Darius Boyd begins search for his father

Darius Boyd during Broncos pre-season training. Source: Tara Croser / News Limited

DARIUS Boyd is taking another step towards "closure" with the Origin ace revealing he has received a mystery letter believed to be written by the biological father he has never met.

As the Broncos recruit coasted through a punishing two-hour training session at Purtell Park on Tuesday, joking with teammates, it was easy to miss Boyd's painful off-field journey of discovery.

Last month, Boyd, having checked out of rehab to treat depression, reunited with his mother Rochelle for the first time in eight years.

Now the search is on for his dad, a process that took an intriguing twist a few weeks ago when Boyd fielded a letter from a man claiming to be his father.

Unsure of the letter's authenticity, Boyd consulted Broncos coach and long-time mentor Wayne Bennett.

Darius Boyd during Broncos pre-season training. Source: News Limited

The 27-year-old will seek more answers, hoping to fully solve his family riddle before focusing on Brisbane's premiership assault next season.

"It (meeting his father) is still in progress," he told The Courier-Mail.

"I've asked my mum a few questions and Wayne (Bennett) has talked to me a little bit about the letter I got.

"In the next month or two, I'm going to go further and see if there are any leads and see what comes of it.

"I have no clue where he lives. It's all up in the air, the letter is a bit 'iffy', I'm not sure how true it is. The last time I spoke to Wayne he said have a chat to your mum and get both sides of the story on the letter. But mum doesn't know much either.

"It's important (to find his father) ... but it's not the be-all and end-all.

"Whether it's true or not or whether I find him or not, at least I will get closure on it. If I find him or not, I will have tried my best and I can move on either way.

"Hopefully I can get it sorted by the start of the season and go from there."

Darius Boyd during Broncos pre-season training. Source: News Limited

The one certainty is that the Darius Boyd on show at Broncos training on Tuesday is far removed from the dark, tortured soul who once sneered at media requests.

Six months ago, probing Boyd on family matters would have been an exercise in futility. But the Broncos fullback has opened up and insists it is not a cry for sympathy.

"I suppose the jury is still out for some," he said.

"I feel I'm a new bloke, but everyone else might be sceptical.

"I have a different perception and outlook on things. I have changed a few things to make me feel better in myself.

"Six or 12 months down the track, time will tell, the rest of the world might think (he hasn't changed) but I feel it within myself and that's the main thing that matters."

For the moment, Boyd plans to settle on the Gold Coast to help support his ailing grandmother Delphine, who helped raise him from the age of 15 when his mother took ill.

Darius Boyd at Broncos pre-season training. Source: News Limited

"If it doesn't work out, I'll move up here, I'll see how the drive goes for a few months and see how I go after that," Boyd said.

"She (Delphine) looked after me for a few years in my last years at school.

"She's going all right, she's in an aged-care facility on the Gold Coast, it's good she's there because she gets more care now instead of being by herself.

"It's good I'm back now, I can go and see her so I can go down there after training a few times a week and hang out with her a bit more.

"It's good to be back training with the boys. I've been training by myself, but it's better to be back with the guys having a laugh and having that competition again.

"I've only been here a week but I'm loving every minute of it so far."

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Tough day awaits all in Macksville

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AUSTRALIAN captain Michael Clarke will stand up in front of 5000 mourners at Macksville High School and deliver one of the most important duties of his life — a tribute to his "brother", Phillip Hughes.

Clarke and Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland will represent the game and speak — as well as a representative from the Hughes family — at an overflowing funeral service, which will be broadcast live around the country.

More than 400 cricket people, including all Australian contracted players, will feature among the 1000-strong congregation inside the school hall and the estimated 4000 more that will pack an adjacent oval and football field to watch on big screens.

FUNERAL DETAILS: AUSTRALIA PREPARES TO FAREWELL PHILLIP

HELPING OUT: CLARKE, FINCH CHOSEN TO BE PALLBEARERS

Macksville will be brought to a standstill for one of its favourite sons, who passed away in such tragic circumstances last week.

