Wrap - Keeping Up With The Smiths Part 2

 1. ODI Cricket. It's a long time since the Australian public was excited about a cricket season. Not sure fooling around with the traditions in Australian cricket works...start with Tests...ODIs in late Jan. The diversity of media forums these days also makes it hit and miss and so few actually ever care about commentators. Bull, Tony and Rich were legendary, but these days... Kerry O'Keefe, maybe Warnie is who you'd feed. Ponting perhaps...the rest... 

There has been no investment in media publicity by that shoddy Cricket Australia leadership for years now.

2. Warner Injury. Suddenly Pucovski has got the sprig tightener out... Carpet Burns must be a lucky bloke. He has done nothing. Dave Warner did not look too happy in the back seat of the station wagon leaving the stadium after getting injured. He actually looked like he was part of a family going on holidays to the North Coast after the old man had just launched a scathing summation of the family's behaviour.

Thank God Finch can bat, because he can't field and is a serious liability really. Skipper for how long?

Steve Smith was awesome. His hitting and stroke play was something else...back to back hundreds. Warner and Maxwell too. 

Not sure if Mitchell Starc deserves a spot in that team either. Wayward and wasteful. No early wickets...no glory.

3. Indian Batsmen. The strength of some of the Indian batsmen - as thin as they appear physically - is highly impressive. They generate power through fluid stroke making.

4. Humanitarian. Mike Tyson has turned into a lovely fellow. He did not seem too worried by yet another ridiculous boxing judgement v Roy Jones Jr. They have both still got lots of skill. Talk about wanting more money to have a re-match. Tyson looked well cut. Looking like the rest of us 50 year olds!

5. Thunder T20 Girls. Great success by that team. The standard of girls cricket has become a lot better.

6. English Super League. The end to that Grand Final when the missed field goal resulted in a try off the posts, was incredible. James Graham played there in the winning ..that bloke has played forever.

7. EPL. Liverpool, Tottenham and Leicester look the goods this year. They are all falling over each other and leaking points, but intriguing nonetheless. Man City may finally be lifting their game. Sheffield United and Fulham can just about pack their bags already. Disappointing for them.

8. Rugby. The Pumas glory lasted a week. The All Blacks can do that to you. They have been doing it to Australia for the past 20 years.

9. Great Signing. Great to see Parramatta's new signing the reformed Bryce Cartwright keeping a low profile in his first week of a new contract...definitely has changed his spots. Out on the punt and in the papers with Corey Norman and Matt Moylan (who needs to get his head and body right). Corey is a great familiar face at the disco in Jupiter's...seen him there myself a few years back.

Wrap - Keeping Up With The Smiths

 1. Cameron Smith. He better write his book quickly and start writing one for Harry Grant. Keith makes a good point...how do Sydney clubs keep missing out on these guys? Harry Grant changed Origin in what was a tired and lacklustre affair really. NSW simply do not have the firepower in attack (not helped by Tedesco's early exit). Fittler has become a little stubborn of late and to leave Papenhuyzen out was daft. Cody Walker unfortunately is not the answer. Jack Wighton is at five eight.

His namesake also did well at the masters and gets a return invite. Tied second on -15 and now the first EVER golfer in the history of the Masters to post four rounds in the 60s! Some sort of effort...when is his book out? 

Never like reading a sports story where the wife/ partner starts to be a dominant figure. It is about the player. Not sure that Smith needs to retire either. This seems something that the media want more than the player or his partner! The form of Munster the other night tells you that Melbourne will be a success for some time to follow... especially when Harry Grant arrives home.

2. Manny Ramirez. Has jetted into Sydney and tails off his remaining days in quarantine, before hitting the ballpark for the Sydney Bluesox baseball team. A rich pedigree. The crowd will be hoping he stays injury free and hits a few out of the park! There is some suggestion he may play a couple of park warm up games. That would be something! Drug record or not, his reputation is unbelievable.

