1. Well the Ashes series has ended with a whimper and it is clear England have some doubts about their own ability to sweep the series. A bit like their EPL mentality. A draw is better than a loss, seemingly. This will assist the Aussies as they lick their wounds and reminisce.
We need to pay homage to Graeme Wood at this point and welcome Shane Watson to the Graeme Wood school of salvaging a career out of a series demise, by scoring heavilly in dead rubbers and final tests in a series. Watson has already been to Wood's Running Between The Wickets Academy, so this is a natural extension. Where was some of that resolve earlier in the series?
2. The work of Ryan Harris (22 wkts at 20.40) has been tremendous. Haddin has bounced back and been strong behind the stumps. Steve Smith (42.25 avg) has stood up under pressure. Clarke (44.12), Rogers (40.77), Lyon were OK. Rogers cannot play Swan. Siddle (17 at 29.70) glimpses of good but not enough. Starc inconsistent. Agar an amazing batting effort, but forgettable with the ball. Watson (43.55) recovered. Warner, Hughes ummm....Kahwaja is a long way back.
A. Did you know that Hughes averaged more than Cook AND Trott?
B. Did you know Agar scored more runs in the series than Warner?
Clarke has been exposed by Stuart Broad something terrible. Clarke has looked like a rank amateur batting and cannot handle his bouncer. He must be thankful that he did not play against Holding, Garner, Ambrose et al.
3. The series has improved from the cheating with the DRS and the dumb umpiring. However whenever Australia has done well, England have stonewalled. Their negativity will be the undoing of them eventually. At the moment it is frustrating Australia. I would have thought that Pietersen is not the bloke you try and sledge.
4. Ricky Stuart is starting to set too many records at Parramatta. 4-64 is a disgrace. However I am sure Ricky was able to say at the post game press conference that he felt there were a few positives coming out of the game for them and the upside was that Melbourne did not get to 70. How woeful. I hope he sacks a few more yet. His own sacking might be sooner than he thinks too.
Need to tell you that I made a bet with kids at school that six Parramatta wins for the whole season and I owed them a case of Coca Cola. I'm home.
5. Wallabies. I am officially sick of the joke that rugby has become. Seeing bays full of vacant seats at Stadium Australia at a Bledisloe only reflects the general feeling about the game itself. Not the team, the game. Again we see a terrible ref plucked to weave his special brand of mediocrity.
6. AFL. Swans are up and down like a fiddler's elbow. Collingwood impressive in pressure situations. Is anyone tiring of Mick Malthouse? His complaining is exhausting.
7. Warnie. His spray of Steve Waugh was intriguing. Great to see he has gotten over his disappointment all those years ago in the Windies when Lara was smashing him everwhere.
8. Manly, Roosters, Souths and Melbourne...forget about the rest, but watch out for the Cowboys...
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Wrap - Cashes and Ashes
1. The tour match v Nottinghamshire just completed (two days?) sums up our problems. Blokes who have been given opportunities squandering them. Cowan, Kahwaja, Smith all offenders. Watson gets 45 and we are supposed to do handstands? Warner 35, Hughes 30...are we supposed to be content with this? It is sub standard and speaks of indulged attitudes and self centredness. No surprise that referrals for DRS have been dominated by these types.
The problem is that there is no competition for spots at all. The thought of 4-0 looms large after this week. Our bats are struggling against County attacks.
Some say it is 20/20 Cricket impacting. The trouble with this theory is that we are terrible at that form of the game too!
Wonder how comfortable that High Performance Manager is sitting?
2. Wallabies. Playing catch up from early on in the game and throughout. O'Connor was slow and no good out wide..bad reads in defence which cost big points. Mogg was simply out of his depth. Link has a lot of work to do with this lot to knock the rough edges off and get rid of the Gen Y attitude. New Zealand cruised really. Never troubled.
Soft tries were gifted to the All Blacks all night. They barely raised a sweat.
Great to see the ref taking over the game as usual. The crowd was abysmal really. Rugby needs to wake up to itself. It is simply evaporating in Australia. Noticed that the Penrith Emus are still getting lapped by 100 points in their lower grades.
3. EPL - Arsenal. Wenger has been there too long...without resounding success. There always seem to be excuses coming from that club. The fans know it too. Despite the fact it is perhaps the most biased football comp in the world...only four teams can win it...it is still the most exciting.
4. Danny Welbeck - Manchester United v Swansea. He is something special. He was on fire in Australia on the recent tour. His chip over the goalie last night was awesome. He can play!
