AUSTRALIAN fans are screaming for a top-order shake up after the pitiful performance of the team's frontline throughout the Ashes series.
More than 80 per cent of the almost 6500 people who voted in a News Limited online poll asking whether the current top order should play in the fifth Test in Sydney answered "no".
The fan backlash comes after repeated failures by Australia's men at the top, who have exposed a middle order that has become increasingly brittle as the series has worn on.
Captain Ricky Ponting has averaged 16 runs in the series - a flattering statistic given he made 51 not out in the second innings of the drawn first Test in Brisbane - and made just 10 and 20 in the calamitous fourth Test.
Opener Phil Hughes appears to lack the temperament and technique to survive long enough to see off the new ball as an opening batsman - repeatedly undone when he slashes at balls that should be left alone outside off stump.
And the fans agree.
Asked to pick their preferred Australian side in our Ashes interactive team selector, less than half of the 853 respondents chose Hughes among their top XI.
But who should replace him?
Victorian David Hussey won almost as many selections, while 251 believe this season's prolific Sheffield Shield run scorer Shaun Marsh deserves a chance.
Once the clear first pick in any Australian team, Ponting has fallen away after his failures this series.
More than 160 fans would not have the current captain in their first XI.
24-year-old talent Usman Khawaja looms as a crowd favourite, winning selection in 422 fan sides despite disappointing returns for Australia A earlier in the season.
Only opener Shane Watson is safe in the eyes of the punters, with his four half-centuries earning him a place in 826 of the 853 teams.
THIS year may have brought smash hits such as Toy Story 3, Alice in Wonderland and Inception to cinema screens, but it was a phenomenon from 2009 that performed best at the Australian box office in 2010.
Avatar took $76.8 million in 2010, on top of a $38.8 million haul from its first two weeks of release at the end of 2009.
But even without factoring in the biggest film of all time – James Cameron's 3D sci-fi epic has now grossed $115.6 million in Australia and $2.8 billion worldwide – 2010 was a strong year at the Australian box office.
Avatar aside, the next 10 best performing films together grossed an estimated $309 million, up on last year's combined Top 10 gross of $295 million.
The 3D animated tale Toy Story 3 came out on top with $42.2 million, ahead of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, which is at $38 million and counting.
Another 3D movie, Alice in Wonderland, grossed $37.5 million, while Christopher Nolan's Inception took $35.3 million to pip the third Twilight film, Eclipse, with $32 million.
Internationally, Toy Story 3 topped the 2010 releases with a worldwide gross of $1.06 billion.
Alice in Wonderland was next with $1.02 billion, followed by The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 ($828 million), Inception ($823 million), Shrek Forever After ($737 million), The Twilight Saga: Eclipse ($691 million), Iron Man 2 ($620 million), Despicable Me ($538 million), How to Train Your Dragon ($493 million) and Clash of the Titans ($491 million).
In Australia, the biggest local production of the year was Tomorrow When the War Began, with $13.4 million.
Constellation Brands Inc. said Thursday it is selling 80 percent of its Australian and British wine business to an Australian private equity firm for about $230 million, losing its distinction as the world's biggest wine company.
The seller of Robert Mondavi wine, Svedka vodka and Corona beer will retain a 20 percent stake, and the deal with Sydney-based Champ Private Equity is expected to be completed by the end of January.
Based in Victor, N.Y., Constellation Brands bought Australian vintner BRL Hardy Ltd. for $1.1 billion in a 2003 deal that made it the world's largest wine business. It jumped further ahead of longtime wine leader E.& J. Gallo Winery of Modesto, Calif., when it bought Robert Mondavi Corp. for $1.3 billion.
Offloading its Australian-British unit will drop the company to No. 2 behind Gallo in both volume and sales of wine. But it will remain the biggest seller by volume of premium-category wines priced between $5 and $15 a bottle, spokeswoman Angie Blackwell said.
Constellation Brands' shares rose 33 cents, or 1.5 percent, to close at $22.31 Thursday after touching a 52-week high of $22.43 earlier in the session. The stock has climbed 38 percent this year.
