1. NFL New England Patriots. An era like no other, but a bad loss whatever way you look at it in the Super Bowl. Now all together in your best Elton John impersonation: "Phil-a-delphian Eagles...I love-ve-ve, you.....yes I do!".
2. Bulldogs NRL Board. Gotta love an NRL board overthrow...it gets those journalists going. Renee Castle might just be laughing to herself right about now...and Des Hasler. Dib will no doubt hand this one over to his lawyers as well. The game stops for no one's ego.
3. English Super League. Hull v Wigan...? Great to see they think Australia is a good launch place, but is this a good idea? Hard to think there is much interest. Reasonable crowd, but not a great standard. Can't see them coming back in a hurry.
4. Australia v England T20 Cricket. Our bowling and fielding was exemplary. Maxwell was superb...and D'Arcy Short will be there for some time to come. When he unleashes without fear of retaining his spot, he will climb higher. The top five are a lot more formidable in the shortest form of the game. Warner is in terrible nick, but I really like his captaincy. Communicative, authoritative and purposeful. How well does Chris Lynn hit the ball? He is a million dollar plus player in the IPL and looked worth every cent. He can change a game and should be the highest paid T20 player in the world before long.
How bad was the Shield batting again this weekend? I fear that Duke ball is going to roll us again in England (think Jimmy Anderson, Woakes, Broad), but a good initiative to be exposed to it at least. Worldwide expectations when a team is playing abroad are extremely low. Hopefully the South African series turns the tables our way!
5. Virat Kholi. For those who may not have seen it v South Africa in the ODI format, he has scored two centuries in the last 3 innings he has played (the third was 75 - and four centuries in the last six innings overall). Kohli is 15 tons shy of Tendulkar's ODI centuries record but is no where near the number of innings it took Tendulkar. His average now is the highest ever of anyone playing more than 35 innings - ever. Legend.
6. AB Medal. Farcical structure, making very few players eligible to win it. Only those playing all three formats. It is Smith v Warner...Starc and Cummins a small sniff. Elyse Perry should romp it in.
7. T20 Channel 9. The spidercam fiasco where it held up play for a few minutes in the T20 is typical Channel 9 now. They can’t take a trick. Won’t be long before TV changes forever.
8. Quayde Cooper. I have to agree with Brad Thorn’s brutality. Cooper is an under performer of late. Bad attitudes are not required in modern sport. Not that Quayde will care as the money still rolls in. The Reds faired well in the Global Rugby 10s. Seems that every derivative in the spectrum is now being delivered by rugby...is their authentic 15's version not a palatable product?
9. Women’s AFL. Great crowd in Freo. 41,000!!! Bigger than all games in the NRL outside the GF. 41,000 used to be the Grand Final crowd at the SFS. Low scoring games, but the AFL should mandate all teams are required to field a women's team to play in the comp. Why they can't precede the main AFL game is anyone's guess.
10. A-League. Sydney FC are just too dominant. They can engrave the dunny seat trophy now. When will soccer ban players quizzing the refs and approaching them. 5 metre radius rule!
11. Winter Olympics drones. Spectacular. Not really a high interest sport in Australia. Rich surfers on holidays mainly.
12. EPL. Once again Arsenal under perform. 5 points adrift of the top 5 of Man City, MaN U, Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea. They spend and spend with no outcome in the EPL. Wenger surely cannot continue to last. He picks up a mid week chalice while the main cups disappear year in year out. West Brom seem destined to drop now and Huddersfield need some magic. They have not scored points since 17 December 2017 when they beat Watford. Some good FA Cup results, but no winning points for a month or two will see you relegated too. Fire up! They are absolutely due v Bournemouth tonight.
Sunday, February 11, 2018
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Wrap - Biff and Belichick
1. Australian T20 Team. The T20 team looked energetic and enthusiastic - and crisp in the field v New Zealand. Great too see some youth. Yet another terrible SCG pitch with some unlucky weather. It is just about the first T20 game that has been weather affected all season!
Unfortunately, Channel 9's commentary just sounds so flat and stale compared to the Channel Ten Big Bash commentary team. They are lagging behind with an old, tired formula. In fact with the T20 it was an ideal chance to make a difference, but instead we got the same lazy approach...no Twitter comments, little fun...no 'fan involvement'. It is all about themselves. Backyard cricket clips, local cricket heroes, crowd catches...these things are loved by the fans. It is not hard - or expensive.
Instead, on Channel 9 you get the world's most complicated Classic Catches competition and a string of selling items and profiteering. People are over it. KP is also trying too hard to be the new Tony Greig. Tony would caaaarve him up every time. They have massive problems.
The other noticeable thing is that Australian cricket fans love the BBL (for all its flaws - catching poor, umpiring terrible at times) and the crowd was noticeably smaller for the national team's game (weather affected), but I somehow suspect the blazing sun may not have made that much difference.
Stanlake at pace, hitting spots will be an awesome presence in years ahead. Accuracy has always been his nemesis.
Nathan Lyon did himself no favours in Canberra for the PM XI getting smashed for five sixes in an over by David Willey. His T20 cards are now marked again. Unfair and unfortunate perhaps, but the reality.
