Kookaburra season in England has left one Aussie rapt
Liam Guthrie hadn't had the best of times with Northamptonshire so far this campaign, having not taken more than three wickets in any innings for Darren Lehmann's division two outfit all season.
But that all changed at Northampton on Sunday when the Australian Kookaburra ball was introduced for the next few county games in place of the familiar English-produced Dukes ball - and Guthrie produced a six-wicket display against Middlesex, easily his best performance so far.
Taking advantage of his expertise with the cherry he's more familiar with using, the 28-year-old ripped through the visitors' top-order taking three quick wickets to reduce Middlesex to 3-33.
He also struck later in the day, getting rid of half-centurion Luke Hollman and ended with figures of 6-87 off 19 probing overs, with the battling unbeaten century from wicketkeeper-batter Joe Cracknell providing the main rearguard action as Middlesex battled back to finish on 8-397.
"I play a fair bit with the Kook back home in Australia. It is a different skill to the Dukes. Guys who play with the Dukes over here obviously have skills that are different to what Australian seamers would have when they come over," said West Australian Guthrie, who has a UK passport and isn't considered an overseas player.
"It's just about being clear with your plans and sort of hitting the deck hard, not sort of floating it when the Kookaburra's a bit softer."
One more wicket tomorrow and Guthrie will go past his career-best first-class figures of 6-60 for Queensland against Victoria a couple of years ago.
Elsewhere in the resumed county championship program, a couple of Aussie batters also seemed perfectly at home with the introduction of the Kookaburra, which is part of the English game's continued bid to give home players wider international experience.
There were half-centuries for Gloucestershire captain Cameron Bancroft, who top-scored with 58 off 127 balls as they were skittled for 187 by Derbyshire at Bristol, and Sussex's Tasmanian opener Daniel Hughes, who made 60 off 110 balls against Durham at Chester-le-Street in their 9-322.
It was a big day for debutant Ashton Turner at Blackpool as he was handed his Lancashire cap by his Australian teammate Chris Green, who took a wicket (1-63) on a rain-interrupted day as Kent finished the opening day on 3-213.
Lancashire's captain for the first time in a county match was 42-year-old James Anderson, who was also the subject of a special presentation of his own as he received a bottle of champagne to mark his 300th first-class match.
Anderson, who couldn't mark the latest landmark with a wicket (0-36), stepped in as skipper because Lancashire's Australian skipper Marcus Harris, the top-scorer in the county championship this season (825 runs), had flown home to attend the birth of his second child.
The Kookaburra cricket ball has been brought out to play in England's county cricket season - and one Australian quick bowler couldn't be happier.
Liam Guthrie hadn't had the best of times with Northamptonshire so far this campaign, having not taken more than three wickets in any innings for Darren Lehmann's division two outfit all season.
But that all changed at Northampton on Sunday when the Australian Kookaburra ball was introduced for the next few county games in place of the familiar English-produced Dukes ball - and Guthrie produced a six-wicket display against Middlesex, easily his best performance so far.
Taking advantage of his expertise with the cherry he's more familiar with using, the 28-year-old ripped through the visitors' top-order taking three quick wickets to reduce Middlesex to 3-33.
He also struck later in the day, getting rid of half-centurion Luke Hollman and ended with figures of 6-87 off 19 probing overs, with the battling unbeaten century from wicketkeeper-batter Joe Cracknell providing the main rearguard action as Middlesex battled back to finish on 8-397.
"I play a fair bit with the Kook back home in Australia. It is a different skill to the Dukes. Guys who play with the Dukes over here obviously have skills that are different to what Australian seamers would have when they come over," said West Australian Guthrie, who has a UK passport and isn't considered an overseas player.
"It's just about being clear with your plans and sort of hitting the deck hard, not sort of floating it when the Kookaburra's a bit softer."
One more wicket tomorrow and Guthrie will go past his career-best first-class figures of 6-60 for Queensland against Victoria a couple of years ago.
Elsewhere in the resumed county championship program, a couple of Aussie batters also seemed perfectly at home with the introduction of the Kookaburra, which is part of the English game's continued bid to give home players wider international experience.
