Australia’s fate rests on England
AUSTRALIA’S slim hopes of a Steven Bradbury-style qualification for the World Test Championship final now rest on England transforming from hapless bunnies to roaring lions in the fourth Test match against India.
Could the Old Enemy really produce the most stirring response from an embarrassing total since, well, India did exactly that on Boxing Day two months ago?
It seems implausible. But perhaps the Barmy Army should mail Tim Paine and Justin Langer honorary onegame memberships just in case.
The scenario for the Test Grand Final, for which New Zealand has already qualified, is simple.
If India wins or draws the fourth Test — which begins on Thursday back at Ahmedabad — it will play the Black Caps.
But if England ($4.20 with TAB) wins, then Australia goes through.
How it came to this is anything but simple.
In what was the shortest Test match since World War II, quality strike bowlers James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma were reduced to spectators and spin bowlers were superhuman wizards.
TOWERING ruckman Max Gawn is set to be a significant part of Melbourne’s plans to cope without Sam Weideman and star recruit Ben Brown to start this season.
Gawn dominated in the ruck and in stints up forward in the Demons’ 14.9 (93) to 12.10 (82) win over Richmond, in a mostly high-quality practice match hit-out at Casey Fields in Melbourne’s south-east.
Weideman (leg stress fracture) still faces the best part of three months out, while former Kangaroo Brown (knee) is hoping to miss only the first few rounds of the year.
In their absence, Melbourne turned to a combination of Tom McDonald, Bayley Fritsch, Luke Jackson and Gawn as marking targets.
Gawn rounded out his strong ruck display with a couple of marks and goals, while Fritsch was typically lively with three majors and McDonald also looks primed for an improved campaign.
Kade Chandler (three) and Christian Petracca (two) were the Demons’ other multiple goalscorers.
Versatile young ruckman Jackson’s inclusion in the side will enable Gawn to sneak forward more often, defender Jake Lever said afterwards.
“Maxy looked very comfortable down there and I know that playing on him in pre-season, when a big, 210cm bloke comes down, it’s pretty scary for the opposition,” Lever said.
ANYTIME. Any place. Anywhere.
It’s the attitude of some the world’s greatest combat athletes and it’s one North Queensland Cowboys troops may adopt in 2021.
With positions throughout the side wide open, players are being trialled all over the park in tonight’s match against the Broncos to find where they slot in best.
Take Reuben Cotter. After playing hooker for the Indigenous All Stars last weekend, the 22-year-old will pack down at lock in the trial.
Cotter’s inclusion came after big man Jordan McLean withdrew from the game with a hamstring injury and Jason Taumalolo was moved into the front row.
“Jordan’s had some soreness over the past month,” Cowboys coach Todd Payten said yesterday.
“He could have played if it was a Round 1 game or a finals match so we’re not too concerned.”
Payten said he had no hesitation in throwing Cotter in to lock the scrum.
“We could have replaced him with another big man but Reuben’s competed really well this pre-season,” he said.
“He’s played both at lock and at hooker so it’s just a reward for the consistent day-today effort for him in our training sessions.
“Reuben’s a manufactured hooker at the moment, so he’s still learning the trade. He was a lock as a kid and if you see the way the game’s gone in the past 12 to 18 months, there’s been a resurgence of those smaller-type locks with quicker leg speed and a bit of skill through the middle.”
The coach revealed Cotter wouldn’t be the only player to be given a changing role in the match.
Scott Drinkwater will play the first half at fullback before moving into five-eighth.
Valentine Holmes will start on the wing but move into fullback to replace Drinkwater, while livewire Hamiso TabuaiFidow will split the game between centre and fullback.
“There are a number of positions up for grabs so they’re getting a fair shot from a time perspective,” Payten said.
“I’d be happy if we get through the game without an injury.”