Late Christmas - New Year edition...
1. Big Bash (BBL). Back again for another stint, but there is a sameness about it that may be the start of the sheen being dulled on the concept. No one cares who wins (Heat, Sixers, Scorchers - same winners as usual), with the familiar duds: Stars, Renegades and the usual middling teams: Thunder, Hurricanes, Strikers. Not a lot of these guys in the BBL have progressed to national honours. Maybe only second tier players like Inglis, Wade, Hardie, Abbott, David. Our bowling stocks are very thin - especially spin bowling. Bring back Clive Rose.
My main tip - Beau Webster - is carving it up. He is an Australian player in T20 with bat and ball, no doubt. Has hit 30 years of age too - the customary selection age.
When did the law of cricket change to prevent catches being made cleanly and then touch the ground? It has been happening for a hundred years. Suddenly they are all in question...strange.
2. Tom Curran. The Sydney Sixers are making themselves look stupid. Tom Curran behaved like a goose. You wouldn't see that in the park, let alone in the national scene. Take the ban and move on. Maybe the charge of 'intimidation' is silly, but the actions are worse. Reminds me of the great Colin Croft's effort in New Zealand. No angels there: Bing Videos
3. Dean Elgar. I noticed his international retirement has come now. South African cricket is a shadow of its former self. They are playing three Tests in 2024 as a result and are focusing on ODI and T20 formats. They will need a lot of surgery to bring it back, but are doing OK v India at present. Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla would still bat better than any of the current crop. Not many getting starts in the IPL either.
Elgar's 140+ v India may be a crowning Test moment for him as well (14 Test tons).
4. Pakistan Cricket. Plentiful talent (esp. pacemen!), but they look incapable of getting much right. Injuries, poor fielding, inexplicable stumpinds and run outs, mystery retirements, protests, selection issues...not much has changed there. Banned from the IPL is also one of those issues that needs to be addressed by the ICC. A world game free of discrimination? Hardly. This summer's teams look a bit strange. The West Indian team is unrecognisable. Great for Nathan Lyon who will beat Courtney Walsh's 519 Test wickets against them. Maybe it is time to have Bangladesh come out for a six test series.
5. IPL. For a country with lots of poverty, the money paid in India to Starc and Cummins is absurd. Cameron Green is even worse. Starc's ability to knock over openers early is a massive plus in T20. Not the fault of the players, but is it based on their performances in other ICC forms of the game? If so, the IPL remains a leach on the cricket landscape. A fat, juicy leech at that.
6. Tottenham. They have peeled off three straight wins... Newcastle, Nottingham and the resurgent Everton. Two games against Brighton (one postponed), then Bournemouth and ManU follow. They are back within striking distance of the lead. Liverpool are surging once again!
Talk of Ange eventually joining Man City and ManU is growing louder! ManU have suffered more losses this season in all forms of football that they have since 1930! Ouch. Manager, Erik ten Hag is in quick sand, but holding on!
7. Jarome Luai. Not sure he will still go to the Tigers. The Panthers have an overseas trip to Wigan yet and his current leave is a bad sign for the Tigers. He has won everything of course, but playing for the three time Premiers or wooden spooners may be worth the sacrificed cash. Load up into Year3 of the contract after the $850K two year deal?
8. NRL Player Behaviour. Not one serious NRL off season incident yet. No groping, doping, assaults or arrests. Long may it last. New Year's Eve is always a sterner test. Loss of competition points for the club is the best solution. Mitch Kenny puts a silly social media post out... Honestly. No testing in the off season will do this - ask Valentine Holmes.
9. LIV-PGA Golf. How is this resolution process and peace talks progressing? It sounds like it isn't. Another joke to appease sponsors, but poor communication and lack of transparency seems to be one of golf's greatest challenges on the world stage.
10. MLB - LA Dodgers. Splashing cash like the IPL on heat. Snapping up the best talent, but they have a talent for not producing with talent, regardless of who it is!