1. B-League. We've been saying it for weeks, but Sydney FC losing to Melbourne Victory in the A-League semi final is a huge upset. They bow out as minor premiers and the Newcastle Jets take on the Victory for the silver dunny seat trophy.
What about the EPL? The relegation heat climbs. West Brom won something at long last but are doomed and Stoke, Southampton, Swansea and Mooy's Huddersfield all need wins desperately. West Ham lurk dangerously close to this lot.
2. NRL. Liking the Storm all of a sudden again. They looked brilliant v the woeful Warriors. You want to like the Warriors, but they are too often dreadful. The Dragons look a class above. What a difference James Graham has made to that pack...and no nonsense from Dugan. Really like de Belin's work post man bun and Ben Hunt is showing excellent form and is doing it quietly without media. Worries for the Cowboys, Sharks, Sea Eagles...even Parramatta had a shock win. Would still like to see some more off loads from the Parra forwards. Newcastle keep surging on in a great story. Really like this Kayln Ponga. Class act.
That ANZAC game of Saints v Roosters is just about the biggest ticket in town now in NRL outside of the GF. Always an exceptional game.
Super impressed with Anthony Seibold and his work as coach of Souths. He has them working hard on the field and believing in each other. They are alive again.
3. AFL. How about the Swans win against Geelong on the weekend without Franklin? That was outstanding. Amazing strength against a crack outfit away from home. They did what the Crows did to the Swans last week. Cue the trombones, tubas and banjos... "Cheer, cheer the red and the white...". What about the roar of an AFL crowd? nothing quite like it. Huge sport about to obliterate all others on the winter map in Sydney.
Some worrying signs for a few of the teams still...Brisbane and Carlton still on ZERO points. St Kilda not much better... West Coast and Richmond are blasting teams away. Impressing.
4. Daniel Riccardo is carving it up at present in the GP world. Lots of rumours about a shift in team. It is a big money game. I'll be surprised if the cash is not there to keep him.
5. Super Rugby. Read an article in the weekend papers which announced the death of rugby in Sydney. Penalties, clumsy scrums, silly advantage rule, more penalties and ref ego... can't agree more. We will remember the great days of full stadiums and champion players. Will it ever come back? Nurse? Undertaker?
6. Pace. The greatest of assets in sport. May not help in darts, but any football games, athletics, horse racing. Pace wins.
7. Cricket. Good to see Gilly heading the way of the Fox cricket commentary cheam. Hopefully Fleming will get there and Kerry O'Keefe. Australians want analysis, insights and a bit of a laugh. Time to change it up big time.
I noticed Matt Renshaw has hit his straps in England. He might just start playing for them if we are not careful. He was born in the joint. Aussies are struggling in the IPL. Lynn and Short struggling. Maxwell OK. Tye pretty good. But the wickets are changing into low scoring turners now at this time of the year. We struggle on those decks.
8. NFL. Google this Souths forward who was drafted into the NFL...amazing size and power:
Jordan Mailata. Awesome.
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Wrap - IPL Craziness
1. Craziness. If anyone thought this weekend was a crazy one in Australian sport, they were right.
The amazing poor form of Australian teams in the Super Rugby is beyond belief. The game is in real danger of becoming irrelevant forever, being put into a suitcase and being pitched out into the sea. The zero-zip-zilch scoreline for the Waratahs...losses to the stale Reds, flat Rebels and pathetic Brumbies is going to get horrible very soon. The New Zealand teams cannot wait to get hold of us and absolutely punish us again. And on this weekend's form, they will.
Fancy the Swans losing to a depleted and disappointing Crows outfit. The Swans need a mid field clean out with youth, toughness and pace. Extreme pace.
Then the NRL where the Tigers lost the impossible to Newcastle, the Saints lost after having rarely if ever been beaten by the Warriors before, the Sharks trumping Penrith and the useless Eels even won without drugs, road rage, police issues, extortion, cocaine, domestic violence...they won. Who would have thought that the ever injure J. Hayne is out again. A great signing.
The Federation Cup women's tennis team did their best to lose, but got away with it.
The women's soccer lost to Japan 1-0 and Andrew Bogut is coming home to play with the Kings.
2. Manly. Well if anyone thought Jackson Hastings was going to get sympathy, it won't be any time soon after the Manly capitulation. The destabilising effects of poorly disciplined players needs to be assessed closely by clubs. Never sign a bloke who makes super poor decisions in life. Guess what? He makes a similar standard of poor decision on the field.
Liking the new Souths team. Doing well. However Sam Burgess is a thug. The poorest record on record in the modern game. Jim Comans would have straightened out Sam.
