1. Australian Test Cricket. Some remarkable work in recent weeks (Warner 200, Khawaja 195no, Cummins/ Lyon/ Starc/ Green with the ball). However, Dave Warner as Man of the Series v South Africa was a bit rich. One score (of significance and under immense pressure in awful conditions), but Travis Head was the consistent one with blistering assaults on some of the fastest bowling in the world. Green stamped his class (how good is he in the gully?) and Alex Carey seems like such a sensible operator whose work up to the stumps to Boland was first class.
Warner looked a bit embarrassed to be fair.
The umpiring of those close catches was dreadful. Too analytical and too many dodgy angles when the ground falls away off the pitch square. All of them were out. The on-field umpires are simply overruled regardless of what they think. Nathan Lyon was dudded three wickets in the end. Paul 'Popgun' Reiffel would have been sulking for weeks had he received one of his own decisions today at the SCG that he gave out!
2. Matthew Renshaw. An interesting addition, but we are in strife if he is our next best. He was well behind some of the others - Handscomb and even 'Singlet Sam' - Cameron Bancroft. I'd prefer to see Jordan Silk there to be honest.
We never seem to hear a lot about the Australian Cricket Academy as a pathway to test cricket excellence (as it once was), but it needs to be resurrected. Cricket selections confound and baffle. Cash bonuses for Test players need to be ramped right up too. If it is lucrative and popular to play, it will always be strong. The corrupt countries struggle to see its worth and have little appreciation for its majestic past.
3. BBL. Big crowds and TV ratings are returning in season 2022-2023. Every night can wear thin, but the crowds love it. The most valuable player - Jordan Silk. So sensible in a crisis and the best catcher and fieldsman in the comp. Like Dan Christian. These guys are under valued, but are huge in the scheme of things.
4. NFL. The playoffs close in. New England suddenly have the impossible...a win over the Bills to secure a wild card spot, but who have rallied so tightly over Damar Hamlin who was freakishly injured and near killed on prime viewing TV. Hamlin sounds a lot better so that is a relief.
5. Daniel Anderson. A great friend of The Wrap and strong rugby league ambassador is in a bad way at present after another freak moment. We wish him every strength and support on his recovery too. A man who has stared adversity down so many times in his life and who has triumphed every time to be the pre-eminent recruitment leader in the NRL...with a coaching record better than so many in so many contexts.
6. The Warriors. Getting the feeling they may be a sleeper in season 2023. They have such talent, but coach Webster is not interested in the media hoopla and has recruited soundly too. One to watch. The Knights and Titans are already a worry.
7. Celtic. Stretching to 12 points ahead of the Old Firm rival in Rangers and $100 million spent on transfers... Ange will be getting the EPL tap on the shoulder soon! Lots of Japanese superstars in the team makes them very unique too in the Scottish Premier League.
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