Wrap - ODI Shellacking

1. Lyon. Gee you would be disappointed if you were Nathan Lyon. Adam Zampa bowled a nice wrong ‘un, tonight but he is too predictable. Against Lyon’s 290 Test wickets, it is hard to imagine how Zampa gets the nod. The generational bowling of Australia in the ODI format is of serious concern. Cummins has been very short. At 150 mph he can get away with it. Today v Jos Butler, he did not.

The Australian ODI need for a class spinner has never been stronger. To bowl Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh...same old, same old. Memo to selectors: Travis Head is not the spinning answer. He is flat out getting runs, which should be his main gig. Head has no form this season in all forms. The Poms were simply too good! They are aggressive and powerful and bat deep.

2. ODI. Our key ODI weaknesses are four fold: (i) no class spinner (ii) an inconsistent middle order (iii) lack of a strike power wicketkeeper with the bat (Carey for Paine should occur) (iv) our fielding is not slick enough around the park...sadly Finch, Kawaja (not selected because of this), Hazelwood...not crisp enough. Our fielding was better tonight but basically lacks polish and speed across the park. Oh for the days of Symonds, Ponting, Blewett, a couple of Waughs and Bevan.... 

By contrast, England were fast, agile and nimble. Cameron White's dropped catch was appalling at a key time. Did he drop the series - and himself simultaneously? (Mind you the BBL catching this season has been pretty poor too). Our lack a power striker in the middle order - maybe pride and ego may allow Glen Maxwell to come back - and strengthen our fielding! So much unfairly rides on Steve Smith. Aaron Finch has batted magnificently - but so has England who were simply much better than us. 5-0 beckons!

3. Gotta love the BBL (a summer divorce accelerator). The commentary team that does not rotate at all over the match...the fans enjoy it and actually learn a lot more. Ponting, Gilly, Fleming are the pick of them. A seriously new approach at Channel 9 is required. When they started they were revolutionary in World Series cricket. Now they are tired. Do you lose much getting rid of Healy, Nicholas, Clarke, Chappelli? Just keep Warne, Slater, Taylor and Bull...!

2. Tennis I. Always love the mock shock when Australians are "bundled out" of the Australian Open. It is almost as though we should be dominating all draws because it is in our country. When you look at it the Round of 128 (first round) - 64 (second round) - 32 (third round) - 16 (fourth round) - 8 (quarter finals) - 4 (semi finals) - 2 (final), represents levels in the world which are well beyond their world rankings. They are actually over achieving.

3. Tennis II. Nadal and Federer look like they are on the same collision course for a Grand Slam final. How good are they both? Both are supreme athletes. Kgyrios played extremely well and fought all the way. Losing three tie breaker sets to the third best in the world is no disgrace.  A top 8 in the world (quarter finals) would have been a superb result for the first Slam of the year.

4. Man Mundine v Jeff Horn. Nothing surprises, but the Man is a clown. He has had his day and needs to concentrate on his NRL comeback.

5. Football/ Soccer. How long does it take for a Socceroo coach to be announced? How hard is it? Graham Arnold is our best domestic coach in all domestic sport, maybe outside Justin Langer. Forget about Edward von Dickens and the rest.

6. Lleyton Hewitt into the quarter finals of the doubles....amazing effort with Sam Groth. Money for jam!