Latest news with #AustralianTest
The Advertiser
08-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Ex-Test spinner MacGill to learn fate over coke deal
Four years after he was violently kidnapped after a drug deal gone wrong, former Australian Test cricket star Stuart MacGill is set to learn his fate. The former legspinner, who turned to cocaine after cricket, was found guilty in March of supplying an indictable quantity of the drug after a $330,000 exchange in April 2021. A jury determined the 54-year-old knew about the deal between his regular dealer and his brother-in-law but was oblivious to the fact a one kilogram brick was changing hands. He was acquitted of taking part in a large commercial drug supply. MacGill is due to face Sydney's Downing Centre District Court on Friday to be sentenced for his role in the lucrative cocaine deal, which led to his violent kidnapping days later. The $330,000 deal between Person A and Marino Sotiropoulos - the brother of MacGill's then-partner - went smoothly, the jury was told. MacGill had become a trusted customer of Person A, from whom he regularly bought cocaine in half-gram quantities for $200. But the jury heard that trust was broken when Person A decided to rip off Sotiropoulos's associates in a second deal and disappear with cocaine worth $660,000. Demands for the location of Person A or the return of the money were made before the former Test bowler was kidnapped later in April. He was shoved into the back of a car by several men and taken to an abandoned building in Bringelly, in Sydney's west, where he was assaulted and threatened before being released. Six days later, the former cricketing great went to police but denied any involvement in the drug deal. He was arrested in 2023. MacGill retired from cricket in 2008 after playing 44 Tests during which he claimed 208 scalps. Four years after he was violently kidnapped after a drug deal gone wrong, former Australian Test cricket star Stuart MacGill is set to learn his fate. The former legspinner, who turned to cocaine after cricket, was found guilty in March of supplying an indictable quantity of the drug after a $330,000 exchange in April 2021. A jury determined the 54-year-old knew about the deal between his regular dealer and his brother-in-law but was oblivious to the fact a one kilogram brick was changing hands. He was acquitted of taking part in a large commercial drug supply. MacGill is due to face Sydney's Downing Centre District Court on Friday to be sentenced for his role in the lucrative cocaine deal, which led to his violent kidnapping days later. The $330,000 deal between Person A and Marino Sotiropoulos - the brother of MacGill's then-partner - went smoothly, the jury was told. MacGill had become a trusted customer of Person A, from whom he regularly bought cocaine in half-gram quantities for $200. But the jury heard that trust was broken when Person A decided to rip off Sotiropoulos's associates in a second deal and disappear with cocaine worth $660,000. Demands for the location of Person A or the return of the money were made before the former Test bowler was kidnapped later in April. He was shoved into the back of a car by several men and taken to an abandoned building in Bringelly, in Sydney's west, where he was assaulted and threatened before being released. Six days later, the former cricketing great went to police but denied any involvement in the drug deal. He was arrested in 2023. MacGill retired from cricket in 2008 after playing 44 Tests during which he claimed 208 scalps. Four years after he was violently kidnapped after a drug deal gone wrong, former Australian Test cricket star Stuart MacGill is set to learn his fate. The former legspinner, who turned to cocaine after cricket, was found guilty in March of supplying an indictable quantity of the drug after a $330,000 exchange in April 2021. A jury determined the 54-year-old knew about the deal between his regular dealer and his brother-in-law but was oblivious to the fact a one kilogram brick was changing hands. He was acquitted of taking part in a large commercial drug supply. MacGill is due to face Sydney's Downing Centre District Court on Friday to be sentenced for his role in the lucrative cocaine deal, which led to his violent kidnapping days later. The $330,000 deal between Person A and Marino Sotiropoulos - the brother of MacGill's then-partner - went smoothly, the jury was told. MacGill had become a trusted customer of Person A, from whom he regularly bought cocaine in half-gram quantities for $200. But the jury heard that trust was broken when Person A decided to rip off Sotiropoulos's associates in a second deal and disappear with cocaine worth $660,000. Demands for the location of Person A or the return of the money were made before the former Test bowler was kidnapped later in April. He was shoved into the back of a car by several men and taken to an abandoned building in Bringelly, in Sydney's west, where he was assaulted and threatened before being released. Six days later, the former cricketing great went to police but denied any involvement in the drug deal. He was arrested in 2023. MacGill retired from cricket in 2008 after playing 44 Tests during which he claimed 208 scalps.
