Roar Rookie
Joined May 2014
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Sport fanatic, student journalist media volunteer at Asian Cup and Cricket World Cup
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In June this year, Australia played two Test matches in the West Indies. Come March 2016 Australia will have played another 15 Tests since…
Sitting down to watch the netball grand final on Sunday, I was apprehensive. I'd never watched a full game of professional netball before. How…
All the talk surrounding the newest Australian debutant, Adam Voges, is a statisticians dream. The oldest player to score a century on debut. The…
Who would want to be a Manly fan? Can anyone honestly remember the last time a club has been involved this heavily in a…
Throughout the summer, TV viewers have been treated to the pulsating Cricket World Cup advertisement featuring cricket royalty in Mitchell Johnson and Brendon McCullum.…
Some high-profile players have pulled out of the Australian train-on squad, including veterans Billy Slater and Brett Morris. This has raised some serious questions…
The train-on squads for the Australian and New Zealand national teams were quietly announced at the start of the week, and a close analysis…
One of the first NRL games I remember watching was the 2002 grand final. Many old hands were on stage to help the Roosters…
At approximately 8.20pm on Friday night during the Canterbury versus Roosters game, the video referees might have hit a new low. How can this…
Well done to the Aussies, a deserved series win. Consistent cricket (against a few meek attacks on lifeless pitches) has rightly taken us to World No.1, India never deserved to be there.
A series win in Sri Lanka would help end ease the doubts of faultering on spinning pitches but the real test will be against South Africa/India/England
Aussies beat New Zealand, reclaim No.1 Test ranking
‘Apprehensive’ may be too strong of a word. I wasn’t terrified of what i might see; I just wasn’t sure what was in store as a) i’d never seen a full netball game before b) grand finals are expected to be the hardest fought, closely contested games of season c) the stereotype Australia attaches to women’s sport always plays in back of your mind.
After watching the game, i just felt people and the media need to give the two sides and the sport of netball more credit for producing an awesome final
Class and theatre of Australian netball is unfairly under-appreciated
Butler’s star is definitely on the rise, i’m tipping him to cause a fee headaches. Its pretty sad that we’re describing Haddin’s winning factor as his sledging, however he will likely end his test career on his own terms, the guy is a legend. It can be argued Butler has been better these past 6 months.
Reliance on Smith is also an issue for Australia, none of the other top order batsman have set the world on fire recently. The flip side of that though is that England have hardly been much better. The Ashes will be decided by the one batsman who finds his way back into form, i’d like to think that man will be Clarke
Can England win the Ashes?
Some consistency would be nice though. With rulings around scrums against the feed and with play-the-balls
Play the ball with the foot? That's so 2008
Agreed, it was well reported in the past that Manly stars were staying at the club for a pay below their value. So the fact Foran was let go suggests he’d have to take a pay cut once again to stay at Manly…
but essentially he’d have to take a pay cut to stay at eels as well due to their critical salary cap issues.
It seems that if Foran wants that $4.8 million or a figure round about that, his options are Titans and Roosters, maybe Souths
UPDATE: Eels respond to reports Kieran Foran could walk out on deal
Last Ashes, Harris averaged 23, Johnson averaged 27.5. Both seem to enjoy batting vs England, Starc hit over 100 runs when he was in England in 2013.
Hazlewood slogged well in West Indies when he combined with Voges for the last wicket.
Combined, these guys can make the runs that Watto Lotto could provided for Aus
Harris for Ashes, Hazlewood out: Warne
Yeah, hard to fathom sometimes that Smith was considered our next Shane Warne.
Chris Rogers’ renaissance as well is interesting as his comeback came in the 2010’s after playing one test in 2008. He sort of has a foot in two camps too.
Comparing Test debutants of the last two decades
Nice little summary, agree that form heading into these games will be vital.
However i don’t think you can list “playing at home” as much of a negative factor that will affect Aus and NZ.
I see it as more of an advantage given they are playing in familiar, comfortable surroundings where during non-game time they will feel at ease on home soil.
