1. Socceroos. Graham Arnold and his team of relative unknowns have done an exceptional job. Beating Tunisia and Denmark is substantial. It will be interesting to see the next FIFA world rankings.
A 2-1 loss to Argentina - with the hint of a possible equaliser late - was a top result really. He is definitely the best coach in Australia and his line about critics wearing 3XL tracksuits... hard to argue.
It would be great to see our national soccer team become the main national focus. Everyone loves that sport at the highest level...and when you are winning. Cricket is on the slide. AFL has no international dimension (despite releasing their draw on the morning of the Socceroos match!)
2. Australian Test Cricket. I like the look of young Chanderpaul. He is likely to get a lot of test runs. A little unconventional and different, but an eye like a dead fish. His old man Shiv scored 11,867 runs across 164 Tests at 51.37. That will be hard to beat! Shiv has the eighth best ever batting record in test cricket.
Meanwhile Marnus gets his 9th Test ton, equalling the great Graeme Wood and one shy of Bob Simpson (yes, for all the legend, he only scored 10 Test tons, but three double hundreds). It must be said that Greg Chappell was the one who identified Marnus' talent. Rare gold.
Steve Smith notched another double century (4) and has a record that is the second best Test average ever (61.62) ...better than Sobers as well (57.78). He is a freak. Adam Voges' Test average doesn't count.
Interestingly Bradman hit 12 Test cricket double tons, Ponting 6 and now Steve Smith 4.
Nathan Lyon has also quietly made his way into the top ten Test wicket takers of all time as well, now coming eighth of all time (446). He needs to pass 519 (Courtney Walsh) next. A super talent really. Resilient.
3. England - Cricket. Hitting 500 runs in a day of test cricket v Pakistan is amazing. Brendon McCullum has ignited a new standard in that team. They will be hard to beat in England in the Ashes. With Joffra Archer, Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad, Ollie Stone, Mark Wood, Jamie Overton... that's enough to crush most sides.
However Pakistan at home know how to bat too. They are never out of it there.
Conversely, we have little batting prowess and Shield cricket batting stocks has never been so poor. The one name that keeps appearing scoring one is none other than the singlet himself - Cameron Bancroft. Surely not.
4. Shield Sacking. Not sure how many noticed the quiet sacking of Phil Jacques who has presided over a complete shipwreck at NSW cricket this season. Gone and replaced by the great cricket coach, Greg Shipperd. NSW need new blood and a few sackings of players to follow suit. Kurtis Patterson and Moises Henriques are two to start with now. An horrific loss to Victoria on the weekend.
5. Parramatta. Mitchell Moses is not worth $1.4 million per season and will go. Dylan Brown needs to be signed up for a long time. The question on everyone's lips is how does it get to this? Useless administrators. Reports that Parramatta could lose both players... At least Jake Arthur and Shaun Lane are signed. The young centre Penisini needs to be signed next... or not by those lumbering clowns at Parramatta.
6. NFL. new England Patriots are terrible this year. Belichik in moves to bring Tom Brady back there? Surely not.
7. Marathon. Interesting to see Aussie Brett Robinson broke Deek's incredible 1986 Australian marathon record of 2:07:51 in 2:07:31 in Japan. A 36 year old record! Could be an omen for Parramatta who last won the comp in 1986, if they have any decent players left.
8. Australian Open. Adam Scott...ouch.
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