Wrap - Jerusalem's New Fullback

1. Ashes victory. Some stunning bowling and aggression which have been the hallmarks of our cricketing success for so long. Short pitched bowling hurts but it cuts both ways. I am still amazed we have players in all forms of the game wearing helmets that expose the key neck arteries (Phillip Hughes). When will this heap of junk ICC mandate things for the safety of all players who put whites on...young or old? I can see disaster repeating itself.

Steve Smith is too strong. Less chat this Test and more focus. I like Tim Paine's contributions too. He has a very solid technique and some real steel. Nevill is a long way from a recall. Smith is not a fan.

2. Elyse Perry - ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year. What a stunning player she is. So composed, calm and strong. An outstanding cricketer under pressure.

3. Sydney FC continue to power on relentlessly. They are well ahead of all other teams with Graham Arnold who looms as the logical replacement for Ange - even if he had a stint back in '06-'07. Poor old Ange is more thin skinned that we all thought. Fancy letting anything Peter Fitzsimons says worry you. With that whining he definitely needed to leave. It didn't take long for the family excuse to fade as cash rolled in!

Hopefully we are spared some lazy international coach. Not sure that we have ever gotten over the Guuus effect. It has been a misery before and since. Rudi Gutendorf, Les Sheinflug, Frank Arok, Eddie Thomson, Terry Venables, Rale Rasic, Pim Verbeek, Han Burger, Holger Osieck....

What a shock that FIFA had two corrupt officials exposed this week. What a disgraceful organisation.

4. Newcastle Jets. A rags to riches tale there which is igniting the city. What with all the Roosters players there too, it might be a successful NRL year as well.

5. The Sydney Kings get a fifth win and I can't help but think that Andrew Gaze is too nice a bloke to be a coach. He panders to the players and appears quite weak in press conferences - although he dropped a few bombs mid game and they came back from the dead! That squad needs a rocket for its inconsistency, failures and its inability to win. 

6. BBL. The Scorchers and the Renegades look the goods to me. Our obsession with all rounders could start with how well Dwayne Bravo bowls - and what about that Afghanistani leg spinner for the Strikers? Top notch. Once again however the lack of brilliant batting is a weakness across the country. Surely Cameron White is one of the best in the world and needs to be in our Australian team. Brad Hodge doesn't miss much either. Super reliable. 

It must be said that the Scorchers' Andrew Tye got a hatrick on the weekend from one of the worst umpiring decision I've seen in the last five years. No review system in the BBL will need to change.

7. EPL - Manchester City - 17 in a row. Awesome. They had the championship in the bag weeks ago. It is now in the trophy cabinet. A disappointment for the premiership - but top 4 and relegation keeps our interest.

8. Jeff Horn. A procession in the end, but hard earned. He just could still surprise on the world stage. The best bout since Jeff Fenech defeated Smaaaartarse Pyakaroon - or Greg 'The Flea' Richardson.

 
9. Jarryd Hayne. The human headline will need to be stood down if they are managing these matters like Brett Stewart's matter some years back. Not a word to the NRL is intriguing. To coin an old phrase, Jarryd may yet be the first to play fullback for Jerusalem - and Hillsong - since Jesus. Maybe too after all there was a genuine reason why the family issues have emerged. Horrible stuff if untrue. Worse if factual.

10. Does the ATP/ WTP Tennis circuit have the shortest off season in all sports? No wonder so many players struggle to remain fit and well all year. Federer is a rare and special exception. More like a test of resilience in the end.

11. NRL Pre-season. I am liking a fit Panthers outfit...the Sharks look strong but are getting old in the forwards. However, if fit, the Cowboys with Jordan McLean are specials for the 2018 NRL premiership.

12. NFL Playoffs. After a rusty start, the New England Patriots look too strong for me as the playoff end of town fast approaches. They will do well to knock over the Buffalo Bills and secure some home ground advantage (no deflate-gate hopefully) in the upcoming playoffs.

The Cleveland Browns may yet secure a full losing season at 0-14 (that with 4 x back to back pre-season victories!). Terrible. Brown crap. Not since the Detroit Lions of 2008 (0-16), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-14) of 1976 or the Dallas Cowboys (0-11) in their debut season of 1960 has it been this bad.

13. NBL. They may need to turn off the comp and forget about it already...Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State, the Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Spurs, Pacers...the same old names of the successful franchises in the modern era are streets ahead already. A problem for that competition.

