Stirling Mortlock’s five years as ACT Brumbies captain is over.
Peter Fitzgerald writes in the Canberra Times that the Australian skipper has officially stood down from the primary leadership role he has held at the Super 14 club since taking over from George Gregan in 2004.
Stephen Hoiles, who only joined the Brumbies two seasons ago from the NSW Waratahs, is his replacement.
Capped 16 times by Australia, Hoiles said he felt very comfortable captaining the Brumbies and was fortunate to have a number of world-class leaders in the team, including Mortlock and openside flanker George Smith.
“I honestly believe that we are on the verge of doing something very special at the Brumbies and to be chosen to lead the team during that time is extremely exciting,” Hoiles said.
New Brumbies head coach Andy Friend said Hoiles was one of several excellent captaincy candidates.
“This appointment is recognition of Steve’s senior standing within the side and the respect he has from his teammates,” Friend said.
“While Hoilesy has been a very consistent footballer throughout his career, I belive that we are yet to see the best out of him and by giving him this responsibility it will encourage him to realise that potential.”
Friend said Mortlock and Smith, who has also captained the Brumbies, remained pivotal members of the team and he wanted them to play without the additional responsibility of the captaincy.
Mortlock’s decision to surrender the captaincy comes as little surprise, after he would not commit to the role before Christmas following a discussion with coach Andy Friend.
The 31-year-old intends to remain as Wallabies skipper but it is understood he believed the time was right to hand the Brumbies mantle to a younger player destined for an eventual leadership role.
Friend informed the playing group of the announcement on Sunday night in Jervis Bay, where the players are spending the week at a naval training base.
Hoiles, 27, will become the fourth player appointed as long-term captain of the Brumbies behind Brett Robinson, Gregan and Mortlock since the club joined Super rugby in 1996.
Ewen McKenzie, Owen Finegan, Alister Campbell and George Smith are the only other players to have acted as stand-in skippers in that time.
Hoiles’ only senior captaincy experience came last year with Sydney club Randwick, which he played for after the Super 14 season when snubbed by Wallabies selectors.
He led the team to the NSW final but lost to Sydney University.
The Brumbies’ first Super 14 match for the season is against the Otago Highlanders in Dunedin on February13.
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South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first
@McLovin (Comment 1) : the toss won the toss? 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 2) : He’s not playing. 😉
ND McKenzie, HH Gibbs, JH Kallis, JP Duminy, VB van Jaarsveld, MV Boucher, J Botha, JA Morkel, DW Steyn, M Ntini, LL Tsotsobe
@McLovin (Comment 4) : who’s the skipper, then?
And who’s LL Tsotsobe? Ain’t heard of him before.
Cricket has kicked off.
Ground is sold out, 40,000 people.
Gibbs & Amla opening da batting.
Seems to be no truth in the rumour that Jack Daniels Australia have reported a marked increase in sales since Gibbs has arrived. 😉
4 runs off the first over.
Tait to Amla, SIX 😎
@McLovin (Comment 10) :
This sounds good. 😎
You in front of the TV or at the office?
21 runs, 3.0 overs, RR: 7.00 (Gibbs 2, Amla 14)
@KSA Shark © (Comment 11) : Office. 👿
25/0 4 Overs
34/0 5 overs
Hopes to Gibbs, OUT, and Hopes gets Gibbs! Gibbs kneels across and goes for that booming swipe only to send the ball down to Michael Hussey, running in from deep midwicket, who takes it on his knees
@McLovin (Comment 13) :
are you in front of the TV in the office? 😛
@McLovin (Comment 16) : 😡
C’mon SA!!!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : I wish. 🙄
And there goes Gibbs
Amla gone. 👿
Hilfenhaus to Amla, OUT, pulled straight to White at short midwicket!
Hopefully the Duminy can save us.
And Amla
And van Jaarsveld. 👿
DJ Hussey to van Jaarsveld, OUT 🙄
Peachy
Aarrrgggghhhh!!! 👿
Van Jaarsveld got a first baller… nice!!!
Can see he comes from Lions country. 🙄
South Africa 47/3 8 overs
South Africa 53/3 9 overs
South Africa 59/3 10 overs
This are not looking good for the proteas.
Not a single boundary in the last 3 overs. 👿
South Africa 65/3 11 overs
@McLovin (Comment 34) : 😳 😡 🙁
Another boundaryless over.
70/3 12 overs
ricinfo says – “More singles than The Beatles,” 🙄
Tait to Duminy, FOUR – At bloody last. 🙄
Tait to Boucher, FOUR – Two in one over. 😯
South Africa 83/3 – 13 overs
Cricinfo – Two boundaries in the over. They’re running away with it.
Do i detect a hint of sarcasm
Hopes to Duminy, SIX!
Methinks he is out
Oh its Boucher
Boucher gone.