3. Arsene Wegner finally is to depart Arsenal. Overdue, but has set many records. Rarely won an EPL premiership, but loved a little mid week silver plate or mug here or there to get the cash rolling through the wallet. A long term coaching legend really.
4. NRL. The dropkick that wasn't. The video ref is the greatest drop kick of the lot. Fair dinkum.
5. IPL. Some fantastic batting by some modern legends. Chris Gayle hit a ton the other night 104 off next to nothing; the great Shane Watson did likewise and then the mercurial AB De Villiers - the best player in the world with Kohli - hit another one. Three in three days. Chris Lynn doing well and the great Andrew Tye and Ben Laughlin are also cleaning up this year. Billy Stanlake not so...Darcy Short running himself out in most matches to date.
6. A-League. Once again Berisha has scored in an A League finals game. He's enjoying Australia over Albania.
7. Trapeze Artist. What a great run on the weekend. Strong when it counts. Two cracking runs in a fortnight. The unluckiest one...El Dorado Dreaming...a flying finish impeded.
8. Rafa Nadal. Back on the clay of the Monte Carlo Open. Has won it 10 times! That made him the first men's tennis player in the Open era to win the same title 10 times. Amazing. Playing the Japanese opponent Kai Nishokori, it will surely be 11 tonight and the No. 1 world ranking will be his again. Legend.
The amazing poor form of Australian teams in the Super Rugby is beyond belief. The game is in real danger of becoming irrelevant forever, being put into a suitcase and being pitched out into the sea. The zero-zip-zilch scoreline for the Waratahs...losses to the stale Reds, flat Rebels and pathetic Brumbies is going to get horrible very soon. The New Zealand teams cannot wait to get hold of us and absolutely punish us again. And on this weekend's form, they will.
Fancy the Swans losing to a depleted and disappointing Crows outfit. The Swans need a mid field clean out with youth, toughness and pace. Extreme pace.
Then the NRL where the Tigers lost the impossible to Newcastle, the Saints lost after having rarely if ever been beaten by the Warriors before, the Sharks trumping Penrith and the useless Eels even won without drugs, road rage, police issues, extortion, cocaine, domestic violence...they won. Who would have thought that the ever injure J. Hayne is out again. A great signing.
The Federation Cup women's tennis team did their best to lose, but got away with it.
The women's soccer lost to Japan 1-0 and Andrew Bogut is coming home to play with the Kings.
2. Manly. Well if anyone thought Jackson Hastings was going to get sympathy, it won't be any time soon after the Manly capitulation. The destabilising effects of poorly disciplined players needs to be assessed closely by clubs. Never sign a bloke who makes super poor decisions in life. Guess what? He makes a similar standard of poor decision on the field.
Liking the new Souths team. Doing well. However Sam Burgess is a thug. The poorest record on record in the modern game. Jim Comans would have straightened out Sam.
3. Arsene Wegner finally is to depart Arsenal. Overdue, but has set many records. Rarely won an EPL premiership, but loved a little mid week silver plate or mug here or there to get the cash rolling through the wallet. A long term coaching legend really.
4. NRL. The dropkick that wasn't. The video ref is the greatest drop kick of the lot. Fair dinkum.
5. IPL. Some fantastic batting by some modern legends. Chris Gayle hit a ton the other night 104 off next to nothing; the great Shane Watson did likewise and then the mercurial AB De Villiers - the best player in the world with Kohli - hit another one. Three in three days. Chris Lynn doing well and the great Andrew Tye and Ben Laughlin are also cleaning up this year. Billy Stanlake not so...Darcy Short running himself out in most matches to date.
6. A-League. Once again Berisha has scored in an A League finals game. He's enjoying Australia over Albania.
7. Trapeze Artist. What a great run on the weekend. Strong when it counts. Two cracking runs in a fortnight. The unluckiest one...El Dorado Dreaming...a flying finish impeded.
8. Rafa Nadal. Back on the clay of the Monte Carlo Open. Has won it 10 times! That made him the first men's tennis player in the Open era to win the same title 10 times. Amazing. Playing the Japanese opponent Kai Nishokori, it will surely be 11 tonight and the No. 1 world ranking will be his again. Legend.
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Wrap - Right Cricket
1. Cricket TV Rights. News at Channel 7 as the new home for cricket commentary. The arrogance of Channel 9 has finally taken its toll. A lazy commentary, old fashioned and not in tune with social media that focused too much on blokes who the fans could not stand....Healy, Slater and Clarke are done. How Channel 9 think the tennis will be any better is beyond me. Maybe fewer egos. Free to air TV is cooked. It is on its last legs and they know it. Fire sale. Foxtel will clean up too.
