Thunder have nothing on Bears

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SYDNEY Thunder, meet the Quetta Bears.

Haven't heard of them? Well, maybe it's time you two got better acquainted.

The Pakistan-based team represent the holy grail of Twenty20 incompetence, having lost 28 matches in a row in a streak that began in April 2005..

That first loss set the tone for the Bears, with fearsome Rawalpindi Rams fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar taking 5-23.

The Bears almost ended their streak in December, 2012, against the Abbottabad Falcons, but, true to form went down in a one-over eliminator after the match ended in a tie.

The Thunder still have some catching up to do, but their loss to Hobart on Saturday pushed them ahead of Zimbabwe and Jammu & Kashmir into outright second place.

Tonight they travel to Melbourne to take on a Renegades side that welcomes back paceman James Pattinson and opener Aaron Finch, who smashed a ton for Australia in the one-day international on Sunday.

David Warner and Chris Gayle were one-time Sydney Thunder openers. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Limited

The little-known Bears boast few big names, outside Imran Khan, who unfortunately is no relation to the Pakistan great.
The Thunder, meanwhile, have had the likes of Chris Gayle, David Warner, Michael Clarke, Usman Khawaja, Eoin Morgan, Michael Hussey wear the electric green.

In a sport where luck often plays a huge part, it's an impressively inept feat to fall short so many times in a row.

But as Quetta proved, it's possible to keep on losing… and losing... and losing.

Michael Clarke hasn't played too many games for Sydney Thunder. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Limited

Plagued by poor administration, a lack of resources and inadequate training facilities in the first two seasons, Cricket NSW began pouring far more attention into the struggling western Sydney franchise before the start of their current Big Bash League campaign.

Their former coach Shane Duff was replaced by Chandika Hathurusinghe, who used his Sri Lankan connections to recruit two of the country's biggest names in Tillakaratne Dilshan and Ajantha Mendis.

The addition of Hussey was another major step in the right direction, but injuries to Khawaja and Dilshan and the loss of Morgan to England's limited-overs squad have hurt the already hurting Thunder.

"It's a shame that we don't have something to show for the progress, because we feel we've made tremendous progress," Thunder. general manager Nick Cummins said.

"But at the end of the day you get judged by wins and losses, so the 'W' and 'L' columns suggest we've made no progress at all, when we know that's not the case.''

The Thunder will face Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan at Etihad Stadium and while the 41-year-old does feel for his struggling opponents, the Renegades have a semi-final spot to play for.

"If we start winning then we can go further in the tournament," Muralitharan said.

"We have a chance so it's up to us to grab it. We're going to play our best cricket on the day because we need the win badly, unlike them, because we can qualify.

"It's hard for them. It's a disappointment for them not winning a game for 19 games."

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Returning Jet ready for lift off

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RETURNED Newcastle striker Joel Griffiths hopes to be back in the Jets colours in a fortnight, after his dramatic re-signing for the club.

Griffiths will train today for the first time back at the Jets, three years after leaving for China, and said two weeks of fitness work should be enough to make him fit for selection.

Released by his Chinese side Qingdao Jonoon upon their relegation late last year, the 34-year-old admitted he had "a big job" to get back to match fitness.

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"I'll set out a schedule with the strength and conditioning coach and the physio," Griffiths said. "I've got a big task ahead of me in terms of getting my body in the right shape, but if I can do all the right things, I'm sure it shouldn't be a problem.

"We just have to be smart about it. I'm not going to put an exact date on when I'll be ready, but with a good two weeks under my belt with good training, I should be ready to go in around a fortnight.

"The most important thing for me is if I'm confident with my fitness, then my football will do the talking, there's no doubt about that.

"My main goal at the moment is to get as fit as possible to try and keep up with the players around me."

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Marquee returns to save Heart

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MELBOURNE Heart's morale could<span channel="!Print">receive a timely boost in their bid to avoid breaking a dreaded A-League record</span>, with marquee player Orlando Engelaar set to make his debut on Friday night against Newcastle Jets.

The giant Dutchman returned to the pitch after four months on the sidelines with a broken leg, afterplaying almost 30 minutes for Heart's youth team in Sunday's 3-1 youth league win over Melbourne Victory.

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Jonatan Germano, who was among the goalscorers for Heart, also played his first game of the season, although he's more likely to play another week with the youth team.

