Mild upstages wild on Lyon's day

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MITCHELL Johnson is the man who can do everything - and for sheer gladatorial excitement, his duel with Kevin Pietersen late Saturday had the MCG rocking, as only one of the world's greatest sports stadiums can.

But the evil-eyed enforcer was upstaged by the unfashionable, mild-mannered Nathan Lyon - and guess what, another huge crowd probably enjoyed that even more.

If they weren't already doing that, they changed their mind when the smiling off-spinner had England's most controversial cricketer caught in the deep late in the last session, Lyon's 100th Test wicket.

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The crowd of 63,864, which included his family, gave him a rousing ovation when he performed the now ritual gesture of holding up the ball to mark the five-for - and what was probably the decisive wicket of the match.

For any number of reasons, it was a magical moment in what has developed into one of the most interesting - riveting, in fact - Boxing Day Tests in recent memory, the best since England won by 12 runs three tours ago.

And it hasn't been decided yet.

It will be Sunday, with Australia needing 201 with all 10 wickets intact to make it 4-0.

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Given they only managed 204 in the first innings, and the way the match has twisted and turned over the first three days, that's not a doddle, and England wicketkeeper, Johnny Bairstow, insisted on Saturday night that they were confident of turning it around.

But the tourists might be whistling in the dark.

Their' morale won't be helped by the certain knowledge that they surrendered the high ground not once, not twice but three times on Saturday.

They allowed Brad Haddin and Lyon to add 40 for the last wicket - crucial runs in such a low-scoring contest - and then lost 3-1 and 5-6 in embarrassing collapses themselves, bowled out for 179 in just 61 overs.

They squandered a potentially dominating position when they led by 116 with all wickets intact and for their long suffering fans it was beyond disappointing - again.

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Lyon was a big part of both implosions and history is going to record that he has played a bigger part in this summer-long triumph than anyone - himself included, perhaps - would have expected, given he has been dropped from the team twice this year.

He has now taken 16 wickets, more than anyone except the all-conquering Johnson's 31, and it's not just the number but the names - Bell for a first ball duck, Stokes and Pietersen among them on Saturday.

He has become a great story and will remain one whatever happens in the rest of his career, which began in spectacular fashion with a haul of 5-34 on debut against Sri Lanka just over two years ago.

Now, in his 29th match, he has become only the sixth Australian off-spinner to take 100 wickets behind Hugh Trumble's 141 - well over a century ago - Ashley Mallett's 132, Bruce Yardley's 126, former captain Ian Johnson's 109 and, also well over a century ago, George Giffen's 103.

Three years ago he was helping prepare Test wickets in Adelaide, not bowling on them, so it has been a remarkable journey.

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"It seemed a long way away when I started but no-one can take it away from me now," he said.

"It's amazing."

Johnson captivated the crowd, as he had done in the first innings and everywhere else he has been this summer, when he launched the fightback by disposing of England captain Alistair Cook just as he was threatening to take control and put the match out of reach.

Then he threw down the stumps to run out Joe Root and held a good catch to dismiss Bell in quick succession, before challenging Pietersen to a ferocious battle after the tea-break, each man knowing the result of the match might largely hinge on who came out on top.

Johnson was infuriated when Pietersen pulled away during his run-up, saying a child on the boundary was distracting him, and threw the ball towards the slips instead of bowling it.

The pair exchanged plenty of angry words with unpire Kumar Dharmasena forced to order them to cool it.

It might have been ugly but the crowd was loving it.

The running total for the three days is now 233,302, while Channel 9 said 2.6 million watched Friday's play.

If you haven't beern part of it, either on the spot or on the counch, don't miss it on Saturday - it might yet be a thriller.

ron.reed@news.com.au

Twitter: @Reedrw

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Thanks Brad, we owe you a beer

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THANKS, Brad - we owe you a beer or six.

That's what the Australian top order should be saying after wicketkeeper Haddin spared their blushes for the fourth time in as many Ashes Tests on Saturday.

The New South Wales gloveman, thought by many at this time last year to have played his final Test match, continued his extraordinary summer on Saturday with another rearguard action to ease his mates' burden.

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Only time will tell how valuable his 65 - 22 of which came in a potentially pivotal last-wicket stand of 40 with Nathan Lyon - will be at the MCG.

But suffice it to say, it's not his first rescue mission.