2. NRL. Dragons and Panthers are the stand outs. Tigers have been superb too. Superb strength, youthful forwards and better pace than most. The misery of Parramatta rests with a team who have too many dumb footballers who make poor decisions. They need a ‘no dickhead’ policy. Sadly, Arthur has recruited a lot of them and either cleans out the lot or goes with them. What a terrible underachieving club at present. How do you fall so dramatically after a decent 2017? Unwatchable.
5. A-League. What about the A League...Jets 8 v Central Coast 2. The Central Coast may need to close the doors with that effort. Terrible. Sydney FC completely dominant. Just a little unsure why they get so excited about being minor premiers when a final series looms. It is not Europe. The Western Sydney Wanderers have also been put out of their misery. No finals for them.
6. The Commonwealth Games has been and done. Highly competitive in certain sports eg. Netball. However when is men’s netball going to make its appearance at the games? An inconsistency and travesty. Great to see Kurt Fearnley wave the flag at the end. He is a true champion. A heap of medals across his challenging, yet glittering career.
7. EPL. The race to disgrace hots up as they try and beat the relegation stigma. Champions League semi for Liverpool. Tremendous stuff for the Kloppster who is an absolute fan favourite with his energetic antics.
8. The Masters Back Wash. Not a fan of how the media has tried to sour Patrick Reed’s win at the Masters this week just gone. Popular or not, he won with style and good grace. A phenomenal effort under immense pressure. The performance of our Cameron Smith was pretty special.
9. MLB. How about the Boston Red Sox and their start to the MLB Baseball season? 12-2. Their best start since 1918! Not bad.
2. NRL. Dragons and Panthers are the stand outs. Tigers have been superb too. Superb strength, youthful forwards and better pace than most. The misery of Parramatta rests with a team who have too many dumb footballers who make poor decisions. They need a ‘no dickhead’ policy. Sadly, Arthur has recruited a lot of them and either cleans out the lot or goes with them. What a terrible underachieving club at present. How do you fall so dramatically after a decent 2017? Unwatchable.
They have scored 44 points this year. Awful. Radradra’s loss was going to be massive....and it is. They need pace and size. A lot of their roster has been retained too long - Beau Scott, Michael Jennings, Tim Mannah, Jarryd Hayne, Brad Takairangi. The lack of a speedy hooker costs them too.
There’s not one better local kid than some of these time wasters? Surely. The local kid is needed to save them. They need to go local and rediscover their soul. Moses’ defence is horrible. The number of wooden spoons being exchanged in the Hills area at present is outrageous. Tim Mannah is a lovely bloke and would make an excellent next door neighbour. Not so sure about his leadership in a crisis. He has not off loaded the ball in eight seasons.
Parramatta's consistency however cannot be doubted.
3. AFL. Brisbane Lions’ effort v Richmond was pathetic. 17 points in a game is awful. Carlton have also proven to be hopeless again. The Suns should hibernate too. The Crows not much better. Western Bulldogs were much tougher v the Swans. The Swans are bright. Back in the mix. The close games matter.
4. Waratahs...four in a row after the win v QLD at the SCG. Bonus point win, but the big NSW winger - Taqele Naiyaravoro - what a prospect! However, NZ teams will unpick a whole heap of problems with this team. Execution was pretty poor at key times. The Reds lacked attacking flair.
Parramatta's consistency however cannot be doubted.
3. AFL. Brisbane Lions’ effort v Richmond was pathetic. 17 points in a game is awful. Carlton have also proven to be hopeless again. The Suns should hibernate too. The Crows not much better. Western Bulldogs were much tougher v the Swans. The Swans are bright. Back in the mix. The close games matter.
4. Waratahs...four in a row after the win v QLD at the SCG. Bonus point win, but the big NSW winger - Taqele Naiyaravoro - what a prospect! However, NZ teams will unpick a whole heap of problems with this team. Execution was pretty poor at key times. The Reds lacked attacking flair.
5. A-League. What about the A League...Jets 8 v Central Coast 2. The Central Coast may need to close the doors with that effort. Terrible. Sydney FC completely dominant. Just a little unsure why they get so excited about being minor premiers when a final series looms. It is not Europe. The Western Sydney Wanderers have also been put out of their misery. No finals for them.
6. The Commonwealth Games has been and done. Highly competitive in certain sports eg. Netball. However when is men’s netball going to make its appearance at the games? An inconsistency and travesty. Great to see Kurt Fearnley wave the flag at the end. He is a true champion. A heap of medals across his challenging, yet glittering career.
7. EPL. The race to disgrace hots up as they try and beat the relegation stigma. Champions League semi for Liverpool. Tremendous stuff for the Kloppster who is an absolute fan favourite with his energetic antics.
8. The Masters Back Wash. Not a fan of how the media has tried to sour Patrick Reed’s win at the Masters this week just gone. Popular or not, he won with style and good grace. A phenomenal effort under immense pressure. The performance of our Cameron Smith was pretty special.