The town's population numbers 7000 and the large majority of them will be present for the emotional celebration of Hughes's life, which will also feature a guard of honour and public procession through the city streets.

Clarke's stoic leadership through the toughest of times has been clear for all to see this past week.

The front cover of Phillip Hughes' order of service booklet. Source: Supplied

The skipper fronted the media in the hours following Hughes's death to deliver an emotional message on behalf of the family, and then again on Saturday when he read a moving tribute from Australian players.

Clarke never left the side of the Hughes family when they were keeping a 48-hour vigil at St Vincent's Hospital, and he travelled to Macksville on Monday to offer further support.

The 33-year-old, who shared a close relationship with Hughes from the moment the fresh-faced country boy arrived at his Western Suburbs club nearly 10 years ago, has been staying outside Macksville and travelling in to provide whatever help he can.

The rest of the Australian squad and staff will travel together to Macksville from Sydney this morning for the service.

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They will stay as a team in Coffs Harbour before preparing to head to Adelaide to begin preparations for the first Test in the city starting on December 9.

But first, fast bowler Ryan Harris says Australian players hope to provide support for ­Hughes's family.

"Hopefully we'll have a get-together with a few of the family," Harris said.

"It would be nice to spend some time with the family if they're up for that. As a group and as a cricket family it will be nice to get together and celebrate what a legend he was."

Cricket was Hughes's life, but his funeral service will also be devoted just as much to his family and community life.

Tributes to Phillip Hughes have flooded his hometown of Macksville. Source: Getty Images

Hughes was passionate about his cattle and on tour would spend free time communicating with his father Greg about farm business that needed attending to.

The Australian cricket landscape will stop, with services featuring live broadcast sites set up around the country, including at the SCG, Adelaide Oval and the WACA.

Sixty-three engraved bats marking the highlights of Hughes's career will line the entrance to the SCG playing field.

The bats will ultimately form a permanent tribute at the ground.

In respect of Hughes's passing, the SCG Trust has announced it will retire the pitch which was in use during the South Australia and NSW match last week for the rest of the summer.

South Australia — Hughes's side — will be represented by all players and staff.

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NSW, who were playing against SA on that fateful afternoon last Tuesday and who called Hughes a teammate for so many years, will also be represented in full.

And the four other states will be heavily represented.

Victoria will send up 11 players, including Australian stars Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell.

Queensland are sending 13 players from their extended squad, including Hughes's former NSW teammates Usman Khawaja and Peter Forrest.

Western Australia will be led by Adam Voges, Michael Klinger, Michael Beer, Ashton Agar, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Johnson and Geoff Marsh, Christina Matthews, John Rogers, and Justin and Sue Langer.

A guard of honour will be formed by players on Park St, Macksville, for a walking procession, which will make its way to Macksville Ex-Services Club and take approximately 40 minutes.

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NRL’s equal and opposite reaction

Todd Greenberg speaks at the NRL Rules Conference. Source: Stephen Cooper / News Limited

SOMEWHERE prominent in the room at Tuesday's NRL Competition Committee should have been written Newton's Third Law: "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction".

NRL boss David Smith calls it the carpet bubble.

"It's one of the things Dave has been saying to me all year," NRL Head of Football Todd Greenberg said.

"You know when you get a carpet bubble and you smooth it out, but then you turn and see a carpet bubble has popped up over there?"

That is rugby league, and certainly has been a result of too many rule changes without enough forethought.

Newton's Third Law, the carpet bubble ... it is why we eliminate the scrum contest and suddenly coaches are blasting referees in post-match press conference.

And it is what the NRL Competition Committee must contend with as they strive to overcome the worrying influence of wrestling on the game.

Todd Greenberg speaks during the NRL Rules Conference. Source: News Limited

Normally an end-of-season three-hour meeting, the committee met on Tuesday for a two-day function to try to properly shape the game's future.

