Rapist ‘removed’ own penis moles

A Department of Family and Community Sevices worker and convicted rapist deliberately 'cut or burnt off' two idenifying penis moles, a court heard Source: ThinkStock

A NSW social worker who repeatedly raped a young girl deliberately removed two moles from his penis in a failed bid to cover his tracks, a court has heard.

His victim, who he began abusing when she was nine, told police about the marks when his crimes came to light in November 2012. But Sydney's Downing Centre District Court heard today that the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, refused to let officers see his penis.

When they later obtained an order for a compulsory forensic examination it was found there were lesions on it which indicated he had deliberately removed the moles by burning or cutting them off.

"This demonstrated a consciousness of guilt," prosecutors said. The man, from the Hunter region, was found guilty of five counts of sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10 and three of assault with an act of indecency with a child following a trial in August.

The abuse has ruined the girl's life and left her feeling "ashamed and sick", according to a victim impact statement read out to the court during Friday's sentencing hearing.

"I hate this person for what he did. The pain that he put me through, it is unbearable.

"I don't know how I will ever get over this," the statement said.

The court heard the man has shown no remorse and continues to deny anything happened.

His defence lawyer, David Barrow, told the judge his offending was not of the most serious kind as the man did not abuse the girl in his capacity as a DoCs worker who cared for "very vulnerable children".

DOCs stands for Department of Community Services — now known as the Department of Family and Community Services (FACs).

But prosecutor Peter McGrath said he had nevertheless abused his position of trust.

The court heard he had not committed any offences of a sexual nature before and was being supported by his family.

Sentencing was adjourned until February 13.

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Lib leaks hint at eroded trust

Joe Hockey's performance is central to the Abbott Government's difficulties. Source: News Corp Australia

IMMIGRATION Minister Scott Morrison had a big win late on Thursday night, gaining enough crossbench support to ensure the Senate passed changes to asylum seeker laws, including measures to bolster the Government's power to turn back boats.

He had been working flat-out for more than a week to get the numbers, at one stage even pursuing Clive Palmer to a function at the US embassy to continue the arm-twisting that eventually got Palmer United Party senators on side.

That Senate success was a rare high point for the Abbott Government in what was a shambolic end to a shambolic parliamentary year.

Yet just hours later, when yesterday's edition of Sydney's Daily Telegraph hit the streets with a front-page report on suggestions Joe Hockey could be dumped as Treasurer, some of his Liberal colleagues were pointing the finger at Morrison as a likely source.

"For God's sake, Scott's been virtually living with crossbenchers all week," said a Morrison defender. "He had a merciless focus on getting this legislation through. When would he have had the time to dump on Joe?"

Other Liberals had different suspicions about the exclusive by journalist Simon Benson.

Benson is well connected and one of his most important connections is in the Prime Minister's office. Because of that, according to a senior Liberal MP, "people will not assume it has been written lightly". Another source says: "Directing attention at Joe could be an attempt to give some cover to the PM. He's the one who's been stuffing up lately."

No matter who spoke to Benson or what was their motivation, the importance of the incident lies in the disunity and paranoia it exposes and the lack of trust at the highest levels of the Government.

There had been more evidence a day earlier when The Financial Review ran a story about a confrontation between Tony Abbott and Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop. The paper claimed the minister had "gone bananas" at a meeting with Abbott over reports she was to be "chaperoned" at a climate change conference in Peru by Trade Minister Andrew Robb.

Bishop was offended, according to the paper, because it was said the Prime Minister's Office wanted the more sceptical Robb keeping an eye on her to ensure she did not overcommit Australia on climate change policy.

Something is clearly amiss when details of a row between the PM and his deputy leader are leaked like this. Given that Bishop is popular among Coalition backbenchers and regarded as the Government's best performer, it could only be damaging to Abbott.

Keep in mind that these days "the Prime Minister's Office" is almost always code for Abbott's protective and controlling chief of staff, Peta Credlin.

Credlin, like Hockey, is regarded by a growing number of Liberals as a problem that will have to be dealt with. Speculation about a possible Senate berth to get her out of her current role, though almost certainly groundless, indicates the concern.

But Hockey is the subject of most of the talk. There is much to be said for getting rid of ministerial dead wood but, replacing the likes of Kevin Andrews and David Johnston may not be enough.

Hockey's performance is undoubtedly central to the Government's difficulties. A very prominent Liberal told me after the Coalition's Victorian election loss: "A reshuffle won't really change anything if it doesn't change Joe."

