CRICKET: A simple set of words will guide the approach of the Australian cricketers this summer as they attempt to win back fans.
Cricket Australia yesterday released the Players’ Pact*, a document that was created after a player-led review chaired by former Test opener Rick McCosker.
“We recognise how lucky we are to play this great game. We respect the game and its traditions. We want to make all Australians proud,” the pact declares. “Compete with us. Smile with us. Fight on with us. Dream with us.”
Tim Paine, Rachael Haynes, Pat Cummins, Shane Watson, George Bailey and Justin Langer were on the panel that helped former Test opener Rick McCosker run a played-led review.
It was part of a wider independent review that found Cricket Australia was “arrogant”* and had a “win at all costs” attitude to the game.
The Ethics Centre report, which came off the back of the South Africa ball tampering scandal, called for changes to winning bonuses, the code of conduct* and a red-card system.
BASKETBALL: Defending NBL champions Melbourne United held on for a tough 99-93 victory over the Illawarra Hawks last night.
Looking to bounce back from Saturday’s double-overtime loss to the Perth Wildcats, United came out firing at Melbourne Arena to lead by 19 points before surviving a spirited Illawarra comeback in the second half.
United was clinging to a 91-88 lead with two minutes remaining but point guard Casper Ware gave Melbourne some breathing space with a mid-range jump shot and the home side held on to win.
Ware sparked United’s attack with 11 first-quarter points on his way to a game-high 26, including five three-pointers.
NRL: Ivan Cleary says he has unfinished business at Penrith after leaving the Wests Tigers mid-contract to sign a five-year NRL coaching deal with the Panthers.
Originally charged with beginning the Panthers’ rebuild in 2012, Cleary took Penrith to a preliminary final in 2014 but was sacked the following year by Panthers boss Phil Gould.
Just six players remain from his last season, but Cleary will also unite with play-making son Nathan — making them the first such combination at the club since Martin and John Lang in 2004.
“I am honoured to be back as head coach of Panthers and very much look forward to being part of the future journey,” Cleary said.
“Personally I had a feeling of unfinished business with a club and a community that my family and I enjoy a strong connection with, from grassroots* through to NRL players, staff and management.”
AFL: The AFL has shrunk its pre-season series. AFL clubs will again play two games in the pre-season competition but next year’s warm-up series will take place over two weekends instead of three.
Carlton will host Essendon in the opener at Ikon Park on Thursday, February 28, and Collingwood will play the Blues in Morwell in the last match on Monday, March 11, which is Labour Day in Victoria.
“We’ve moved the format around a couple of times over the last few years to try and get it right … that’s largely on the back of feedback from the clubs,” Auld said.
“We’ll have a week off between the last (pre-season) game into the first game of the home-and-away season.
“But (this) also works better with the AFLW season. There’s less crossover with AFLW games, it condenses* the impact of these games going into the home-and-away series.”
AFL clubs will travel to play in regional centres such as Werribee, Lismore, Mackay, Ballarat and Port Pirie.
GLOSSARY
pact: agreement
arrogant: thinking you are more important than you are
code of conduct: agreement on rules of behaviour
grassroots: the lower levels of a sport or organisation
condenses: shortens
QUICK QUIZ
1. What led to the new Players’ Pact for cricketers being introduced?
2. Who are the reigning NBL champions?
3. Name two father-son combinations at the Panthers.
4. Which teams will play the opening match of the AFL pre-season series?
VCOP ACTIVITY
With a partner see if you can you identify all the doing words/verbs in this text. Highlight them in yellow and then make a list of them all down your page. Now see if you and your partner can come up with a synonym for the chosen verb. Make sure it still makes sense in the context it was taken from.
Try to replace some of the original verbs with your synonyms and discuss if any are better and why.
Curriculum Links: English, Big Write and VCOP
HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you think signing the Players’ Pact will improve the culture and performance of Australian cricketers?
No one-word answers. Use full sentences to explain your thinking.
