Sports Fix Thursday: We need more F1 testing - Jenson Button

OH, WHAT A NIGHT

LET'S talk cricket. Let's talk upsets. And let's talk Kevin O'Brien.

Who? That's right, I've got no idea. But the boy can hit and gosh did he stick it to England overnight.

In perhaps what will be the shock upset of the Cricket World Cup tournament, O'Brien smashed a century off just 50 balls.

He ended his night on 113 off 63 balls after being stumped by wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

It was his incredible innings, made up of six sixes and 13 fours, that led his green team to a win over the Poms with just five balls to spare.

And now I can say, without doubt, that the 'luck of the Irish' does exist.

Believe me, I'll be hunting around for a four-leaf clover. 

And while we're chatting about cricket, I think Andrew Flintoff deserves a mention.

Like Shane Warne, maybe Flintoff predicted England's shock loss, and that's why he's made a comeback!

Now hold your horses, not to world stage, yet. Flintoff has signed up with club side Penwortham.

Flintoff will join his brother Chris in the team.

Who knows, he might be getting the call soon. 'We need you back, Andrew. Please....?'


MCLAREN CAN'T FIND THE RIGHT BUTTONS

THIS year's F1 season will be tough because of the 'epic fail' that is the Bahrain GP.

And Jenson Button can't help but feel that McLaren will start off on the back foot.

He believes there just hasn't been enough testing and with the season-opening Australian Grand Prix just weeks away, Button said next week's four-day testing in Barcelona.
 
Well, Jenson, you can thank Bernie for that one.

It will be very interesting to see how the Melbourne race goes. Lack of practice normally means mistakes will be made and no one can afford mistakes on what is already a short season.

A LEGEND SAYS GOODBYE

ALMOST everyone has heard of Ronaldo. And if you haven't, check this out HERE.

There's just something about his one-word name that instantly sends the talent radar off in your brain.

With a name like that, how could you not be good?

The soccer legend will wear Brazil's jersey one last time in a farewell match against Romania in June.

Ronaldo's last official match with Brazil was in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where Brazil lost to France in the quarter finals.

I'LL FIGHT THE DOPE ANY DAY!

IF I mention drugs and cycling, what name comes to mind?

Yep, me too. Alberto Contador.

Get this, the three-time Tour de France winner has vowed to fight any attempt to re-impose doping sanctions.

Contador tested positive for minute traces of the banned muscle-building substance clenbuterol during last July's Tour de France, which he won.

The Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) last month rescinded proposals to hand down a one-year competition ban after accepting Contador's claim that he ate drug-contaminated meat and was therefore not negligent.

The 28-year-old rider said: "Now I want to fight and if I managed to stop them sanctioning me I should fight with even more determination to ensure that the higher authorities don't do so either," he said in an interview with the daily ABC.

Okay Alberto, we get the point. Just be careful about what you eat, ehy?


IT'S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP... AND THAT'S BEFORE YOU GO TO HOSPITAL

SERENA Williams has been riding the unlucky train for some time now.

And it seems she's got more stops to come.

The former world No.1 had emergency surgery to remove a blood clot from her lungs.

Nicole Chabot told People magazine that the 29-year-old American - a 13-time grand slam singles champion - underwent an emergency operation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles on Monday and continues to be hospitalised so physicians can monitor her recovery.

Poor girl... get well soon, Serena!

If you're an Aussie you'll be glad to hear Jelena Dokic came from a set down to beat Japan's Kurumi Nara in a tough second round clash at the Malaysian Open today.

Dokic, who beat top-seed Francesca Schiavone in the opening round, chased down Nara 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 in two hours, 19 minutes.

Good work, Jelena. Just keep on keeping on.  


VID OF THE DAY

WE'RE going back to the cricket for this one.

I just can't get over Kevin O'Brien's century off just 50 balls, let alone Ireland's win over the Poms.

You have to check out the highlights from the match. They're awesome!  

WATCH IT AT THE TOP NOW!

MORE SPORTS AT A GLIMPSE

Cycling: Italian rider Franco Pellizotti provided evidence at the Court of Arbitration for Sport today in a case that could strengthen or undermine cycling's flagship anti-doping scheme.

NFL: Michael Vick, who missed two seasons while imprisoned for his role in a dogfight gambling ring, signed a one-year deal with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles today.

Soccer: Fifth-division Chambery's French Cup fairytale came to an end today when they were defeated 3-0 by second tier Angers in their quarter-final match at Grenoble's Stade des Alpes.

Soccer: Japanese side Cerezo Osaka took all three points as they made their Asian Champions League debut today, while South Korea's Jeonbuk Motors deservedly shrugged off Shandong Luneng 1-0.

NFL: NFL owners and players union representatives resumed talks on a new labor contract today, the eve of the expiration of their current collective bargaining deal.

Tennis: Serbia's world No.3 Novak Djokovic will not play in this weekend's Davis Cup against India, with no reason given for his bypassing tie.

Cricket: Intrigue surrounds how the Colombo pitch will play for Australia's World Cup blockbuster against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Cricket: Indian cricket chiefs have blasted the International Cricket Council over its outspoken criticism of Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the ongoing row over World Cup television reviews.

Soccer: Australian Mitchell Langerak will have to wait until match eve to find out whether he will get another chance in goal for Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund at home to Cologne. 

Motor racing: British racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart has reportedly been hospitalised after complaining of chest pains while onboard a flight to London.

Olympics: Australian Olympic officials are pushing hard to secure more guaranteed tickets for the nation's swimmers at the 2012 Games after having their ticket allocations cut in half.