The impact of their decisions are immense.

By not considering the reaction to their changes as has happened in previous years, the bubble effect, the game has got itself to the stage where we now have the dirtiest word in sport: "completions".

Teams don't win because they play with more daring or let loose their tremendous football talent.

They won because they completed at 76 per cent.

Why did they lose?

They completed at 58 per cent.

"You can't win when you're that low," coaches say.

That is what the game has become. Mathematics.

The saving grace of all the other codes ... soccer, AFL and even rugby, are constant switches in possession. It keeps the contest alive.

No longer in the NRL.

NRL coaches and identities attend the NRL Rules Conference. Source: News Limited

We got to this stage because we gave no thought to the repercussions of what we imagined were improved rule changes.

Exhibit A: we took the contest out of the scrum, cheering how it improved the game because it eliminated the ugly scrum, got rid of constant scrum restarts, the frustrating scrum penalties and allowed us to quickly get back to the game.

It looked good in theory.

Well, any time saved is now lost again as we have a committee meeting before every scrum.

More importantly, by eliminating the scrum contest we too out a vital part of the game contested possessions thereby making possession and a lack of mistakes absolutely vital to success. In other words, we ramped up the need for "completions".

It also created the next side effect: it ramped up the emphasis on referees to get their decisions right, making it impossible for coaches to pass off as a simple 50-50 call against them.

And it was simply why. If they got it wrong then the disadvantaged team, with no contested possessions available to them, teams effectively suffered a 12-tackle turnaround: the six you lost against the six they gained.

NRL coaches and identities attend the NRL Rules Conference. Source: News Limited

In a game where possession is crucial, it murdered them.

So now every post-match press conference contains at least one coach complaining about the referees getting it wrong and far too much television commentary is taken up with the same, because it is so crucial to the result.

So a seemingly positive change like tidying the scrum had a monumental follow-on affect.

And nobody seems willing to fix it.

The trick for the committee, which is significant, might be to actually peel the rules and interpretations back rather than legislate new ones.

In some ways the changes needed are simple.

Look at how the game used to be and get back there.

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Kent: Held fast in wrestling’s grip

NRL coaches and identities including Wayne Bennett, Trent Robinson and Darren Lockyer attend the NRL Rules Conference at the Pullman Quay Grand Hotel, Circular Quay Source: Stephen Cooper / News Limited

THE problem for the NRL, as it tries to figure out what it is and what it wants to be, is the coaches and players can't get dumber.

They can't unlearn all they have about wrestling techniques and defensive structures.

They can't get less fitter or stronger.

So on Tuesday the NRL's Competition Committee, the most important posse in the game behind the ARL Commission, came together to figure out a way to unring the bell.

How do we eradicate what many believe are negatives of the game, given what we already know and can do?

For more than an hour the NRL's Head of Football Todd Greenberg presented a statistical look at the game now and as it was 10 years ago, before wrestling was part of the rugby league language.

Players are heavier and taller. Where they spent 13 hours training per week a decade ago they now spend more than 30.

NRL coaches and identities at the NRL Rules Conference. Source: News Limited

Wrestling was not part of the game 10 years ago. Not one wrestling charge was made or ever had been made.

In 2014 there were 28 wrestling charges.

And the concern for the game is the deeper you looked the more worrying it became.

Not revealed in the statistics was the changing nature of tackling. Back then, it was collide as hard as you could and get the man to the ground as quickly as you could.

Now, tackling is the opposite. They "catch" more than collide and then work on conning the referee they are trying to complete the tackle when in fact they are slowing it down.

Tackling nowadays is all about control after initial contact.

"In 2004 the object was to get the ball to the ground as hard as you can," said Ben Ikin, helping Greenberg facilitate.

"In 2014 you can see that it is all about controlling the speed of the play-the-ball."

Coaches realise slowing the play-the-ball is the key to winning football games. The better they do it, the longer opponents are running at a set, rested defence and the harder it is to bust through and score.

