1. Well half right. Johnson was sensational - albeit a bit short at times. Watson did not last to lunch at all. Johnson was almost better with the bat at key times and seems to bowl well after getting runs. Must say that Johnson bowled at pace. No batsman likes that. An interesting point made by Glenn McGrath about Johnson being the only bowler with invisible foot marks on the turf. Fred Astaire.
Haddin unlucky not to be MOTM. His two bats were superb under pressure. His keeping was excellent too. Fiftieth Test and a great performance. Johnson terrorised the Poms. How we love that!
The Clarke innings was majestic. He was courageous and true. Blistering and surgeon like. His record is better than Tendulkar's. I liked the inclusion of Bailey who provided experience and a good set of hands. Steve Smith's hands were solid too. Chris Rogers was our worst. He scratched around and did nothing much.
I notice Marcus North is making a shed load of runs. Perhaps one of the younger openers around the traps would do the job. This Jordan Silk is the next choice. Penrith boy. In for Rogers.
2. Warner. A good ton, but still too chirpy. It's a long series and one ton does not a legend make! He could fall apart and be sacked by series end. It is that sort of series. His lack of discipline and discretion is cringe worthy.
3. Despite the off field shennanigans, the Wallabies are looking stronger. Folau looks tremendous. One of the more successful Spring tours of recent years. Easier than playing Southern Hemisphere teams! Shame about the England Test looking back.
4. 64-0 in a semi. Terrible from Fiji. Australia v NZ will be tighter hopefully. Thurston is the difference. The SBW factor will matter. Sean Johnson would be a good buy for any club. He is a tough and smart player.
5. Webber retires this week - and guess who is on pole position...Vetell. Vetell has some sort of record...perhaps the best ever for a F1 season. Webber will at least hold that story to tell.
6. Jason Day. Some sort of victory - and a World Cup win. The worst World Cup in Australian sport clearly...cricket, rugby, league....but golf?
7. The Louis Suarez goal in the Merseyside showdown...just outstanding. The EPL needs to hot up and is starting to achieve this.
8. Noticed GWS signed another young up and coming legend in the AFL draft. One day they will be strong...just hope the club still exists by the time it rolls around.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Wrap - A Tomahawk To The Useless Headbands
1. Is it just me or is the Rugby League World Cup dragging on and on? The farce that it is I am sure is building the game in the USA as they rush to sign up with the Tomahawks! On the old 1982 - 1986 Kangaroo Tours, there were multiple games a week - maybe two, sometimes three and they all survived. A few of our current players must have arse ache from sitting around too long. Get the final over with please before the players all biff each other and self destruct! Tim Sheens has the personality of Wayne Swan and as many excuses.
Billy Slater's poor behaviour and attitude at times is starting to catch up with him.
2. Sachin...Sachin...not sure if you caught it but I watched his half hour final speech. His grace and eloquence was stunning and he is one of the true greats. As my son pointed out though...we might beat them now, but I don't recall he played any role in the recent ODI series and we still lost.
Comic scenes in true Bollywood style as the usual array of self important fat blokes with glasses line up to give oversized cheques and obscene and useless trophies to blokes who could buy and sell them. Always love the hanger on in an Indian press conference, in the background, near the melee...how they love a kerfuffle and a schemozzle in those parts!
3. Can anyone see it already: Johnson steaming in on the Gabba...first over...short pitched...4 wides Harmiston style. He is loose and if our hopes hang on him...we are in trouble. Clive Palmer in politics offers the same hope. However it is good to see Craig McDermott there again. He has a bit of steel. I cannot get excited about our chances. Can Watson last to lunch in any test?
4. Adam Scott. Brilliant and so far ahead of all others it is ridiculous. Triple crown well in sight.
5. Sebastian Vetell. He has done it again...edged out Webber for pole position in the USA F1 GP. Webber remains the ball boy...not the player again. Albeit a very rich one.
6. Wallabies. Looking a lot better and a grand win really v Ireland. Great to see the headband (black tape on white cloth bandage) has made a comeback from the days of club rugby eg Steve Cutler (Hooper and the hairbear winger, Cummins). Haven't seen one since Nathan Bracken retired.
7. I love a good drugs in sport excuse and lazy cheating Jamacian sprinters are starting to provide them...the missus gave me the wrong supplements...too much sex...coach was to blame...bad toothpaste...mum's diaretic...get the World Arbitration of Sport mob back to work.
Billy Slater's poor behaviour and attitude at times is starting to catch up with him.
2. Sachin...Sachin...not sure if you caught it but I watched his half hour final speech. His grace and eloquence was stunning and he is one of the true greats. As my son pointed out though...we might beat them now, but I don't recall he played any role in the recent ODI series and we still lost.