2. BBL #07 Final. Not sure why they play it at 4.00pm on a Sunday afternoon after playing night games all year? Some of the people who design semi final draws have rocks in their heads. They spend time and money on the whole competition and then end it in a hurry - changing the conditions of the comp. Think Super 15s, A League.
Jake Weatherell's innings (115 off 70 balls) in a final was awesome. Funny how experienced cricketers rise to the top in these sorts of games - Bailey, Siddle, Laughlin...An outbreak of silly failed ramp shots when under pressure, piled more misery on. The Hurricanes decision not to open with Wade was a bad one. He hit unbelievably in the last game and was benched! Paine's batting is a real problem. Test cricket form is sound, but other forms of the game see better options.
It must be said that the BBL umpiring standard has been poor. The decisions around LBW have been horrible at times. The McDermott decision was horrible at a clutch time. The Hurricanes may have set a new benchmark of consistent yorkers in a defensive bowling effort. Siddle was excellent. An awesome crowd too. Love the BBL.
3. ICC U/19 World Cup. How we beat India in any form of cricket - ever - will become a bigger mystery as the years roll by. Their population and love of the game means we are highly unlikely to ever dominate them in the future like we once did. Rightfully, the IPL auction favours Indian cricketers and provides opportunities. They are building a fortress and the dominance of their U/19 team will be a big part of that. I noticed Austin Waugh did not really figure in the team that much. He has ridiculous pressure on him the poor bugger.
4. Penrith Rugby League Salary Cap. Gus Gould looks after players, especially if they are becoming negative, confused or under performing based on off field issues. Look at Tiaire Martin at the NQ Cowboys last year, Moylan to the Sharks, Hiku to the Warriors this year, Leilani Latu and Bryce Cartwright to the Titans. His salary cap is interesting. He is the master at locking players in for many years (Dean Whare is signed till 2022), but most will never get there. He locks them in, gives certainty and then the pressure of their personal demons - or a generous early release to another local or overseas club occurs. Simply, he has so many outstanding up and coming juniors in the farm he has refined, that he can't afford to invest in those not producing.
5. Superbowl. The Tom Brady-Bill Belichick show rolls on tomorrow morning Australian time. Brady's press conferences with one glove on his hand are a bit odd I must confess, but he is the biggest name in US sports and he pretty much can do what he needs to do. Their favouritism is immense, but might be the only thing that can defeat them.
6. Women's AFL. How successful is this competition? Amazing and shows the appetite Victorians hold for the AFL. A shame Sydney have not joined the party with a decent ground and team from the Swans.
7. Darts. Noticed some biff in the darts on the weekend involving the two time world champion, Adrian Lewis. Amazing scenes, but big crowds and big money can have that affect. Women's darts may calm them all down and threaten the empire even more.
8. Davis Cup. Our doubles domination in Davis Cup was the lynchpin when we had the two Woodies - ford and -bridge. The combinations recently are left field and not stable...Guccione, Groth (ret.), Peers, Millman, Ebden, even Hewitt himself...This hurt the tie. Kgyrios has the potential to rocket up the charts worldwide but his showdown with Zverev was hugely disappointing. Kgyrios may have improved a little but he is still a brat. Young Alex de Minaur is an exciting prospect. He is fearless and talented.
9. EPL. Man City are so far ahead that a draw, a few losses and a few more problems could not see them lose this year. The other teams need to stock up to challenge. Arsenal seem to have done that in the January transfer window, but are perennial under achievers.
10. J-Day. An outstanding pressure win at Torrey Pines earlier this week. Shame about the empty crowd situation on the last day...poor really. That was possibly more absurd than the never ending play off.
The world record golf crown in Phoenix, Arizona for the Phoenix Open this week was outrageous! Great PGA support and how hard is it to win a tour event these days? Unbelievable standard.
Unfortunately, Channel 9's commentary just sounds so flat and stale compared to the Channel Ten Big Bash commentary team. They are lagging behind with an old, tired formula. In fact with the T20 it was an ideal chance to make a difference, but instead we got the same lazy approach...no Twitter comments, little fun...no 'fan involvement'. It is all about themselves. Backyard cricket clips, local cricket heroes, crowd catches...these things are loved by the fans. It is not hard - or expensive.
Instead, on Channel 9 you get the world's most complicated Classic Catches competition and a string of selling items and profiteering. People are over it. KP is also trying too hard to be the new Tony Greig. Tony would caaaarve him up every time. They have massive problems.
The other noticeable thing is that Australian cricket fans love the BBL (for all its flaws - catching poor, umpiring terrible at times) and the crowd was noticeably smaller for the national team's game (weather affected), but I somehow suspect the blazing sun may not have made that much difference.
Stanlake at pace, hitting spots will be an awesome presence in years ahead. Accuracy has always been his nemesis.
Nathan Lyon did himself no favours in Canberra for the PM XI getting smashed for five sixes in an over by David Willey. His T20 cards are now marked again. Unfair and unfortunate perhaps, but the reality.
2. BBL #07 Final. Not sure why they play it at 4.00pm on a Sunday afternoon after playing night games all year? Some of the people who design semi final draws have rocks in their heads. They spend time and money on the whole competition and then end it in a hurry - changing the conditions of the comp. Think Super 15s, A League.
