Wrap - Brilliance and Beauty

1. Sri Lanka. How good is it when some team beats South Africa - in anything? Why do we get so much joy from it? Probably because they don't lose much. But to lose to Sri Lanka at home 2-0? We absolutely did much better than we thought beating them 2-0. Have you noticed how big some of their players and coaches are? Some have discovered western food and fats - and have hit the gym!


2. Cricket. A great innings by Bancroft to carry his bat and get to 138no. Some of the others did what we know they do...get starts and fall over. Head 50, Wade 77, Burns ('Carpet') 60, Labuschagne 59. Even Harris who looked like getting a ton fell over at 95. Get the pattern? Young Kurtis Patterson is sitting on 57no overnight and will look to cash in tomorrow. It sounds ridiculous I know but don't be surprised to see Jackson Bird or Trent Copeland on the plane to England. We need a skidding Alderman type who gets bowleds and LBWs.


3. Villains. Do Bancroft, Warner and Smith all return to the Test team at the same time? Can't see it myself. Too many villains in one hit and they need to capture the existing culture first and adapt.


4. NRL. Have these off season incidents and events made the average fan disinterested in the spoilt tattooed ones? The trials is a ho hum time of year with injuries the biggest news. AFLX is yet another chapter in the AFL's laborious pre season nonsense. Where is the NAB Cup?


5. Super Rugby. The Waratahs' defence is non-existent again. Winning by a point this week in Tokyo almost saw them undone by the minnows. Yet again. They need to get serious. The Brumbies were dominant and I get the impression that Brad Thorne needs to produce soon or he will be given a leave pass. I note with interest that Michael O'Connor has returned as a selector for the national team. has he played and selected for both codes now? Fancy suggesting players should play their correct position. Rebel.


6. Afghanistan Cricket. Get set for a major surprise when they play Nabi, Rashid Khan and this young Hazratullah Zazai who hit a big 160no in a T20 game. The hitting of Hetmyer for the Windies was also very impressive in their ODI. Maybe a star of the future. Like this Shai Hope as well.


7. Perth Glory. They have the minor premiership sewn up now, despite a draw with the Wanderers tonight. Popovich seems to know how to coach.


8. EPL. Liverpool v ManU overnight will be an absolute cracker. If ManU win they will dent Liverpool's hopes big time. Huddersfield and Fulham are as good as gone. Terrible seasons. The third drop zone team will be interesting. Some nervous nellies...Leicester punted their coach a few hours ago!


9. How good is Elyse Perry? Another ton overnight. She will become one of Australia's greatest sports stars before too long.


10. Lionel Messi. He scores a hatrick to guide Barcelona again to a win. He is remarkable. A shame he has never travelled to the EPL.


11. Jack de Belin. Surely he sits this week. The brand of rugby league is terrible. They need to draw a line in the sand and make it clear in the bloody contracts that they sign. End of matter. They need education on the types of bad decisions and folk who hang around them.


12. Six Nations. England done by the Welsh. Wales are on fire...boyo!