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.
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