Jaidyn Stephenson will reunite with Anthony Rocca at North Melbourne this year.
The former Collingwood star forward has been appointed as an assistant coach at Arden Street where he will link up with Kangaroos recruit Stephenson.
Rocca, who will be working closely with the rucks and taller players, said Stephenson has already reached out and is excited to again be at the same club following their time together at the Magpies.
“He gave me a really nice text the other day, ‘Stepho’,” Rocca said on Sportsday.
“He was happy I was there. I’ve got that Collingwood connection with him and he’s really looking forward to working closely together.
“I rate Jaidyn really highly. He has an X-factor. We know he had some issues last year and he tried to overcome them.
“When he’s up and going, he can be a dominating forward. He can turn games in the space of five minutes.”
Stephenson, who won the 2018 Rising Star award, kicked 76 goals in 54 games for the Pies before joining North last trade period.
Rocca is also optimistic about what is ahead for the Roos, particularly from a key forward viewpoint with Nick Larkey and Cam Zurhaar set to take the mantle following Ben Brown’s move to Melbourne.
He also feels the ruck position is in very good hands with Todd Goldstein leading the way with support from Tom Campbell and Tristan Xerri.
“The likes of Nick Larkey and Cameron Zurhaar. Those two could be a really good combination for the future,” he added.
“I love the way Zurhaar goes about it. He’s tough, strong, loves the contested mark and just loves crashing packs.
“I’m excited working with Todd Goldstein. He’s a really good ruckman who has achieved a lot and I believe he could still achieve a whole lot more.
“The likes of Tom Campbell, who has been a back-up ruckman for a long time. He keeps putting the pressure on underneath at VFL level. The games I’ve seen him play at AFL level, he’s a crash and bash ruckman who’s done a great job. I hope he can keep putting pressure on to help Goldstein out in that regard.
“Tristan Xerri is another young kid going through the VFL ranks as well. If they both can put the pressure on Todd, that will make him a better ruckman.”
Rocca has bolstered David Noble’s Kanagroos’ coaching staff after working in development roles at Collingwood over the last decade.
Cricket: Following his brilliant century against India, Steve Smith reveals what motivated him to turn his form around.
Thank you for visiting My Local Pages. We hope you enjoyed seeing this story about State and Federal News and updates named ““It was nice to score a few and keep people quiet””. This news update was posted by My Local Pages as part of our national news services.
A few weeks ago I made a decision to return briefly from my home in Canberra to my other home in Melbourne to see my adult children. I was missing them.
Like many, many Australians, the global pandemic and resulting border closures and lockdowns disrupted my plans and forced me to connect with my family via video and phone for the last four months. It was too long, which was why I needed to go home.
And while I was in Melbourne I also had the chance for face-to-face meetings with some of our Mental Health Australia membership organisations and stakeholders.
This week I have been doing the same again in Sydney, and my Brisbane trip is coming up before Christmas with plans to catch up with others across the south, west and north early in 2021.
I don’t need to tell you what a great thing it is, meeting face-to-face. For starters there is no mute button or technology glitches, and for me the real benefit is the opportunity for personal connection, collaboration and the evolution of ideas. Just what we need in our mental health ecosystem as we head into a year of opportunity.
In these face-to-face conversations over the last couple of weeks I’ve heard about exhausted teams working to sustain their efforts. I’ve heard a great deal about what these teams have learned, and done, in this most extraordinary of years.
I’ve heard about holiday plans that are coming closer. And I’ve heard about challenging economic and personal situations and their impact on organisations and the individuals for whom they provide services and support.
I have also heard, and talked about, hope for 2021 and for positive strategic change, investment and sector development.
In the light of the Productivity Commission report and the challenges we have as a sector going forward, now is the time to be building on the collaborative partnerships we have, and to work together.
Our consumer and carer communities need this more than ever because lasting reform doesn’t just come from coordinated leadership from government — it comes from each of us committing to the power of shared action.
We need to be building on the existing strengths in our mental health ecosystem and using these to work together for change.
Next week the Grace Groom Memorial Oration will be delivered by Dr Brendan Murphy via video conference (the first time ever in its 14-year history) and while this is a change for the organisation, we can only hope that our 2021 Oration will be face-to-face and members and stakeholders will benefit accordingly.
Have a good weekend.
Leanne Beagley CEO
PS A quick note of thanks toChristine Morgan, Mark Roddam, and Tania Rishniw for today’s webinar discussing the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health and how it will link with the National Mental Health Commission’s Vision 2030. To have more than 50 members of the sector on the webinar today shows just how much interest there is in the next steps, and we look forward to working with you all as we advocate further for these reports and the recommendations within them.
Reminder that the Annual General Meeting of Mental Health Australia Ltd will be held on Thursday 10 December 2020 at 2.30pm (AEDST). Due to extraordinary circumstances presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and for the continued safety of everyone in our community, this meeting will be held virtually using Redback webinar. A link to the virtual AGM will be sent to all registered members prior to the meeting.
Mental Health Australia is pleased to invite you to the 2020 Grace Groom Memorial Oration to be delivered by Dr Brendan Murphy, Secretary of the Department of Health and former Chief Medical Officer for the Australian Government.
The oration will take place at 3:00pm AEDT on Thursday 10 December, preceded by the Mental Health Australia Annual General Meeting at 2:30pm AEDT. To register for either or both events, please email governance@mhaustralia.org RSVP by Monday 7 December.
This week Mental Health Australia published a policy paper on NDIS Independent Assessments. The policy paper highlights several concerns about the proposed process of implementation of NDIS Independent Assessments. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is introducing Independent Assessments for prospective NDIS participants and for some current participants at plan review. The NDIA states the assessments will be free and carried out by Independent Assessors with relevant skills and expertise and therefore aim to save prospective participants time and money in gathering evidence to qualify for the Scheme.