NRL coaches and identities at the NRL Rules Conference Source: News Limited

It is why average linebreaks have dropped from 10.1 a game in 2004 to eight this season.

Tries have dropped from 8.4 a game to 7.3. If it were to continue along this same plane, which it won't, figures show a further drop to 5.7 tries a game by 2024 and 5.4 linebreaks.

In reality, the drop will be even steeper as players get fitter and better trained in their tackling technique.

Worrying trends were elsewhere, too.

In 2004 25 per cent of tackles involved one tackler, 55 per cent involved two and 20 per cent had three men or more.

This season it dropped to 18 per cent for one man tackles, dropped to 46 per cent for two man tackles and rose to 35 per cent for three men or more.

Again, not contained in the statistics is exactly what how the ballrunner finds the ground, more often these days twisted and dropped on his back rather than elbows and knees of 10 years ago which equates to an even slower play-the-ball.

And if the trend was to continue then by 2024 one man tackles would drop even further to 13 per cent, two men tackles to 37 per cent, and three men or more would rise to 50 per cent.

The game is caught in a slow death clutch.

Daniel Anderson at the NRL Rules Conference. Source: News Limited

And the hard part is that, having learned these new, effective techniques, the game cannot untrain them but must find a way around them.

One solution widely suggested to counteract wrestling dropping the interchange to increase the fatigue factor will not be implemented next season but is under consideration for 2016. Why it can't be done now is anyone's guess.

If there is good news, it is that Greenberg spoke often about the number of football experience in the game at the meeting.

Among them were Wayne Bennett (754 games), Tim Sheens (875 games), Darren Lockyer (459 games), Wayne Pearce (421 games), Laurie Daley (318 games), Michael Buettner (269 games), John Lang (443 games), Trent Robinson (57 games), Mark O'Neill (223 games) and Daniel Anderson (152 games). A total of 3,971 games coaching or playing or both at NRL and rep level.

The evidence they saw revealed a worrying spiral to a game becoming more dour and less spontaneous in a game that is already heavily over-coached.

After Greenberg finished his presentation they broke briefly before small groups were actioned to come up with solutions for the problems.

The solutions were then presented and workshopped but, unfortunately, those armed with their notepads and pens had been removed from the room by then.

So all that is left to report is the dire warning that kicked off the meeting. Not one valid solution can be reported.

"You guys are looking for answers out of this and we don't have the answers," Greenberg said.

"What I am trying to demonstrate is we will get to the answers."

So in them we trust.

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Sydney clubs dragging the game backwards

Queensland Rugby League boss Peter Betros. Source: Mark Cranitch / News Corp Australia

QUEENSLAND Rugby League chairman Peter Betros has accused disaffected Sydney clubs of trying to "drag the game backwards'' in agitating against the sport's leaders Dave Smith and John Grant.

Powerbrokers from some Sydney clubs, primarily Sydney Roosters, Canterbury and Penrith, are critical of the direction NRL chief executive Smith and ARL Commission chairman Grant have taken the game.

Grant's position as chairman of the ARLC comes up for reappointment by peer commissioners for a second term at the annual general meeting in February.

Some Sydney clubs miss not having the direct influence of decision-making wielded before the indenpedent ARLC took charge in early 2012.

Sydney media reports have in recent weeks foreshadowed opposition to Grant's reappointment and disaffection with Smith's leadership style.

ARLC Chairman John Grant and NRL Chief Executive Dave Smith. Source: News Limited

Complaint about what these clubs see as a lack of consultation by Smith is effectively frustration at being unable to influence change to their advantage as they used to do.

Betros and QRL managing director Rob Moore reaffirmed support for the Commission and Smith at a meeting in Sydney on Monday at which the QRL's budget was presented.

"As far as we are concerned there is no need for change,'' Betros said.

"We support where the commission is taking the game, where Dave Smith is taking the game and we fully support the chairmanship of John grant and support (the process of) reappointing him as chairman.

