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First Post
a day ago
- Sport
- First Post
Vengsarkar slams Hayden's comment on Gambhir's spat with Oval curator: 'If this had happened to the Aussies...'
Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden had reacted to the Gautam Gambhir-Lee Fortis spat by stating that the India head coach 'could have used better language'. Ex-India captain Dilip Vengsarkar, in reply, claimed the Australians would have used the 'choicest of words' to put the curator in his place. read more Dilip Vengsarkar disagreed with Matthew Hayden's take on the Gautam Gambhir-Lee Fortis incident ahead of the Oval Test. Image: PTI/Reuters Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar disagreed with ex-Australian opener Matthew Hayden's comment on the recent spat between Gautam Gambhir and The Oval curator Lee Fortis, saying the Australian team would have had a similar response had they been told to stay away from the pitch ahead of a crucial game. India head coach Gautam Gambhir was involved in a fiery altercation with The Oval's chief curator Lee Fortis two days before the fifth Test against England. Reuters India head coach Gambhir and Fortis made headlines for getting into a heated exchange ahead of the fifth and final Test between England and India at The Oval. Gambhir was heard describing him as 'just a groundsman' in an animated discussion with the Oval curator during a practice session after the visitors were instructed to stand 2.5 metres away from the pitch. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And Australian batting legend Hayden felt that while it was a 'typical case in England', Gambhir "could have used better language" in his exchange with Fortis. 'Aussies would have used choicest words to show curator his place' Batting great Vengsarkar, however, not only pointed out that the Australians would have had a similar response upon receiving such an instruction from the curator, he also cited the freedom that visiting teams and even media personnel have when it comes to inspecting the wicket in India. 'As the head coach of the Indian team, Gambhir had every right to see the pitch from close quarters. When teams tour India, their entire squad, not just the captain and coach, examines the pitch minutely. Even their media inspect the pitch before the match. No one tells them anything. So, how are the rules different when we are playing in England?' Vengsarkar told Mumbai Mirror in response to Hayden's comment. 'Would Hayden, or any of the Aussie cricketers, take it well if a curator had asked them to stay away from the square ahead of an important match? If this had happened to the Aussies, they would have used the choicest words to show the curator his place,' he added. Also Read | Lee Fortis accused of 'double standards' as picture with Brendon McCullum goes viral The Gambhir-Fortis incident remained a major talking point in the build-up to and on the opening day of the series finale at The Oval, and was gradually forgotten over the course of the next five days as India triumphed in a nail-biter against England to level the series 2-2. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Perth Now
Bombshell decision in kayak murder case
A former army major charged with the murder of his wife while the pair were kayaking on a lake has been granted bail in a bombshell court decision. Graeme Davidson's case has been in and out of the Supreme Court in Brisbane over the past week as his legal team fought for his release on bail, following the police arrest in May this year. Graeme Davidson is charged with the murder of his wife Jacqueline, after she drowned while the couple were kayaking in Petrie in 2020. Supplied Credit: Supplied Mr Davidson — an ex-Australian Army major who also held the rank of Captain in the British Army — is charged with the murder of his wife Jacqueline in November 2020. The pair were kayaking on Lake Samsonvale in Petrie on November 27 that year when Jacqueline drowned and could not be revived. Police allege Mr Davidson was involved in his wife's death. He is also charged with fraud and attempted fraud, relating to allegations he fraudulently collected a life insurance payout worth $200,000, before attempting to claim another $950,000. Mr Davidson has not entered a plea to the charges. A bail application in the Supreme Court which began on July 31 has spread over four hearing days. Craig Eberhardt KC, Mr Davidson's defence barrister, has spent much of the application alleging inconsistencies and weaknesses in the Crown's case against his client. On Friday, Justice Thomas Sullivan said the Crown had accepted their case 'could not be described as strong'. 