Mental Health Australia’s policy paper points out that Independent Assessors, who do not have an existing relationship with the person, and/or who don’t have the necessary skills and experience in working with someone who has a psychosocial disability may not be best placed to assess their functional capacity. In addition, the use of the designated assessment tools and the process for their use runs the risk of an assessment which doesn’t accurately reflect the complexity of psychosocial disability. While the cost–free nature of Independent Assessments addresses a significant financial barrier to NDIS access, it does not address other important barriers faced by people with psychosocial disability.
The policy paper proposes solutions to address these issues, including an offer to collaborate with the NDIA to build flexibility into the assessment process for people with psychosocial disability. Mental Health Australia also makes recommendations around consultation and transparency, embedding a recovery-oriented approach in the assessment process and removing some of the other barriers people with psychosocial disability will face in accessing assessments.
This policy position was developed in collaboration with Mental Health Australia members and consumer and carer representatives through a Members Policy Hub, run in November 2020. Members Policy Hubs are a new Mental Health Australia initiative where short term ‘sprint teams’ are drawn together from Mental Health Australia’s membership to address key current policy issues.
To read the full policy paper, please click here: https://mhaustralia.org/general/members-policy-hub-ndis-independent-assessments To read more about Mental Health Australia members policy hubs please click here: https://mhaustralia.org/membership/members-policy-hubs
On Monday we have a Board Finance and Risk Management Meeting.
On Tuesday we will be holding a staff planning day as well participating in a coordination meeting for CALD activities across the sector with the Department of Health. Melanie Cantwell will also be attending a second Carers Advisory Group as part of our tripartite project with Carers Australia and Mental Health Carers Australia.
On Wednesday we have an Alliance meeting for the Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Project, a National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum Meeting and we will further work with the RACGP and Consumer Health Forum on our budget submission for national investment in Social Prescribing.
On Thursday we have a Board meeting, our AGM and the Grace Groom Memorial Oration with Dr Brendan Murphy. You can register for these by emailing governance@mhaustralia.org
On Friday the Mental Health Australia team will be celebrating our year together and marking the Christmas season with a face-to-face lunch in Canberra.
The Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (the Framework) is a free, nationally available online resource which allows organisations and individual practitioners to evaluate and enhance their cultural responsiveness. It has been mapped against national standards to help you meet your existing requirements, with access to a wide range of support and resources.
New research has found that over 50% of young people living in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia are worried about their future, however when compared to their city counterparts they are less likely to seek support. In the nationally representative survey of 1000 young people by youth mental health organisation ReachOut, 73% of young people living in metro areas indicated they would talk to someone about their stress about the future, compared to just over 62% of young people in regional, rural and remote areas.
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Thursday marked International Day of People with Disability, which aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of people with disability. The theme for 2020 is ’Building Back Better: toward a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 world.’
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Defence personnel, veterans and their families impacted by the ongoing coverage of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force’s Afghanistan Inquiry are being encouraged to reach out for support. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said the vast majority of men and women who serve in our Defence forces transition well to successful careers, but some require additional assistance.
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Access to mental health services is a particular concern for specialist trainees, analysis by the Australian Medical Association has found. The AMA Specialist Trainee Experience Health Check is based on findings from the 2019 Medical Training Survey (MTS) released in February 2020, the development of which was led by the AMA Council of Doctors in Training.
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Despite the challenges this year due to COVID-19, Grow Local participants have worked hard towards completing their Grow Local Certificate IV in Mental Health, meaning communities throughout Western Australia will have additional mental health support available to those who may be struggling. The program has proven to not only be an effective way of meeting these community needs, but also a popular one, with more than 60 participants graduating in towns throughout the state in the coming weeks.
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The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is urging Government to help GPs care for patients with mental health issues. It comes following the release of the latest edition of the Australian Journal of General Practice, which is published by the RACGP. The December edition features articles on the psychological consequences of social isolation and quarantine, the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic and the psychiatric impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers.
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The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) has commended the Federal Government on the announcement of their intention to make telehealth permanently available to Australians. After strongly advocating for the benefits of telehealth throughout the year, the RANZCP is looking forward to working alongside the government to make this a reality for those seeking mental health treatment, said RANZCP President, Associate Professor John Allan.
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Australian Counselling Association Inc ACA is Australia’s premier peak body for counsellors and psychotherapists with over 6500 members. Membership to ACA gives members access to private health fund provider numbers, EAPs, NDIS, Insurance, employment portal and much more. ACA resources are dedicated to advocacy work towards better recognition for the profession.
Marathon Health Marathon Health is a not-for-profit, registered charity delivering high quality health and wellbeing services to people in country NSW and the ACT. We are one of the few health organisations based in country Australia with the core purpose to identify, deliver and sustain services to people within these communities. We are passionate advocates for equal access to quality health services for people wherever they choose to live. We are a strong voice for rural health: we live here, we work here, and our future is here.
Women currently working in the health care sector have a final opportunity to register their interest in a scholarship worth up to $5,000 to support participation in an accredited leadership development program.
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The National Digital Mental Health Framework team encourages key stakeholders to participate in one of the upcoming workshops and/or the written submission process for the purpose of scoping and developing a National Digital Mental Health Framework as it is important to capture a diverse perspective in the sector to accurately reflect barriers and opportunities in the digital mental health space.
Further information, including the Consultation Paper click here
The written submission survey will be open until 11 December 2020 where members of the public and organisations are invited to make an online submission, addressing the questions set out in the Consultation Paper. Survey link
Stakeholders are also invited to participate in one or more of the three remaining sub theme-based workshops. Each workshop will run for 1.5 hours and will address the key questions relevant to a sub-theme as outlined in the Consultation Paper.