Wrap - Ashes Car Crash

1. The Poms looked invincible Day One and suddenly they are/ were on the rack, not able to punch home the early advantage that Bairstow and Dawid Malan secured. Steve Smith was hitting the ball so smoothly on Day Two that a century almost looked inevitable from his opening strokes. And so it was...a double century by the end of day three even! And how about Mitchell Marsh? Much and deservedly maligned, but he comes good and punches out a big ton.

No doubt about it though, the Marsh boys also know how to disappoint...

You have to hand it to Steve Smith. He is revered in that team by his peers and everyone he has backed (outside of Nick Madinson and perhaps Callam Ferguson) have produced...Renshaw, Handscomb, Tim Paine, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh (both need to work on their hands however, dropping too many basic ones). Some of these blokes may not have stayed long, but they have produced.

What about Smith's record? Awesome. Unorthodox, but an eye like a dead fish.

It will be interesting to see, if England lose the series early - or in Perth:
i. Will Cook be axed? (I suspect Strauss needs to bite the bullet here for the future).
ii. Will Cook, Anderson and maybe Broad retire at the end of the series? This would leave a big hole in their bowling.

Handscomb is suddenly a long way away from a recall. A cruel game cricket.

When it rains in Perth it is a rare, rare day...England may be in luck.

2. Socceroos. Ange Postocoglou's replacement is slow in coming. Surely Graham Arnold needs the keys to the Datsun 180Y. He is a winner. I note that Tony Popovic just got the Turkish kebab sword from his brand new gig. Finally the WSW won a game too under the unintelligible Gombau.

3. Rugby League. The Roosters have now shed quite a few players, getting rid of three drug involved players - and a host of others - Pearce, Guerra, Watson, et al. Even Gordon went last week. It sounds like a lot of eggs in the Cronk basket - or Crichton! It will be interesting to see if he has the goods in a new gig without a few other superstars. Hoping for no injuries...

A couple of ex-Parramatta players caught as possible crims in a police sting..who would have thought? Lucky the leagues club is equidistant from the Parramatta Supreme Court and Parramatta Jail.

4. NRL Central. When will they do the obvious: hold all money centrally for salaries and pay it themselves when contracts are registered. They give the money out for it to be misused, but I note they have warned clubs that they are now on their own legs. No rescue packages.

And, have all third party contracts transparently published. This may actually bring more money the way of players as more people realise what support their business can give their beloved club. At present it is a circus.

5. B-League Video Ref. This video ref nonsense in the B-league has become a farce as blokes huddle around sideline monitors to make a decision to dismiss players from the field. Surely it should be used just to check on side/ off side and goal line disputes involving a possible goal.

6. NBL. It is hard to believe how popular the NBL basketball is in Australia. For the uneven standard, they do a good job attracting a crowd. The Kings have been horrible under Andrew Gaze and need a talent transplant. Lack of success can ensure a crowd will evaporate.

Wrap - Poms Trainwreck

1. Unsure why this weekend there was a starvation of sport - not even the Sheffield Shield. The women's T20 offered something with some crazy scoring...the B League something...but small morsels by the standard of most weekends.

2. England could't handle our pace attack and they can't handle their drink either. How much fun is Kevin Pietersen having bagging out Andrew Strauss. The plan to keep Stokes handy in NZ is a ridiculous distraction too.  Their coach, Trevor Bayliss better put his foot down soon or his career will vanish. These long gaps between games are not conducive to good behaviour. Anderson has always been a favourite to have a drink thrown at him - or a broken arm. The Stokes stance encourages the idiot  amongst them to think anything is OK.

A crushing loss in Adelaide after getting away on us the night before. Some serious soul searching needed. The pace of the WACA - if it still exists - may be brutal when Cummins steams in!

How Mitchell Marsh even gets his nose in the front door is beyond me. A Greg Chappell/ Steve Smith favourite.

3. Is there a reason why Australia is such an under performing, inconsistent nation with Rugby 7s? One week world beaters. next week being pumped by USA. Or is it just a mickey mouse tournament that attracts good tourists who enjoy a drink and don't quite care about too much?

4. Chelsea a shock loss to West Ham. Looks like Leicester are on the rise with a few back to back wins. Tonight's ManU v Man City clash will see City basically handed the comp if they win. They will go 11 points clear and should not be caught from there...even with many weeks to follow.