Comic scenes in true Bollywood style as the usual array of self important fat blokes with glasses line up to give oversized cheques and obscene and useless trophies to blokes who could buy and sell them. Always love the hanger on in an Indian press conference, in the background, near the melee...how they love a kerfuffle and a schemozzle in those parts!
3. Can anyone see it already: Johnson steaming in on the Gabba...first over...short pitched...4 wides Harmiston style. He is loose and if our hopes hang on him...we are in trouble. Clive Palmer in politics offers the same hope. However it is good to see Craig McDermott there again. He has a bit of steel. I cannot get excited about our chances. Can Watson last to lunch in any test?
4. Adam Scott. Brilliant and so far ahead of all others it is ridiculous. Triple crown well in sight.
5. Sebastian Vetell. He has done it again...edged out Webber for pole position in the USA F1 GP. Webber remains the ball boy...not the player again. Albeit a very rich one.
6. Wallabies. Looking a lot better and a grand win really v Ireland. Great to see the headband (black tape on white cloth bandage) has made a comeback from the days of club rugby eg Steve Cutler (Hooper and the hairbear winger, Cummins). Haven't seen one since Nathan Bracken retired.
7. I love a good drugs in sport excuse and lazy cheating Jamacian sprinters are starting to provide them...the missus gave me the wrong supplements...too much sex...coach was to blame...bad toothpaste...mum's diaretic...get the World Arbitration of Sport mob back to work.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Wrap - Ashes Countdown
1. Ashes First Test team. After much consternation I've named it with Warner shadowing an ailing (and yet to be dropped on his head from the team) Watson. Like this Chad Sayers who got another swag of wickets. The crock of numbnuts who we have injured at present (Starc, Pattinson, Hazelwood, Cummins, Bollinger et al) seem to lose the toughness when they make the national team.
Somehow when they are knocking on the door for selection, they are bowling every day and busting a gut. Once they make the team, they put the cue in the rack!
How does that work? Noticed they are having a bowling coaches conference this week...hope they do their homework.
Never thought I'd ever say it, but Cameron 'The Croc' White may well come into the team at No.6. Has been in blistering form, but there is much to like about a resilient and tough George Bailey. Hope he - like Clarke - has been working on the short pitched bowling. No room for Faulkner yet. Hughes no certainty for mine. I can't be confident with Johnson..in fact not sure why he will be picked, but he will...too loose and has no delivery that swings into the right handed batsman. Why not? I saw it once in South Africa I think.
1. Rogers
2. Watson
3. Hughes*
4. Clarke
5. Smith
6. Bailey/ White
7. Haddin
8. Johnson*
9. Siddle
10. Harris
11. Lyon
12. Warner
13. Sayers
I wonder if Ponting has sold enough books yet? Remind me why he is so unpopular with the general public again...
2. Wallabies. They like playing Italy...it's the other ten nations which trouble us. Folau needs to step up against some of the tough nations. McKenzie is flirting with danger swapping captains and making some crazy calls. Postocoglou will be similar. Lucas Neill has to go first up.
On the other hand, New Zealand must have won every single comp and trophy worldwide. When did they last lose? Unstoppable.
3. RWC. How good are the Cameron Smith's, Slaters and Cronks when it gets tough and cold? It looked REAL cold v Ireland. They profit from living in Melbourne in those conditions. NZ will be hard to beat with their familiarity of the wet and cold conditions. We need a bit more creativity in attack. Fifita will be tough, but Thurston is critical to our success. The flat rocket pass is deadly in these parts.
Look for an Italy upset over Tonga tonight. Winner v NZ!
4. Golf. Adam Scott is a class act. Struggle to cope with his voice, but he can play. Good touch re the green jacket. Pitty the US brat didn't acknowledge it.
5. Tennis. Nadal will end the year as Number 1. He is an absolute machine. Injury riddled, but a competitor like no other. Federer is hanging tough at present. He is a legend and is still mixing it with the best, although his star is fading.
6. Liverpool's juggernaut keeps rolling on. 4-0. Suarez could just about bring them a trophy. ManU starting to hit their straps now....look out!
Somehow when they are knocking on the door for selection, they are bowling every day and busting a gut. Once they make the team, they put the cue in the rack!
How does that work? Noticed they are having a bowling coaches conference this week...hope they do their homework.