"We are not expecting any change. The only agitation for change, as I understand it, comes from some clubs in Sydney.

"They should get behind the Commission instead of trying to get back to the old days. They should stop trying to drag the game backwards, that's all they are doing with this.''

Queensland Rugby League boss Peter Betros. Source: News Corp Australia

The QRL is one of 26 voting "members'' of the ARLC, with others being the 16 NRL clubs, the NSWRL and the eight ARL commissioners.

The ARLC constitution says 10 members may, with the additional support of both the NSW and Queensland Leagues, vote to remove a director.

Fourteen members are required to remove a Commissioner without the support of both the state leagues, it says, and should either of these events occur, the remaining seven commissioners would appoint a replacement.

The right to appoint a chairman is solely at the discretion of the commissioners.

"If the clubs were very unhappy with one of the commissioners, they would have to get enough support before the annual meeting to raise the issue at the annual meeting to replace one of the commissioners,'' Betros said.

The QRL received a good hearing from the ARLC on requesting funding increases at Monday's meeting, Betros said.

"While we haven't had an answer we are confident we will be able to push on with our plans for 2015 and the future,'' he said.

ends

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Bad boy Shakib to play Big Bash

Bangladesh has lifted Shakib Al Hasan's bad behaviour suspension. Picture: Stephen Laffer Source: Stephen Laffer / News Limited

BANGLADESH cricket chiefs are lifting Shakib Al Hasan's bad behaviour suspension, allowing the star all-rounder to play in overseas leagues including Australia's Big Bash T20 tournament.

"We have given Shakib the assurance that his embargo on playing overseas leagues will be lifted in the next meeting of the board," Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan told reporters. The next meeting is on Thursday.

The BCB banned Shakib, 27, the country's most popular sportsman, from playing cricket for the national side for six months in July for what it said was a "severe attitude problem".

However the board watered down the ban one month later, allowing him to play for Bangladesh after the team suffered humiliating Test and one-day series losses in the West Indies.

But the board had maintained the restriction on Shakib's appearance in overseas leagues such as the Indian Premier League, the Big Bash and English county cricket until the end of December next year.

Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan (second left) is congratulated after Zimbabwe's Tafadzwa Kamungozi is dismissed in the 5th ODI on December 1. Source: AP

Shakib, who has a history of discipline problems, was suspended after he reportedly threatened to quit international cricket when he was called back to Dhaka before his planned appearance in the Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 tournament.

The BCB president said Shakib recently appealed against the overseas embargo because he was keen to play in the Big Bash, which starts on December 18.

"There is no reason why we should not lift the embargo. We are going to lift the embargo in time so that he can play the Big Bash," Hassan said.

Shakib was the star performer for Bangladesh in the just-ended series against Zimbabwe. He was named man of the series in the Tests after bagging 18 wickets and scoring 251 runs.

During the second Test in the southern city of Khulna last month, he scored a century and claimed 10 wickets, becoming only the third player to achieve the feat after cricket legends Imran Khan and Ian Botham.

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Nadal fights on despite appendicitis

Rafael Nadal plays a forehand in his match against Martin Klizan. Picture: Getty Source: Chris Hyde / Getty Images

RAFAEL Nadal is counting on antibiotics to control his appendicitis so he can get through the Shanghai Masters this week.

The second-ranked Nadal began feeling pain in his abdomen late Saturday, and the next day went to the hospital where the doctors confirmed he had the early stages of appendicitis.

Nadal said on Tuesday he chose to try treatment with antibiotics rather than undergo surgery right away. He felt well enough to begin hitting again, he said.

The 14-time major winner said the risk of his condition getting worse after three days of steady improvement "is always very, very low."

"I am not going to go for surgery. That's great news for me today. That's why I'm here practising for 45 minutes, and trying to play tomorrow. But obviously I am not in my best condition," he said.

Rafael Nadal was put on antibiotics after going to hospital with appendicitis. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

Nadal said he will talk with his doctors when he returns to Spain after the tournament about whether he will need to have the appendix removed.

