaide Oval. This follows the talented wicketkeeper's death from a heart attack. Marsh, aged 74, was rushed to hospital after he had suffered a massive heart attack while visiting Bundaberg in Queensland for a cricket charity event before passing away on the 4th of March. Fellow cricketing legend Dennis Lillee spoke about his former teammate during the ceremony for the first time since Marsh's death. 'I still can't believe our mate, and mate to many, is not around anymore,' Lillee began. 'It's taken me days to be able to write my thoughts down on his amazing bloke. I don't want to talk about his cricket ability, that's been very well documented. 'It's the person Rod Marsh that I love.' Lillee was joined on the during the service by teammates John Inverarity and Bruce Laird, who all shared memories of Marsh and paid their respects. The renowned bowler started his speech by recalling a significant memory he shared with Marsh during their cricket-playing days where the pair drank a soft drink and beer respectively. He later added: 'People often ask me if I missed playing - my answer was no, I don't, but I do miss my teammates of 14, 15 years. 'Again, I miss my mate, and will keep remembering the good times. He was a one off, let's all celebrate a life well lived.' Marsh's funeral saw more than 800 people in attendance, with cricket icons including Allan Border, Adam Gilchrist, Justin Langer, Shane Watson, and Glenn McGrath were spotted in attendance. TV personality and former first-class cricketer James Brayshaw hosted the service. He opened the ceremony by speaking about the cricketer's life, family and career. 'We are here to celebrate, to respect the passing of a great man,' he stated. Graham often choked up during his speech as he paid tribute to his brother. 'I always remember my brother Rod for his devotion, loyalty, love for his family and friends.' Following on from his brother's speech, fellow wicketkeeping great Adam Gilchrist narrated a mini-documentary on Marsh's life that played out for attendees on the projector screen at the funeral. Rod Marsh's oldest son Paul eventually took to the stage to speak about his father. 'Words could never do justice to how much respect, gratitude, and appreciation I have for what Rod did for me and taught me about cricket and, more importantly, about life,' he said. 'It's been an incredibly tough and emotional few weeks for our family, but as we got today's celebration of Dad's life, the two overriding emotions I have for him are pride and gratitude.' Paul Marsh later said: 'I'm incredibly grateful for the example he set for all of us to learn from. He was a fantastic father and grandfather, and Mum could not wish for a better husband.' He then thanked the cricket community, his father's former teammates and close friends for their support and kind words during the difficult time. The crimson-coloured coffin was decorated with flowers on top. Framed pictures of the cricketer and the teams he played with were placed on the stand behind the coffin. Marsh's cricket shirt and blazer with the number 7 emblazoned on the back were spotted off to the side next to a candle with the Cricket Australia logo, while a Fremantle Dockers scarf - the AFL team he barracked for - hung off a marble column in the background. The family also thanked staff at Bundaberg Hospital, the Australian Cricketers' Association and Queensland Bulls Masters officials for keeping him alive. Marsh's death coincided with Australia's first Test against Pakistan. Players wore black armbands in the legend's honour. Images: Getty

News

Cricket legend Ian Chappel opens up about “calling stumps”

