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Symonds returns to the Australian Cricket Team

Tue 11 November 2008

Andrew Symonds' exile from the national team is over after he was named in the Australian side to take on an All-Stars XI in a Twenty20 match in Brisbane on Friday. Symonds will also be back in the frame for the upcoming home Test series against New Zealand having completed the welfare process prescribed for him. The Australian Test Squad to compete against New Zealand is expected to be announced within the next week.

This opportunity will mean that Andrew Symonds will unleash the Predator Max cricket bat for the first time. Symonds will continue to use the Viper in the Test and ODI formats.

It is also pleasing to see Matthew Hayden return to limited overs cricket, joining Shaun Marsh for the first time at the top-of-the-order. Cameron White continues to hold his spot in the Australian team for all forms of the game.

Australia - Matthew Hayden, Shaun Marsh, Michael Clarke (capt), Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson, Cameron White, Brad Haddin (wk), Brett Geeves, Peter Siddle, Shaun Tait.

ACA All-Stars XI - Adam Gilchrist (capt, wk), Justin Langer, Brad Hodge, Simon Katich, Rob Quiney, Michael Dighton, Dan Marsh, Ashley Noffke, Ryan Harris, Steve Magoffin, Brendan Drew, Dan Cullen.

Ana enjoys special victory

Mon 27 October 2008

Ana was understandably delighted after a near flawless display of controlled power tennis earned her a 6-2, 6-1 win over world No.9 Vera Zvonareva, and with it the Generali Ladies Linz title.

"Every final is a new experience and winning a title is always special," she said. "Especially after coming back from an injury, and putting in a lot of hard work; it is great to see the results. It's a very good feeling to win another title and I am very happy about it.

"I've played better and better with every match and I just enjoyed it again, to compete and win. I've had a couple of good matches here: Pennetta in the quarter-finals was a really good match, and yesterday against Radwanska was very emotional and tough, with lots of ups and downs. But both matches gave me a lot of confidence. Today I played almost a perfect match."

"The score might look like the match was easier than it actually was. We were still fighting for every point and in the first set there was one situation where the match could have gone either way. It makes a big difference if it is 3-2 or 4-1."

Zvonareva lamented her poor performance. "Of course I am really disappointed with how I played today," she said. "She played well and I was just not in the match today."

Ana also enjoyed her time in Austria off the court. "I enjoyed my week in Linz," she said. "When I had a day off earlier this week I went for a walk in the city, went to the cinema and had a nice dinner by the river."

Having well and truly put her injury troubles behind her, Ana is now well placed to make an assault on the Sony Ericsson Championships in Qatar, which begins a week on Tuesday. "I'm going to Doha hungry to win more matches," said Ana.

"But the top eight players will be there and they all want to win the Championships, so it will be tough. But I'm looking forward to Doha. I will also celebrate my birthday there, and I will just go there to enjoy competing."

Kangaroos RLWC News

Thu 16 October 2008

Amid all the arrivals, the Australian team is preparing to head into camp on Saturday.

After having had to replace both Michael Crocker and Justin Hodges before even gathering as a team, it's somehow appropriate that their first activity will involve a rescue party.

The Australians are joining 'nippers' at Coogee Beach in surf-lifesaving drills on Sunday morning.

Nippers are junior life-savers from five years of age to under 14's and the day is a chance for the defending World Cup Champions to ease their way back into full-time training.

Coach Ricky Stuart knows that things will hot up quickly soon after with the pressure building on a team overloaded with public expectation.

The opening Ceremony at the Sydney Football Stadium on October 26 will be the first real test for the Australians when they face the Kiwis.

The day will include a curtain-raiser between an Australian Indigenous team and the New Zealand Maoris as well as an official opening ceremony featuring Natalie Bassingthwaighte.

More than 125 countries have signed up to take telecasts of RLWC08 World Cup matches and Ricky Stuart will be determined to impress from the start.

The nature of the Super Pool format, with Australia, New Zealand, England and PNG in the one pool, is such that any slip up can spell disaster in terms of making the semi-finals.

Stuart knows only too well that New Zealand will go into the match thirsting for revenge after their disappointment in this year's Centenary Test.

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Tickets are selling now to all 2008 Rugby League World Cup events and fans are urged to book their seats for the crowning event of the game's Centenary celebrations in Australia.

The tournament features 18 matches at 12 different venues over 29 days.

Tournament partner Jetstar will fly fans across the country so everyone can enjoy the World Cup experience.

Check ticketing details now on www.rlwc08 to make sure you are part of an international Rugby League celebration.