"My idea is take it out, but you can imagine that I didn't (think) much about that yet. I am here in Shanghai. I just want to try. Then when I go back home, I will talk about the situation with my doctor," he said.

The Spaniard is playing just his second tournament since returning from a two-month lay-off due to a wrist injury. After missing the summer hard-court season, including the defence of his title at the U.S. Open, Nadal said it was important to get back on the court as soon as possible so he's back in top form before the Australian Open in January. He reached the China Open quarterfinals last week.

"I don't expect anything from these two tournaments. I expect just to come here and play again and practice and feel a little bit again the competition, try to get in rhythm as soon as possible," he said.

Nadal plays his opening match on Wednesday against countryman Feliciano Lopez.

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Live: Pakistan v Australia one-dayer

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STEVE Smith scored his maiden one-day international century as Australia overcame a slow start to post a competitive total of 8-255 in Tuesday's clash with Pakistan.

Smith's superb knock of 101 off 118 balls came in stifling heat with temperatures in the high 30s in Sharjah.

He arrived at the crease for the second ball of the day with his side under plenty of pressure at 1-0.

The 25-year-old right-hander hit six fours and two sixes and departed in the 45th over with Australia in a strong position at 6-216.

Brad Haddin (23 not out) and Mitchell Johnson (21) shared a 32-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Australia had lost Aaron Finch caught at backward point from the first ball of the match as the right-hander made a "royal" duck against the bowling of towering 216cm quick Mohammad Irfan.

David Warner (43) and Smith added 86 for the second wicket after a slow start that yielded just five runs off the first three overs.

Warner was out after hitting a pull shot from the bowling of legspinner Shahid Afridi to mid-wicket in the 19th over.

FOLLOW PAKISTAN V AUSTRALIA IN OUR MATCH CENTRE, WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS, LIVE COMMENTARY AND STATS

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Skipper George Bailey (18) fell attempting a second successive six as Afridi held a difficult high catch at mid-wicket at 3-123.

Glenn Maxwell was dropped twice on his way to scoring 21 before the aggressive right-hander was caught at long-off to the bowling of 35-year-old debutant leggie Zulfiqar Babar.

Afridi removed James Faulker lbw for 11 at 5-196, after Faulkner's video review was unsuccessful.

Smith reached his century off 115 balls with a push to mid-wicket and immediately gazed skywards, looking relieved and exhausted, before raising his bat to the dressing rooms.

Afridi (3-46) made the key breakthrough to remove Smith caught at long off and debutant Sean Abbott made three.

Australia named 22-year-old NSW quick Abbott for his debut with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh unavailable because of a hamstring strain.

One-day great Dean Jones presented Abbott with his cap.

Left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty is set to join the squad ahead of Friday's second one-day game in Dubai in place of Marsh.

The three-match series concludes in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Pakistan's Anwar Ali bowls against Australia in Sharjah. Source: AFP

THE FIXTURES

Game Two

9.50pm (EDT) Friday, Fox Sports 2HD

Dubai International Cricket Stadium

Game Three

9.50pm (EDT) Sunday, Fox Sports 2HD

Zayed Cricket Stadium (Abu Dhabi)

THE TEAMS

Australia

The Aussies are without captain Michael Clarke and all-rounder Shane Watson, with the latter ruled out of the entire tour due to a calf injury while the skipper is battling to be fit in time for the Test series. An injury cloud also looms large over Mitch Marsh and he is unlikely to play in at least the opening one-dayer, and possibly the whole series. Nathan Lyon is the sole frontline spinner in the squad but will receive support from Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith. NSW all-rounder Sean Abbott is a chance to make his ODI debut after earning his first Australian cap in the T20 clash in Dubai.

Australia squad: George Bailey (c), Sean Abbott, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Phil Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.

