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!