1. Cricket - India v England. Joe Root - first player to score a ton in his 98th, 99th and a double ton in his 100th Test. Super streak of form at present. Rishabh Pant again played a blinder of an innings, attacking his way to get India back into the contest. Out in the nineties yet again, but he doesn't care. He plays to win.
2. Cricket - Pakistan v South Africa. This Rizwan, the Pakistan keeper and Faheem Ashraf seem to be capable of amazing rear guard work down the order. Over 300 for South Africa to win. A tough chase.
3. BBL Final. Cracking game, but great batting from James Vince and Cameron Bancroft it must be said. Steve O'Keefe recovered after a woeful early dropped catch. His bowling bewitches. Mitch Marsh showed a surprising lack of composure in the field and at the crease. His dismissal reminded me of the Damien Martyn effort at the SCG v Fanie de Villiers. Who could ever forget? The Sydney Sixers are a highly successful franchise. The pink colour is daring but gets lots more women to the game and is so identifable as their cricketing stamp!
Scorchers and Sixers have won three times each now (6). Everyone else has won it once (4), except the Hobart Hurricanes and the Melbourne Stars who have never won it!
4. Cameron Smith. Is it time for Cameron to come out from hiding so we can talk normally. Like a kid who keeps playing the game long after it has ended. Very odd. Clearly he will not be with Bellamy as he would not possibly put up with these shennanigans. Tell us you're playing Cameron and we will be happy for you. Tell us you are retiring and we will salute you. Make a move.
5. Israel Folau. Israel has some choice to make quickly. Go back to Catalans Dragons, remove hate posts off your Twitter and reconcile while remaining silent online and in person... play AFL again perhaps?
6. Paige Spiranac. Is it an obligation for Paige to weigh into every golfing controversy and get her headline? She is obviously a great golfing talent. Like a few before her, focus on the game, excel at that and leave the media to do the rest.
7. Merv Hughes - Cricket Australia Hall of Fame Cricketers. Merv was inducted this week, but while we all admired his character and heart, were there more deserving recipients? Allowing for the five years retired rule, let me add some other names for closer consideration: Ian Redpath, Kim Hughes, David Hookes (posthumously), Michael Slater, Justin Langer, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Jason Gillespie, Mitchell Johnson, SCG Macgill, Geoff Lawson... Is Merv better than these names?
As enjoyable as he was to watch and cheer along, I think not. Ian Chappell once famously said at the Gabba when Ian Botham was teeing off "the problem with Merv Hughes is he thinks he's a fast bowler". Harsh and Merv showed a lot of people he could win games for us - and did. A hattrick too! Hall of Fame...ummm...
8. Allan Border Medal. Has this ridiculous farce reached its end yet? The structure of it is completely weighted to certain cricketers who play all forms of the game - especially Australian captains as highlighted. Dave Warner has done well here. Ponting and Clarke (4) lead the frequency race.
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