What happened to this little piggy?

Ash the pig, pictured with new friend Elke, was underweight and wasn't expected to live. He now weighs more than 170kg. Pic: Jamie Hanson Source: Jamie Hanson / News Corp Australia

ONCE upon a time he was a little piggy, but now he's a real porker.

Ash earned national fame when he was smuggled into the Gabba during last summer's Ashes Test, found with his snout taped shut and dressed as a baby last November.

He was rescued by the RSPCA, suffering severe stress and dehydration and weighing barely 10kg — but now almost a year on, he weighs more than 170kg.

An underweight and dehydrated Ash is carried from the Gabba by a police officer last November. Source: Supplied

Despite fears Ash wouldn't survive, he is now thriving in a southeast Queensland backyard of a new-found friend, Geoffrey.

The neighbouring kids, including Elke, 3, regularly visit him.

RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said it was "heartening" to see the pig flourish.

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Stosur looks for third crown

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FORMER US Open winner Samantha Stosur beat Ukraine's Elina Svitolina on Saturday to reach the Japan Women's Open final as she seeks the first successful title defence of her career.

The top-seeded Australian downed third seed Svitolina 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 in Osaka to set up a final against Kazakhstan's Zarina Diyas. Stosur, 30, is attempting to win in Osaka for a third time after her triumphs in 2009 and 2013, which have already made her the tournament's most successful player.

Aussie Samantha Stosur holds the trophy of the Japan Women's Open tennis tournament in Osaka 2013. Source: AFP

Stosur said "my game got better in the second set and hers maybe dropped a bit."

Diyas reached Sunday's final by beating Luksika Kumkhum 6-2 7-5, halting the dream run of the Thai who reached her first WTA semis despite not winning a main draw match since March.

Luksika, 21, also won singles silver and doubles gold at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, which finished last week.

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Beale fiasco tests McKenzie

Australian rugby union coach Ewen McKenzie speaks during a press conference. Source: WILLIAM WEST / AFP

EWEN McKenzie faces the toughest assignment of his coaching career attempting to regroup a divided Wallabies in the wake of the Kurtley Beale fiasco to face the All Blacks next Saturday night.

The public airing of the Wallabies dirty laundry over the course of the last week will see the All Blacks slip into Brisbane tomorrow with zero pressure and the blow torch intensifying on McKenzie.

Last Friday's press conference at the Australian Rugby Union headquarters was undoubtedly the most intense public grilling the Wallabies coach has faced.

Repeatedly, McKenzie was questioned about his relationship with Wallabies business manager Di Patston, the female ARU staffer who is currently on indefinite stress leave over the Beale text message and mid-air confrontation incidents.

Australian rugby is in turmoil amid two investigations into alleged misbehaviour by star player Kurtley Beale towards team business manager Di Patston and the loss of their last two Test matches. Source: AFP

Under the glare of the cameras, McKenzie maintained it was purely "professional".

But now the issue of when McKenzie became aware of the text messages Beale sent in relation to Patston has become another unwanted off-field distraction.

With the focus on the suspended Beale's Code of Conduct hearing, McKenzie's position as head coach and last weekend's embarrassing loss to Argentina, the All Blacks could well capitalise by instigating their usual round of mind games.

The last time the Wallabies played New Zealand at Eden Park in August, the All Blacks racked up a record 51-20 scoreline, posting their highest-ever score against Australia.

Given all the off-field distractions going on for the Wallabies in the lead-up to Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night, another All Black ambush could even surpass that low point.

Australian rugby union coach Ewen McKenzie at a press conference. Source: AFP

In fairness, it could go the other way and galvanise the Wallabies. Plenty of champion teams have shown the value of siege mentality in sport over the years.

The ARU and the Wallabies long-suffering legion of supporters will be hoping it does.

The greatest challenge for McKenzie could be reuniting a team who saw fit to attempt to intervene and attempt to broker a peace deal between Beale and Patston.