There were half-centuries for Gloucestershire captain Cameron Bancroft, who top-scored with 58 off 127 balls as they were skittled for 187 by Derbyshire at Bristol, and Sussex's Tasmanian opener Daniel Hughes, who made 60 off 110 balls against Durham at Chester-le-Street in their 9-322.
It was a big day for debutant Ashton Turner at Blackpool as he was handed his Lancashire cap by his Australian teammate Chris Green, who took a wicket (1-63) on a rain-interrupted day as Kent finished the opening day on 3-213.
Lancashire's captain for the first time in a county match was 42-year-old James Anderson, who was also the subject of a special presentation of his own as he received a bottle of champagne to mark his 300th first-class match.
Anderson, who couldn't mark the latest landmark with a wicket (0-36), stepped in as skipper because Lancashire's Australian skipper Marcus Harris, the top-scorer in the county championship this season (825 runs), had flown home to attend the birth of his second child.
The Kookaburra cricket ball has been brought out to play in England's county cricket season - and one Australian quick bowler couldn't be happier.
Liam Guthrie hadn't had the best of times with Northamptonshire so far this campaign, having not taken more than three wickets in any innings for Darren Lehmann's division two outfit all season.
But that all changed at Northampton on Sunday when the Australian Kookaburra ball was introduced for the next few county games in place of the familiar English-produced Dukes ball - and Guthrie produced a six-wicket display against Middlesex, easily his best performance so far.
Taking advantage of his expertise with the cherry he's more familiar with using, the 28-year-old ripped through the visitors' top-order taking three quick wickets to reduce Middlesex to 3-33.
He also struck later in the day, getting rid of half-centurion Luke Hollman and ended with figures of 6-87 off 19 probing overs, with the battling unbeaten century from wicketkeeper-batter Joe Cracknell providing the main rearguard action as Middlesex battled back to finish on 8-397.
"I play a fair bit with the Kook back home in Australia. It is a different skill to the Dukes. Guys who play with the Dukes over here obviously have skills that are different to what Australian seamers would have when they come over," said West Australian Guthrie, who has a UK passport and isn't considered an overseas player.
"It's just about being clear with your plans and sort of hitting the deck hard, not sort of floating it when the Kookaburra's a bit softer."
One more wicket tomorrow and Guthrie will go past his career-best first-class figures of 6-60 for Queensland against Victoria a couple of years ago.
Elsewhere in the resumed county championship program, a couple of Aussie batters also seemed perfectly at home with the introduction of the Kookaburra, which is part of the English game's continued bid to give home players wider international experience.
There were half-centuries for Gloucestershire captain Cameron Bancroft, who top-scored with 58 off 127 balls as they were skittled for 187 by Derbyshire at Bristol, and Sussex's Tasmanian opener Daniel Hughes, who made 60 off 110 balls against Durham at Chester-le-Street in their 9-322.
It was a big day for debutant Ashton Turner at Blackpool as he was handed his Lancashire cap by his Australian teammate Chris Green, who took a wicket (1-63) on a rain-interrupted day as Kent finished the opening day on 3-213.
Lancashire's captain for the first time in a county match was 42-year-old James Anderson, who was also the subject of a special presentation of his own as he received a bottle of champagne to mark his 300th first-class match.