Harry Kewell required stitches on a leg gash but trained on Monday as did midfielder Engelaar.

"Orlando is even-money to be in the 16-man squad. His exact role depends on how he does at training,'' football manager John Didulica said.

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"He got through just over 25 minutes in a game played at a pretty good pace. He trained again today and there wasn't any residual issues from his game. It's just about tracking him for this week and seeing whether he's right to be picked for Friday night.

"It was Germano's first kick all season. He got through 45 minutes OK, but we probably need to be more patient with him because he's had a series of soft-tissue injuries.''

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Heart hosts the Jets at AAMI Park hoping to avoid setting the A-League record for most consecutive games without a win - it is level with the now-defunct New Zealand Knights on 19.

"For us it's no different to any other week. We think we're a chance of winning and the challenge for us is if it doesn't go for us early we need the mental capacity to work through it,'' Didulica said.

"We know we can beat any team in the league, but we need to battle for a full 90 minutes as well.''

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Rebels' potential unlimited: Burgess

Luke Burgess says the Rebels have unlimited potential. Picture: Mark Evans Source: News Limited

MELBOURNE's Super Rugby destiny sits in its own hands, according to Wallaby scrumhalf Luke Burgess.

The former Brumbies and Waratah back has been impressed with Melbourne's pre-season work ethic, noting high enthusiasm under coach Tony McGahan.

Declaring Melbourne's potential unlimited, Burgess says the Rebels are ready to essay a quantum leap towards finals action in the club's fourth season.

"If we stick to working hard and working for each other, I think we can't put limits on ourselves," Burgess said.

"We're really trying not to put limits on ourselves.

"We're not going to wait and we see. We're going to keep pushing and challenging ourselves and keep finding.

New Melbourne Rebels captain Scott Higginbotham models the club's new guernsey. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Limited

"We've got to find little bits of improvement where wherever we can, this group is pretty hungry and I think we can do that.

"There's a lot of quality, we've got to get the miles in the legs and the experience and keep working hard."

Melbourne players and officials believe the club is capable of dramatic rise this season after finishing 12th with a club record five wins in 2013.

Pointing to the swift ascent of the Brumbies in 2012 when the ACT powerhouse had virtually no Wallaby representation, Burgess senses Melbourne is similarly placed.

:It's a very inexperienced group of players, but really passionate, really enthusiastic," he said.

"We've got amazing coaching staff right through to a fantastic support network.

"It's a very driven group of people and that can only mean good things."

Melbourne will get its first gauge of its progress when it tackles Burgess' old club, NSW Waratahs, in Albury on February 1.

The trial is the first of three hit-outs for the Rebels as club membership climbs towards record levels.

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Attractive formula making Millions

Vin Cox: "The hard part is knocking a horse back. Nobody likes to be told their kids are ugly." Source: Brendan Radke / News Limited

MAGIC Millions is perfecting the art of avoiding the "ugly kids".

A rise of $8 million in the gross of sessions 1-4 at a clearance rate of nearly 90 per cent heralded the sale a runaway success.

MM managing director Vin Cox heaped praise on his bloodstock department, headed by selection manager Barry Bowditch, for the yearlings they catalogued.

This sale had been known over the years for "having a long tail" but one leading vet, noted for straight shooting, remarked there were only about 20 horses that fit into that category this year.

"There's a real art to the selection process. It's a delicate balance of finding the right horses and getting breeders to bring the right horses," Cox said.

"The hard part is knocking a horse back. Nobody likes to be told their kids are ugly.

"We don't profess to getting it right every time, but when you're selling nine out of 10 horses in the ring, it means we must be doing something right."

Bowditch, who has been with Magic Millions since 2005 after transferring from Inglis, said he took particular pride in the success of some emerging sires at the sale.

"We committed to Denman (15 sold at an average of $180,000) early and also I Am Invincible (10 at $200,500)," he said.

"It's important to identify horses that might throw progeny pre-Christmas and those two sires took off early and thankfully we had good numbers to offer our clients."

Bowditch soldiered on during Saturday night, working until stumps, despite his in-laws celebrating the success of Noisy Ocean well away from the mayhem of the sale grounds.

"It was a long day, but pretty satisfying," he said.

***

REPOSSESSIONS from unpaid purchases made by Bill Vlahos and BC3 at last week's sales produced a better than expected result.