And changing Joe is probably too hard — not only because the most obvious replacement, Malcolm Turnbull, would immediately be portrayed as a leadership threat to Abbott.

To begin with, friends say, Hockey would not go quietly. It would be ugly. Also, giving a Treasurer the shove would be a big deal, effectively an admission that the Government's economic policy has been on the wrong track from the start. On top of that, if Hockey has failed to produce the right Budget or to sell it properly, then the PM shares the blame.

Abbott chaired the Expenditure Review Committee. Abbott's office, under Credlin's command and control structure, is at the heart of every decision. The Prime Minister and the Treasurer are joined at the hip. Or perhaps, the hip-pocket nerve. If Joe's on the nose, the PM by definition is just as pongy.

And there is the added element that Hockey's Budget proved toxic primarily because Abbott lacked the ticker to tell voters the truth before last year's election. Abbott made promises he obviously knew could not be kept. Hapless Hockey can hardly be held responsible for his leader's political cowardice.

Whether Hockey will stay as Treasurer is undoubtedly a matter of interest. The question asked much more often, though, is whether Abbott can survive as PM. He answered that himself on Thursday when he remarked that "governments that change their leaders haven't done very well lately". Julia Gillard's unhappy prime ministership, plus the Coalition's defeat in Victoria after replacing a premier midterm, provide Abbott with insurance.

 

LAURIE OAKES IS THE NINE NETWORK'S POLITICAL EDITOR

Originally published as Lib leaks hint at eroded trust

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Sales accused of being soft on Abbott

Durning an ABC interview, the Prime Minster Tony Abbott has overshaddowed by alarm bells going off behibd closed doors.

PM Tony Abbott responds during Question Time in the House of Representatives, federal Parliament, Canberra. Source: News Corp Australia

PROMINENT ABC journalist Leigh Sales has been accused of being too soft on Prime Minister Tony Abbott on ABC's 7.30 program as he hinted at a Cabinet reshuffle.

Her name started to immediately trend on Twitter as people criticised her interview claiming Abbott got an easy ride.

Sales was even compared to Karl Stefanovic who the public recently praised when he head to head with Abbott on the Today Show.

ABBOTT UNDER FIRE: Karl Stefanovic grills PM

During the interview Abbott hinted at the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle.

When pressed by Sales as to whether it was time to change the frontbench line-up Mr Abbott said, "At some stage between now and the next election, quite probably, but this is a good frontbench".

Abbott went one to praise the work of his staff this year, including Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann and Treasurer Joe Hockey.

"Joe Hockey has been criticised lately, but I tell you what, I think Joe is going to be one of the great treasurers because he's someone who bounces back and that's what he's doing now," he said.

Earlier in the interview Sales questioned Abbott about his broken promises.

Appearing on the ABC's 7:30 Report, Prime Minister Tony Abbott was asked as to the need for a front bench reshuffle.

"You've got to remember Leigh that a lot's happened in 12 or 14 months and circumstances do change," he said citing the budget deficit which is now at $48 billion dollars which he balms on the previous government.

"People sure may well feel dismayed, disappointed, occasionally even surprised, but I think that they also understand that governments have to respond to the circumstances they find themselves in."

Abbott said the task of budget repair has been tough with a "feral labour party" but that the government was determined to continue.

"It is absolutely necessary for our countries future, for our children and our grandchildren's future that we don't saddle them with mountains and mountains of debt," he said.

He said the cries of broken promises have been largely unjustified.

Ironically alarm bells started ringing in the building during the pre-recorded interview Sales did with Mr Abbott at parliament house which sparked reaction from the Twittersphere.

Mr Abbott's comments came after two weeks of internal dissent within Cabinet over the centralisation of power within the Prime Minister's Office, concerns at the reach and power of his chief of staff Peta Credlin, and stoushes between his office and senior ministers. including Treasurer Joe Hockey and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

The latest came when it was revealed Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop reacted angrily after discovering Mr Abbott's office had decided to send Trade Minister Andrew Robb to accompany her to a climate change conference in Peru next week.

The move was apparently designed to ensure Ms Bishop did not sign up to any far-reaching climate change initiatives.

It came 10 days after Treasurer Joe Hockey and Health Minister Peter Dutton reacted angrily after the Prime Minister's office briefed journalists that the Government was set to dump the $7 GP co-payment.

