Fast bowler Brett Lee bade farewell to arms with a memorable final over for the Sydney Sixers that almost pulled off an unlikely Big Bash League grand final victory over Perth Scorchers. Rather than dwell on the disappointment of missing out on the title, the 38-year-old described having his nine-year-old son Preston witness his final summer as a pace ace as "very special".
"That's what life is about," Lee said. "It's great that he's had the chance to see this over the last seven weeks. He's been to most of the games, he loves cricket and plays cricket himself and to see him come out, especially at the Sydney Cricket Ground [after Lee's last game there] where he had a little tag around him, his little pass, and he's got out there and he's hugged me ... nothing else matters in the world. It doesn't matter if you get five wickets or a hundred runs – not that I ever got a hundred – or get the perfect run-out, it matters only about your family."
Lee injured his hamstring for the first time in his stellar career when he unleashed his final delivery to Scorchers tailender Yasir Arafat. Rather than the "old" days when he would have to attend physiotherapy sessions, undergo scans and the like, he said – with a well-deserved drink in hand – he intended to "ice" his hammy from "the inside".
It hasn't slowed him up. The day after the nail-biter at Canberra's Manuka Oval, he appeared at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, where he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush and also promoted his soon-to-be-released movie UnIndian. On Friday he was back on a plane to commentate on Channel Nine's coverage of the one-day internationals. Lee could have played on, but after 21 years of pace and persistence, he decided to retire while he was on top. An entertainer, Lee followed the true showman's creed and left the stage with the crowd screaming for more. He'll be missed.
Blackwell happy Breakers now have Twenty20 trophy to chase
NSW Breakers skipper Alex Blackwell spearheaded her team to the double this summer: the WNCL trophy and the national T20 crown. As Australia's most-capped female international cricketer, she is looking forward to a new challenge next season – the Big Bash League. Cricket Australia plans a T20 competition for women, which Blackwell said would open doors. "It will be a great opportunity for some of the fringe players to get more time in the middle and hopefully we can attract players from overseas to play in one of the strongest T20 comps in the world." Blackwell appears on this week's Tonk TV and can be viewed on smh.com.au
Netball centre set for Friday
Netball Australia will launch its new showpiece $35 million centre of excellence at Sydney Olympic Park on Friday after the original ceremony was called off because of the deadly siege at Martin Place. Players, stakeholders and netball notables had been invited to the event in mid-December, but organisers called it off once the seriousness of the situation in the city became apparent. The new centre, which hosted an Australian Diamonds training camp last week, will be a secondary venue for the World Cup later this year and will stage an ANZ Championship pre-season tournament from Friday to Sunday. Sunday's matches will coincide with a free family day, which will end with an exhibition game between the Swifts and defending premiers the Vixens at 2pm. No ticket required.
Ryan can rely on family counsel
Socceroos goalkeper Mat Ryan is understood to be on the radar of European clubs and should he need any advice on contract negotiations he could turn to older sister Megan, who studied sports management at university. Ryan said his sister had made it clear – on numerous occasions – her services were available to him. "Megan has made me aware she's open to taking on the job but I've gone for someone a little bit more experienced at the moment." Ryan's former Central Coast Mariners teammate and mentor Mile Sterjovski assembled a team to look after the goalie's affairs. Former Danish international and respected agent Mikkel Beck handles contract negotiations and CE Sports looks after marketing in Australia. Regardless, Ryan said one of the great elements of the Asian Football Cup tournament being staged in Australia was playing in front of his close-knit family.
Sutton staying put
Wests Tigers chief executive Grant Mayer knew the footy season was upon him when he fielded calls regarding a rumour Souths stalwart John Sutton was about to leave the premiership-winning club to link up with former Rabbitohs coach Jason Taylor at Concord after being replaced as skipper by Greg Inglis. "There's no truth to it at all," he said.
Cahill's creative flourish
It's no secret Socceroos hero Tim Cahill is determined to leave as impressive a stamp on the fashion industry as on the football pitch. He revealed one of his cherished possessions was the shoebox French designer Christian Louboutin autographed for his wife. "When I met Mr Louboutin, I was just inspired by his creativity. He drew on the shoebox and wrote a message for my wife and when you get little inspirational moments like that you feel grateful."
FIFA first non-sponsorship
Colourful entrepreneur Jaimie Fuller, the Swiss-based Australian founder of Skins, is stepping up the pressure on FIFA and its president Sepp Blatter, calling for root-and-branch change at the governing body. After his recent Brussels summit, where speakers including former England Football Association chief Lord David Triesman discussed football governance reform, Fuller announced the first official FIFA "non-sponsorship". As the cheeky Fuller explained in a blog entry on newfifanow.org: "I'm delighted this ongoing non-deal highlights all the values we don't share with FIFA. It is an exciting non-association which will shine a light on the organisation's unprogressive stance, discredited values and all-round non-integrity." Well may they chuckle.
Maxwell's Big Test
The Allan Border Medal Twenty20 player of the year, Glenn Maxwell, does not want to be pigeonholed a short-form player, but realises he might not have a choice. Maxwell said he would love to play in the Ashes but had "no idea" how to show selectors his value. "Red-ball cricket is a place I really want to be," he said. "I find that's still comfortably my best format. It's just a matter of getting opportunities." Maxwell said he had played one county game, one shield match and one Test match in the past year. "It's not a whole lot of red-ball cricket to go by," he said. The man who hates his nickname, The Big Show, should get some opportunities later this year after signing with Jason Gillespie's Yorkshire, alongside Aaron Finch. But the distinction between limited overs and Tests highlights a modern dilemma for cricketers. Still, it could be worse. Maxwell will earn another $1million-plus playing at the Indian Premier League in India in April and May.
If not football ...
In a video posted on FFA TV just before the final, each Socceroos player was asked what he would be doing if he hadn't made it in football. Eugene Galekovic said he would be a formula one driver, Mat Ryan would "have a crack at being a tennis player", Aziz Behich would be in AFL or basketball, and Alex Wilkinson would be a professional surfer – despite declaring he can't surf. More realistically, others including Matthew Leckie, Robbie Kruse, Tom Juric and Mile Jedinak said they would be working on construction sites. Mitch Langerak would be a fireman, Massimo Luongo a barber and Matthew Spiranovic a lawyer. Tim Cahill said he would be involved in entertainment, probably as an actor. "And, if not, a bricklayer. With my mates."
