1. Well half right. Johnson was sensational - albeit a bit short at times. Watson did not last to lunch at all. Johnson was almost better with the bat at key times and seems to bowl well after getting runs. Must say that Johnson bowled at pace. No batsman likes that. An interesting point made by Glenn McGrath about Johnson being the only bowler with invisible foot marks on the turf. Fred Astaire.
Haddin unlucky not to be MOTM. His two bats were superb under pressure. His keeping was excellent too. Fiftieth Test and a great performance. Johnson terrorised the Poms. How we love that!
The Clarke innings was majestic. He was courageous and true. Blistering and surgeon like. His record is better than Tendulkar's. I liked the inclusion of Bailey who provided experience and a good set of hands. Steve Smith's hands were solid too. Chris Rogers was our worst. He scratched around and did nothing much.
I notice Marcus North is making a shed load of runs. Perhaps one of the younger openers around the traps would do the job. This Jordan Silk is the next choice. Penrith boy. In for Rogers.
2. Warner. A good ton, but still too chirpy. It's a long series and one ton does not a legend make! He could fall apart and be sacked by series end. It is that sort of series. His lack of discipline and discretion is cringe worthy.
3. Despite the off field shennanigans, the Wallabies are looking stronger. Folau looks tremendous. One of the more successful Spring tours of recent years. Easier than playing Southern Hemisphere teams! Shame about the England Test looking back.
4. 64-0 in a semi. Terrible from Fiji. Australia v NZ will be tighter hopefully. Thurston is the difference. The SBW factor will matter. Sean Johnson would be a good buy for any club. He is a tough and smart player.
5. Webber retires this week - and guess who is on pole position...Vetell. Vetell has some sort of record...perhaps the best ever for a F1 season. Webber will at least hold that story to tell.
6. Jason Day. Some sort of victory - and a World Cup win. The worst World Cup in Australian sport clearly...cricket, rugby, league....but golf?
7. The Louis Suarez goal in the Merseyside showdown...just outstanding. The EPL needs to hot up and is starting to achieve this.
8. Noticed GWS signed another young up and coming legend in the AFL draft. One day they will be strong...just hope the club still exists by the time it rolls around.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Wrap - A Tomahawk To The Useless Headbands
1. Is it just me or is the Rugby League World Cup dragging on and on? The farce that it is I am sure is building the game in the USA as they rush to sign up with the Tomahawks! On the old 1982 - 1986 Kangaroo Tours, there were multiple games a week - maybe two, sometimes three and they all survived. A few of our current players must have arse ache from sitting around too long. Get the final over with please before the players all biff each other and self destruct! Tim Sheens has the personality of Wayne Swan and as many excuses.
Billy Slater's poor behaviour and attitude at times is starting to catch up with him.
2. Sachin...Sachin...not sure if you caught it but I watched his half hour final speech. His grace and eloquence was stunning and he is one of the true greats. As my son pointed out though...we might beat them now, but I don't recall he played any role in the recent ODI series and we still lost.
Comic scenes in true Bollywood style as the usual array of self important fat blokes with glasses line up to give oversized cheques and obscene and useless trophies to blokes who could buy and sell them. Always love the hanger on in an Indian press conference, in the background, near the melee...how they love a kerfuffle and a schemozzle in those parts!
3. Can anyone see it already: Johnson steaming in on the Gabba...first over...short pitched...4 wides Harmiston style. He is loose and if our hopes hang on him...we are in trouble. Clive Palmer in politics offers the same hope. However it is good to see Craig McDermott there again. He has a bit of steel. I cannot get excited about our chances. Can Watson last to lunch in any test?
4. Adam Scott. Brilliant and so far ahead of all others it is ridiculous. Triple crown well in sight.
5. Sebastian Vetell. He has done it again...edged out Webber for pole position in the USA F1 GP. Webber remains the ball boy...not the player again. Albeit a very rich one.
6. Wallabies. Looking a lot better and a grand win really v Ireland. Great to see the headband (black tape on white cloth bandage) has made a comeback from the days of club rugby eg Steve Cutler (Hooper and the hairbear winger, Cummins). Haven't seen one since Nathan Bracken retired.
