1. Love the Boxing Day Test. A magical time and always great theatre.
Peter Siddle. What a great test he has had. Dropped a sitter of a catch and then hit Warner on the arm as well. Are net sessions returning to the days when Wasim Akram used to select net bowlers to play in the national Pakistan team? Why is Siddle bowling so well in the nets to trouble the world's best opening batsman? Or are the Indians correct...crook quality of practice wickets.
Siddle is the last of Victoria's players in the national mix. I have mentioned it before, but Victoria needs to start improving. Rogers is from WA...who else have they contributed in recent times to Test cricket? Dean Jones is older than most of us now.
2. Kohli. A spoilt brat? I think he must need his ears cleaned...surely that is not the best we have for him? He plays like Javed Miandad and is equally as talented. Interesting comment from him that Australia struggles to stay calm when under pressure. I think Kohli is correct!
3. Bill Lawry's commentary. Superb. He adds a special brand of humour and quality to the Boxing Test. He hates a misfielding terrible fieldsman and is courageous to make calls when others pussyfoot around. This is what makes Warnie so entertaining too. Informed opinions. I think we could comfortably trim off Ian Healy and no one would miss him. Keep the Victorians - they make better commentators.
4. Noticed Mitchell Starc is still waiting for Shane Warne's apology...could be waiting a long time. Starc got Kallis with a ripper inswinger, but he does lack fire and aggression. Most significantly, he also lacks wickets.
5. Watched Aiden Blizzard play a killer innings the other night for the Thunder, but I also saw another Victorian hack - Andrew McDonald - "Ronnie" - try his best to lose the game as well. He leaves the ball, blocks the ball and drops catches. He is washed up and done. He should never play another game.
The Big Show's effort v the Heat was a special sort of incompetence. An underperformer, but a rich talent in the field. A bit like Ross Conlon...a great goalkicker, but....
Monday, December 29, 2014
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Wrap - Crickets Chirping
1. The efforts of Warner in the Adelaide Oval test were absolutely legendary. His ability to excel under pressure time and time again - with a fair bit of luck at times - is extraordinary. He can play a fast game, but when he is playing responsibly he is at his most lethal. He just needs to learn how to shut up and not get baited.
2. Steve Smith. I have been singing his praises for a long time and he is set to be a superstar. Calm, composed and enjoys a fight for supremacy. Absolute sheer talent.
3. Michael Clarke. Not surprising that he is talking retirement. We already foreshadowed that here some time back for ODI cricket. He needs to just play tests but he needs to work hard on his recuperation. I'd like to see a bit more strength work from him. Blokes have knee reconstructions and shoulder reconstructions in league and AFL. Surely he will be back - but just not in the reduced formats of the game. He has amazing mental strength and batted wonderfully well. He is a tough hombre. perhaps life with the wife is a better option. Kids must be on the way too.
4. How about Sean Abbott? 6 for 14 against QLD who are renown fighters. The QLD coach's (Stuart Law) career, surely is on the skids as he simply cannot produce results. They were rolled for less than 100 - as was the useless South Australian team. However, Abbott has shown his ticker and remained quiet at every turn. Professional. Wait till we see him unleash his batting prowess. The boy can play, although T20 may not be his bag. A fantastic perfromance. He will have offers from everywhere now - IPL and County cricket.
5. To the dark side...Siddle you are gone. You have been mediocre but tough for a long time. You are the Kasper...the Allan Hurst...the Hilfy...2/ 85 with two lower order scalps helps no one. Buy the DVD's of the 2013 Ashes series and enjoy them. Chris Rodgers. He is due and needs a ton or he may be wondering how it feels to bat at the Junction Oval again. They may be more patient there however. Watson too needs runs. He is a 30's expert. An underperformer on a large scale. Always has been, but he has the gold pass...the bad news is that it's turning yellow.
6. 2UE Radio Cricket Coverage. A sensational line up with Mo, Chappelli, McGrath and a host of others. Even Embers gets a run! No Kerry on the ABC is hurting them. He must be on big coin at 2GB with no cricket to call. Doesn't sound like he is having a lot of fun though.
7. Kohli. I really like this bloke's attitude. He wants to win more than most and battles till the end. Tremendous. He may be the Indian skipper sooner than he thought. Two tons in the test...amazing and could well have won the thing for them. A superb batsman.
8. No one would believe it if there was a suggestion that the Western Sydney v Mexico World Club Challenge game was rigged. Especially if you were a ref from an imporverished nation and worried that you might not make it home.
2. Steve Smith. I have been singing his praises for a long time and he is set to be a superstar. Calm, composed and enjoys a fight for supremacy. Absolute sheer talent.
3. Michael Clarke. Not surprising that he is talking retirement. We already foreshadowed that here some time back for ODI cricket. He needs to just play tests but he needs to work hard on his recuperation. I'd like to see a bit more strength work from him. Blokes have knee reconstructions and shoulder reconstructions in league and AFL. Surely he will be back - but just not in the reduced formats of the game. He has amazing mental strength and batted wonderfully well. He is a tough hombre. perhaps life with the wife is a better option. Kids must be on the way too.
4. How about Sean Abbott? 6 for 14 against QLD who are renown fighters. The QLD coach's (Stuart Law) career, surely is on the skids as he simply cannot produce results. They were rolled for less than 100 - as was the useless South Australian team. However, Abbott has shown his ticker and remained quiet at every turn. Professional. Wait till we see him unleash his batting prowess. The boy can play, although T20 may not be his bag. A fantastic perfromance. He will have offers from everywhere now - IPL and County cricket.