Anderson, who couldn't mark the latest landmark with a wicket (0-36), stepped in as skipper because Lancashire's Australian skipper Marcus Harris, the top-scorer in the county championship this season (825 runs), had flown home to attend the birth of his second child.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
Australian surf stars do the double at Tahiti Pro: ‘Special'
Jack Robinson has won the Tahiti Pro and surged into the World Surf League's Finals at the expense of countryman Ethan Ewing after mastering a pumping Teahupo'o swell. Compatriot Molly Picklum had earlier won the women's crown to complete an Australian double on Thursday (AEST) in a pulsating finale to the regular season. West Australian Robinson sat seventh and had to win the event to push inside the final five after fellow Aussie and 2024 runner-up Ewing left the door ajar in a quarter-final exit. He emphatically shot through it, Robinson backing up an 18.1-point semi-final total with 16.9 in the final that included an early 9.50-point ride. The victory, Robinson's second in Tahiti following success in 2023, moved him to fourth in the standings ahead of Fiji's top-five shootout later this month. In his fourth straight Finals appearance, Robinson will be aiming to become the first Australian male world champion since Mick Fanning's third title in 2013. 'Right where we're meant to be ... I had a mission and I went for it,' said Robinson, whose wife Julia and 18-month-old son, Zen, watched on from the safety of a boat in the channel. 'Very blessed to be going to Fiji. It comes down to the last one, and I'm right there again.' Picklum had earlier outpointed American rival and reigning world champion Caitlin Simmers in one final statement before her Fiji charge. The Australian had already secured the No.1 seeding by reaching the final in Teahupo'o. Wind subsided and the waves grew just as Picklum hit the water on Thursday (AEST). A dramatic wipe-out by Simmers (4.94-point total), on what would likely have been a 10-point ride, was an early turning point as both surfers pushed the limits. The Australian was all class, notching three eight-point rides in the heat for her second victory this season and fourth consecutive top-two finish. Picklum (17.26) had earlier defied a huge wipe-out to win her semi-final. 'It was sick, so nice to make a few waves and not get so flogged. I feel like I've earnt my stripes in this event,' Picklum said. Simmers joked she was 'under water for most of the final' after the early mishap. 'I wish Caity (Simmers) had obviously made one to make it more exciting,' Picklum sympathised. 'The poor girl was so buggered at the end there. 'I've been on that side of the stick, and I'm so happy to get another one up. 'What a special place. You just feel the energy, the dream comes alive, and Fiji next.' Ewing, runner-up last season in an incredible return from multiple spinal fractures, had earlier put his finals fate in Robinson's hands. A semi-final berth would have locked in Ewing's Finals spot. But with Griffin Colapinto facing the same scenario, the door was emphatically shut just minutes into their heat. The American (16.76) found 8.33 and 8.43-point rides, leaving Ewing (14.2) scrambling fruitlessly for a reply. Robinson then beat Colapinto brothers Crosby and Griffin to push the Queenslander into sixth. WSL FINAL FIVE - Fiji, August 27 to September 4
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Rage' drives 'Punky' as end looms for Hawks great
Luke Breust may, or may not, be familiar with the work of iconic Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. They certainly share the same sentiment, with the three-time Hawthorn premiership forward determined to "rage, rage against the dying of the light". The 34-year-old, a two-time All-Australian and one of the best small forwards of his generation, announced on Thursday this season will be his last. Former teammate and current Hawks coach Sam Mitchell has no doubt Breust will stay in the game, probably as a coach, but there is unfinished business with the Hawks seventh on the ladder and yet to confirm a finals berth. "He spoke really nicely and gently (to teammates) ... until we started talking about the rest of the season. He had just that little bit of rage behind his eyes," Mitchell said. "He's still burning to make sure he can achieve as much and help us achieve as much as we can." Known as "Punky", Breust is the game's ultimate cult figure and Mitchell added he was the rarest of beasts - an AFL player with no enemies. Hawks fans sound as though they are booing when they roar his name after he kicks a goal. "He's as good a person as I've ever met, and anyone has ever met in footy. I don't think you'll ever meet anyone who says 'I don't know about that Luke Breust' - he's universally loved," Mitchell said. The small forward returned to the senior team for last week's win over Collingwood for a career total of 306 games. He and fellow forward, and good friend, Jack Gunston are the only veterans on their list to play in Hawthorn premierships. Breust and Gunston played in the 2012-15 grand finals, winning three flags. He is among nine Hawks to reach 300 games and his 307th this Saturday in the game against Melbourne at the MCG will put him equal with Mitchell at third on the club list. Breust has kicked 552 goals, seventh-highest at Hawthorn, and he made the 2014 and '18 All-Australian teams. But his impact at Hawthorn goes well beyond his significant on-field exploits. "If you could make your culture around the type of club you want to be and the type of person you want to be, Luke Breust is perfect,' Mitchell said. Hailing from the small NSW country town of Temora, Breust proved a bargain-basement selection when the Hawks recruited him with the No.47 pick in the 2008 rookie draft. He did not make his debut until 2011. Mitchell said for all the support Breust received when he was starting, he has paid that forward 10-fold. "I said to the players 'who has he