"They made about 75 cents in the dollar and we're delighted with that," Cox said.

BC3's bad debt to Magic Millions is significantly less than the money owing to Inglis in Sydney, pending the outcome of a $5 million insurance claim on the deceased "Jimmy".

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Thanks a millions - 75 of them

Gai Waterhouse deep in conversation with horse breeder Tom Magnier at the sales. Source: Adam Taylor / News Limited

MAGIC Millions is perfecting the art of avoiding the "ugly kids".

The first major yearling sale of the season has ended on a high with the four-day premium sale realising a gross of more than $75 million. It represented a rise of $8 million at a clearance rate of nearly 90 per cent.

Gai Waterhouse was the biggest buyer, outlaying more than $8 million for 39 lots including the sale-topping $1 million Redoute's Choice-Hades colt.

She will also get another 15 youngsters to train with Round Table Racing spending more than $2 million.

Magic Millions managing director Vin Cox heaped praise on his bloodstock department for the yearlings they catalogued.

"There's a real art to the selection process. It's a delicate balance of finding the right horses and getting breeders to bring the right horses," Cox said.

"The hard part is knocking a horse back. Nobody likes to be told their kids are ugly.

"We don't profess to getting it right every time, but when you're selling nine out of 10 horses in the ring, it means we must be doing something right."

Denise Martin's Star Thoroughbreds bought 19 yearlings for more than $2.4 million with all to go to Sydney trainer Chris Waller, who was active with 10 yearlings costing more than $2.3 million.

Selection manager Barry Bowditch, who has been with Magic Millions since 2005 after transferring from Inglis, said he took particular pride in the success of some emerging sires at the sale.

"We committed to Denman (15 sold at an average of $180,000) early and also I Am Invincible (10 at $200,500)," he said. "It's important to identify horses that might throw progeny pre-Christmas and those two sires took off early and thankfully we had good numbers to offer our clients."

A colt by More Than Ready out of Polaway fetched $600,000, the highest price of the Saturday night session. The colt was bought by newly licensed Sydney trainer Bryce Heys.

"Physically he was as an impressive colt as there was on the sale ground," Heys said. "He thought he was the best colt in the sale.

"He's got the pedigree to back it up. He's a generation away from a Golden Slipper winner and I bought him with a profile to graduate to that race."

The yearling focus switches next week to Sydney for the Inglis Summer Classic sale then moves to New Zealand for NZ Bloodstock's Premier Sale at Karaka in Auckland.

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Money no object at Millions sales

THERE are all sorts of zany theme parks on the Gold Coast but only one place you can defy gravity.

That's the Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling sales which are essentially a tiny bubble of super-charged spending which floats above the rest of an economy where most wise men are protecting their savings like a palace guard protecting the Queen.

It was raining dollars from the first day of the sale last week when the car park was overflowing and the average price was $141,000.

That's what you might pay for a new Porsche or Maserati which, unlike your horse, is certain to get out of first gear and won't cost $3000 a month to feed.

"Did you know there was a recession on?" quipped leading Brisbane horse trainer Rob Heathcote with a knowing smile that suggested the spending blitz, while stunning, was nothing less than he expected.

It was once said that when things are tough the three things you don't buy are a race horse, a painting and a speed boat.

Artists and boat salesmen have been heard complaining about tough times but the racing industry churns on like one of those mango trees that gets belted by summer storms each year but still drops barrows full of fruit.

That's despite the lingering stench of the mysterious death of Black Caviar's younger half brother, a $5 million Sydney yearling purchase, and the perennial issue over whether some yearling prices are artificially inflated by private deals.

"When times are tough people gamble more,'" said Bill Mitchell, former trainer of crack sprinter General Nediym, who became one of the Magic Millions best advertisements when he was bought for just $20,000 at the sales, won the Magic Millions race and sired two other winners of it.

"You buy a horse and it is a ticket in the lottery. When the Global Financial Crisis hit Australia the breeders were still getting good money for good horses."

In the first Magic Million sales in 1986, 200 horses were auctioned and one of them was guaranteed to win the million dollar race snared by Snippets.

Now there are more than 3000 chasing $18 million in a number of races including Saturday's $2 million classic on the Gold Coast won by Unencumbered.

The pot of gold is enormous but it's a rugged journey with a brutal attrition rate.

