The Wrap - A Pitch That Is Not What it Seams

1. MCG Pitch. Interviewing the head groundsman before a Test is fraught with danger. Especially when they talk of a 10mm grass surface left on the pitch. It may not seem that much, but it sounds horrific to the layperson, especially when the ball moves around so much. Apologising afterwards is a little pathetic too. Fancy rolling out the heads groundsman to bake him publicly. The drop in deck is the issue.

Incredible how we now have three of the biggest seaming decks in world cricket now (Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne). Sydney will no doubt serve up a couple of wet days which will help the broadcasters get to a fifth day! Are we meant to feel sorry for Cricket Australia? Hardly. They are money grabbing and their pathetic inability to make the BBL a dominant force tells us that THEY are bad for business.

The batsmen however seemed disinterested in gutsing it out. They played like they had already won the Ashes. The Steve Smith impact was cut short for the same reason... he was reckless in exposing the tail when batting and slow to bring Boland on in the fourth innings as well. He wasn't at his best either. Rarely is he ever bowled.

2. Batsman on Notice. Weatherald, Marnus, Usman, Green and Carey all gave in far too easily. They also did it in two successive innings each. The Green run out, the Usman catch at fine leg, the Marnus silly drive...pathetic really.

All of them bar Carey are on notice and some careers will again come under the spotlight before and then in Sydney. Green bowls so infrequently to warrant his spot, but bowling at 140kph makes him valuable. If only the captains (Cummins and Smith) saw it too. His fielding has been so so, and his batting extravagant and ill disciplined. Ironically, his age is probably saving him more than anything else at present.

Our long list of failed all rounders spring to mind... Trevor Laughlin, Gary Cosier, Peter Sleep, Bruce Yardley, Tony Dodemaide, Simon O'Donnell, Trevor Chappell, Greg Matthews, Brendan Julian, Mark Waugh (averaged 40 with both), Steve Waugh, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson and Mitchell Marsh all failed in one of the two disciplines. If a great bat, their bowling was ordinary and vice versa.... or ordinary in both.

Green is no Jacques Kallis.  Yet England just peel them off... Tony Greig, Ian Botham, Freddy Flintoff and Ben Stokes are all well above our lot.  Even Richie Benaud and Allan Davidson only averaged in the 24 range with the bat in Tests. (Paul Reiffel averaged better with the bat after a smiliar number of tests - 26.55). Keith Miller was the last legendary Australian all rounder who excelled with bat and ball... seventy to eighty years ago. They are hard to find.

3. Next SCG Test. A 3-2 series result looms based on our batting form. Our batting has been suspect for a long time. We need some new blood. These advertisements for cash are taxing on the body. Nathan Lyon, Pat 'The Cash' Cummins and Hazelwood have all struggled with the weight of silly advertisements. The cricket can get quite inconvenient, but so long as the cash rolls in!

4. Sydney to Hobart Yachting Race. It is hard to find anyone who actually cares. The footage and race coverage has been unchanged and ordinary for the past 50 years. You get footage travelling out the heads, a few still photos, a dodgy satellite phone link or two and that is about it. No scorecard or ongoing update. Boring. Then the champagne shot on the dock in Hobart and that is it. Poor footage and sadly the rich blokes retire it all for a year and sip their champagne. Are we meant to cheer? 

5. BBL. Some cracking games so far, especially by the Melbourne Stars (the only franchise that has never won it!), but how the comp lacks star power. Most of the 'stars' are in South Africa for their version. It has been on the decline for the past four or five years. Incredible batting is quite stunning - especially at the Gabba, but the bowling struggles. Remarkably, Peter Siddle is still dominating.

The Thunder are dreadful again never having secured a top bat since Hussey and Kallis dominated for them. They already have five wooden spoons and look set for a sixth this season.

A Vlandy's type slot for BBL - all private stakeholders world wide - is surely the future. One from 'SportsBet'..'TAB'...'NEDs'...Channel 7...Foxtel...Telstra... Toyota and an energy company and they are all set.

6. NFL. One and a half rounds remain and the play offs are upon us. The Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks look safe. The Bears too. The Patriots should roll the Jets...then the Dolphins. They have had a remarkable year.

7. EPL. Aston Villa have had a great season currently sitting in third spot with Man City above them in second spot. Awesome seasons and extended undefeated stretches for both clubs. Arsenal lead, but don't look super convincing at present. The three relegated teams are almost determined - Wolves (2), Burnley (12) and West Ham (13 points). Tottenham and Notts Forest both continue to look shaky.

