I’ve still away to go, but for a while there I really went off cricket and couldn’t see myself watching it let alone being enraptured with rest cricket again.

Indeed they have

I won’t stand up for what any of the Aussies did – it was shameful. Boorish crowd behaviour though anywhere is not why I go the cricket. He said he thought long and hard about what Kohli had done and then did as you say. Personally I think Morgan chose to be a cricket captain not a leader. It’s still not in the same stratosphere as Smith but I still hope for greater from a sport I love and nearly gave away after the South African tour in disgust.

You might have to elucidate a bit more on what you believe is better. I’ve been to plenty of other big sporting events as well as a couple of dozen AFL grand finals. Nothing has come close to the whole 1989 finals series culminating in that Grand Final. ARL GF, FA Cup Final, Aus v Eng Twickenham, Chelsea v Manu United at Old Trafford, And plenty of other sports none of them come close at all IMO

Perhaps the big opening stand wore them down but there was surprising vitriol from a Lords crowd in my opinion. Indian crowd went with “cheater” mainly to Warner before Kohli interceded, the English followed Morgan’s hints and booed.

Good figures to back up of what seemed to be happening with the team batting first.

While I agree the psychology is an important factor, the dry, dead English wickets also have an influence. Having played for a decade and a half on surrey pitches that are bone dry, they tend to die, bounce less, but the odd pock mark offers a little deviation. In short you’d generally say it’s about a 20 run advantage.

I’ve been surprised at the lack of swing and the use of a dibble-dobbler – medium swinger who nips it about a little bit – these guys get wickets in England.

As an aside the other weird thing I’ve found about English wickets is that if you add a little rain to them they tend to play, more evenly. Coming from the uncovered pitches of country Victoria, where a bit of rain saw caps knocked off heads from a length, this has been the most difficult to comprehend.

Seeing a little bit of overtaking in one race doesn’t mean the sport is alright. It’s been four years of dullness. Whatever they are tinkering with has made the racing about as bland as you could imagine. This year I’ve reverted to watch a bit of qualifying and then check twitter for results.

Everyone roars after the anthem. You won’t ever hear the like.

How much money has been spent on Sydney and GWS? What would the benefit be of a grand final in Sydney versus the “monetary” loss of 20,000 less seats. Finger in the air and I reckon a grand final there would be the greatest thing for the AFL game and might even make GWS relevant or speed up their supporter base by 5 years. It sure would grow the game.

I love the G on grand final day, but to profess a national league and then have ten teams in one state and the grand final there regardless doesn’t suggest its National at all. I reckon a one GF interstate and one at the G would be a fair compromise, but I guess, it won’t be happening in my lifetime.

You must have been sitting in a unique position in the Australia v England match if you didn’t hear the booing of Warner and Smith (and oddly Finch later while fielding and when the amber fluid was in full effect) because by my estimation it was much louder than in the India game. I likened the crowd eruption on Warner’s dismissal to a crowd send off.

The behaviour of both sides in that test series a year ago was atrocious. Let’s hope we never see the like again and we can slowly be proud of the way our cricket team plays again. I lost as much respect for South Africa as I did of Australia. Australia accepting the boos, jeers and slights from the crowd and opposition players alike without reaction and letting their cricket do the talking will go a long way to winning everyone over.

I seriously can’t see the issue. I reckon 5% of all goals have always had a “feather” on it. Footy players know this. Unless it was a significant touch then it’s a goal. Let’s move on I’m sick of the score reviews. I actually don’t see how the game is improved by it.

It’s actually 4 from for at the MCG this year for the cats, but I think both points are valid ie in past recent years Geelong’s game plan has been exposed by the lateral space of the G. This year the game plan is quite different and as Ryan has previously pointed out is carefully ensue the setup of the back line as the transition from defence and try and attack or turnover in attack, while always maintaining the defensive structure behind the ball – their back line is deceptively fast, tall and strong apart from Harry who isn’t quick. Anyway currently a good time to be a cats supporter, but still a long way to go

I believe Ryan’s point is that there is a tactical weakness in the Eagles game plan. A team with a better game plan will beat a team of champions. The main trend of the season is focussed on the turnover and where and when that happens. At the moment WC look vulnerable.

Your point about aiming for top 4 then play finals is fair. Stats do show from there it becomes more even and so the WC eagles can’t be discounted. WC do look like they’re struggling to shake the rust off and get into the season and it maybe, they haven’t moved their tactics on since last season which seem more nuanced and sustainable than previous seasons. Adelaide are finding their mojo after some soul searching and a healthier list so WC have a fair amount of time to work it out.

I can concede keeping Coulter-Nile particularly if they drop Stoinis, I don’t care how much Warner backs him, Stoinis is out of sorts with the bat – what’s the point in having him when he’s not scoring runs and you’ve got to look to Maxwell to make up the 10 overs from the 5th bowler. Also NCN, even if he doesnt bat again, will probably end up being the highest scoring “all rounder” for Australia. So my NCN as the all rounder works for me.

Agree Zampa is not getting the zip he has in the past, you could see him trying to work through his system to get back his rhythm but the fizz and dip just aren’t there, not that I think the London pitches will help him off the wicket but it’s more what he’s doing in the air that looks lacklustre. Maybe Lyon isn’t setting the world alight in the nets but personally I think we’ve seen enough to know exactly what your not going to get, and that’s a fair bit better than Zampa’s recent efforts with the potential to be a match winner.

