1. BBL Twenty-Twenty Cricket. Ponting has been excellent in the commentary box - humble even...and down to earth. Qualities we never knew he possessed. Noticing a new phenomenon: the first ball boundary of an over...20/20 style. A new tactic which takes all the pressure off.
2. Despite Ian Chappell's one sided view of the world, George Bailey has added a lot to the Australian Test team. The selectors have underestimated his composure and experience of winning (20-20 and Tassie). If you select blokes who win a lot..YOU win a lot. Marsh has a low average and low attitude for mine. Bailey's is not great either, but I noticed he top scored at Adelaide Oval under pressure to win the ODI tonight. Lower than Sam Groth's world ranking...'bomb down the T' (luckiest man in the world to have a commercial agreement with anyone).
3. Did anyone notice that the winning shot at the tennis coincided with the winning edge to Wade off Watson (who has a happy knack of doing something significant in every game he plays - even if his batting is going to pot)? To the second. The remote conrol was under a lot of pressure.
"The Big Show" (Glenn Maxwell) also did a significant run out at a clutch moment, but he is fast becoming "The No Show".
4. AB Medal farce. It looked like it was held at SBS in a lunchroom. Joke. Only two or three can win the thing. It is fast becoming the Michael Clarke Medal.
5. Australian Open. Wawrinka was dominant. Unbelievable strength in his shots. Rafa's injury was with terrible timing, but at least he didn't do what most rich spoilt tennis players do and give in. Nadal is the most hard edge sportsman in world sport. Focused and determined, relentless and the best sportsman.
6. This business of open interviews at the end of centre court games at Australian Open...the overseas interviewer. What the hell is happening there? Have we not got one former Australian tennis player who could do this? Sorry it's Australia. Roger Rasheed needs to be congratulated for his tight shirts, but gee he knows the game. Maybe he could do it? Jim Courier looks like a possum is on his head. He needs a stylist.
7. That tennis announcer - Craig Willis - is the best in the business. Golden tonsils.
8. Man City. 80% ownership...are we kidding...our game is on thin ice. Fancy selling our game to those overseas...makes little sense for the game but lots of sense to the investors. Hard to see how it benefits Australia. It only benefits Manchester City who paid less than one of their players.
9. Great to see the usual "training the house down, never looked fitter, given up the drink/ gambling, great new coaching staff, fabulous signings, you beaut, better than ever, fit as a trout..." Parramatta media stories have started. A third straight spoon beckons with this customary build up.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Monday, January 13, 2014
Wrap - Old Kent Road
1. We have had the annual farce of a 30,000 crowd at the MCG for a ODI. The days of the full house on the first ODI Sunday at the G have vanished. Why? Maybe not playing Johnson...maybe no ODI jingle...no advertising (outside of Brut, Com Bank, KFC and 'Plan B' Brad)...maybe no profile on the event and the refined view of the cricket viewer that if they are going to watch cricket that they cannot remember next week, they's rather watch T20 cricket. The greed of the ACB is coming back to bitee them...something repeated world wide.
2. The SCG are in on this too. They have recently sent to members about the ICC World Cup of cricket with extraordinary prices for the privilege of watching top line games like Bangladesh v England. They will be giving tickets away on radio shows before we know it. The fan is over it and the mass exodus to Stadium Australia memberships is well underway.
3. Really enjoying the quality of the Big Bash. Our best players are Daniel Christian, Chris Lynn, Ben Dunk (Billy), Aaron Finch, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Klinger, Ben Laughlin, Matthew Wade, Jackson Bird (plus Hussey, Katich, Hodge, Hogg, Lee, Nannes...). The nightly fix is becoming very suddenly the choice of viewing...not the ODI. Channel 9 were asleep when this was brokered.
4. EPL. High quality games as the season hots up. Such an open race - as it should be - and highly entertaining. Liking Man City and Chelsea..but that will shift no doubt.
5. Can anyone explain why you let Jamal Idris leave your club in exchange for Brad Tighe? That is like giving up Mayfair for Old Kent Road. John Cartwright wouldn't be thinking of coming back to Penrith any time soon to hook up with his former club and son, Bryce?
6. Russell Packer. The court got this right. Perhaps the NRL might learn a lesson here and do the same thing. This will set a better example about belting blokes than that from Paul Gallen (Origin 1 2013) or Tim Sheens' dumbarse defence of Billy Slater's niteclub behaviour in England. Did that enquiry ever get published?
7. Ben Mowen. Is this the greatest dummy spit in the history of Australian rugby? Skipper of the national team seems to be akin to captaining the lunchtime team in the school playground. Hand it around like it doesn't matter. They need to sort themselves out before this game becomes extinct. AFL is starting to eat it.
8. If you didn't catch it, have a look at the Charles Schwartzel's shot of the year off a road on Youtube. Something else.
2. The SCG are in on this too. They have recently sent to members about the ICC World Cup of cricket with extraordinary prices for the privilege of watching top line games like Bangladesh v England. They will be giving tickets away on radio shows before we know it. The fan is over it and the mass exodus to Stadium Australia memberships is well underway.