The sale includes virtually all of Constellation Brands' Australian, British and South African brands, wineries and vineyards, plus its 50 percent partnership in British wholesaler Matthew Clark. The transaction values the entire business at $290 million.
The division being sold "has significant scale but continues to be faced with challenging market conditions" and no longer fits with Constellation Brands' strategy, CEO Robert Sands said in a statement.
UBS analyst Kaumil Gajrawala was upbeat about the deal. With the British and Australian business operating at breakeven to slightly profitable levels, the sale improves Constellation Brands' prospects for margin and revenue growth, he said in a note to clients.
With the net proceeds expected to be funneled into paying down debt, Moody's Investors Service raised the company's ratings outlook to positive from stable, saying the sale of foreign assets would create a smaller but more profitable business with less risk.
In 2008, Constellation Brands began an overhaul of operations to counter a sales slowdown in Australia and Britain. Since then, it has been shaken by a wine glut in Australia and heightened private-label competition, falling prices and duty increases in Britain, where it's been a leading marketer of wine.
Its main Australian wine brands are Hardys, Banrock Station, Leasingham and Chateau Reynella. Its non-U.S. wine portfolio also contains wines from core markets in New Zealand and Canada.
In its fiscal year ending in February, Constellation Brands posted $930 million in wine revenue in Australia, Europe and New Zealand — the bulk of it coming from its Australian and British operations. Its overall annual sales fell to $3.65 billion from $3.77 billion in the previous year.
In recent years, the company has shifted focus toward higher-priced wines and spirits, selling off some of its lower-price brands after a two-decade acquisition spree. It also has consolidated divisions, cutting its work force to 6,000 people from 8,200 in 2008.
Constellation Brands draws more than 90 percent of its revenue from wine, most of it moderately priced. Among its 100-plus brands are Clos du Bois, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Blackstone and Ravenswood.
It also sells liquors such as Black Velvet Canadian whiskey and, through a wholesale joint venture, imports beers including Negra Modelo from Mexico, Tsingtao from China and St. Pauli Girl from Germany.
The top two games of every round of the National Rugby League (NRL) and Australian Football League (AFL) are set to remain on domestic free-to-air TV under new measures announced by the Australian government.
The government has vowed to protect the best action from the two domestic leagues when it gives pay-TV networks the chance to bid for four AFL and five NRL matches per week. The government is introducing a new structure to its so-called “anti-siphoning” list, which reserves some sporting events for free-to-air television.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has already announced an interim “anti-siphoning” list to protect key sporting events while the government decides how to introduce the new arrangements. The existing anti-siphoning list expires this month, with the interim list featuring new additions such as Twenty20 cricket, the Melbourne Cup and Australia's FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
Conroy has confirmed he will resume talks with the AFL next month to ensure the code can select the two best matches in each round to remain on free-to-air television, and he will be looking to strike a similar deal for NRL games. Until the NRL deal is signed, free-to-air networks will retain first rights to acquire all NRL and AFL games.
“The Government expects to negotiate a similar quality-assurance mechanism for weekly NRL games with Australian Rugby League's newly formed Independent Commission,” read a statement from the Minister.
“Without a new list there would be no ongoing protection of sport on free-to-air television.” The new anti-siphoning list will ultimately feature two tiers, comprising ‘A’ events of national importance and ‘B’ events of regional importance.
As the world's BigLaw firms look to maintain their preeminence, Australia is becoming the new frontier for those wishing to take over top deals from local legal partnerships.
Allen & Overy which established offices in Perth and Sydney earlier this year, has reported banner profits from its global operations. And although "magic circle" rival Clifford Chance has also done very nicely, it is only a matter of time before the megafirm will plant its flag on the continent, too, predicts the Australian.
Clifford Chance didn't weigh in with its opinion on the issue. But Partner Michael Lishman of Cochrane Lishman Carson Luscombe suggests his country's top tier is going to have to merge with big international law firms or lose the nation's top transactional business.