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Australia's players are jostling for World Cup spots in the UAE. Source: AP

Pakistan

The 'hosts' will be led by 40-year-old Misbah-ul-Haq-, who has saved his team on many occasions with a classy middle-order knock. Those skills may be called on again as Pakistan will be without two of its best players — star spinner Saeed Ajmal (chucking ban) and all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez (hand injury). Young spinner Hasan Raza will need to step up to the plate but so will the pace duo of Wahab Riaz and giant left-armed Mohammad Irfan.

Pakistan squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Irfan, Raza Hasan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal, Umar Amin, Wahab Riaz.

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Shahid Afridi (L) shares a laugh with Aussie batsman Aaron Finch. Source: Getty Images

WHAT THEY SAID

"I still think teams are doctoring their wickets when we come and play them to produce very large spinning wickets, which says to me that teams still think that we're vulnerable against spin." Australia captain George Bailey.

"You need to have a balance between pace and spin. You normally need five bowlers in a one-day or T20 game. Everybody has to really play his role. You cannot just rely that two spinners will do the damage." Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

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Sam Burgess NRL’s player of the year

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THE performance of Sam Burgess in the grand final leaves me in no doubt he was the best player in the NRL this year.

What a year. I was in complete awe of him for the way he produced week in week out for South Sydney. He is the most dominant forward in the NRL and it was a year like no other.

I've seen the photo of his depressed cheekbone X-ray and it's shocking. What a brave performance and a deserving winner of the Clive Churchill Medal.

It's a shame Sam can't test himself in rugby league's toughest arena of Origin football, but he has answered every challenge put to him as a player.

SCANS REVEAL SECOND BURGESS BREAK

INGLIS WILL BE KANGAROOS FULLBACK: HAYNE

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It's hard to judge him against the other guys who play Origin, which takes more out of player physically and mentally than a finals series, but Sam Burgess was the most consistent NRL player of 2014.

I've named Sam at lock in my team of the year and when I compare all players for consistency, importance to their team and performance in big games it's no surprise I've named many of his Rabbitohs teammates too.

FULLBACK

South Sydney's Greg Inglis salutes the crowd. Source: News Corp Australia

Greg Inglis. When the big NRL games rolled around, Inglis took his team to another level. Honourable mention to Billy Slater, whose Origin series was the best he's had for a while, and Jarryd Hayne who won NSW the Origin series and shared the Dally M.

WINGER

South Sydney's Alex Johnston scores a try. Source: News Corp Australia

Alex Johnston. This is a fairytale story for a kid who played Inglis in a TV commercial to play with GI in a premiership. In his rookie season he scored 21 tries in 18 games and I think he is a very strong chance to be named in Australia's Four Nations squad next week.

Semi Radradra. The NRL's leading tryscorer, many of them long range efforts that fans love to see.

CENTRE

Jamie Lyon. No other centre in the game plays with the high level of consistency that Lyon produces for Manly.

Dean Whare. He is a big reason Penrith shocked everyone to finish in the top four. GI says he is the hardest player to mark up against when he plays centre, that says it all.

FIVE-EIGHTH

Johnathan Thurston joint winner of the 2014 Dally M Award. Source: News Corp Australia

Johnathan Thurston. A record third Dally M medal joining the great Andrew Johns.

HALFBACK

Ben Hunt. To have similar stats to the great JT in your rookie year at halfback is a fair season. When he has played to his potential Brisbane has won.

Honourable mention must go to Mitchell Pearce whose back half of the year was unbelievable.

FRONT ROW

Matt Scott charges forward. Source: News Corp Australia

Matt Scott. I still remember that game he played against the Broncos and the 20m try he scored. He is still the best front-rower in the game.

George Burgess. Had a huge grand final, scored a memorable try and was probably second only to his brother Sam for the man of the match.

Honourable mentions must go to Jesse Bromwich and Sam Moa.

HOOKER

Cameron Smith. There is no hooker in the game like him. Ankle injury at crucial times for Queensland and Melbourne cost his teams dearly.