'I have decided to treat the case in a neutral way,' he said. Ms Davidson could not be revived after she was pulled from the waters of Lake Samsonvale in 2020. Supplied Credit: Supplied 'I have otherwise formed the view... the identified statutory risks can be ameliorated by appropriate conditions.' Justice Sullivan said Mr Davidson had remarried and started a new family in Thailand - only returning twice to Australia in the years since Jacqueline's death. A surety of $250,000 had been offered for Mr Davidson's release on bail. Justice Davidson said there was a low risk of Mr Davidson attempting to interfere with witnesses, as the court was told both of Mr Davidson's daughters had provided written statements to the Crown and had 'co-operated' at all times with the investigation. Justice Davidson also said there were no charges related to domestic violence against Mr Davidson, including alleged instances in January 2020 and another in 2001 or 2002. Mr Eberhardt had argued during the bail application there was no evidence to either of these allegations. The court was told some of the bail conditions required Mr Davidson to report to police every day, abiding by a curfew and not approaching a number of Queensland airports. Throughout the bail application, the court was told the case against Mr Davidson was 'circumstantial' – which has led to clashing submissions by Mr Eberhardt and crown prosecutor Caroline Marco. Ms Marco reiterated Justice Sullivan did not need to rule on the strength of the case — which was still in its early stages — and only determine if Mr Davidson had shown cause as to why his detention in pre-trial custody was unjustified. On Wednesday, she said Mr Davidson had allegedly given inconsistencies in statements following his wife's death. Some include allegedly telling witnesses that she 'jumped, or dived' into the water from the kayak and that she was still 'alive', 'conscious' when she was pulled to shore. Mr Davidson is alleged to have texted a friend about divorce in Thailand in 2023. Queensland Police Service Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Davidson's phone allegedly 'ceased to exist on the network' at 11.14am – an hour after the couple set off on their kayaks. Ms Marco said the device had never been recovered and there was 'inexplicable evidence' of its disconnection from the network. 'There had to be a reason why it could not be used to render assistance to Jacqueline, and therefore to justify the course that was taken of walking her two kilometres back to the boat ramp,' she told the court. Texts between Mr Davidson and other witnesses both before and after Jacqueline's death have also been explored in court. The court has previously been told Ms Davidson discovered her husband was having an affair with a woman in Papua New Guinea in 2019, leading to a strain in their marriage. It is alleged three years after the drowning, Mr Davidson texted a friend where he described himself as a 'cliche' because he was an 'older man married to a younger woman'. Crown Prosecutor Caroline Marco said Mr Davidson posed an 'unacceptable risk' if released on bail. NewsWire / John Gass Credit: News Corp Australia Craig Eberhardt KC, who is representing Mr Davidson. NewsWire / John Gass Credit: News Corp Australia It was allegedly followed by the comment: 'There are lots of western divorcees out here because are no de facto rules and you can't lose 50 per cent of your s--t'. Ms Marco said this exchange went to allegations that Mr Davidson expressed concerns about 'dividing assets' in the event of a failed relationship. Another exchange at the centre of the application allegedly involved Mr Davidson telling a friend, known as Chesty, that he would kill his wife and move to Thailand if she ever 'sought a divorce and made a claim to his military pension'. Mr Eberhardt said this was nothing more than a 'quip' – in the context of the pair discussing how Chesty's wife had announced she was leaving him and moving to Thailand, taking half his assets with him. But Ms Marco said this was not supported by evidence as Chesty was allegedly 'shocked'. The court was told there was no evidence Jacqueline had been 'violently assaulted' and the couple's marriage had never been marked with violence. The court was told Mr Davidson's phone had not been recovered and allegedly 'ceased to exist on the network' an hour before the kayaking trip. Supplied / Channel 9 Credit: Supplied Minor bruises found on Jacqueline's body were consistent with CPR attempts and Mr Davidson's attempts to recover his wife's body from the water, Mr Eberhardt said. Through an affidavit filed to the court, Mr Davidson described how he and his wife were '10m apart' on the water when he attempted to 'show off' by standing up on his kayak. 'Jacqueline became distressed about that and used the 'safe word' … designed to let him know that she was concerned about what he was doing,' Mr Eberhardt read from the court document. Mr Davidson allegedly saw his wife 'fall off the kayak' and he went into the water to find her – but could not see because it was 'murky' and full of grass weeds. According to Mr Davidson's statement, the pair were not wearing life jackets because they had been 'eaten by rats' at their house in Bondi before they moved back to Queensland. 'There's evidence to that effect in a statement of (a woman) … she had been told prior to the death that the life jackets had been eaten by rats,' Mr Eberhardt said.