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Relationships Australia is partnering with the University of Worcester and Relate in the United Kingdom, as well as Griffith University Australia, in an independent international long-term research study. The Families Un-locked study aims to understand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on relationships and family life and the influence it continues to have across the globe. Everyone is encouraged to take part in this research and share the survey across their networks.
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Australia has introduced National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) Standards at a time when the delivery of high-quality mental health care has never been more important. Developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, the new standards describe the level of care and safeguards that a digital mental health service should provide. They will support the delivery of high quality and safe care including counselling, treatment and peer-to-peer support services via telephone, videoconferencing, websites, SMS, webchat and mobile apps.
Watch the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India LIVE on Fox Cricket, coverage starts Saturday at 9:30am AEDT!
Ask most Australian cricketers and they’ll tell you the Boxing Day Test is the pinnacle match to play in.
And since the turn of the century, we’ve witnessed many unforgettable moments of brilliance, as well as some that have turned to disaster, at the MCG.
Foxsports.com.au has ranked the 20 most memorable Boxing Day Test performances — good or bad, single moments or an overall innings — of the 21st century.
Watch Australia v India Test Series Live & Ad-Break Free During Play with the Fox Cricket commentary team. New to Kayo? Get your free trial now & start streaming instantly >
1. Shane Warne takes his 700th Test wicket — Australia v England, 2006
Anyone who was at the MCG will never forget the second ball of Shane Warne’s first over that Boxing Day.
The Australian spinner — and proud Victorian — delivered the perfect leg break to England opener Andrew Strauss, pitching the ball just outside off before spinning back sharply between Strauss’ bad and pat and hitting the stumps to claim his 700th Test wicket.
Shane Warne bowled Andrew Strauss for his 700th wicket. Picture: Michael DodgeSource: News Limited
As Warne took off in celebration, the noise generated by the near 90,000 fans at the ground was something else.
Warne has always paid tribute to his ‘script writer’, as many of his greatest cricketing moments couldn’t have been scripted better. And this one — in his second last Test at his home ground against England in front of a massive crowd — was arguably his best.
2. Andrew Symonds’ maiden Test hundred — Australia v England, 2006
Previously regarded as a white-ball specialist, Symonds was struggling to cement his spot in the Australian Test team prior to this knock.
He’d passed 50 twice and made it into the 20s several times, but couldn’t go on for that elusive triple-figure score. Prior to Australia’s first innings, his average was just 18.47.
Then the day after Warne’s magical 700th wicket moment, Symonds produced one of his finest innings of his career.
With the Aussies reeling at 5-84, Symonds strode to the MCG wicket to join fellow Queenslander Matthew Hayden. He took 21 deliveries to register his first single — and then the runs started to flow.
Andrew Symonds couldn’t contain his excitement with Matthew Hayden. Picture: William WestSource: AFP
Symonds brought up his maiden century with a towering six down the ground. He let out a massive roar of relief and jubilation, raised his bat in the air and leapt into Hayden’s arms. He was so excited — he revealed 12 years later he was “drunk on adrenaline” — that he crushed himself so hard onto Hayden’s head that he left the latter with a big blood blister on his forehead.
Symonds would finish with 156, while Hayden manufactured 153 — his fifth century in six Tests at the MCG — in a colossal, near seven-hour knock that set up Australia’s win. The duo put on 279 for the sixth wicket, which remains the fourth-highest sixth-wicket stand by an Australian pair in Test history.
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3. That ‘Nice Garry’ wicket — Australia v Pakistan, 2016
You kind of had to be there. It was so silly, yet so brilliant.
Aussie wicket-keeper Matthew Wade’s encouragement towards Nathan Lyon using the term ‘Nice Garry’ — Garry being Lyon’s nickname after Melbourne AFL champion Garry Lyon — had quickly become a social phenomenon. So much so that a Facebook event urging the crowd to yell “Nice Garry” after the third ball of his first over against Pakistan in 2016 saw 20,000 users indicate they were ‘attending’ or ‘interested’.
The MCG went bananas after Nathan Lyon’s first wicket. Picture: Wayne LudbeySource: News Corp Australia
So come the third ball of Lyon’s first over, the anticipation and noise as Lyon ran in to bowl to Sami Aslam was like he was about to send down a hat-trick ball.
Then the twist: Lyon actually took the wicket of Aslam, who pushed forward to a sharp off-break and edged to Aussie skipper Steve Smith at slip.
The pre-ball noise was insane — the post-wicket decibels were off the charts.
The power of Facebook, hey? Nice Garry.
4. Virender Sehwag’s Day 1 insanity — Australia v India, 2003
He’d already made a century on debut and pommeled a hundred against England at Trent Bridge. But Sehwag’s savagely powerful knock of 195, which was made in less than a day in front of a vociferous Australian crowd, was an immense statement to the cricketing world.
The quintessential Sehwag traits were on show, smashing 25 fours and five sixes as he showed off exquisite timing. Yet it wasn’t an eccentric knock with ample risks taken — although he was dropped, survived two close run out and chances and hit on the helmet three times.
Virender Sehwag was in devastating form. Picture: Wayne LudbeySource: News Limited
But Sehwag also showed ample patience and discipline, particularly at the start of his innings when Aussie pacemen Nathan Bracken and Brett Lee were bowling tight line and lengths.
Eventually Sehwag would fall, smashing a Simon Katich full toss to Bracken at wide long-on. But he received rapturous applause as he left the MCG, for everyone in attendance that Boxing Day knew they’d witnessed something pretty special.
5. Ricky Ponting’s highest Test score — Australia v India, 2003
The day after Sehwag’s insanity, the Australian vice-captain responded with one of his great Test innings. Statistically it was his best ever.