Jake Weatherell's innings (115 off 70 balls) in a final was awesome. Funny how experienced cricketers rise to the top in these sorts of games - Bailey, Siddle, Laughlin...An outbreak of silly failed ramp shots when under pressure, piled more misery on. The Hurricanes decision not to open with Wade was a bad one. He hit unbelievably in the last game and was benched! Paine's batting is a real problem. Test cricket form is sound, but other forms of the game see better options.
It must be said that the BBL umpiring standard has been poor. The decisions around LBW have been horrible at times. The McDermott decision was horrible at a clutch time. The Hurricanes may have set a new benchmark of consistent yorkers in a defensive bowling effort. Siddle was excellent. An awesome crowd too. Love the BBL.
3. ICC U/19 World Cup. How we beat India in any form of cricket - ever - will become a bigger mystery as the years roll by. Their population and love of the game means we are highly unlikely to ever dominate them in the future like we once did. Rightfully, the IPL auction favours Indian cricketers and provides opportunities. They are building a fortress and the dominance of their U/19 team will be a big part of that. I noticed Austin Waugh did not really figure in the team that much. He has ridiculous pressure on him the poor bugger.
4. Penrith Rugby League Salary Cap. Gus Gould looks after players, especially if they are becoming negative, confused or under performing based on off field issues. Look at Tiaire Martin at the NQ Cowboys last year, Moylan to the Sharks, Hiku to the Warriors this year, Leilani Latu and Bryce Cartwright to the Titans. His salary cap is interesting. He is the master at locking players in for many years (Dean Whare is signed till 2022), but most will never get there. He locks them in, gives certainty and then the pressure of their personal demons - or a generous early release to another local or overseas club occurs. Simply, he has so many outstanding up and coming juniors in the farm he has refined, that he can't afford to invest in those not producing.
5. Superbowl. The Tom Brady-Bill Belichick show rolls on tomorrow morning Australian time. Brady's press conferences with one glove on his hand are a bit odd I must confess, but he is the biggest name in US sports and he pretty much can do what he needs to do. Their favouritism is immense, but might be the only thing that can defeat them.
6. Women's AFL. How successful is this competition? Amazing and shows the appetite Victorians hold for the AFL. A shame Sydney have not joined the party with a decent ground and team from the Swans.
7. Darts. Noticed some biff in the darts on the weekend involving the two time world champion, Adrian Lewis. Amazing scenes, but big crowds and big money can have that affect. Women's darts may calm them all down and threaten the empire even more.
8. Davis Cup. Our doubles domination in Davis Cup was the lynchpin when we had the two Woodies - ford and -bridge. The combinations recently are left field and not stable...Guccione, Groth (ret.), Peers, Millman, Ebden, even Hewitt himself...This hurt the tie. Kgyrios has the potential to rocket up the charts worldwide but his showdown with Zverev was hugely disappointing. Kgyrios may have improved a little but he is still a brat. Young Alex de Minaur is an exciting prospect. He is fearless and talented.
9. EPL. Man City are so far ahead that a draw, a few losses and a few more problems could not see them lose this year. The other teams need to stock up to challenge. Arsenal seem to have done that in the January transfer window, but are perennial under achievers.
10. J-Day. An outstanding pressure win at Torrey Pines earlier this week. Shame about the empty crowd situation on the last day...poor really. That was possibly more absurd than the never ending play off.
The world record golf crown in Phoenix, Arizona for the Phoenix Open this week was outrageous! Great PGA support and how hard is it to win a tour event these days? Unbelievable standard.
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Wrap - Indian IPL Cash Tap
1. ODI Cricket. We were toweled up, but how infrequent are the games.... this can't help. In the old days they played four a week! We just might become world beaters in T20 now the BBL is set in stone. The scheduling needs some work however. Surely the BBL can have its best players for those finals! Expect us to fade fast in all ODI comps. We play our domestic ODI comp in October and have been outplayed. Stoinis is a great bat, but his bowling is ho hum really, regardless of pace. Maxwell continues to disappoint when the pressure is on.
Aaron Finch too has so much talent, but unless he gets fitter, he will only ever be a T20 player at best. A liability in the field and forever injured.
2. U/19 leg spinner Lloyd Pope - 'Popey' . Talk of the next Warnie...Please, we have been waiting for the next Sterlo... Bradman... they never come. A talented kid who did well in one game and may have a good future ahead. Full stop. Maybe he is just a kid playing a game he loves.
A great U/19 effort by Australia against England. Better than a few of our main Australian players who it must be said have struggled. Smith and Warner in particular. Time for others to step up. Cameron White is surely gone. I don't think we have enough batsmen. We are one short. We also need a more aggressive approach where the skipper supports the spinner more. Smith has been terribly defensive. Zampa is used as a stock bowler, not a wicket taker. That is a huge problem. Tim Paine is also not the ODI answer. He cannot hit the ball off the square under pressure.
3. IPL Auction. A foot in the IPL door and then a decent performance or two in the IPL will make you a multi-millionaire these days. Look at Coulter-Nile and Tye. Billy Stanlake has gotten $200K...he could surprise. While their country is in abject poverty, cricket remains a goldmine. Lynn, Starc, Finch, Stoinis, Maxwell are all continued millionaires...even Shane Watson ($800K if you don't mind). Great to see AJ Tye and D'Arcy Short clean up too. Compare the cash to EPL and Spanish/ Italian league soccer players...ashtray change.
