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The Roar

Andrew Shephard

Roar Rookie

Joined November 2013

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Born on a rest day during the 1978/79 Ashes series, you could say he was destined to be a cricket tragic. And from those early days of automatic-everything backyard cricket, Curtly Ambrose-induced nightmares, and ‘2 for 22’ Richie impressions, he has blossomed into an all-rounder in the true modern tradition (not much good at anything). His greatest contributions to cricket have come in sharing the new ball for the 10Bs, singlehandedly getting Steve Waugh home on his ‘Perfect Day’ (from the Churchill Stand), and supporting Cricket Australia with prodigious sales of VB.

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That really is heartbreaking.

– A.

Australia, you’ve broken my heart

Hey Alan,

I agree. A few good blokes really wouldn’t go astray right about now. And I’m encouraged by what Boof has said about wanting to model the team on New Zealand.

– A.

Australia, you’ve broken my heart

No, I really don’t.

And while your point doesn’t escape me (that it is an overreaction), I would suggest that it’s more in line with the feeling of most Australian cricket fans than your own.

The dismissive tone of your comment only suggests to me that the problem goes deeper than the players, to those they’re meant to be playing for.

– A.

Australia, you’ve broken my heart

Hi Wobbly,

Thank you for that. But last time I checked, The Roar was a sports website. If you’re more passionate about social justice I certainly commend you, but would suggest you might look elsewhere for your entertainment.

A.

Australia, you’ve broken my heart

Loved your article, Tim. Really enjoyed how you approached it from a linguistic viewpoint, and how the choice of words reveals the mentality. I’m fascinated by that as well. It goes back and back and back — back past the headbutting, back past hard-but-fair, back past ‘banter’ and ‘chirp’. There is a nasty, unnecessarily aggressive mindset becoming part-and-parcel of wearing the baggy green, and with it comes that idea of sorry-not-sorry, and it’s all good as long as we win and as long as everyone’s thirsty. Personally, I can’t get past the idea that Smith was setting himself to be second only to Bradman, and now this. Could you imagine, even for a moment, Don Bradman or his team feeling the need to resort to this, or any of the verbals, or any of the off-field nonsense? It says something — something incredibly disappointing — and even though I don’t quite know what it is, it makes me feel sick in that way that you only feel when something you love is dying.

Australian cricket falls back on "Sorry, not sorry"

Brilliant. Couldn’t agree more. Tall and broad shouldered? You’re in!

Ashton Agar and mirage selections

Thanks CW.

Totally agree with you. And I’d heard about those spin-friendly pitches at the academy — absolutely brilliant stuff, but as you say, you’d think they’d have cottoned on to the need for some green tops to practice on too!

And as you say, it starts with the pitches we prepare at home. I remember not long back, I think it was in Hobart, they dared produce a ‘spicy’ deck for a Shield game, and everyone hopped into them! You reap what you sow, I guess… sigh.

Thanks for reading, and hope you enjoy the match.

A.

A little case of Ashes history repeating

Hi Burgy,

Totally get what you’re saying. I’m with you on David Warner — I’ve absolutely loved watching him develop as a world-class test batsman. And while, yes, I may have been guilty of overstating it, I meant that his technique (while certainly tightened from his early Twenty20 days) is being exposed by swing — and he’s not alone there. The thing I’m trying to get at is that the Australian side are guilty of looking like world beaters on flat, even decks like the Adelaide Oval. Anyone can face the new (or old!) ball there. But we have a history now of not being patient enough, or technically proficient enough, to counter the swinging (or even spinning) ball on English decks. And while he battled honourably, David struggled against the two-way swing of Anderson, and then fell to the spinner right on lunch in the second innings.

Personally, I’d like to see all the Australian batsman show a little less bullishness, and a little more patience in these conditions.

Looking forward to see how they go tonight — hope you enjoy it too!

A.

A little case of Ashes history repeating

Thanks, rookie Id, nice of you to say. I can’t blame anyone for feeling like all that matters is winning though, because we’re bombarded with that messaging at every turn. And now, with the ever-present sports betting commercials, there’s constant propaganda that you have to ‘win’ on a game — and not merely enjoy it. Very sad indeed.

