1. Steve Smith. The efforts by Steve Smith confirm our worst fears. England can knock us over cheaply when the sun is not shining. If it was not for him, the Test could well be almost over, even allowing for two days missed through weather.
Like many, I was watching when he was dropped by the Archer delivery. I honestly thought he was dead - like Phil Hughes. The mandatory inclusion of side levers on helmets is a continuing disgrace following Phil Hughes' death so long ago. Uncomfortable? Awkward? Bad luck. Death is more uncomfortable. I have been banging on about this for years. That was a sickening blow live. Archer was generating some huge speed. Scary. Then Siddle comes out wearing the side levers. Go figure.
While we are at it, when is someone going to produce cricket gloves that withstand a cricket ball? Has the technology improved in the last 30 years?
The booing from the Lords crowd was disgraceful. Those Pommies wonder why Australians hate them so much in sport. Arrogant and pompous. We love thrashing them.
Jofra Archer was generating great pace after lunch on Day 4. Jimmy Anderson, as good as he is, was not really missed. Broad is amazing against Australia. He lifts and executes brilliantly. Smith was unflappable. Awesome leadership under immense pressure. The rest come and go far too quickly.
2. Wallabies. After a big week last week, the Wallabies were punished badly. Not having a Test win in NZ for 23 in a row is terrible. However 36-0 may have looked a bit harsh. Rarely do the ABs lose a game at home under lights. get them into the sunshine! We really never looked like winning. We have plenty of people believing, but it came crashing down after 20 minutes, if not before.
3. AFL. North Melbourne crushed Port Adelaide to do an 'All Blacks' on them. One week terrible, the next awesome. Both Adelaide sides have fallen in a heap. Collingwood storming home and the Lions are doing the business with Charlie Cameron on fire. Nine in a row for the Brisbane team whose pace and fight is killing the opposition. McCarthy's mark was awesome! Geelong have some worries heading into September. Richmond will be the team to beat. Geelong and the woeful GWS are too inconsistent.
The standard of footy is getting better and better as the weeks go by.
3. Cameron Bancroft. Great catch at short leg, but simply not sharp enough with his batting technique. He labours around trying to absorb the strike and see off the bowling, but fails when it matters. Broad has a field day against him. He potters, wafts at thin air like a golfer before teeing off on the first, and he has had more edges than a 50 cent coin. He puts incredible pressure on his batting partner. His steel has been tested and he has not risen to it. Warner has been a massive disappointment too after a splendid World Cup.Warner is in a world of pain...dropping catches reveals the inner mentality.
5. NRL. South Sydney are in a world of pain. They are looking worse and worse as the year unfolds. Sam Burgess was not himself (under threat of joining his brother in England I suspect), but Foran and Cogger were solid. Damien Cook is not running the ball enough. They are stopping his creativity and the same is true of Cody Walker. Bennett needs to lighten up or his season will crumble. Reynolds looks uncertain too.
Canberra made a stunning statement as Melbourne lost another one at home - but after having led 18-0. The scrutiny on the Storm tackling techniques on the ground are important for the game. Ben Cummins is woeful gifting Melbourne two sin bins.. even still Canberra bounced back to win. Papalli did the business. How many tries would he have scored as a junior footy. He is a big man.
Parramatta have stuck to the task well and face a stern test with the Bulldogs this week. The Bulldogs have had a great second half of the season.
The Sharks are struggling. Is Moylan worth the cash? Woods? Roosters on fire.
6. NRL. There are some heads that need to roll in that joint. The great cover up (not the deed) after giving Barbara Smith, Cameron Smith's wife a diamond ring; the inability to get the Match Review Committee's consistency right; the refusal to acknowledge James Graham's 400 top flight games and the concussion test fiasco. Peter Beattie makes it all a bit comical at times. What else?
7. Ash Barty. Still having to put up with being World Number 2. Hopefully she can lift in the chase to US Open glory. Not sure she is fast enough on that surface, but she will go close. Can we fine Kgyrios a million? Fool.
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