9. MLB. How about the Boston Red Sox and their start to the MLB Baseball season? 12-2. Their best start since 1918! Not bad.
10. Winx. Awesome at 25 wins. Another framed memento to bid for at a trivia fundraising night! Interesting to hear Hugh Bowman say post race that he had ten or twelve lengths on all the other horses was amazing. Belief.
The run of an absolute old favourite - Who Shot The Barman - in the 3200m Sydney Cup was awesome too. Get on that thing at big distances. Best run of the weekend: Alizee in the Coolmore. Extreme pace when it mattered. One to watch.
The run of an absolute old favourite - Who Shot The Barman - in the 3200m Sydney Cup was awesome too. Get on that thing at big distances. Best run of the weekend: Alizee in the Coolmore. Extreme pace when it mattered. One to watch.
11. Chinese Grand Prix. How outstanding was Daniel Riccardo? Possibly the nicest Australian sporting talent we have world wide - and possibly the most talented.
Sunday, April 8, 2018
Wrap - Fun and Common Games
1. The Masters. How amazing is this tournament every year? It is truly the spectacular highlight of the golfing calendar, if not the world sporting calendar. Reed has excelled but may fold late. However, two eagles today speaks volumes of his character and skill. McIroy looks the stronger as he seeks the rare career Grand Slam of golf. Leishman played brilliantly early, but everyone will be looking for Reed to fall over and storm home late. It has play off written all over it. Ricky Fowler looks sharp too.
2. Michael Clarke just does not get it. He presents himself as the rescue man and then backs away from it all as the public backlash gathers momentum. Incredibly disrespectful to Tim Paine. Times might just be getting tougher for him as the aftershave range slows down, the hair gel dries up, people struggle to remember his deeds, the memoirs book returns to stopping the average family caravan from sliding into the side fence and his signature becomes one wanted more by the tax office than the general public.
A saviour of cricket? Certainly, even without much practice, he would be a better bat still than Handscomb, S. Marsh (duck or a hundred) or Khawaja, but he is part of the poisonous culture that emerged...so are ex-captains Steve Waugh...Ricky Ponting.
Michael loves a front page spread of a Sunday paper - a publicity hound - and if it does not work for his lovely wife, step in, amp it up and appear to be the saviour. No thanks. The new Bob Simpson? Hardly, although both played for Western Suburbs cricket club.
3. The Commonwealth Games. A stunning glittery celebration of what? Being part of the Queen's lands? Hard to see their relevance any more, but it does give our athletes an opportunity to be part of history. I am thrilled we are beating Papau New Guinea, South Africa (track work starts soon to address this) and India (why do they not swim?), but, while prestigious, is a Commonwealth Gold medal too easy to achieve in certain events? Maybe blue ribbons like those at a primary school athletics carnival may not be too far away.
England in particular look like they have forgotten how to compete after their Olympic glory in recent years.
World records are incredible at any time, but you just sense that every medal comes with a free tattoo on the Gold Coast. I am still liking that new Jim's franchise on the Gold Coast - "Jim's Tattoo Removal"...vans that tour around spraying off the local artwork and correcting spelling errors on body parts.
4. NRL Tips. Who picks the Tigers to beat Storm (twice in a month) and Warriors to crush the Cowboys? Knights to stave off the more fancied Broncos? Gold Coast over Manly? An incredibly tough gig is this NRL tipping business in 2018. Very unsettled and probably a great thing to see in the game. The Cowboys, Broncos and Storm are all struggling. Maybe a changing of the guard.
5. The Eels. The Eels sit anchored to the bottom of the table. And why would that be? Easily the most disappointing club team in all Australian sport. I have had to break my own ban or I will never be able to mention them again. 0-5 is awful from a team who are now revealed as unfit, lazy and spineless. Self indulgent. No strong forwards making yards. Ill discipline. A rabble really. So many of them make bad decisions. Zero accountability. Brad Arthur may be on the skids very soon.
That new home ground of theirs may never be filled by them. They last won a comp 32 years ago. It could well be another 32 years. No Parramatta fans have ever confidently entered a weekend of NRL over the last 30 years believing victory was imminent.
6. AFL. Buddy Franklin is phenomenal. He has developed into a much stronger team member with greater versatility, but his boot remains lazer like. A tremendous Swans win over GWS. Melbourne looking stronger finally. Brisbane a touch unlucky. Carlton awful.
7. Happy Clapper. This horse continues to amaze. A great name and a greater stride. Dominates on the Sydney stage. Impressed with the strength of Luvaluva in the last race at Randwick as well. Run of the day was Trapeze Artist which beat Redzel. Redzel may just be fading a little from where it was last year, but it is still quick. Still waiting for Merchant Navy to return to the fray. A more sensational turn of speed from a horse you have never seen.
