1. Cameron Bancroft. Last week it was Steve Smith trying to hijack the Boxing Day Test and now Bancroft wearing a stupid singlet and ridiculous haircut to present as the 'innocent young man'. Political spin doctors out of touch who have Foxtel in their pocket. I think Steve Smith did three "exclusive" interviews in three days. People have had a gutful of these clowns. In fact Warner has been made super popular in his silence. He does not need to front the press. Now let's hope Candace and Roxy don't advise poorly.
The cricket public are even now wanting to see the back of Bancroft for a long, long time. His booing last night in the BBL was no accident. He has brought it all his way. ‘I wanted to fit in...’. What a spineless, irresponsible excuse.
The wrath of the ex players says it all. An immature goose who has learned nothing (remember his giggling post match press conference?). He is flippant, arrogant and has not owned his own behaviour. Gilchrist was hardly helpful either. He refused to ask tough questions adding to the lame tenor of the whole pathetic charade.
Suddenly Bancoft is a long, long way from a return to the Australian team. His weakness here and public lack of 'team' perspective, will count heavily against him. Smith will return through our necessity. Warner, if he stays silent, will be back soon too. A bit rich of Aaron Finch offering to welcome back Warner as a senior player - when he can't hold his own spot in the squad!
2. Third Test Fiasco I. The MCG staff should hang their heads. They serve up an Indian deck that pleases the Indian pay masters and expect the same favour in Eden Gardens? If not, what is wrong with Victorian cricket and where is the investment in a better deck? They have a record number of players in the Australian Team - Finch, Harris and Siddle. Their favourite son, Peter Handscomb is punted and all of their players fail on the biggest stage. The crowds, outside of the Indian support, were pretty pathetic too!
Typical pandering (no DRS for a few years, no Indian IPL players in other countries' T20 leagues....). I even noticed Kerry O'Keefe penning a public letter of apology to Indian fans after a few funnies at their expense. They need to lighten up. They are ever so precious at times, despite blitzing us on the field.
3. Third Test Fiasco II. On the field, things are worse. Finch has the worst technique in world cricket. How he has scored so heavily in ODI and T20 cricket is beyond me. As the only Australian player competing in all three forms of the game, they need to end him in Test Cricket. Mitchell Marsh is a terrible selection, but he did a 'relieving' job bowling his ineffective seamers to give others a break. He is averaging 74.88 in the past 15 Tests with 9 wickets from 181 overs (23 innings). Not impressive numbers.
Khawaja has hardly set the world on fire and he and Shaun Marsh need to step up. They are both part of the malaise of Australian Cricket who cannot consistently crack the code of focus and steel required at this level. Travis Head gets bowled far too often for mine. He too is on shaky ground. Josh Hazlewood (162 Test wickets) and Mitchell Starc (198 wickets) need to get busy too. Their strike rates are too moderate against the best batsmen. They need to start dominating erlier and stop playing 'make up' cricket. Starc seems incapable of moving the red ball.
Who to bring in? Pucowski from Victoria, Lehmann from South Australia, Stoinis... all marginal.
Despite their talent, Wade and Maxwell seem to have a stunning knack of exciting selectors' strong views of their attitudinal problems. However the absence of Shield fixtures makes the readiness for excellence in Test cricket unlikely. They are not playing enough four day cricket and averages are pretty bleak too as a result. More time in the middle!
Is it time to trawl Grade Cricket in the larger states and find some long term stars who may not have had the silver cricket spoon through Australian U/19s, etc? Hard nosed players of gravity who know how to win. They could start at Parramatta in Sydney with young Bertus.
4. Complete Fiasco - Siddle. Why is he in the Test squad firstly and secondly, why is he fielding for us at a key time? Joke. Hands like Nemo. There is not a better fieldsman out there? Where is Mickey Edwards? The fielding generally was poor and worse in the BBL. Clive Rose is the worst in Australia.
5. World Cricket Stage. Dale Steyn overtakes Shaun Pollock as South Africa's leading wicket taker ever v the Pakistanis and in NZ, Trent Boult brains them to lead the team home. The fans love when ball dominates bat in Test Cricket.
6. EPL -ManU. Ole Gunnar Solskjær as the relieving football manager is igniting Pogba and the team to surge up the table into sixth place after 20 games. He is unleashing the team's spirit and grandeur in a quiet, reassuring manner. Having played for many years at Old Trafford has helped his credibility and resolve. Meanwhile Liverpool roll on as the stuttering Man City have given them the Christmas jump.