helped?' Every player put his hand up, no hesitation, straight away," he added. Such is Breust's standing at Hawthorn that despite only playing six senior games so far this season, he remains a co-vice captain. "He's not this big, look-at-me personality, so he probably hasn't been celebrated as much outside of us," Mitchell said. Luke Breust may, or may not, be familiar with the work of iconic Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. They certainly share the same sentiment, with the three-time Hawthorn premiership forward determined to "rage, rage against the dying of the light". The 34-year-old, a two-time All-Australian and one of the best small forwards of his generation, announced on Thursday this season will be his last. Former teammate and current Hawks coach Sam Mitchell has no doubt Breust will stay in the game, probably as a coach, but there is unfinished business with the Hawks seventh on the ladder and yet to confirm a finals berth. "He spoke really nicely and gently (to teammates) ... until we started talking about the rest of the season. He had just that little bit of rage behind his eyes," Mitchell said. "He's still burning to make sure he can achieve as much and help us achieve as much as we can." Known as "Punky", Breust is the game's ultimate cult figure and Mitchell added he was the rarest of beasts - an AFL player with no enemies. Hawks fans sound as though they are booing when they roar his name after he kicks a goal. "He's as good a person as I've ever met, and anyone has ever met in footy. I don't think you'll ever meet anyone who says 'I don't know about that Luke Breust' - he's universally loved," Mitchell said. The small forward returned to the senior team for last week's win over Collingwood for a career total of 306 games. He and fellow forward, and good friend, Jack Gunston are the only veterans on their list to play in Hawthorn premierships. Breust and Gunston played in the 2012-15 grand finals, winning three flags. He is among nine Hawks to reach 300 games and his 307th this Saturday in the game against Melbourne at the MCG will put him equal with Mitchell at third on the club list. Breust has kicked 552 goals, seventh-highest at Hawthorn, and he made the 2014 and '18 All-Australian teams. But his impact at Hawthorn goes well beyond his significant on-field exploits. "If you could make your culture around the type of club you want to be and the type of person you want to be, Luke Breust is perfect,' Mitchell said. Hailing from the small NSW country town of Temora, Breust proved a bargain-basement selection when the Hawks recruited him with the No.47 pick in the 2008 rookie draft. He did not make his debut until 2011. Mitchell said for all the support Breust received when he was starting, he has paid that forward 10-fold. "I said to the players 'who has he helped?' Every player put his hand up, no hesitation, straight away," he added. Such is Breust's standing at Hawthorn that despite only playing six senior games so far this season, he remains a co-vice captain. "He's not this big, look-at-me personality, so he probably hasn't been celebrated as much outside of us," Mitchell said. Luke Breust may, or may not, be familiar with the work of iconic Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. They certainly share the same sentiment, with the three-time Hawthorn premiership forward determined to "rage, rage against the dying of the light". The 34-year-old, a two-time All-Australian and one of the best small forwards of his generation, announced on Thursday this season will be his last. Former teammate and current Hawks coach Sam Mitchell has no doubt Breust will stay in the game, probably as a coach, but there is unfinished business with the Hawks seventh on the ladder and yet to confirm a finals berth. "He spoke really nicely and gently (to teammates) ... until we started talking about the rest of the season. He had just that little bit of rage behind his eyes," Mitchell said. "He's still burning to make sure he can achieve as much and help us achieve as much as we can." Known as "Punky", Breust is the game's ultimate cult figure and Mitchell added he was the rarest of beasts - an AFL player with no enemies. Hawks fans sound as though they are booing when they roar his name after he kicks a goal. "He's as good a person as I've ever met, and anyone has ever met in footy. I don't think you'll ever meet anyone who says 'I don't know about that Luke Breust' - he's universally loved," Mitchell said. The small forward returned to the senior team for last week's win over Collingwood for a career total of 306 games. He and fellow forward, and good friend, Jack Gunston are the only veterans on their list to play in Hawthorn premierships. Breust and Gunston played in the 2012-15 grand finals, winning three flags. He is among nine Hawks to reach 300 games and his 307th this Saturday in the game against Melbourne at the MCG will put him equal with Mitchell at third on the club list. Breust has kicked 552 goals, seventh-highest at Hawthorn, and he made the 2014 and '18 All-Australian teams. But his impact at Hawthorn goes well beyond his significant on-field exploits. "If you could make your culture around the type of club you want to be and the type of person you want to be, Luke Breust is perfect,' Mitchell said. Hailing from the small NSW country town of Temora, Breust proved a bargain-basement selection when the Hawks recruited him with the No.47 pick in the 2008 rookie draft. He did not make his debut until 2011. Mitchell said for all the support Breust received when he was starting, he has paid that forward 10-fold. "I said to the players 'who has he helped?' Every player put his hand up, no hesitation, straight away," he added. Such is Breust's standing at Hawthorn that despite only playing six senior games so far this season, he remains a co-vice captain. "He's not this big, look-at-me personality, so he probably hasn't been celebrated as much outside of us," Mitchell said.