Never thought I'd ever say it, but Cameron 'The Croc' White may well come into the team at No.6. Has been in blistering form, but there is much to like about a resilient and tough George Bailey. Hope he - like Clarke - has been working on the short pitched bowling. No room for Faulkner yet. Hughes no certainty for mine. I can't be confident with Johnson..in fact not sure why he will be picked, but he will...too loose and has no delivery that swings into the right handed batsman. Why not? I saw it once in South Africa I think.
1. Rogers
2. Watson
3. Hughes*
4. Clarke
5. Smith
6. Bailey/ White
7. Haddin
8. Johnson*
9. Siddle
10. Harris
11. Lyon
12. Warner
13. Sayers
I wonder if Ponting has sold enough books yet? Remind me why he is so unpopular with the general public again...
2. Wallabies. They like playing Italy...it's the other ten nations which trouble us. Folau needs to step up against some of the tough nations. McKenzie is flirting with danger swapping captains and making some crazy calls. Postocoglou will be similar. Lucas Neill has to go first up.
On the other hand, New Zealand must have won every single comp and trophy worldwide. When did they last lose? Unstoppable.
3. RWC. How good are the Cameron Smith's, Slaters and Cronks when it gets tough and cold? It looked REAL cold v Ireland. They profit from living in Melbourne in those conditions. NZ will be hard to beat with their familiarity of the wet and cold conditions. We need a bit more creativity in attack. Fifita will be tough, but Thurston is critical to our success. The flat rocket pass is deadly in these parts.
Look for an Italy upset over Tonga tonight. Winner v NZ!
4. Golf. Adam Scott is a class act. Struggle to cope with his voice, but he can play. Good touch re the green jacket. Pitty the US brat didn't acknowledge it.
5. Tennis. Nadal will end the year as Number 1. He is an absolute machine. Injury riddled, but a competitor like no other. Federer is hanging tough at present. He is a legend and is still mixing it with the best, although his star is fading.
6. Liverpool's juggernaut keeps rolling on. 4-0. Suarez could just about bring them a trophy. ManU starting to hit their straps now....look out!
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Wrap - Second Best Is Not Good Enough
1. World Cup Rugby League. Great gig being a good player in the minnows at present. An NRL contract could be headed your way. Lots to play for. I can only think that Thurston and Cameron Smith will be immortals. Not sure about Slater...there have been a lot of fullbacks in the frame before.
2. Wallabies. Can there be anymore excuses? Obstruction...injuries...The appointment of Cooper as the vice captain is extraordinary. Ewan McKenzie's reign has been highly unimpressive to date. He may be in the frame for the sack before we think...especially with a dreadful European tour.
3. Shane Watson. Pulls up lame again and is the target of derision and abuse by the opposition. Thank goodness his wife loves him.
India just too good. Those pitches are something else. Flatter than an New Year's Eve party in Afghanistan. James Faulkner has rocketed into the frame. He may be our next all rounder of note. He has a competitive edge that many others do not.
I am very concerned about Johnson coming home to play in the Ashes. He is unreliable, still cannot bring the ball into the right hander. He has attitude and too many tats. We are in trouble. Chad Sayers?
4. Mark Webber pole position to equal Sir Jack. Vettel in his pocket next to him. Guess who will win it?
5. Loving the EPL this year with ManU on the slide...lots of other clubs looking solid. Arsenal the best hope. Finally it is a more even competition.
6. So the Boston Red Sox get up in the World Series baseball. The bird was smothered. You read it here...hopefully you cleaned up!
7. Melbourne Cup. I like Dear Demi and a trifecta of 22, 10, 6. Happy punting!
2. Wallabies. Can there be anymore excuses? Obstruction...injuries...The appointment of Cooper as the vice captain is extraordinary. Ewan McKenzie's reign has been highly unimpressive to date. He may be in the frame for the sack before we think...especially with a dreadful European tour.
3. Shane Watson. Pulls up lame again and is the target of derision and abuse by the opposition. Thank goodness his wife loves him.
India just too good. Those pitches are something else. Flatter than an New Year's Eve party in Afghanistan. James Faulkner has rocketed into the frame. He may be our next all rounder of note. He has a competitive edge that many others do not.
I am very concerned about Johnson coming home to play in the Ashes. He is unreliable, still cannot bring the ball into the right hander. He has attitude and too many tats. We are in trouble. Chad Sayers?
4. Mark Webber pole position to equal Sir Jack. Vettel in his pocket next to him. Guess who will win it?
5. Loving the EPL this year with ManU on the slide...lots of other clubs looking solid. Arsenal the best hope. Finally it is a more even competition.
6. So the Boston Red Sox get up in the World Series baseball. The bird was smothered. You read it here...hopefully you cleaned up!
7. Melbourne Cup. I like Dear Demi and a trifecta of 22, 10, 6. Happy punting!
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