7. I love a good drugs in sport excuse and lazy cheating Jamacian sprinters are starting to provide them...the missus gave me the wrong supplements...too much sex...coach was to blame...bad toothpaste...mum's diaretic...get the World Arbitration of Sport mob back to work.
Billy Slater's poor behaviour and attitude at times is starting to catch up with him.
2. Sachin...Sachin...not sure if you caught it but I watched his half hour final speech. His grace and eloquence was stunning and he is one of the true greats. As my son pointed out though...we might beat them now, but I don't recall he played any role in the recent ODI series and we still lost.
Comic scenes in true Bollywood style as the usual array of self important fat blokes with glasses line up to give oversized cheques and obscene and useless trophies to blokes who could buy and sell them. Always love the hanger on in an Indian press conference, in the background, near the melee...how they love a kerfuffle and a schemozzle in those parts!
3. Can anyone see it already: Johnson steaming in on the Gabba...first over...short pitched...4 wides Harmiston style. He is loose and if our hopes hang on him...we are in trouble. Clive Palmer in politics offers the same hope. However it is good to see Craig McDermott there again. He has a bit of steel. I cannot get excited about our chances. Can Watson last to lunch in any test?
4. Adam Scott. Brilliant and so far ahead of all others it is ridiculous. Triple crown well in sight.
5. Sebastian Vetell. He has done it again...edged out Webber for pole position in the USA F1 GP. Webber remains the ball boy...not the player again. Albeit a very rich one.
6. Wallabies. Looking a lot better and a grand win really v Ireland. Great to see the headband (black tape on white cloth bandage) has made a comeback from the days of club rugby eg Steve Cutler (Hooper and the hairbear winger, Cummins). Haven't seen one since Nathan Bracken retired.
7. I love a good drugs in sport excuse and lazy cheating Jamacian sprinters are starting to provide them...the missus gave me the wrong supplements...too much sex...coach was to blame...bad toothpaste...mum's diaretic...get the World Arbitration of Sport mob back to work.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Wrap - Ashes Countdown
1. Ashes First Test team. After much consternation I've named it with Warner shadowing an ailing (and yet to be dropped on his head from the team) Watson. Like this Chad Sayers who got another swag of wickets. The crock of numbnuts who we have injured at present (Starc, Pattinson, Hazelwood, Cummins, Bollinger et al) seem to lose the toughness when they make the national team.
Somehow when they are knocking on the door for selection, they are bowling every day and busting a gut. Once they make the team, they put the cue in the rack!
How does that work? Noticed they are having a bowling coaches conference this week...hope they do their homework.
Never thought I'd ever say it, but Cameron 'The Croc' White may well come into the team at No.6. Has been in blistering form, but there is much to like about a resilient and tough George Bailey. Hope he - like Clarke - has been working on the short pitched bowling. No room for Faulkner yet. Hughes no certainty for mine. I can't be confident with Johnson..in fact not sure why he will be picked, but he will...too loose and has no delivery that swings into the right handed batsman. Why not? I saw it once in South Africa I think.
1. Rogers
2. Watson
3. Hughes*
4. Clarke
5. Smith
6. Bailey/ White
7. Haddin
8. Johnson*
9. Siddle
10. Harris
11. Lyon
12. Warner
13. Sayers
I wonder if Ponting has sold enough books yet? Remind me why he is so unpopular with the general public again...
2. Wallabies. They like playing Italy...it's the other ten nations which trouble us. Folau needs to step up against some of the tough nations. McKenzie is flirting with danger swapping captains and making some crazy calls. Postocoglou will be similar. Lucas Neill has to go first up.
On the other hand, New Zealand must have won every single comp and trophy worldwide. When did they last lose? Unstoppable.
3. RWC. How good are the Cameron Smith's, Slaters and Cronks when it gets tough and cold? It looked REAL cold v Ireland. They profit from living in Melbourne in those conditions. NZ will be hard to beat with their familiarity of the wet and cold conditions. We need a bit more creativity in attack. Fifita will be tough, but Thurston is critical to our success. The flat rocket pass is deadly in these parts.
Look for an Italy upset over Tonga tonight. Winner v NZ!
4. Golf. Adam Scott is a class act. Struggle to cope with his voice, but he can play. Good touch re the green jacket. Pitty the US brat didn't acknowledge it.