5. AFL. Hawthorn and Sydney are charging ahead. The Melbourne AFL Club may need to close down.
6. Geoff Toovey. Typically the whinger, but I thought he may have done a foo foo valve on Friday night. The Matai no-try was a disgrace, but by the end of the game the difference was much more than just that. Manly look sharp early , but tire. Age is catching up. The Lima leg twist is one from the Storm's top drawer.
7. Daniel Geale is a classy athlete. He never whinges and is in a brutal sport. A sad loss and unfortunately the belt goes elsewhere. After five defences, he still retains youth and an impressive record. No winners in that sport.
8. Sally Pearson a silver medal at the World Championships. When was the last time she smiled? She's like Ray Price...who was last seem smiling in 1986 after the premiership win...for two seconds.
Usain Bolt still keeps winning. Is he an awesome talent - or luckier than some of the other Jamacian athletes who met trouble recently? Either way, I'd like to see him run till the very end for once - and really see how fast he could go.
The problem is that there is no competition for spots at all. The thought of 4-0 looms large after this week. Our bats are struggling against County attacks.
Some say it is 20/20 Cricket impacting. The trouble with this theory is that we are terrible at that form of the game too!
Wonder how comfortable that High Performance Manager is sitting?
2. Wallabies. Playing catch up from early on in the game and throughout. O'Connor was slow and no good out wide..bad reads in defence which cost big points. Mogg was simply out of his depth. Link has a lot of work to do with this lot to knock the rough edges off and get rid of the Gen Y attitude. New Zealand cruised really. Never troubled.
Soft tries were gifted to the All Blacks all night. They barely raised a sweat.
Great to see the ref taking over the game as usual. The crowd was abysmal really. Rugby needs to wake up to itself. It is simply evaporating in Australia. Noticed that the Penrith Emus are still getting lapped by 100 points in their lower grades.
3. EPL - Arsenal. Wenger has been there too long...without resounding success. There always seem to be excuses coming from that club. The fans know it too. Despite the fact it is perhaps the most biased football comp in the world...only four teams can win it...it is still the most exciting.
4. Danny Welbeck - Manchester United v Swansea. He is something special. He was on fire in Australia on the recent tour. His chip over the goalie last night was awesome. He can play!
5. AFL. Hawthorn and Sydney are charging ahead. The Melbourne AFL Club may need to close down.
6. Geoff Toovey. Typically the whinger, but I thought he may have done a foo foo valve on Friday night. The Matai no-try was a disgrace, but by the end of the game the difference was much more than just that. Manly look sharp early , but tire. Age is catching up. The Lima leg twist is one from the Storm's top drawer.
7. Daniel Geale is a classy athlete. He never whinges and is in a brutal sport. A sad loss and unfortunately the belt goes elsewhere. After five defences, he still retains youth and an impressive record. No winners in that sport.
8. Sally Pearson a silver medal at the World Championships. When was the last time she smiled? She's like Ray Price...who was last seem smiling in 1986 after the premiership win...for two seconds.
Usain Bolt still keeps winning. Is he an awesome talent - or luckier than some of the other Jamacian athletes who met trouble recently? Either way, I'd like to see him run till the very end for once - and really see how fast he could go.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Wrap - It's Scary But Nobody Cares
1. Nothing like some Ashes rivalry...maybe Warner may actually score some runs some day. His Test record is becoming tragic. If ever there was a time when Australian batsmen will be put to the test, it's in this Test on a gloomy, seaming and tricky deck. Warner 3, Kahwaja 0. Fair dinkum. Both bat like millionaires too often. They lack fight and resolve when they have been gifted ideal cahances to impress. Warner is fast becoming a basket case. His bat needs to do some talking. We all know his mouth is well versed.
Rogers on the other hand was scratchy, but effective. Reminds me of Matt Hayden's first ton in Adelaide v the Windies when he did not even put up the bat he was that embarrassed. At least Rogers fought and showed the grit and determination of a true Aussie batsman.
I'm convinced that batting last on this deck will be treacherous. We needed a sizeable lead but capitulated. We are in more trouble than Eddie Obeid. Swan is near unplayable for our batsmen.
2. Michael Vaughan has a lot to say for an English captain that had an average record. Test batting average 41.44. Incredibly, too many people listen to him.
3. Lyon and Bird - and Swan - bowled like feral animals. A bit like the old African Lion Safari. Wind up your windows as a feral animal or two scratch the life out of your dad's duco on the old Holden Kingswood station wagon.
4. Benji Marshall. Farewell and don't strain your back with the cash. Are Rugby that silly? SBW knows they are. This is becoming tiresome. His release online in a video was terribly self indulgent. Perhaps it explains everything...a big ego who has allowed fame to go to his head. The Tigers at least learned something when they signed Braith Anasta. Invest in youth, pepper it with experience, develop superstars...