4. ATP Tennis. As mentioned a couple of weeks back, the ATP Tennis money grab worldwide is at the expense of players. The season has one month's off season lay off. Nadal got cut short, but blaming the schedule is silly given he made the final last year. No wonder tanking and match fixing is rife however. So many games and do they all matter with a new tournament to get to tomorrow? The heat is something else on that court (that Korean player's blister was awful!) but Federer gets a lot of night games because he is a TV favourite. This is a massive help to your longevity through the tournament.
5. The Australian Open Tennis Final. Federer was absolutely brilliant in the first and third sets. Awesome big time player. Cilic is tidy as a player and is at the peak of his powers. Sadly he had to play against Federer who is the best ever and more than likely to win. 20 Grand Slams will never be broken in our life times. He was never losing to Cilic.
6. BBL. The spate of poor catching in the Big Bash is a worry. My theory is that these players rarely if ever play under lights. That and they are not geared liked they used to be in this part of the game. Easier to get money from ramp shots and reverse sweeps. We saw a bit of it in the Australian team as well. Not to worry, Brad Haddin, our fielding coach, will fix it all. Bob Simpson, for all his faults, brought Australian cricket to a new level with his focus on it - and Buchanan through the US fielding coach, Mike Young.
7. Rugby Sevens. Men and Women teams both win! Such a better product. It might take over the main 15 a side game! The crowds were pretty solid too. A strong win by the Australian team. Good to see an ex Oakhill College lad win the Man of the Final - Lachlan Anderson.
8. Darts, F1 and Boxing. A big worldwide push to eliminate 'walk on' girls from these events is gathering power. Maybe they should allow women to participate in these sports to enhance them. Women's darts - why not? The women's Rugby 7s is a fantastic level of sport. More entertaining than the blokes for large chunks of time. The Australian women's team smashed them this weekend.
Aaron Finch too has so much talent, but unless he gets fitter, he will only ever be a T20 player at best. A liability in the field and forever injured.
2. U/19 leg spinner Lloyd Pope - 'Popey' . Talk of the next Warnie...Please, we have been waiting for the next Sterlo... Bradman... they never come. A talented kid who did well in one game and may have a good future ahead. Full stop. Maybe he is just a kid playing a game he loves.
A great U/19 effort by Australia against England. Better than a few of our main Australian players who it must be said have struggled. Smith and Warner in particular. Time for others to step up. Cameron White is surely gone. I don't think we have enough batsmen. We are one short. We also need a more aggressive approach where the skipper supports the spinner more. Smith has been terribly defensive. Zampa is used as a stock bowler, not a wicket taker. That is a huge problem. Tim Paine is also not the ODI answer. He cannot hit the ball off the square under pressure.
3. IPL Auction. A foot in the IPL door and then a decent performance or two in the IPL will make you a multi-millionaire these days. Look at Coulter-Nile and Tye. Billy Stanlake has gotten $200K...he could surprise. While their country is in abject poverty, cricket remains a goldmine. Lynn, Starc, Finch, Stoinis, Maxwell are all continued millionaires...even Shane Watson ($800K if you don't mind). Great to see AJ Tye and D'Arcy Short clean up too. Compare the cash to EPL and Spanish/ Italian league soccer players...ashtray change.
4. ATP Tennis. As mentioned a couple of weeks back, the ATP Tennis money grab worldwide is at the expense of players. The season has one month's off season lay off. Nadal got cut short, but blaming the schedule is silly given he made the final last year. No wonder tanking and match fixing is rife however. So many games and do they all matter with a new tournament to get to tomorrow? The heat is something else on that court (that Korean player's blister was awful!) but Federer gets a lot of night games because he is a TV favourite. This is a massive help to your longevity through the tournament.
5. The Australian Open Tennis Final. Federer was absolutely brilliant in the first and third sets. Awesome big time player. Cilic is tidy as a player and is at the peak of his powers. Sadly he had to play against Federer who is the best ever and more than likely to win. 20 Grand Slams will never be broken in our life times. He was never losing to Cilic.
6. BBL. The spate of poor catching in the Big Bash is a worry. My theory is that these players rarely if ever play under lights. That and they are not geared liked they used to be in this part of the game. Easier to get money from ramp shots and reverse sweeps. We saw a bit of it in the Australian team as well. Not to worry, Brad Haddin, our fielding coach, will fix it all. Bob Simpson, for all his faults, brought Australian cricket to a new level with his focus on it - and Buchanan through the US fielding coach, Mike Young.
7. Rugby Sevens. Men and Women teams both win! Such a better product. It might take over the main 15 a side game! The crowds were pretty solid too. A strong win by the Australian team. Good to see an ex Oakhill College lad win the Man of the Final - Lachlan Anderson.
8. Darts, F1 and Boxing. A big worldwide push to eliminate 'walk on' girls from these events is gathering power. Maybe they should allow women to participate in these sports to enhance them. Women's darts - why not? The women's Rugby 7s is a fantastic level of sport. More entertaining than the blokes for large chunks of time. The Australian women's team smashed them this weekend.
Sunday, January 21, 2018
Wrap - ODI Shellacking
1. Lyon. Gee you would be disappointed if you were Nathan Lyon. Adam Zampa bowled a nice wrong ‘un, tonight but he is too predictable. Against Lyon’s 290 Test wickets, it is hard to imagine how Zampa gets the nod. The generational bowling of Australia in the ODI format is of serious concern. Cummins has been very short. At 150 mph he can get away with it. Today v Jos Butler, he did not.
