The sporting week in numbers

Sam Kasiano of the Bulldogs (left) and Alex Pledger of the Breakers

APNZ takes a look at the sporting week in numbers.

5000 - Newcastle of the A-League variety (not English) had to place an order for 5000 more Emile Heskey shirts this week after the franchise sold out of replica shirts of their new signing. The former England striker has agreed to a seven-figure one-year deal with the Jets.

74 - International cricket umpire Simon Taufel has announced he will retire at the end of the World T20 tournament after a distinguished career that spanned 13 years at the top level. The Australian stood in 74 test matches as well as 174 one-day games.

215 - The height in centimetres of Breaker's centre Alex Pledger. The 25-year-old giant is the tallest person in New Zealand sport and there are many who expect him to put that size to good use this season as the Breakers chase a third-straight ANBL title.

1 - Manawatu will challenge Taranaki for the Ranfurly Shield tomorrow but they have little pedigree having lifted the Log 'o Wood only once before. Their sole tenure came in the late 1970s after they beat Auckland 12-10 via a Doug Rollerson drop goal to claim the famous prize.

17 - Sunday night will mark the 17th time the Bulldogs have taken part in the NRL grand final when they meet the Melbourne Storm in rugby league's showpiece game in Sydney. They won last time they played in the big one, beating the Roosters 16-13 in 2004.

38 - All Blacks tighthead prop Owen Franks has played 38 tests without scoring a try. Greg Sommerville owns the longest try-scoring drought to start a career with the All Blacks - he made 42 appearances before he dotted down against Fiji in 2005. Franks will get a chance to break his duck on Sunday when the All Blacks meet Argentina in La Plata.

50,000 - New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was fined US$50,000 for "impermissible physical contact with an official" following his side's 31-30 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The NFL has come under a firestorm of criticism during the opening three weeks of the season after a referee lockout meant replacement officials had to be used with numerous controversial consequences. A new bargaining agreement was reached yesterday (thur) and the regular referees will reclaim their whistles this weekend.

2 - Olympic Triathlete Nicky Samuels led from start to finish to take out her second ever career ITU World Cup title in Tongyeong, Korea, on Saturday night. Samuels won the race in a time of 2:1.51, nine seconds ahead of second-place getter Maria Czesnik of Poland.

7 - Major League Baseball team the Baltimore Orioles tied a club-record when they blasted seven home runs in a 12-2 rout over the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park on Thursday (NZT).

175 - Colin Batch will take over as New Zealand men's hockey coach and has been contracted until the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. He played 175 tests for Australia from 1979-1990 and was Australia assistant coach from 2001-2008.