Latest news with #QueenslandCricket
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nathan Lyon speaks out after cricket hero caught in storm over move with wife
Nathan Lyon has moved to clear up his presence at the Australian Formula One grand prix with wife Emma after being dragged into a similar controversy to Usman Khawaja. Aussie Test star Khawaja's decision to skip a crucial Sheffield Shield game for Queensland and attend the F1 in Melbourne saw the opener come under fire and sparked a feud with Queensland Cricket's head of elite cricket Joe Dawes, who claimed they had no knowledge of Khawaja's hamstring issue and were "disappointed" he chose not to play. Khawaja came out to publicly refute that suggestion and said he pulled out because of the injury and that both Cricket Australia and Queensland's medical teams were aware of the issue. And the Test opener insisted it had always been the plan to skip the Shield game as a way of managing his busy national schedule anyway, following the Test tour of Sri Lanka that followed the five-Test series against India over the summer. Khawaja did return to Queensland's side for the Shield final but was powerless to help his state prevent South Australia winning the title. Lyon was in a similar boat to Khawaja and also failed to feature in a crucial match for NSW after battling to recover from a hip injury. Australia's greatest Test off-spin bowler was set to return for the Blues if they made the Shield final but like Khawaja, was also dragged into the F1 controversy after being seen in attendance at the grand prix in Melbourne with his wife, Emma. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Lyon was quick to point out that he was officially ruled out for NSW with injury after defending his own presence at the F1 grand prix, when his side were playing a must-win Sheffield Shield game. "I'd been medically ruled out, to clear all that up," Lyon said at a media conference for the launch of next summer's international fixtures. "The plan was to play the Shield final if NSW were lucky enough to get in there but that wasn't the case. I've been doing a fair amount of rehab, pretty well five days a week. That's the reason I didn't play the Shield game. I love playing cricket for NSW and state cricket. Any opportunity, I'll play. But in saying that, the F1 was pretty good." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Emma Lyon (@emmalyon__) Lyon initially downplayed the injury he suffered during the India series, which then lingered on during the tour of Sri Lanka. The 37-year-old ripped tissue off the fascia in his left hip, causing him plenty of discomfort. The area also filled with fluid when Lyon ran, meaning it required draining more than once. But the veteran added that it's "all well and good now". The off-spinner's recovery is good news for his chances of featuring in June's World Test Championship final against South Africa. But the situation around Lyon and Khawaja has sparked debate around whether players with Cricket Australia contracts should have an obligation to play state cricket - and whether they should feel compelled to. Under the current system, players with CA contracts aren't also contracted to their state teams, meaning they don't deal with them directly. Despite also being seen at the Australian GP with his wife Emma, who posted a number of photos of the pair on social media - Lyon did not attract anywhere near the same level of scrutiny as Khawaja. Speaking on SEN radio about the situation recently, cricket journalist Robert Craddock revealed some Aussie Test stars who don't have IPL contracts and were technically available to play Shield cricket - such as Steve Smith - weren't even in the country. And he said it showed the situation went much deeper than the unavailability of a couple of Test stars. RELATED: Ricky Ponting called out as Glenn Maxwell makes unwanted history Shock ban handed down after storm around Usman Khawaja move "Someone told me Lyon hasn't been playing due to workload issues," Craddock said. "Really? A spin bowler whose next first-class game is two months away. Steve Smith was in America last weekend when NSW were playing. "It's been such an accepted thing that players just don't turn up, especially because NSW have so many of them (Test players). Khawaja became the focus, but he'd probably look back and say it probably wasn't worth it missing the game, and particularly going to the Grand Prix. It wasn't a good look."
