1. Australian Test Team to Sri Lanka. Some good signs that the selectors need new blood (and old). Smith's record as skipper is mightily impressive. Hoping for a more balanced approach from Konstas who can bat sensibly and powerfully and a team where the spin of Lyon leads us to victory.
Kuhnemann is fortunate he switched to Tassie in the Shield this season and it has drawn benefits (beating Swepson to the airport). Webster is there to balance the team with his composure and Abbott looks a chance of debuting too.
The great Sri Lankan, Rangana Herath and his left arm orthodox spin gives Cooper Connolly half a chance too. Connolly looks to be a special talent with bat, ball and in the field.
Is it time 'Australia A' played in the BBL as well? Our Australia A team back in 1994-95 was an enthralling team that played in the ODI series as you may recall. Many players then went on to dominate in Australian cricket for the next ten years (Ponting, Hayden, Langer, Lehmann, Merv Hughes). It laid a perfect platform:
2. BBL Warhorses. This past week has seen the great bats step up. Warner is now the leading run scorer with yet another 80+ score carrying his bat for the Thunder. Steve Smith set a mighty standard for the Sixers with 121no and Glenn Maxwell has lifted and has steered the Melbourne Stars to their current ladder position in the top four (at least for now). Amazing eye and hitting power. They have surged back into contention but need a top finish too.
The competition is forming up well for the only two teams who have never won it - the Hobart Hurricanes and the Melbourne Stars. Both are two of the leading teams. The Thunder seem to be imploding with two bad losses in the past week.
3. Australian Open Tennis. Nick Kygrios is hard work. Plenty to say, plenty to add in press conferences where he impersonates NBA players, but as Andy Roddick pointed out he has his own dark demons and worrying police record, so it may be a stretch to have Nick lecturing all the other players on the tour. If only he played, shut up and showed us all what he really has. Clinging to memories of victories over Nadal, Federer and Djokovic in satellite tour games wears a bit thin. One Grand Slam final (walkover v Nadal and a loss to Djokovic), it would be great to celebrate his skill and physical domination, without the mouth.
Did you know Djokovic beat Federer in every Grand Slam final they played bar one?
As always, lots of hype for the local Australian players and great Round 1, 2 or 3 exits await. de Minaur has a chance to shine. Making a semi would be an over achievement there.
Sabalenka looks too good for the women's singles title... even after the first round.
4. Tottenham. Scintillating win v Liverpool in the Carabao Cup this past week 1-0. Ange can beat the big guns and does so regularly. It is the minnows he struggles with and so tonight v Tamworth in the FA Cup will have the critics baying for blood if they do not win and win well.
5. NFL. The Ravens deliver and the Bills look good things as well. The Lions are the faves at this point.
6. A League. The Central Coast Mariners and Western Sydney Wanderers have been the disappointments in 2024-2025. Mid table and losing tight games...the same old story. They both need to start to surge now... or perish.
7. NBL. The South East Melbourne Phoenix have recovered from their disastrous table low start to the season and sit mid table now. The Kings need to tighten up now at 14-10. They can produce better than this!
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