It must be said that the foxes of Leicester and the wolves of Wolverhampton have had great years to date, closing in on the magic 30 points when teams like Huddersfield cave in and look set for relegation.
7. Socceroos. Stunning words from the great coach, Graham Arnold, who suggested that the 5-0 win over Oman was inspired by his scrutiny of Liverpool games and their style. Honest, but leagues and miles away!
8. NRL. A week without a taxi rank/ niteclub/ M4 incident is staggering.
9. Sydney Mania. The Sydney Kings are in first place at the turn of the season. Amazing how quality players can get you there! Bogut has been stunning. The same with the Sydney FC and the Sydney Bluesox (baseball)! Add this to the NRL Premiers, the Sydney Roosters too and the netball Grand Finalists, the Sydney Swifts! Sydney on fire.
Monday, December 31, 2018
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Wrap - Christmas Frenzy
1. Steve Smith. Can anyone explain why he did a press conference last week? A sympathy gatherer... a part of his redemption? Honestly...he needs to take a tip from Shane Flanagan. When banned, suck it up and keep an eye on the calendar. Don't complicate things unnecessarily. I noticed he cracked a ton for Sutherland to steer them to victory in First Grade this weekend. That is better talk.
Please tell me Mitchell Marsh is not going to be selected in the Boxing Day Test. He has no form, no runs, no wickets. Why would he be selected? Give it up. Is Handscomb being picked as a fieldsman? He certainly has the best hands since Mark Waugh. He needs to move his feet at the crease like he does in the field and back himself in.
2. Shane Flanagan. He has learned cruelly that no one is bigger than the game. Fifty emails to the club when you are banned is not smart. Where are the brains in rugby league? The club will survive but they need the right people there fronting the show. Why do clubs in trouble have bad administration (Bulldogs, Tigers, Sharks, Eels)? They can't win a thing with poor decisions from the top. These then transfer into the player recruitment and on field team decisions.
Forget the cash (is this a driver for the NRL Integrity Commission - self funded?). When will clubs be docked points for misdemeanours? This is the only way to really hit them hard. However consistency in this area is all over the place.
3. EPL Liverpool. Going into Christmas as the leading EPL team is an excellent sign. A tight race in 2018-2019, so it should be interesting. Great win by Crystal Palace over Man City and Leicester over Chelsea over this weekend. These results help Liverpool big time. Arsenal have that flavour of perennial runners up/ third place earners.
4. WBBL. The women's BBL is really taking off. How good is Elise Perry? A champion person and player. It's actually enjoyable to watch.
5. BBL. Can we accelerate some of the youth in Australian cricket? Great to see Jason Sangha doing well on his first outing. Bring back Australia A as well! Australia A on the bigger public stage was when we last dominated. More players have to know what it takes.
6. Jose Mourinho. High maintenance and too much goose in him has brought his demise. Punted by ManU at long last and hopefully they appoint a former legend eg. Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes. Real Madrid might pick him up. Amazing how with him gone, ManU pile on 5 goals! The millstone has been removed!
7. A League. Is the whole show going stale? Are there enough top quality operators on the fields? Star power is lacking. Ball control is getting worse.
8. Anthony Mundine. Seeking a rematch with Jeff Horn. As if! He is a money machine, but he never knows when to quit. It is a sad and lonely figure the boxer knocked down early seeking a re-match. Move on.
9. Cash In. Keep an eye on a horse Brooklyn Hustle in the coming season. Stunning pace.
10. NBL. Still amazed at how popular basketball is in Australia. The NBL is really well attended with plenty of intensity. Lots of locals and a smattering of imports. Perfect blend and a great pathway for your aspiring club ball players. Big avenue of US colleges with a healthy appetite for quality as well. Even the Kings are going well!
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Wrap - NRL Crisis
1. The NRL is in free fall. The stupidity of players to put themselves into poor positions where contention, allegation and sordid accusation follows is incredible.
These fellows are taught, advised, counselled, etc and still it happens. The anger and spite that then follows at the expense of women is hurting the game. The 50% of the population thing may be hard to understand (?).
What reasonable mum thinks rugby league is a great idea for their child? I am doing the rounds mentally with my mates and cannot think of one of their children who play(ed) the game! It will remain a residual tribal sport where very few families engage with it, support it or attend it. Watching it from home remains the best bet...it's the furthest distance from the murky world that they have created.
For all their faults, enter AFL and football/ soccer.
2. Nathan Lyon continues to excel. Bowling tweakers and turners that don't really do that much off the deck. He is a master tactician and remains positive and aggressive as a bowler with flight, drift and spin. He has now got more wickets that Murali against India. He is zooming in on DK Lillee's 356 now with 331 Test wickets.