3. ODI Cricket. The start of the cricket season is hard to warm into. The game is like an old jumper. Much loved but needs a revamp. ODI series do not take the eye too much now. Richie Benaud, Tony, Bull and the boys made cricket in this country. A new batch and new ideas need to arise. Nine is flat and so is their product.

4. Rugby - Wallabies. Some sort of fortnight for the Pumas beating the All Blacks and drawing with us (not such a great triumph really). Chieka would be enjoying this. We have learned little and the leadership around the park looks haphazard. No tries...please. What sort of spectacle is that? Great for the self centred refs and turtle-like TMO...they would love the spotlight. The fans switched off hours ago. The balance of the team looks out. Surely Vunivalu comes straight in to that team.

5. EPL. Tottenham under the Great One, "Jose I say" are striking form, but Man City are not. Liking the open competition this year, but it is a multi bet killer! Liverpool are ready to strike still, as are Leicester. The foxes are on the run!

6. Wests Tigers. What a unfortunately miserable reputation they have for keeping and recruiting talent. They have Joey Leilua, James Roberts, Douhei and Reynolds, Mbye, et al. I cannot see them beating their customary ninth position on the ladder. No Fox. No Harry Grant. No real leadership. They are losing decent forwards like McIntyre. They could have a lot of blokes mowing the grass at Leichhardt. They need young guns and stars on the up. 

7. Paul Gallen. Love the media hype with boxers. The trouble is it is so familiar and so tiring. Paul was a good footballer, but does he really need this? The silent player who does the business (eg. Sonny Bill) is far more impressive.

8. Court of Appeal. Michael 'Flash' Gordon, Jarryd Hayne and Jack de Belin are all in strife. How players can become so muddled professionally and put themselves in bad situations is one thing. Putting others in danger is another thing. The off season seems to be where most of the NRL salaries are spent - defending themselves. The Burgess case is another one. The media love an NRL court case with all the angst, powerplay, battered reputations and pain - and sadly can't wait to make it their own. Why do some clubs never face this?

Wrap - Mastering the Course

1. The Masters. This Cameron Smith is a talented bloke. 400+ games of NRL and a Green Masters jacket in sight. No wonder he doesn't want to retire. What's more, he has a book out at present that stands to do what Steve Waugh used to do...make heaps of cash out of an average book!

Odd tournament without the galleries, but great it progresses in view of the woeful USA management of the dreaded disease. Surely Dustin doesn't enter the dust bin.

2. Justin Langer. Just when you thought we may have had traction, Justin makes a complete goose of himself in saying that Joe Burns is a better fit for the Test team than a bloke who is currently in form after two double tons. Langer is kidding surely. His loyalty (think PJ Marsh, Mrs Marsh and Graham Marsh) has been misguided before and it will bring about his undoing. I suspect that young Pucovski needs certainty and clarity in his life - not more mind games. We have a very traditional coach here who needs to modernise the thinking.

3. The Pumas. An incredible win, but the All Blacks are human. They have lost before and will again. Rarely do they lose the ones that count however.

4. State of Origin. Amazing how we get crowd concessions by the dodgy Queenslanders on the eve of Origin. This should not be forgotten. Seeing Papenhuyzen on the golf course Sunday is another poor selection by a coach who sometimes loses it as well. How Gutherson keeps a centre position ahead of others with his poor defence is staggering. Hopefully Gus can get there for the game too. We need polarising figures of derision and fun. For as useless as he was, Gomersall made Origin a contest. Lewis...Gillmeister...

Should be a NSW win ahead, but stranger things have happened in Origin...especially in the cauldron!

5. Lewis Hamilton. Basically now the best ever. What an extraordinary talent. Equals Schumacher and wins a seventh world championship to tie with the great man. He has more to come yet. His Mercedes team has dominated for too long as well. 

6. AFL Trades. Collingwood have suffered, but needed to shed players. A great lesson to others about hanging onto players too long (Swans - Jack, et al). It can stuff your club up. The best clubs recruit the best.