5. Tennis. Nadal will end the year as Number 1. He is an absolute machine. Injury riddled, but a competitor like no other. Federer is hanging tough at present. He is a legend and is still mixing it with the best, although his star is fading.
6. Liverpool's juggernaut keeps rolling on. 4-0. Suarez could just about bring them a trophy. ManU starting to hit their straps now....look out!
Somehow when they are knocking on the door for selection, they are bowling every day and busting a gut. Once they make the team, they put the cue in the rack!
How does that work? Noticed they are having a bowling coaches conference this week...hope they do their homework.
Never thought I'd ever say it, but Cameron 'The Croc' White may well come into the team at No.6. Has been in blistering form, but there is much to like about a resilient and tough George Bailey. Hope he - like Clarke - has been working on the short pitched bowling. No room for Faulkner yet. Hughes no certainty for mine. I can't be confident with Johnson..in fact not sure why he will be picked, but he will...too loose and has no delivery that swings into the right handed batsman. Why not? I saw it once in South Africa I think.
1. Rogers
2. Watson
3. Hughes*
4. Clarke
5. Smith
6. Bailey/ White
7. Haddin
8. Johnson*
9. Siddle
10. Harris
11. Lyon
12. Warner
13. Sayers
I wonder if Ponting has sold enough books yet? Remind me why he is so unpopular with the general public again...
2. Wallabies. They like playing Italy...it's the other ten nations which trouble us. Folau needs to step up against some of the tough nations. McKenzie is flirting with danger swapping captains and making some crazy calls. Postocoglou will be similar. Lucas Neill has to go first up.
On the other hand, New Zealand must have won every single comp and trophy worldwide. When did they last lose? Unstoppable.
3. RWC. How good are the Cameron Smith's, Slaters and Cronks when it gets tough and cold? It looked REAL cold v Ireland. They profit from living in Melbourne in those conditions. NZ will be hard to beat with their familiarity of the wet and cold conditions. We need a bit more creativity in attack. Fifita will be tough, but Thurston is critical to our success. The flat rocket pass is deadly in these parts.
Look for an Italy upset over Tonga tonight. Winner v NZ!
4. Golf. Adam Scott is a class act. Struggle to cope with his voice, but he can play. Good touch re the green jacket. Pitty the US brat didn't acknowledge it.
5. Tennis. Nadal will end the year as Number 1. He is an absolute machine. Injury riddled, but a competitor like no other. Federer is hanging tough at present. He is a legend and is still mixing it with the best, although his star is fading.
6. Liverpool's juggernaut keeps rolling on. 4-0. Suarez could just about bring them a trophy. ManU starting to hit their straps now....look out!
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Wrap - Second Best Is Not Good Enough
1. World Cup Rugby League. Great gig being a good player in the minnows at present. An NRL contract could be headed your way. Lots to play for. I can only think that Thurston and Cameron Smith will be immortals. Not sure about Slater...there have been a lot of fullbacks in the frame before.
2. Wallabies. Can there be anymore excuses? Obstruction...injuries...The appointment of Cooper as the vice captain is extraordinary. Ewan McKenzie's reign has been highly unimpressive to date. He may be in the frame for the sack before we think...especially with a dreadful European tour.
3. Shane Watson. Pulls up lame again and is the target of derision and abuse by the opposition. Thank goodness his wife loves him.
India just too good. Those pitches are something else. Flatter than an New Year's Eve party in Afghanistan. James Faulkner has rocketed into the frame. He may be our next all rounder of note. He has a competitive edge that many others do not.
I am very concerned about Johnson coming home to play in the Ashes. He is unreliable, still cannot bring the ball into the right hander. He has attitude and too many tats. We are in trouble. Chad Sayers?
4. Mark Webber pole position to equal Sir Jack. Vettel in his pocket next to him. Guess who will win it?
5. Loving the EPL this year with ManU on the slide...lots of other clubs looking solid. Arsenal the best hope. Finally it is a more even competition.
6. So the Boston Red Sox get up in the World Series baseball. The bird was smothered. You read it here...hopefully you cleaned up!