3. Virat Kohli. No ton in the first Test but one in Perth. He is a superstar. He has the ability to bat for long times. 25 Test tons... he will be the benchmark when he retires in all forms of the game. Amazing... no matter what sort of person you may like/ not like.
4. Peter Handscomb needs to go (however what a pair of hands he has!) and I am still not convinced re Shaun Marsh. As soon as the pressure is tuned up, he vanishes! Khawaja needs to bat big if we are to win it. It would be nice to see Tim Paine put a ton up in Tests too. He has not hit a ton for years. Not good enough for a modern day keeper.
5. Horse racing. I saw two really good runs on the weekend - Tip Top and Sky Boy. Both worth a spot in your blackbook!
6. A-League Expansion. Western Melbourne and Macarthur South-West Sydney are added while many other have not been added. Fair enough. They have had a few teams come and go already. The pressure will be on any new club. Unproven experience.
7. BBL. It is around the corner again and the excitement will rise above so many other programs. We will all enjoy the nightly excitement!
8. Premier League. On they surge, Man City. What a machine of a club they are. No nonsense...just titles.
These fellows are taught, advised, counselled, etc and still it happens. The anger and spite that then follows at the expense of women is hurting the game. The 50% of the population thing may be hard to understand (?).
What reasonable mum thinks rugby league is a great idea for their child? I am doing the rounds mentally with my mates and cannot think of one of their children who play(ed) the game! It will remain a residual tribal sport where very few families engage with it, support it or attend it. Watching it from home remains the best bet...it's the furthest distance from the murky world that they have created.
For all their faults, enter AFL and football/ soccer.
2. Nathan Lyon continues to excel. Bowling tweakers and turners that don't really do that much off the deck. He is a master tactician and remains positive and aggressive as a bowler with flight, drift and spin. He has now got more wickets that Murali against India. He is zooming in on DK Lillee's 356 now with 331 Test wickets.
3. Virat Kohli. No ton in the first Test but one in Perth. He is a superstar. He has the ability to bat for long times. 25 Test tons... he will be the benchmark when he retires in all forms of the game. Amazing... no matter what sort of person you may like/ not like.
4. Peter Handscomb needs to go (however what a pair of hands he has!) and I am still not convinced re Shaun Marsh. As soon as the pressure is tuned up, he vanishes! Khawaja needs to bat big if we are to win it. It would be nice to see Tim Paine put a ton up in Tests too. He has not hit a ton for years. Not good enough for a modern day keeper.
5. Horse racing. I saw two really good runs on the weekend - Tip Top and Sky Boy. Both worth a spot in your blackbook!
6. A-League Expansion. Western Melbourne and Macarthur South-West Sydney are added while many other have not been added. Fair enough. They have had a few teams come and go already. The pressure will be on any new club. Unproven experience.
7. BBL. It is around the corner again and the excitement will rise above so many other programs. We will all enjoy the nightly excitement!
8. Premier League. On they surge, Man City. What a machine of a club they are. No nonsense...just titles.
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Wrap - A World of Stark Pain
1. Test Cricket. The whole joint is a schemozzle. You have a Channel 7 TV 'presence' that makes people think they are watching the bowls. They even missed the toss. It lacks everything. Foxtel is better. Then you have no crowds as no one knows their Head from their Hands(comb). A world of Stark Pain. No Warner or Smith who have received two of the most ridiculous penalties in world sport since Jim Comans was around.
The only bloke getting runs is that wonderful medium pacer and bat called Matthew Wade. He is our best batsman in the country at present - not the Australian captain, Tim Paine, who has must have found Willie Wonka's Golden Ticket. Fair dinkum he looks ordinary. Top bloke by all reports, however. Michael Clarke's assessment of Australian cricket is not too far wrong.
It should therefore come as no surprise that if we have batsmen who cannot average 30 in Shield cricket that they would swing it around and average over 30 in Test cricket! Not many can get over 30 at present.
The perennial failure with the stick, Shaun Marsh, has hit back and gotten to 31no. A ton that wins us the Test match would anchor him in our team of tolerance. At the age of 35-36, he may be done if he can't aim up. Head is going OK, but I can't see consistency in his game. Finch was laughable. Handscomb not much better. Khawaja still can't play spin and Marcus Harris needs to remember that 20 is a failure in Test cricket... but seemingly not in Shield cricket.