8. EPL. ManuU showed some steel to knock over Man City over the weekend 3-2. The relegation race is narrowing too. West Brom, Stoke and Southampton look ready for the League below, but there is always a surprise or two.
9. IPL. Good to see the IPL get back underway. I could not believe how slow Shane Watson looked in the field, but he got two wickets (2/29 off four). However, some of those local Indian players grow wings and strength in this tournament. Look for the names Hardik and Krunal Pandya. Awesome.
A real shame Indian cricketers are not involved in the Big Bash. Cricket Australia should be encouraging it big time. The standard of Big Bash cricket is flagging without them.
10. Mick Fanning. A final curtain falls on his fine career at Bells. One of his greatest legacies? The bottle top opener in the underside of thongs range. An Australian must.
11. Super 15 Rugby. Who will stop the NZ team dominance? The Tahs are looking a bit sharper (but it was the Sunwolves) while the Reds fell in a heap to the under performing Brumbies. Even so, they don't seem to be missing Uncle Quayde.
12. Connor McGregor. Goose. Galoot. His attack on that UFC bus defies belief. A disgrace.
2. Michael Clarke just does not get it. He presents himself as the rescue man and then backs away from it all as the public backlash gathers momentum. Incredibly disrespectful to Tim Paine. Times might just be getting tougher for him as the aftershave range slows down, the hair gel dries up, people struggle to remember his deeds, the memoirs book returns to stopping the average family caravan from sliding into the side fence and his signature becomes one wanted more by the tax office than the general public.
A saviour of cricket? Certainly, even without much practice, he would be a better bat still than Handscomb, S. Marsh (duck or a hundred) or Khawaja, but he is part of the poisonous culture that emerged...so are ex-captains Steve Waugh...Ricky Ponting.
Michael loves a front page spread of a Sunday paper - a publicity hound - and if it does not work for his lovely wife, step in, amp it up and appear to be the saviour. No thanks. The new Bob Simpson? Hardly, although both played for Western Suburbs cricket club.
3. The Commonwealth Games. A stunning glittery celebration of what? Being part of the Queen's lands? Hard to see their relevance any more, but it does give our athletes an opportunity to be part of history. I am thrilled we are beating Papau New Guinea, South Africa (track work starts soon to address this) and India (why do they not swim?), but, while prestigious, is a Commonwealth Gold medal too easy to achieve in certain events? Maybe blue ribbons like those at a primary school athletics carnival may not be too far away.
England in particular look like they have forgotten how to compete after their Olympic glory in recent years.
World records are incredible at any time, but you just sense that every medal comes with a free tattoo on the Gold Coast. I am still liking that new Jim's franchise on the Gold Coast - "Jim's Tattoo Removal"...vans that tour around spraying off the local artwork and correcting spelling errors on body parts.
4. NRL Tips. Who picks the Tigers to beat Storm (twice in a month) and Warriors to crush the Cowboys? Knights to stave off the more fancied Broncos? Gold Coast over Manly? An incredibly tough gig is this NRL tipping business in 2018. Very unsettled and probably a great thing to see in the game. The Cowboys, Broncos and Storm are all struggling. Maybe a changing of the guard.
5. The Eels. The Eels sit anchored to the bottom of the table. And why would that be? Easily the most disappointing club team in all Australian sport. I have had to break my own ban or I will never be able to mention them again. 0-5 is awful from a team who are now revealed as unfit, lazy and spineless. Self indulgent. No strong forwards making yards. Ill discipline. A rabble really. So many of them make bad decisions. Zero accountability. Brad Arthur may be on the skids very soon.
That new home ground of theirs may never be filled by them. They last won a comp 32 years ago. It could well be another 32 years. No Parramatta fans have ever confidently entered a weekend of NRL over the last 30 years believing victory was imminent.
6. AFL. Buddy Franklin is phenomenal. He has developed into a much stronger team member with greater versatility, but his boot remains lazer like. A tremendous Swans win over GWS. Melbourne looking stronger finally. Brisbane a touch unlucky. Carlton awful.
7. Happy Clapper. This horse continues to amaze. A great name and a greater stride. Dominates on the Sydney stage. Impressed with the strength of Luvaluva in the last race at Randwick as well. Run of the day was Trapeze Artist which beat Redzel. Redzel may just be fading a little from where it was last year, but it is still quick. Still waiting for Merchant Navy to return to the fray. A more sensational turn of speed from a horse you have never seen.
8. EPL. ManuU showed some steel to knock over Man City over the weekend 3-2. The relegation race is narrowing too. West Brom, Stoke and Southampton look ready for the League below, but there is always a surprise or two.