7. Tigers. Lose out on Addo-Carr, then can't sign anyone except Jimmy The Jet Roberts... please. They need young talent - not recycled guys who for sad reasons, would rather be elsewhere. They need an overhaul. Douhei is one who I would cut instantly...Reynolds, Mbye, Packer... All signed by the great Ivan Cleary who inherited Anthony Griffin's squad of gun juniors. Saints will be hoping for this in 2021. There is a marked difference between AFL and NRL in our Tiger cousins!

Wrap - Horse Has Bolted

1. IPL. David Warner. Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL team (Warner, Stanlake) have done the extraordinary, squeaking into the semis and then winning. A showdown with the Dehli Capitals for a place in the final v the Mumbai Indians is on the cards. Watch Warner do something special tonight v Delhi Capitals (Stoinis, Carey, Sams). The Mumbai Indians await in the final (Bumrah, James Pattinson... and Chris Lynn who has not had a hit yet!). That compettiion goes on for weeks, but it is the best of the best. India has far too many expert players. How we ever beat them in any cricket game is a miracle.

2. Will Pucovski. Has scored two double hundred Shield scores (one last week) and late in the Shield v WA he is again 173 not out. He has some skill. Hopefully he has the right composure and disposition to bring it together at the International level.

3. State of Origin I. Talk about a lack lustre game. Really, great timing that the comp goes on further and a bonus week or two of footy, but the players look busted - except Dane Gagai who seems to lift for QLD much more than Souths ever see. Dropping Keary is not the solution, however Bennet targeted him in defence in the second half. Nathan Cleary was awful. He does not take the line on sometimes and therefore it does not propel NSW forward. Not sure if any changes there are going to get NSW over the line. They simply do not want it enough. QLD want to win more than NSW. Simple.

Gutherson is simply not fast enough to be a centre and we have Lomax and Crichton on the bench. Bennet smashed him too with Capewell lining up against him. He was found out badly in an unfamiliar position too. The lack of offloads by NSW in the second half was too obvious. Brad Fittler needs to stay aggressive. He retreated when it mattered and has not taken responsibility for it.

4. Boyd Cordner. Is the modern 'tough' actually the modern 'reckless'? He needs a break. His future cannot be much fun the way he is going. It is a tough sport, but is it a reckless one too?

5. Wallabies. Awesome effort at the end by Korebetti. He would be a top league signing as well. A great result. We love winning the dead rubbers and the inconsequential games... at least it is something. Like winning the fifth Ashes test when the series is over. The horse had bolted!

5. Parramatta 2021+ Signings. What a disaster this has been so far. Oldfield, Roache and Hipgrave...No names, has beens and cut price blokes whose bad knee, recurring illness or health disaster has been ignored. They will seriously lack depth and these signings are too plentiful and too shallow. However, the annual photo on the back of the Parramatta Advertiser will look great!

They seem incapable of making the tough decision... What is that decision? Sack Blake Ferguson and Waqar Blake (England surely would love to have him). Buy Mansour. Put Mitchell Moses on notice. 

6. EPL. Southhampton seem like they are well on track in the EPL. How about the form of ManU? How the mighty have fallen, but an unexpected bounce back v Everton. It is so good to see the top teams struggling a bit.

7. Benji Marshall. Can anyone believe a club is seriously looking at him as a player for the future? Surely he retires.

8. TAB. 'Long May We Fail'. Amazing ITD failure on the weekend costing them millions. No matter, drop a dollar off every bet return and you are back. Bluey would be nervous about his job on Monday... Bivouvac caned them! 

9. Melbourne Cup - Anthony Van Dycke. What an horrific end to a horse's career. These overseas horses really struggle on our turf and in our conditions sometimes. Not sure why, but the distance travelled and recuperation must be a huge factor. Hugh Bowman did well to manage the horse in the straight. This horse could not bolt. Hauntingly empty stands too.

