Julian Assange feels abandoned by Australia

Seriously Julian... what did you expect? A welcome home party and a couple of fat shrimp on the barby? The WikiLeaks founder says he's been all but "abandoned" by his home country. Assange spoke out during an online Q&A with the Guardian, the British newspaper, this weekend. "I am an Australian citizen and I miss my country a great deal," he wrote. Comparing his plight to that of David Hicks, a fellow Australian who was detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on terror charges, Assange accused Aussie officials of pandering to the United States. "Are we all to be treated like David Hicks at the first possible opportunity merely so that Australian politicians and diplomats can be invited to the best US embassy cocktail parties," he wrote. The government hit back saying Assange is entitled to return home whenever he pleases. If he doesn't, he will be offered the same consular support available to all Australian citizens abroad, they said. But that's hardly a welcome mat. Australia's prime minister, Julia Gillard, has called WikiLeaks' latest document dump "an illegal thing to do" and vowed to cooperate with America's investigation. Don't snivel man, you released the stuff, so now pay the piper.

Lydia Lassila wins Australia's second gold

Diminutive Lydia Lassila emerged from the Cypress Mountain mist to land two mighty spinning, twisting jumps, and with them Australia's second gold medal of these Winter Games, now the country's most successful. What a great follow-on from Alisa Camplin in Salt Lake City. Lassila's gold was like her mid-air somersaults, triply destined. It was the medal she had always believed would be hers one day, first as a gymnast, for the past 10 years as aerialist who at first was too gung-ho for own wellbeing, but is now complete. Go girls!

Australia defeat Pakistan by 25 runs in under-19 World Cup final

Australia have heaped more cricketing misery on Pakistan, this time at the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, Mitchell Marsh's men winning the final by 25 runs. The star for Australia was pace bowler Josh Hazelwood who took 4-30, including the final scalp of Raza Hasan, in a man-of-the-match performance after his side were forced to defend a lowly 207. Luke Doran contributed 3-32 as Pakistan were dismissed for 182 with 20 balls remaining. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie... Oi, Oi, Oi!

Nathan Hauritz picks up first five-wicket haul as Australia beat Pakistan at MCG

Just what I like to see... Australia humbled Pakistan today by 170 runs in the first Test at the MCG on the back of improving off-spinner Nathan Hauritz's maiden five-wicket haul. Hauritz took the two remaining wickets in his first over after lunch to finish with 5-101 as Pakistan crashed to 251 in their second innings. Hauritz had Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf caught at short leg off the pad for 61 and five balls later had Saeed Ajmal (10) caught from a skied slog. Australia had set Pakistan 422 runs to win. I wish I could have been in Melbourne to see the last day!

Aussies Whip The Poms!

Australia completed a crushing victory over England in the fourth Test on Sunday to level the Ashes series at 1-1 with one match to play.

The touring side ended England's entertaining lower-order resistance 20 minutes after lunch on the third day, Mitchell Johnson bowling Graham Onions to dismiss the hosts for 263 and seal victory by an innings and 80 runs.

"We've played some good cricket here and I am very proud of the guys for bouncing back and playing so well," Australia captain Ricky Ponting said.

"All credit to our bowlers. They bowled brilliantly on the first day and that set it up for us. We dominated the match from the first ball."