9. IPL. Good to see the IPL get back underway. I could not believe how slow Shane Watson looked in the field, but he got two wickets (2/29 off four). However, some of those local Indian players grow wings and strength in this tournament. Look for the names Hardik and Krunal Pandya. Awesome.
A real shame Indian cricketers are not involved in the Big Bash. Cricket Australia should be encouraging it big time. The standard of Big Bash cricket is flagging without them.
10. Mick Fanning. A final curtain falls on his fine career at Bells. One of his greatest legacies? The bottle top opener in the underside of thongs range. An Australian must.
11. Super 15 Rugby. Who will stop the NZ team dominance? The Tahs are looking a bit sharper (but it was the Sunwolves) while the Reds fell in a heap to the under performing Brumbies. Even so, they don't seem to be missing Uncle Quayde.
12. Connor McGregor. Goose. Galoot. His attack on that UFC bus defies belief. A disgrace.
Sunday, April 1, 2018
Wrap - The Significance of Davina and Dean
1. Ball Tampering. The Smith-Bancroft-Warner-Lehmann nonsense has hopefully come to a merciful end. A gross overreaction by a pathetic CA administration who think that by being 'tough' they are doing a good job. They are terrible and Sutherland needs to go. I read his young bloke, Will, damaged a hotel room or two..or three...himself recently. Was there a ban there at all? A 12 month suspension?
David Saker (bowling coach) and Brad Haddin (fielding coach) might be more than a tad nervous and need to stand aside. Pat Howard surely has to go as well. They have tried to look tough when really they have been pathetic and useless for a long time.
Warner is unpopular and crass, but should have had his wings clipped some years back. However I clearly recall a ton in a session at the SCG, phenomenal striking of the ball, 21 Test tons (@48.2) which were always full of emotion and courage. He lost the plot in the end and with it sadly, all respect.
The hypocrites are certainly out in force. Fancy having South Africa lecture us on morality and human decency? They kill white land owners and own the awful human stain of apartheid, which many still there believe heavily in....and their record with ball tampering is awful. India are pathetic too with abject poverty and disgraceful treatment of their people rampant. Yet they always find the moral high ground quickly. It is never them. India have had more matchfixers than most (Mohammad Azharuddin, Manoj Prabhakar, Ajay Jadeja, Ajay Sharma, S.Sreesanth).
The Australian siege mentality/ 'snow cone' effect around crowd vile abuse of families and players, ICC incompetence, shoulder charging the captain and walking away innocent...they have taken the rule of the jungle option in defiance and come up empty of sense and manners.
I am most intrigued in Mitchell Starc. He reverse swings the ball more than most and had no idea? Give me a break. He should front the media too...but won't. The bowlers knew what was happening. How could they not?
Not sure how much change comes under a Justin Langer or Ricky Ponting as coach. Gillespie made some dumb immediate comments too so he is gone already for mine..
We have also been treated to the hypocrisy of many former players who were all either banned, fined or discredited.
Think Atherton (in 1994 with dirt in the pocket), Tendulkar (picking at the seam - and then typical Indian reaction when accused...protest...appeal...plead and inescapable victimisation, national innocence...but what of ), Dravid (rubbing lollies on the ball), Michael Vaughan (captain of the Ashes team where Marcus Trescothik used lozenges to alter the ball), Broad and Anderson in 2010 v South Africa (rubbing the ball into the ground, captained by Hussain), Afridi (biting the ball), Faf du Plessis (2013, zipper on trousers to alter ball), Vernon Philander (2014, scratching ball with fingers/ thumb), Faf du Plessis (2016 - lollies). Funny how these fools all raise their stupid heads. Vaughan is an absolute disgrace. Yet the Poms too quickly forget their terrible history as well.
Meanwhile we see a demoralised Australian side too scared to say boo and ripe for the picking. We are a hated cricket nation, but not a successful one at present. The top order of Burns-Renshaw-Khawaja-Handscomb-S Marsh-M Marsh could be one of our worst since World Series cricket. Would you rather Darling, Weiner, Moss, Sergeant, Toohey, Whatmore and Laughlin?
The techniques of Smith and Hanscombe have been picked apart by the very good South African bowlers. A huge final innings for Shaun Marsh. This will be it for him with another sub-par performance. he has had a horrible tour really. So too has Lyon who has been smashed by Maharaj. Cummins and Paine are probably the only ones to excel in any meaningful way.
Tim Paine has shown steel top scoring in our first innings debacle, but I am struggling to see him as a long term option as captain.
I suspect too that Warner sits on the full truth. He knows more than most. Every bowler is into it. They have been at it in grade and in state cricket since Imran Khan was a lad.