The Australian ODI need for a class spinner has never been stronger. To bowl Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh...same old, same old. Memo to selectors: Travis Head is not the spinning answer. He is flat out getting runs, which should be his main gig. Head has no form this season in all forms. The Poms were simply too good! They are aggressive and powerful and bat deep.
2. Tennis I. Always love the mock shock when Australians are "bundled out" of the Australian Open. It is almost as though we should be dominating all draws because it is in our country. When you look at it the Round of 128 (first round) - 64 (second round) - 32 (third round) - 16 (fourth round) - 8 (quarter finals) - 4 (semi finals) - 2 (final), represents levels in the world which are well beyond their world rankings. They are actually over achieving.
3. Tennis II. Nadal and Federer look like they are on the same collision course for a Grand Slam final. How good are they both? Both are supreme athletes. Kgyrios played extremely well and fought all the way. Losing three tie breaker sets to the third best in the world is no disgrace. A top 8 in the world (quarter finals) would have been a superb result for the first Slam of the year.
4. Man Mundine v Jeff Horn. Nothing surprises, but the Man is a clown. He has had his day and needs to concentrate on his NRL comeback.
6. Lleyton
Hewitt into the quarter finals of the doubles....amazing effort with Sam Groth. Money for jam!
The Australian ODI need for a class spinner has never been stronger. To bowl Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh...same old, same old. Memo to selectors: Travis Head is not the spinning answer. He is flat out getting runs, which should be his main gig. Head has no form this season in all forms. The Poms were simply too good! They are aggressive and powerful and bat deep.
2. ODI. Our key ODI weaknesses are four fold: (i) no class spinner (ii) an inconsistent middle order (iii) lack of a strike power wicketkeeper with the bat (Carey for Paine should occur) (iv) our fielding is not slick enough around the park...sadly Finch, Kawaja (not selected because of this), Hazelwood...not crisp enough. Our fielding was better tonight but basically lacks polish and speed across the park. Oh for the days of Symonds, Ponting, Blewett, a couple of Waughs and Bevan....
By contrast, England were fast, agile and nimble. Cameron White's dropped catch was appalling at a key time. Did he drop the series - and himself simultaneously? (Mind you the BBL catching this season has been pretty poor too). Our lack a power striker in the middle order - maybe pride and ego may allow Glen Maxwell to come back - and strengthen our fielding! So much unfairly rides on Steve Smith. Aaron Finch has batted magnificently - but so has England who were simply much better than us. 5-0 beckons!
3. Gotta love the BBL (a summer divorce accelerator). The commentary team that does not rotate at all over the match...the fans enjoy it and actually learn a lot more. Ponting, Gilly, Fleming are the pick of them. A seriously new approach at Channel 9 is required. When they started they were revolutionary in World Series cricket. Now they are tired. Do you lose much getting rid of Healy, Nicholas, Clarke, Chappelli? Just keep Warne, Slater, Taylor and Bull...!
3. Tennis II. Nadal and Federer look like they are on the same collision course for a Grand Slam final. How good are they both? Both are supreme athletes. Kgyrios played extremely well and fought all the way. Losing three tie breaker sets to the third best in the world is no disgrace. A top 8 in the world (quarter finals) would have been a superb result for the first Slam of the year.
4. Man Mundine v Jeff Horn. Nothing surprises, but the Man is a clown. He has had his day and needs to concentrate on his NRL comeback.
5. Football/ Soccer. How
long does it take for a Socceroo coach to be announced? How hard is it? Graham Arnold
is our best domestic coach in all domestic sport, maybe outside Justin Langer. Forget about Edward von
Dickens and the rest.
Monday, January 15, 2018
Wrap - New and Old English Patriots
1. Ashes. A crushing Ashes win in the end against an English team who really under performed. Our bowling was very good and reminds us all of some great eras of Australian bowling when we dominated. However, it is unbelieveable that some dim wit at the SCG/ Cricket Australia permitted that ridiculous four finger backdrop to be used at the final presentation. Just watch that the English Cricket Board don't want to use the back of it in 2019.
2. ODI Cricket v England. Our ODI form is a concern. We seem to have fallen behind the world badly in recent times. The absence of a class spinner is one key reason. Adam Zampa seems a great young kid, but he simply does not take wickets at this level. Nor did many others, but beyond this game, it is a big problem. A bloke by the name of Nathan Lyon apparently goes alright. Some of the BBL leg spinners should feature. Another bloke who seems to have been wiped who takes wickets is Fahad Ahmed. He spins the ball more than most others. Pace on a good drop in MCG wicket (any complaints that there were too many runs scored?) seems unlikely to do the job.
What an innings by Jason Roy? High class against a strong attack. The Sydney Sixes will be wondering where this was for them.
3. India v South Africa. How good are Indian cricket fans to their players worldwide? It does not matter where, those Indian flags and their patience/ enthusiasm is a big reason why they lift and perform. The great Virat Kohli is amongst the runs in South Africa (85no) again. A super talent. Remember he averages over 50 in all three forms of the game.