Mick Potter surely has to be chopped. He has cleaned out his coaching staff...a sure sign he is under pressure. Steve Georgalis is a good coach. He will pick up a gig no problems. Royce also knows a hell of a lot. However, Potter? He reminds me of Brian Smith. Crash and burn the joint and hope someone sees it as progress.
As mentioned here weeks ago, financial logic would tell you that Tim Sheens surely has to come back in, but they have now stopped paying him! How long before this club becomes extinct? It smells like the North Sydney Bears in their final days.
5. A win for Parramatta. Hard to believe they have won. Tipping comps around the state are furious! Maybe Samuel L Jackson might be able to afford a new hat now for Bet365. Interesting to see Tom Waterhouse has sold his business. Build it up, sell your soul and then run like hell.
Melbourne warming up nicely. Manly looking strong. Roosters were loose. Bunnies fading fast. Liking the late season form of the Cowboys...would be dangerous from seventh or eighth if they snuck in.
6. Adam Scott. In tremendous form. Form has a window which slams shut. Get into it while it is open and clear! Here's hoping for a last round surge.
7. What is it about the Broncos? They are the old lady up the road who takes in every stray cat and dog in the joint because they are all "homesick". The sooner another Brisbane team is in the mix, the better.
8. AFL comp looks more open this year than most. Swans disappointing but Magpies strong. Essendon have more troubles than Craig Thomson. ASADA will probably deliver their findings in Grand Final week to make their point.
Rogers on the other hand was scratchy, but effective. Reminds me of Matt Hayden's first ton in Adelaide v the Windies when he did not even put up the bat he was that embarrassed. At least Rogers fought and showed the grit and determination of a true Aussie batsman.
I'm convinced that batting last on this deck will be treacherous. We needed a sizeable lead but capitulated. We are in more trouble than Eddie Obeid. Swan is near unplayable for our batsmen.
2. Michael Vaughan has a lot to say for an English captain that had an average record. Test batting average 41.44. Incredibly, too many people listen to him.
3. Lyon and Bird - and Swan - bowled like feral animals. A bit like the old African Lion Safari. Wind up your windows as a feral animal or two scratch the life out of your dad's duco on the old Holden Kingswood station wagon.
4. Benji Marshall. Farewell and don't strain your back with the cash. Are Rugby that silly? SBW knows they are. This is becoming tiresome. His release online in a video was terribly self indulgent. Perhaps it explains everything...a big ego who has allowed fame to go to his head. The Tigers at least learned something when they signed Braith Anasta. Invest in youth, pepper it with experience, develop superstars...
Mick Potter surely has to be chopped. He has cleaned out his coaching staff...a sure sign he is under pressure. Steve Georgalis is a good coach. He will pick up a gig no problems. Royce also knows a hell of a lot. However, Potter? He reminds me of Brian Smith. Crash and burn the joint and hope someone sees it as progress.
As mentioned here weeks ago, financial logic would tell you that Tim Sheens surely has to come back in, but they have now stopped paying him! How long before this club becomes extinct? It smells like the North Sydney Bears in their final days.
5. A win for Parramatta. Hard to believe they have won. Tipping comps around the state are furious! Maybe Samuel L Jackson might be able to afford a new hat now for Bet365. Interesting to see Tom Waterhouse has sold his business. Build it up, sell your soul and then run like hell.
Melbourne warming up nicely. Manly looking strong. Roosters were loose. Bunnies fading fast. Liking the late season form of the Cowboys...would be dangerous from seventh or eighth if they snuck in.
6. Adam Scott. In tremendous form. Form has a window which slams shut. Get into it while it is open and clear! Here's hoping for a last round surge.
7. What is it about the Broncos? They are the old lady up the road who takes in every stray cat and dog in the joint because they are all "homesick". The sooner another Brisbane team is in the mix, the better.
8. AFL comp looks more open this year than most. Swans disappointing but Magpies strong. Essendon have more troubles than Craig Thomson. ASADA will probably deliver their findings in Grand Final week to make their point.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Wrap - Broad Walk
1. Fresh from the Dave Warner App of last week, there is another ridiculous addition to it with his stupid DRS referral. What was most disturbing about it all was the fact that when he approached Clarke, Clarke had no influence over him. This is more of a worrythan his completely selfish lack of judgement. No wonder Micky Arthur struggled.
Does Broad look like the blonde headed bully out of Harry Potter with the blonde hair? Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBJL1H84Y2A&feature=youtu.be
2. Clarke was exceptional at the crease and is regularly making big runs in the first innings now. His record makes him one of Australia's greatest ever. Good to see the 'Duck or A Hundred Man', Phil Hughes spelled. I would still argue that Watson should be punted...more to get him hungry and make him understand that he has no mortgage on his spot in the team. Siddle keeps getting wickets despite not moving the ball and Ryan Harris would dominate if we had more juiced up wickets. Does anyone remember the decks that Botham used to bowl on in the early 1980's over there...absolute green tops. Even Alderman...the sun rarely shone. As the TV coverage has improved so too has the standard of pitch!