Add to that the vast supporter advantage and knowledge of how each of the pitches will play i think playing at home elevates Aus and NZ’s chances.
And surely the bigger issue for India at the moment is their bowling not their batting. Rohit Sharma, and Rahane have shown themselves to be very capable batsman in Australian conditions and while not in dazzling ODI form right now, Kohli and Dhoni are x-factor players.
Bowlers on the other hand = BIG problem. Unable to take more than 7 wickets in an ODI during the Tri-Series and with regular chopping and changing, the Indian bowling line-up is looking shaky.
As i type, India is bowling to Aus in a W/U ODI game… Yadav has been only threatening, tight bowler while rest are all over the place, Shami even going for 42 runs off his 4 over spell.
2015 Cricket World Cup: This could be the most open tournament in recent history
Voss never deserved to be “moved on” by Channel9, he has a huge future in the game. Let’s hope in 5-10 years time we hear him back on free-to-air or at least doing a majority of FoxSports calls.
Is Vossy's purgatory finally over?
Raiders in desperate need of some good news on the player front, haven’t had any for a while. Their stars either leave them (Milford) or get sacked for ill-discipline (Carney, Dugan). The club struggles to entice major sponsors and great players, Stuart’s signing was meant to solve this issue, but we are failing to see this.
Waqa and the two Super League players will not solve raider’s issues, they need to undergo an overhaul like the Panthers did a few years back if they want to start challenging for a place in top 8.
Bad to worse for the under-fire Raiders
Agree that the Dutch will prove an even bigger challenge for Aus, any scoring chance must be seized on in that game.
But that challenge will set Aus up well for final Group game vs Spain. The Spanish will be under enormous pressure to win that game, perfect chance for Aus to net a few
The Socceroos find their moment of belief and the feeling they now belong
Spot on. NRL too scared to make major changes to the system, same reason why expansion will take years to sort out.
A 3 week block of SOO is a momentum killer for NRL anyway.
We need standalone weekends for the big games
Spot on. NRL too scared to make major changes to the system, same reason why expansion will take years to sort out.
A 3 week block of SOO is a momentum killer for NRL anyway.
We need standalone weekends for the big games
Benji needs time in NSW Cup like Sandow did earlier this year. Sandow spent half-a-dozen weeks there and he’s back to his best with Parra.
As for the TV gig option, I dont see Channel 9 signing him up, he’ll get bagged out every week on Footy Show and he doesn’t have that expert commentator streak in him like Lockyer. Fox Sports maybe but unlikely. Ch 7 ‘expert’ gig for him could be an option.
Benji Marshall is down and should be out - soon!
Battle between Friend and Smith will be the only reason to watch this match (if Smith isn’t playing in the haves that is).
Friend has a chance to push for Origin bench spot in this match. Qld are in disarray at the selection table, especially with their bench and although Smith played full 80 against Cowboys I’m not sure if he’ll be 100% ready for Origin II. Friend has been in outstanding form this year and in 2013 and should be considered as a bolter for QLD
Storm face tough test against Roosters
Dugan needs to stay at fullback, Sure he might play centres for Blues but like Inglis thats not his best position.
Marshall should be nowhere near the first grade side. I was at the Monday game v Souths (as a neutral supporter) and he just seemed completely unfocused, kicking poorly and throwing the ball behind players. He is NOT FIRST GRADE FIT simple as that.
He was starting on the bench for the Tigers late last year and barely played a game for Auckland in Super Rugby. He needs a good 2 months in reserve grade, like what Sandow did. Maybe then we will see ol’ Benji return to his best
McGregor needs to enforce change at the Dragons
At least the final will be broadcasted regardless of where Aussies end up!
I reckon you’ve hit it on the head Dan, there is certainly the possibility that Australia can take the WT20 by storm… but the squad’s lack of cohesion and unsettled nature means there is just as much chance Australia will fail to get past group stage. To quote an overused sporting term, we don’t know which Australian team will “turn up”.
Thanks Foxtel. Thanks Nine. You've ruined everything