Wrap - The Cup Runneth Over

1. Openers. A great weekend for Australian batsmen across the country. A rare day really. The highest ever Shield partnership of 486 by Will Pucovski and Marcus Harris. An excellent performance. Pucovski has five first class tons and two double tons. Throw him in with Cameron Green and we may be moving.  This Pucovski is a rare talent. I just hope mentally he has the required steel. It can be a lonely place in cricket when it doesn't come together for you. We've all been there - even in the park!

Then we see Bancroft and Whiteman bag tons each for WA (Shaun Marsh of course scored his mandatory selector impressor ton to get the media excited about his eighteenth comeback). Travis Head also knocked off a ton too. The evergreen Trent Copeland bagged five wickets, but NSW are up against it to try and reel in the remaining 135 runs for a victory. Mitchell Swepson is killing them too! Surprised at how ineffective Nathan Lyon is in Shield cricket for the mainstay spinner in the Australian team.

2. Wallabies. The TMO is a complete joke. Fifteen replays and satellite/ terrain/ street-view vision before a decision. It is exactly like the the NFL all of a sudden with a quarter of the crowd and interest. 18 long years of no Bledisloe and after five minutes it never looked like we were a serious contender.

For any improvements in the Rennie era, I must say the total disrespect for ball control and possession is staggering. Miracle flick passes and overhead passes must be the order of the day and don't start me on the box kick. The most useless move in world sport.

The Wallabies had a chance to claw back fans and show people what it used to mean to be part of that game. Instead, we get show pony referees and TMPO officials who are that slow... Honestly the game needs a V'landys figure to cut through the rubbish.

Otherwise, bring back halftime on the field and tea towels for touch judges in tracksuits. 

The anthem singer was the highlight for Australia.

3. League and AFL. Love the signings, the player movement and the non-events. There really are not too many players out there and available. Apparently Mitchell Moses is now able to field offers from other clubs... 'hello...is anyone there...?' The Fox will stay. Smith will play on and we will resume normal transmission. Cameron Smith has done some particularly odd things... a testimonial game three years ago...being chaired off Suncorp this year... A bit of 'me, me, me' there.

Jarhome Hughes must take a big money offer. He will not see it better than now. Corey Allan on the market with James Roberts? Good luck there. Parramatta are investing heavily in Bryce Cartwright. His bad defensive reads in 2019-2020 won't be needed by many. Brad Arthur will convert him into a Shaun Lane clone. He can offload the ball too. Just get him vaccinated before the season. 

Before you head anywhere, get over to NZ and sign some pace in the outside backs. 

4. Melbourne Cup 2020. Verry Ellegant, Finche, Anthony Van Dyck and Russian Camelot will be working closely together there for a win for mine. Get on Titan Blinders the place the race before. Paying $7.00! Could be worth getting down to Electronic Sales and Rentals to get yourself a big TV this week... remember the phone number: 6-4-8-0-1-double 0!

5. GWS. It looks like coach Leon Cameron has well and truly lost the car park. Surely you sacrifice Leon before Jeremy. Classic club where there is a lack of senior players with cool heads and stability. Do they have a true supporter base? They started with western Sydney and now have moved east. A flag could be a long way off.

6. IPL. This is becoming interesting. Close till the end. Lots of Australians benched... Maxwell, Watson, et al. However, it still has the best of the best. Why Cricket Australia don't have a similar concept in place I would never know. Two or three Indian players per team, especially the second tier ones who are better than most Shield players regardless. 

7. EPL. Liverpool back on top with a few less likely teams - Everton, Wolves, Leeds, Leicester! Far more entertaining this year with the big spenders not profiting!

8. NFL. The greatest hoopla on earth really! Chiefs, Steelers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers all doing good business. Tom Brady is still in the top ten QBs on may stat points thus far. An old timer who still has the magic!

9. F1. Dry shoe Riccardo is wheeling it out again. More wins and less chat might help. He's had one more 'shooey' than Jeremy Schloss this season.

10. The Morphettville Doctor. Watch out for DR Jolly, the successful South Australian trainer who is killing it over there at present. Two huge wins: Biarchi and Thompson's Reward and then Bajan went well too for a close tussle. Could want for another furlong. get on it!