3. Went to watch Parramatta play on Saturday night. Saw Steve Edge whose hair colour and style was a testament to the massive drought Parramatta have experienced for so long. Some of our current players would not have made reserve grade in the Gibson era.
Ben Roberts is officially the worst pivot in the NRL. His error rate is appalling. His day has gone. The dumb decisions were something, but what was most striking was the amazing lack of discipline. Fui Fui doing a chip over the top? Stuart has lost the plot. He is letting it fail and hoping to fix it. Impossible. I am a big believer that the wooden spoon be delivered to the team winning it on Grand Final Day, just to make sure they feel the pain...and never repeat it like Parramatta will. Ricky is fast becoming damaged goods.
Canberra. Their losing ways were catching because the Storm absolutely smashed Canberra. Losing by 64 is a complete disaster this late in the season...and at home. Problems aplenty. These teams that get smashed should have to donate money to their junior leagues - a % off each First Grader's salary in the losing team. This would fix them up.
4. Finally GWS win something. Melbourne are a disaster. Fancy losing that? The temporary coach, Neil Craig, there has made a career ending decision. Some good signs from GWS...once they get bigger, more experienced and actually play for the full game.
5. Brumbies. A gutsy performance and I noticed that they wheeled Brian Smith out on Saturday morning to haunt the whole campaign. Beaten by a better team - and in need of a bit more attacking prowess. How they can show up every other Australian franchise is amazing...year in, year out.
6. So far so good for the Australian Swimming Team. Medals galore and a lot more fresh faces. The wheel may well have turned at long last.
7. Swans. Right on track for back to back premiership wins, but easier said than done. The comp seems more open than usual with Geelong and Hawthorn stuttering. That Tippert can play, even if he took twelve months to get there.
8. Vintage Tiget this week at the Firestone. Chipping in...long putts..
Does Broad look like the blonde headed bully out of Harry Potter with the blonde hair? Check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBJL1H84Y2A&feature=youtu.be
2. Clarke was exceptional at the crease and is regularly making big runs in the first innings now. His record makes him one of Australia's greatest ever. Good to see the 'Duck or A Hundred Man', Phil Hughes spelled. I would still argue that Watson should be punted...more to get him hungry and make him understand that he has no mortgage on his spot in the team. Siddle keeps getting wickets despite not moving the ball and Ryan Harris would dominate if we had more juiced up wickets. Does anyone remember the decks that Botham used to bowl on in the early 1980's over there...absolute green tops. Even Alderman...the sun rarely shone. As the TV coverage has improved so too has the standard of pitch!
3. Went to watch Parramatta play on Saturday night. Saw Steve Edge whose hair colour and style was a testament to the massive drought Parramatta have experienced for so long. Some of our current players would not have made reserve grade in the Gibson era.
Ben Roberts is officially the worst pivot in the NRL. His error rate is appalling. His day has gone. The dumb decisions were something, but what was most striking was the amazing lack of discipline. Fui Fui doing a chip over the top? Stuart has lost the plot. He is letting it fail and hoping to fix it. Impossible. I am a big believer that the wooden spoon be delivered to the team winning it on Grand Final Day, just to make sure they feel the pain...and never repeat it like Parramatta will. Ricky is fast becoming damaged goods.
Canberra. Their losing ways were catching because the Storm absolutely smashed Canberra. Losing by 64 is a complete disaster this late in the season...and at home. Problems aplenty. These teams that get smashed should have to donate money to their junior leagues - a % off each First Grader's salary in the losing team. This would fix them up.
4. Finally GWS win something. Melbourne are a disaster. Fancy losing that? The temporary coach, Neil Craig, there has made a career ending decision. Some good signs from GWS...once they get bigger, more experienced and actually play for the full game.
5. Brumbies. A gutsy performance and I noticed that they wheeled Brian Smith out on Saturday morning to haunt the whole campaign. Beaten by a better team - and in need of a bit more attacking prowess. How they can show up every other Australian franchise is amazing...year in, year out.
6. So far so good for the Australian Swimming Team. Medals galore and a lot more fresh faces. The wheel may well have turned at long last.
7. Swans. Right on track for back to back premiership wins, but easier said than done. The comp seems more open than usual with Geelong and Hawthorn stuttering. That Tippert can play, even if he took twelve months to get there.
8. Vintage Tiget this week at the Firestone. Chipping in...long putts..
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