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The Roar

Michael Steel

Roar Pro

Joined January 2014

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I love the history & the future sport of my sports. Most of my thoughts are based on what happened before. I've got most of the Jack Dyer books if not all, AFL Cricket and horse racing. I played Australian Rules and for a fair bit of my teenage and adult life and was a very good player at the lowest level. High point being at Coorparoo and trained under Carl Ditterich. (and we got on). I do have regrets that I never played senior QAFL football as an adult due to being a shiftworker and could not train. Highly regarded by my team mates I found out at later birthday parties. Played warehouse cricketer for a few years as an opener and my shot was a push into covers. Terrible in the field and couldn't bowl. Played A grade Tuesday night Tennis and my high point was being beaten by Rugby League great Brian Neibling. I met Leigh Matthews at a book signing last year and when we started talking we held up the queue. I said "Leigh , there's a lot of people behind me now" Cool . Horse Racing is my favourite sport. Love it. I'm a very small punter. Tend to have doubles and trebles so with multiple horses in each leg I'm unlikely to talk through my pocket. Love Group 1 racing yet my favourite jockey is Christian Reith and has been since his apprenticeship. He has 2 Group 1 wins. Don't think the size of the bet indicates anything about knowledge of the sport. I'm a big believer in that you can compare eras. If you were good enough in 1950 you will be good enough win 2020 with the advancements in everything. Jim Cassidy was riding Group1 winners 2 eras ago and Dustin Fletcher was taking grabs 2 eras ago. Phar Lap , Carbine , Makybe Diva & Peter Pan usually are the top four in most assessments of the Melbourne Cup winners. My twitter handle is MJSteel86 and most of my comments on that are more of an off the wall nature. I discovered THE ROAR through twitter and think it's a great asset to sports writing, especially as I've been very critical of trashy newspaper sports articles.

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This is the best comment so far and better than the article.

Tommy Raudonikis was a legend and larrikin... and a thug

Pretty ordinary comment here.

Tommy Raudonikis was a legend and larrikin... and a thug

I think Tommy Raudonikus should be an immortal.

Tommy Raudonikis was a legend and larrikin... and a thug

And yet you only allow your supporters three Free To Air TV games each weekend. Very generous.

War of codes as NRL Chairman rips into 'boring' AFL

Once the head of one code criticizes another code he has lost before he has even began.

War of codes as NRL Chairman rips into 'boring' AFL

For those interested. Richie Benaud selected his greatest test team in 2000, which can be read on the internet. In his twelve he included five Aussies. They were Bradman (capt) Warne, Lillee Gilchrist and K Miller at 12th man. However he also compiled his list of nominations and his Australian openers were Trumper and Arthur Morris.

The Australian cricket Immortals

Corrections by me : 49 players received votes from 100 experts but there was not a top 100.
I’ve been wrong in comparing A grade rugby league with Test cricket. That’s unfair. So to get that right, 830 players have represented in Australia in rugby league from 1908 and there are still only 13 Immortals. Border, I M Chappell and McCabe each received 1 vote.
Probably worth noting the Wisden top 5 in order and votes were. Bradman 100, Sobers 90
Sir Jack Hobbs 30 Warne 27 I V Richards 25.
Warne is 4 not 3 apologies, I’m going blind.

The Australian cricket Immortals

The Hall of Fame does the job adequately.
The Rugby League Immortals accolade began in 1981, 40 years ago and only 13 immortals have been chosen, 5 in the first year. I would guess that in it’s 120 years that there have been between 15 ,000 and 20,000 players played A grade rugby league and from amount we still have only 13 immortals. Many great players have not been given this accolade.
There has only been around 460 players play test cricket for Australia. So how many of that brigade are good enough to be called immortal?
There is one stand out being Bradman who polled 100 votes from 100 experts in the Wisden top 100 of the 20th century. Voted by 100 leading cricket experts.
Rather than give an opinion, this is the rest of the Australian contingent of the 49 who polled votes.
No 3 Warne 27 votes
No 6 Lillee 19
O’Reilly 10
Lindwall 6
Benaud 5
Trumper 4
Border
I.M Chappell
McCabe.

The Australian cricket Immortals

Shane Warne in Wisden’s top 5 of the 20th century . Dennis Lillee in Wisden’s to top 10.