4. Keep an eye on this South African cricket opening batsman - Aiden Markram. He has been a revelation in recent series. It will be a test to see how he aims up outside of South Africa, but he plays extremely well on their decks.
5. Summer of Tennis. What a great week of tennis in Sydney for the Australians. Rather than be bored by stories about Bernard Tomic's ills, the presence of Ashley Barty in the final, 'Dasher' and Alex de Minaur in the men's was a far more inspirational story. It is hard to get past the relative absence of busy local tennis courts and numerous tennis players in junior sport. The world has shifted in Australian sport and these are rare folk.
6. Liverpool. This Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, is an animated, honest and talented bloke. His team's win v Man City to break their unbeaten run was outstanding. His colourful language in the post game interview was also quite strange but inoffensive. Arsenal losing to Bournemouth continues their extremely disappointing season. Wengner seems to outlast all of this however. His selection of total youth in the team did not seem to work.
7. The New England Patriots are into the AFC final v the winner of the Pittsburgh Steelers/ Jacksonville Jaguars game today. Their QB Tom Brady is exceptional. He has now played his 11th career postseason game, beating the great Joe Montana. This is the seventh successive AFC championship game for the Patriots. What an era and what a coach in Bill Belichick. Belichick has led the Patriots to 14 AFC East division titles and 11 appearances in the AFC Championship Game. He has coached the Patriots to seven Super Bowl appearances. His teams have won five Super Bowls. Legend.
2. ODI Cricket v England. Our ODI form is a concern. We seem to have fallen behind the world badly in recent times. The absence of a class spinner is one key reason. Adam Zampa seems a great young kid, but he simply does not take wickets at this level. Nor did many others, but beyond this game, it is a big problem. A bloke by the name of Nathan Lyon apparently goes alright. Some of the BBL leg spinners should feature. Another bloke who seems to have been wiped who takes wickets is Fahad Ahmed. He spins the ball more than most others. Pace on a good drop in MCG wicket (any complaints that there were too many runs scored?) seems unlikely to do the job.
What an innings by Jason Roy? High class against a strong attack. The Sydney Sixes will be wondering where this was for them.
3. India v South Africa. How good are Indian cricket fans to their players worldwide? It does not matter where, those Indian flags and their patience/ enthusiasm is a big reason why they lift and perform. The great Virat Kohli is amongst the runs in South Africa (85no) again. A super talent. Remember he averages over 50 in all three forms of the game.
4. Keep an eye on this South African cricket opening batsman - Aiden Markram. He has been a revelation in recent series. It will be a test to see how he aims up outside of South Africa, but he plays extremely well on their decks.
5. Summer of Tennis. What a great week of tennis in Sydney for the Australians. Rather than be bored by stories about Bernard Tomic's ills, the presence of Ashley Barty in the final, 'Dasher' and Alex de Minaur in the men's was a far more inspirational story. It is hard to get past the relative absence of busy local tennis courts and numerous tennis players in junior sport. The world has shifted in Australian sport and these are rare folk.
6. Liverpool. This Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, is an animated, honest and talented bloke. His team's win v Man City to break their unbeaten run was outstanding. His colourful language in the post game interview was also quite strange but inoffensive. Arsenal losing to Bournemouth continues their extremely disappointing season. Wengner seems to outlast all of this however. His selection of total youth in the team did not seem to work.
7. The New England Patriots are into the AFC final v the winner of the Pittsburgh Steelers/ Jacksonville Jaguars game today. Their QB Tom Brady is exceptional. He has now played his 11th career postseason game, beating the great Joe Montana. This is the seventh successive AFC championship game for the Patriots. What an era and what a coach in Bill Belichick. Belichick has led the Patriots to 14 AFC East division titles and 11 appearances in the AFC Championship Game. He has coached the Patriots to seven Super Bowl appearances. His teams have won five Super Bowls. Legend.
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Wrap - Wickets and Pickets
1. The Australian cricket team have really dominated this summer, outside of a few sessions and a day or two at Melbourne. The batting of Smith has been awesome. Unconventional, but highly effective. Many think Steyn or someone quicker may unpick the style and approach, but he changes it for all bowlers...tough to conquer, with an eye like a dead fish. The spin of Lyon and the pace of the other bowlers - Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood - has also been too consistent and has brought critical results at critical times. 20 plus wickets each is exceptional. Comprehensive. The next series is always the challenge, especially on the road.
2. Best? This rubbish out of control talk about the "best since Bradman" is simultaneously unfair on Smith who would be the first to knock it on the head - and highly disrespectful to Bradman who was 35 runs an innings - an innings - better than the next best. Adam Voges in 20 tests (31 innings) averaged 61.87. Headley (22 tests, 60.83) and Paynter (20 tests, 59.23) also batted about the same number of times as Voges.
Smith in 61 Tests (111 innings) averages 63.75. The media love a story or a fairytale. Bradman was and is invincible in every respect. Get over it and move on. Graham Pollock 23 Tests (41 innings, 60.97) might have also had something to say about this without government endorsed discrimination and segregation apartheid policies between 1948 - 1991.
3. Shaun Marsh's innings at the Sydney Test was simply outstanding. Watching him use his feet on such a difficult turning deck was to witness all his promise and talent in one innings. An incredible effort of style, grace and cunning. Mitchell Marsh as also dominant in a different way. His cut shot close to his body is an exceptional strength. Power. Credit where it is due....or even overdue.