3. Really enjoying the quality of the Big Bash. Our best players are Daniel Christian, Chris Lynn, Ben Dunk (Billy), Aaron Finch, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Klinger, Ben Laughlin, Matthew Wade, Jackson Bird (plus Hussey, Katich, Hodge, Hogg, Lee, Nannes...). The nightly fix is becoming very suddenly the choice of viewing...not the ODI. Channel 9 were asleep when this was brokered.
4. EPL. High quality games as the season hots up. Such an open race - as it should be - and highly entertaining. Liking Man City and Chelsea..but that will shift no doubt.
5. Can anyone explain why you let Jamal Idris leave your club in exchange for Brad Tighe? That is like giving up Mayfair for Old Kent Road. John Cartwright wouldn't be thinking of coming back to Penrith any time soon to hook up with his former club and son, Bryce?
6. Russell Packer. The court got this right. Perhaps the NRL might learn a lesson here and do the same thing. This will set a better example about belting blokes than that from Paul Gallen (Origin 1 2013) or Tim Sheens' dumbarse defence of Billy Slater's niteclub behaviour in England. Did that enquiry ever get published?
7. Ben Mowen. Is this the greatest dummy spit in the history of Australian rugby? Skipper of the national team seems to be akin to captaining the lunchtime team in the school playground. Hand it around like it doesn't matter. They need to sort themselves out before this game becomes extinct. AFL is starting to eat it.
8. If you didn't catch it, have a look at the Charles Schwartzel's shot of the year off a road on Youtube. Something else.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Wrap - The Richies
1. Richie Benaud. Is it just me, or is something not adding up with Richie's car accident? He is driving along in his CAT 222 plated car and he hits a wall and is out all summer. Were there charges? Alcohol to blame? Surely there is more to it. Sounds like he has had some favourable media...perhaps he deserves it.
2. It will come as no surprise, but there is a scoop surrounding Warren Ryan. Has been axed from ABC NRL Radio. Crime? Too boring!
3. Ashes. Emphatic. Johnson and Haddin were exceptional. Disturbing to see the lack of focus late in the series by Warner and Clarke who starred early. Rogers stoic and strong. Still concerned re first innings work at the crease. Sooner or later Haddin won't succeed and we lose by an innings. Philander, Steyn and Morkel will test this more readily than most. Away Test series wins are rarer and rarer. Thankfully, Kallis has retired. Evens things up.
They need to ditch the VB highlights concept on the TV coverage next summer. Like watching the old Rank Arena 30 inch.
4. While Warnie never captained Australia, he is certainly the emerging captain of the commentary team. Ian Healy could be retired without pain. Warnie brings the best out of Tubby and Slats. There was a great exchange that went something like this:
Slats: "Warnie your son is going on a Harbour Bridge climb today with his girlfriend? How old is he?"
Warnie: "Fifteen".
Slats: "Is he a bit like his old man?"
Warnie: "He likes his old man a lot, Slats".
BOOM!
5. Hewitt victory v Federer. Superb by the most determined athlete in Australian sport. Tomic, Stosur take note.
6. Big Bash. Some great entertainment from some familiar names - Hodge, Hussey, Tait, Hogg, Finch, Maxwell, Pattinson..and a few newer ones - Lynn, Klinger, Richardson.
The great KP (not the English bat), would be mightily unhappy about Channel 9 losing the rights to the Big Bash cricket to Channel 10. "Well, there's two ways to look at it. One, we could bend over and let Channel 10 have the best product in Australia, or we could bloody well fight and scrap and keep the spoils to ourselves! Whatever you do, don't lose the cricket!". Rating through the roof for a new channel!
2. It will come as no surprise, but there is a scoop surrounding Warren Ryan. Has been axed from ABC NRL Radio. Crime? Too boring!
3. Ashes. Emphatic. Johnson and Haddin were exceptional. Disturbing to see the lack of focus late in the series by Warner and Clarke who starred early. Rogers stoic and strong. Still concerned re first innings work at the crease. Sooner or later Haddin won't succeed and we lose by an innings. Philander, Steyn and Morkel will test this more readily than most. Away Test series wins are rarer and rarer. Thankfully, Kallis has retired. Evens things up.
They need to ditch the VB highlights concept on the TV coverage next summer. Like watching the old Rank Arena 30 inch.
4. While Warnie never captained Australia, he is certainly the emerging captain of the commentary team. Ian Healy could be retired without pain. Warnie brings the best out of Tubby and Slats. There was a great exchange that went something like this:
Slats: "Warnie your son is going on a Harbour Bridge climb today with his girlfriend? How old is he?"
Warnie: "Fifteen".
Slats: "Is he a bit like his old man?"
Warnie: "He likes his old man a lot, Slats".
BOOM!
5. Hewitt victory v Federer. Superb by the most determined athlete in Australian sport. Tomic, Stosur take note.
6. Big Bash. Some great entertainment from some familiar names - Hodge, Hussey, Tait, Hogg, Finch, Maxwell, Pattinson..and a few newer ones - Lynn, Klinger, Richardson.
The great KP (not the English bat), would be mightily unhappy about Channel 9 losing the rights to the Big Bash cricket to Channel 10. "Well, there's two ways to look at it. One, we could bend over and let Channel 10 have the best product in Australia, or we could bloody well fight and scrap and keep the spoils to ourselves! Whatever you do, don't lose the cricket!". Rating through the roof for a new channel!
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