The ludicrous nature of it all as more serious than drugs, murder and death was seen in that galoot from the Kyle and Jackie O show who thought Dean and Davina were worse! Somehow the stupidity of that comment sums up the whole saga and how the overreaction of the media has fuelled the most ludicrous circus. 'Crash' Craddock has been one of the worse and should know better. Ironically, he has lacked the same composure and calm that he accuses Warner of having exhibited.
I'll leave it to the great Richie Benaud when saying this after the underarm fiasco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIL6KZox6Ao . It's relevance now is still powerful.
2. Sledging/ Sin Bin. The banning of sledging in all levels of the Australian game would be an excellent development. Offenders should be binned. This would shut the lid on poor behaviour which breeds worse behaviour.
3. NRL. The NRL have completely lost the plot. There is nothing more entertaining than penalty goals! It will surely bring back the crowds. Great TV too. The game has gone backwards this year. Refs have returned to the Hartley era of referee self promotion and indulgence. And we have two of them in each game! More sin bins since Jack Danzey. Penalties right in front of the sticks are a specialty. An absolute delight for the crowd.
Channel 9 should stamp their feet. The fans have had enough. The game under Greenberg is in trouble. His arrogance is such that he now wants to give league a union flavour. I have written him an email this week myself.
There is a penalty in almost every play if you want to find it. If Kerry Packer was alive still, he would rip him to pieces for that debacle in the Storm v Sharks on Friday night.
Canberra are in big strife. Ricky is on borrowed time. He has lost the dressing room I suspect.
The Eels too could implode unless they win well against the Tigers. Really liking the spirit and fitness of the Warriors. Blake Green on fire. Tom Trbojevic was outstanding for Manly and needs to be in the NSW team straight up, if fit. Jake his brother is outstanding too. The Storm are missing Cronk and the Roosters are struggling to get him going early, which is understandable. However, Jake Friend needs to run the ball more often. They should be looking for a new hooker long term to be honest...a great defender, but not mobile enough to put pressure on the opposition defence.
How hard is the tipping at present? Titans win? Storm lose? Roosters lose?...on it goes.
4. Rugby Union. The Brumbies have fallen apart and they are having a season of failure... something that the Melbourne Storm will one day experience again. The Waratahs got over them, but only just.
5. A League Soccer. The Wanderers are a shambles. Gombau has to go. Not to make the top six in a comp that has more episodes than My Kitchen Rules, speaks of a weak leader and bad strategy. They need a clean out. Not a patch on the other teams.
6. EPL. You have to admire the English crowds. Every game is an event and they simply do not care that they are not winning the comp. There are other European options and midweek/ FA Cup games. Plenty of options. Leicester and Burnley as comparative minnows have had great years sitting at position 7 and 8 on the table respectively. Southampton, Stoke and West Brom look done.
7. AFL. It looks like Melbourne may have turned a corner. Scully's leg injury for GWS is a bad blow. Still think the Swans are too slow in the middle on a big field. They need two more centres with sheer pace. A bad loss once the sun set v Port. Their skills and overuse of the handball cruelled their chances. Too predictable, no targets up front and completely lacking pace to break away and convert chances into results. The Western Bulldogs are shot! How far have they have fallen in two years? Incredible.
David Saker (bowling coach) and Brad Haddin (fielding coach) might be more than a tad nervous and need to stand aside. Pat Howard surely has to go as well. They have tried to look tough when really they have been pathetic and useless for a long time.
Warner is unpopular and crass, but should have had his wings clipped some years back. However I clearly recall a ton in a session at the SCG, phenomenal striking of the ball, 21 Test tons (@48.2) which were always full of emotion and courage. He lost the plot in the end and with it sadly, all respect.
The hypocrites are certainly out in force. Fancy having South Africa lecture us on morality and human decency? They kill white land owners and own the awful human stain of apartheid, which many still there believe heavily in....and their record with ball tampering is awful. India are pathetic too with abject poverty and disgraceful treatment of their people rampant. Yet they always find the moral high ground quickly. It is never them. India have had more matchfixers than most (Mohammad Azharuddin, Manoj Prabhakar, Ajay Jadeja, Ajay Sharma, S.Sreesanth).
I am most intrigued in Mitchell Starc. He reverse swings the ball more than most and had no idea? Give me a break. He should front the media too...but won't. The bowlers knew what was happening. How could they not?
Not sure how much change comes under a Justin Langer or Ricky Ponting as coach. Gillespie made some dumb immediate comments too so he is gone already for mine..
We have also been treated to the hypocrisy of many former players who were all either banned, fined or discredited.