News.com.au
03-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Magic Round Sunday live: Scores, SuperCoach analysis from Titans v Bulldogs, Panthers v Broncos, Storm v Raiders
Former Broncos flyer Xavier Coates has opened up about the criticism and attacks he copped in Brisbane as he prepares to put on a magic show at Suncorp Stadium. Coates will return to his old stomping ground when the Melbourne Storm close out Magic Round against Canberra on Sunday night. For Coates, Suncorp brings mixed emotions. The Maroons winger loves playing at The Cauldron and the atmosphere it brings. But it also dredges up memories of the turbulent infancy of his NRL career. A Gold Coast product, Coates made his debut for the Broncos in 2019 and experienced one of the most tumultuous period's in Brisbane's 37-year history. The Broncos collected their first wooden spoon in 2020 under Anthony Seibold, who was sacked that year and replaced by Kevin Walters. Upon the coaching upheaval and Brisbane's poor 2021 campaign, Coates was being wooed by Storm supercoach Craig Bellamy. Only 20 at the time, Coates was copping vicious attacks from trolls about his form and decided it was best to escape the Brisbane fishbowl for Melbourne and signed with the Storm from 2022. 'It was definitely a tough decision, the Broncos were all I knew,' Coates said. 'I grew up on the Gold Coast and moved to Brisbane. My family were only an hour away. 'But the best thing for me was to get out of my comfort zone and test myself. 'The best way to do that was go to Melbourne. 'You can't get out of the spotlight of a rugby league town like Brisbane. I felt like I needed to get away from that. 'As a young fella it's tough to get away from it and learning how to deal with media and criticism from the outside. 'In Queensland I copped it a bit. It's good to come down here and get away from it all and focus on myself. That's what I enjoy about Melbourne.' Under the tutelage of the renowned Bellamy, Coates has transformed his talents into becoming one of the NRL's premier wingers. He has the ability to finish a try as well as anyone in the game, evidenced by his remarkable match-winner against the Warriors last year. Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga rewarded Coates with an Australian Test debut last year and the 24-year-old said his Melbourne move had paid dividends. 'The best thing for me was coming to Melbourne where NRL is foreign,' he said. 'I can focus on myself and my rugby league. The team really helps with my mental state as well. I've got to work on myself and my footy. I needed to work on myself a bit more. 'It was a great opportunity for me to come down and learn from a great coach in Craig Bellamy and there are great players here as well.' The Storm are once again sitting pretty on the NRL ladder in second spot ahead of a showdown with the third-placed Raiders. They have traditionally loved playing in Brisbane and Coates can't wait to get back out on one of his favourite grounds. 'I love playing at Suncorp,' he said. 'I am Queenslander and it's a great opportunity for my family and friends to watch the game. 'There is always a big turnout for Magic Round. Hopefully the field isn't too roughed up when we get on it. 'We are going pretty well at the moment. We've had a couple of losses, but collectively we've had a pretty good season. 'We want to have a good defensive performance at Magic Round. That's what we've been working on the last couple of weeks. 'We know we can score points but we need to hold out tries a bit better.'
BBC News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Yorkshire's Root hits 90 as Bears set 185 to win
Rothesay County Championship Division One, Headingley (day two)Yorkshire 205 & 232: Root 90; Bamber 4-60, Barnard 3-52Warwickshire 253 & 15-0: Davies 9*Warwickshire (4 pts) need another 170 runs to beat Yorkshire (3 pts)Match scorecard Warwickshire survived a fine 90 from England star Joe Root to set up a target of 185 in order to secure victory in their County Championship game with Yorkshire at were bowled out for 232 in their second innings late on day two, with visiting new-ball seamer Ethan Bamber adding four wickets to his five in the first innings, completing impressive match figures of then closed on 15-0 without loss from three overs of their day started with the Bears, replying to a first-innings 205, advancing from 161-6 overnight to 253 all out, with Australian Test all-rounder Beau Webster completing a superb 85 off 86 balls on helped secure a lead of 48 but was the last visiting wicket to fall, caught trying to attack against New Zealand quick Ben Sears, who finished with four bowlers chipped away at the wickets when they started bowling again 35 minutes before built early pressure. Bamber bowled locum opener Dom Bess in the third either side of lunch, that was the first of seven successive maidens bowled by himself and new-ball partner Olly Hannon-Dalby, who hails from down the road in Wharton was run out at the non-striker's end during the early stages of the afternoon following a mix-up with opener Adam Lyth, who then went on to share a third-wicket 71 with look assured, though Lyth's effort was curtailed 10 runs short of a fifty when he edged behind off the back foot to Ed Barnard's seam, leaving the hosts at 90-3. Brook fell lbw for 20, playing around a full ball from seamer Michael Booth shortly before tea, where the hosts reached at 152-4 with a lead of Bairstow top-edged a pull at Bamber behind on six, with wicketkeeper Kai Smith taking a smart running catch, before George Hill edged Barnard to second slip. And when Jordan Thompson miscued to cover as Barnard struck for a third time, Yorkshire were 190-7, leading by the while, Root looked commanding at the crease in his 100th first-class innings for the county, hitting 13 fours in 131 reached his fifty off 64 balls, and one driven boundary straight of mid-off against Webster was particularly he missed out on a century when he top-edged a pull to backward point off Bamber at Mousley was the catcher, and the same combination did for Sears soon after before Ben Coad was bowled by Booth for 28, giving Warwickshire a short period of batting to navigate before Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay
Perth Now
25-04-2025
- Perth Now
‘You killed me': Slater's disturbing downfall