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Australia to build new 2032 Olympic stadium and demolish Gabba
Australia will build a 63,000-seat stadium for the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane, officials said Tuesday as they confirmed the storied "Gabba" cricket ground would be demolished after the event. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli detailed a slew of Olympic upgrades that included the new Brisbane Stadium in the heart of the city and an aquatic centre that could host 25,000 fans. "Finally, Queensland has a plan. The time has come to just get on with it. And get on with it we will," Crisafulli told reporters. He said the new stadium would replace the aging Brisbane Cricket Ground -- nicknamed the "Gabba" for its Woolloongabba location -- once the Games were over. "The vision our government has beyond the Games also includes the Gabba coming down to make way for urban renewal," Crisafulli said. "Wouldn't it be amazing to see the Australian cricket team win gold at an Olympic final? The Gabba's swan song." Queensland Cricket said the Gabba had been a "wonderful venue for cricket for many years", but faced a string of "well documented" challenges. Opened in 1895, the pace-friendly Gabba cricket pitches have earned a sinister reputation among touring sides over the years. - 'No legacy' - The Queensland capital was awarded the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics in July 2021, returning the Games to Australia for a third time after Melbourne 1956 and Sydney 2000. Two years ago, the state's then centre-left Labor government announced plans to expand the Gabba cricket ground and create a new 17,000-seat indoor stadium for the Games. Crisafulli scrapped those plans on Tuesday, saying Australia would have wasted "billions" on temporary facilities that "delivered no legacy". The 63,000-seat stadium was billed as a "world class" venue that would also host other major sporting events in the future including cricket. Temporary seating would boost the capacity of a new national aquatic centre to 25,000, the state government said, hosting swimming, diving, water polo and other sports. The main athletes' village would be built nearby at the existing Brisbane Showgrounds, while two smaller villages would be located on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Officials also announced a series of upgrades to smaller venues such as the Queensland Tennis Centre and Gold Coast Hockey Centre. Although official costs are yet to be released, Australia has previously set aside around US$4 billion for Games infrastructure. sft-pst/dh
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Dirty about it': Ian Healy urged to take action amid storm around Usman Khawaja
Cricket reporter Robbert Craddock has called for Ian Healy to jump in and quell the drama between Usman Khawaja and Queensland head of elite cricket Joe Dawes after the Melbourne GP drama. Khawaja has found himself at the centre of a storm after he 'made himself unavailable' for Queensland's vital clash with South Australia, and then attended the F1 in Melbourne with wife Rachel. Cricket Queensland initially said Khawaja wanted to keep himself fresh for a big year of Test cricket and didn't want to take the place of a teammate who had been playing Sheffield Shield cricket all year. But it later came to light that he's been battling a hamstring niggle, which he said he aggravated while making a century for Queensland in the previous game against Tasmania. The situation took a twist when Queensland Cricket's head of elite cricket Dawes made some explosive comments on Wednesday that they didn't think the hamstring issue was enough to prevent him playing, and he was "disappointed" Khawaja chose not to play. And speaking on Thursday morning, Craddock admitted the narrative has slightly changed in the last 24 hours with the reporter confirming Khawaja had lodged a hamstring issue. "It's complicated. He did miss the last game, Queensland would have liked him to play, instead he went to the Grand Prix," Craddock said to Corey Parker and Healy on SEN Radio. "What has come out is he did have a slight hamstring niggle, which he reported before his previous game, he was slightly restricted by it. He concedes it was not bad enough to keep him out of the game, but a freshener wouldn't hurt. He also concedes, I think, he was going to miss the last game anyway." The attention then turned on Nathan Lyon with the veteran spinner appearing alongside Khawaja at the Melbourne GP. Lyon opted to skip NSW's Shield game. And Craddock pointed out the issue doesn't just sit with the two Aussie veterans, but has been an issue for years with top class cricketers opting to skip games. "It's a wider issue here of players missing games. Nathan Lyon was in the box at the grand prix with Usman Khawaja on the weekend, but why wasn't he playing for NSW. Someone said to me it was a work load issue. Really? For a spin bowler whose next first class game is two months is an issue broader than Usman Khawaja." Craddock added: "It has become such a part of a septic fabric for some states that players just don't turn up and say I am unavailable..." The reporter then suggested to Aussie cricket legend and Queensland Cricket deputy chair Healy he should step in to quell the drama. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Usman Khawaja (@usman_khawajy) While Khawaja and Lyon opted to skip their games, a number of their national teammates took part. Carey played for South Australia and has continued his sensational form, while Sam Konstas and Scott Boland have been playing for their respective teams. But Craddock then turned the attention on Healy. Speaking directly to the cricket great, Craddock suggested he would get Healy to chat to both Khawaja and Dawes to mend what he believes is a souring partnership. "I think the relationship between Joe Dawes and Usman Khawaja is poor at the moment. No doubt about that. It's at a frosty low. I think someone like yourself Heals, could take it on and maybe have a chat to both of them about it," Craddock added. "It was risky what Joe Dawes said yesterday, because Khawaja could be playing the Shield final next week and he is their best player. But Dawes was only saying what a lot of people in Queensland cricket were was speaking for the majority, including some of the players who were dirty about it. When you were playing Heals, you just wouldn't have even thought about missing a game like that, and it's sad the way it has changed." Craddock added: "I think Heals, I think you are the man to solve this one. I kept thinking you should be on the phone, as a senior statesman of the game, to talk to Usman and talk to Joe Dawes." Craddock said Khawaja will attend training on Friday and he wants to play in the final after proving his fitness, but there is no guarantee he will play. The cricket reporter felt Khawaja had to play in the final due to his calibre. "First and foremost, you are trying to win the competition," Craddock added. "I thought he stuffed up last week, but he has still been a good servant of Queensland cricket. He is 38 years old too, it is slightly different than a 29-year-old saying it. I just think he has to play." Speaking on Wednesday, Queensland captain Labuschagne said Khawaja was at a 'a different stage in his career' and his decision to remain fresh for Australia should be welcomed. 'We understand if we want the best out of him he's going to need to make sure he's ready to go and he's fresh so he doesn't get himself injured,' Labuschagne said. 'He's obviously a vital player for Australia and a really big asset for the national team, so having Uzzie back for the final it's almost the perfect result – him having the week off and then being able to come back. And step up in big games which we know he can do, he's done it many, many times before.'
