Roar Guru
Joined October 2011
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Why is Usman Khawaja in India? It's a pretty simple question, and one any of the selectors or Cricket Australia officials would have a…
I've checked my article history and it seems that it is time for my annual piece calling for everyone to get their hands off…
The hyperbole around Usman Khawaja at the moment is ridiculous. Best batsman in the country? Come on! Even if you ignore the claims of…
Australia versus New Zealand. The Wallabies against the All Blacks. A golden dawn struggling to break through the darkness. The Wallabies are a team…
Michael Hooper presents a significant problem for the Wallaby side. Hooper is a fantastic player; his tackling is great, his engine is inexhaustible, and…
It is truly an amazing time to be a Wallaby fan. Not because we're a world powerhouse, or close to stealing a Bledisloe Cup…
The series against India is done and won, the One Day World Cup is imminent, and with a West Indies tour and then an…
It's summer. In Australia. Why is anyone surprised that it's hot? We have the highest incidence of sun-related skin cancers in the world. Every…
I tried to be positive, I really did. I sat down with the remote and a notepad to watch the replay of Bledisloe III…
Modern Test rugby is a 23-man game. It is no longer 15-on-15. The fitter and better prepared team often wins in the last stanza…
I have been equal parts bemused and annoyed by a lot of recent commentary of The Roar community regarding the performance and suitability of…
Part I was focussed on the where the Reds have been going wrong when it comes to coaching. This part will focus on the…
While most of the Australian rugby community is hoping that the Waratahs will be hosting the Super Rugby final at ANZ Stadium on August…
Certainly all Australian rugby fans are relieved at the win over Italy by the Wallabies but it wasn't a great performance by any stretch…
It is Bledisloe Cup time again as the All Blacks host the Wallabies at Forsyth Barr Stadium this evening in Dunedin. Join us from…
Being the hopeless slave to fashion I am I have decided to join the 'five-things' crowd. Here are my thoughts from the Wallabies' 28-8…
There have been several good articles this week on the Roar that when boiled down to their most basic level, call the Wallabies soft…
It’s round three of the Rugby Championship and we’ve moved to Suncorp Stadium, in Brisbane - the Wallaby Fortress of recent years, as the…
The All Blacks can seal their 11th-straight Bledisloe Cup win with victory over the Wallabies tonight in Wellington. We'll have live scores and commentary…
Number three: traditionally the batting spot held by the most competent batsman in a team. It is the positions for the man who can…
DPoY is an odd one. The guys you normally automatically put in the conversation have just not been up to their normal standard (Draymond Green and Paul George) or out (Kawhi Leonard).
Gobert and Embiid have been very impactful despite games missed (19 for Embiid and 26 for Gobert).
That is partly why I like AD he has been blocking and stealing a lot and has only missed 7 games.
Simmons 'best since Magic' and set to seize rookie award
Other than MVP, none of the awards are really clear cut.
DPoY is very close between Gobert and Embiid (although I think AD is a dark horse) – with Rudy likely to get the nod now Joel will miss the last few weeks of the regular season and their games/minutes played will end up being very similar.
CoY is a wide open race with what Stevens has done in Boston, Pop in San Antonio, Quin Synder in Utah and Dwayne Casey in Toronto – all of those guys have a legit chance.
Similarly RoY is very close between Simmons and Mitchell. Which of those two guys gets votes for RoY will depend on which narrative each individual voter prefers – both are worthy winners.
Simmons 'best since Magic' and set to seize rookie award
Bancroft was Australia’s highest run getter for the series despite missing the final test.
Warner (36) and Bancroft (37) both averaged over 30, but after that Khawaja was at 20, Smith at 23, S.Marsh at 18, M.Marsh at 22, and Paine 43 courtesy of three not-outs. Throwing out the entire batting lineup is not the answer at all.
Maxwell needs to come in to the lineup, probably for Handscomb, and if they want to find space for Ferguson then Khawaja should probably move up to opener.
Realistically though Khawaja and the Marshes are better than the next lot from the shield.
Australia's batting is in crisis
The notion that the entire batting lineup needs to be scrapped is ridiculous.
No-one performed this series other than Tim Paine and Pat Cummins.
Warner (36) and Bancroft (37) both averaged over 30, but after that Khawaja was at 20, Smith at 23, S.Marsh at 18, M.Marsh at 22, and Paine 43 courtesy of three not-outs. Throwing out the entire batting lineup is not the answer at all.
Cite Shield averages all you want but understand that the guys you want to throw out perform markedly better than those you want to bring in at Shield level. Khawaja scored 347 runs at an average of 80 in his three shield matches this season, Shaun and Mitch both only averaged 38 but played very well in the Ashes. Discarding them all would be a huge mistake.
Room needs to be found in the order for Maxwell meaning Handscomb should probably make way.
The Test team needs a complete overhaul
Maybe I am naive, but part of accepting responsibility is accepting the punishment.
You can’t say ‘I was wrong, I accept that and apologise, and am accountable’ and then launch a legal fight.
Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith cricket press conferences: Live updates, blog
Did as well as he probably could.
Very good answer on the bullying angle and refusing to comment on other players, and saying he is accountable for and to himself.
