1. Test Cricket. Lyon dropped and England would have been salivating at possibly getting a nemesis out of the way...only to realise that Scott Boland is in and offers an impressive Test cricket record: 14 tests/ 56 wickets (average 17.66). Most of his wickets have been against England, including the famous 6/7 at the MCG! However, the deck is also turning which means that Lyon could have played after all.
An awesome amphitheatre at Kingston, Jamaica. A little worried about the cost and reliability of electricity to this tiny community (popn. 580,000). It is quite extraordinary that they produced the number of cricketers and the highest of standards that they did. Very sad that Michael Holding wants nothing to do with cricket anymore too. He and Courtney Walsh were two of the Jamaican greats.
The swagger and exceptional fielding of the West Indian cricketers was the key memory. Raucous crowds and unbelievable atmospheres there have faded.
Our Test batting averages now are reminiscent of the days of Craig Sergeant (23.72), Rick Darling (25.81), Paul Hibbert (7.5), Julian Weiner (25.54), Dav Whatmore (22.54), Trevor Laughlin (17.4) and Peter Toohey (31.89) - not forgetting the greatest 'duck or a hundred' man, Graeme Wood (31.83), where the very best hit 30!
Thankfully we have Steve Smith playing shots early. Khawaja, Konstas and Green almost put the 1,500 strong crowd to sleep. Green (average 34) can play, but gee he gets bowled and LBW a lot. Of his 50 Test innings he has been LBW 8 times and Bowled 14 times. Technique issues.
2. State of Origin - NRL. The NSW Origin effort in Game 3 (and Game 2) was absolutely sub par. Laurie Daley needs to recognise this and go. Sad he cannot yet. His coaching loss record - despite his friendship with Dave Trodden (NSWRL) - is poor in Origin. Ricky Stuart or Joey Johns is our man.
The Queenslanders were immense. Their culture and winning style is phenomenal. It sadly doesn't get better than this for NSW. Munster and others delivered. DCE? Not missed and the perfect response.
3. NRL. The competition these days is really now unable to cope with the massive disruption of Origin. The games are so competitive, but now we get players rested after missing out on the very best of contests over recent weeks. This includes Nathan Cleary. The game is now too professional for this. It is a 1980s hangover model.
Rather, where is our NRL Combine? Our NRL Draft? Our NRL All Stars game after the Grand Final? NRL could be much greater.
4. AFL. The split from the top nine teams to the rest is quite pronounced and really the question is, based on current form, can the Western Bulldogs make it? The rest looked locked in. The Swans are trying hard (now), but are teetering with themselves to blame. They are 12 points behind eighth position (Freo). That is three wins. They need a few losses higher up the table. The competition is still up for grabs. No absolutely dominant force at all. Nice to see the Gold Coast starting to deliver more. Des Hasler will be watching closely!
5. Wimbledon. Iva Swaitek crushed her US opponent, Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the most devastating win (and loss) since Steffi Graf did it to Zvereva at the French Open in 1988. The last Wimbledon final "bagel" was in 1911! She wins the Venus Rosewater dish. She has an imposing recent record and is the best Polish tennis player since Henner Henkel!
Swaitek now has four French Open titles, one US Open and one Wimbledon championship. Her six Grand Slam titles takes her past Monica Seles and Maria Sharapova (5 titles). She is now one behind Venus Williams and Justine Henin (7 titles each).
The inevitable is also upon us in the men's final: Sinner v Alcaraz once again. Sinner looking for his first Wimbledon crown and Alcaraz undefeated in Grand Slam finals! They have won seven of the last eight Grand Slams between them.
- Alcaraz (5 titles) has two French Open wins, two Wimbledon wins and one US Open win.
- Sinner (3 titles) has two Australian Open wins and one US Open win.
With a win, Alcaraz joins Becker and Edberg on six Grand Slam titles. Did you know Stefan Edberg is the only tennis player ever to hold a world junior tennis Grand Slam (1983)?
Our doubles hope - Rinky Hijikata - lost in two sets. Rinky is no phantom. He was a crack world junior player and is rated in the top echelons of doubles players world wide.
6. British and Irish Lions. Thumped the B-Team NZ and Australia 48-0... oh no! The Wallabies could be beaten by 50. James Slipper and James O'Connor (?) cannot be our key hopes surely? Joe Schmidt looks out of ideas...like Laurie Daley's half time Origin #3 speech.
7. Ange Postocoglou. A great example of how fame can be very temporary. He has become quieter than Bruce Hornsby and the Range's new album in recent weeks. No sign of his next step, but it is not looking great for a European gig at present. Perhaps the player transfers are most important now. No coach wants to go to a club that is as tight fisted as Tottenham. They then never win titles and blame the coach, who gets sacked!
8. US PGA. Aaron Baddeley misses the cut at the ISCO Open and Rory gets his act together at the Scottish Open to share the lead after three rounds (-11). Elvis Smylie (-1) and Adam Scott (-3) behind, but on those courses you get a good look at the grass and local landscape when playing on Sunday.