Think Atherton (in 1994 with dirt in the pocket), Tendulkar (picking at the seam - and then typical Indian reaction when accused...protest...appeal...plead and inescapable victimisation, national innocence...but what of ), Dravid (rubbing lollies on the ball), Michael Vaughan (captain of the Ashes team where Marcus Trescothik used lozenges to alter the ball), Broad and Anderson in 2010 v South Africa (rubbing the ball into the ground, captained by Hussain), Afridi (biting the ball), Faf du Plessis (2013, zipper on trousers to alter ball), Vernon Philander (2014, scratching ball with fingers/ thumb), Faf du Plessis (2016 - lollies). Funny how these fools all raise their stupid heads. Vaughan is an absolute disgrace. Yet the Poms too quickly forget their terrible history as well.
Meanwhile we see a demoralised Australian side too scared to say boo and ripe for the picking. We are a hated cricket nation, but not a successful one at present. The top order of Burns-Renshaw-Khawaja-Handscomb-S Marsh-M Marsh could be one of our worst since World Series cricket. Would you rather Darling, Weiner, Moss, Sergeant, Toohey, Whatmore and Laughlin?
The techniques of Smith and Hanscombe have been picked apart by the very good South African bowlers. A huge final innings for Shaun Marsh. This will be it for him with another sub-par performance. he has had a horrible tour really. So too has Lyon who has been smashed by Maharaj. Cummins and Paine are probably the only ones to excel in any meaningful way.
Tim Paine has shown steel top scoring in our first innings debacle, but I am struggling to see him as a long term option as captain.
I suspect too that Warner sits on the full truth. He knows more than most. Every bowler is into it. They have been at it in grade and in state cricket since Imran Khan was a lad.
The ludicrous nature of it all as more serious than drugs, murder and death was seen in that galoot from the Kyle and Jackie O show who thought Dean and Davina were worse! Somehow the stupidity of that comment sums up the whole saga and how the overreaction of the media has fuelled the most ludicrous circus. 'Crash' Craddock has been one of the worse and should know better. Ironically, he has lacked the same composure and calm that he accuses Warner of having exhibited.
I'll leave it to the great Richie Benaud when saying this after the underarm fiasco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIL6KZox6Ao . It's relevance now is still powerful.
2. Sledging/ Sin Bin. The banning of sledging in all levels of the Australian game would be an excellent development. Offenders should be binned. This would shut the lid on poor behaviour which breeds worse behaviour.
3. NRL. The NRL have completely lost the plot. There is nothing more entertaining than penalty goals! It will surely bring back the crowds. Great TV too. The game has gone backwards this year. Refs have returned to the Hartley era of referee self promotion and indulgence. And we have two of them in each game! More sin bins since Jack Danzey. Penalties right in front of the sticks are a specialty. An absolute delight for the crowd.
Channel 9 should stamp their feet. The fans have had enough. The game under Greenberg is in trouble. His arrogance is such that he now wants to give league a union flavour. I have written him an email this week myself.
There is a penalty in almost every play if you want to find it. If Kerry Packer was alive still, he would rip him to pieces for that debacle in the Storm v Sharks on Friday night.
Canberra are in big strife. Ricky is on borrowed time. He has lost the dressing room I suspect.
The Eels too could implode unless they win well against the Tigers. Really liking the spirit and fitness of the Warriors. Blake Green on fire. Tom Trbojevic was outstanding for Manly and needs to be in the NSW team straight up, if fit. Jake his brother is outstanding too. The Storm are missing Cronk and the Roosters are struggling to get him going early, which is understandable. However, Jake Friend needs to run the ball more often. They should be looking for a new hooker long term to be honest...a great defender, but not mobile enough to put pressure on the opposition defence.
How hard is the tipping at present? Titans win? Storm lose? Roosters lose?...on it goes.
4. Rugby Union. The Brumbies have fallen apart and they are having a season of failure... something that the Melbourne Storm will one day experience again. The Waratahs got over them, but only just.
5. A League Soccer. The Wanderers are a shambles. Gombau has to go. Not to make the top six in a comp that has more episodes than My Kitchen Rules, speaks of a weak leader and bad strategy. They need a clean out. Not a patch on the other teams.
6. EPL. You have to admire the English crowds. Every game is an event and they simply do not care that they are not winning the comp. There are other European options and midweek/ FA Cup games. Plenty of options. Leicester and Burnley as comparative minnows have had great years sitting at position 7 and 8 on the table respectively. Southampton, Stoke and West Brom look done.
7. AFL. It looks like Melbourne may have turned a corner. Scully's leg injury for GWS is a bad blow. Still think the Swans are too slow in the middle on a big field. They need two more centres with sheer pace. A bad loss once the sun set v Port. Their skills and overuse of the handball cruelled their chances. Too predictable, no targets up front and completely lacking pace to break away and convert chances into results. The Western Bulldogs are shot! How far have they have fallen in two years? Incredible.
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