Image: Cricket Country Australian cricketing legend, Ian Chappell, considers life a “one-innings game”. He’s just trying like hell not to run himself out. Describing himself as “just a pretty simple guy” and a front bar drinker originally from Glenelg, SA, the fit and healthy 78-year-old has partnered with funeral provider Bare Cremation to help normalise discussions around calling stumps. He’s even featured in a cheeky commercial about bringing the ashes home - only it’s human ashes! Watch it here. The former Australian Cricket team captain holds a “fatalistic view of life”. He said it’s likely influenced by his mother, Jeanne, who always encouraged open discussions around the dinner table. “From a fairly young age, I realised it was going to happen. I was going to die. Once you come to that conclusion, things start to play out in a more normal way.” But when his father suffered a fatal heart attack in 1984, not all of Chappelli’s family shared this perspective. “Martin, my father, died pretty young, 64 years of age. And that was pretty sudden. There wasn’t much talk about his possible death. Martin was a pretty strong character. I guess he probably felt invincible.” Chappelli described sitting around and drinking with his brothers, telling stories and having a laugh. He said celebrating his father’s life with drink and humour eased the grief, but unfortunately some other family members didn’t share his view. “The Irish wake is how it should be: drinking, stories, jokes, laughing and remembering.” Why don’t people talk about death? “Sporting people are traditionally quite suspicious. A lot of [cricketers] I played with wouldn’t order duck, when I went to a Chinese restaurant, because they didn’t want to have anything to do with duck. I think in part that explains it …. We don’t want to talk about death because it might happen to us. So I think the superstition side of it is part of it. “People from my vintage, there’s a lot of things you didn’t talk about. You don’t talk about sex, you just discovered things about sex. You just discovered things about life and death as you’re growing up as a kid. And I think that mentality plays into it.” Instead, Chappelli said discussions about death and dying should be encouraged. “The analogy that I use when the subject comes up, I quite often say, is, ‘Look mate, I think this is a one-innings game’, using a cricket analogy. And I say ‘I’m trying like hell not to run myself out.’” But he said his own daughters, aged in their early 50s, aren’t so open about talking about his mortality as he is. “Pretty much when I bring it up, Amanda says, ‘Oh Dad, you’re invincible, you’ll be here forever’.” The sports journalist and commentator admitted he has some more work to do to encourage the conversation with his daughter, so that she might be comfortable talking about death with her own kids. He said it was important that they understand that Grandpa’s not going to be here forever. “Perhaps we have to do it together.” Why Chappelli is a fan of the Irish wake Chappelli’s openness about death stems from wanting to have control over his life. And his end of life. “We didn’t really get the chance [to discuss end-of-life wishes] with Martin, our father, because he went quickly. Jeanne, we had discussions about Jeanne. And I made it pretty clear to the younger members of the family that Jeanne was comfortable. She was ready when it happened. “I’ve been to a few funerals in recent times. And I’ve got really annoyed that the person I’ve gone there to celebrate isn’t the one where the focus is on him. And that’s really annoyed me. I came to the conclusion that, in my own case, I wanted people to come to my funeral and enjoy it the way I would like them to enjoy it, and the way I would like the end of my life to be celebrated.” When the time comes, Chappelli wishes for a send-off more befitting of a traditional Irish wake, reflecting what he loved in life. “Life’s not so much fun without humour and without music, so that’s how I’d like to go,” he said. “I’d like my mates to get around. Obviously, alcohol will play a part in it because when we’ve met we’re always having a few drinks. Obviously, story-telling will play a big part, music – choosing the music that is played. And a bit of humour. That, to me, is important.” He also shared the story of a friend who planned his own “living wake”. With money initially invested for his funeral, he threw a boat cruise along Sydney Harbour, while he was still here to enjoy it, which Chappell said was a raging success.

Retirement Life

Waleed Aly defends cricketers refusal to support Black Lives Matter

Waleed Aly has jumped to the defence of South African cricketer Quinton de Kock, who refused to take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. The world-famous wicketkeeper made international headlines when he refused to kneel at the T20 World Cup during a show of support for the global anti-racism movement. His refusal sparked outrage around the world, as ABC Breakfast host Tony Armstrong says he "saw red" and blasted the cricketer's actions on air. In the days following, Quinton de Kock, who comes from a mixed race family, issued an apology, saying he felt like his rights were "taken away" as players were instructed just hours before the commencement of the game to take a knee. The Project host leapt to his defence, saying he understood the cricketer's reluctance to participate. "Especially when it came out that he was just told on the way to the ground and all of that sort of stuff," Aly told the program on Thursday night. "I think that there's a thing that sport has to think about here, which is, it's one thing for sport to take a stand... It's another thing when you compel every player to take the same stand, especially when you compel them a couple of hours before a game." Despite saying "if I was in his position, I'm taking the knee", Waleed said he thought it was unfair for Cricket South Africa to spring the action on unsuspecting players. "There was no conversation and suddenly he's meant to process this and take on something that the game or Cricket South Africa and a statement that they want to make as his own personal one," Aly continued. "It's a really weird situation for a player to be in." Guest host on The Project Tony Armstrong accepted the cricketer's apology and explanation, and admitted he may have made a mistake calling the player a racist. "I'm so glad that he's come out and said what he said. Because I think what he might not have realised in the moment was - just what it means to so many people," he said. You can check out the whole discussion here: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kl9qOKx_JYY" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Image credits: The Project