India.com
27-06-2025
- Sport
- India.com
Michael Clarke urges India to include Kuldeep Yadav in playing XI for second Test against England
Kuldeep Yadav. New Delhi: Ex-Australian cricket player Michael Clarke has called upon India to make Kuldeep Yadav part of the playing XI in the second Test against England at Edgbaston. Clarke is a firm believer that Kuldeep can make a better impact as compared to what India achieved in the first Test at Headingley where they lost by five wickets. The next Test will start on July 2 in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Before the game, Michael Clarke has suggested India to include Kuldeep Yadav to the playing eleven. India fielded a single spinner in Ravindra Jadeja who could only achieve a single wicket in the two innings and was hardly effective in the match. 'Bowling-wise, I do not want to be hard on any individual, but I think they've got to play Kuldeep Yadav. I think it is an absolute no-brainer. I think he's a wicket-taker and would have offered a lot more than what he saw the attack do in this Test,' Clarke said while speaking on his YouTube channel. 'Bumrah's a star, he's leading that attack. But the other three pacers, yes, at stages bowled well, but they need to find more ways of taking wickets, more options and their execution has probably got to be better,' Clarke said. 'Jadeja didn't have the impact that I thought he might have. Particularly in the second innings, I thought there was a lot of rough to the left-hander. I thought he bowled a little bit straight,' Clarke added. The ex-Australian cricketer was surprised when Kuldeep Yadav was omitted in the first Test. Clarke indicated that India appeared to be more concerned with having a stronger order of batters in their team.
The Advertiser
06-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Edict fires two NRL greats into frame for Kangaroos job
The NRL will maintain its stance of prohibiting the Kangaroos coach from having club ties, placing Brad Fittler and Cameron Smith at the front of the queue to replace Mal Meninga. After nine years and two World Cup titles, Meninga has walked away from the Australian Test side to become head coach of the Perth Bears ahead of their inaugural NRL season in 2027. Meninga has been one of the most vocal supporters of the international game's growth and leaves the role with an 89 per cent win rate from 28 Tests. His exit to take the Perth gig leaves the Kangaroos without a coach just five months out from the first Ashes series in more than two decades. Australia will play England in a three-Test series at Wembley, Headingley and Everton's new home ground in November. There has been speculation that South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett would put his hand up to lead Australia. But NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said in Sydney on Friday that the ARL Commission wanted the national team coach to be at arm's length from club football. "We are all very excited for the end-of-season tour, it's been a long time in waiting, and of course we have a World Cup next year. "Today was about announcing Mal as the Perth Bears coach, and now with that secured the commission will turn its attention to the right candidate for the Kangaroos." Smith has no interest to coach at club level, but the 56-Test hooker said this week that the chance to work with the Kangaroos around his commentary commitments was appealing. Fittler, meanwhile, hasn't had a coaching position since parting ways with NSW following the 2023 State of Origin series. The ex-Australian playmaker currently works at the NRL and has received the backing of Phil Gould to lead the Kangaroos' Ashes tour. Meninga has helped restore the Australian team to the top of the international game, while the rise of Tonga and Samoa has left the Kangaroos increasingly fighting for players. "The Kangaroos job is a full-time job, it's not just coaching the team, there's a couple of other commitments," Meninga said. "From a transition point of view I'll hopefully be a part of all that. "I have loved the opportunity to coach the Australian team and build the international program. "I'm satisfied with the job I did with the national program, I'm really comfortable with the fact that I'm moving on." The NRL will maintain its stance of prohibiting the Kangaroos coach from having club ties, placing Brad Fittler and Cameron Smith at the front of the queue to replace Mal Meninga. After nine years and two World Cup titles, Meninga has walked away from the Australian Test side to become head coach of the Perth Bears ahead of their inaugural NRL season in 2027. Meninga has been one of the most vocal supporters of the international game's growth and leaves the role with an 89 per cent win rate from 28 Tests. His exit to take the Perth gig leaves the Kangaroos without a coach just five months out from the first Ashes series in more than two decades. Australia will play England in a three-Test series at Wembley, Headingley and Everton's new home ground in November. There has been speculation that South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett would put his hand up to lead Australia. But NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said in Sydney on Friday that the ARL Commission wanted the national team coach to be at arm's length from club football. "We are all very excited for the end-of-season tour, it's been a long time in waiting, and of course we have a World Cup next year. "Today was about announcing Mal as the Perth Bears coach, and now with that secured the commission will turn its attention to the right candidate for the Kangaroos." Smith has no interest to coach at club level, but the 56-Test hooker said this week that the chance to work with the Kangaroos around his commentary commitments was appealing. Fittler, meanwhile, hasn't had a coaching