The disturbing downfall of Australian Test star Michael Slater has been laid bare in court, revealing months of alcohol-fuelled violence, stalking, and threats, including two brutal strangulation former Australian Test cricketer was sentenced to four years in jail for the series of violent and horrific domestic violence offences, but was immediately released on a fully suspended sentence after already spending more than a year in custody. The 55-year-old pleaded guilty to seven charges in Maroochydore District Court on Tuesday, including two counts of choking a woman, stalking, assault, and burglary. The offences relate to repeated violent outbursts and controlling behaviour against a woman in the Noosa region between December 2023 and March 2024. Court documents viewed by NewsWire revealed the extent of the abuse, which included physical assaults, threatening behaviour, stalking, and the non-consensual recording of intimate images. Michael Slater leaves the Maroochydore Watchhouse after being sentenced on a raft of charges. Credit: Supplied In one of the violent incidents, on the night of December 10, 2023, the woman visited Slater at his home, where both had been drinking. As the evening wore on, Slater grew aggressive, lashing out over baseless suspicions that she had been with other men. The situation escalated quickly when he took her phone and kicked her in the left thigh, causing her to collapse onto the ground. Shortly after, while she was seated on the lounge, Slater leaned over her and pointed a finger in her face, berating her with slurs. 'You're out to ruin men's lives and put them in jail,' he said. Slater (left) bombarded the woman with abusive texts for months. Credit: Supplied 'You're a bitch, a slut. No wonder your ex hates you.' He then wrapped both hands around her throat and began shaking her violently. The woman struggled to breathe as he squeezed, leaving her with visible bruising around her neck. Slater then delivered a forceful blow to the left side of her face, sending her falling back into the lounge. The impact caused her ear to ring and her eye to swell immediately. Terrified, she fled the house. When she returned home, she discovered that Slater had removed the SIM card from her phone. She later said she was fearful of what he might do if she reported the abuse to police. NED-11907-Alleged-text-messages-sent-by-Michael-Slater Just over two weeks later, on Boxing Day, the woman visited Slater at his residence, where the pair had again been drinking. By around 6pm, Slater's emotional state had deteriorated dramatically. In a sudden outburst, he grabbed a bottle of vodka, lifted it above his head, and threatened her, yelling, 'I'll f--king kill you.' The woman retreated to the laundry and tried to close the door to get away from him. Slater forcefully slammed into the door, pushing her backwards into the washing machine. She felt immediate pain in her lower back. Slater then stormed into the room, placed both hands around her throat, and lifted her off the ground as he squeezed. She struggled to breathe and pleaded, 'I can't breathe, let me go, you're really hurting me.' The assault left her with bruising around her neck, and she later reported pain in her arms, back, and persistent headaches from the violent encounter. The woman also endured relentless emotional abuse, with Slater bombarding her with hundreds of degrading and threatening text messages. He repeatedly weaponised guilt and fear, threatening to kill himself if she ever went to police. In one chilling message, he wrote, 'You f--king killed me,' and in another, he vowed to 'hang [his] skull at the front of [his] house.' He also sent her a barrage of cruel insults, calling her a 'slut,' a 'dog,' and a 'stupid c--t,' while blaming her for his own violent behaviour. NED-11907-Alleged-text-messages-sent-by-Michael-Slater-graphic-two In February 2024, the woman attended a sauna, where she noticed Slater had arrived at the same time. He followed her into the sauna, sat beside her, and initiated a conversation. Uncomfortable, she moved to the cold plunge pool where two other women were present, but Slater followed, sat on the pool's edge, and remarked, 'This one needs to be held under the water for three minutes.' He then propositioned her for sex in the toilet, to which she responded, 'You're absolutely kidding me, aren't you?' Attempting to leave, she retrieved her belongings, but Slater stopped her at the exit and became angry over her rejection. Slater's harassment escalated into sexual humiliation. He sent the woman intimate images and a sex video, both filmed without her knowledge or consent, and used them to shame, control and intimidate her. On one occasion, he attached a photo and messaged her: 'This is how you turned up to my house.' Other texts threatened exposure, with comments like 'Omg. The shit I've got on you … You're f--ked'. The psychological torment continued well into 2024. On March 13, the woman received an alert on her phone from her home security system, notifying her that someone was at her front door. When she looked up, she was horrified to see Slater standing outside her kitchen window. CCTV footage captured him banging furiously on the glass while screaming, 'F--k you, f--k you, where's your daughter, f--k you.' A neighbour heard the commotion and walked over to the fence, witnessing Slater's violent outburst. The footage reportedly showed him punching the kitchen window with his fist, shattering the glass and sending shards across the floor, all while yelling, 'Open the door! You have done this! F--king open the door!' Moments later, Slater climbed through the broken window and entered the home, continuing to shout at the woman as he approached her inside. Inside the house, Slater continued his tirade, yelling, 'I f--king will smash you. You f--king put me in jail. I don't give a f--k anymore. I f--king asked you to open the door and you disappeared.' The incident was captured on the woman's security camera, and neighbours, alarmed by the shouting and smashing glass, contacted police. At one point, Slater grabbed the woman by the arm while she was standing in the study. He then opened the fridge, poured himself a glass of wine, and continued to berate her, shouting, 'You are the biggest f--k-up. You are a maniac. You're f--king lying,' while demanding she prove she'd had dinner with her daughter that evening. Police arrived about 15 minutes later and arrested him at the scene. The woman told police she was terrified to report the abuse, emotionally drained by the defendant's relentless messages, and deeply distressed by the impact on her mental health and his repeated threats of suicide. Judge Glen Cash sentenced Slater to four years' imprisonment, partially suspended after time served. Before being released, Slater also had to finalise matters from April 2024 in the Magistrates Court, where he pleaded guilty to driving over the general alcohol limit and driving with cannabis in his system. He was fined $900, disqualified from driving for one month, and convictions were recorded.
