The Northern Territory news Mon 25 Jan 2021
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2021-01-25
English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin.; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin.
News Corp Australia
Darwin
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News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/823248
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/823644
50 SPORT MONDAY JANUARY 25 2021 NTNE01Z01MA - V1 Strikers paceman Peter Siddle after taking the crucial wicket of Thunder opener Alex Hales at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Getty Images ADELAIDE Strikers and Sydney Thunder played out one of the most chaotic matches in Big Bash history in 41-degree heat at Adelaide Oval last night. The Strikers leapt to third on the table with a bonus-point, six-run victory in a match that had it all. Two bowlers injured their hands when the ball was smashed back to them, there was an unbelievable double run-out when Jake Weatherald would have been dismissed twice on the same ball and two hat-trick attempts. That doesnt include one of the greatest bowling performances in Big Bash history and one of the catches of the tournament. Strikers star opener Alex Carey was given the first opportunity to double up on his recent ton when his side won the toss and batted. And he got off to a sizzling start before falling lbw for 29 off 23 balls to McAndrew. Weatherald raced to 31 off 26 before chaos struck. He was run out twice on the same ball while backing up at the bowlers end, then by keeper Sam Billings after being called through for a single. Phil Salt was the third batsman to get off to a great start before he mistimed an Adam Milne delivery and was caught for 31 off 24. The Strikers made just seven runs in their two-over Power Surge after incredible bowling from Adam Milne and Brendan Doggett. The Strikers finished with a belowpar 6-159, but Peter Siddle then led their attack with 2-22 off four overs. CHAOS REIGNS IN SAPPING ADELAIDE HEAT ZAC RAYSON Innings may be cut short CHANNEL Seven is leading a double life in its relationship with cricket but there remains a chance the station may never cover another Test match. Seven West Media will stay the course in its fight for a cut in rights fees over the quality of matches and scheduling issues despite the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between Australia and India delivering massive ratings. It remains to be seen whether daily press releases from Seven spotlighting the stations strong Test match ratings will be used against the network in its fight for a discount. Following the last day of the final Test in Brisbane last Tuesday, Seven released a statement that said the series had reached 10.8 million Australians, and ratings on the fourth Test were up 11 per cent on when the Indians last visited Australia two years ago. The strength of Sevens argument for a cut in fees may, perversely, be undermined by its strong ratings this season. However, its plea for a better deal stretches wider than the Test series. Seven pays more for the Big Bash than it does for Test rights and it has claimed the Big Bash, with travelling hubs and a lack of star players, is a diminished product. CA and Seven are awaiting an independent ruling of the value of the rights from designated assessor, Venture Consulting chief executive Justin Jameson. Seven has also launched action through the Federal Court seeking pre-discovery for documents relating to why this summers schedule was altered and white-ball matches were played before the Tests. Seven pays more than $80 million annually for the rights as part of a $450 million, sixyear package but lost more than $60 million per year in the first two years of the deal. Seven officials privately concede the station will never again bid for the cricket rights and there is a chance its relationship with Cricket Australia could end before next seasons Ashes tour of Australia. That would leave Cricket Australia searching for a new free-to-air partner in a small, contracting pool featuring former partners Channel 9, now the home of tennis, and Channel 10, which has limited financial resources. ROBERT CRADDOCK Sevens rocky relationship with CA threatens to end its Test coverage MELBOURNE Stars coach David Hussey said it would be extremely disappointing to miss out on the BBL finals with the level of quality in his squad. Back-to-back losses have put the Stars in danger of missing the finals for just the second ever time after an 11-run defeat to the Perth Scorchers on Saturday night. The result has set up a must-win clash against the Sydney Sixers on Australia Day, where even a win might not be enough such is the close nature of the competition. Were in a desperate state now arent we? Hussey (pictured) said. Were relying on other teams to win and we have to win our last game or were out of the competition. And for such a proud club, that would be a very disappointing result. After a deflating derby loss to the Renegades midweek, Hussey said his sides batting performance against the Scorchers was sub-par and the mood in the rooms afterwards was flat. Fallen Stars in big fight for finals DAVID SCHOUT Heats on big-hitting Lynn to cash in on start with a century BRISBANE Heat captain Chris Lynn says the onus is on him to convert his strong starts into significant scores to push his side into the Big Bash League finals. Lynn helped set up the Heats crucial win over the Melbourne Renegades at Marvel Stadium on Saturday with his fourth halfcentury of the tournament but has failed to convert any of those into a major score and believes he let a century go begging again on Saturday night. No player had managed a century in Big Bash 10 until Adelaides Alex Carey scored 101 against the Heat last Thursday before Alex Hales smashed 110 from 56 balls for the Sydney Thunder just 24 hours later. Both men led their teams to a win and with the finals on the line, Lynn knows he has to convert his starts if Brisbane is to make a mark. Id love to go and get a big one. I think I left 50 out there (against the Renegades) hopefully Ive saved them up for the finals, Lynn said. But Im really happy with the way Im starting my innings and setting a platform for the team. Obviously the big thing now is to go on with it. If were to win games of cricket, your top three have to get 80-plus scores and the guys who do get starts, the onus is on them to go on with it. Lynn, who missed several matches early in the tournament with a hamstring tear, said he couldnt put his finger on why the Big Bash run were suddenly starting to flow. Whether guys have been a little bit more reckless and are just getting away with it or the wickets are getting better and the batsmen are more comfortable, I dont know, he said. But its definitely good viewing. The standards set throughout the tournament the catching, batting and bowling has been exceptional. EMMA GREENWOOD Heats Chris Lynn.