Should Leigh Sales have been tougher on Tony Abbott in her interview? Comment below

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Wrongly accused ‘paedophile’ burnt alive

Two men who burnt another man alive after wrongly accusing him of being a paedophile have each been sentenced to five years in jail. Source: Supplied

TWO men who doused a man in petrol at a suburban barbecue and set him alight because they wrongly thought he was a paedophile have each been sentenced to five years in jail.

Shay Barry Webster, 22, was sentenced to five years and three months while Jason Alistor Barr, 44, was given five years and seven months for their role in the death of Terry Martin Smith, 55, the New Zealand Herald reports.

The tragic events took place on Anzac Day 2013 when all three had been drinking at a barbecue in Christchurch.

Sometime during the day Webster and Barr accused Smith of being sexually attracted to children — an accusation he denied and had been backed up by police.

However the pair attacked him in a bedroom and poured petrol over his body. They then flicked a cigarette lighter close to him, leading flames to ignite.

Despite efforts to put the flames out, Mr Smith was rushed to hospital and placed in an induced coma.

He undertook surgery for burns to nearly one third of his body and died on May 8 last year as a result of his injuries.

At the sentencing, Judge Cameron Mander said it was an "agonising death" for Mr Smith. His wife Michelle Smith said she was worried about the "high risk" of the pair reoffending given they have more than 100 prior convictions between them.

"We want to stress to the general public that this could be you in this situation, where a loved family member has been taken away and the value of their life has been minimalised by what we believe to be a totally inadequate sentence." she told the New Zealand Herald.

Crown prosecutor Mark Zarifeh told the court the tragic death was a "painful and frightening" way to die but said it was difficult to prove murderous intent.

Defence lawyers for Webster said the event was an alcohol fuelled tragedy that was distressing and unintended.

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Star’s wife gives in to the haters

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored a hat-trick for Real Madrid in their 8-2 win over Deportivo in the La Liga, with Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez also finding the back of the net. Lionel Messi and Neymar also scored for Barcelona in their win over Levante.

Abused viciously from the moment her husband signed ... James Rodriguez holds his new Real Madrid shirt beside club president Florentino Perez and his wife Daniela Ospina before 45,000 fans at the Santaigo Bernabeu stadium on July 22, 2014 in Madrid, Spain. Picture: Denis Doyle / Getty Images Source: Getty Images

IT was meant to be the happiest day of their lives.

James Rodriguez signed for Real Madrid for the fourth highest transfer fee in history before 45,000 fans in July after starring for Colombia at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil in a ceremony with his wife, Davina Ospina at his side.

Superstar ... Real Madrid's Colombian star James Rodriguez celebrates after scoring during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) round of 32 second leg football match against UE Cornella at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on December 2, 2014. Picture: AFP / Pierre-Philippe Marcou Source: AFP

Ospina, whose brother David is a goalkeeper at English Premier League club Arsenal, was immediately subjected to vile abuse by Real Madrid fans.

Ospina, who has a daughter Salome with Rodriguez whom she married in 2011, was called "ugly", a "transvestite" and other obscenities about her looks by the fans.

She was forced to defend herself, stating: "Apologies if I fail your expectations, my priority is to meet mine."

It failed to deter the abuse and it is clear that the abuse finally got to her.

Under the heading "The ugly duckling becomes a swan", South American publication elbalonrosa reported that Ospina had given into the haters and undergone plastic surgery.

It appears fair to say that Daniela has had rhinoplasty (a nose job) and that her hair and make-up has changed. She also has reportedly undergone a two-month weight-loss program and does appear thinner.

Her recent pictures on her social media accounts show the change in her looks. Let's hope the abuse stops.

Look at me now ... Daniela Ospina, the wife of Real Madrid's Colombian superstar James Rodriguez, gives in to the 'ugly' barbs with a nose job and a new look. Picture: Daniela Ospina5 / Twitter Source: Twitter

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A celebration of a wonderful life

Phillip Hughes is carried out by his pallbearers including Michael Clarke, Aaron Finch and Tom Cooper

Rest in peace, Phillip Hughes. Source: Getty Images

WHEN Phillip Hughes arrived home in Macksville in 2009, triumphant after his debut tour of South Africa, the whole town of Macksville turned out at the rugby league field to raucously cheer him.

When Phillip Hughes returned home to Macksville today, no one uttered a word.

In 2009, Hughes paraded around in the back of a great big, shiny green ute, waving and smiling as the crowd chanted his baby name of "Boof".

