Scott Bailey

Put a line through them ladies and gentlemen. The Roosters’ season is over after just 70 minutes.

No team has ever recovered to win the premiership after conceding 50 points in a game. #NRLRoostersBroncos

Souths set to face scrutiny over pre-season game delay Manly have defeated South Sydney in a high-scoring NRL pre-season match, with questions emerging about why the start of the game was delayed for 100 minutes.

South Sydney are expected to face NRL scrutiny after a suspected paramedic booking oversight caused a 100-minute delay to their trial match against Manly, almost forcing the game to be abandoned.

Volunteers from crowd eventually saved the day. #NRL

On AAP.

aapnews.aap.com.au/a/AGQgPfEA

Boland's surge makes case for more Tests beyond age 36 Scott Boland's age and the dominance of Australia's big three means his future in Tests could be limited, but his SCG spell made a case for why it should go on.

Sounds absurd, but SCG Test could be Scott Boland's last.

He's36 in April, Australia tour spinning wickets in 2025 and he's only once been picked in a full-strength XI.

But Friday may also have been his strongest case to always be in the first-choice XI. #AUSvIND

www.aapnews.com.au/a/XjGgMIBd

Coach shares insight into Aussie’s unique journey to Test debut The 31-year-old will complete a remarkable rise a decade in the making.

Beau Webster’s rise from inconsistent domestic player to Test debutant as unique as it is deserving.

Only second player this century to make Australian Test debut at 31 or older, without playing ODIs or T20Is in their 20s.

Has averaged 57.1 since March 2022. #AUSvIND

7news.com.au/sport/cricke...

Ian Craig? I’d suggest he wasn’t. Australia had two settled openers in Colin McDonald and Arthur Morris, and Craig never opened in his Test career.

High-flyer Head returns to scene of India series axing Travis Head's Test career was almost killed off by India four years ago at the MCG. His axing in that series helped put him on the path to his glut of runs.

Travis Head wouldn’t recognise the batter who walked out at No.5 against India at the MCG four years ago.

Was dropped after that match, went and had a lean county stint before an innings at Kent that changed his career. On AAP #AUSvIND

www.aapnews.com.au/a/wbnQdUYb

Didn’t open

Sam Konstas is a Wests Tigers fan born four days before Benji Marshall’s flick pass in the 2005 NRL grand final.

We’re watching the cricket version of that pass on the game’s biggest stage on Boxing Day. #AUSvIND

Sam Konstas the youngest man to open for Australia in history.

Usman Khawaja the oldest man to open for Australia since Lindsay Hassett in 1953.

First time in history one Australian opener has been double the age of his partner (in terms of years). #AUSvIND

Konstas adds another element to Boxing Day debutants Sam Konstas's Boxing Day debut puts him on the same path as a Test captain, national selector, cult hero and Italian star by starting his career at the MCG.

Sam Konstas today joins two cult heroes, a one-Test wonder, Italy's national captain, an Australian selector, the country's equal-most-capped player and a fellow Cranbrook alumni in one of cricket's quirkiest groups.

On AAP #AUSvIND

www.aapnews.com.au/a/gGWJQfrv

Aussie cricket could be burned by missing generation Fewer players born in the mid-1990s have played men's Tests for Australia than at any other time in the 20th century, harming the team's transition period.

Only five Australian men born between 1994 and 1998 have graduated to Test cricket.

That’s the lowest of any five-year window since 1898-1902.

Why a dearth of talent of those in their late-20s is Australia’s real team-transition issue. On AAP #AUSvIND

www.aapnews.com.au/a/zRGoWhdg

Ezra Mam would cop a bigger fine for a careless high tackle on an NRL field, than the $850 imposed by Queensland's courts for driving into a family with a cocktail of drugs in his system. #NRL

One session to play, and we've got 42 overs left to bowl at the Gabba still today.

Forget rain, we'll lose an hour of cricket to pure tardiness.

And the scoreboard at the Gabba? Showing India's over-rate as on par. #AUSvIND

Early stumps at the Gabba. No more play today. Full refund for the 30,000+ fans in attendance. #AUSvIND

And it’s raining again. #AUSvIND

The rain has stopped and the Gabba has drained remarkably well, even by its standards.

About a 40% chance of rain for rest of the day.

Might well get some more cricket yet. #AUSvIND

I present to you: Lake Gabba #AUSvIND

Can confirm it is raining at the Gabba. And it’s not going to be a quick clean up. #AUSvIND

The 140-year first clouding this Border-Gavaskar battle Tests are finishing quicker than at any point since the 1880s, with the series between Australia and India reigniting the debate over four-day matches.

Tests are getting shorter. Much shorter.

Matches this decade are finishing faster than any since the 1880s.

Only four Tests have gone two day five in the past three-and-a-half summers in Aus. And less than 42% do now worldwide. #AUSvIND

www.aapnews.com.au/a/MGMLvFgE

Josh Hazlewood appearing to have no issue bowling off a full run up in Brisbane, as he fights to return from a side strain.

He and Mitchell Starc have gone off site from the Gabba.

Footage captured by Joel Gould for AAP. #AUSvIND

RLPA open to November 1 change for NRL expansion clubs A Papua New Guinea side is set to enter the NRL in 2028, but current contracting rules mean they must wait almost two years to begin negotiating with players.

Papua New Guinea are about to be announced as the NRL's shiny new toy, with a team entering in 2028.

But the new franchise will have to wait almost two years to start shaping its roster.

So should November 1 exemptions be made for expansion sides? On AAP #NRL

www.aapnews.com.au/a/rRBdjsGN

It unfortunately can’t now. The WPL has claimed the January window. No WBBL/women’s internationals in Australia for the foreseeable future after this summer.

You know it’s summer when…

Knights to land Vette-Welsh as Upton NRLW replacement Botille Vette-Welsh has emerged as Newcastle's replacement for Tamika Upton, with the former Jillaroos No.1 agreeing to a three-year deal at the Knights.

The Knights have found their Tamika Upton replacement.

Off-contract Wests Tigers star Bo Vette-Welsh set to land at Newcastle on a three-year deal. On AAP #NRLW

www.aapnews.com.au/a/jdGNvcNY

John Strange the new NSW women's State of Origin coach.

BREAKING: Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the second Test against India with a side injury. Scott Boland favoured to take his spot. On AAP.

😂😂😂😂 fair

Well this aged well

The Sydney Thunder have not lost a game this year when Georgia Voll scores above 15. ✅

#WBBL10

Hughes the friendly farmer who shot to cricket fame Phillip Hughes will long be remembered for his record-breaking cricket talent but those close to him also remember the best of friends, an avid cattle farmer.

Phillip Hughes was a pioneer for professional cricketers seeking life balance.

His Four 0 Eight Angus cattle farm forever remains part of his legacy, as does the fact he found best mates in Adelaide club cricket after arriving as a Test star.

For AAP #cricket

www.aapnews.com.au/a/YdxPxUvq