"The very, very top deals are going to go to global brands," he predicts.
And large international firms should have little difficulty finding Australian merger partners or teams of individual lawyers willing to sign onto their rosters, he says, since "their partner returns are pretty impressive and there is a clear process of globalizing legal services that is happening now."
The Australian government has said that it will cost around AUD40.9 billion (USD40.4 billion) in equity and debt to fund the National Broadband Network (NBN), with the state putting up some AUD27.5 billion of that, Reuters reports. The new infrastructure, the operation and construction of which will be overseen by the public-private NBN Co, was one of the ruling Labor party’s major election promises, and prime minister Julia Gillard has called it ‘the telecommunications development of our century.’ The leader has claimed that the NBN could boost economic growth in Australia by around 1.3%, although no timeframe for such increases have been detailed. NBN Co CEO Mike Quigley meanwhile claimed that his company would become a top-tier Australian debt issuer, with the bulk of the non-government funding expected to come from overseas investors. Annual revenues from the new network are forecast to be AUD5.8 billion in 2021, rising to AUD7.6 billion by 2025, with the state aiming to earn an average of AUD1.9 billion per year over the six years from 2015 to 2021.
Meanwhile, the government has also noted that the AUD11 billion deal with the country’s fixed line incumbent Telstra, under which the latter would allow the NBN to utilise its existing fixed line infrastructure, would be finalised by next month. While this is slightly later than Telstra had hoped for – it aimed to complete an agreement before the end of 2010 – it is still expected that this would allow enough time for the telco’s shareholders to approve the proposals by the middle of 2011.
Australia has been named as a top popular holiday destination, according to a recent Neilson survey of New Zealanders.
The result of this survey notes that Australia's main attractions for New Zealand tourists are its shopping, affordability and providing the chance for many to catch up with family and friends.
Australia remained a popular destination in spite of the current economic climate, with the majority of survey participants planning to take up to two international holidays within the next 12 months. The survey, which was commissioned by Visa, shows that 80 percent of New Zealand residents surveyed were planning to take a trip to Australia within the next two years.
If you are interested in Australian Visas, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to Australia.
An iPhone game that made an Australian app studio over one million dollars in six months has been named one of the best apps of the year by tech giant Apple, as part of the company's end-of-year recognition for quality software.
As part of Apple's Rewind awards, the tech giant also noted camera app Hipstamatic, Angry Birds and iPad social magazine app Flipboard as some of the most outstanding apps of the year.
Queensland-based Half Brick studios is behind the Fruit Ninja app, which was named in the top 10 paid iPhone apps category. The game itself, along with another app – Monster Dash – have earned Half Brick over $2 million in six months and have consistently stayed in the Australian top 10.
Studio chief Shaniel Deo told SmartCompany earlier this year the success of Fruit Ninja and Monster Dash is a testament to how much the App Store has changed since its release. Apps now require dedicated marketing campaigns, as opposed to when the store was small enough that developers could post an app and have it become successful within days.
"You're always surprised with the App Store. It's a roll of the dice, and we knew we had a launch right. I guess I'm surprised at how quickly it's taken off, because it's been the top five ever since and doesn't really move out of the spot much. It's providing a constant stream of revenue, the tail on that game is phenomenal and it just keeps going."
"I think the whole process has shown how crucial marketing is. A lot of people don't even think about marketing themselves until their product is finished, but we made sure that we had everything in place to go. It takes time to build relationships with the press, you can't just finish a product and then get them to feature you."
Apple also announced top apps for different categories, with Hipstamatic, SwankoLab and Instagram taking out a special mention for the "shoot, edit, share" category, while Instapaper, Pulse News Mini and the ABC all received mentions for "New News".
Users are also able to check out top apps in a number of different categories on the iTunes Store, with sections including: Hardcore Games, Retro Revival Games, Multiplayer Games, On The Grid (location-based apps), Personal Trainer, Band In Your Hand, Interactive Stories, Mobile Office, Magazines & Newspapers and Pen & Brush.