India.com
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Josh Hazlewoods Wife: All About RCBs Star Pacers Love Life With Wife Cherina Murphy Christian
photoDetails english 2890836 Josh Hazlewood, an Australian cricketer, is married to Cherina Murphy Christian, a professional makeup artist. The couple, who have been in a long-term relationship since their high school days, married in August 2022 in a grand ceremony at Hunter Valley. They have a son, Zac, born in 2024. Cherina is known for her private life, maintaining a low-profile social media presence. Hazlewood, a key player in the Australian cricket team, has won multiple ICC titles and was part of the 2023 World Test Championship victory. Their relationship highlights mutual support in balancing personal and professional lives. Updated:Apr 25, 2025, 08:24 AM IST 1. Josh Hazlewood's Wife, Cherina Murphy Christian, Is a Professional Makeup Artist 1 / 20 A trending figure among cricket WAGs, Cherina brings a creative flair to the relationship as a successful makeup artist, adding elegance to Hazlewood's otherwise gritty cricketing world. 2. The Couple's Love Story Dates Back to Their High School Days in Tamworth 2 / 20 Hazlewood and Cherina began dating during their time at Oxley High School, making theirs one of the rare long-term celebrity relationships that bloomed before fame. 3. They Tied the Knot in a Lavish Ceremony in Hunter Valley 3 / 20 Their wedding in August 2022 was a grand affair in north Sydney's scenic Hunter Valley, attended by cricketing elite and covered widely on cricket news portals and entertainment media. 4. Cherina Maintains a Private Life Despite Hazlewood's Public Persona 4 / 20 Cherina's private Instagram profile and low-key public appearances make her one of the most mysterious cricketers' wives, generating curiosity across fan forums and social media. 5. Hazlewood and Cherina Welcomed Their Son Zac in 2024 5 / 20 The birth of their son Zac in 2024 was a heartwarming moment, so significant that Hazlewood skipped IPL 2024—proving that for him, family always comes first. 6. Cherina Often Supports Hazlewood at Matches and Events 6 / 20 From award ceremonies to stadium stands, Cherina is a silent force behind Hazlewood's success, showing how emotional support plays a huge role in a top athlete's career. 7. Fans Often Search for 'Josh Hazlewood Wife Photos' and 'Cherina Christian Age' 7 / 20 Curiosity around Cherina's background drives high search volumes, especially during ICC tournaments and IPL seasons, making her a breakout search term in cricket's lifestyle ecosystem. 8. The Couple's Relationship Is a Hit on Cricket Forums and Social Media 8 / 20 Whether it's Reddit threads or Facebook fan groups, discussions around 'Josh Hazlewood's love story' continue to trend, especially during IPL auctions or Australian Test matches. 9. Cherina Balances Career and Family, Proving She's More Than Just a Cricketer's Wife 9 / 20 While many recognize her as 'Josh Hazlewood's wife,' Cherina is also an entrepreneur, inspiring women who juggle personal ambitions with celebrity partnerships. 10. Their Story Humanizes the Life of a Global Cricket Star 10 / 20 In a sport dominated by stats and rivalries, Josh and Cherina's journey gives fans a much-needed emotional connection, boosting engagement on lifestyle cricket articles and relationship-focused features. 11 / 20 12 / 20 13 / 20 14 / 20 15 / 20 16 / 20 17 / 20 18 / 20 19 / 20 20 / 20
