Melbourne desk

Filed from the Melbourne desk — including multi-city pieces that also ran elsewhere.

Sports · 25 October 2026

City Cricket Committee’s Sheffield Shield Snub Sends Nic Maddinson on a South African Detour

Glenys Pike, Melbourne desk

Selectors’ contempt for the domestic first‑class competition has led to Nic Maddinson’s unexpected inclusion in the South Africa series, a move critics say is costing Australian cricket. The decision, likened to a…

Sports · 25 October 2026

Airport All‑Day: PNG’s Chiefs Make Every Player a Frequent Flyer

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

An NRL star weighing a move to PNG’s Chiefs faces a life of constant travel, airport culture and tropical surprises—far from the laid‑back suburbs of Sydney or Brisbane.

Sports · 24 October 2026

Joe Ingles on the NBA bubble’s luxury and his return to the NBL

Sam Orbit, World desk

After 12 NBA seasons, Melbourne United’s Joe Ingles reflects on the bubble’s private‑plane perks, early‑morning economy flights and why he was ready to leave the league for the NBL.

World · 24 October 2026

Storm Boelo Blows In: 80 mph gusts hit UK north, Kerry gets orange rain warning

Reginald Penny, London desk

Storm Boelo will batter the north of the UK with up to 80 mph gusts this weekend and has already triggered a Status Orange rain warning for Kerry, Ireland, from 7 am to 2 pm. Forecasters urge the public to brac…

Business · 24 October 2026

NextDC’s $3 bn Valuation Wiped Out After Power Pole Crashes Into Expansion Site

Nell Hartley, Melbourne desk

NextDC’s ambitious expansion in suburban Melbourne was halted when a power pole collided with its site, erasing about $3 bn from the company’s valuation.

Sports · 24 October 2026

Travis Head Says ‘Take a Breath’: Keep Seasoned Players, Skip the Reboot

Lotte Nguyen, Melbourne desk

After Australia’s defeat in the second Test, vice‑captain Travis Head pushed back against calls for a wholesale overhaul. He urged the side to keep the experienced core and add a few seasoned heads instead of a rad…

Sports · 24 October 2026

Gai Waterhouse’s 2am Starts, Spa Breaks and Sicilian Detours Fuel Her Quest for the First Cox Plate

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

Trainer Gai Waterhouse keeps her routine quirky – early‑morning gallops, day‑spa power naps and a trip to Sicily – as she pursues her first Cox Plate.

Sports · 24 October 2026

Jepchirchir’s 3‑Minute Lead Turns Into an EPO Plot Twist

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

Peres Jepchirchir won the 2026 Sydney Marathon by three minutes, becoming the first woman home, before a positive EPO test triggered a provisional ban pending investigation.

Environment · 24 October 2026

Storm Austen’s 160km/h Gusts Turn Brittany into a Branch Mosaic and Newquay into a Live‑Weather Show

Sam Orbit, World desk

Storm Austen battered France and the UK with gusts up to 160 km/h, sending huge waves, uprooting trees and blocking southern‑England roads, while BBC weather presenter Simon King braved the gale in Newquay.