Here are some of the top apps of the year, as ranked by Apple:
Aussie users of Google have been super interested in controversial topics for much of the year with Wikileaks, Andy Irons and Andrew Bolt amongst the most popular search terms. Sport’s been big as well with the World Cup with the Dukan Diet also being big topics of interest.
Today, Google released the hottest search terms of 2010 - the fastest-rising and most popular terms that Australians tapped into Google.com.au this year. Search queries give us a glimpse into the big events, memorable moments and emerging trends that captivated us throughout 2010.
Aussies passion for connecting with each other using social media and technology continued in 2010 with social sites Chatroulette, Formspring, Tumblr and Omegle being popular.
The passing of Andy Irons had people turning to Google for more information, as did pop wunderkinds Cody Simpson and Justin Bieber. The Australian obsession with reality TV stars continued from 2009 with Bruce Jenner, Heidi Montag, Kim Kardashian and Kendra Wilkinson all making it into the top ten most searched-for celebrities. Love was in the air in 2010, as we turned online for the inside scoop on the celebrity weddings of Anna Paquin, Chelsea Clinton and Hilary Duff.
The Dukan and lemon detox diets were popular as were recipes for minestrone, macaroons and chicken parmigiana. Out of the kitchen searches for Do-it-Yourself projects like kitchens, fencing, painting, decking and renovations were also popular.
On the sporting front, AFL remained in the number one position followed closely by NRL and cricket, with AFL's popularity peaking in the Northern Territory, Tassie and Victoria.
Most popular searches 2010
1. facebook
2. YouTube
3. google
4. ebay
5. hotmail
6. yahoo
7. real estate
8. maps
9. commonwealth
10. white pages
Fastest-rising news stories 2010
1. chile earthquake
2. haiti
3. ipad
4. iphone 4
5. vancouver 2010
6. melbourne storm
7. android
8. volcano
9. oil spill
10. world cup
Fastest-rising election stories 2010
1. australia election
2. bob katter
3. julia gillard
4. election results
5. voting
6. abc election
7. nla newspapers
8. greens party
9. labor party
10. poll bludger
Fastest-rising people 2010
1. Cody Simpson
2. Andy Irons
3. Justin Bieber
4. Julia Gillard
5. Lara Bingle
6. Katy Perry
7. Kim Kardashian
8. Jessica Watson
9. Andrew Bolt
10. Kevin Rudd
Fastest-rising celebrities 2010
1. casey johnson
2. bruce jenner
3. christina hendricks
4. heidi montag
5. joseph gordon-levitt
6. kendra wilkinson
7. jared leto
8. kim kardashian
9. sandra bullock
10. jake gyllenhaal
Most popular scandals 2010
1. vanessa hudgens scandal
2. nrl scandal
3. masterchef scandal
4. lara bingle scandal
5. hey dad scandal
6. indian scandal
7. st kilda scandal
8. miley cyrus scandal
9. watergate scandal
10. tiger woods scandal
Most popular celebrity deaths 2010
1. andy irons dead
2. carl williams dead
3. justin bieber dead
4. gary coleman dead
5. tiesto dead
6. taylor lautner dead
7. johnny depp dead
8. lil wayne dead
9. lady gaga dead
10. slipknot bassist dead
Most popular celebrity weddings 2010
1. anna paquin wedding
2. chelsea clinton wedding
3. hilary duff wedding
4. kate ritchie wedding
5. katy perry wedding
6. miranda kerr wedding
7. robbie williams wedding
8. royal wedding
9. megan fox wedding
10. kyle sandilands wedding
Most popular celebrity splits 2010
1. tiger woods divorce
2. benny hinn divorce
3. heidi and spencer divorce
4. bam margera divorce
5. bill rancic divorce
6. eva longoria divorce
7. giuliana rancic divorce
8. sandra bullock divorce
9. justine henin divorce
10. natalie gruzlewski divorce
Most popular movies 2010
1. the crazies
2. resident evil afterlife
3. ben hur
4. percy jackson
5. iron man 2
6. mary poppins
7. the avengers
8. transformers 3
9. breaking dawn
10. jesse james
AUSTRALIAN teenagers are falling behind the rest of the world in school because of a drop in academic performance by the nation's top students.