Courier-Mail
4 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Nikita Tszyu causes stir with breast milk, placenta acts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Boxing/MMA. Followed categories will be added to My News. New father Nikita Tszyu has revealed he's been drinking his wife's breast milk and using her frozen placenta as a supplement as he prepares for his long-awaited boxing comeback next week. Known as Australian boxing's dark prince, Tszyu also revealed that older brother Tim is heading to Japan and won't be at his fight against Lulzim Ismaili on Wednesday, August 20. Tszyu, who welcomed his first child – a daughter named Curiosity – in June made his breast milk revelation this week. 'It's available and it tastes good,' he told Code Sports moments after meeting Ismaili face-to-face for the first time on Thursday. 'It's not for strength gains or anything like that. I'm drinking it because it's available. 'My wife eats a very clean diet and she's pumping out very pure breastmilk, so why not?' As the news swept through Australian boxing on Thursday, cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia even weighed in, saying: 'There's actually no need to do that, bro,' with Nikita responding: 'Don't knock it till you try it!' Tszyu seemed surprised at the reaction to his newfound hydration method. 'Everyone does it. Everyone's tried it. We've all been a little bit curious,' he said. 'We've just had a baby, so where else do you get it from? 'I'm still yet to do a breastmilk cappuccino, but that's the next step. 'We need more breastmilk though.' Just add it to the list of quirky Nikita Tszyu tales. Last week Code Sports revealed he had recently spent a morning as a tourist at the Erotic Heritage Museum in Las Vegas. 'It was quite beautiful really,' he said of his solo escapade. 'Sex is usually hidden and frowned upon in our society these days. 'I like the reactions I got when I showed people what I bought. It was just fun.' Two years ago he revealed he ate a still-beating snake heart before drinking its blood while on a training camp in Thailand. Nikita Bedwell and Nikita Tszyu. More recently, he confirmed his wife – also named Nikita – freeze-dried her placenta, and 'The Butcher' is using it as a supplement during training camp. Random side quests and unique diets aside, Tszyu says he is a changed man in the two months since Curiosity arrived. 'Looking into her eyes, it gives me so much strength,' he said. 'Coming home each day after a hard training session, my body is just thrashed and I see that little face. 'It gives me all this energy and all this light. It reminds of why I'm doing this. 'I want to keep my family life and my boxing life separate, so even when I come home from training, there's no boxing talk. Unless I want to talk about it, home is my way of escaping from this world. 'Boxing is quite crazy and chaotic and there's a lot of stress that can be obtained. 'Home is my safe place away from it.' Nikita Tszyu in training camp. Pictures: No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous Tszyu says mum and baby will stay at home when he steps into the ring for the first since his war with Koen Mazoudier last August, and revealed older brother Tim won't be at the bout either. The fight will be one month and a day since Tim's loss to Sebastian Fundora, and 'The Soul Taker' – who has attended every one of Nikita's bouts – is taking some time away from boxing. That includes training for a marathon, and heading overseas. 'He's going to Japan – he needs some time off and time away just to reset himself,' Nikita said. 'The boxing world is cruel, and full of assholes who are full of things to say that are all bullsh*t. 'He just needs to go away and do what he needs to do.' It's a double-edged sword for Nikita. 'I'm kind of jealous – I want to go to Japan,' he said. 'I feel like I was Japanese in a past life. 'I'm so drawn to that country and their culture. I wish I was Japanese. 'I've been once, when I was about 17. It's beautiful. I can't wait to go back.'