position since parting ways with NSW following the 2023 State of Origin series. The ex-Australian playmaker currently works at the NRL and has received the backing of Phil Gould to lead the Kangaroos' Ashes tour. Meninga has helped restore the Australian team to the top of the international game, while the rise of Tonga and Samoa has left the Kangaroos increasingly fighting for players. "The Kangaroos job is a full-time job, it's not just coaching the team, there's a couple of other commitments," Meninga said. "From a transition point of view I'll hopefully be a part of all that. "I have loved the opportunity to coach the Australian team and build the international program. "I'm satisfied with the job I did with the national program, I'm really comfortable with the fact that I'm moving on." The NRL will maintain its stance of prohibiting the Kangaroos coach from having club ties, placing Brad Fittler and Cameron Smith at the front of the queue to replace Mal Meninga. After nine years and two World Cup titles, Meninga has walked away from the Australian Test side to become head coach of the Perth Bears ahead of their inaugural NRL season in 2027. Meninga has been one of the most vocal supporters of the international game's growth and leaves the role with an 89 per cent win rate from 28 Tests. His exit to take the Perth gig leaves the Kangaroos without a coach just five months out from the first Ashes series in more than two decades. Australia will play England in a three-Test series at Wembley, Headingley and Everton's new home ground in November. There has been speculation that South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett would put his hand up to lead Australia. But NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said in Sydney on Friday that the ARL Commission wanted the national team coach to be at arm's length from club football. "We are all very excited for the end-of-season tour, it's been a long time in waiting, and of course we have a World Cup next year. "Today was about announcing Mal as the Perth Bears coach, and now with that secured the commission will turn its attention to the right candidate for the Kangaroos." Smith has no interest to coach at club level, but the 56-Test hooker said this week that the chance to work with the Kangaroos around his commentary commitments was appealing. Fittler, meanwhile, hasn't had a coaching position since parting ways with NSW following the 2023 State of Origin series. The ex-Australian playmaker currently works at the NRL and has received the backing of Phil Gould to lead the Kangaroos' Ashes tour. Meninga has helped restore the Australian team to the top of the international game, while the rise of Tonga and Samoa has left the Kangaroos increasingly fighting for players. "The Kangaroos job is a full-time job, it's not just coaching the team, there's a couple of other commitments," Meninga said. "From a transition point of view I'll hopefully be a part of all that. "I have loved the opportunity to coach the Australian team and build the international program. "I'm satisfied with the job I did with the national program, I'm really comfortable with the fact that I'm moving on."
West Australian
06-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Edict fires two NRL greats into frame for Kangaroos job
The NRL will maintain its stance of prohibiting the Kangaroos coach from having club ties, placing Brad Fittler and Cameron Smith at the front of the queue to replace Mal Meninga. After nine years and two World Cup titles, Meninga has walked away from the Australian Test side to become head coach of the Perth Bears ahead of their inaugural NRL season in 2027. Meninga has been one of the most vocal supporters of the international game's growth and leaves the role with an 89 per cent win rate from 28 Tests. His exit to take the Perth gig leaves the Kangaroos without a coach just five months out from the first Ashes series in more than two decades. Australia will play England in a three-Test series at Wembley, Headingley and Everton's new home ground in November. There has been speculation that South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett would put his hand up to lead Australia. But NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said in Sydney on Friday that the ARL Commission wanted the national team coach to be at arm's length from club football. "The commission has a long-held policy that the Kangaroos coach shouldn't be involved in coaching clubs as well, and that policy is going to continue," Abdo said. "We are all very excited for the end-of-season tour, it's been a long time in waiting, and of course we have a World Cup next year. "Today was about announcing Mal as the Perth Bears coach, and now with that secured the commission will turn its attention to the right candidate for the Kangaroos." Smith has no interest to coach at club level, but the 56-Test hooker said this week that the chance to work with the Kangaroos around his commentary commitments was appealing. Fittler, meanwhile, hasn't had a coaching position since parting ways with NSW following the 2023 State of Origin series. The ex-Australian playmaker currently works at the NRL and has received the backing of Phil Gould to lead the Kangaroos' Ashes tour. Meninga has helped restore the Australian team to the top of the international game, while the rise of Tonga and Samoa has left the Kangaroos increasingly fighting for players. "The Kangaroos job is a full-time job, it's not just coaching the team, there's a couple of other commitments," Meninga said. "From a transition point of view I'll hopefully be a part of all that. "I have loved the opportunity to coach the Australian team and build the international program. "I'm satisfied with the job I did with the national program, I'm really comfortable with the fact that I'm moving on."
