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Joined September 2020
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That 84/85 series was as dismal from an Australian point of view as it gets. The local mood was lightened by the popularity of the Windies team. They seemed a happy lot and did several TV advertisements that added to their charismatic style.
Team of the Month: an August-born World Cricket XI
……pushing hard for Akhtar to play instead of Iqbal Qasim !
Too true Rosie. Lloyd lost confidence in spinners and with his four prong pace attack, smashed most opposition.
Team of the Month: an August-born World Cricket XI
Cricket Australia may have some form of inter-generational trauma born out of consistently asking the young: ‘think you’re better than your old man, do yah?”
I think your sentence above sums up almost all conversations about current teams versus yesterday’s teams. We all tend to look back at our youth as one long glorious summer. In my case, Simpson, Walters, Marsh, Lawry and McKenzie occupy an almost mystical seat in the backdrop of my life. But I’ve come to realise reading the comments in The Roar that everyone seems to have a similar bunch of heroes, just maybe different eras.
Comparing the great teams of the past to the current team is nigh on impossible. Different opposition, different schedules, different game formats and so on means that the game is in a constant state of movement.
My view is that the current team is a strong team in both batting and bowling and is playing at a time when two of its competitors (India and England) also possess strong teams. Winning is not guaranteed for any of these three teams, especially away from home. Simple as that.
They hold the Ashes and are World Test Champions, but how will this Australian cricket team be remembered?
I find it interesting that the two top of the ladder teams involved (Collingwood and Port Adelaide) in what some have described as game of the year in Round 19 both lost in Round 20.
I’m wondering if there is such a thing as post peak game hangover. It’s impossible in the modern game to be switched on for 24 plus rounds without suffering a fade out. Coming off a supreme physical effort and then finding that the emotional tank is near empty for the following week.
Six Points: Port's concussion farce, an all time MCG classic, and a day of upsets flips the season on its head
Just one other problem. From what Ive seen of Darling in the last couple of seasons, he isn’t busy enough. Lacks initiative and energy. Yeah I know he was effective when the WC were competitive but those years feel a long time ago.
The Lions are missing the mark, but there might be a Darling who can help
I feel sorry for Tom Jonas. He has been a loyal servant of the PAFC. Perhaps retirement comes into view at season’s end.
AFL News: Blues stars hobbled, Port skipper dropped again, finals start early for Bulldogs as pressure mounts
All batters require luck during their careers. Good luck sweeps in and out like the tide. I remember hearing Ian Chappell talk about luck when making an observation about Marnus Labuchagne early in his career.
They say he is Australia’s best batsman, I don’t know whether he is or not, but I do know he’s Australia’s luckiest.
Bairstow 99, Wood's triple strike crush Aussies as series hangs on incoming Manchester downpour
It’s not about being tired Fatty. It’s the mental strain of bowling and managing the field placements. Most fast bowlers can retreat to fine leg when they’re not required to bowl. As captain, no such luxury for Cummins.
Zak attack: Crawley clobbers century as 'sloppy' Aussies pray for rain to save Manchester massacre
If ever there was a fixture that the Lions need to win to confirm their credentials surely it is on Saturday against the Cats. They simply have to make a statement to be taken seriously.
The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions Round 19: How to use the tipping year from hell to help your team win
I especially think this is the case when the Tests are clustered together (including the World Championship v India) so closely.
Zak attack: Crawley clobbers century as 'sloppy' Aussies pray for rain to save Manchester massacre
I considered the Lawry Simpson package too. You get leg spin, leadership and superb slip fielding as part of the package.
'One of the greatest openers of all time, Warner and Hayden top two ever': Khawaja on front foot to defend besieged buddy
Let’s not forget gritty openers like Laird and Wood who faced the mighty attacks on larger grounds before the big bats became all the vogue. As has been written many times, cricket is a game of so many variables and selecting the best say since WW2 is fraught with methodological challenges.
For the record, I’d take Simpson and Boon.
'One of the greatest openers of all time, Warner and Hayden top two ever': Khawaja on front foot to defend besieged buddy
I’m a Power supporter but I feel the decision to discipline Boyd for his tackle on DBJ is unfair. Anyone who has ever played any code of football should be able to see there was no malice in the tackle.
If a player follows the regulations for a legitimate tackle and the result is injury for the tackled player then it’s on the AFL to ban tackles from the game. Alternatively just live with the fact that there will be injuries in a contact sport.
AFL News: McQualter's perfect response to Tiger's phone snub, lengthy ban looms for Blue, Rachele learns fate for strike
Where has this Blues team been hiding all season? They were irresistible last night. I’m a Power supporter but I take my hat off to Carlton. They were too fast, too intense and hungrier than Port.
No excuses for the Power but it was obvious that the 7 changes revealed a problem with the back six, that is a bigger problem than we already knew we had.