Australia is one of only five countries, and the only high-performing nation, to record a drop in student scores over the past nine years.
OECD testing of 15-year-olds last year show Australian students dropped an average 13 points in reading, equivalent to four months of school. The results confirm a trend that Australia's top students are failing to keep pace with those overseas, with 13 per cent scoring in the top levels compared with 18 per cent in 2000.
Efforts to improve the skills of students at the bottom failed to have any effect, with little change among the lowest scores.
The Program for International Student Assessment, which began in 2000, tested about 470,000 students in 65 countries last year, including 14,000 Australian students in 353 schools.
While Australia's score in reading was still among the top 10 nations, Australian students scored about 33 points behind the top-ranking students in Shanghai, China, which is equivalent to about one year of school.
Shanghai, participating for the first time, outscored the previous world leader, Finland, in all tests, as did Korea. The top five also include Hong Kong and Singapore, participating for the first time.
Australia's average score in maths has also declined significantly over the past six years, falling by 10 points, while the proportion of students in the top two levels fell to 16 per cent from 20 per cent in 2003.
The lower scores put Australia outside the top 10 in maths, ranking alongside New Zealand, Belgium, Germany and Estonia and behind the top five nations as well as Taipei, Finland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Canada, The Netherlands and Macao.
For the first time, PISA results were reported against the type of school students attended, showing that students in independent schools scored significantly higher than Catholic students, who in turn outperformed government school students.
Students from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, who are more concentrated in independent schools, are as much as three years ahead of the poorest students in government schools.
But the report says that when differences in the education and affluence levels of parents were taken into account, there was no difference in student scores.
PISA is conducted in Australia by the Australian Council for Educational Research, and chief executive Geoff Masters said the gaps between affluent and disadvantaged students, indigenous and non-indigenous, and city and remote students were of great concern. "Some Australian teenagers may be trying to enter the workforce and forge a future for themselves with reading, mathematics and science literacy skills equivalent to a Year 7 or 8 education or worse," he said.
Cotton production in Australia, the fourth-largest exporter, may increase to a record as rainfall and increased prices boost planting, the government’s commodity forecaster said.
Output may gain to 894,000 metric tons in 2010-2011 compared with a September outlook for 653,000 tons, and up from 387,000 tons last season, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences said in a report today. The forecast equals 3.9 million bales of 227 kilograms (500 pounds), according to Bloomberg calculations.
Cotton futures surged to an all-time high last month on concern that rising demand led by China would outpace supplies. Australian planting gained after wet weather ended drought in the country’s east, boosting irrigation dams and encouraging more planting of crops that rely on rainfall.
“The current full soil-moisture profiles and high water- storage levels in Queensland and New South Wales has given summer crops a very good start to the season,” Paul Morris, acting executive director at the bureau said in a statement. Summer is from December to February in Australia. The previous record output was 819,000 tons in 2000-2001.
Cotton for March delivery fell 1.4 percent to settle at $1.3043 a pound on ICE Futures U.S. in New York yesterday. Futures reached an all-time high of $1.5195 a pound on Nov. 10.
Planted area this season was estimated at 557,000 hectares (1.4 million acres), compared with 208,000 hectares last year, and included a record non-irrigated 203,000 hectares, the forecaster said.
Australian production may top 4 million bales for the first time, industry group Cotton Australia said Dec. 1.
Rainfall, which has downgraded the quality of cereal crops, remained beneficial for cotton producers as it boosted water supplies, Cotton Australia Communications Manager David Bone said by phone today.
“We certainly haven’t had any reports of significant inundations,” he said from Narrabri in northern New South Wales.