8. Winter Olympics 2026. "It's Your Vibe" is the theme... if you live in a country or a part of a country with snow. Bring back Cool Runnings...or Jana Pittman.

The Wrap - Ashes Obliteration

1. The Ashes. Losing Pat Cummins, Josh Hazelwood and Steve Smith (and now Nathan Lyon who has suffered the 'old man disease' of calf injuries and hamstring strains!) - and still 3-0 up after a record minimum number of 11 Test playing days. So many rising stars. Travis Head has been superb (and needed to lift), but has done an amazing job. He is Man of the Series suddenly, fractionally in front of Starc who has scored more runs than most of the English batsmen. Alex Carey has also really become a star. He is in the top five players in that team now. 

Marnus ' hands were exceptional. Incredible match changing catches. Khawaja returned solidly with his first innings 80 setting up the team nicely. That gets him to Sydney under the weight of his 39th birthday this past week. Older than Bob Holland, Colin Cowdrey and Bob Simpson when they last played tests! 

Inglis has not demonstrated his true skill and will give way to Steve Smith upon his return. Weatherald will also need a score in the Boxing Day Test that is for sure. Pat Cummins has all but announced he won't be there. (I wonder whether Pat will play in the IPL? That cash cow seems to get a lot of priority. Hazelwood will be good to go there too of course).

With the Ashes done, England are likely to play around with their team selections. Watch them implode and no doubt the injuries will surface. Will Jacks is not a spinner who will win you Tests, but can bat. Carse is loose and Jofra is so inconsistent. It is time for Pope to go and Duckett too. Harry Brook needs to stay for England's future, but arrogance can bring many stars undone.

2. Cameron Green. He received $4 million at the IPL auction mid week, in an auction that really has narrowed off international cricketer involvement now. Memo to self: when playing India in nonsense T20 games, you are actually playing for an IPL contract! Mainly young Indian players seem to be their targets, receiving cheaper contracts too.

Green's form has been dreadful. When Travis Head bowls more overs than you, you are in trouble. He has been out 23 times LBW or bowled in his 55 Test innings. That is the problem. Lumbering, slow feet. Our best batsmen have always been quick on their feet...Ponting, Steve Waugh, AB, Michael Clarke. 

Beau Webster surely comes in for Green. A miracle catch at the death could have reassured us all, but it went through Green's mits. He has missed a few half chances. No wickets and no runs. TFC.

3. NRL. They were dancing in O'Connell Street when news came through that Sean Russell is signed to be playing at the Perth Bears in 2027. He is the last of the Brad Arthur favourites. The Bears continue to sign ordinary, recycled Super League players and fringe first graders or underdone youngsters. They are in for the spoon for a number of years now with the list so far. No leaders and no strong forwards...no quick halves. Mal Meninga is under a lot of pressure.

Interesting to hear how the Eels blueprint for future excellence was ignored a few years back and went to Penrith instead. Subsequently, Matt Cameron has become one of the best NRL CEO's ever ...up the M4 instead.

4. EPL. At the turn of the season, Arsenal lead the way, but the hunt is on! Man City are nearing and Haaland is still scoring goals for fun. More goals in a season than games played is dominant! He is so strong, tall and powerful, with pace. Somewhat invincible. The Tottenham misery story continues with another loss and Notts Forest are pressing for demotion. There a plenty hoping for their demise.

Celtic are in a spot of bother too. Could be three coaches in a season soon! Brutal world of coaching.

5. A-League. The world's longest tournament sees Auckland and Sydney FC at the top. The Wanderers are falling fast to ninth. No matter, there are a million games remaining. The underdogs, Newcastle Jets, are quietly over achieving too!

6. Boxing. Jake Paul was hammered by Anthony Joshua. There was no technique and AJ had to chase him around the ring. Easier to work on social media than earn money in the ring. It doesn't hurt as much. A double broken jaw for Jake Paul. Perhaps he will retire now, but has made a lot of money from the boxing game.

7. NFL. Only a handful of rounds to go now. Critical wins by the Bears (22- 16 over the Packers) and the Eagles (29-18 over the Commanders) today to set them both up for the playoffs now.

8. NBA. The Sydney Kings are beating those lower than on the table than them, but not much else. Fourth with many more games to come. Still attracting big crowds, especially on a Sunday afternoon.