The GOAT - Nathan Lyon hit 8 wickets for the Test which is good going. He is ahead of Bob Willis and on his way to DK Lillee's record of 355. He will have taken about 25 more Tests to get to it when it arrives.
Starc seems to switch off quickly. Far too nice at times yet a lethal bowler when he is on. We needed more from him.
2. A League. Sydney FC got their tails whacked in Wellington in the A league on the weekend. Nothing to see here other than an acknowledgement that Graham Arnold is missed and is one of the best coaches in Australia.
3. Wallabies. I am sensing that Cheika is about to be punted despite the rumblings that there is no one else... surely he cannot continue.
4. EPL. An amazing effort by Chelsea in the EPL to narrow off Man City for a win. Liverpool are on fire this year and the coach Jurgen Klopp has them firing. Seems like a really sensible bloke. Meanwhile Mourinho escapes the noose for another week. ManU actually looked pretty switched on this week.
5. NRL. What a forgettable week of domestic violence by league players. When will the code ban blokes for long periods of time with this nonsense. Dylan Walker's on field behaviour at times has made this sadly seem part of his unpredictable, erratic character. Hopefully a few smarter league players (eg. Cooper Cronk) realise that there are many many women in the world (about half the population) who they need to respect ... otherwise there will not be little boys playing this game.
Ever again Dylan. Do you get it Dylan?
The game has really lost its sheen in recent years as the lid is lifted on this and other nonsense.
6. Women's Sport. This is tending to rescue the Australian sporting landscape repeatedly... cricket now soccer on the horizon. We can only hope.
The only bloke getting runs is that wonderful medium pacer and bat called Matthew Wade. He is our best batsman in the country at present - not the Australian captain, Tim Paine, who has must have found Willie Wonka's Golden Ticket. Fair dinkum he looks ordinary. Top bloke by all reports, however. Michael Clarke's assessment of Australian cricket is not too far wrong.
It should therefore come as no surprise that if we have batsmen who cannot average 30 in Shield cricket that they would swing it around and average over 30 in Test cricket! Not many can get over 30 at present.
The perennial failure with the stick, Shaun Marsh, has hit back and gotten to 31no. A ton that wins us the Test match would anchor him in our team of tolerance. At the age of 35-36, he may be done if he can't aim up. Head is going OK, but I can't see consistency in his game. Finch was laughable. Handscomb not much better. Khawaja still can't play spin and Marcus Harris needs to remember that 20 is a failure in Test cricket... but seemingly not in Shield cricket.
The GOAT - Nathan Lyon hit 8 wickets for the Test which is good going. He is ahead of Bob Willis and on his way to DK Lillee's record of 355. He will have taken about 25 more Tests to get to it when it arrives.
Starc seems to switch off quickly. Far too nice at times yet a lethal bowler when he is on. We needed more from him.
2. A League. Sydney FC got their tails whacked in Wellington in the A league on the weekend. Nothing to see here other than an acknowledgement that Graham Arnold is missed and is one of the best coaches in Australia.
3. Wallabies. I am sensing that Cheika is about to be punted despite the rumblings that there is no one else... surely he cannot continue.
4. EPL. An amazing effort by Chelsea in the EPL to narrow off Man City for a win. Liverpool are on fire this year and the coach Jurgen Klopp has them firing. Seems like a really sensible bloke. Meanwhile Mourinho escapes the noose for another week. ManU actually looked pretty switched on this week.
5. NRL. What a forgettable week of domestic violence by league players. When will the code ban blokes for long periods of time with this nonsense. Dylan Walker's on field behaviour at times has made this sadly seem part of his unpredictable, erratic character. Hopefully a few smarter league players (eg. Cooper Cronk) realise that there are many many women in the world (about half the population) who they need to respect ... otherwise there will not be little boys playing this game.
Ever again Dylan. Do you get it Dylan?
The game has really lost its sheen in recent years as the lid is lifted on this and other nonsense.
6. Women's Sport. This is tending to rescue the Australian sporting landscape repeatedly... cricket now soccer on the horizon. We can only hope.
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Wrap - Shaun, Sean, Shorn...
1. Cricket Test Series v India. The biggest points of interest in this series will be to see if Kohli can hit a ton in every test, which is on the cards. Also, whether Tim Paine is playing his last Test series - and whether we can all put up with the anticipated twin failures of the Marsh brothers. How long? 2/3 Tests? Surely we need someone to step up. Lyon (318) needs 8 more wickets to beat Bob Willis (325) and 13 more wickets to beat Allan Donald (330). Ravi Ashwin needs 20 more wickets to beat our own DK Lillee (70 tests). Ashwin has played 64 tests only. Amazing how curators can help your career.