Rice production this season may be 802,000 tons, the bureau forecast today, up from 206,000 tons a year earlier, and compared with a September outlook for 611,000 tons.
In the face of big-money tournaments in the Middle East and a Hopman Cup that has embarked on an bold recruiting spree, Brisbane International organisers remain content to spruik their event as the best lead-in to the Australian Open, not the biggest.
Happy with its emerging status as a boutique tournament to start the summer of tennis, Brisbane International director Steve Ayles said the departure of Belgian stars Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin - who played in a dream final in January - wouldn't dent its reputation as it rolls into its third year.
Clijsters, the defending champion, won't play at all in the first week of January and will begin her preparations for the opening Grand Slam of 2011 in Sydney. Henin, coming back from an elbow injury that has kept her sidelined since August, will return via the Hopman Cup in Perth.
The women's draw will instead be headlined by hometown hero Samantha Stosur, the world number six fresh off her best year on the WTA Tour and a finalist at the French Open. Former world number four Jelena Dokic has also been given wildcard status.
On the men's side, there's no Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal but Brisbane's hardcourt surface, identical to that of Melbourne Park, has enticed defending champion Andy Roddick, along with a host of quality men's contenders capped off by top seed and world number five Robin Soderling.
And for the first time, the umpires will be given a helping hand by the Hawk-Eye, which has been a noticeable absentee from previous events.
The battle for playing talent in January is fierce, with the Hopman Cup laying claim to a number of former Brisbane International headliners including Henin, Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic.
Ayles said he wasn't concerned by the thin spread of top-line players, insisting Brisbane remained the best choice for players "serious" about a testing Grand Slam warm-up in similar conditions and time zones to that which will greet the challengers in Melbourne.
"Pretty much, the players that are really serious about the Australian Open and about performing well at the Australian Open, they're going to want to play in the conditions that are most similar," Ayles said.
"Here you play on the same surface, same balls, similar climate and time zone. Players like Roddick or (Fernando) Verdasco could make a lot more money playing in a different event. They've chosen this event purely for preparation.
"I think that's the one advantage we have over Hong Kong, Hopman, the Middle East."
It's a sensible piece of market positioning for Ayles and the Brisbane International management. The tournament is never likely to feature the huge purse of the $1.4 million men's event in Doha, where Federer and Nadal will compete, but a big Open campaign from someone like Roddick will only add weight to Ayles's sales pitch.
So too would a flying start to the year from Sam Stosur, who played in Brisbane in 2009 and departed in the second round. Her form is infinitely better and a local in the final would be the dream result for organisers.
Ayles believes Stosur's rise in the rankings has triggered a flow-on in women's tennis. Brisbane will feature four Australian women in the main draw, with Stosur joined by wildcard Jelena Dokic and rising stars Jarmila Groth and Anastasia Rodionova.
"I think women's tennis in Australia at the moment is the strongest it's been for a very long time. If you look at Sam, who's doing so well, it pulls the others up as well," Ayles said.
"Our Fed Cup team is playing unbelievable. They're in the world group playing the champions first round in Hobart. We're hitting the milestones we need to hit."
Dokic has used Brisbane as a springboard to a comeback before and will try again after her wildcard was granted. The 27-year-old has appeared in Brisbane since its inception and is trying to put an erratic and mistake-prone 2010 behind her.
"Jelena has been a wonderful competitor in the tournament in recent years and she is a crowd favourite in Brisbane," Ayles said.
"Jelena is a passionate player and will be a real surprise card in the draw. When she is playing well she is capable of beating anyone."
"She's been playing and she's been winning a lot of matches. She's training and she's looking forward to a great summer. We're just pleased that she's starting it here."
No Australian men have made it to the main men's draw, with any participants having to make it through final qualifying beginning on December 31. The main draw is in action from January 2.
Men's top seeds Robin Soderling (SWE), Andy Roddick (USA), Fernando Verdasco (ESP), Mardy Fish (USA), Marcos Baghdatis (CYP), Feliciano Lopez (ESP), Florian Mayer (GER), Denis Istomin (UZB), Marcel Granollers (ESP), Gilles Simon (FRA).