Captain Michael Hooper and centre Adam Ashley-Cooper both told McKenzie they wanted to try and get the pair together to resolve their differences, with Patston initially categorically refusing.

Then, in a bizarre twist, the Wallabies business manager on stress leave had a change of heart and emailed Beale with the offer of a sit-down.

Beale refused and the standoff is now headed for a Code of Conduct hearing.

What impact it all has on the Wallabies on the field we will learn on Saturday night.

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Teenage first grade cricketer making waves

Ben Manenti 17 plays first grade with Sydney club. Source: Adam Ward / News Limited

BEN Manenti may not be a household name just yet, but give it time and he will be a name on everyone's radar and may have other cricketing superstars visiting his home more regularly.

Manenti, 17, one of Sydney's youngest first grade cricketers doesn't have far to go when he wants to work on his skills.

Manenti's Father built a wicket and put a bowling machine into the backyard. Source: News Limited

He simply pops out to the back yard, for up to ten hours a week, of his Concord home where his astute father John has built a wicket and installed a bowling machine.

Popping balls into the machine or batting against their big brother is likely to be 14-year-old younger brother Harry, a member of the Sydney club's Green Shield Under 16 team, or even Louis, another up-and-comer cricketer aged 10.

On the strength of being voted the No 1 player in a NSW Schools carnival, Ben was rushed into Sydney's first grade side for the opening round of the Sydney grade competition and responded with a promising 25 overs of off-spin in his debut against Wests.

At the top of the sporting family is father John, the successful 2014 premiership winning coach of Eastwood and player of 150 games at prop and hooker with Western Suburbs and Sydney University.

"I don't know from where the boys get their cricketing genes," John said.

"I'm a cricket tragic but I was just a slogger with the bat. Now I'm the chauffeur."

Ben and Harry followed their dad, who has been reappointed to the Eastwood coaching job in 2015, into the front-row at St Patrick's College, with Louis gaining a start next year.

Ben will combine his cricket and study as he prepares for this week's HSC examinations with the hope of getting enough marks for being a chiropractor.

Like many before him, it was a case of trial and error in terms of his preference for bowling.

Ben Manenti at his home in Concorde. Source: News Limited

"I was a fast bowler in the Under 10s until the coach turned me into a spinner," Ben said

Helping Manenti to develop his wiles with the ball is Daniel Smith, the former NSW wicketkeeper who captains the Sydney club team and has a high regard for his potential.

One thing for certain is that he probably has spent too much time down the bowling end of the pitch and is working hard to make a valuable contribution with the bat down the order.

In regards to the possibility of being termed an all-rounder Ben replied "Well, I did once hit 102 for St Patrick's in a big Under 13A game against Ryde-Hunters Hill but my next highest score is 12."

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What the XXXX? Gabba fans go thirsty

Munich's 181st Oktoberfest starts with the traditional tapping of the first beer from the first keg. Tara Cleary reports.

THE main problem for Queenslanders at this year's Gabba cricket Test won't be over-zealous security or dodgy weather.

They will be reeling – unable to quench their summer thirst with a drop of their favourite XXXX.

For the first time in decades, there will be no XXXX or XXXX Gold served at the Gabba during the Test against India starting on December 4.

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Cricket Australia has taken over management of the nation's Test cricket venues from the states with CA's commercial beer partner CUB awarded beer-pouring rights.

Castlemaine Perkins Brewery. Picture: Peter/Bull

This means Gabba patrons can expect a choice between Carlton Mid-Strength and VB, although some corporate areas might get lucky and be able to gulp on a Crown or Peroni.

Just as Indian captain MS Dhoni is a fussy eater, and may bring his own chef on tour, Queenslanders have a discerning palate. Cricket fans at the Gabba have for decades celebrated thumping Test victories with a frosty XXXX or drowned their sorrows with a few after the occasional loss.

An unfortunate spin-off of the beer change is that the Queensland Bulls' long association with XXXX Gold has been downgraded.