2. Shaun Johnson. What a tremendous signing by Cronulla. A goalkicking half who scores tries continuously. What were the Warriors thinking? Did Parramatta pick up the phone?
3. BBL League. There appears to be more interest in the BBL than this upcoming Test series. The game has changed and is shifting to a new space. New fans. This is fast becoming the new face of Australian cricket. Very few young fans are interested in tests. I like the look of the Thunder - Joe Root, Jos Butler... A shame there is no Warner.
4. Mundine. Totally outclassed and outgunned. Has made himself very wealthy however. Hopefully he can be sensible with the money and not like a zillion other boxers before him. I think Anthony set his sights on being like ALI, but had no charm and charisma. He actually held the super-middleweight title twice between 2003 and 2008, as well as the IBO middleweight title from 2009 to 2010, and the WBA interim super-welterweight title from 2011 to 2012. Jeff Horn is in a different class.
5. Bennett - Seibold. What a gaggle of clowns. Both over rated and seemingly think themselves bigger than everyone else. Lots of games being played and complete silliness over the last few weeks. Memo Broncos: sacking someone by text message or email never looks good.
6. Cameron Smith. What a famous Australian sporting name! How good was his play to comeback and win the Australian PGA golf after he seemed to have lost his way. Mental toughness to win the Joe Kirkwood Cup back to back. He has joined the likes of the world famous bluer - Robert Allenby - in achieving this feat. Top 30 in the world of golf. Pretty amazing for a young Australian guy.
7. Corey Norman. I noticed that while underperforming, the worst of the overpaid players at Parramatta - Corey Norman and Mitchell Moses - are being shopped around, but they are not stupid. They are staying to be paid in full and to convey their continued brand of excellence on the club. Both should be in the Wentworthville team as the club looks to other options. How can you now welcome them back into the team? They are cancerous to the necessary culture. Hopefully no new signings who are cocaine sniffing, M4 biffers who consort with criminals and abuse women.
8. ManU. Anchored on 22 points after 14 games (6 wins, 4 draws, 4 losses), they are 16 behind Man City who are almost away and uncatchable! Surely Jose is on the slippery slope out of the joint! Fulham look like relegation material already... some significant Christmas cheer and pudding will be required.
2. Shaun Johnson. What a tremendous signing by Cronulla. A goalkicking half who scores tries continuously. What were the Warriors thinking? Did Parramatta pick up the phone?
3. BBL League. There appears to be more interest in the BBL than this upcoming Test series. The game has changed and is shifting to a new space. New fans. This is fast becoming the new face of Australian cricket. Very few young fans are interested in tests. I like the look of the Thunder - Joe Root, Jos Butler... A shame there is no Warner.
4. Mundine. Totally outclassed and outgunned. Has made himself very wealthy however. Hopefully he can be sensible with the money and not like a zillion other boxers before him. I think Anthony set his sights on being like ALI, but had no charm and charisma. He actually held the super-middleweight title twice between 2003 and 2008, as well as the IBO middleweight title from 2009 to 2010, and the WBA interim super-welterweight title from 2011 to 2012. Jeff Horn is in a different class.
5. Bennett - Seibold. What a gaggle of clowns. Both over rated and seemingly think themselves bigger than everyone else. Lots of games being played and complete silliness over the last few weeks. Memo Broncos: sacking someone by text message or email never looks good.
6. Cameron Smith. What a famous Australian sporting name! How good was his play to comeback and win the Australian PGA golf after he seemed to have lost his way. Mental toughness to win the Joe Kirkwood Cup back to back. He has joined the likes of the world famous bluer - Robert Allenby - in achieving this feat. Top 30 in the world of golf. Pretty amazing for a young Australian guy.
7. Corey Norman. I noticed that while underperforming, the worst of the overpaid players at Parramatta - Corey Norman and Mitchell Moses - are being shopped around, but they are not stupid. They are staying to be paid in full and to convey their continued brand of excellence on the club. Both should be in the Wentworthville team as the club looks to other options. How can you now welcome them back into the team? They are cancerous to the necessary culture. Hopefully no new signings who are cocaine sniffing, M4 biffers who consort with criminals and abuse women.
8. ManU. Anchored on 22 points after 14 games (6 wins, 4 draws, 4 losses), they are 16 behind Man City who are almost away and uncatchable! Surely Jose is on the slippery slope out of the joint! Fulham look like relegation material already... some significant Christmas cheer and pudding will be required.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)