World Cup Cocktail

Australian players tested a new helmet safety attachment -- designed in the aftermath of the Phillip Hughes tragedy -- on Thursday although they will not be obliged to wear it in matches, Cricket Australia said.

Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and George Bailey all wore the new Masuri StemGuard clip-on, made of honeycomb plastic and foam, while they batted in the nets at Bellerive Oval ahead of the World Cup match against Scotland on Saturday.

Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara has already used the device at the World Cup while Ireland all-rounder John Mooney has designed his own version.

"Masuri has worked very hard to bring this guard to market in a very short period of time and we appreciate and commend that," Cricket Australia Executive General Manager of Team Performance Pat Howard told cricket.au.com

"The players have now been given the guards to trial at training before deciding whether they wear them in match conditions.

"It is very much a personal decision which we will respect."

Moles happy in Kabul

Afghanistan's coach Andy Moles was advised not to take the job by his brother, who worked for London's Metropolitan Police and now works for Apple as a global security manager. But he says he's not once felt threatened since his move to Kabul three months ago. Asked the major difference between his former home town and his new one, he said: "The curries are better in Birmingham."

Jordan left stranded

England are at one of their lowest ebbs, dumped out of the World Cup before the knockout stages by Bangladesh and who do they throw up to explain it all in Sydney on Wednesday? Not Stuart Broad, James Anderson or any of their senior players, but Chris Jordan, who has played a single game of their forgettable campaign. Jordan, who was controversially run out against Bangladesh, did his best with the hospital pass, not hiding how shattered England were as they try and pull themselves together before their final game against Afghanistan at the SCG on Friday. "Everyone is gutted...gutted for the fans that came over and the fans at home watching," he said.

Mooney breaks silence on slurs

John Mooney, the Ireland bowler who had his honesty questioned at this World Cup because of his battles with alcoholism and depression, has broken his silence, saying he hopes the attack on him doesn't discourage others with mental health problems from speaking up.

The International Cricket Council by Thursday afternoon had still not uttered a word about an article, penned by a Zimbabwean journalist on Monday, that suggested Mooney could not be trusted because of his personal issues, although they have been considering revoking the reporter's accreditation and banning him from future events. The resulting furore led Zimbabwe's Brendan Taylor to apologise to Mooney on behalf of his team. Mooney, who had been attacked over a crucial catch on the boundary he took in Ireland's win over Zimbabwe at the weekend, took to his Facebook page to have his say on Thursday. "Last night I texted Brendan Taylor (Zim captain) to thank him and his team for their apology."

– Compiled