Wrap - Capabianco Capers

1. Ashes Team. The First Test starts this week. Not sure about Bancroft. His temperament worries me at times. That he is a right hander he is lucky as Harris has been the dominant cricketer in Australia in long form cricket. Why did Harris not go to England to play County cricket in advance? Silliness.


Of course Langer ensured Mitchell Marsh was there...and Mrs Marsh, PJ Marsh and Dan Marsh, Rod, Graham, Geoff...


The English crowds are going to be fierce. Steve Smith's form is not great either. The pitch they played their warm up game on was a dangerous joke. Michael Neser may be the x-factor who moves the Duke ball. If Hazelwood gets more than one wicket an innings we should all do handstands. He needs to lift and get multiple wickets if he is to play. What version of Mitchell Starc is going to show up? They have too many blokes in the squad too - 17? Really. When will some of these other blokes actually play? I hope there are tour games in between like the old days... otherwise there will be a lot of blokes practising their scoring and bowling in the nets.


If you are not in the first Test team you are only looking at the third Test. Honestly, when will Siddle play?


This Chris Woakes is bowling really well. He's sharper than he looks. Jimmy Anderson, Stokes and Broad will be tough on their decks as usual.


2. Rugby League. What a stupid rule it is when two footballs come onto the field...as if we need to worry about the other one. That is a new time delay used by players, runners and even the crowd. Get rid of it.


3. NRL. Des Hasler has made a stunning difference at Manly. Their two props - Fanua Blake and Marty Taupou are tremendous players. Finally the value of the off load is being appreciated by NRL coaches. Moses Sueli has been transformed into a super force. Three clubs couldn't cope with him.


Who is coaching this Gold Coast rabble? They need a complete rebuild.


4. Golden Point - Melbourne v Manly. A great game of footy, but can we agree on something else? When they do the Golden Point toss, one answer is needed... either "WE WANT THE BALL" or "WE DON'T WANT THE BALL". Referees of course try to over complicate it all.  Seven tackles plays with silly kicks kills you. The Jake Trobjevic tackle was bad, but that's despite having made 66 other good tackles. 67 in the game - awesome! The first half of golden point was awesome footy - two drop kicks hitting the post, great finish. Manly's effort away at Melbourne was amazing... it was like a GF win with 38 seconds left. I was worried by the Melbourne response to the loss. They are on edge a bit too early for mine. Big deal...a close loss and they are miles ahead on the table. It happens.


5. AFL. Richmond look the powerhouse now on the run in. Brisbane too fast and slick v Hawks...looking sharp. Great tough wins by the GWS who were so strong at the loose ball. Their game v Port was a cracker, winning by a single point away from home. This Nick Haynes from GWS is superb. I also like the Toby Greene competitiveness. Opposing teams hate him, but his teammates love him. A top four finish looms for GWS. Geelong powered over Sydney too. Is Buddy Franklin still alive?


Brett Ratten doing well with the Carlton team. They are surprising a few now.


6. Wallabies v Pumas. Not since Hugo Porta have the Pumas looked this good. A solid win by the Wallabies. It is tight, but also boring. Even the TV commercials in the game breaks are boring. More crowd at Riverview v Joeys. Great effort by the Springboks v ABs... they may surprise.


7. Global T20 in Canada. The worldwide gypsies of T20...Pollard, Gayle, McCullum, Narine, Bravo, Bailey...the world champions at finding a buck. This stuff is ripe for match fixing. Does anyone really care? I noticed even the recently retired Yuvraj Singh is playing. A shame Indian cricketing administration arrogance continues to get in the way of the world seeing their cricketing talents.


8. Swimming. Can you believe another unknowing Australian drug taking swimmer...a stray tablet perhaps? Not great when Mack Horton is standing off the dias! Maybe she should go to the International Court of Sport Arbitration like Dean Capabianco? Arianne Titmus is a legend. She could be our best ever if she stays fit. Interesting reaction when she found out about Shayna Jack, a stablemate.