If you took your yearling purchase plan to a bank manager and tried to convince him of its sense, you wouldn't even get to sit down before he picked up the phone, called security and sent you off with a Monopoly board and the suggestion you could get your big-spending thrills that way.

The purchase of the horse is just the start of your costs. A Brisbane-trained horse is likely to cost its owner around $30,000 to train each year, and if you put it with a top southern trainer, it could be another $10,000.

There were 18,355 registered horses who did not win a race in Australia last year, 4308 starters who did not make a cent and thousands more who did not even make the races.

The numbers crush you from all directions but horse racing is as much about the dream as the dollars.

It is a joyful moment for the industry when the winners are not Arab sheiks or casino owners but humble folk who unearth a gold nugget - like Scone breeder and mother of two Jilly Henderson who runs an agistment farm with her husband.

A couple of years ago she quietly slipped into a Scone broodmare sale and paid $18,000 for the mare called Zelady who was days away from dropping a filly to the then unproven sire I Am Invincible.

Such has been the strong impression created since by I Am Invincible's first crop of youngsters that Henderson's filly brought a staggering $450,000 at the sales last week.

When the bidding reached beyond $250,000 Henderson dissolved into tears and days later is still floating on that lottery winner's cloud.

"I'm still blown away - I have not come back to reality yet," she said on Sunday.

"When she was knocked down I had tears rolling down my face. I was in complete shock. I still struggle to even talk about it. I was very emotional because the day-to-day slog of running the farm is hard but this is the reward.

"I do find it a bit intimidating at the sales. I think 'little old me, what am I trying to do?' I sometimes get that feeling but I am passionate about what I do and I think why cannot I do as good a job as they do. This has been a dream really."

Big dreams that just occasionally come true ... racing would be nothing without them.

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'We are degrading the A-League'

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MARK Bosnich says A-League clubs are "being treated with contempt" after some of the competition's best young talent was plucked away for the AFC Under 22 Championships in Oman

The former Socceroos and Mariners goalkeeper says it isn't acceptable that 18 players were whisked away for what is essentially a practice tournament during one of the more important periods of the domestic season.

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"This isn't a qualifying tournament, it's purely developmental," Bosnich said on Fox Sports' Sunday Shootout.

"I wish we could have compromised earlier but self-interest always prevails in football," he said.

"Clubs are being treated with contempt and it's degrading the A-League."

Watch what Bozza had to say about the tournament in the video at the top of this page.

Bosnich's criticism followed that of Newcastle Jets coach Gary van Egmond, who was unimpressed with losing Adam Taggart, Josh Brilliante, Andrew Hoole and Connor Chapman for Friday night's stalemate with Melbourne Victory, who were without Nick Ansell, Scott Galloway, Jason Geria and Connor Pain.

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"For me it is a blight on the game for the supporters and the members who pay their money to watch the game and I don't think it was right, van Egmond said after the match.

"I think it could have been handled a lot easier. It should have been a development squad that goes over."

"You can't tell me that it is better for the young boys to go over there than it is here in the A-League where they are playing against men each week."

But former Socceroo and now coach of Australia's under 17 team, Tony Vidmar, says the tournament, which is seen as preparation for the 2016 Olympics, should take precedence.

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"It's a great experience and when your country calls, you go," Vidmar - who's brother Aurelio is the team's coach - said on Shootout.

"This is important. Every game is important. We've gone into Asia, we've struggled.

"It would be a great learning experience for the young kids.

"If players can choose not to go once, they'll just keep deciding not to play, and that won't help us."

Connor Pain of Melbourne Victory is another play away in Oman. Source: Getty Images

But Bosnich has his concerns for the players making the trip to Oman.

"The A-League clubs pay the players, not the FFA," he said.

"If they get injured, the FFA won't pay their wages.

"At this time of the season, you've got to think what the players need. You can't tell me the quality of that tournament is better than here.

Australia will play three matches in the tournament, and if the side makes it all the way to the final, A-League players won't come back to their clubs until after January 26th, meaning they would miss three matches.

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Stoppage-time winner stuns Roar

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ADELAIDE United's decision to recall Jordan Elsey from a loan deal in Hong Kong paid instant dividends as the teenager's injury-time goal secured the Reds a dramatic 2-1 win over Brisbane on Saturday.

The 19-year-old, who was on the verge of sealing a season-long move to Kitchee FC in Hong Kong on Boxing Day in a bid for more game time, came off the bench at Suncorp Stadium to nod home a 91st minute winner against the league leaders.