The Wrap - A Messi Time

1.The Ashes. England seem to be full of words and theories. It would be a sensation for a 3-0 start and end to the series by Australia. We have led 2-0 before and stumbled however. Many doubted Australia in the lead in, citing the English batting strength, but Starc and Head - and Smith - have been the difference. English arrogance has helped too. 

Their batsmen have faltered. They seem to have a pretty odd view of how to play on Australian pitches and have run into some moisture in two areas of the country who have had a fair bit of unseasonal rain (Perth and Brisbane) over the past three months. That changes the conditions of play quickly. The mental side of the game is where the biggest difference is evident.

A bit sad when the biggest story of the week is either a holiday snap of an English player at the beach or a security guard getting feisty. Bring on the games and compress the tour. 

The Big Bash is underway again with the Hobart Hurricanes winning the womens' competition - and the carry over champs in the mens' competition. A very successful state!

2, NRL - Wests Tigers. What was the Pratten Park protest about? It looked like 500-1,000 people worried about the fate of a club which is a complete mess. How pathetic is the in-fighting and backflipping? They can't win a comp - and they extend Benji Marshall until 2030? The thought of Brad Arthur taking the reins was a hopeful note for the fans. If you are a player interested in building a career and winning, you are out of there.

Harry Grant. Golden Boot winner is well deserved. He is a sensational competitor and player. No real kicking game but an attacking and defensive game like few others can match. Tough. 

Liam Henry. Talented but hardly going to put the Perth Bears in the top eight. They are in trouble. The toughest job for Mal Meninga since his political career sunk after 30 seconds.

3. Oscar Piastri. A respectable third place in the end to Lando Norris, but it is a missed opportunity after having a sizeable lead mid season. The politics and nonsense from McLaren and others needs to end. Verstappen was superb and almost won the thing from nowhere.

We can forget that while Piastri finished third, Mark Webber finished third too - three times! 

4. EPL. Arsenal got lucky with some own goals and skipped away again for a five point lead. Man City and Chelsea are snapping at their heels. Liverpool are regathering a bit of fight. Mo Saleh should never be dropped. He has the most goals and goal assists for a single EPL club on record. Hard to beat!

Sydney FC are on top of the comp, but the Western Sydney Wanderers are struggling still mid table. Still working on the pronunciation of the Sydney FC coach's name: Ufuk Talay.

5. IOC. Remember when the rorts and the corruption ruled the processes and decisions made there by Samaranch and his cronies. FIFA has always been concerning, but the big sports seem to attract the greed and 'favour seeking' folk. 

6. India - Messi. Very messy after Kolkota fans go beserk after spending a lot and getting nothing for it! Apparently all the police and security got the photos and the fan's paid a month's salary to see him, getting no photos or a chance to see him kick a ball. Not sure why you would pay so much for a glimpse from the stands. A great corrupt promotion by the sounds.

7. NFL - New England Patriots. On a 10 game winning streak and up against the feisty Bills from Buffalo. A big statement game. The play off crunch is also fast approaching. A big weekend for the Ravens, Rams, Eagles and 49ers who need critical season turning wins. The Kansas City Chiefs are teetering and inexplicably stand to miss the play offs after so much recent success.

8. Winter Olympics. It is nearly that time again when we claim US residents with a distant Australian relative for our own. They are busy down at the archives in the passport office.

 

The Wrap - A Starc Reminder

1. The Ashes. Mitchell Starc looks like he will be winning the Benson and Hedges Audi for the Best Player of the summer, two tests in! He has really dominated with the ball taking 18 wickets already after two tests - and hits 75 with the bat. Handy.

Starc is now up to 420 Test wickets (the most prolific left armer ever!), passing the 'Turbinator' Harbajan Singh (417), nearing Shaun Pollock (421) with Sir Richard Hadlee (431) and Herath (433) that little further along in the most ever Test wickets lists. (Curiously, Lyon sits one behind McGrath (563) on 562 Test wickets.

It is Starc's strike rate that is exceptional. For those who have played 50+ tests:  Rabada (39.51), Steyn (42.38), Bumrah (42.96), Waqar Younis (43.49) and Cummins (45.91) and Starc (46.40). Boland is also remarkable in only 16 tests (36.85).

Joe Root was outstanding in the first innings, hitting his 40th Test century. An awesome performance. He is one behind Ponting (41), then Kallis (45) and Tendulkar (51). He is in the elite to ever play the game. Incredible surge in the latter part of his career. How great was Kallis? Cameron Green should be arranging a visit to meet him pronto! His composure sometimes is woeful and his efforts in the gully were so so.