Cricket legend Michael Slater arrested

Former Australian test cricketer Michael Slater is due to face court over charges relating to reports of a domestic violence incident. NSW Police confirmed that an investigation commenced after officers received reports of the incident, which allegedly occurred on October 12. The 51-year-old sportsman <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/former-aussie-cricket-great-michael-slater-arrested-on-domestic-violence-charges/news-story/2ca043b3e481022ea915e8ad8b279cb4" target="_blank">was arrested</a> at his Manly home on Sydney’s northern beaches on Wednesday morning, before being taken to Manly police station. Police said Mr Slater was charged for two offences at the station: using a carriage service - such as a phone or the internet - to menace, harass, or offend; and stalking or intimidating with the intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm. Mr Slater was granted conditional bail. He is due to appear at Waverley Local Court on November 11. The former cricketer recently departed Channel 7’s cricket coverage team following several tweets criticising Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the government’s decision to ban overseas arrivals in May. Mr Slater was commenting on a tournament in India until the country’s escalating COVID-19 crisis prompted him to leave early, but he was unable to re-enter Australia under the government’s current rules. “If our Government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home. It’s a disgrace!” he tweeted in May. “Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out quarantine system. “I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> And for those who think this is a money exercise. Well forget it. This is what I do for a living and I have not made a penny having left early. So please stop the abuse and think of the thousands dying in India each day. It's called empathy. If only our government had some! — Michael Slater (@mj_slats) <a href="https://twitter.com/mj_slats/status/1389180433611444228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2021</a></blockquote> “And for those who think this is a money exercise. Well forget it. This is what I do for a living and I have not made a penny having left early.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I challenge you to a debate anytime PM. — Michael Slater (@mj_slats) <a href="https://twitter.com/mj_slats/status/1389911116285841409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2021</a></blockquote> Channel 7 Head of Sport Lewis Martin released a statement earlier this month stating the network decided Slater’s contract wouldn’t be renewed for the 2021-22 summer. “Unfortunately business decisions have to be made from time to time and unfortunately we’re not in a position to renew it,” he said. Image: @mj_slats / Instagram

News

Jackson Warne’s sad admission about cricket star dad Shane

Jackson Warne has made a stark admission while explaining why he entered the tough reality TV show, SAS Australia. After failing a hard task in freezing cold water, Jackson Warne was brought in for an interrogation with the directing staff (DS). The staff are surprised to hear that Jackson was “feeling good” after his particularly rough day. Director Ant Middleton is recorded asking 21-year-old Jackson, who is famously cricket star Shane Warne’s son, “what the f***” he was doing on the program. “To test myself... and I want him (Shane) to be really proud of me, by pushing myself to the absolute limit physically and mentally,” he said Ant asked: “What’s it like living in your dad’s shadow? Anything you make of yourself will just be cast over by your dad right?” Jackson admitted it was “frustrating” living under his father’s shadow during the interrogation. “It’s been pretty frustrating my whole life. Whenever I walk into a room or meet someone it’s always, ‘Oh that’s Shane Warne’s son Jackson’. It’s never, ‘it’s Jackson’. I just want to be Jackson. “Doing this I know I can prove to everyone that no matter how easy my childhood was I can still do the tough stuff, I can still push myself physically and mentally.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CGZaYjXlK4k/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CGZaYjXlK4k/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jackson Warne (@jacksonwarne18)</a> on Oct 16, 2020 at 1:05am PDT </div> </blockquote> “That’s why you’re here isn’t it? That makes sense,” Ant responded. Jackson went on to say he found it difficult to interact with people due to his famous father. “I just don’t feel comfortable,” he said. He claimed the feeling of discomfort arises because he is not sure what people are assuming about him or his family. “Drop that sh*t behind you and forget it, you have an opportunity. You’re hiding and slivering away and talking yourself out of it. Everyone is on an equal plate in there,” Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham explained to him. “Pick your head up, you constantly have your head down,” Ant also chimed in, claiming that he needs more confidence. “Take your head out of you’re a** and get amongst it.” “I kind of wish in another reality that I wasn’t Shane Warne’s son,” Jackson said. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFEjM76FxRI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFEjM76FxRI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jackson Warne (@jacksonwarne18)</a> on Sep 13, 2020 at 2:07am PDT </div> </blockquote> The reality star’s sad admission follows after he recently admitted he had never tried more than 10 foods in his life. “OK, eggs, bacon, toast, cereal, burgers, nachos, chips, apples … that’s about it,” Jackson explained to news.com.au when asked to take fans into what his diet looks like. “In the morning I’d wake up and I’d have eggs and bacon with an oat shake. I’d go to the gym and train, then I’d have two burgers and a protein shake and then I’d rest for the rest of the day. And for dinner I’d have a lasagne or pasta.” Warne added: “It’s not like I don’t want to try other foods, it’s just that I enjoy what I’m eating and it works for me.” Thanks to SAS Australia, the star says he was introduced to a whole array of new foods. “The food on the show, there were all these different foods I hadn’t had before and they tasted awesome,” Jackson said. “We had oats for breakfast and the lunches were usually soup. For dinner, the first night we had these mini steaks. It was my first time having steak! “I tried pineapple and rockmelon and had my first mandarin on the show as well.”