5. To the dark side...Siddle you are gone. You have been mediocre but tough for a long time. You are the Kasper...the Allan Hurst...the Hilfy...2/ 85 with two lower order scalps helps no one. Buy the DVD's of the 2013 Ashes series and enjoy them. Chris Rodgers. He is due and needs a ton or he may be wondering how it feels to bat at the Junction Oval again. They may be more patient there however. Watson too needs runs. He is a 30's expert. An underperformer on a large scale. Always has been, but he has the gold pass...the bad news is that it's turning yellow.
6. 2UE Radio Cricket Coverage. A sensational line up with Mo, Chappelli, McGrath and a host of others. Even Embers gets a run! No Kerry on the ABC is hurting them. He must be on big coin at 2GB with no cricket to call. Doesn't sound like he is having a lot of fun though.
7. Kohli. I really like this bloke's attitude. He wants to win more than most and battles till the end. Tremendous. He may be the Indian skipper sooner than he thought. Two tons in the test...amazing and could well have won the thing for them. A superb batsman.
8. No one would believe it if there was a suggestion that the Western Sydney v Mexico World Club Challenge game was rigged. Especially if you were a ref from an imporverished nation and worried that you might not make it home.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Wrap - Ballyhoo, Malarkey and Buffoonery
1. Nearly fell over when I read that Jana Pittman has had a sperm donor to produce her second child while she studies to be a doctor and make her comeback on the track after her second marriage bust up and third knee reconstruction. Probably a delightful lady, but she would not be the sort of stable doctor most would visit.
2. Thrilled midweek to be privy to a pitch report from Adelaide Oval centre wicket by the great GJ Dalton. If he's not courtside with Rafa or on the America's Cup yacht in the San Francisco Bay, he's at the Adelaide Oval chatting to Boof Lehamnn after breakfast. John the Bookie has a rival.
3. How pathetic are soccer players...really? The Western Sydney Wanderers need some player leadership as they call the "Windies Wracket" and plan to protest about pay and withdraw from their inevitably failed trip to Morroco for the World Club Challenge. If they beat up anything there - except their own reputations - it will be a miracle. If you can't beat Perth Glory...Barcelona, Man City..? We would be akin to playing the Soloman Islands.
4. Has anyone seen this Jack Hale from Tassie? A sprinter doing amazing times for a 18 year old. We may have someone who can be a star on a drug free world stage.
5. You've gotta laugh when you see Gallen, Watts, Mason et al in the ring. Good fitness yes, but bad for their reputations and bad for the game of rugby league. Could the game do without both of them? Maybe the NFL might be a good career.
I went to the NRL recently and had Dave Smith speak with us at length. He showed us stats (they like their data at the NRL) on the Todd Carney water bubbler ballyhoo, palarva, shennanighans, high jinks, tomfoolery, ratbaggery, buffoonery, skylarking, hoohar, caper - and the 'Rise for Alex' stats for female viewers and female reaction to the game. Carney was instantly sacked..and so will others as well. Hence the big Gallen fine. The game can't afford to keep them!
6. Worried about Shane Watson when he starts talking about 'demons' post Phil Hughes. Hopefully he can hold it together because he had plenty of those demons before Phil Hughes' passing and we can ill afford more. He may be closer to retirement than a few of us might think.
7. What about the rain on the weekend? Not good for car racing at Homebush. Whincup won the cup.
2. Thrilled midweek to be privy to a pitch report from Adelaide Oval centre wicket by the great GJ Dalton. If he's not courtside with Rafa or on the America's Cup yacht in the San Francisco Bay, he's at the Adelaide Oval chatting to Boof Lehamnn after breakfast. John the Bookie has a rival.
3. How pathetic are soccer players...really? The Western Sydney Wanderers need some player leadership as they call the "Windies Wracket" and plan to protest about pay and withdraw from their inevitably failed trip to Morroco for the World Club Challenge. If they beat up anything there - except their own reputations - it will be a miracle. If you can't beat Perth Glory...Barcelona, Man City..? We would be akin to playing the Soloman Islands.
4. Has anyone seen this Jack Hale from Tassie? A sprinter doing amazing times for a 18 year old. We may have someone who can be a star on a drug free world stage.
5. You've gotta laugh when you see Gallen, Watts, Mason et al in the ring. Good fitness yes, but bad for their reputations and bad for the game of rugby league. Could the game do without both of them? Maybe the NFL might be a good career.
I went to the NRL recently and had Dave Smith speak with us at length. He showed us stats (they like their data at the NRL) on the Todd Carney water bubbler ballyhoo, palarva, shennanighans, high jinks, tomfoolery, ratbaggery, buffoonery, skylarking, hoohar, caper - and the 'Rise for Alex' stats for female viewers and female reaction to the game. Carney was instantly sacked..and so will others as well. Hence the big Gallen fine. The game can't afford to keep them!
6. Worried about Shane Watson when he starts talking about 'demons' post Phil Hughes. Hopefully he can hold it together because he had plenty of those demons before Phil Hughes' passing and we can ill afford more. He may be closer to retirement than a few of us might think.
7. What about the rain on the weekend? Not good for car racing at Homebush. Whincup won the cup.
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