1. International Test Cricket - World's Best Test Series. The South Africans have always been a formidable opponent. Tough to the end. Down at 6/110 and then 9/425 in their first innings! Incredible fightback.
However our batting in the first innings of Tests has been horrific for some time. Marnus is getting 20-30 runs which is not test standard, but who comes in...Green? Inglis? Patterson? Nic Maddison is not up to it against Rabada. He was always going to smash our batting. He is world class. 74 Tests, 346 Test wickets at an average of 21.97. Up there with the greatest ever.
Our team is going to need to really knuckle down.
The Boland selection looked promising - 5 wickets cannot be disputed, but we really needed Nathan Lyon when we could not get a wicket. Hazelwood has a knack of getting injured, ill or sick when we really need him. Maddison, Labuschagne and Webster just don't cut it as spinners. In fact Webster's career looks over and may never play again if Green is fit.
A tight third test looms. Can anyone think of a worst day to start a Test match on that a Sunday? They must want to kill the concept over there. Zero atmosphere, but a sensational standard of cricket.
2. International Rugby League - 'World' Cup. As much as we love to pretend we have a world game, rugby league is certainly not that. It is a Pacific competition chiefly. Tonga, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia. France are a joke. England are OK, but some of the others... not great. Spirited and fun, but Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Lebanon, Fiji... strugglers. 70, 80 and 90 point wins...not great.
Kangaroos v Fiji. "The Emus" (second tier) team will be on show. Hard to see anything but another 70 point loss for Fiji. World's Best?
3. EPL - Man City. A shock loss to Aston Villa amidst great pressure to be wiped out as a club in disgrace. Sunderland looks in trouble as the black cats continue their topsy turvey year. Spurs look like they have found some form too.
In the Championship (second division), West Ham surge further up the table, travelling in third position (top three are promoted to the EPL) with a massive +17 goal difference, the best in the competition.
4. Sam Konstas. A wonderful week when he hit 150no in the second innings v WA in the Shield and then 149no in the ODI Cup. He can hit cover drives after all, but his string of 20-35 Marnus innings look to be behind him. He needs to bat with poise and composure - and technique. Not ramp shots and other crazy crap.
5. FI - Best in the World - Texas US GP. Kimi Antonelli could wrap up the F1 championship tonight after an incredible year! Piastri is languishing in Mark Webber and Daniel Riccardio territory...on the fringe getting minor points.
6. Phillip Island Moto GP. Ends as a cancellation in miserable weather... off to South Australia next year. 37 years done!
7. MLB World Series. Like that, the Milwaukee Brewers are up 2-0. The Tampa Rays are in strife. One of the lesser light teams will win and secure their first ever MLB World Series Championship. The following teams have never won it:
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