Six and out: Police hand out hefty fines at backyard cricket match

A group of friends have played what is probably the most expensive game of cricket after Victoria Police fined each of them for breaching the state’s social distancing rules. Footage of the incident shows the officers writing up the group of five for “having a game of backyard cricket”. However, the group are standing on the edge of what appears to be a public park or reserve – which would be breaking Victoria’s social distancing regulations. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbankstownhumans%2Fvideos%2F222057085524167%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> Victoria has implemented some of the heftiest fines relating to coronavirus restrictions, with people caught breaking the law being penalised $1,652. Victoria Police said it would not comment on individual fines however the state has issued close to three times more fines than any other state in Australia, as they conduct spot checks on thousands of homes and businesses. In the past 24 hours alone, Victoria Police conducted 957 spot checks on homes, businesses and non-essential services as part of Operation Sentinel. Since March 21, when the state put forward coronavirus restrictions, Victoria Police has conducted a total of 15,232 spot checks. But the confusion remains as to what could leave you with a fine and what’s OK. Victoria’s stage three shutdown means residents are permitted to leave the house under four circumstances; for food and supplies, medical care and care giving, exercise and work or education.

Travel Trouble

Big men do cry: cricketers are leading the charge for inclusive masculinity

Rising <a href="https://www.cricket.com.au/news/will-pucovski-test-debut-australia-victoria-justin-langer-shane-warne-mark-waugh-sheffield-shield/2019-10-24">Australian cricket star Will Pucovski</a> has recently taken the surprising step of asking not <a href="https://www.cricket.com.au/news/will-pucovski-non-test-selection-mental-wellbeing-australia-pakistan-first-test-gabba/2019-11-14">to be considered for selection</a> for the national men’s team ahead of the First Test against Pakistan, which starts on Thursday. Pucovski cited a need to focus on his mental well-being. For a player to turn down potential selection for the national team may at first glance be surprising, or even scandalous. But Pucovski is one of a recent trio of professional Australian cricketers to take a break from playing to boost their mental well-being, alongside <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-31/glenn-maxwell-to-take-mental-health-break-from-cricket/11659592">Glenn Maxwell</a> and <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-09/victorias-nic-maddinson-out-of-australia-a-match-mental-health/11689620">Nic Maddinson</a>. Internationally, other high profile male athletes have spoken out about problems with mental health, including English Premier League footballer, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/06/danny-rose-tells-family-not-travel-world-cup-player-racism-fears-abuse-england-football-team">Danny Rose</a>, Wales rugby player, <a href="https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/former-wales-rugby-player-dafydd-15840808?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar">Dafydd James</a>, and NBA basketball player, <a href="https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2018/02/25/raptors-derozan-hopes-honest-talk-on-depression-helps-others.html">DeMar DeRozan</a>. Negative stereotypes associated with mental health issues were once a <a href="https://slideplayer.com/slide/9439004/">matter</a> of shame and embarrassment, only to be discussed quietly in fear of being branded as “weak”. This is particularly true for traditionally “manly” sportsmen who have come under fire in the past for opening up. But as the contemporary definition of masculinity becomes less rigid, more athletes are able to speak out about their mental health issues while, at the same time, paving the way for their fans to say it’s okay to not be okay. Opening up wasn’t always well-received For elite athletes, training and performance demands <a href="https://www.bases.org.uk/imgs/7879_bas_expert_statement__pages_735.pdf">can lead to</a>high psychological stress. This is on top of facing media and public scrutiny, threats of sudden and enduring injuries, and retirement. Despite these pressures, elite athletes don’t often seek help for, or even recognise, poor mental health. In fact, a raft of ex-England cricketers (Marcus Trescothick, Mike Yardy, Jonathan Trott and Steve Harmison), have written about experiencing mental health issues in their autobiographies. In all cases, their off-field battles halted their international careers, but their struggles were poorly understood at the time. When Mike Yardy left the 2011 World Cup, one outspoken pundit proclaimed: "he must have been reading my comments about his bowling. That must have upset him