Roar Rookie
Joined January 2021
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It may be a stretch to comprehend at first but what if one team plays two games as part of Gather Round?
I watched nearly every game of this World Cup, so I thought I would try making a list of my top five matches. This…
After all the drama, lies, twists and scandals that have plagued this World Cup, you would think FIFA would like to get a break…
What a disgrace, Australia failed to make the semi-finals of a home World Cup. “Well, but we won it last year.” “Only because we…
With the West Indies exiting the T20 World Cup before the Super 12 stage, past similar failures come to mind. Most famously, India and…
Despite the discussions, accusations and disappointment regarding Australia pulling out of their tour of South Africa, no one is asking the question “now what?”…
I’ll actually put my hand up and admit Socceroos performances at the World Cup has made me more interested to get back into the A-League again. I was shocked by the quality of the A-League players and it definitely made me take our domestic competition more seriously. Mind you I am not one of those who has always been criticising the A-League, I used to be a club member and go to games regularly. But something happened after around 2017/18 and the momentum that was building died. I’m not such a die hard that I’ll stick out the tough times I’m sorry. If the stands are empty it’s not an enjoyable experience. But I hope we can rebuild the momentum we had going back around our Asian Cup success in our domestic league.
Now that the Socceroos have proven the A-League's quality, it’s time for football fans to show up
Man look at that next 12 months. The only rest a multi-format player can get is skipping the IPL. So ridiculous how over crowded the schedule is. Cut the white ball bilateral stuff. Just play a series in the lead up to a World Cup, like soccer friendlies.
'I'll take some rest': Cummins forfeits million-dollar IPL payday as Aussies face 106 days play in busy year
I do think he is a great player. You’re a bit harsh on him, he was player of the tournament at last year’s World Cup. Plus I can’t be harsh on someone with 24 test hundreds, they may mostly be in Australia but that doesn’t mean they don’t count, if it was that easy why haven’t more done it? He certainly hasn’t done well overseas in tests, but in white ball cricket he’s had success away from Australia.
In a world where everything is black or white, the Australian men’s cricket team is grey
I think the fact that we are talking about Australia’s early exit so much shows people do care, as shown by “Gerard Whately taking a mountain of calls”. People may not like this team, but if they take the effort to call in and share that view, then clearly they do care, but want something better, a team they can be proud of and get behind.
Is Australia falling out of love with cricket?
Hmmm I wonder what the average backyard size is in India??? I think we’ll be ok…
Backyard cricket fading into background means Australia’s grassroots need extra care amid fears of 'missing generation'
At what point does Finch himself say, “in the best interests of the team I’ve got to step aside”. He can stay and work in the squad for the World Cup like a coach and then retire, but with Green and Smith waiting he’s holding Australia back.
REPORT: 'This can't go on' - Superb Stoinis' record 50 keeps Aussies alive... but Finch's painful form hits new low
I think after the 2019 WC Final that was the best match I’ve ever watched.
One of the greatest matches of all time: Kohli magic propels India past Pakistan in epic MCG thriller
You are right about all the different winners making it seem less important to Aussie fans. I remember finally paying a little more close attention in 2016, and then tuning out once Australia was eliminated. Upon hearing later the West Indies won, I thought, that’s silly, this tournament is a bit dodgy.
'Treated as a joke': The attitude problem that left Australian cricket playing T20 catch up
I know they’ve had a great break over winter. Just come back and started playing some white ball cricket to get ready for World Cup, I thought this would be almost ideal prep. Fair enough during covid and the bubbles complain, but that’s bulls*** now.
'We're tired': After a golden duck, Finch says World Cup hosts are fatigued before the tournament even begins
It sounds so promising when you put it that way. But I still hold myself from being too optimistic, Collingwood won’t get that lucky again with so many close wins.
Pies fans McCraving a huge 2023
I agree in principle but not in the details you’ve laid out. No one will ever compete directly with the IPL, whether it’s right or not doesn’t matter, we’ve all got to get out of the way of the IPL. The other leagues could run concurrently perhaps in the future as I think as time goes on these other T20 leagues won’t be so profitable, as they are basically copies of each other. A radical step that’s a bit simpler but might achieve the same result is make a rule limiting a player to only be able to sign for 2 (or maybe 3) T20 leagues.
Could a European football-style system be the future of cricket?
Great article, I agree. I’ve loved reading your stuff this year! Surely you’ll be on to bigger places soon.