90/4
McKenzie to the crease.
@McLovin (Comment 49) : uhm.. Morkel actually. 😳
Boucher is in? Isn’t that a bit high up the order? Or is that in indication of the length of the tail?
6 overs left.
Don’t think we’re even gonna make 150. 🙄
@KSA Shark © (Comment 51) :
okay Sorry. Boucher WAS in? 😛
99/4 after 14.5 overs
Duminy 37*
Morkel 3*
Two 4’s from the Duminy in the last over. 😎
103/4 – 15 overs.
Duminy so far 41 off 28 balls.
And now Morkel moers a four.
@McLovin (Comment 56) : Plumstead High did darem produce something worthwhile, me and Paul Adams didn’t quite make it.
4’s coming thick and fast now. Just keep it up.
114/4 – 16 overs
@PJLD (Comment 60) :
Hilfenhaus to JA Morkel, SIX 😀
128/4 – 17 overs
Paul Reifel is a former Aussie fast bowler.
How the HELL can he officiate in a game concerning the Aussies??? It would be like Willie Roos reffing one of the Bulls games.
Oh wait, he does that often doesn’t he?? 😳
Morkel gone.
Duminy 50 of 33 balls.
50 to JP.
McKenzie in now. 😕
136/5 – 18 overs
You guys think we’ll be able to defend 150?
17.4 Bracken to Duminy, 1 run, Tait drops him at gully! Duminy backs away and carves the ball, the fielder dives forward to his left but spills the chance
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 70) : No.
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 70) :
If we can get a few early wickets… 🙄
McKenzie 😥
18.1 Hilfenhaus to McKenzie, no run, full and wide, he goes for some sort of paddle and can’t connect
Like I said in the past, McKenzie is useless. 👿
142/5 – 19 overs
Goodbye Hayden! 😎
Last over coming up.
We need a few boundries.
Why send McKenzie in??? Dammit but he is hondk*k. 🙄
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 70) :
We need to MAKE 150 first. 😳
Another single by McKenzie. 🙄
Anthing less than 170 is simply not good enough.
Bracken to Duminy, SIX.
And Duminy hits a SIX!!!
Bracken to Duminy, FOUR.
and a FOUR off the next ball!!!
157/5 20 overs.
20 runs short if you ask me.
All hail JIMINY CRICKET!
JP Duminy 69* (41b 7×4 2×6)
sorry to interrupt this cricket-fest, but there’s some interesting rugby news
@McLovin (Comment 86) :
Correct…
2 overs to spare for the Aussies then ? ( All ye of no faith ) 🙂
157 ❓
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 90) : winnig runs to some in 17th over.
@robdylan (Comment 89) : Where? Where? 😯
@robdylan (Comment 89) :
there is??? 😯
so spill it…
Protears choking again?
@wpw (Comment 78) :
@wpw (Comment 68) :
😯 The guys is our opening bat in Test cricket!!!!
WTH play him at all in a Twenty20 match if you are going to bat him at Number 7? Is he an All Rounder that can Bowl? 👿
what rugby news
@KSA Shark © (Comment 96) :
He IS useless!!!
Even Dale Steyn wouldve been a better bet at 7. 🙄
@Fattmann (Comment 97) : sharks-cheetahs game cancelled
@KSA Shark © (Comment 96) : No he can’t bowl…think they have got him there to help the Capt. He has a lot of experience in 20/20 and our capt needs all the help he can get 🙄
WARNER is gone…nice… 😎
Aus 21/1 4.1 overs
Steyn to Warner, OUT, the sound of timber!
LOVELY
Australia require another 132 runs with 9 wickets and 15.0 overs remaining
Wayne Parnell bowling. Never heard of him. 😳
Hope he does well.
Australia require another 129 runs with 9 wickets and 14 overs remaining
@McLovin (Comment 106) : Doing well so far…
2 wickets down!!!
Morkel to Marsh, OUT
Cheers Marshian
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 108) : Yeah baby. 😎
@McLovin (Comment 106) : New boy on the block..also 😕 where he came from 😀
M Morkel to Marsh, OUT, soft dismissal this time, Marsh doesn’t move his feet much as he attempts to clear the infield, and just scoops the ball up in the air to Botha at mid-on
Anyone else listening to Radio 2000?
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 114) : Nope.
Australia require another 123 runs with 8 wickets and 13 overs remaining
Required RR 9.46
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 114) : 😳 nope 😳
@McLovin (Comment 115) : apparently McKenzie is “making the decisions” today…
Australia require another 119 runs with 8 wickets and 12 overs remaining
Steyn is certainly doing his bit to try and help the Aussies. 🙁
W . . 1wd 1wd 1 1lb 1wd .
9 ball over 😯
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 118) : Like to bat at 7?