because it’s obviously too much for him at this level. One of <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/england/10701664/Jonathan-Trott-must-accept-team-mates-and-opponents-will-feel-he-did-a-runner.html">Jonathan Trott’s critics</a> said he felt “conned” by the player reporting a “stress-related illness” when he left an Ashes series. He suggested Trott “did a runner. He did not fight and got on a plane and went home”. Steve Harmison never openly disclosed mental health problems until the end of his career, due to his belief that if fans and “… people in the England set-up knew how bad it was I’d never play for my country again”. His struggles were written off as “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jun/24/steve-harmison-cricket-depression-public-interview">homesickness</a>”. When Marcus Trescothick <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/marcus-trescothick-i-thought-i-was-going-to-die-942688.html">returned home in the middle of a tour in 2006</a>, he battled with how to report this, eventually saying: "Having picked up a virus and also some personal issues to resolve, I decided to return home. Today, mental health is more readily accepted in the wider community to be an illness, making it easier for male athletes to disclose mental ill health as a reason for not being fit to play. For Will Pucovski, the response from the media and the public has, for the most part, been to applaud his bravery at speaking out, demonstrating care and understanding of his situation. Cricket Australia general manager of national teams Ben Oliver <a href="https://www.cricket.com.au/news/will-pucovski-non-test-selection-mental-wellbeing-australia-pakistan-first-test-gabba/2019-11-14">said</a> everyone in the “Australian cricket family” support’s Pucovski’s decision. And Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket captain, and one of the most prominent and influential players in the sport, <a href="https://www.cricket.com.au/news/virat-kohli-mental-health-comments-glenn-maxwell-will-pucovski-nic-maddinson/2019-11-14">described</a> the moves as “remarkable” and having “set the right example”. Sport and masculinity Historically, men were taught that being “masculine” meant to revere violence and stoicism and to hyper-sexualise women, in an attempt to <a href="http://dro.dur.ac.uk/12142/1/12142.pdf">distance themselves from associations of weakness and homosexuality</a>. Sport has been a key avenue for developing and displaying masculinity from early childhood; for developing “real men”. Australia, in particular, has a history of celebrating “manly” sporting displays and sports such as rugby league and Australian rules football are valued, in part, because they are <a href="https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/ics/news/blog/what_sam_burgess_face_tells_us_about_australian_sport">tough, physical games</a>. Athletes are <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228495414_Search_for_the_hero_An_investigation_into_the_sports_heroes_of_British_sports_fans">often labelled heroes</a> and role models because they uphold national archetypes and images of a “typical” person. In Australia, they are prime examples of the typical <a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-enough-to-be-a-hero-71631">masculine “matey” hero</a>, and true Australians. But in recent years, the definition of masculinity has softened to become more inclusive. Behaviours like talking about feelings, recognising mental well-being and playing more active roles in family life (particularly around childbirth) are now more acceptable than they used to in our recent past. This means it has become easier for male athletes to admit when they’re not okay. And their position as role models in turn triggers more discussion, including among sports fans, who are often a hard to reach group when it comes to mental health awareness. If athletes, as masculine heroes, can admit to experiencing poor mental health, then so too can those that look up to them. Cricket Australia’s Ben Oliver <a href="https://www.cricket.com.au/news/will-pucovski-non-test-selection-mental-wellbeing-australia-pakistan-first-test-gabba/2019-11-14">said</a>: "By Will bravely taking this position, he will undoubtedly inspire others facing similar challenges to speak up and take positive steps towards improving their mental well-being." Rather than honouring athletes who endure both physical and mental pain in silence, it’s time to recognise that those who can admit they’re struggling and seek help <a href="https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mental-health-true-role-models-alex-kountouris-australian-players-pucovski-maddinson-maxwell-bolton/2019-11-15">are the real heroes</a> and real men. Written by Keith Perry, Eric Anderson and Matthew Smith. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/big-men-do-cry-cricketers-are-leading-the-charge-for-inclusive-masculinity-127108">The Conversation. </a>