When winning is everything, it’s sport that loses

I hear you, up in the north. It’s just sad now when you can see the lack of real character in our sportspeople — they forget sometimes I think that they have to be people too, not just athletes. It’s getting so that we fans are feeling more of a connection with champion horses like Black Caviar than real sportspeople — because, bizarrely, it’s the horses showing more character…

When winning is everything, it’s sport that loses

What an insightful point, Sheek. Really enjoyed reading your take on it. And for what it’s worth, I totally agree with you that the corporatisation of sport is largely to blame. In most cases, it does seem to be less about sport now, and more about turning a profit. And I don’t think that sentiment makes any of us dinosaurs, just standard-bearers for happier, simpler times.

When winning is everything, it’s sport that loses

Me too, mate. The Gabba is for our cricket team what Eden Park is for the All Blacks. Or close, anyway.

Reckon the small dimensions (and the partisan crowd) will definitely play a role in this match — and it feels like it can only benefit the Kiwis…

New Zealand to host Australia on the moral high ground

Haha, Taylorman — but stop! I’m already shuddering.

Reckon the ground will play a part in this game too — just hopefully not quite as much!

New Zealand to host Australia on the moral high ground

Thanks AussieKiwi – I really appreciate that.

Hard to know from your name which side of the fence you’re on, but hopefully us Aussies can bring some of that humility to the pitch one of these days. A bit of self-deprecating humour out there would go a long way, I reckon.

New Zealand to host Australia on the moral high ground

Thanks Mountain!

I’m with you — think it’ll be one of the games of the tournament.

New Zealand to host Australia on the moral high ground

Thanks Nathan! Good to hear from you too, mate.

Not a retirement, more a sabbatical! ; ) Hoping to get a few more pieces up through the World Cup, peaking towards the Ashes this year!

I am absolutely SURE that whatever their stand is on sledging, they’ll have a few tactics in mind to get in our heads. Sometimes it can be as simple as a field placement (like the old super-short, super-straight silly mid off/on), or the LACK of fielders in a particular area. It doesn’t need to be verbal to be effective. I actually saw a great youtube video yesterday of Hadlee setting up Botham by swinging a couple past his bat, then from the top of his run, ironically showing him how to play the drive – then sending down a bumper which he gloves to the keeper. Genius.

New Zealand to host Australia on the moral high ground

In rugby, yes. But in cricket, the Ashes still takes it for me. I miss the Hadlee years, where it was actually a (more than) tough contest. Maybe this is the start of a new such era…

New Zealand to host Australia on the moral high ground

Haha – dastardly is right! Eugh, Stephen Fleming, an evil genius if ever there was one! Do you remember the 3 fieldsmen at point for Damien Martyn?

New Zealand to host Australia on the moral high ground

Hahaha! Couldn’t agree more!

Love it mate — we ARE the Cobra Kai dojo! It was so much easier when we were just trying to bat for our lives against Courtley Ambrose and company…

Thanks for the kind words, and hopefully we get an awesome game today — ideally where Australia are under the pump the whole way, but manage to squeak home Bevan-esquely!

New Zealand to host Australia on the moral high ground

Thanks Riccardo — really appreciate that mate.

Can’t wait to see how they go today – should be a cracking match. Here’s hoping both teams play to their best, and in the spirit of the game.

New Zealand to host Australia on the moral high ground

Thanks Vas! Nice of you to say.

I can’t wait to see how they go when the going gets a bit hot too — it’s all very well saying you won’t get verbal in the lead-up, but let’s see… Still – full marks for at least taking a stand on it. For mine, it really is an ugly part of the game.

New Zealand to host Australia on the moral high ground

Totally agree — reminds me a bit of the Swans’ old ‘No Dickheads’ policy (which kind of went out the window with the recruiting of Buddy). Anything the Black Caps can take from the All Blacks is surely a good thing.

New Zealand to host Australia on the moral high ground

Ha! Love it Bayman!

Glad you liked it, mate. And I reckon the moth had it coming. : )

Here's to more crash, bang, wallop at WACA

Thanks Steven!

Pretty evenly poised at this stage. Hope you’re enjoying the game. (And wearing your sunscreen!) : )

Here's to more crash, bang, wallop at WACA

Legend, mate. ; )

Here's to more crash, bang, wallop at WACA

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