Today, the car that carried him was a long black hearse with the license plates BL 954.

Keen observers will note that 9 plus 54 is 63, the total Hughes was stranded on last Tuesday. But today was not a day for numbers. This was a day for words – eloquent, perceptive, frequently humorous and endlessly moving.

Today's funeral, quite simply, was a beautiful occasion. Can a funeral be a beautiful thing? It can, and today's was. From the moment Phillip's coffin was carried into the Macksville Recreational Hall at 12.11pm to the moment he was carried out at 3.16pm, this whole event was a wonderful celebration of a wonderful life.

As it should have been.

Phillip Hughes' father Greg and Australian batsman Aaron Finch carry the coffin. Source: AFP

Local priest Father Michael Alcock set the tone by saying, "I do know the world is a better place for having experienced the love, vitality, passion friendship and energy of Phillip Joel Hughes."

Indeed it is.

Hughes' cousin Nino Ramunno (a cousin on his mum Virginia's Italian side) gave a wonderfully polished, poised oration, heaping praise upon his younger cousin but also poking fun at him.

His line about Phillip Hughes complaining about a lack of girls after day one of Year 12 at Homebush "Boys" High School had the audience in stitches.

So did his gentle jibes about Phillip's inability to calculate batting averages and his love of a good mirror.

But it was his generous, and wholly true, assessment of Phillip's character than rang truest. Phillip Hughes, as cousin Nino pointed out, never complained about being dropped from the Australian team. He never complained about anything.

Even if you met Phillip Hughes just a few times (as this reporter did) you could tell instantly he was at heart a cheerful person, an optimistic soul, never a tortured one.

But even if you'd never met him, the photos of Phillip Hughes on the walls for all to see at the funeral told you about his happy-go-lucky nature. Always there was that glint in his eye that said whatever comes next, bring it. Good or bad, just bring it. Bring it on.

Big brother Jason's letter to Phillip Hughes.

Phillip's elder brother Jason spoke second, with a beautiful and occasionally self-deprecating speech in the form of a letter to his little bro.

Never as talented on the cricket field, and never quite as hirsute as his little brother, he spoke lovingly — almost reverentially — of his little brother's influence on his life.

"I couldn't have asked for a better little brother, from a very young age you were destined to be a rock star. All I ever wanted was for you to look up to me as a big brother," he said.

"You have given me confidence, strength, supported me and given me a strong desire to succeed.

"You always had the good looks, you always had the hair."

Not that Jason wasn't prepared to give just a tiny serve back to his cheeky younger brother.

"I miss the regular calls and your text messages, just to check spelling of tricky and not so tricky words."

Phillip Hughes' younger sister Megan Hughes reads an emotional letter to her brother at his funeral.

Megan Hughes is an amazing young woman. She had so much poise all day, from the moment she arrived at the service to the way she comforted her distraught mother as she followed the coffin afterwards.

"I am standing to show my love and appreciation for the big brother I will never forget," she said.

"Phillip I am so honoured to call you my brother, my best friend and my hero. I know that wherever you are within this world, you will be looking down to shed light whenever times get tough. Your smile, the twinkle in your eyes and the humour you provided will never fade. I want to thank you for being the most amazing brother you could ask for. They always say you cannot choose your family but I would not want mine any other way."

There were more speeches. There was Corey Ireland, the cattleman with whom Phillip Hughes had hatched all sorts of plans involving his beloved Angus stud cattle.

And there was Michael Clarke, who in yet another assured appearance this week said "his spirit has brought us together, he always wanted to bring people together".

"We must play on," Clarke said. "So rest in peace my little brother, I'll see you out in the middle."

And then the procession. Wow.

The procession behind Phillip Hughes. Leading the way are Brett Lee, Shane Watson, Lee Furlong, David Warner and Candice Falzon. Source: News Corp Australia

To see that wave, that amazing vast street-wide wave of humanity surging through the streets of Macksville afterwards was incredible. Just incredible.

It was incredible to see the townspeople applauding, none of them with eyes for Warney or Lara or McGrath or any of the cricket royalty striding their streets, but with eyes only for the Hughes clan, the family that has given them so much joy and put their town on the map.

We haven't seen anything like this in Australian civilian life for decades and perhaps we never will again.

Why? Because Phillip Hughes represented something universal in Australian life. It wasn't just that he died playing the national sport that we've all played at one time or another, even if only on the beach or in the backyard.