Caring

Cricket world reacts to hilarious wedding photo

The cricket world has reacted to a hilarious moment taken on the night of a bride and grooms wedding night. While marriage is about the celebration of true love, it seems the bride played second fiddle to her husband’s one true passion on their special evening. Living in America poses its own challenges as Tasleem is forced to watch his favourite sport, cricket, at odd hours in the day, and said that if the opportunity arrives to watch the game, he takes it - even if the sport interrupts what should be the most special day of his life. The newly married hubby sent a snap of he and his wife to the International Cricket Council (ICC), where he reflected on the moment he came home from his wedding procession to find out Pakistan was playing Australia in the first game of their three-match T20 series at the SCG on the weekend. As a prolific fan of the game, there was no other option than to sit down with his new wife and watch the match. “Hello, as a diehard cricket fan, I wanted to submit a photo from my wedding this past weekend,” Tasleem wrote in his letter to the ICC. “As per tradition, after the completion of the wedding the bride is brought back home for a little traditional welcoming ceremony amongst the close family. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Here's a message we got from a fan in the US 👫<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoupleGoals?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoupleGoals</a> You know it's love when ... <a href="https://t.co/4YuGImuXjW">pic.twitter.com/4YuGImuXjW</a> — ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1191996145536524288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2019</a></blockquote> “As we came home (around midnight in Detroit, Michigan, USA) the Pakistan vs Australia T20 game was getting underway. “Over the years residing in North America I’ve stayed up at all sorts of odd hours of night to catch Team Pakistan play. “Even though it was my wedding night, I wasn’t going to miss this game.” Australian skipper Aaron French found the post hilarious, and couldn’t help but acknowledge how funny it was he took centre stage during the couple’s wedding. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Haha glad I played such a special part in your day!! 😂😂 Take note <a href="https://twitter.com/_AmyFinch?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_AmyFinch</a> <a href="https://t.co/MbG4YGJad8">https://t.co/MbG4YGJad8</a> — Aaron Finch (@AaronFinch5) <a href="https://twitter.com/AaronFinch5/status/1192027437669830656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2019</a></blockquote> The cricket world quickly reacted to the sweet image, with the post garnering in over 10,000 likes. One Twitter user and die hard cricket fan couldn’t help but compare the hilarious photo to one taken on his parent’s wedding night in 1983. “Not quite the same but can't resist sharing. Place: Mumbai. These are guests at my parents' wedding on 30 Oct 1983, huddled around a radio, listening to the second day's play of the Kotla test match against,” the user wrote. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Not quite the same but can't resist sharing. Place: Mumbai. These are guests at my parents wedding on 30 Oct 1983, huddled around a radio, listening to the second day's play of the Kotla test match against <a href="https://twitter.com/windiescricket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@windiescricket</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BCCI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CricketMeriJaan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CricketMeriJaan</a> <a href="https://t.co/QJTdXorSud">pic.twitter.com/QJTdXorSud</a> — Harshad Joshi (@harshadvj) <a href="https://twitter.com/harshadvj/status/1192183425194700800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2019</a></blockquote> Another joked: How can someone marry on match day?” Other Twitter users agreed, with another writing beneath the post “How can someone marry on a match day? Dude first go and check out the schedule as match is more important than any other event of life!” Unfortunately for Tasleem, the match ended on a bad note for Pakistan as the game was called off due to rain and the country went on to lose game two of the series in Canberra.

