The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Greig hailed as 'godfather' of the modern game
- Australian to swim Cuba-US without shark cage
- Ramdan beats Zulfadli to book a spot in the final
| Greig hailed as 'godfather' of the modern game Posted: 29 Dec 2012 06:27 PM PST SYDNEY: The cricket world on Sunday paid tribute to former England Test skipper and broadcaster Tony Greig, remembering him as "the godfather of modern cricket" due to his influence in shaping the game. South African-born Greig died Saturday after a heart attack at his Sydney home at the age of 66, as he battled lung cancer diagnosed just two months ago. The towering Greig was remembered as being instrumental in the formation of late Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer's breakaway World Series Cricket (WSC) contest staged from 1977-79, which sent shockwaves through the sport. "It could be argued that Tony Greig was the godfather of modern cricket, the man who believed the game should be entertaining and a little irreverent but always ruthlessly competitive," wrote The Australian's Peter Lalor. "Cricket has lost one of its giants." Broadcasting doyen Richie Benaud, a former Australian captain who shared the Channel Nine commentary box for decades with Greig, described him as a dynamic cricketer, a fearless thinker and an entertainer. "I found him a fellow full of courage; that was before he was ill," Benaud said. "He was full of courage because of many things that had happened to him in his cricket life and his outside life as well. It's one of those things where we know this was inevitable but there's always a sadness when you see a good friend go." Kerry Packer's son James said Greig "stood shoulder to shoulder with my father at times when it was not always fashionable". "Together with the backing of other key players and supporters, they forged a brave new age for both cricketers and spectators alike. For that alone, every fan of the game is in Tony Greig's debt. He added: "But he was much more than that. Our cricket enemy turned our mate; his famous car keys stuck in the pitch to demonstrate its hardness, and his legendary but friendly on-air barneys with the great Bill Lawry." Former Australian captain Lawry was distraught by the news, describing Greig as "an Englishman with an Australian attitude" whose absence from the commentary box had left a big hole in the game this Australian summer. "I missed Tony this summer just in the commentary team and now he's gone forever," Lawry said. "My wife and I are absolutely shattered." Greig's opposing captain in WSC and fellow Channel Nine commentator, former Australia captain Ian Chappell, spoke of Greig's trademark competitiveness. "I had enormous respect for Tony as a cricketer," Chappell said. "He was a great optimist as a player and a commentator. You always knew you were in a contest with him - whether playing cricket or over dinner." Current Australian captain Michael Clarke said the news was upsetting for the Test team. "I was only speaking with Tony a couple of days ago, so news of his passing is absolutely devastating," Clarke said. "Personally, he has also been a great mentor for me, providing great advice through the good times and the bad." Greig played 58 Tests - 14 of them as captain - for his adopted country England between 1972 and 1977, scoring 3,599 runs with eight centuries at 40.43 and capturing 141 wickets at 32.20. Greig said earlier this year of his life in cricket: "Give your hand to cricket and it will take you on the most fantastic journey, a lifetime journey both on and off the field." He is survived by his wife, Vivian, and four children.-AFP |
| Australian to swim Cuba-US without shark cage Posted: 29 Dec 2012 06:26 PM PST SYDNEY: An Australian open-water distance swimmer who has made multiple crossings of the English Channel on Sunday announced an ambitious bid to swim solo from Cuba to the United States without a shark cage. Chloe McCardel, 27, has twice won the Channel Swimming Association's Sotiraki Cup for the fastest swim by a woman across the strait between England and France - in 2011 and 2012 - and has also won the gruelling Manhattan Island Marathon. But McCardel has set an even loftier goal for 2013, unveiling plans to swim a daunting 170 kilometres (106 miles) solo and non-stop from Havana in Cuba to Florida's Key West in some 60-70 hours. If successful she will set a new world record for longest solo unassisted ocean swim, currently held by British-Australian Penny Palfrey for a 108-kilometre swim without shark cage or wetsuit in the Caribbean in 2011. For the first time in history McCardel hopes to complete the testing Gulf Stream and Florida Straits crossing without the protection of a shark cage, compounding the difficulty of her daring feat. "It is a great time of year to make this announcement, when so many people are celebrating the New Year and thinking about their own dreams and aspirations for the next 12 months," said McCardel, who conceded her mother would probably "faint" after hearing her plans. "I really hope I can inspire more people to push their own boundaries or perceived limitations." American distance swimmer Diana Nyad, 63, was plucked from the water halfway across the same route earlier this year due to storms, hypothermia and jellyfish stings - her fourth attempt at the challenge. McCardel's June 2013 swim will raise funds for cancer research and support services and she has said no sharks will be harmed "by the conduct of anyone involved during the swim". A conservationist will be on board the support vessel. She is expected to encounter plenty of the marine predators as well as strong and unpredictable ocean conditions, jellyfish and potentially wild storms. The Australian will only wear a basic swimming costume and will be banned from touching the boat or another person, or using flippers, a snorkel, wetsuit or any other flotation device.-AFP |
| Ramdan beats Zulfadli to book a spot in the final Posted: 29 Dec 2012 04:05 PM PST ALOR SETAR: Misbun Ramdan Misbun kept a cool head to secure a place in the men's singles final of the National Grand Prix Finals at the Kedah BA Hall yesterday. The 21-year-old, the son of former great Datuk Misbun Sidek, surprisingly opted for a calmer approach rather than his usual attacking game to beat former world junior champion Zulfadli Zulkifli 21-13, 21-16. "I changed my game because it was getting too predictable. I usually go on the offence and if it works, I win. If it doesn't, I'll be too tired to defend," said Ramdan. "I decided to take the wait-and-see approach against Zulfadli. I found out that I was able to dictate the game better with that approach," he added. Zulfadli admitted that Ramdan's cool temperament was key to him being victorious. "He was so cool. I've never seen him that calm in our previous meetings," said Zulfadli. Ramdan's earlier target was to qualify for the semi-final, which he did so through a challenging group containing top seed Liew Daren, Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayup and Tan Kian Meng. All except Kian Meng had two wins in the group stage and Ramdan was declared the group winner based on points countback. "My target is different now. Since I'm in the final, I've decided to go all the way and win the title. This is my first final in the National Grand Prix Finals and I would like to end it with a nice feeling," said Ramdan. Ramdan's opponent in the final is Chong Wei Feng, who made short work of last year's finalist Goh Soon Huat 21-10, 21-14. In the mixed doubles competition, Lim Khim Wah-Vivian Hoo beat Chooi Kah Ming-Lee Meng Yean 21-19, 21-15 to set up a final showdown with Goh V Shem-Soong Fie Choo. V Shem-Fie Cho were stretched to the limit by Tan Aik Kuang-Lai Pei Jing before winning 22-24, 21-13, 21-18. RESULTS Group stage Men's doubles Women's doubles > Semi-finals Women's singles: Lydia Cheah (Kul) bt Yang Li Lian (Sel) 21-17,21-13; Tee Jing Yi (Pen) bt Sannatasah Saniru (Sab) 21-9, 23-21. Women's doubles: Amelia Alicia Anscelly-Soong Fie Choo (Sab-Sab) bt Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean (Kul-Mal) 17-21, 21-17, 21-12. Mixed doubles: Lim Khim Wah-Vivian Hoo (Ked-Kul) bt Chooi Kah Ming-Lee Meng Yean (Pah-Mal) 21-19, 21-15; Goh V Shem- Soong Fie Choo (Kul-Sab) bt Tan Aik Quan-Lai Pei Jing (Ked-Pah) 22-24, 21-13, 21-18. |
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