SECOND ROW

Aidan Guerra celebrates a try for the Roosters. Source: News Corp Australia

Aidan Guerra. In a star-studded Roosters team he has probably been their form player week in week out. Had a great Origin debut and Queensland has found another backrower.

James Graham. Canterbury made the grand final on the back of him. He might play prop, but I've got to fit him in somewhere.

COACH

Ivan Cleary wins Coach of the Year Awards at the 2014 Dally M's. Source: News Corp Australia

Ivan Cleary. His injury list was as big as any side, but he kept on getting the best out of his players. It is obviously a very well-drilled and coached team to still finish top four.

Finally, it's not a season wrap without taking a quick look at those who need to do better next year.

I want to see more from … James Tamou. If you walk past him in the street fair dinkum he'd scare a dog out of a butcher shop. He is big and he has every asset you want in a front-rower. I don't think he had the season you expect of a Kangaroos front-rower.

I want to see more from … Martin Kennedy. To come with the reputation he did and to spend time in the Intrust Super Cup he should have enough motivation to have a better 2015.

I want to see more from … Cronulla Sharks. The whole organisation from top to bottom. The ASADA saga is over, show us how strong your club can be on and off the field.

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KP accuses Flower of personal vendetta

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KEVIN Pietersen has accused former England coach Andy Flower of holding a personal vendetta against him and said he was deliberately undermined by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

A day after his new autobiography was released to the press, Pietersen continued his assault on the English cricket authorities in a series of media interviews on Tuesday.

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KP'S EXPLOSIVE BULLYING ACCUSATIONS

KP FALLOUT: WHO TO BELIEVE?

The outspoken 34-year-old batsman, whose book claims that there was a culture of "bullying" within the England team, told the Radio Times magazine that the ECB used underhand tactics to tarnish his public image.

Kevin Pietersen with Matt Prior, whom he accuses of fostering a bullying culture in the England set-up. Source: Getty Images

"The way the ECB works is it uses the media to get messages out there," said Pietersen, whose international career was effectively ended by the ECB in February after England's 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia.

"If the ECB could never get at me — because they knew they couldn't really squash my personality — they would leak story after story to try to get me through the media.

"But unfortunately, I've got incredibly thick skin, and it never worked."

Pietersen also claimed that Flower had an issue with him throughout his five-year tenure as coach because the batsman had criticised the former Zimbabwe international's role during his time as an assistant to Peter Moores.

Former England coach Andy Flower has been accused of holding a vendetta against Kevin Pietersen. Source: AFP

"I think he (Flower) had it in for me ever since he took over because when I was captain, I didn't think he was doing the second-in-command job really well," Pietersen told BBC Radio 4.

"When I said to the ECB to just let me step down as captain and let Peter Moores continue, I gave my views on the coaching structure and I said that I didn't think Andy Flower was fulfilling his role as the second-in-command properly.

Alastair Cook and Andy Fower, both of whom have been criticised by Kevin Pietersen. Source: News Limited

"And then he got given the number-one job, and it certainly felt — the way that he treated me throughout his coaching reign — that he was looking to try and find ways to get rid of me." Pietersen, England's all-time leading run-scorer, added that he still did not understand why the ECB had decided to axe him.

Kevin Pietersen and Mitchell johnson swap pleasantries in the middle. Source: News Limited

"I still don't know why I'm not playing for England. I've never been told," he said.

"I've been told 'cricketing reasons'. Well, 'cricketing reasons'? 'Disinterested'? Can you be disinterested when you're facing 95 miles per hour from (Australia bowler) Mitchell Johnson?"

The ECB has yet to comment on Pietersen's book, KP: The Autobiography, which is published on Thursday.

Three central figures: Andy Flower, Graeme Swann and Kevin Pietersen. Source: News Limited

But former England spinner Graeme Swann, one of the players accused of bullying by Pietersen, has described it as "codswallop" and "the biggest work of fiction since Jules Verne".

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