Relationships

Inside cricket legend Don Bradman’s magnificent Sydney home

Domestic Travel

It's come home! Cricket world reacts to Australia’s thrilling Ashes victory

Aussie celebrations are in full swing after a dramatic win in the fourth Ashes Test saw them take the victory for themselves. The 185-run win at Old Trafford is a result of two years of planning and hard work by captain Tim Paine and despite a scare from England, Australia was still able to pull off a miracle result. It’s the first time Australia has returned with the urn after competing in England since 2001 and was an emotional triumph when the final wicket fell for the whole team. Candice Warner, cricketer Steve Warner’s wife took to social media to celebrate - with a photograph capturing just how Australia felt when they learnt the win was theirs. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> No words needed! 🇦🇺 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ashes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ashes</a> <a href="https://t.co/JWaGNl2vya">pic.twitter.com/JWaGNl2vya</a> — Candice Warner (@CandyFalzon) <a href="https://twitter.com/CandyFalzon/status/1170754491412557825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2019</a></blockquote> The Australian cricket world has erupted in excitement, with many fans going online to wish congratulations to the team. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Aussies you beauty!! Congratulation <a href="https://twitter.com/CricketAus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CricketAus</a> on retaining the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ashes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ashes</a> . Genius lead by Tim Paine. So proud of the effort team put for the win. Always being very happy & feel proud whenever Aussies win!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ashes19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ashes19</a> — Sonker (@Fearless_Sonker) <a href="https://twitter.com/Fearless_Sonker/status/1170840934570815488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Great win by the boys to keep the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ashes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ashes</a> at home and kudos to England on their silver medal. 😉😁 — Assad Tannous (@AsennaWealth) <a href="https://twitter.com/AsennaWealth/status/1170840443036192769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> All Monday morning work meetings should be cancelled to once again watch the Aussies regain the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ashes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ashes</a> 👌🏼🍿🍿👍🏼 — Maurice Billi - Labor for Wannon (@mauricebilli) <a href="https://twitter.com/mauricebilli/status/1170831439627055104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2019</a></blockquote> Paine admitted the team had a “few nervous moments” throughout the fourth Ashes test. The win comes after Ben Stokes raised suggestions Australia were bereft of momentum and mettle just a fortnight ago. "That was a loss that would break a lot of teams but I was really confident that we weren't one of those teams. I could feel it," Paine reflected. "The group has clearly been through a fair bit of adversity, some more than others, but a lot of the guys in that change room have been through what happened at Cape Town. "It's times like that you find out what sort of people you have got. People can roll up and give up or keep fighting. "We've got a group of guys who have come back and kept fighting and kept wanting to get better, keep wanting to be in situations like we were at Headingley ... Headingley's loss makes today all the more sweeter after a lot of people wrote us off."

News

"Freak of nature": World reacts to Aussie cricket star Steve Smith's dream comeback