7. Melbourne Cup. I like Dear Demi and a trifecta of 22, 10, 6. Happy punting!
2. Wallabies. Can there be anymore excuses? Obstruction...injuries...The appointment of Cooper as the vice captain is extraordinary. Ewan McKenzie's reign has been highly unimpressive to date. He may be in the frame for the sack before we think...especially with a dreadful European tour.
3. Shane Watson. Pulls up lame again and is the target of derision and abuse by the opposition. Thank goodness his wife loves him.
India just too good. Those pitches are something else. Flatter than an New Year's Eve party in Afghanistan. James Faulkner has rocketed into the frame. He may be our next all rounder of note. He has a competitive edge that many others do not.
I am very concerned about Johnson coming home to play in the Ashes. He is unreliable, still cannot bring the ball into the right hander. He has attitude and too many tats. We are in trouble. Chad Sayers?
4. Mark Webber pole position to equal Sir Jack. Vettel in his pocket next to him. Guess who will win it?
5. Loving the EPL this year with ManU on the slide...lots of other clubs looking solid. Arsenal the best hope. Finally it is a more even competition.
6. So the Boston Red Sox get up in the World Series baseball. The bird was smothered. You read it here...hopefully you cleaned up!
7. Melbourne Cup. I like Dear Demi and a trifecta of 22, 10, 6. Happy punting!
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Wrap - Grubs and Dodgem Cars
1. Cricket. Clarke and Ponting. You can tell what's wrong with Australian cricket when the captain rats on the v/c in his tell all book? Ponting should know better. Ricky selling books is a bit sad. Must be missing that extra five million or so he earned each year. Is Ricky's book high on anyone's Christmas list? Much admired as a player - not so as a bloke. Smiles like a toll collector.
2. Warner finally hitting the straps. Candace Falzon has had more sportstar boyfriends than Tommy Carroll has had police search warrants. Ben Cutting could be a weapon for us in the shorter forms of the game. He can hit the ball. For a bowler, he is a better bat than a bowler unfortunately.
Why have the Poms arrived so early? They will hate each other by the time November starts. Our only hope.
3. Jonathan Thurston. The best in the world without peer. Forget Cronk, Slater and Inglis. Thurston produces in every big game. He is a winner, but may never win another premiership at the Cowboys (won one at the Bulldogs). Small, but the craftiest and toughest.
4. Italian rugby league team going great guns. Most surnames end in 'o'. Struggling to see how Kade Snowden fits in. The only link is he must love pasta.
4. Sam Burgess. Perhaps the dirtiest player in the past ten years. Has had a falling out with James Graham who is the ear biter and mad Monday slagger...grubs. I noticed that Lee Mossop is coming to Parra fresh from drug matters in the past. One thing for certain is that Shakespeare is safe.
5. Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers. Crowd is unbelievable. The A League is lapping other sports in Australia. Ange Postocoglou's appointment was as predicatble as his sense of humour. Ange could be one of Australia's most boring sport entities.
6. Mundine v Shane Moseley. A crooked world of much disgrace. Anyone surprised? Jeff fenech looks like a heavyweight these day. Dropping $500K sounds like another unique story for A Current Affair...rich sportstar falling on bad times.
7. F1. Vetell. On fire. Soon to be crowned a four time world champion. He's got the same car as Webber, but his seems to be broken. It's like whinging about your dodgem car at the Easter Show....skill of the driver helps.
8. EPL. Arsenal looks good. They seem to have spirit. Great to see a few new teams at the top. Southampton are doing surprisingly well.
9. St Louis Cardinals in the box seat in the World Series. Tight stuff, but they have been the better team in the last two. Boston not done yet however. Birds can die if smothered by a red sock.
2. Warner finally hitting the straps. Candace Falzon has had more sportstar boyfriends than Tommy Carroll has had police search warrants. Ben Cutting could be a weapon for us in the shorter forms of the game. He can hit the ball. For a bowler, he is a better bat than a bowler unfortunately.
Why have the Poms arrived so early? They will hate each other by the time November starts. Our only hope.
3. Jonathan Thurston. The best in the world without peer. Forget Cronk, Slater and Inglis. Thurston produces in every big game. He is a winner, but may never win another premiership at the Cowboys (won one at the Bulldogs). Small, but the craftiest and toughest.