Cam White makes Test Debut

Fri 10 October 2008

Cameron White made his Test debut yesterday against India in Bangalore, India.

It is very likely that White will make his first batting appearance in Test Cricket today. White has played 21 ODIs for Australia and two T20s. His first class batting average is 41.47.

White uses the COUNTY White Lightning L.E. cricket legguards, gloves and bat.

Marsh - Man of the Match on debut for Australia

Wed 25 June 2008

Shaun Marsh has broken into the international ODI scene with a Man of the Match performance of 81 runs (97 balls) against the West Indies overnight, which included seven 4's and one 6. Not only did Marsh win match honours he notched up the second-highest score by an Australian on debut in a one-day international. He fell 13 short of the highest debut ODI score by an Australian, set by another potential one-day opener, Phil Jaques. Both Marsh and Jaques are using the GRAY-NICOLLS NITRO range.

The Australian cricket team also used GRAY-NICOLLS pink batting grips to recognise the recent passing of Jane McGrath.

When Matthew Hayden makes his return to Test and ODI cricket it is likely that GRAY-NICOLLS will have the two opening batsmen for both forms, as well as the very marketable Andrew Symonds in the middle order and a promising Twenty20 opening batsman / wicket-keeper Luke Ronchi, who scored the most runs in the recent Twenty20 against the West Indies.

Matthew Hayden - FUSION 2

Andrew Symonds - VIPER (ODI and Tests), PREDATOR MAX (T20)

Shaun Marsh - NITRO

Phil Jaques - NITRO

Luke Ronchi - LEGEND wicket keeping gloves, NITRO wicket keeping pads and a PREDATOR MAX bat

News from Australia's T20 v West Indies

Tue 24 June 2008

GRAY-NICOLLS cricketers Shaun Marsh (25 yo) and Luke Ronchi (27 yo) opened the batting in Australia's T20 v West Indies last weekend. The duo made an opening partnership of 57, with Shaun finishing on 29 (22 balls) and Luke on 36 (22 balls).

Luke Ronchi uses a PREDATOR MAX bat and Shaun Marsh uses a NITRO bat.

Cameron White also played in this match and scored an unbeaten 10 (6 balls) with the new COUNTY Lightning range.

Win a trip to 2008 NRL GF

Tue 29 April 2008

STEEDEN is proud to announce the Where's Your STEEDEN? competition as advertised in Big League magazine and all major STEEDEN stockists. Competition commenced 24 April 2008.

Entrants who purchase a STEEDEN football are encouraged to photograph it in a creative way and upload the pic to our web page (www.steeden.com.au/wheresyoursteeden). The winning (most creative) entry will receive two tickets to the 2008 NRL Grand Final, flights from their capital city and accommodation. Entries received before 30 June 2008 will also receive a FREE STEEDEN stress ball.

Competition closes 19 September 2008 and the prize winner will be notified by phone on 22 September 2008. The winning photograph will be published online and in the Grand Final Edition of Big League Magazine, on sale 2 October 2008. For full terms and conditions click here.

Win a Training Session with Kasey Brown

Thu 8 May 2008

Australia's top young squash player, Kasey Brown and Grays Squash have joined forces with the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) to raise vital funds to bring us closer towards a cure for breast cancer. Brown, the face of the Grays Squash Breast Cancer Campaign, is currently ranked number one in Australia and sixteenth in the world. Grays Squash has developed the Grays 150 Pink racquet and other pink coloured accessories to raise funds and awareness for the NBCF.

Grays Squash is proud to announce the commencement of a new competition - Win a Training Session with Kasey Brown'. To WIN purchase a Grays Squash product that supports the NBCF (products marked with a pink ribbon) and tell us in 25 words or less what is your favourite Grays Squash racquet and why. The prize winner will be announced on 1 July 2008 and will win:

Training session with Brown for at least two hours, including on court and off court activities
Entry to compete in the Mattiolis Bros. Melbourne Open in which Brown will play. The winner will give coaching to and be coached by Brown throughout this tournament.
Transport and accommodation for the winner to the training session and tournament at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, Melbourne, Victoria.

Click here to read the competition terms and conditions.

Click here to enter

ARU and Wallabies choose GILBERT to 2012

Thu 11 October 2007

The Australian Rugby Union has announced a new agreement with GILBERT to be the Official Match Ball for the next five years, commencing 1 January 2008. This will see GILBERT balls used in all games under the control of the ARU and worldwide exclusivity on Wallabies-branded licensed and replica balls.

