1. T20 World Cup Cricket. As exciting as the Auckland Nines, but a great effort to beat Pakistan and make the final. Who else to rescue us, but the most competitive two players on the team - Warner and Wade? Wade was incredible. Usually he is holing out meekly to mid on...this time he was ramping sixes everywhere. Now to play New Zealand. They are a clever team of talent. Their pace bowlers and batting delivers now more than when we tossed them in the 2015 ODI World Cup. It will be a struggle. Finch needs to do something or this is it for him.
All the while Justin Langer is breathing again. Not a respirator in sight. Interesting his mantra has become 'back yourself' and 'be courageous'. He was always that cricketer himself. Yet he has always been a cranky man however too.
Conversely, India should be ashamed of their meek exit. The IPL is meant to be the world benchmark, but it has sapped energy and spirit and resulted in a tame exit against the glorious victories v Scotland, Namibia and Afghanistan. A national embarrassment in many ways for their richly talented team. India should be world champions in all formats, every year, every tournament. Shastri to retire with much achieved. Dravid was never a T20 player.
2. Socceroos. We draw with Saudi Arabia and lose to Japan... maybe we are simply not that good? It has almost become a national expectation these days, when once upon a time it was unachievable. There is hope yet, but they need to string a few wins together now. Any slip ups against the lesser teams and we are finished.
3. Celtic - Ange Postocoglou. His wily ways are seeing more victories and successive wins, keeping the ever critical media and club fans at bay. There is no one in world sport with shorter patience than a football fan. Sitting second with a goal differential of +21. Impressive thus far.
4. NRL Signing Safaris. What a wasteful joke the interstate tours by Brandon Smith, Reed Mahoney and Junior Paulo seem to be. The pandering is incredible, but the game playing is interesting too. Like the African Lion Safari at Wallacia..."it's scary, but nobody cares!".
5. Parramatta. Signing Curtis Scott... of course. More baggage than Mascot. More tats than Angry Anderson and a rap sheet the length of a Saturday morning Woolies docket. Beware the one year contract. A nonsense devised by limited thinking, uncertain club executives for a desperate player. Yet they can't land the proper fish they need. Paulo, Mahoney...these guys should be locked in long term. Gutherson should sign soon or he won't have a club. Most clubs have their rosters firmed up now.
6. Tim Tszyu. An immense boxing talent, but we will see on Wednesday night if he can outlast his Japanese opponent, Takeshi Inoue. Tszyu is relentless and fit. Surely he wins.
7. Sheffield Shield. Some great performances thus far, but our batting is pretty dreadful really. Jhye Richardson is stepping up, Head, Green and Khawaja have scored runs...but many are flat. Boland's wickets send a strong message to selectors too, but he lacks a bit against the best batsmen.
8. Wallabies v England. Very occasionally you get to see something great...and it is not the Wallabies sadly. The Irish beating the All Blacks yet again is great news. However, with the Wallabies, what is the reverse of a European Grand Slam? A dud slam? They tried hard, had fun, are enjoying their footy...but lost!
9. Josh Hodgson. Surely the Tigers would be better off with Robbie Farah? They really struggle with their recruitment. Hopefully Sheens and Benji can transform them. Benji will be the coach before too long.
10. The Unvaccinated Sports Players. Personal choice, personal views for sure. Good luck to them. What is hard to believe is that players who refuse will not get a medical contraindication to prove their medical case. I wonder if COVID had a massive physical impairment like polio caused, whether you would have any unvaccinated folk in society at all and whether we would even be talking about it. Those working closely with animals and in the meat industry have been having vaccinations for ever.
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