Wrap - Biff and Belichick

1. Australian T20 Team. The T20 team looked energetic and enthusiastic - and crisp in the field v New Zealand. Great too see some youth. Yet another terrible SCG pitch with some unlucky weather. It is just about the first T20 game that has been weather affected all season!

Unfortunately, Channel 9's commentary just sounds so flat and stale compared to the Channel Ten Big Bash commentary team. They are lagging behind with an old, tired formula. In fact with the T20 it was an ideal chance to make a difference, but instead we got the same lazy approach...no Twitter comments, little fun...no 'fan involvement'. It is all about themselves. Backyard cricket clips, local cricket heroes, crowd catches...these things are loved by the fans. It is not hard - or expensive.

Instead, on Channel 9 you get the world's most complicated Classic Catches competition and a string of selling items and profiteering. People are over it. KP is also trying too hard to be the new Tony Greig. Tony would caaaarve him up every time. They have massive problems.

The other noticeable thing is that Australian cricket fans love the BBL (for all its flaws - catching poor, umpiring terrible at times) and the crowd was noticeably smaller for the national team's game (weather affected), but I somehow suspect the blazing sun may not have made that much difference.

Stanlake at pace, hitting spots will be an awesome presence in years ahead. Accuracy has always been his nemesis.

Nathan Lyon did himself no favours in Canberra for the PM XI getting smashed for five sixes in an over by David Willey. His T20 cards are now marked again. Unfair and unfortunate perhaps, but the reality.

2. BBL #07 Final. Not sure why they play it at 4.00pm on a Sunday afternoon after playing night games all year? Some of the people who design semi final draws have rocks in their heads. They spend time and money on the whole competition and then end it in a hurry - changing the conditions of the comp. Think Super 15s, A League.

Jake Weatherell's innings (115 off 70 balls) in a final was awesome. Funny how experienced cricketers rise to the top in these sorts of games - Bailey, Siddle, Laughlin...An outbreak of silly failed ramp shots when under pressure, piled more misery on. The Hurricanes decision not to open with Wade was a bad one. He hit unbelievably in the last game and was benched! Paine's batting is a real problem. Test cricket form is sound, but other forms of the game see better options.

It must be said that the BBL umpiring standard has been poor. The decisions around LBW have been horrible at times. The McDermott decision was horrible at a clutch time. The Hurricanes may have set a new benchmark of consistent yorkers in a defensive bowling effort. Siddle was excellent. An awesome crowd too. Love the BBL.

3. ICC U/19 World Cup. How we beat India in any form of cricket - ever - will become a bigger mystery as the years roll by. Their population and love of the game means we are highly unlikely to ever dominate them in the future like we once did. Rightfully, the IPL auction favours Indian cricketers and provides opportunities. They are building a fortress and the dominance of their U/19 team will be a big part of that. I noticed Austin Waugh did not really figure in the team that much. He has ridiculous pressure on him the poor bugger.

4. Penrith Rugby League Salary Cap. Gus Gould looks after players, especially if they are becoming negative, confused or under performing based on off field issues. Look at Tiaire Martin at the NQ Cowboys last year, Moylan to the Sharks, Hiku to the Warriors this year, Leilani Latu and Bryce Cartwright to the Titans. His salary cap is interesting. He is the master at locking players in for many years (Dean Whare is signed till 2022), but most will never get there. He locks them in, gives certainty and then the pressure of their personal demons - or a generous early release to another local or overseas club occurs. Simply, he has so many outstanding up and coming juniors in the farm he has refined, that he can't afford to invest in those not producing.

5. Superbowl. The Tom Brady-Bill Belichick show rolls on tomorrow morning Australian time. Brady's press conferences with one glove on his hand are a bit odd I must confess, but he is the biggest name in US sports and he pretty much can do what he needs to do. Their favouritism is immense, but might be the only thing that can defeat them.

6. Women's AFL. How successful is this competition? Amazing and shows the appetite Victorians hold for the AFL. A shame Sydney have not joined the party with a decent ground and team from the Swans.

7. Darts. Noticed some biff in the darts on the weekend involving the two time world champion, Adrian Lewis. Amazing scenes, but big crowds and big money can have that affect. Women's darts may calm them all down and threaten the empire even more.

8. Davis Cup. Our doubles domination in Davis Cup was the lynchpin when we had the two Woodies - ford and -bridge. The combinations recently are left field and not stable...Guccione, Groth (ret.), Peers, Millman, Ebden, even Hewitt himself...This hurt the tie. Kgyrios has the potential to rocket up the charts worldwide but his showdown with Zverev was hugely disappointing. Kgyrios may have improved a little but he is still a brat. Young Alex de Minaur is an exciting prospect. He is fearless and talented.

9. EPL. Man City are so far ahead that a draw, a few losses and a few more problems could not see them lose this year. The other teams need to stock up to challenge. Arsenal seem to have done that in the January transfer window, but are perennial under achievers.

10. J-Day. An outstanding pressure win at Torrey Pines earlier this week. Shame about the empty crowd situation on the last day...poor really. That was possibly more absurd than the never ending play off.

The world record golf crown in Phoenix, Arizona for the Phoenix Open this week was outrageous! Great PGA support and how hard is it to win a tour event these days? Unbelievable standard.