4. Italian rugby league team going great guns. Most surnames end in 'o'. Struggling to see how Kade Snowden fits in. The only link is he must love pasta.
4. Sam Burgess. Perhaps the dirtiest player in the past ten years. Has had a falling out with James Graham who is the ear biter and mad Monday slagger...grubs. I noticed that Lee Mossop is coming to Parra fresh from drug matters in the past. One thing for certain is that Shakespeare is safe.
5. Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers. Crowd is unbelievable. The A League is lapping other sports in Australia. Ange Postocoglou's appointment was as predicatble as his sense of humour. Ange could be one of Australia's most boring sport entities.
6. Mundine v Shane Moseley. A crooked world of much disgrace. Anyone surprised? Jeff fenech looks like a heavyweight these day. Dropping $500K sounds like another unique story for A Current Affair...rich sportstar falling on bad times.
7. F1. Vetell. On fire. Soon to be crowned a four time world champion. He's got the same car as Webber, but his seems to be broken. It's like whinging about your dodgem car at the Easter Show....skill of the driver helps.
8. EPL. Arsenal looks good. They seem to have spirit. Great to see a few new teams at the top. Southampton are doing surprisingly well.
9. St Louis Cardinals in the box seat in the World Series. Tight stuff, but they have been the better team in the last two. Boston not done yet however. Birds can die if smothered by a red sock.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Wrap - Spirit in the Sox
Boys,
1. Ange Postocoglou. Not sure he is the man for the Socceroos job. To me he seems surly and confrontational, eye contact is rare and he sulks to the media. In fact, on second thoughts he seems perfectly suited.
2. Wallabies. Apparently they are getting better in case you have not noticed. Still leaking far too many points for mine. They play like Toyota Cup players - hardly world beaters. Mackenzie has not had an impressive start.
3. George Bailey. He has a refreshing view on cricket and seems to be working brillinatly along side Lehmann. There seems to be a lot of old time aggression and strategic thinking emerging. All of this with no Clarke? Perhaps that tells us something. Surely Bailey - maybe even Voges - should be in our Test middle order. Both add experience and brains. Their play under pressure in recent weeks has been gold. Warnie loves Faulkner as he is a strong competitior. Must say that Ishant Sharma is getting dreadful.
Dave Warner is now starting to get runs. Finally. Noticing that Cameron White has started to hit the ball finally too. Lyon was getting hit onto Miller Street as well. North Sydney Oval may just be a banned venue soon - too many huge scores and ridiculous inflated averages.
4. A-League. The crowds are massive. It is fast becoming a more attended and more watched game than all others in Sydney. Sydney FC however are appalling. Frank Farina has the Greg Chappell touch. Everything he touches turns to mud.
5. Josh Papalli. Should he be in the Australian team? Will not play. I get a smell of the goose about him.
6. Boston Red Sox v St Louis Cardinals MLB. Great World Series (at least from two parts of the world) coming up. The bearded Boston team have spirit and enterprise. They will be hard to toss for mine. The Grand Slam to surge ahead in the key moment v Detroit at Fenway was pretty special.
7. Australian Moto GP. As popular as cancer of the anus without an Aussie there. Surely Stoner will make a comeback soon. What a joke that the tyres would not work on the new surface. Dreadful. Amateur Hour.
8. David Moyes - ManU. The axe may be hovering. He seems a weaker character than Sir Alex and may have trouble managing the egos. This year's EPL may be the most open for some time. Liverpool and Arsenal look great. Chelsea will be there too with Jose M getting them into shape. Much more entertaining when a few teams are in the mix.
1. Ange Postocoglou. Not sure he is the man for the Socceroos job. To me he seems surly and confrontational, eye contact is rare and he sulks to the media. In fact, on second thoughts he seems perfectly suited.
2. Wallabies. Apparently they are getting better in case you have not noticed. Still leaking far too many points for mine. They play like Toyota Cup players - hardly world beaters. Mackenzie has not had an impressive start.
3. George Bailey. He has a refreshing view on cricket and seems to be working brillinatly along side Lehmann. There seems to be a lot of old time aggression and strategic thinking emerging. All of this with no Clarke? Perhaps that tells us something. Surely Bailey - maybe even Voges - should be in our Test middle order. Both add experience and brains. Their play under pressure in recent weeks has been gold. Warnie loves Faulkner as he is a strong competitior. Must say that Ishant Sharma is getting dreadful.