Notwithstanding the ACA statement and him wanting to talk to his manager first, I do wonder why, in the vein of letting his actions do the talking rather than words, he didn’t rule out a challenge of the punishment straight up. While it isn’t my livelihood, I think just putting in the work might help in earning forgiveness and respect.
Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith cricket press conferences: Live updates, blog
Okay Chris, so they get $700M rather than $800M – maybe you think that’s nothing but I do call it significant. This scandal is absolutely a bargaining tool for the broadcasters.
Is it right for Australia to own Steve Smith?
Says you – cite examples.
I don’t personally like sledging. CA clearly deem it acceptable.
Warner’s outburst in the stairwell with de Kock was contrary to the Code of Conduct, however CA were happy that the ICC sanctions were sufficient and met the level of punishment they determined was appropriate under the Code of Conduct.
This incident is not.
What you are deliberately overlooking is that the main charges on the sheet are around the cover-up.
Your argument that this has been going on for years doesn’t stand up – there are no examples or charges of ball-tampering. This is the first time and therefore the precedent.
Is it right for Australia to own Steve Smith?
It will be a remarkable achievement to salvage a 2-2 series.
The RSA bowling attack is at least as good as, if not better, than Australia’s and now the Australian batting line-up is very fragile. Smith and Warner are the number 1 and 5 ranked test batters according to the ICC. The next two highest ranked batters are Usman Khawaja at 24 and Shaun Marsh at 25.
It is an opportunity though, whomever from the batting order stands up to be counted in this test will enjoy a good long run in the side.
Can Australia pull off mission impossible?
Magellan just pulled their team sponsorship (naming rights for home test series) after one year of a three-year deal.
Is it right for Australia to own Steve Smith?
Ch9 currently pays $100M/yr and loses money for the rights to the men’s international team. I cannot see anyone paying that this time around.
$250M is at the high end, but I can definitely see CA only getting $750M when they wanted $1B. It’s not lost money so much as lost potential money, but the impact is still real.
Is it right for Australia to own Steve Smith?
Yellow Card – introduction of irrelevant examples in an attempt to create a false equivalence.
Argument failed.
Steve Smith and David Warner shouldn't appeal their 12-month bans
The Nine Network is being urged by bankers to end its long-time cricket coverage due to estimated $30-40 million yearly losses.
Currently CA earns (approximately) $100M/yr from Channel 9 for the international rights and $20M/yr from Channel 10 for the BBL.
Cricket Australia had been hoping for $1 billion cumulatively for the broadcast rights for the next five years. The expected ceiling according to market analysts was closer to $800 million.
Within the last few weeks CA had told television networks to resubmit their bids as no first round offers were regarded as acceptable.
The current debacle will absolutely affect the value of the deal. The BBL will still increase, but the value of the men’s international broadcast rights will go down, not up – especially since CA still wants to maintain the digital broadcast rights in-house.
Is it right for Australia to own Steve Smith?
That will just open them up to a counter-claim for damage to the CA brand – and they’ll lose that by an order of magnitude.
The CA website states in one of their stories that CA had no authority over whether they played in overseas leagues so there is no restraint of trade argument – they are being punished under a Code of Conduct they signed.
Steve Smith and David Warner shouldn't appeal their 12-month bans
If I recall correctly CA was looking for a $1bn deal, I expect they wouldn’t have gotten that anyway, but now I think they’ll get less than $500M ($100M/yr).
Is it right for Australia to own Steve Smith?
This is why you read the Code of Conduct before you sign it. I am sure most people have had to sign them for their various jobs and sports – read them, the consequences are real.
Is it right for Australia to own Steve Smith?
The Argus Review, the Homework debacle, the pay dispute, now this – the long slide of the Australian Cricket Team’s culture has happened under his watch – I’m not sure what would have to happen for the CEO to be removed.
Australia's on-field leaders have been banished, but this is just the beginning
The only way Sutherland goes is if the sponsors demand it. No-one has the clout to force him out, and there is no way in hell he will relinquish his position.
Australia's on-field leaders have been banished, but this is just the beginning
Cricket Australia can refuse to accept his resignation and fire him for cause.
Darren Lehmann reportedly set to resign in wake of ball tampering scandal
He was just looking at old numbers, it was 44.08 before this test, and as Bunny posts 42.47 after the Newlands test.
Paine should permanently replace Smith as captain
Finch is a decidedly average red ball cricketer who should not be within cooee of the test side. Mid-30s average for his career, mid-30s average this season.
Paine should permanently replace Smith as captain
There really isn’t, you can just deadbat everything from the press.
Six players that Australia must ban from the fourth Test
Great summation Daniel and bang on the money.
Smith, Warner and Bancroft will all still play for Australia but not in leadership roles, and certainly not for the remainder of the tour.
Lehmann needs his contract torn up.
Admit it, Steve. You're no longer fit to lead the Australian cricket team
You people are all tripping.
There are two state captains in the team – Mitch Marsh and Usman Khawaja along with Paine should be the new leaders.
Bailey???
Finch???
Get a grip.
Six players that Australia must ban from the fourth Test
I didn’t mean PG13 has been bad, I just mean lower than his normal level. Similar to Draymond who has also been good, just not at the level he has played at previously.
Simmons 'best since Magic' and set to seize rookie award