Batting at No.7, Haddin has come to the crease in the first innings with his side in various levels of crisis - three times with fewer than 150 runs on the board.

Each time he has made at least a half-century and only once has he not batted for at least two and a half hours - and that was during Saturday's knock when he fell only seven minutes shy of the mark.

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He has moved to a comfortable second on the list of run-scorers for the series with his 390 runs - behind only David Warner's 466 - comprising one ton and four half-centuries at an average of 65 and strike rate of a hair under 70.

But in a game when stats are often overused, there are a couple that shouldn't go overlooked - especially given they were produced when games were in the balance.

Of the 842 first-innings runs Australia has scored after Haddin arrived at the crease, his 332 account for a staggering 39.4 per cent.

And, as England's tail has folded more repeatedly than an accordion at a zydeco music festival, Haddin has now batted for 10 minutes short of 14 hours, mostly with the bowlers.

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Injuries the downside of stability

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THIS is the downside of stability. Ryan Harris has bowled himself to a standstill and Shane Watson is moving like a bullock dray.

Naming the same side in four successive Tests for the first time in almost a decade has given Australia an unexpected look of certainty and confidence levels have gone through the roof with each emphatic victory.

But the last Test in Sydney is a bridge too far.

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Five Tests in six weeks is an enormous ask, particularly for the bowlers, and this side cannot remain intact.

The plan has always been to rest Ryan Harris in Sydney next week following just a three-day turnaround from Melbourne and Saturday produced ample evidence why.

The limp from his dodgy knee has become more pronounced with each passing day and his pace has dropped off a little.

If Harris was to try and play at the SCG next week he would need the postman's motorbike.

On the opening day England managed just two scoring shots off Harris in his eight overs to lunch, and one of them was an edge.

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On Saturday the first three deliveries in England's second innings were all picked off for runs.

Carrying an obvious groin problem, Watson's few overs on Saturday were delivered at Shane Warne flipper pace and the all-rounder was a liability in the field.

There is simply no way Watson can play in Sydney either if he's going to move like that.

How many changes the selectors make and who fills those spots will be intriguing, with the heavy duty tour of South Africa little more than a month away.

If a common sense approach is taken at the selection table now the Ashes have been well and truly won, Harris and Watson should be put on ice until then, lest they do any more damage to their battered bodies.

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The first inclusion should be this summer's permanent 12th man, bowling all-rounder James Faulkner.

Whether he comes in as a straight swap for Harris or the selectors push Brad Haddin to six and include Faulkner as the all-rounder at seven will be a matter of some debate.

In his only Test, at The Oval last August, Faulkner played as the all-rounder with four specialist bowlers during a typically feisty debut.

That would mean dropping George Bailey, who is the least performed of Australia's batsmen this summer and needs something special in Australia's second innings to be sure of holding his place.

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Given stability has been such a key to Australia's success this summer the selectors will be keen to keep changes to a minimum but it is also a chance to look at players ahead of South Africa.

With Watson likely to be missing Australia will need a new number three and the obvious candidate is Alex Doolan, although his form tapered off after a strong start for Tasmania this season.

And he hasn't played red ball cricket for three weeks because of the Sheffield Shield hiatus that makes room for the Big Bash.

Doug Bollinger and Nathan Coulter-Nile have been on standby for the past two Tests, with Coulter-Nile inching towards a Test debut.

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Jets back at happy hunting ground

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AS far as away games go, Newcastle's trip to Adelaide is certainly one of their least daunting.

The Jets are unbeaten in their last four matches at Coopers Stadium, including a 2-1 victory over the Reds in round five, their first of the season.

More recently they've recorded away wins against Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar, which Jets goalkeeper Mark Birighitti says has left the team brimming with confidence.

Newcastle United's Mark Birighitti with a save in the second half against Melbourne Victory. Source: News Limited

"It's a great confidence boost knowing we've played two of the best teams in the competition in Brisbane and Melbourne Victory away and we've won both games," Birighitti said.

"It's a bit disappointing that we lost to Western Sydney at home, we thought we probably could've got a lot more out of that game, but the boys' confidence is sky high and we're playing some really nice football. Hopefully that can continue this weekend."

Adelaide began the season committed to coach Josep Gombau's Spanish style football, but that's been compromised in the face of poor results.

Birighitti has noticed the change and is confident Newcastle will adapt.