Dave Warner is now starting to get runs. Finally. Noticing that Cameron White has started to hit the ball finally too. Lyon was getting hit onto Miller Street as well. North Sydney Oval may just be a banned venue soon - too many huge scores and ridiculous inflated averages.
4. A-League. The crowds are massive. It is fast becoming a more attended and more watched game than all others in Sydney. Sydney FC however are appalling. Frank Farina has the Greg Chappell touch. Everything he touches turns to mud.
5. Josh Papalli. Should he be in the Australian team? Will not play. I get a smell of the goose about him.
6. Boston Red Sox v St Louis Cardinals MLB. Great World Series (at least from two parts of the world) coming up. The bearded Boston team have spirit and enterprise. They will be hard to toss for mine. The Grand Slam to surge ahead in the key moment v Detroit at Fenway was pretty special.
7. Australian Moto GP. As popular as cancer of the anus without an Aussie there. Surely Stoner will make a comeback soon. What a joke that the tyres would not work on the new surface. Dreadful. Amateur Hour.
8. David Moyes - ManU. The axe may be hovering. He seems a weaker character than Sir Alex and may have trouble managing the egos. This year's EPL may be the most open for some time. Liverpool and Arsenal look great. Chelsea will be there too with Jose M getting them into shape. Much more entertaining when a few teams are in the mix.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Wrap - Hopeless Holger
1. Socceroos - or Footballroos. Could go down as the lowest ebb in Australian soccer history after a successive 6-0 losses. Gotta say that France can play - as can Brazil - but clearly the players have had enough of Holger. They folded in order to get rid of the coach. No risk. We will be the country everyone will want to share a pool with - automatic victory. Talk of GUUUUUUUUUUUUUUS returning are surely wide of the mark. To get a coach at this stage means they are unemployed. Are we going to the well once too often? Time to sack a few players too.
2. V8's. Is it just me or has the shine been taken off Bathurst in recent years? Are they really busting a gut to win it, or is it part of the program and just about the points and placings? Bring back Gary Wilkinson for the start of the race. Well done to 'Frosty' Winterbottom.
3. Vetell must enjoy beating Webber. He seems to have him covered all the time. No matter what Webber does, he will trump him. Webber's pole position in Japan equals Brabham's all time pole position record. Who was the better driver?
4. Warner. Smacked soundly with the fluffy end of the feather duster - the same one Shane Watson has had inflicted upon him. Warner's runs have dried up like last night's fish and chips.
5. SBW. Great guy...great inspiration...great role model...but get your calendar and commitments right. Would anyone be surprised if he reversed his decision to play at the Roosters?
6. Sam Stosur has won the Japanese Open. Apparently there were no three setters, no pressure was allowed and no players in the world top ten except her were allowed entry into the tournament.
7. Rugby League World Cup. Bring on the minnows!
8. MLB. St Louis and Detroit? Or will the Red Sox muscle up and reverse their tame start? Action every day - golden time of the year.
2. V8's. Is it just me or has the shine been taken off Bathurst in recent years? Are they really busting a gut to win it, or is it part of the program and just about the points and placings? Bring back Gary Wilkinson for the start of the race. Well done to 'Frosty' Winterbottom.
3. Vetell must enjoy beating Webber. He seems to have him covered all the time. No matter what Webber does, he will trump him. Webber's pole position in Japan equals Brabham's all time pole position record. Who was the better driver?
4. Warner. Smacked soundly with the fluffy end of the feather duster - the same one Shane Watson has had inflicted upon him. Warner's runs have dried up like last night's fish and chips.
5. SBW. Great guy...great inspiration...great role model...but get your calendar and commitments right. Would anyone be surprised if he reversed his decision to play at the Roosters?
6. Sam Stosur has won the Japanese Open. Apparently there were no three setters, no pressure was allowed and no players in the world top ten except her were allowed entry into the tournament.
7. Rugby League World Cup. Bring on the minnows!
8. MLB. St Louis and Detroit? Or will the Red Sox muscle up and reverse their tame start? Action every day - golden time of the year.
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