Ponting was at the peak of his powers in 2003. Two weeks before the Boxing Day Test against India, he’d pummelled his then-highest Test score of 242 off just 352 balls.
Come the MCG clash, Ponting was more restrained and patient — his new career-high of 257 came off 458 deliveries — yet just as commanding, playing very few false shots as he put on a back-foot masterclass.
Ricky Ponting made a stunning double ton. Picture: Colleen PetchSource: News Limited
While Sehwag was the only Indian threat with the bat in the first innings, Ponting found support from Boxing Day test specialist Matthew Hayden, who made 136 and combined with Ponting for a second-wicket stand of 234 to set up a relatively easy win for Australia.
For the record, Ponting finished his 11-match 2003 calendar with these relatively healthy numbers: 1503 runs at an average of 100.2, six centuries (including three double centuries) and four 50s. The guy could play a bit.
6. Australia’s nightmare day sets up England’s Ashes win — Australia v England, 2010
From a pure on-field performance perspective — so that eliminates the ball tampering saga in Cape Town — there haven’t been many worse days for Australian cricket than Boxing Day 2010.
With the Ashes tied at 1-1, Australia had to win the fourth Test to keep the series alive, as England only needed a drawn series result to retain cricket’s most famous trophy.
By stumps on the first day, England already had one hand on the Ashes after a disastrous Australian batting display.
Kevin Pietersen led the post-Test celebrations. Picture: Scott BarbourSource: Getty Images
After England won the toss and elected to field first, Jimmy Anderson and Chris Tremlett ran amok on a gloomy Melbourne day, taking four wickets apiece to help bowl Australia out for 98 — Australia’s second-lowest Test total ever at the MCG.
To rub salt into the wounds, England had passed Australia’s total — and still hadn’t lost a wicket — by stumps, with Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss guiding the tourists to 0-157.
Just over three days later, England bowled Australia out again to seal a massive win by an innings and 157 runs.
It also meant it retained the Ashes in Australia for the first time in 24 years — and led to the team’s famous ‘sprinkler’ celebration in front of the Barmy Army.
7. Justin Langer’s finest Test innings — Australia v England, 2002
This was Langer at his best.
The left-hander combined with great mate and opening partner Matthew Hayden for another big opening-wicket stand of 195, with Hayden also making an imposing century.
But after Hayden’s dismissal, Langer went on to make his highest Test score in a defiant display against a helpless Indian attack.
Back foot or front footy, off-side or on-side, in the air or on the ground — Langer pulled out his full arsenal of strokes and time the ball superbly, much to the delight of a packed MCG crowd.
Justin Langer made his highest Test score.Source: News Limited
Langer brought up his century on Boxing Day with massive six over long-on, punching the air in an emotional celebration. The next day, when he passed 200 for the second time then 250 for the first time, he soaked in the rapturous applause.
He was soon caught at backward point soon after, but the damage Langer had inflicted on England was match-defining.
8. The highest score by an overseas batsman — Australia v England, 2017
With the Ashes back in Australian hands and his team — and him individually — underperforming, Alastair Cook entered the 2017 Boxing Day Test under pressure.
Five days later, the England great departed the MCG with the highest Test score by a visiting player and the knowledge that he’d just denied Australia of registering a 5-0 Ashes whitewash.
After David Warner and Steve Smith inspired the Aussies to another strong first innings total, Cook managed to take the game out of Australia’s hands with gritty, determined, resilient and uncompromising Test match batting.
Alastair Cook was unstoppable against Australia. Picture: William WestSource: AFP
The left-hander monumentally carried his bat, finishing 244 not out after more than 10 hours at the crease and 409 balls faced. It was the longest Test innings by any overseas batsman in a Test since Cook’s unbeaten knock of 235 at the Gabba seven years earlier.
Cook’s innings, which usurped the 208 by West Indian Viv Richards in 1984, forced a few changes in the MCC Reserve, with his name replacing Richards’ at the ground’s Bullring bar.
9. Dale Steyn’s perfect Test and South Africa’s perfect result — Australia
It’ll go down as one of the great matches in South African history to cap off arguably the nation’s finest cricket calendar year.
After losing in Perth, Australia began the Melbourne Test in promising style, putting together 394 in the first innings — off the back of an excellent Ricky Ponting century — then having South Africa to 7-198 at stumps on day two. And when the Proteas slumped to 8-251, hopes of victory seemed long gone.
Then Dale Steyn joined JP Duminy at the wicket. And the duo produced an unlikely yet series-defining partnership and comeback.
South Africa pair JP Duminy and Dale Steyn put on a match-winning partnership. Picture: Joe CastroSource: AAP
In just his second Test, Duminy played with wisdom beyond his years, scoring his maiden century in what would ultimately be his highest Test score of 166, while Steyn conjured his maiden half-century and, also, his highest Test score of 76.
Duminy and Steyn would combine for a stand of 180 — the fourth-highest ninth-wicket partnership in Test history — as they embarrassed and exposed an inexperienced bowling attack, which had lost Brett Lee to injury mid-Test.
Steyn, who’d also snared five wickets in the first Australian innings, backed up his efforts with the bat in Australia’s second innings, taking 5-67 to finish with 10 scalps for the match and leaving his team with just 183 runs to win.
And when Hashim Amla hit the winning runs with a quintessentially graceful shot off his pads, it sealed South Africa’s first-ever series victory in Australia — and the Aussies’ first home series loss since 1992-93.
10. Shane Watson’s pair of nervous 90s — Australia v Pakistan, 2009
This was a nerve-racking, excruciating viewing experience for Aussie fans — and no doubt nerve-racking, excruciating experience for Watson to endure.