The best Australian and Indian sides of the last 50 years

There’s no suggestion in the article about form in India. It’s says the best side of the past 50 years.

The best Australian and Indian sides of the last 50 years

How old are you? Thommo is an automatic selection. He took 8 x 5 wicket test hauls and for 20 of those tests he partnered Lillee, so it’s unlikely that it was going to be a one man show. What they both did was get rid of the top order batsmen. Max Walker was great at mopping up the tail in that era. Lillee and Thommo only played in one losing test together against New Zealand when they they were both 34 years. He averaged 28 but for the most past of his career it was low to mid 20’s. It was noted that his second spell was more dangerous than his first and for that stupid reason in the second half of his career he didn’t open with the new ball but came on when the ball was 12 overs old.

The best Australian and Indian sides of the last 50 years

His issue was with the selectors more so than his speed. He had Gabba crowds gasping in shield matches when other bowlers were preferred for tests. And the comments by the West Indian at county cricket in 1980. “paraphrasing” The fastest and most dangerous bowler in the world can’t get a game.

The best Australian and Indian sides of the last 50 years

Slater would be my other opener. I just didn’t bother saying so. After the openers I think the next for batting spots are only for captains. Meaning Walters and mark and some other very good batsmen miss out .

The best Australian and Indian sides of the last 50 years

It’s a well thought out article and selections. I would also have had Taylor as captain, Gilchrist as keeper and the same great bowling line up. Nothing wrong with your other batting selections but would have Border ahead of Smith because he scored centuries against the great West Indian line up.

The best Australian and Indian sides of the last 50 years

It’s unlikely that they will take 22 players

My Australian Test squad to face South Africa

Pucovski should get his chance now when he is dynamic form. Burns has an ordinary test record. This rubbish is that Burns is the current test opener and should keep his spot has never been a tradition. This is a new test series in Australia and many times have their been omissions and inclusions for the first test. Certain players are automatic selections but Burns is not one of them. The other suggestion that Pucovski could bat down the order is even worse than not playing him.

Pucovski or Burns? Allan Border makes his call ahead of India series

In what is a ridiculous out come to this poll. 10 Australians and one Englishman it makes me think the article should have been two sides , one from each country and from that a combined best Ashes side.
There are too many openers to choose from to be decisive so you pick your favourites. However there are 6 no brainers..
1 & 2 too many to choose from. From Ponsford and Woodfull to Hayden and Langer and these four would not be in my selections. All have averages around 40.00
3 Bradman
4 G Chappell
5& 6 many to choose from A Border & Ponting would be my first 2 choices
7 A Gilchrist
8 Warne
9 Lillee
10 McGrath
11 A few to choose from but J Thomson should almost be a no brainer.
12 K Miller History shows he’s been our only great all rounder.

Revealed: The Roar's greatest Ashes XI of all time, as voted by you

It’s amazing that this article got published.

Revealed: The Roar's greatest Ashes XI of all time, as voted by you

AND Wisden from what I have gathered each year only or mainly selects players which have played that year in England.

Revealed: The Roar's greatest Ashes XI of all time, as voted by you

Should cricket be included in the Olympics?
Answer: No.

Should cricket be included in the Olympics?

I hope you got the quaddie Cam. Since you put all winners on top.

Blue Diamond Stakes day: Group 1 previews and tips

To answer the title question, will Darren Weir come back the answer is “Yes”. He has accepted a 4 year ban and taken that on the chin. By not answering any questions at all he has protected people. He will return in 4 years time and probably have success again.
As for the staff and owners being in the good hands of Cairon Maher, he was the luckiest man in the world to only get 6 months for his crimes. He should have been getting the four years.

Will there be a way back for Darren Weir?

I thought Cross Counter wasn’t well weighted ( I was wrong_ but Nothin Leica Dane 20 years ago, a 3 year old had 47.5

Melbourne Cup review: The vitality of youth dominates again

Will Cross Counter be like Rekindling who has n’t raced since his Melbourne Cup win?

Melbourne Cup review: The vitality of youth dominates again

Typo. Cross Counter was born/foaled om may 4 2015 3 years and 6 months

Melbourne Cup review: The vitality of youth dominates again

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