The strike was Elsey's first in just his third A-League appearance and capped a remarkable game where the understrength Reds stunned Brisbane with a dominant first half before appearing to be forced to settle for a point when the Roar equalised late in the second term.

The Reds' personnel dramas, with several players suspended, injured or away with the Australian under-22 side, was a key reason behind Elsey's recall with coach Josep Gombau admitting it had been a rollercoaster time for the youngster.

Follow all the action through the 90 minutes with our A-League Match Centre, featuring live updates, stats and video highlights.

Besart Berisha reminded Mike Mulvey how much he hates the bench. Source: Getty Images

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"He went there, everything was OK, he was happy, the club was happy but last week for us was horrible,'' Gombau said.

"We had a lot of injuries and also, on Saturday, Antony Golec - one central defender we think if something happened can replace any injury - asked for permission to leave the club on go to China.

"Jordan was very happy there but accepted the decision because he's our player and he came on Sunday, on Monday started training and today he scores the goal.

"This is life, it's like this.''

Adelaide had appeared set to be forced to settle for a point after Roar striker Besart Berisha, himself a second-half substitute, scored an 80th minute equaliser for the home team.

Thomas Broich couldn't quite create the same magic as the last fortnight. Source: Getty Images

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Down to 10 men following Diogo Ferreira's first-half dismissal for a second bookable offence, the Roar had struggled to match an enthusiastic Adelaide in the opening stanza.

With Socceroos defender Ivan Franjic a late withdrawal due to a stomach strain, the Roar looked unsettled in the opening exchanges and Brazilian striker Jeronimo Neumann made the most of an error by veteran fullback Shane Stefanutto to win a penalty in the 19th minute.peJeronimo dusted himself off and despite Roar goalkeeper Michael Theo saving his spot-kick, he slid home the rebound to notch his first goal away from Adelaide in the A-League.

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The Roar looked down and out when Ferreira received his marching orders but rallied with 10 men and actually looked the more likely to steal the points following Berisha's sixth goal in eight matches.

``The courage my players showed in the second half was absolutely magnificent,'' coach Mike Mulvey said.

``We got the equaliser and still had the belief we could win the game. Their goal, it was some cross and some header by the big fella.

``Good luck to them. They go home with the points.''

Mulvey could find himself with a headache ahead of next week's trip to Perth with Franjic and playmaker Thomas Broich (corked thigh) both in doubt for the game.

So much to celebrate for Adelaide and its travelling fans. Source: Getty Images

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Perry stars to put Aussies on top

Ellyse Perry bats during day two of the women's Ashes Test at the WACA Ground. Source: Paul Kane / Getty Images

STAR allrounder Ellyse Perry performed with both bat and ball on day two to help Australia recover from a poor collapse and grab the ascendancy in the women's Ashes Test against England at the WACA Ground.

The hosts started Saturday at 2-9 in reply to England's first innings of 201, then lost 3-15 in the space of five overs to be in desperate trouble at 5-37.

Ellyse Perry celebrates her half century. Source: Getty Images

Perry top-scored with an outstanding 71, forming key partnerships with captain Jodie Fields (43) and Erin Osborne (40) to lift Australia to a total of 207.

Perry then trapped Lydia Greenway lbw for five, while Rene Farrell dismissed openers Heather Knight (one) and Sarah Taylor (zero) to leave England struggling at 3-18 at stumps.

The day wasn't lacking drama.

England's fast bowlers were magnificent early, but began to wilt in the 42C heat in Perth.

That was emphasised when star opening bowler Katherine Brunt delivered her second beamer of the day just after lunch to be banned from bowling for the rest of the innings.

Brunt sent down a chest-high delivery to Sarah Elliott in the morning, then gave Perry a head-high full toss that was pulled to deep fine leg for one run.

Ellyse Perry and Jodie Fields celebrate the wicket of Lydia Greenway. Source: Getty Images

England captain Charlotte Edwards injured her knee in the field and the opening batter won't be able to come to the crease until her team is five wickets down.

Anya Shrubsole led the way with the ball for England taking 4-51, while debutant Kathryn Cross claimed 3-35 including the key scalp of Fields.

Natalie Sciver (six not out) and Arran Brindle (three) will look to increase the visitors' lead of 12 when play resumes on Sunday.

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