Earlier in the year, Watson had established himself as Australia’s next Test opener. He’s passed 30 in nine of his 10 innings prior to the Boxing Day Test, but had never gone on to triple figures.
Both Watson and opening partner Simon Katich seemed destined for tons against Pakistan before a calamitous mix-up brought about the former’s downfall.
Shane Watson scored his maiden century. Picture: Julian SmithSource: AAP
Watson was on 93 when he took off for a single after Katich had pushed a ball into the covers cover. But as Katich retreated to the striker’s end, Watson kept running, leaving both men at the same crease as the run-out was completed at the bowler’s end. Replays showed Katich’s foot had hit ground a split second before Watson, who trudged off the MCG with a seventh Test half-century to his name.
Watson hadn’t been the only Aussie to reach triple figures that summer, with Katich, Brad Haddin, Michael Hussey, Marcus North and Michael Clarke all passing 70 but getting out before the 100 mark.
But Watson finally broke the century drought in the second innings — albeit just. He spent an agonising 39 deliveries and 67 minutes in the 90s — he went into the lunch break 98 not out — before, on 99, he was dropped by Abdur Rauf at gully, allowing him to scamper through for a single and register his maiden Test century.
BRAD HADDIN, MIKE HUSSEY AND TOM MORRIS DISCUSS INDIA’S 92 MINUTES OF MAYHEM AND PREVIEW THE MCG TEST. TO LISTEN, TAP HERE OR SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES OR SPOTIFY
11. Waugh’s scratchy innings — Australia v England, 2002
Before that memorable day at the SCG against England, the under-fire Waugh produced one of his most unconvincing knocks in his career — one, he later admitted, was hampered by a migraine.
After a defiant 77 in the first innings, Waugh strode to the MCG wicket in the fourth innings with Australia needing just 24 runs for victory.
It all came to a head during one Steve Harmison over.
First England failed to appeal a caught behind decision after the ball lightly brushed Waugh’s bat off a rising Harmison delivery.
Steve Waugh had a tough second innings. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Limited
The Aussie captain then smashed a ball straight to extra cover where counterpart Nasser Hussain took a sharp catch — only for the umpire to call a no-ball. Waugh had almost walked off the ground before realising he still hadn’t been officially dismissed.
Waugh then drove Harmison straight down the ground for four, drawing boos and jeers from a vociferous Barmy Army.
He would eventually lose his wicket to Andy Caddick, out for a scratchy 14 off just 30 deliveries to ensure he entered the SCG Test under high scrutiny.
12. Mike Hussey’s timely ton and unlikely 10th-wicket stand — Australia v South Africa, 2005
When Hussey arrived at the MCG for the 2005 clash with South Africa, he’d quickly established himself as a Test-quality middle order batsman after waiting years for his opportunity.
The reputation was only further enhanced against the Proteas when he scored his third Test century and combined superbly with Glenn McGrath.
Mike Hussey and Glenn McGrath put together a 10th-wicket partnership of over 100. Picture: Colleen PetchSource: News Limited
Hussey started the Day 2 on 23 and had only added four runs to his tally when Stuart MacGill departed to leave Australia 9-248. But as McGrath kept his wicket and Hussey consistently hit the rope — despite the Proteas’ field being well back — the Aussies’ total grew.
Hussey scored 122 to help the Aussies to 355. McGrath contributed 11 not out as the pair put on 107 — the highest 10th-wicket partnership for Australia against South Africa
13. One of the great classy, pure Test match knocks — Australia v England, 2010
While Australia’s horror first-day performance and Ricky Ponting’s run-in with Aleem Dar stole the headlines, Jonathan Trott calmly and methodically put together one of the great Test innings at the MCG of the past 20 years.
Trott came into the Melbourne Test in terrific touch after scoring three centuries and four half-centuries during an outstanding 2010 calendar year.
Jonathan Trott produced a brilliant knock in 2010.Source: News Limited
Then he produced arguably his finest knock of the 12-month period, finishing 168 not out off 345 balls.
He was far from flashy, yet his control and discipline was impeccable as he barely made an error in his eight-hour knock.
14. David Warner caught on 99 … off a no-ball — Australia v England, 2017
Just when England had something to celebrate something in what had been an ordinary Ashes series to date, Tom Curran’s first test wicket was ripped away from him.
Aussie opener David Warner was in the middle of a quintessentially blistering first-day knock. By the 41st over, Warner had raced to 99 off just 128 balls.
Then in search of his century, Warner appeared to completely botch his golden moment, playing a half-hearted pull stroke off Curran that lobbed to mid-on for a simple catch.
David Warner was caught, but not out after a no ball. Picture: Mark StewartSource: News Corp Australia
But as a livid Warner walked from the ground and a jubilant England side celebrated, TV replays indicated Curran had over-stepped the popping crease by millimetres, leading to a no-ball.
Warner was brought back to the middle — and the next ball, he tucked Curran into the leg-side for a single to bring up a dramatic 21st Test century.
Warner would only make another four runs before Jimmy Anderson dismissed him caught behind — and Curran would eventually snare his first Test wicket when he bowled in-form Aussie captain Steve Smith.
15. Lyon and Starc bowl Aussies to remarkable victory – Australia v Pakistan, 2016
For four days, the Australia-Pakistan Test meandered along and was seemingly set for an inevitable draw. Azhar Ali made a gutsy 205 not out before Steve Smith and David Warner responded with their own centuries — and Mitchell Starc clobbered 84 handy runs — to give the Aussies a 181-run first innings lead just before lunch on the final day, giving them two sessions to bowl Pakistan out.
Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon bowled Australia to victory over Pakistan. Picture: Julian SmithSource: AAP
Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc struck early to leave Pakistan at 2-6. Azhar and veteran Younis Khan managed to sow the tempo of the game down before Nathan Lyon — fresh off his first-innings third-ball heroics — takes three consecutive wickets as the Pakistanis struggled to deal with his bounce. Starc then cleaned up the tail in the final session to hand Australia an unlikely win.
16. Pacemen shine with nine-wicket hauls – 2018
The 2018 Boxing Day Test was an absorbing battle, with India’s stronger batting line-up ultimately the difference between the two teams.
But it’ll ultimately be renowned as the Test that saw Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins emerge as the new star quick bowlers in world cricket.
As his teammates struggled to threaten India’s top order, Cummins bowled with heart, passion and discipline to be Australia’s biggest threat with the ball.
Jasprit Bumrah inspired India to victory. Picture: Julian SmithSource: AAP
After removing India’s top three in the first innings, Cummins roared to life in the second innings, taking 6-27. Late on the third day, he ripped through the visitors’ middle order, removing Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli for ducks before Ajinkya Rahane was caught behind for one in a devastating spell of fast bowling that had a touch of Dennis Lillee about it,
But ultimately, Australia’s top order had no answer for Bumrah, whose pace and bounce proved too hard to combat. He took six wickets in the first innings then three in the second — including the prized wicket of Cummins, who batted bravely in his knock of 63 — to win man-of-the-match offers.
17. Langer v Shoaib — Australia v Pakistan 2004
You couldn’t have asked for a better contest within a contest between two fierce competitors.
Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar was the quickest bowler of his generation — and when he was fiery, there was no scarier sight in world cricket.
Justin Langer, one of the toughest batsmen of the 1990s and 2000s, experienced Shoaib at his most ferocious in 2004.
Justin Langer traded words with Shoaib Akhtar. Picture: Michael DodgeSource: News Corp Australia
After removing Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting cheaply, Shoaib took out his energy on Langer, sending down a breathtaking over where he constantly hit 150km/hr. Not only that, he gave Langer some lip — to which Langer returned serve.
In the middle of the over, Shoaib bowled a no-ball — and Langer let him know all about it, holding out his arm to mimic the umpire’s signal, just in case Shoaib was unaware of his misstep.
18. Andy Bichel announces himself on the Test stage — Australia v West Indies, 2000
When you think of late ‘90s, early 2000s Aussie pacemen, the energetic and always entertaining Andy Bichel immediately springs to mind.
And Melbourne-based cricket tragics got to see the best of Bichel against the West Indies at start of the 21st century.
Andy Bichel dismissed Brian Lara on his way to a five-wicket haul. Picture: George SalpigtidisSource: News Corp Australia
After a Steve Waugh century helped Australia to 364 in the first innings, Bichel — who was in just his fifth Test — roared to life and thrived on the MCG stage.
The right-armer dismissed superstar batsman Brian Lara, thanks to a sharp catch at second slip by Mark Waugh, before removing Jimmy Adams and Ridley Jacobs to have the MCG rocking. He took two more wickets to register his maiden five-wicket haul.
19. Mitchell Johnson all-round game – Australia v Sri Lanka, 2012
If it wasn’t enough for a lowly Sri Lanka side to be subjected to his pace with the ball, in the 2012 Boxing Day Test, Johnson unleashed his talent with the bat on Mahela Jayawardene’s side.
After claiming four wickets in the first innings, Johnson joined in the fun with the bat, finishing on 92 not out.
Mitchell Johnson tore Sri Lanka to shreds. Picture: Hamish BlairSource: AAP
At one stage, Mike Hussey was playing second fiddle to Johnson, who hit seven fours.
Johnson then backed up his batting feats with another two wickets in Sri Lanka’s innings to win man of the match honours as the Aussies won inside three days.
20. Batting feast – Australia v India, 2014
The MCG wicket has been renowned for being batsmen friendly over the years. Yet if you’re a fan of big scores, you would’ve loved what was dished up during the 2014 Boxing Day Test.
In his second Test as captain, Steve Smith showed leadership sits comfortably with him as he produced a stunning 192-run knock in the first innings. He batted superbly with the tail as he edged towards his maiden double century before he was bowled trying to play a ramp shot.
Australian captain Steve Smith made 192. Picture: Julian SmithSource: AAP
But India’s star pair wasn’t to be outdone, with Virat Kohli (169) and Ajinkya Rahane (147) both scoring big tons. They combined for a partnership of 262 — the sixth-highest fourth-wicket stand by an Indian pair in Test history.
Shaun Marsh was on the verge of joining the century makers in the second innings, only to be run out by Kohli for 99 chasing a quick single.
I am in Finland for the year working as a researcher at the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies at the University of Helsinki. Last summer, back home in Canada, I downloaded an app so I could learn some basic Finnish phrases. It must have been a strange sight for my neighbors to see me gardening with my headphones on while pronouncing Finnish words and phrases out loud—especially since the language sounds so foreign.
Finnish is renowned for its difficulty and many folks would not even try to learn unless they were moving here permanently (which I wish I could do—Rakastan Helsinkiä!). I was dutifully learning a bit more every day until I arrived here in mid-August. This was when I found out that Finns may be reserved and shy but they are also way too nice! I am taking a Finnish course for beginners but people will switch to English at the first sign of puzzlement on my part. Even when I indicate that I am trying to learn the language by listening and speaking to others. The Finns either want to save me the effort or embarrassment, or want to save themselves from having to suffer through my extremely poor attempts at speaking.