Too be fair having seen the boorish behaviour of the Australians it’s not restricted to nationality I can assure you particularly when the beer had been flowin* for a while, though how anyone could afford to get anything close to the edge defies my economics. The fascinating thing was that the cheater chant only came about when Smith was out there and not with Warner, it was as though they held Smith to a greater standard, but I couldn’t hear anything about Arney till Smith came out and I had a fairly isn’t fella not too far away who insisted on chanting when no one else would

Doran an interesting article, though I fundamentally disagree with some positions and perhaps it’s down to what I think makes up good coaching which you’ve place emphasis on wins and style whereas I rate as how you adapt to the opposition on the day and whether you over or under achieve with your list.

On that basis a couple of thoughts:

Gold Coast have over achieved, it’s not always been pretty, but their be competitive is the right approach something Bolton should have done. I would have Stewart Dew in the top half.

Don Pyke seems to have drawn a line in the sand and demanded the Crows deliver, it’s working, this is coach driven.

The saints have been coached better than his ranking and the saints have been in games against some good opposition until being over run in 5he last quarter. Overall I think the saints are over achieving.

Goodwin and the coaching staff at Melbourne have royally messed up, them improving during this period doesn’t excuse the fact they are underachieving by a massive amount. Jury is out for mine on whether he will be a Bolton or Laidley, good tactically, poor team manager.

Ross Lyon, has Freo back – he’s still a master tactician, but he’s blown a few games recently. Everyone can see him fighting the defence v attack approach hence the deplorable Adelaide game.

Hawthorn executed the coaches premier game plan-execution against GWS, but then bit the bullet on the rejuvenation phase, not accepting a 7-12 place on the ladder – bold. But I think your middle of the table is right for him.

Worsfold should be doing more with the list

Luke Beveridge seems to have one approach, not sure what to make oF the dogs, it’s more to do I think with what the opposition allow them to do.

Chris Scott doesn’t get many plaudits but he knew exactly where the problem has been with their form it’s why Constable was dropped even with good possessions and why more thought has been put into Tim Kelly’s tagging, I also think the injury to Parfit Ratugolea, Menegola and Dangerfield has disrupted things with their structure.

I was at the game today and India controlled the game throughout. The oval over the ast 2 years has an average team total of 308 – the best batting deck in the world. I thought 325 looked par today and I actually thought India should have got much more.

For Australia though, fielding was average (Carey should have taken the Pandya catch and that proved costly). Coulter-Nile is right to be worried about his spot, he’s bowling poor areas, he should be dropped). Zampa is way off and Lyon should replace him immediately for all sorts of reasons, but mainly control, fielding, leadership and their won’t be that much spin this World Cup. Stoinis is bowling reasonably well, though a bit of the trust factor seems to have been lost recently, his batting is way off though and Carey should absolutely bat above him. Actually though if Stoinis is batting so poorly then pick the 5 best bowlers, in which case he is out. Khawaja seems to be messed around a little with the top of the order, but actually he looked inventive.

I thought the start was a reasonable approach but Finch was absolutely ropeable with Warner for that run out. I don’t know what was on TV but he was furious and Finch looked on where Warner looked uncertain all innings. If Warner isn’t going to play with freedom then Khawaja and him should swap positions.

All innings we needed a partnership to just stick and it never quite did, the scoreboard pressure got to them.

Side note: I’ve never really warmed to Kohli, but today’s gesture to the crowd to stop booing Smith and instead clap him was beyond quality. His influence is extraordinary and that was an incredible gesture – the spirit of cricket is alive. It didn’t stop the crowd later chanting a droll “cheater” when he came out to bat, but it doesn’t diminish the gesture.

You are quite correct

And Ablett’s been sanctioned for that but he’s not sniping, he’s protecting his body. Other greats have been more borderline, Hodge comes to mind, but I wouldn’t boo him either. I watch footy to see the greats do their stuff, but how supporters can churlishly boo Ablett and Lauder Leigh Mathews is beyond me.

Scotts record, your pass mark is fairly high then, up from winning at the G and winning a final. I wonder how many other coaches have to win a premiership to get a pass mark? Cameron? Scott has masterminded a transformation of the club and not just made them relevant (again) but put them top of the pile. Why mark him so hard. I think he’s an exceptional coach and he’s much better than he has been.

For mine the home and away is all about putting yourself in the top four and then winning finals. Geelong have been excellent recently at the former and frustratingly not so at the latter. Premierships are tough to win but we will be in the mix come September. GWS loom though and I think their G hoodoo is being rewritten too.

Sounds like you’re the one with the “barracking” issue against the cats a) sniping Gazza, b) it’s the MCG hoodoo c) Scott and finals {*caveat – after he won a premiership). Anyone that wants to drive a player like Albert out of the game isn’t a lover of the game. Geelong have accounted for Pies, Demons and Hawks on the G this year – all “predicted” to be finals contenders this year. The Scott finals record was the main review issue confronted at the end of the 2018 season at Geelong, what you see in the field in 2019 is a direct result of that – new players, new tactics, new game plan. Don’t be boorish.

Can we get the Scott bothers together at Geelong?

I’m suggesting playing at home, for that many consecutive games, gives you a 12-20% increase of achieving form. That’s statistically significant leading into the finals. I’m not having a go either – the draw is what it is, unbalanced every year – just pointing out it’s a nice anomaly for the Tigers to have and potentially see them more of a flag fancy than I thought.

Big mummy has to be the man with the biggest mongrel in AFL. I understand what your saying, but I think they’re harder than they look. The Geelong game in the second, third and forth quarters the cats senior players really stepped up the intensity and the contested ball was hot. GWS matched them and still kept their smooth transition. They’re clearly talented. They remind me of Mark Waugh. You, I think, are hoping for Steve Waugh.

GWS play Hawthorn in round 21 at UNSW, Canberra. It’s only Vic teams that fall foul of having to play home games away at the MCG.