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.