Now, I truly admire the Finns’ capacity to express themselves almost perfectly in English. I admire anyone that is open to bilingualism or even plurilingualism. I grew up in Montreal, Québec, at the peak of separatism and at the time when the Charter of the French Language, Bill 101, was implemented. French was declared the official language of the province and measures were put in place to guarantee its preeminence in Quebec society. However, I was also a French-speaking little girl living in the Italian neighborhood of Saint Léonard, and I would hear a mix of Italian, English, and French on a daily basis. Given the increasing number of folks of Haitian origins, I would also occasionally hear some Creole. Our landlords, who were practicing Catholics, were dismayed that my parents did not look after my religious education, so they took me to Italian mass. Every weekend when visiting the public library, I would also borrow books in Italian. My father was interested in the history of Germany and I would listen in awe to his language LPs teaching German. So, one can say that from a young age I had an interest, and perhaps even some talent, for foreign languages. When the time came to choose a university, I deliberately enrolled in an English-speaking university so I could become proficient in the language. That earned me the title of a traitor among my people because I was studying in English when my discipline was also offered at all the French-speaking universities! Folks think of Canada and Quebec as bilingual, but they are not. Most Canadians are unilingual. While Canada is bilingual on paper, the only province that is officially bilingual is New Brunswick. The existence of two separate sides is all too real and the two groups often show hostility toward each other. This is especially true in Quebec where there is a high level of anxiety regarding the protection and future of francophone culture and language. That is very unfortunate.
My previous experience of a long stay abroad was when I was studying for my Ph.D. in Salzburg, Austria. Before going, I took every German course I could and this included a very thorough year-long “Reading German” course that focused on grammar. I certainly had a good command of the language by the time I arrived there. However, being able to read Nietzsche and attend a lecture in German is very different from having an everyday conversation. Also, the Austrians were not so nice. They would let me fumble through a sentence without batting an eye and they would make me suffer through the effort of finding the right words to communicate. They offered no help except in German. I had this experience at school, in stores, in restaurants, and with friends. In fact, it was only in the last week of my two and a half years stay that I found out that a friend spoke perfect French. I was stunned when we were out on the street and someone started talking with her in French. She had never switched to French to help me. That was not nice at all, but it did force me to learn.
Finns are at the other end of the spectrum on this matter. Finns are too nice! However, in wanting to help me communicate they actually make it harder for me to learn the language. In fact, there are very few incentives to learn when everyone automatically switches to English to help you out. I feel terrible when I am in a group of Finnish speakers and everyone uses English for my sake. This would be a frowned-upon situation in Canada and in many other places. But here in Finland, it is the norm. It also makes me think that Finns must have a great deal of confidence in the strength of their culture, language, and future if they are such fervent bilinguals. Their openness to other languages also surprises me after learning more about Finland’s history with Sweden and Russia. Having declared its independence only a little over a century ago, one would expect that Finland’s national sentiment would be expressed through a more unilingual approach. But Finns are not only too nice, they are also smart: being open to the world is a key to success for Finland and if this means using a lingua franca—usually English these days—then so be it. Meanwhile, please let me fumble in Finnish…Don’t be so nice!
Christine Daigle is a Professor of Philosophy at Brock University (Canada) and currently working as Research Director at the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies at the University of Helsinki.
This is an Expat View Column. If you want to share your story and experiences with other ex-pats in Finland please send us an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
FILE PHOTO: Security forces guard the area after a reported knife attack at Notre Dame church in Nice, France, October 29, 2020. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
November 3, 2020
PARIS (Reuters) – Another four people have been placed in custody over last week’s fatal knife attack in the French city of Nice, BFM TV and Agence France Presse (AFP) reported on Tuesday.
An assailant shouting “Allahu Akbar” (God is Greatest) beheaded a woman and killed two other people in a church in Nice on Thursday, in France’s second deadly knife attack in two weeks with a suspected Islamist motive.
The suspected attacker, a 21-year-old from Tunisia, was shot by police and is now in critical condition in a hospital.
(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
third suspect has been arrested in France following an Islamic extremist knife attack at a church in Nice in which three people were killed.
Meanwhile, the family of the suspected Tunisian assailant Ibrahim Issaoui demanded to see video footage of what happened.
Two men who met with Issaoui shortly before he allegedly beheaded a woman and killed two other people in a church in the city of Nice on Thursday have been arrested.
A 35-year-old man who met Issaoui in Nice was arrested overnight, a judicial official said on Saturday.
A 47-year-old man who met Issaoui the night before the attack was already in custody, taking the number of detained suspects to three. Their connection to the attack remains unclear.
A previously unknown Tunisian extremist group claimed responsibility for the attack, and Tunisian and French authorities are investigating whether the claim is legitimate.
Church regular Nadine Devillers, 60, was the third victim to be named after she was killed inside the Notre Dame basilica in what was described as a terror attack by local authorities.
Simone Barreto Silva, 44, Vincent Loquès, 54, also lost their lives in the stabbings.
Nadine’s friend of 30 years, Joëlle Guichard said she lived near the Notre Dame and would visit the church regularly.
She told local newspaper Nice-Matin: “She often went to pray for the people she loved. From time to time she would burn a candle. She was a woman who loved others. She gave everything for others.
“She would go to pray for her husband, for me… To be happy. She was doing good around her. It was just love, this woman. It was just kindness, love and kindness, all the time. It was Nadine.”
Issaoui, who transited through Italy last month en route to France, is in a critical condition in a French hospital after being wounded by police as they arrested him.
Armed officers were seen storming the church before he was cornered and shot in the shoulder.
He allegedly shouted “Allahu akbar” – Arabic for “God is greater” – as paramedics treated him before he was taken to hospital.
Investigators in France, Tunisia and Italy are trying to determine the motive of chief suspect Ibrahim Issaoui and whether he acted alone and whether his attack on Notre Dame Church on Thursday was premeditated.
Authorities have labelled the attack, which took place amid growing tensions around cartoons published by a French newspaper mocking the Prophet Muhammad, an act of Islamist terrorism.