Mark Birighitti of the Jets saves a goal. Source: Getty Images

"I've watched Adelaide these past couple of weeks and they've definitely changed their style of play from the way they were playing at the start of the season," he said.

"I think that comes down to a lack of results, so they've resorted to a long-ball game. They're definitely playing a lot more long balls than they used to play, but I'm sure our boys will adapt to that and I'm confident we can go there and get three points. We're on a bit of a roll at the moment, we've played some really good football and we're definitely going to be right up there this year."

While Newcastle have shot up the ladder, they've also landed the worst disciplinary record in the A-League. They've received 28 yellow cards, more than any other team, and their ill-discipline hasn't gone unnoticed by Gombau.

Josep Gombau, coach of Adelaide United. Source: Getty Images

"It's a difficult game because of the way the opponent, Newcastle, is playing," Gombau said.

"It's a team that makes a lot of fouls. The last game that we played against them here, they cut our attacking actions with fouls, fouls, fouls. This is something that is difficult to play and we are worried about this."

But Birighitti praised the growing maturity of Newcastle's young players and believes that that is the reason for their recent success.

"There was a lot of pressure on us at the start of the season, especially after not making the top six last year," Birighitti said.

"Last year we had a lot of young boys in the squad and for most of them it was really their first year in the A-League.

"Going into their second season there was a lot more pressure on them, so full credit to the young boys, they've stepped up this season and they've done a fantastic job.

"Their confidence is sky high and we're definitely on the right path."

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Sadly, Sydney's sky blue is bleak

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SYDNEY FC should be the biggest and most successful club in the A-League.

But right now, the Sky Blues seem to be nothing more than a patched-up and disorganised franchise lacking long-term vision.

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That's not having a go at coach Frank Farina or his football department.

Farina and his staff are doing their best but without genuine backing from Sydney's owners, there is only some much the coach can do.

While Farina may be contracted until the end of next season, it seems to me that he doesn't have the ability to sign players because his future is anything but guaranteed.

Whether it is Farina or another coach, he needs backing from CEO Tony Pignata and the owners so Sydney can map out a long-term plan.

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Sydney like to believe that they are a big club but they have got to back up what a big club is all about.

They are not showing the attributes of a big club. But how long have we been saying that for?

Sydney have really got to start thinking five or 10 years down the line.

The squad needs rejuvenation. That much was clearly evident on Thursday when Brisbane Roar ran rampant at Allianz Stadium.

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Sydney have got to have a plan, they have got to have vision, they have got to have targets.

Most importantly they have got to know how to get there. At the moment it's painfully obvious they don't.

Even when their squad is at full strength, Sydney FC have a makeshift look about them, and there's only so much a 39-year-old Alessandro Del Piero can do despite his undoubted class.

Sadly it seems the Sky Blues don't really know where they're going to be next weekend, let alone in five or 10 years' time.

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Lyon puts Aussies in box seat

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AUSTRALIA is tantalisingly poised to claim the fourth Test at the MCG on Sunday on the way to attempting a 5-0 whitewash in Sydney next week.

After an extraordinary recovery on day three, Australia needs a further 201 for victory with all 10 wickets in hand.

The character of the batsmen is on the line on Sunday after the bowlers yet again dragged the team back into a match the batsmen threatened to sacrifice.

At stumps Australia was 0-30 after bowling England out for just 179 in its second innings, leaving Australia 231 to win.

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History says the target is not as easy as it looks. Australia has successfully chased more than 200 at the MCG just three times, with the best 5-287 against England in 1928-29, and the last 8-258 against the West Indies during 1960-61.

Saturday's hero was Nathan Lyon, who claimed 5-50 and became just the fifth Australian off-spinner to achieve 100 career wickets, taking them in front of 63,864 fans. More than 230,000 have watched the first three days of the Test.

Lyon claimed the slow pitch was not to blame for the terrible batting collapses by both teams.

"Australia has to really be patient with our batting. It's going to be a massive challenge, there's no doubt about it," he said.

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"We have to hang in there, be patient and show good intent and try and rotate the strike."

Mitchell Johnson also continued his outstanding summer, claiming 3-25 from 15 overs to have 31 wickets at an average of just 14 apiece.

He is on course to have the best series by an Australian fast bowler since Rodney Hogg took 41 wickets against England during 1978-79.

No longer the timid church mouse, Johnson literally went toe-to-toe with England's most dangerous batsman, Kevin Pietersen, on Saturday.

