The Wrap - Hitting The Wall

1. OK, take me through this....Ponting wins the toss and AGAIN bats on a greentop. Has he learned nothing since the last Ashes tour? This bloke has not been to Tasmania for many years clearly. He has not played on the Gabba in the shield season enough. He cannot see a green top if it was to spit on him. His clangers as a captain are mounting and his time is short. 88 all out is unbelievable. Losing to Pakistan is a disgrace. We lost 20-20's, ODI's and drew a stupid Test series. Hopeless. Ashes favouritism all with England.

2. Can anyone remember us winning a Test with Rudi Koertzen in charge of a game? His decision to award a 'no catch' on Akmal with 15 to get was a disgrace. The dubious nature of his decisions will not be missed when he retires. He took a stump after the game in his last Test match. Most Aussies wanted to put it through his head at the end of the game. He is one of the worst in world cricket. Kamran Akmal is a cheat too. Clear catch by Hussey. Michael Clarke dropping catches at the death reinforces his lack of readiness to be skipper. We are in trouble when or if he becomes captain. Will Peter Siddle come back? North MUST go. Steve Smith's innings was breathtaking. He is a class act with a long Test career ahead of him.

3. Hayne. Concerned about the frenzy of the dopey press. The airplane nonsense needs to stop. However he is a freak. His combination with Inu is unbelievable. Inu is our closest player to an exceptional AFL talent. He can kick, catch, is fast, mobile and freakish. Talk of 2009 being repeated is way premature. Lose two games and they are gone.

4. Rugby. A comprehensive win by the Wallabies with the South Africans hugely disappointing. None from three sees them nearly gone, but home tests in SA are hard to win! Getting rid of Quade Cooper for two All Blacks Tests (by two NZ judges) is convenient. bad tackle however. Once again the Storm v Panthers game trumped it for speed, engagement and entertainment. The Smith one on one steal, the Cronk 40-20 under pressure and the fast finish was superb. Lachlan Coote is fast but too small for first grade and needs to bulk up.

5. AFL. The Hawthorn stuff up with the interchange defies belief. A few heads should roll. They roll when someone puts 2 bucks on a team so this should earn a life ban. Swans - shut the joint down after that effort. Melbourne's recovery from last year has been highly significant.

6. Paul Briggs will be very rich soon....as soon as the Indian bookmakers catch up with him. Danny Green's back pedal was one of the best ever. better than Asotasi on the bike. One minute he is saying Briggs has no chance of earning a cent and the next he's recommending brain surgery. Danny Green needs to lift his game. Briggs was a dunce taking him on, but Jeff Fenech was in his corner pre fight and backs more losers than Ray Dufficy. Fenech is fast losing his reputation. Green needs to enhance his now.

6. Tour de France. Can't help but be mistified by the circus at the end of each stage. The course, while famous and traditional, needs to have fewer riders for mine. The quality of the synthetic drug industry has improved wonderfully for too many riders.

7. Panthers hitting the wall. They turn it up at the end of the game. they have no commitment when it counts and are a 65 minute team at best. Canberra are looking good for the future. Cowboys. Can they throw a game better than most? Up by 12 with 8 mins left - another 60 minute team. Surely the Titans cannot win the comp. They seem to aim up with the higher placed teams however. Bunnies strong but too hot and cold. Tigers due for a loss and delivered nicely. Steve Matai is one of the greatest fools in the game.

8. There was an excerpt from John Elias' new book in the Sunday Telegraph and the Souths v Wests game and the planned match fixing. Riveting stuff, but oh so corrupt....