5. What has happened to the Western Sydney Wanderers? They have hit the wall losing 5-0 to Sydney FC. Coach Gombau better get busy or he finishes this year too. They are anchored to the bottom section of the table and when their new homeground is finished, they might want to be somewhere near winning a game.

6. Jeff Horn jumps back into it this Wednesday. Hopefully he doesn't get caught by an unexpected one to the chin and the dream collapses.

Wrap - Ashes Captaincy Rooted in Nonsense

1. The Ashes. It always amazes me with a run out in Test cricket - or any run out in Tests for that matter. What makes that single run so important? Are there not many more singles ahead? Warner absolutely barbecued Bancroft when they were completely on top.

Love seeing England try to sledge and amp up their manner. It is so out of character. False. At 8/442, England went a little quiet with the sledging surprisingly - especially after having won the toss and sent the Aussies in to bat. Dropped catches, slow over rates and even two blokes going for the same catch and coming up empty! It became farcical.

However, I thought Smith got tangled up in their crap too often. It did take his concentration away - and his exaggerated 'leaves' looked very silly. More calm and composed leadership required. We need to remember that while this is The Ashes, it is also a series between the 6th v 7th Test playing nations.

2. Captaincy. Some of the Pommie field positions were completely ridiculous. They did not learn from last test with their deep fields in the fourth innings, letting the Aussies off the hook and paying heavily with 0/173 and losing. They were too inventive - started stupidly - and probably confused themselves. The bloke fielding right near the bowler - Anderson - was completely useless. Smith needed to step away and laugh at them loudly. Broad behaved like a tool and will come under fierce scrutiny when he bats. Short pitched bowling at the head might be a fan favourite.

3. Pink Ball Cricket. It really just becomes a game of survival at night. The cricket is interesting, even intriguing - but not entertaining. The ball dominates too much and slowing down the over rate becomes crucial for the batting team. The fewer overs played under lights the better for the batting team! The swing bowler becomes more lethal. Get your runs in the daylight overs or you will struggle! The rain break on night two was perfect for England because had they played on they were in strife. Joe Root is going to get smashed when he comes to the crease.

4. Batting Brilliance. Thought the Shaun Marsh innings was exceptional in the circumstances. Not often I write that. I also thought Paine turned the game our way with aggression. Still worried about Handscomb and Stuart Broad smells an LBW victim every time. Better from Kahwaja.

5. Rugby League World Cup Final. Brutal contact. Great fast game. Dry conditions in Brisbane makes rugby league such a better spectacle. The rain tested them too later! It's rare that these Queenslanders ever lose at home. Maguire played well. Gillett superb and even Aaron Woods was excellent early. Hard to write, but he offloaded and hit the line forwards, not backing into the defence for once. When he came on later he was off the pace. His connection with Klemmer was strong. The Poms put it to the Aussies...great chasing game.

Sam Burgess is a complete goose. Dumb liability and ill disciplined. It would not surprise if Souths cut him, but Rusty is a huge fan. They have some big units those Pommies. They would all love to come and play out here. Liked their halves. Tough and skillful.

Had to laugh when James Graham said he regrets nothing about his foul language in the middle of a World Cup Final. Turn the volume off was his recommendation. I think he is correct! Cooper Cronk continues to make himself look superb. He will be a long term NRL coach or commentator whenever he wants. A true professional.

6. Quayde Cooper. Gooone. Nick Frisby gone. The experiment is over and Brad Thorne has laid it on the line. About time QLD rugby had a makeover. Take nothing for granted and take as much money when you can.

7. Virat Kohli - 243. His run making skill is getting better and better. Not the most popular bloke, but clearly one of the best in the world - and likely to be ever. Averaging over 50 i nall forms of the game - Tests, ODI and T20. Incredible.

8. Jarryd Hayne. The human headline needs to shut up and work hard on his game. No crap. No laziness and no excuses. No looking around at other blokes when you miss a tackle or don't pass it to a bloke when he is destined to score. Tough it out and harden up. There are no promises and expect nothing. The only positive is that he will be better than Brad Takiarangi. Otherwise he will enjoy the sights and sounds of Wenty Leagues. I am still suspicious of his signing with Radradra coming off contract in July as well. Someone is not staying/ coming.

9. Ange Postocoglou. It didn't take long before the family excuse (a Hayne/ Foran special) was forgotten and cash took over. An excuse maker and whinger. The World Cup draw of Peru, Denmark and France was outstanding. It may now make another coach look brilliant. However who might score goals for us is a mystery. We have nothing at the front.