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Sydney Morning Herald
25 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Australia got a glimpse at life without Steve Smith. It wasn't pretty
It's no coincidence that Australia's hiding by South Africa in Cairns was their first ODI since the retirement of Steve Smith. In conditions that were momentarily tricky against the wily left-arm spin of Keshav Maharaj, Australia showed absolutely no ability to adapt to a newish ball spinning off a tacky surface, when they needed only to get through four or so overs for the drop and bite to diminish. That adaptability and thought were hallmarks of Smith's ODI career, finding ways to work with the ebb and flow of a 50-over game to make the runs required. Last time Australia played games up in Cairns, a 3-0 thumping of New Zealand in 2022, Smith was a star on a series of similarly testy surfaces, scoring his runs at a relatively sedate pace but playing the situation with mastery. But without him this time, after Smith elected to hang up his one-day kit and go play in the Hundred in England instead, the batting line-up looked dispiritingly gullible when pitted against Maharaj. He spun a web as thick as that conjured up by Shane Warne against South Africa in a famous World Cup semi-final at Edgbaston in 1999. Marnus Labuschagne, ostensibly there to take Smith's role, misread the length and was beaten by turn to be lbw, the 14th occasion on which a left-arm spinner had got him in an ODI. Cameron Green was similarly outfoxed to lose his off stump, and Josh Inglis – a noted player of spin – was nowhere to a quicker delivery that skidded through. Alex Carey's first-ball sweep was misjudged, and Aaron Hardie contrived for a near action replay of Green's dismissal. Maharaj's spell of destruction reduced the Australians to 6-89, having been 0-60 just nine overs before. That captain Mitchell Marsh and number eight Ben Dwarshuis were then able to play Maharaj with few dramas, in a game-prolonging stand of 71, only enhanced the sense of worry about what had just transpired.
The Age
25 minutes ago
- The Age
Australia got a glimpse at life without Steve Smith. It wasn't pretty
It's no coincidence that Australia's hiding by South Africa in Cairns was their first ODI since the retirement of Steve Smith. In conditions that were momentarily tricky against the wily left-arm spin of Keshav Maharaj, Australia showed absolutely no ability to adapt to a newish ball spinning off a tacky surface, when they needed only to get through four or so overs for the drop and bite to diminish. That adaptability and thought were hallmarks of Smith's ODI career, finding ways to work with the ebb and flow of a 50-over game to make the runs required. Last time Australia played games up in Cairns, a 3-0 thumping of New Zealand in 2022, Smith was a star on a series of similarly testy surfaces, scoring his runs at a relatively sedate pace but playing the situation with mastery. But without him this time, after Smith elected to hang up his one-day kit and go play in the Hundred in England instead, the batting line-up looked dispiritingly gullible when pitted against Maharaj. He spun a web as thick as that conjured up by Shane Warne against South Africa in a famous World Cup semi-final at Edgbaston in 1999. Marnus Labuschagne, ostensibly there to take Smith's role, misread the length and was beaten by turn to be lbw, the 14th occasion on which a left-arm spinner had got him in an ODI. Cameron Green was similarly outfoxed to lose his off stump, and Josh Inglis – a noted player of spin – was nowhere to a quicker delivery that skidded through. Alex Carey's first-ball sweep was misjudged, and Aaron Hardie contrived for a near action replay of Green's dismissal. Maharaj's spell of destruction reduced the Australians to 6-89, having been 0-60 just nine overs before. That captain Mitchell Marsh and number eight Ben Dwarshuis were then able to play Maharaj with few dramas, in a game-prolonging stand of 71, only enhanced the sense of worry about what had just transpired.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
AFL news, updates: Izak Rankine handed season-ending ban in brutal blow to Adelaide Crows' premiership hopes as new explosive details into alleged behaviour come to light, homophobic slur revealed, wh
Adelaide star Izak Rankine has reportedly been handed a season-ending ban for a homophobic slur aimed at a Collingwood player on Saturday night, as explosive new details about the AFL's investigation into his conduct come to light. The contest in which the Crows emerged three-point victors was one of the games of the season, but it was overshadowed by an ugly moment where Rankine allegedly said a gay slur towards his Pies opponent. In the aftermath, the AFL launched a thorough investigation into the on-field comment and reportedly concluded on Tuesday that the conduct was deserving of a season-ending ban, in what would be a brutal blow for the Crows as they push for their first premiership since 1998. As of Wednesday morning, the AFL has not formally revealed the outcome of the investigation. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Rankine allegedly called his opponent a f****t, with the alleged incident coming just weeks after West Coast's Jack Graham was banned for four matches for calling a GWS player a 'f***ing f****t'. Footy presenter Eddie McGuire claimed he had the early mail on the call on Channel 9's Footy Classified on Tuesday night that the Crows star's season was over. 'Izak Rankine's season is over,' he said. 'Tonight the AFL will send a letter to Adelaide and my understanding is the suspension is for five weeks. His season is finished in 2025. 'The Adelaide Football Club will have the opportunity to appeal the sanction, because they could argue it is unjust.' The reported suspension would see him miss a grand final as even a four-game ban could rub Rankine out for the rest of the season if the Crows won both qualifying and preliminary final. It is understood the Crows have written to the AFL highlighting extenuating circumstances, including another exchange with Collingwood defender Dan Houston. Houston is not the player Rankine delivered the alleged slur towards on Saturday night. Izak Rankine has reportedly copped a monster ban for using a homophobic slur. Image: Getty/Kayo And in another explosive twist, as the investigation enters its fourth day, Channel 7's Mitch Cleary revealed that Collingwood has played a major role in the inquiry into Rankine, bringing to light another alleged incident in a previous match. 'Izak Rankine allegedly delivered a similar slur towards a Collingwood opponent in a match several years ago,' Cleary wrote on X on Tuesday night. 'The incident hasn't been lost on Magpies players as the investigation into Rankine ramped up over the last 48 hours.' But understands that despite the AFL being made aware of the alleged prior indiscretion, the investigation into Rankine is only relating to Saturday's incident. Never miss the latest sports news from Australia and around the world — download the app direct to your phone. The two players had several push and shoves throughout the match. On Monday night, Fox Footy's AFL 360 showed multiple incidents of Rankine engaging in heated exchanges with Collingwood's Isaac Quaynor. 'It was a tense night; it was physically played in close quarters, and Rankine was involved in various stages in heated battles with Isaac Quaynor, which then spilt to other opponents,' Gerard Whateley said on AFL 360. Watch the incidents in the video player at the top of the page. Izak Rankine is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025 season in a crushing blow to the Crows' premiership hopes. (Photo by) 'The other players on the field were well aware of what had been said, and yesterday Collingwood contacted Adelaide to inform them of what was known. Adelaide then handed it over to the AFL Integrity Unit, who have conducted their investigation today; both players have been spoken to, Rankine at about 4pm to understand his version of events. 'These are dealt with as summary judgments; there's no Tribunal hearing or the like … in a very real way, I think these have been Andrew Dillon's calls.' Rankine is understood to have apologised to the Pies player over the phone on Sunday. And according to his teammate Taylor Walker on Tuesday, the Crows forward is incredible remorseful and deeply regrets his actions. 'I spoke to him last night on the phone, and he's very remorseful, and he understands that he's made a mistake, and he'll accept whatever comes his way,' Walker said on Triple M Breakfast on Tuesday. 'He hasn't been outside, and yeah, he had a full day of investigation with the AFL yesterday, and until such time the sanction is handed down, I can't comment on that. 'What I can comment on is that our footy club is a very positive and supportive environment, and we will do, we will support ranks, however, we don't agree with what happened.' Rankine's AFL career started with the Suns in 2018, after being drafted as the third pick. Injuries delayed his debut until 2020, where he immediately took the sport by storm, booting three goals. Two years later, he was traded to his boyhood club, the Adelaide Crows, where he has transformed into one of the most lethal forwards in the AFL. AFL's previous bans for slurs This is the sixth such offence since the beginning of last year involving slurs, with the AFL slowly trending towards harsher bans as shown below: Jeremy Finlayson (April, 2024) – three game suspension Wil Powell (May, 2024) – five game suspension Lance Collard (July, 2024) – six game suspension Jack Graham (July, 2025) – four game suspension Riak Andrew (July, 2025) – five game suspension The AFL has made a point of compounding the penalty each time an offence occurs. However, the AFL has since gone back on its word stating at the end of last season they will consider 'specific circumstances in each incident in determining appropriate responses and does not consider that it is bound by the level of sanctions that it has previously imposed for similar incidents.' But with this being the sixth instance of an anti-gay slur being used in the past 16 months, the AFL is understandably fed up and wanting to make a statement.