The GILBERT ‘SYNERGIE' ball, soon to be used by the Wallabies, is the flagship of the GILBERT range and is being used in the IRB Rugby World Cup 2007 France, as well as being the Official Ball of most nations in world rugby.

Richard Gray Sales and Marketing Director for GILBERT International said: "We are extremely pleased that the Wallabies have chosen the GILBERT ball. As one of the leading teams in world rugby it is only right that they should be using the players' first choice of ball. It is all the more pleasing that the ARU have decided to return to the GILBERT brand and this is a real tribute to the progress made by GILBERT in Australia."

Scott Bradford Football Brand Manager Australia said: "To secure the Wallabies for a five-year deal provides the security and ability to build long-term sales and marketing strategies.

"We look forward to working closely with the Wallabies players and management over the coming months and years. The two organisations are a perfect fit as both are iconic brands with passion and true heritage."

A new GILBERT Wallabies ball range will be available in-store from February 2008, which will cater for the elite and junior players, fans, and children. The GILBERT sales team will soon present the Wallaby range to retailers and take orders for February 2008 and beyond.

GILBERT would like to thank its valued customers for their ongoing support and we look forward to sharing with them the many exciting years to come.

GO THE WALLABIES!

Jaques makes maiden ton with GRAY-NICOLLS JET equipment

Thu 8 November 2007

Australia's new Test opener Phil Jaques made his maiden Test century today against Sri Lanka. Under the guidance of his opening partner and fellow GRAY-NICOLLS cricketer Matthew Hayden, Jaques built a memorable first Test century after a nervy start.

Jaques was at the realm with Hayden in his last two Test appearances in Melbourne in 2005 and Bangladesh in 2006.

GRAY-NICOLLS is well represented in Australia's Test side with Phil Jaques, Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds.

Jaques uses GRAY-NICOLLS JET cricket bat, gloves and pads. Follow the links to view this equipment.

Website Launch

Thu 27 September 2007

We've been putting in the hard yards over the last few months, to update our website. There are a few new features, that we've specifically built with you in mind.

Downloads
We'll be posting audio and video interviews of our sponsored players for you to view or download, plus screensavers and wallpapers to you can show your support for your sport!

Newsletter
We've going all out to keep you up to date with the latest in your sport and the lastest gear to help you be your best. Click on the newsletter link on the bottom of any webpage to subscribe to your preferred sport.

Google Maps
Now you can find your closest retailer with a quick click. We've added the ability to find your closed store and get directions with Google Maps. Click on the retailers link and select your state to check it out.

Be the first to know!

Fri 28 September 2007

If you love your sport as much as we do - you'll want to be the first to know the lastest info. We'll be posting exclusive interviews with some of our sponsored players, plus giving you access to screensavers and wallpapers, to you can keep even closer to your favorite sport.

We'll be covering Cricket, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Hockey, Netball, Squash, Tennis and Darts. Just click on the newsletter link at the bottom of any page and select the sports you're interested in. We promise not to spam you with useless information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Free Mini DVD with every GRAY-NICOLLS bat purchased

Wed 10 October 2007

GRAY-NICOLLS is attaching a free Mini DVD to every GRAY-NICOLLS bat in the range.

Features on the Mini DVD are: interviews with Matthew Hayden and Phil Jacques, bat-making, how-to section on oiling and knocking-in your bat along with taking cricket lessons with Andrew Symonds. Plus more!

GRAY-NICOLLS Strengthens Relationship with NBCF

Wed 10 October 2007

Since GRAY-NICOLLS and the National Breast Cancer Foundation joined forces in November 2006, Gray-Nicolls has raised over $25,000 for the foundation.

The campaign began in November 2006 with Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds promoting the cause with fluorescent pink grips on their bats. For every run Hayden scored and every boundary Symonds hit over the 06/07 Ashes series, Gray-Nicolls donated $20 and $100 respectively to the NBCF.

As a result of such a successful campaign, New Zealand cricketers, Lou Vincent, Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori also joined the fight against breast cancer.

The campaign will continue over the 07/08 summer season to raise even more money for both the National Breast Cancer Foundation and The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF).

Not only can GRAY-NICOLLS and its cricketers support these foundations, you can too. Gray-Nicolls Mini Bats and Fluorescent pink grips are being sold in retailers. For every one purchased, Gray-Nicolls will donate $1 to the NBCF in Australia and the NZBCF in New Zealand. Each year 2,600 women in Australia and 622 women in New Zealand die from breast cancer, making it the most common cause of cancer-related death in Australian and New Zealand women. Together we can make a difference through a sport we love.

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