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Looking all the more intimidating with his bristling 1970s moustache, Johnson was furious with Pietersen (49) pulling away at the last minute because of what his batting partner Jonny Bairstow said was a baby crawling behind the sightscreen.

Umpire Kumar Dharmasena was forced to step between the pair.

However flaky Australia's batting above Brad Haddin has been in the first four Tests, England's has been so much worse. On Saturday it was catastrophic.

Haddin (65 not out) top-scored in a last wicket partnership of 40 with Lyon, reducing Australia's deficit to 51.

Asked how valuable those runs might be a matter of fact Lyon replied "I'll tell you tomorrow."

England got away well. Captain Alastair Cook looked the best he has all series on the way to a brisk 51 in an opening partnership of 65 with Michael Carberry.

This gave England a 116-run lead with all 10 second innings wickets in hand, and a golden opportunity to bat Australia out of the match.

But England lost 4-22 including an extraordinary collapse of 3-1 in six balls and then followed that up later in the innings by losing the last five wickets for just six runs in six overs.

In Brisbane England lost 6-9 and 5-21, in Adelaide it was 5-43 and Perth 5-43 and 4-17.

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Heart sack Aloisi after horror run

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JOHN Aloisi's tenure as Melbourne Heart coach is over, after the former Socceroos striker was on Saturday night sacked two years into a three-year deal.

Heart officials were on Saturday locked in meetings and it's believed that they delivered the news to him in the afternoon.

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As Heart finally confirmed that sale talks are taking place, it's understood that Aloisi's departure will be announced on Sunday although club officials on Saturday night denied he'd been sacked.

Former coach and now technical manager John van't Schip or Heart's Spanish assistant Gerard Nus are now favoured to take over from Aloisi.

Heart will now have to sort through a compensation package with Aloisi, 37, who was understood to be earning in excess of $200,000-a-season.

It's unclear what role the consortium in talks with Heart - led by Melbourne Storm chairman Bart Campbell - had in Aloisi's sacking.

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Though Aloisi angrily denounced the idea that he would resign in the wake of Friday night's 1-0 loss to Wellington, Heart's board felt obliged to make the change after a disastrous recent record.

Aloisi cancelled training yesterday after Friday night's defeat left Heart six points behind second-last Phoenix and winless in 17 games - two shy of New Zealand Knights' A-League record.

Aloisi has lost 24 of his 39 games as A-League coach while recording just eight wins and seven draws.

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The Herald Sun on Friday revealed a $12 million sale to the new group was imminent and Heart broke its silence yesterday, confirming talks commenced four months ago and were ongoing.

"Melbourne Heart has been approached by a number of parties over the past 12 months,'' the statement said.

"The club has always maintained that the owners would consider transferring ownership if they considered the sale to be in the best long-term interests of the club, which includes players, staff and members.

"Over the last four months the club's ownership has held discussions with one particular group who has expressed an interest in growing the club.

"Any discussions will ensure the club's existing structures remain, in order to prevent dislocation to the club's philosophies or personnel.''

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It's an intriguing backdrop to Aloisi's future.

Sections of Friday's 6486 AAMI Park crowd chanted "Aloisi out'' and "You're s--t, and we still turn up'' at the final whistle.

And around a dozen fans confronted Aloisi in the car park after the game demanding his resignation with eye witnesses claiming the heated exchange lasted almost 10 minutes.

With Harry Kewell back in action only suspended Patrick Kisnorbo and injured marquee Orlando Engelaar were missing from Heart's best XI against the battling Kiwis.

Melbourne Heart have sacked coach John Aloisi. Source: Getty Images

Van't Schip, who returned to the club on a part-time basis this season, flew back to Europe after last week's Melbourne derby but he has had some input in team tactics and selections this season.

Heart's record makes for horrible reading and its on-field performances continue to be wildly inconsistent, the hallmarks of a coach who had lost his team.

There's no respite for Heart, which travels to Central Coast Mariners next Sunday followed by a tough trip to Perth Glory.

Aloisi had refused to declare wholesale changes for next week but revealed some frustration with his players.

He did not address the squad after Friday's loss and, had been planning to review the game at training this week.

Having coached the youth team for just one season Aloisi's 2012 appointment was a surprise after Heart's No2, Ante Milicic, was passed over to replace van't Schip.

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