It's the spirit of hope that Hughes had around him, the aura of optimism, the spirit of never whingeing. A little bit of larrikin, a lot of love for mum and dad and above all, a boundless sense of mateship.

Phillip Hughes really was everyone's mate. He had no enemies. Was incapable of making them.

That's why Australia stopped today, and why this event moved so many people. And that's why the people of Macksville and visitors to town will be drinking in both mourning and celebration long, long into this night and for a long, long time to come.

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Australia prepares to farewell Phillip

Phillip Hughes' family have thanked everyone for their support both in Australia and around the world.

Phillip Hughes will be farewelled in his hometown of Macksville in NSW on Wednesday. Source: News Limited

AUSTRALIAN captain Michael Clarke will dig deep again — this time in front of 5000 mourners at Macksville High School — to deliver a tribute to fallen teammate Phillip Hughes.

Clarke spoke on behalf of Hughes's parents, Greg and Virginia, at the hospital after the Test batsman passed away, and again on the weekend in an emotional statement.

The funeral will be broadcast around the nation and to the small northern New South Wales town of Macksville, which has been invited en masse.

Phillip Hughes' hometown of Macksville is in mourning as they prepare to farewell the legendary cricketer at a public funeral on Wednesday.

More than 400 cricket people including all Australian contracted players will feature among the 1,000-strong congregation inside the school hall and the estimated 4,000 more that will pack an adjacent oval and soccer field to watch on big screens.

As the nation is expected to stop when Hughes is finally laid to rest, his manager James Henderson said it would be a sad day for the town of Macksville and broader community.

"But it will be a wonderful celebration of a young man who has achieved so much in his 26 years of life," Henderson said, speaking on behalf of Hughes' family at a media conference.

"He was a no fuss guy who will be looking down on all of this and wondering what the hell is going on.

"He made an unbelievable impression on the country."

Phillip Hughes loved donning his 'baggy green' to represent Australia. Source: News Limited

Here is a guide to Wednesday's proceedings as the world prepares to pay tribute to Hughes' life.

WHEN

Wednesday December 3, starting at 2pm (AEDT)

WHERE

Macksville High School (Macksville, New South Wales)

ATTENDEES

BETWEEN 300 and 400 dignitaries

PAST and present international and state players, including the entire NSW and Australian Test squads

THE entire Indian touring squad

WHO'LL BE SPEAKING

MICHAEL Clarke

CRICKET Australia chief James Sutherland

A representative from Hughes' family.

PALL BEARERS

Greg Hughes, Jason Hughes, Michael Clarke, Corey Ireland, Mitchell Lonergan, Matthew Day, Aaron Finch and Tom Cooper.

CELEBRANT

Father Michael Alcock

Phillip Hughes' family have thanked everyone for their support both in Australia and around the world.

ORDER OF SERVICE

Introductory Rites: Opening Music 'Forever Young'

Welcome & Opening Prayer

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: read by James Henderson

Responsorial Psalm

Gospel: read by Father Peter Jones

Prayers of the Faithful: read by Samantha Trodden

The Lords Prayer

Eulogy from Family: Nino Ramunno, Jason Hughes, Megan Hughes

Tributes: Corey Ireland, Michael Clarke

Final Commendation & Farewell

Prayer of Commendation

Song of Farewell: Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

Tributes to Phillip Hughes are all around his home town of Macksville. Picture: Peter Lorimer Source: News Corp Australia

TIMETABLE

The funeral will commence at 2pm (AEDT). After the service, the late cricketer's hearse will slowly make its way down the main street of Macksville.

LIVE SITES

Macksville: Screens set up at ovals outside the school stadium.

Brisbane: The Gabba and South Bank

Sydney: SCG

Adelaide: Adelaide Oval

Hobart: Blundstone Arena

Perth: The WACA

MEDIA COVERAGE

TV: LIVE on Fox Sports News (Channel 500) from 1.45pm (AEDT)

Online: Live blog on foxsports.com.au throughout the day

Radio: ABC and Fairfax radio from 1.30pm (AEDT)

Originally published as Australia prepares to farewell Phillip

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Wife, son of ISIS leader arrested

ISIS's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, apparently released an audio message on Thursday after some Iraqi media outlets had reported him killed in earlier U.S. airstrikes. Here's how some Baghdad citizens responded to the recording.

Detained...The wife and son of ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, have been arrested by the Lebanese Army. Picture: AP/Militant video Source: AP

THE wife and son of Islamic State leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, have been arrested by the Lebanese Army.