Footy Fix: From pathetic to pummelling Port in 34 days - how breathtaking Blues have become footy's hottest team
…..we’re taking it one game at a time
Flem’s Verdict: No momentum change after narrow loss but Warner on last chance and Aussies need Wood plan
Draft concessions don’t work. The problem for the Suns is retaining high value players. Count all the ex Suns playing each week for southern clubs.
I watched Humphrey, Miller, Rau and company last weekend, classy talented players all. Who would want to bet against me that they’ll still be at the Suns in three years?
Dew bye date: 'I don't think it's misleading' - Suns chairman backs CEO's call to back coach just days before sacking
……Khawaja and Travis Head, who we had doubts about in England,
Many many Roarers expressed their dismay at the reluctance by some to select Travis Head. I can’t remember a more deserving selection that had so much adverse media about his suitability for Ashes selection.
Flem’s Verdict: No momentum change after narrow loss but Warner on last chance and Aussies need Wood plan
……..with our best 2 in Smith and Labuschagne……..
I’m officially elevating our two best now as Smith and Head.
Ashes alive: Brook, Woakes, Wood the heroes as England clinch thrilling run chase despite superb Starc
You’ve knocked me over with that news. Fantasia has played so few games for the Power due to injury that most people have probably forgotten he’s on the list. It’s a pity because he was a classy small forward when at his best.
Given his age and injury history, we’ll probably have to settle for a 3rd rounder.
Have Collingwood and Port peaked too early? The smokies that are timing their run to September
Have the Magpies and Power peaked too early?
Magpies no and the Power possibly. I argue the Magpies have been the most impressive team since mid 2022. Yes, even more so than the two teams in last year’s Grand Final.
The Power keep surprising on the up side even to their most devoted fans. No disrespect intended to the Crows but the Power’s inexplicable fade against the Crows early in the season is still a stain on their premiership credentials.
I’m not convinced the Cats are dead in 2023 but I’ll back Collingwood against any other team in a Grand Final based on what I’ve seen in this season.
Have Collingwood and Port peaked too early? The smokies that are timing their run to September
Thanks for the early morning chuckles guywholikessport. As usual, all satire or humour on such matters contain a deeper truth.
It’s true that the Goldie is a graveyard for 1st class team sports. Even the Titans NRL team have struggled to make an impact in Rugby League mad Queensland. It’s difficult to understand why though.
I lived in SE Qld for 16 years and still remain to be convinced that the failure theories are just something that is synonymous with Gold Coast living, like a swim before breakfast.
I do note however, that so many of the tall athletic looking locally born teenagers (male and female) seem to be focussed on water based sports. Surfing and Surf Life Saving are obvious but also competitive rowing, kayaking etc.
Ultimately though, successful AFL teams down south are able to build a culture based on intergenerational family involvement with both players, fans and community. The churn of talented draft picks returning to Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne is a serious drain on a club that can least afford it.
As for Dew, I would like all fans to ask themselves this question. If Chris Scott or Alastair Clarkson had been coach of the Suns over the last decade, how many flags do you reckon the Suns would have won? My answer is NONE.
Is coaching Gold Coast a good job?
Apparently McCullum has regretted his Murli appeal and apologised. It seems it might have been his Greg Chappell moment, within the laws against but maybe not the spirit type thing.
Personally, I think the Bairstow case is different. Leaving the crease while the ball is “active” is a well known risk and is taught to juniors at an early age. Indeed, I doubt a weekend would go by in any Australian city where a junior player was not given out on this law.
Aussies 2-0 up despite sensational Stokes ton as Lord's erupts over run out controversy, cheating accusations
I have no doubt he would average 5-10 more runs in today’s game.
No doubt Rellum. I remember during the Windies touring team of 84/85 an innings I saw Border play that I have never forgotten.
It was a day night ODI at the SCG. Windies batted first and set up a reasonable total. Our turn to bat and as usual we were about 3 for 27 off about 10 overs (I’m going on memory alone here so forgive me if the fact checked numbers are slightly different).
I’d just knocked off work and set myself up on the fence. Border strode to the crease with his team in deep trouble again. He got down to business and belted about 124 runs against the fiercest night attack you could imagine. Australia won the game.
'If I make 80, that'll be a miracle': Allan Border reveals tragic Parkinson's diagnosis
If AB was playing today, I can say with confidence his Test batting average would be well north of 60. He played against some of the best fast bowling attacks ever seen and didn’t have the benefit of the large bats and smaller roped in fields we see today.
I recall hearing about the batting prodigy when he was still at North Sydney Boys High and playing first grade for Mosman in his mid teens. He was always going to be something special.
'If I make 80, that'll be a miracle': Allan Border reveals tragic Parkinson's diagnosis
Completely agree Cat, many statistics including free kick counts in AFL are overblown.
However, it’s the position and timing of free kicks that are more important. I thought Port did suffer from what I call “fussy umpiring” last week. Not blaming Port’s loss on umpiring as you have to play well enough to take umpires out of the game.
AFL News: Shuey, Cunnington make call on retirement, Swans move on from Buddy era, Port want answers over umpiring