@McLovin (Comment 121) : Like setting the field and bowling changes and stuff…
Australia require another 110 runs with 8 wickets and 11 overs remaining
Botha to MEK Hussey, no run, missed stumping! The bounce undoes Hussey and Boucher, Botha lured the batsman out of his crease, turned the ball across him, but it spit up and surprised the wicketkeeper, tough chance but it should have been stumped
And then the next ball goes for four… 👿 👿 👿
Australia require another 102 runs with 8 wickets and 60 balls remaining
3 fours in a row from Hussey.
Australia require another 86 runs with 8 wickets and 54 balls remaining
Hey Rob saw that earlier b4 i came on this blog-not that i did come but you know what i mean
thought may haave been some jucy stuff-Puke geting his contract cancelled or maybe joins the brumbies you know stuff like that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ponting & Hussey cruising.
Australia require another 74 runs with 8 wickets and 48 balls remaining
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 122) : What did I say in comment 100? 😉
A few 4’s from Hussey and Ponting…and this game is quickly slipping away from us… 🙁
Got to go…just hope our Proteas can pull something out of Ice’s hat 😆
@Me2 (Comment 131) : Yeah…but they seem to be wasting a lot of time with their mid-over discussions…
Run out !!! Ponting !!! Maybe that will help!
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 134) : C’mon proteas!
Hussey also gone????
Duminy takes a great catch – what a boytjie!
@Me2 (Comment 136) : Things happening to fast now….
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 137) : Can’t wait to see that catch later! 😀
Sorry ..misread !!!
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 137) : Give a bowl…
Australia require another 66 runs with 6 wickets and 42 balls remaining
M Morkel to DJ Hussey, OUT, oh well held, Duminy! Thats one for the ages! You aren’t going to see much better in the outfield than that gem of a catch! Hussey takes a hand off the bat as he chips the ball over mid-off, the ball beats Duminy by some distance but he doesn’t for a second take his eyes off it, running ages down toward long-off, then times his dive perfectly to take it in front
Duminy bowling 😯 😀
And JP is rewarded with an over… hope he gets a wicket…
@McLovin (Comment 141) : Yeah! 🙂
@Me2 (Comment 144) : Does he also walk on water?
Australia require another 58 runs with 6 wickets and 36 balls remaining
Run rate over 10 now.
@McLovin (Comment 148) : just under 10 I meant…. 😳
Damn you Mike Hussey! 👿
42 of 30…let’s forget it… 🙁
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 151) : One good over might do the trick.
Botha bowling….
@McLovin (Comment 152) : When is Dale Steyn coming back ?
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 154) : Soon.
Only 6 off the last over. 😎
Australia require another 36 runs with 6 wickets and 24 balls remaining
Parnell back on..
JP missed a catch… 😯
2 four in a row…. 👿 👿
good night nurse.
White…3 fours in a row… damn!
16.4 Parnell to White, FOUR, another firm strike to a full one, absolutely smashed over cover
16.3 Parnell to White, FOUR, what a shot! Stand and deliver, drilling the ball so hard back past the stumps
16.2 Parnell to White, FOUR, ah, Duminy misjudges this one, should have been taken! White clears the front leg and slams the ball over the in field, not timed well, Duminy charges in from long-off but realizes he has over-run it then, leaps back but cannot hold on
Steyn to take a hat trick….
19 of Parnell’s over…eish… 😳
And that dear friends is the end of Wayne Parnell’s T20 career. 😯
four in a row…
Australia require another 17 runs with 6 wickets and 18 balls remaining
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 158) :
So he is human after all… tell you wot, let’s blame McKenzie for JP’s drop…
Australia require another 15 runs with 6 wickets and 16 balls remaining
@wpw (Comment 167) : Yeah…you know what they say about too many cooks… 😈
@wpw (Comment 164) : Hey…the boy is only 19…he’ll bounce back…
I think we’ll get them in the 50 over game though…
Australia require another 9 runs with 6 wickets and 12 balls remaining
Morkel starts with 2 dot balls…we need 4 more…
Australia require another 3 runs with 6 wickets and 8 balls remaining
All over Aus win by 6 wickets.
157 was never going to be enough.
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 170) : Ek weet man…
Not Parnell’s best day at the office. Dropped a catch too. But it happens. If’s he’s good enough he’ll be back.
White ends it with a 6… 161/4
Aus wins with 7 balls left…
Maybe 177 would’ve done it… 🙄
@wpw (Comment 177) : Maybe it’s the end of McKenzie’s T20 career… 😉
Suppose I should do some work….. 🙄
@McLovin (Comment 178) :
He was the top wicket taker for the SA U19 side in the last U19 CWC. I suppose that is why he was selected in the first place. 🙁
@McLovin (Comment 181) : dude… what’s with you and your infatuation with colourful lips???
Do I even want to know?? 😯
@wpw (Comment 183) : 😆 Just think it looks nice. 😉