4. The MCG pitch and its criticism is out of line. Atrociously boring, but not the worst deck we have seen worldwide. Plenty are happy to put the boot into the Australian administrators, but clearly there is a lot of unhappiness and change in the curator ranks there. The WACA has been worse...the 1980s MCG pitch was horrible...the SCG has been a joke at times, including a massively boring test or two v India in the early 2000s. The recent poor decks in Pune, Sri Lanka and greentops in NZ have been worse.
5. The NRL Integrity Unit are apparently on holidays and not back for a while. Holidaying at a traditionally extremely busy time. Come to think of it, the NRL boys are being very well behaved in early 2018. Long may it continue as professionalism becomes more engrained.
6. The Cleveland Browns lost their NFL season 0-16 which is a staggeringly bad year, especially after a brighter pre-season. Worst season for some time. The amazing fact is that their coach looks like retaining his gig. Rare loyalty.
7. BBL. How dominant has the leg spinner been in the BBL this year? Boyce, Zampa, Shah, Rashid, Swepson, Hogg, Nair, Ahmed. Awesome talent. The upcoming IPL auction will be interesting. Some of these lads may become overnight millionaires. Zampa in the ODI team, but may need to watch he is on the ball with plenty of other options lurking.
8. Nick Kyrgios on track for a big start to the ATP season with a stunning winning week in Brisbane. Dominant. With the right head space, he could be a world force. Consistency will be his test.
Equally, Federer powers on, even in jest, at the Hopman Cup giggleathon. I noticed Rafa has also rolled into town after his knee injury. He is well positioned to excel again. The world's two best athletes.
2. Best? This rubbish out of control talk about the "best since Bradman" is simultaneously unfair on Smith who would be the first to knock it on the head - and highly disrespectful to Bradman who was 35 runs an innings - an innings - better than the next best. Adam Voges in 20 tests (31 innings) averaged 61.87. Headley (22 tests, 60.83) and Paynter (20 tests, 59.23) also batted about the same number of times as Voges.
Smith in 61 Tests (111 innings) averages 63.75. The media love a story or a fairytale. Bradman was and is invincible in every respect. Get over it and move on. Graham Pollock 23 Tests (41 innings, 60.97) might have also had something to say about this without government endorsed discrimination and segregation apartheid policies between 1948 - 1991.
3. Shaun Marsh's innings at the Sydney Test was simply outstanding. Watching him use his feet on such a difficult turning deck was to witness all his promise and talent in one innings. An incredible effort of style, grace and cunning. Mitchell Marsh as also dominant in a different way. His cut shot close to his body is an exceptional strength. Power. Credit where it is due....or even overdue.
4. The MCG pitch and its criticism is out of line. Atrociously boring, but not the worst deck we have seen worldwide. Plenty are happy to put the boot into the Australian administrators, but clearly there is a lot of unhappiness and change in the curator ranks there. The WACA has been worse...the 1980s MCG pitch was horrible...the SCG has been a joke at times, including a massively boring test or two v India in the early 2000s. The recent poor decks in Pune, Sri Lanka and greentops in NZ have been worse.
5. The NRL Integrity Unit are apparently on holidays and not back for a while. Holidaying at a traditionally extremely busy time. Come to think of it, the NRL boys are being very well behaved in early 2018. Long may it continue as professionalism becomes more engrained.
6. The Cleveland Browns lost their NFL season 0-16 which is a staggeringly bad year, especially after a brighter pre-season. Worst season for some time. The amazing fact is that their coach looks like retaining his gig. Rare loyalty.
7. BBL. How dominant has the leg spinner been in the BBL this year? Boyce, Zampa, Shah, Rashid, Swepson, Hogg, Nair, Ahmed. Awesome talent. The upcoming IPL auction will be interesting. Some of these lads may become overnight millionaires. Zampa in the ODI team, but may need to watch he is on the ball with plenty of other options lurking.
8. Nick Kyrgios on track for a big start to the ATP season with a stunning winning week in Brisbane. Dominant. With the right head space, he could be a world force. Consistency will be his test.
Equally, Federer powers on, even in jest, at the Hopman Cup giggleathon. I noticed Rafa has also rolled into town after his knee injury. He is well positioned to excel again. The world's two best athletes.
Sunday, December 24, 2017
Wrap - Jerusalem's New Fullback
1. Ashes victory. Some stunning bowling and aggression which have been the hallmarks of our cricketing success for so long. Short pitched bowling hurts but it cuts both ways. I am still amazed we have players in all forms of the game wearing helmets that expose the key neck arteries (Phillip Hughes). When will this heap of junk ICC mandate things for the safety of all players who put whites on...young or old? I can see disaster repeating itself.
3. Sydney FC continue to power on relentlessly. They are well ahead of all other teams with Graham Arnold who looms as the logical replacement for Ange - even if he had a stint back in '06-'07. Poor old Ange is more thin skinned that we all thought. Fancy letting anything Peter Fitzsimons says worry you. With that whining he definitely needed to leave. It didn't take long for the family excuse to fade as cash rolled in!
5. The Sydney Kings get a fifth win and I can't help but think that Andrew Gaze is too nice a bloke to be a coach. He panders to the players and appears quite weak in press conferences - although he dropped a few bombs mid game and they came back from the dead! That squad needs a rocket for its inconsistency, failures and its inability to win.