XXXX, which has sponsored Queensland Cricket for more than 20 years, remains the official beer of the Bulls but podiatrists My FootDr have now come on board as the major sponsor.

Ironically, Queensland Cricket chief executive Geoff Cockerill was formerly a regional director of Castlemaine Perkins (XXXX) in Queensland.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE BAN? HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW

Cockerill replaced long-serving former Queensland Cricket boss Graham Dixon who died last July.

Cricket Australia has taken over management of cricket venues from the states as part of a new, improved and centralised financial model for Australian cricket.

Previously the states took on all the responsibility of running cricket matches, meaning they took a major financial hit if several days of a Test match were washed out.

CA has also assumed responsibility for corporate hospitality and ground signage.

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Hamilton on pole for Russian GP

Lewis Hamilton set the pole position in qualifiers at the Sochi Autodrom. Source: Luca Bruno / AP

MERCEDES has secured another front-row lockout in qualifying for the inaugural Russian Grand Prix as local favourite Daniil Kvyat put his Toro Rosso ahead of the Red Bulls.

The young Russian, who's being promoted to the senior energy drink team next year, qualified fifth ahead of McLaren's Kevin Magnussen.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo struggled to take seventh in the leading Red Bull, but teammate and four-time champion German Sebastian Vettel failed to make the cut for the top ten, dropping out in Q2 in 11th place.

Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton continued to dominate.

The 29-year-old Briton, winner of the past three races, was fastest with a late lap at the new Sochi Autodrom to finish two-tenths of a second clear of his Mercedes teammate and title rival Nico Rosberg.

The German, 10 points behind Hamilton in the championship with four races remaining, pushed hard to catch him, but was almost overhauled by Finn Valtteri Bottas in the final seconds, the Williams driver only missing out on a front row start when he slid off at the penultimate corner.

Russian favourite Daniil Kvyat qualified fifth. Source: Getty Images

It was Hamilton's seventh pole this year and the 38th of his career and the Mercedes team's ninth front-row lockout of the season.

In Sunday's race they can clinch the constructors' crown, ending Red Bull's four year reign as team champions.

"Pole is a great place to start and the team have done a great job," said Hamilton.

Briton Jenson Button recovered from an undistinguished showing in Saturday morning's final free practice to take fourth place on the grid alongside Bottas.

Qualifying took place on a beautiful late summer's day in the Black Sea resort in contrast to the lashing rainstorms a week earlier in Japan, where Frenchman Jules Bianchi suffered his life-threatening injuries last Sunday.

The two Mercedes men were soon on top with solid laps as the scramble to survive the first cut began. Bottas was soon on their heels, but Felipe Massa struggled with fuel pressure problems and was eliminated in 18th place.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo struggled to take seventh. Source: AFP

Among those to go out with the Brazilian was Briton Max Chilton in the sole Marussia.

"It's been a difficult weekend for us all so far," said Chilton.

"It's not been easy. So, all in all, and considering the situation, we've done well.

"With the whole team around me we can try to do the best job we can for Jules."

Rosberg was swiftly on top in Q2, but after a fast Bottas lap, Hamilton romped clear again in another demonstration of his pure speed and talent, his current supremacy accentuated as four-time champion Vettel failed to make the top ten shootout.

As the German dropped out, both Toro Rossos went through.

"He just didn't get the balance and the lap," said Red Bull boss Christian Horner.

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Federer ends Djokovic’s dream run

Roger Federer celebrates his win over Novak Djokovic. Source: Zhong Zhi / Getty Images

A FEISTY Roger Federer overcame Novak Djokovic in a gripping Shanghai ATP Masters semi-final, ending the Serb's incredible winning streak in China and his hopes of clinching a third successive title at the event.

A brilliant attacking display from the 17-times grand slam winner, who served with aggression and spent much of his time at the net, unsettled the world number one for a 6-4 6-4 win.

Federer will meet Gilles Simon in the decider on Sunday, after the Frenchman powered past Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-2 7-6 (7-1) to reach his first Masters final in six years and seal his return to the world top 20.

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