The cricketing world couldn’t do much apart from watch on as Steve Smith single-handedly saved Australia’s first innings with an amazing 144 out of a total of 284 in the Ashes test. It’s clear that the 30-year-old wanted to make up for lost time after his ball tampering scandal and backed it up with another 142 in the second innings, scoring 142. His amazing performance means that England needs 398 to win after the Aussies declared at 7/487. It’s a feat that not even Donald Bradman himself could achieve after scoring two centuries in an Ashes test in England. Smith is very pleased with his performance. “It was a dream comeback in a way,” Smith said. “To be able to score two hundreds in a match in the first Ashes Test match — it’s something I’ve never done in any form of cricket in my life so it’s incredibly special and special to be able to put us in the position we’re in now going into day five. “I wasn’t hitting the ball as well as I would have liked at the start of the week and made sure I put in the hours to find my rhythm and my groove. “Going into day one I felt in a really good place and was ready to go out and play so ... just pleased to have done what I’ve achieved over the last four days and being able to put the team in a really good position going into the last day. “I’m over the moon, it’s what dreams are made of.” Cricket fans across the world were in awe of what Smith has been able to achieve, with fans pleased with his performance. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> What makes Steve Smith invincible. Bat speed, hand eye coordination, feet movement, & the ability to move horizontally which leaves the bowlers compromised. He shuffles to get to off stump & takes the off stump balls in the middle & his ability to drag everything to leg. — Dr. Nauman Niaz (@DrNaumanNiaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrNaumanNiaz/status/1158068844033953792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">4 August 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> Steve Smith. Two innings, two tons, too good! <a href="https://t.co/PqkLkcm0qQ">https://t.co/PqkLkcm0qQ</a> — Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottMorrisonMP/status/1158002911177138176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">4 August 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> Fair to say Steve Smith enjoyed his comeback 💯 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ashes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ashes</a> <a href="https://t.co/1irvW2AKjh">pic.twitter.com/1irvW2AKjh</a> — ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1157003074709479424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">1 August 2019</a></blockquote> Former England captain Michael Vaughan has said that Smith is a "freak of nature". "Steve Smith is a freak of nature. If England can remove him, they will go on to win the match. If he bats for another hour, England could be chasing 180-plus. And that's where I get nervous," Vaughan told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/49222111" target="_blank">Test Match Special</a>. "Steve Smith has frazzled England in only his second innings of the series," Vaughan continued. "He's a freak of nature, he reads the ball and the field so well."

News

Our Partners

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Cricket star jailed for eight years

Bruce Lehrmann targeted at the cricket by vigilantes

“Greatest innings of any kind ever”: Cricket world stunned

Cricket legend Greg Chappell's dire situation sparks rally of support

"Till we meet again": Aussie cricketer's heartbreaking family news

What is the difference between the laws of cricket and the ‘spirit’ of cricket?

Widow of late cricket legend Dean Jones’ lists their family home

Classic NON catch as kid takes a tumble at the cricket

Cricket star Nathan Lyon ties the knot

Cricket legend Rod Marsh farewelled by sporting royalty

Cricket legend Ian Chappel opens up about “calling stumps”

Waleed Aly defends cricketers refusal to support Black Lives Matter

Cricket legend Michael Slater arrested

Jackson Warne’s sad admission about cricket star dad Shane

Six and out: Police hand out hefty fines at backyard cricket match

Big men do cry: cricketers are leading the charge for inclusive masculinity

Cricket world reacts to hilarious wedding photo

Inside cricket legend Don Bradman’s magnificent Sydney home

It's come home! Cricket world reacts to Australia’s thrilling Ashes victory

"Freak of nature": World reacts to Aussie cricket star Steve Smith's dream comeback

Our Partners

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Cricket star jailed for eight years

Bruce Lehrmann targeted at the cricket by vigilantes

“Greatest innings of any kind ever”: Cricket world stunned

Cricket legend Greg Chappell's dire situation sparks rally of support

"Till we meet again": Aussie cricketer's heartbreaking family news

What is the difference between the laws of cricket and the ‘spirit’ of cricket?

Widow of late cricket legend Dean Jones’ lists their family home

Classic NON catch as kid takes a tumble at the cricket

Cricket star Nathan Lyon ties the knot

Cricket legend Rod Marsh farewelled by sporting royalty

Cricket legend Ian Chappel opens up about “calling stumps”

Waleed Aly defends cricketers refusal to support Black Lives Matter

Cricket legend Michael Slater arrested

Jackson Warne’s sad admission about cricket star dad Shane

Six and out: Police hand out hefty fines at backyard cricket match

Big men do cry: cricketers are leading the charge for inclusive masculinity

Cricket world reacts to hilarious wedding photo

Inside cricket legend Don Bradman’s magnificent Sydney home

It's come home! Cricket world reacts to Australia’s thrilling Ashes victory

"Freak of nature": World reacts to Aussie cricket star Steve Smith's dream comeback

Our Partners

Join Over60