COMMENT: Awarding premiership medals to the entire winning list would ruin them for everyone
I’ve wondered if Collingwood’s many Grand Final losses is actually due to over performing, spurred on by the fans who number the most in the league and perhaps this battler, play for the jumper ethos you talk about. If so it’s a bitter sweet conundrum to accept as a Pies fan, be proud of always contending, always throwing a punch? Or lamenting rarely having the shrewdness to build a proper foundation to become a powerhouse on field team.
The Collingwood way: Is pride enough?
Absolutely!! I am much more likely to pay attention when a dangerous bowler is on in a T20, like I always want to make sure I see Rashid Khan’s 4 overs. What about the 2015 World Cup which was a batting fest, the best game was that crazy close low-scoring game between Aus and NZ. And what are the classic moments we remember, Starc bowling McCullum, Lillee last ball, etc.
'Hitting a ball over a fence is boring': Here's what's wrong with T20 cricket
Out of the box idea but sorry don’t like it. However I definitely want State of Origin back, but not without having the best players out there and playing second fiddle behind the finals. Only way State of Origin will make a comeback is if home and away season is shortened (my personal preference but I know it will never happen), or season is stretched out to include at least one or two more bye weeks.
It's time to bring back State of Origin footy. Here's how the pre-finals bye could help make it happen
Yet I remember an article you wrote “When will Collingwood give us another reason to hate them”.
Is Nathan Buckley taking credit for the courage of Craig McRae?
You’ve made a way too simplistic conclusion to what you yourself say is a mystifying coach. 2018 success was built on a similar attacking, dynamic, young small forward line. Buckley could do it. What’s mystifying is why he chose to change strategy around the second half of 2019, my guess is he wanted to make the all-round team by building their defence in addition to the strong attacking game they had. His mistake was somehow that suffocated the attacking strengths they had. Collingwood’s win over Melbourne was thanks just as much to the attack as the defence, Melbourne were coming hard in the first half and Collingwood’s defence held up, keeping them in the game (as well as incredibly efficient conversion from inside 50 entries)
Is Nathan Buckley taking credit for the courage of Craig McRae?
No please leave the draw alone, let’s not become even more American. An extra 5 minutes would be significant if a team had a short turnaround coming up before their next game.
Let them play: It's time for AFL to introduce extra time
It may, we basically are just at the whim of the BCCI keeping good faith in international cricket. At least considering how passionate Indians still are about their national team hopefully the BCCI will always keep some space for international cricket. But there will certainly be less of it in the future, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, there’s certainly too many pointless bilateral series now.
'It's not the same': The T20 revolution is pushing me away from the game I grew up loving
Sadly you are right. There have been some really ominous signs this year as you mentioned in addition to the comments from ICC chair Greg Barclay that there will be less test cricket. My only hope is that every country’s board will cannibalise each other as they try to become no.2 to IPL and eventually all the other T20 leagues will fade away into regular domestic tournaments. Give the IPL space and hopefully international cricket will survive beside it.
'It's not the same': The T20 revolution is pushing me away from the game I grew up loving
I still believe in the Big Bash. I think the bubble burst and the BBL will come back and settle somewhere in the middle. Shorter season (8 or 10 games per team), have no international matches at the same time, it can still be successful.
Not-so-Big Bash: BBL's disastrous summer ratings revealed in major blow for CA
I don’t really understand the idea that tennis is dying and needs some livening up from Kyrgios. It seems to me the crowds and passion are still good at this AO and recent ones (800k attended the last pre-covid AO in 2020, a Grand Slam record).
Please, can we have more? How Special Ks see future after blasting through AO's Djokovic funk
Completely agree! Great article. And it only got worse with Medvedev match. Fans at AO of late are getting worse and worse and it is embarrassing.
The AO, tennis fans and Nick Kyrgios should all be embarrassed
Agree with this! I’ve thought for a while ICC needs to introduce something like FIFA does with International Match Windows but for T20 Franchise tournaments. But do they have the power and support to do it? There can’t be non-stop T20 tournaments year round as it will attract too many talented players from non “big 3” countries to become T20 specialists and continue to drive down the quality of those countries in ODI and test cricket. Another alternative as you touched on is restricting players to only be able to play for one franchise side outside of their own country.
The tough decisions the ICC needs to make around domestic and international cricket
I don’t mind the 3 big host nations or 48 teams in principle, but find a way for it to work. The formats suggested so far don’t work. And if you need to increase the number of matches per team, then plan on that from the outset and make room for it. Just sneaking in more matches at the 11th hour is not fair for the players.
Greedy, selfish FIFA to blame for 48-team World Cup mess