According to the As-Safir daily newspaper Lebanese Army Intelligence arrested one of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi wives and one of his sons on the Lebanese border as they tried to cross from Syria.

Security officials have also confirmed these reports.

Wanted man...An undated file picture released by the official website of Iraq's Interior Ministry claims to show Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the head of ISIS. Picture: AP/Iraqi Interior Ministry Source: Supplied

While Lebanese officials declined to reveal their identities As-Safir reported that they were detained in coordination with "foreign intelligence apparatus".

The newspaper reported that Al-Baghdadi's wife had been travelling with a fake passport while trying to cross the border. Lebanese authorities have transported her to the defence ministry headquarters for questioning.

Images of one of his wives emerged online earlier this year but it remains unknown how many wives the ISIS leader has.

Al-Baghdadi was reportedly "critically wounded" during an air operation in the Iraqi town of al-Qaim on November 8, Iraqi officials confirmed.

In a speech released last month, Al-Baghdadi called for jihadists to carry out lone wolf attacks against Muslim Shi'ites and Westerners.

"Dismember their limbs; snatch them as groups and individuals," he said. "Erupt volcanoes of jihad everywhere".

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Reshuffled cricket dates revealed

Cricket Australia has decided to postpone the start of the first Test so players can pay tribute to Phillip Hughes at his funeral, which wil be held in his home town of Macksville.

Adelaide Oval is to host the first Test played in Australia since Hughes' death. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: News Corp Australia

THE reshuffled schedule of summer cricket has been revealed, following marathon negotiations with the Australian and Indian cricket boards.

Cricket Australia has announced that the order and dates of the Tests will be Adelaide on December 9, Brisbane on December 17, Melbourne on December 26 and Sydney on January 6, Nine News reports.

The Test due to start in Brisbane this week was postponed after the tragic death of batsman Phillip Hughes. The Brisbane Test will now be played second, after Adelaide.

The Indian cricket team has waited patiently to hear about the dates following news of Hughes' tragic death last week.

SHIELD DELAY LIKELY AS PLAYERS GRIEVE

CURATOR PITCHES IN AS TEST PUT OFF

WHY AUSTRALIA NEEDS CLARKE OUT ON FIELD

The son of former Australian quick Michael Kasprowicz took the field in Brisbane. Kasprowicz pointed out the importance of the kids returning to the game following the Phillip Hughes tragedy.

Former Australian bowler Brendon Julian has called on the public to support the country's domestic cricketers following the tragic death of Phillip Hughes.

Australia's one-day series against India and England is due to start on January 16 when Australia hosts India at the MCG.

Earlier today, India's squad chose to stay in Adelaide rather than head to Brisbane, as was originally scheduled, when uncertainty surrounded the scheduling of the Gabba Test.

Australia was due to host India in the first Test of the four-match series in Brisbane on Thursday, but Cricket Australia announced last week that the match wouldn't start as scheduled because the players needed time to deal with the shock death of Hughes.

Players from both Test sides will attend Hughes' funeral in Macksville, NSW, on Wednesday.

India's squad had been due to board a flight at lunchtime from Adelaide to Brisbane.

Australia's captain Michael Clarke and his Indian rival Virat Kohli will both attend Wednesday's funeral for Hughes as cricket remains at a standstill following last week's shock death of the popular young Test batsman.

On Monday it was also announced that the funeral would be shown on big screens at the Sydney Cricket Ground, as well as being broadcast live on national television.

Tributes continue to flow for Phillip Hughes with players and fans observing a minutes silence before Brisbane's clash with Perth.

Hughes died last Thursday after spending two days in hospital following a blow to the head while batting in a Sheffield Shield match at the SCG for South Australia against NSW.

The son of a banana farmer from Macksville, NSW, Hughes would have turned 26 on Sunday. Hughes has been the subject of heartfelt tributes, not only from cricketers and fans but also rival sports such as Test rugby and English Premier League soccer.

Clarke's emotional address to the nation at a press conference on Saturday touched the hearts of sports fans around the world.

Kohli, who is India's stand-in captain in the absence of injured skipper MS Dhoni, will be joined by India's team director Ravi Shastri and coach Duncan Fletcher at the funeral in Macksville.

A Press Trust of India report says several other members of India's Test squad are expected to join Kohli at the funeral.

India's two-day game against a CA XI, which was due to be played on Friday and Saturday last week in Adelaide, was cancelled.

Originally published as Reshuffled cricket dates revealed

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