( A man armed with a knife fatally attacked people in the church / Getty Images )
A 35-year-old man who met Issaoui in Nice was arrested overnight, a judicial official said on Saturday.
A 47-year-old man who met Issaoui the night before the attack was already in custody, taking the number of detained suspects to three. Their connection to the attack remains unclear.
A previously unknown Tunisian extremist group claimed responsibility for the attack, and Tunisian and French authorities are investigating whether the claim is legitimate.
In Issaoui’s hometown of Sfax, his family expressed shock and appealed for peace. But they also expressed bewilderment that the young man who drank alcohol and showed no outward signs of radicalism would flee to France and attack a church.
“We want the truth about how my son carried out this terrorist attack. I want to see what the surveillance cameras showed. I will not give up my son’s rights outside the country. I want my son, dead or alive,” his mother, Gamra, told the Associated Press, her words often interrupted by tears.
Issaoui’s father and brother Wissem said that if he did indeed carry out the attack, he should face justice.
“We are Muslims, we are against terrorism, we are poor. Show me that my brother committed the attack and judge him as a terrorist,” Wissem said. “If he was the attacker, he will take his responsibility.”
(
Simone Barreto Silva managed to escape but died from her injuries
/ Unknown )
Simone Barreto Silva was stabbed several times inside Nice’s Notre Dame basilica as the Tunisian attacker Brahim Aouissaoui went on a rampage, “virtually beheading” another woman and also killing the 55-year-old sacristan Vincent Loquès.
Ms Barreto, 44, a mother of three, managed to run to a nearby burger bar but died there from her injuries, using her last words to ask parademics: “Tell my children that I love them.”
Mourners lit candles and prayed outside Nice’s Notre Dame basilica to honour the three churchgoers were killed in a suspected terrorist attack.
It comes as France heightened security nationwide amid religious and geopolitical tensions around cartoons mocking the Prophet Muhammad.
Four soldiers with rifles periodically walked past the church as people came to pay their respects to the victims.
They included 55-year-old Vincent Loques, a father of two who was the church’s sacristan, in charge of its holy objects, according to local broadcaster France-Bleu.
Another was a 44-year-old mother of three from Brazil, according to Brazil’s Foreign Ministry.
The attack suspect was seriously wounded by police and hospitalised in a life-threatening condition, authorities said.
French authorities called the attack “Islamist terrorism” and prosecutors in France and Tunisia are investigating.
Welcome to Declassified, a weekly column looking at the lighter side of politics.
Sometimes, you’ve just got to roll with the punches. So fair play to Kazakhstan for adopting Borat’s catchphrase — “Very nice!” — for a new tourism campaign.
When the first film featuring the mustachioed character — 2006’s “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” — came out, the Kazakh government was furious and went as far as placing adverts in American newspapers disputing some of the film’s claims. But now, as “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” hits the screens (if there are any cinema screens to watch films on anymore), they are much calmer in Nur-Sultan (what used to be called Astana). That’s despite Sacha Baron Cohen’s movie depicting the country as misogynistic, homophobic and anti-Semitic.
Kairat Sadvakassov, deputy chairman of Kazakh Tourism, told Huffington Post that using Borat’s catchphrase “offers the perfect description of Kazakhstan’s vast tourism potential in a short, memorable way.” There’s even a promotional video for the country and it certainly looks, er, very nice — which is more than can be said for its record on human rights.
Maybe other countries should adopt similar low-key tourism slogans.
“Britain: Not as good as it used to be, but Scotland’s nice.”
“China: We’re listening.”
“Slovakia: Not Slovenia.”
“Belgium: If you like paperwork, we’ve got you covered.”
Of course it doesn’t matter how cool your slogan is, no one can go on holiday or do much of anything these days.
For example, there will be no trick-or-treating at Halloween in Brussels this year because of tougher measures to curb surging coronavirus cases. “Of course, there will be no door-to-door, no processions at Halloween — all of that, clearly, is … forbidden,” Rudi Vervoort, premier of the Brussels region, said as he announced the measures, which is rather an extreme way of covering up the fact that he hasn’t bought any Haribo.
Meanwhile in the U.K., the police will intervene if too many people get together for Christmas. West Midlands crime commissioner David Jamieson said it’s “not the police’s job to stop people enjoying their Christmas” and then went on to outline how officers would do just that by breaking up large gatherings. There could be a new answer to the question “What did you get for Christmas this year?” “A night in the cells and a fine because granny came round for dinner.”
CAPTION COMPETITION
“Thin-skinned and what’s inside is extremely dubious. But enough about me, would you like some sausages?”
Thanks for all the entries. Here’s the best from our postbag (there’s no prize except for the gift of laughter, which I think we can all agree is far more valuable than cash or booze).
“I’ve heard many people want to see the back of me. So … do you like it?” by Giovanni Cellini.
EU heads of state and government opened their videoconference meeting on Thursday evening by issuing a collective statement in support of France following the knife attack at a church in Nice.
The leaders convened virtually to discuss the coronavirus pandemic, including the reimposition of lockdown measures in many countries in Europe, France among them, in a bid to slow the second wave of infections.
The attack Thursday morning, in which three people were killed, only deepened the somber mood.
“We, European Leaders, are shocked and saddened by the terrorist attacks in France,” the leaders said in their statement. “We condemn in the strongest possible terms these attacks which represent attacks on our shared values. We stand united and firm in our solidarity with France, with the French people and the Government of France — in our common and continued fight against terrorism and violent extremism.”
Thursday’s attack came two weeks after the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty, who was killed near Paris by a man of Chechen origin days after he used cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in a class discussion about freedom of speech.
The EU leaders added, “We call on Leaders around the world to work towards dialogue and understanding among communities and religions rather than division.”