6. BBL. The Scorchers and the Renegades look the goods to me. Our obsession with all rounders could start with how well Dwayne Bravo bowls - and what about that Afghanistani leg spinner for the Strikers? Top notch. Once again however the lack of brilliant batting is a weakness across the country. Surely Cameron White is one of the best in the world and needs to be in our Australian team. Brad Hodge doesn't miss much either. Super reliable.
7. EPL - Manchester City - 17 in a row. Awesome. They had the championship in the bag weeks ago. It is now in the trophy cabinet. A disappointment for the premiership - but top 4 and relegation keeps our interest.
9. Jarryd Hayne. The human headline will need to be stood down if they are managing these matters like Brett Stewart's matter some years back. Not a word to the NRL is intriguing. To coin an old phrase, Jarryd may yet be the first to play fullback for Jerusalem - and Hillsong - since Jesus. Maybe too after all there was a genuine reason why the family issues have emerged. Horrible stuff if untrue. Worse if factual.
11. NRL Pre-season. I am liking a fit Panthers outfit...the Sharks look strong but are getting old in the forwards. However, if fit, the Cowboys with Jordan McLean are specials for the 2018 NRL premiership.
Steve Smith is too strong. Less chat this Test and more focus. I like Tim Paine's contributions too. He has a very solid technique and some real steel. Nevill is a long way from a recall. Smith is not a fan.
2. Elyse Perry - ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year. What a stunning player she is. So composed, calm and strong. An outstanding cricketer under pressure.
3. Sydney FC continue to power on relentlessly. They are well ahead of all other teams with Graham Arnold who looms as the logical replacement for Ange - even if he had a stint back in '06-'07. Poor old Ange is more thin skinned that we all thought. Fancy letting anything Peter Fitzsimons says worry you. With that whining he definitely needed to leave. It didn't take long for the family excuse to fade as cash rolled in!
Hopefully we are spared some lazy international coach. Not sure that we have ever gotten over the Guuus effect. It has been a misery before and since. Rudi Gutendorf, Les Sheinflug, Frank Arok, Eddie Thomson, Terry Venables, Rale Rasic, Pim Verbeek, Han Burger, Holger Osieck....
What a shock that FIFA had two corrupt officials exposed this week. What a disgraceful organisation.
4. Newcastle Jets. A rags to riches tale there which is igniting the city. What with all the Roosters players there too, it might be a successful NRL year as well.
5. The Sydney Kings get a fifth win and I can't help but think that Andrew Gaze is too nice a bloke to be a coach. He panders to the players and appears quite weak in press conferences - although he dropped a few bombs mid game and they came back from the dead! That squad needs a rocket for its inconsistency, failures and its inability to win.
6. BBL. The Scorchers and the Renegades look the goods to me. Our obsession with all rounders could start with how well Dwayne Bravo bowls - and what about that Afghanistani leg spinner for the Strikers? Top notch. Once again however the lack of brilliant batting is a weakness across the country. Surely Cameron White is one of the best in the world and needs to be in our Australian team. Brad Hodge doesn't miss much either. Super reliable.
It must be said that the Scorchers' Andrew Tye got a hatrick on the weekend from one of the worst umpiring decision I've seen in the last five years. No review system in the BBL will need to change.
7. EPL - Manchester City - 17 in a row. Awesome. They had the championship in the bag weeks ago. It is now in the trophy cabinet. A disappointment for the premiership - but top 4 and relegation keeps our interest.
8. Jeff Horn. A procession in the end, but hard earned. He just could still surprise on the world stage. The best bout since Jeff Fenech defeated Smaaaartarse Pyakaroon - or Greg 'The Flea' Richardson.
9. Jarryd Hayne. The human headline will need to be stood down if they are managing these matters like Brett Stewart's matter some years back. Not a word to the NRL is intriguing. To coin an old phrase, Jarryd may yet be the first to play fullback for Jerusalem - and Hillsong - since Jesus. Maybe too after all there was a genuine reason why the family issues have emerged. Horrible stuff if untrue. Worse if factual.
10. Does the ATP/ WTP Tennis circuit have the shortest off season in all sports? No wonder so many players struggle to remain fit and well all year. Federer is a rare and special exception. More like a test of resilience in the end.
11. NRL Pre-season. I am liking a fit Panthers outfit...the Sharks look strong but are getting old in the forwards. However, if fit, the Cowboys with Jordan McLean are specials for the 2018 NRL premiership.
12. NFL Playoffs. After a rusty start, the New England Patriots look too strong for me as the playoff end of town fast approaches. They will do well to knock over the Buffalo Bills and secure some home ground advantage (no deflate-gate hopefully) in the upcoming playoffs.
The Cleveland Browns may yet secure a full losing season at 0-14 (that with 4 x back to back pre-season victories!). Terrible. Brown crap. Not since the Detroit Lions of 2008 (0-16), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-14) of 1976 or the Dallas Cowboys (0-11) in their debut season of 1960 has it been this bad.
13. NBL. They may need to turn off the comp and forget about it already...Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State, the Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Spurs, Pacers...the same old names of the successful franchises in the modern era are streets ahead already. A problem for that competition.
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