Wrap - Coach Wheels Turning

1. Champions Trophy Cricket. Australia's batting was awful when it was there to be won. Warner really struggles when the ball seams. No patience. Henriques (Smith's mate), Maxwell and Wade are simply not good enough for a middle order. No composure. Henriques averages while Lynn sits on the bench. They lost 5/15. How Wade is there I will never know. He also dropped Morgan with a sitter catch missed down the leg side before he was 10 which has gone a bit quiet in the media. Surely we have better ODI options. Thankfully Starc and Hazelwood can bowl, but even they were too short. Zampa would not get a run in colour comp. He is money for old rope and Smith knows it. That said, Smith lacks creativity as a captain. He panicked.

A humiliation, but really does anyone care? Now they will be able to focus full time on whinging about how much money they are all owed. Cricket has some serious problems. We need new blood - and I must say...a new coach. Lehmann's time is almost up.

2. AFL. Pathetic travelling teams...West Coast, Freo and Port Adelaide. Teams that turn their toes up when travelling away from home cannot win comps. They lack mental strength. I also note that GWS have hardly played in Melbourne this season too - and have lost both times. A narrow loss to Carlton who look to have more running in their legs than most. As they say, you can't win a comp if you don't win in Melbourne!

3. These soccer tours of old Liverpool players and half rsd teams from Brazil are a cynical fundraiser for desperate stadiums. Like reunion tours of old bands. Is this as good as Australia can muster?

4. NRL. Thurston is a champion. Norman is a pretender. 32-6. End of story. Can someone tell me how you play Gutherson at centre? He is a winger. Repeat...winger. And if anyone suggests he will win the DallyM, get them to the psych centre. Melbourne Storm look absolute dead certs for the comp this year. They now rest key players like Cronk and still win!

Canberra are losing too many tight ones at present. Manly have done exceptionally well this year again. Love a Ricky Stuart press conference blow up!

5. Wallabies. A tired and unimpressive win v Fiji. They lack flair and will be belted by anyone decent. Chieka may be reaching his expiry date too.

6. French Open. How Jelena Ostapenko wins the French Open is beyond me. 20 years old and unseeded. She should be thankful Serena is pregnant. Serena would have won it again in a canter.

The pending glorious triumph of Rafa Nadal should not be missed. Stan Wawrinka is an awesome striker of the ball, but no one knows clay like Rafa. 10 French Open wins is unlikely to ever be beaten. He already has 14 Grand Slam titles (7 other finals lost). One loss in the Australian Open to Stan. We are watching one of the greatest ever.