2. Umpire Decisions. The decision to drop Nathan Lyon was silly in some ways. The Gabba takes spin. Doggett and Neser are steady bowlers at best, but under lights the job was done with Boland, Neser and Starc. Neser's 5/not many in the second innings tells us it was a good decision. Lyon needs to be a little more humble in accepting selection calls. He has had a charmed run and no one likes a brat. 

The Duckett dismissal in the second innings with the ball keeping a little low would normally have worried the Australian team, but for the Poms and their terrible collapse. The fourth innings at the Gabba is not one of our best...think of the Test loss to India and West Indies in recent years. Chasing 50 was not a threat of course. 150 may have been different! Why we don't start the series there like we did for a million years is beyond belief.

Weatherald was the most impressive bat for us and Carey continues to go from strength to strength. Steve Smith is something else. He is fast developing the best captaincy record!

3. Advertising Your Soul. Would it be good advice to get Pat Cummins to stop being an advertisement slave (Liqorland, Westpac, Gillette) and apparent big head, and just focus on getting healthy and being the Australian skipper? The adverts do nothing for our view of him. Steer clear of the nonsense and funny guy lines. 

Hard to remember Steve Waugh, Ponting or Clarke doing this... although Tubby and his Fujitsu air conditioning did happen! I think Richie Benaud promoted bryll cream, but not three brands in half an hour.

4. Australian Open Golf. Amazing crowds for the Stonehaven Cup. Great to see Cam Smith bounce back, but Kim and Scott were impressive too. Melbourne really love their sport. They are exceptional. Thankfully Rory got through the cut. Refreshing to see his air swing as well. It provides hope to all. Tough lie it must be said!

Smith let it slip late and it probably summed up his year, but the Dane was too good. A great putt from him on the 18th. Rasmus Neergaard-Peterson has a name better than the golf game. Never short of a attractive partner either on the golf tour.

5. FIFA World Cup Draw. We could not have gotten a better run in Group D, but will still struggle. To play the USA, Paraguay and a lower ranked rival as a European qualifier, we could not ask for better. Tony Popovic will have his work cut out and needs to correct the recent national slide. He did well to get us there this time around really.

6. F1 - Season Decider. Oscar Piastri is unfortunately on the brink of extinction. Being on the second row of the Abu Dhabi GP is not good enough to win it. The front row has always won there. Max Vertappen is on pole and well positioned. Piastri's post long break form has not been up to scratch and Lando Norris will need a complete blow out not to win. No one will be surprised if the great Max Verstappen wins the lot too. A sensational comeback. One of the closest seasons on recent record.

7. Wests Tigers. No wonder no one can play for that mob. They don't know what is going on. They fight, scramble and back bite, yet look to blame everyone else. They don't know if they are the Magpies or the Tigers. The Jack Gibson quote - 'winning starts in the front office' has never been truer. What hope do you have as a player? Luai needs to get out of there. Galvin could see it. Benji is not the answer long term and Shane Richardson is about to exit, so it seems.

They have recruited no one in the off season and are light on for forwards. They will be mid table again in 2026, if not lower.

8. Sam Konstas. A first innings ton is a thing of beauty in any long form cricket game. It has been a long time, but we still need to see him hitting fours down the ground to be a Test cricket batsman. The work in the 'V' is not strong enough. He loves it square of the wicket or behind the stumps. Great bowlers find such players out.

9. EPL. The great run of Arsenal ends at the hands of Aston Villa. Man City are back in it with that stumble. Everton are again showing a tenacity to hold their own at the highest level. Since 1992 when the EPL started there are only a small band of clubs never to have been relegated...ManU, Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea - and Everton. 

Surprisingly, Man City were relegated in 2000/2001. They have been relegated four times from the top flight!

Notts Forest are also back where they deserve, losing games too. The behaviour of their players and club under Postocoglou is not forgotten. Relegation could not happen to a nicer bunch of turn coats who refuse to take personal responsibility for their performance. Relegation beckons. 

10. NFL. The Patriots crushed the hapless NY Giants to go to 11-2 and are absolutely dominating... even if some think they have had it easy in the draw. The Broncos, Eagles, Rams and the mighty Bears (think William Perry, 'the Refrigerator' ) are all in line for playoffs. Perry was also apparently called "biscuit" by his team mates - one biscuit short of 350 pounds!