Women's top seeds Samantha Stosur (AUS), Shahar Peer (ISR), Nadia Petrova (RUS), Marion Bartoli (FRA), Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS), Flavia Pennetta (ITA), Alisa Kleybanova (RUS), Alexandra Dulgheru (ROU), Daniela Hantuchova (SVK), Dominika Cibulkova (SVK).
AUSTRALIA opened the Melbourne round of the World Cup track cycling series with two gold medals as records tumbled at Hisense Arena.
Crucial Olympic qualifying points are on offer at this event ahead of the 2012 London Games and three records were set on Thursday night, reflecting the outstanding quality of the field.
Australian world champions Josie Tomic and Sarah Kent combined with comeback rider Kate Bates to set a national all-comers record as they won the 3000m team pursuit, pulling away from Germany in a thrilling final.
Reigning world champions Cameron Meyer and Leigh Howard then won Australia's second gold medal when they starred in the 40km madison.
Jinje Gong and Lin Junhong of China broke their own Australian all-comers record to win the women's team sprint, while cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy was part of the Great British team that qualified fastest in the men's team sprint, again with an all-comers record time.
Australia won the team pursuit final in an outstanding time of three minutes 22.171 seconds and Tomic noted they have never ridden so fast in early December, given the world titles are still four months away.
They were neck-and-neck with Germany for the first 2km in the final before pulling away, with the Germans clocking 3:23.166.
Australia had qualified fastest earlier on Thursday afternoon with 3:24.244, beating the all-comers mark of 3:24.771 that New Zealand set at this event a year ago.
Once NZ beat Canada in the bronze medal ride-off in 3:23.477, the Australians were determined to go faster again.
"When I saw the Kiwis do a 23, I thought 'yep, I definitely want (us) to do a 22'," Kent said.
Australia has impressive depth in the women's team pursuit and this new Olympic event is fast becoming an event to watch for this country ahead of the London Games.
Bates has taken the place of Ashlee Ankudinoff, the third member of the world title-winning team, who has a gluteal muscle injury.
"She (Ankudinoff) needs to remember she's a part of this and we wouldn't be wearing these (world champion) skinsuits without her - I hope she recovers from that injury and ... whatever happens, she's back with us in training soon," Tomic said.
"It's definitely going to be hard and there are definitely a few others who could have done it as well, everyone here has to keep on their toes and they all have to really try and put their hands up."
Meyer and Howard secured their madison win when they took a lap on the field with 36 laps left in the 120-lap race.
The Australians rode brilliantly in a race marred by crashes and sloppy handovers.
In the women's team sprint, the Chinese clocked 33.240 seconds in the final to beat British star Victoria Pendleton and her team-mate Jessica Varnish (33.443).
China had set the old all-comers record of 33.5 a year ago.
The men's team sprint all-comers record had stood since France posted 44.233 seconds at the Sydney Olympics.
Hoy combined with Matthew Crampton and Jason Kenny to qualify fastest in 43.939.
RETAILERS are feeling glum this Christmas, even though they can expect a slightly more profitable sales period than this time last year.
The Australian Retailers Association predicts sales to top $39.9 billion between mid-November and Christmas Eve, up from the $38.5 billion in same period in 2009.
The association executive director Russell Zimmerman said the global financial crisis still has consumers treading lightly.
"This year has been tough for retailers with consumers still suffering from a post-GFC hangover and being very careful about opening their purses," he said.
More than 60 per cent of retailers surveyed said they expected this Christmas to be worse than last year.
But the thought has managed to deliver some early Christmas cheer, with the majority of traders putting on pre-Christmas sales, two-for-one offers and complimentary gifts with purchase.
Some 77 per cent of retailers also blamed increased interest rates for the lack of consumer spend.
"Needless to say, retailers are welcoming signs from the (Reserve Bank of Australia) that they will hold rates next Tuesday," Mr Zimmerman said.
