WHAT THEY SAID

Reaction on theage.com.au to Peter Roebuck's column,

White, Smith have eyes on North's spot

AUSTRALIA'S incumbent No. 6 batsman, Marcus North, will learn in the next 48 hours if his time as a Test player has ended. He has failed to fire for Western Australia after a disappointing series against Pakistan.

Pakistan attack has sting to test Australians wary: Hussey

PAKISTAN may be viewed as something of an unknown and given little hope of denting Australia's Christmas cheer, but the local batsmen in particular are expecting a stern test against an attack that promises both venom and variety.

Parry happy to welcome game's true master

Three-time Australian Masters champion Craig Parry first met Tiger Woods in 1995 when the now most dominant sportsman on the planet was a 17-year-old schoolboy. Parry had heard of Woods €“ as had most of the golfing world.

No guarantees, Burgess amps up pre-tour training

WITH four halfbacks vying for a possible three berths on the Wallabies' grand slam tour, Luke Burgess has promised to "rip in" at simulated match sessions during next week's training camp in a bid to make sure he has a seat on the plane.

MAJOR TOURS

MAJOR TOURS

CD Reviews

Evan Miller BEESWAX EPHEMERA (Preservation) Rating: 3.5/5 Dave Graney KNOCK YOURSELF OUT (Cockaigne/Fuse) Rating: 3/5 Simon & Garfunkel OLD FRIENDS (Sony) Rating: 3/5

Old Friends Simon & Garfunkel: Australian & NZ Tour 2009

Old Friends Simon & Garfunkel: Australian & NZ Tour 2009 120 mins, G (Sony) 4/5

Bond Yearns For A Nz Return

HE HAS not retired, still yearns to play for the Black Caps, and has had more success against Australia than any other Kiwi pace bowler in the last two decades, but Shane Bond continues to be snubbed by his board for joining the rebel Twenty20 Indian Cricket League.

Champion Rugby Union Side Off To Nz

AN Illawarra junior rugby union team will be breaking new ground when they embark on a three-match tour of New Zealand this week.

Under 13s Side To Play In Nz Rugby Tour

AN Illawarra under 13 rugby union team will embark on an intensive 10-match tour of New Zealand's South Island in the July school holidays.