Tom Simon's Roar Profile

Players like Rashford and Martial should think about using the summer to restart their careers. Both are seriously talented, which is not being utilised at United with Sanchez and Lingard clearly in front of them.
Clubs around Europe would be lining up to have either as the focus of their attack. Unlikely to be sold to any Premier League rivals, maybe a stint in Spain or Germany would do both well..

Mourinho and Guardiola: A tale of two different philosophies

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Williamson is just a pleasure to watch in any format. I think most players, not just Warner, can learn a thing or two from Williamson’s composure out on the field – both as captain and with the bat. He’s exactly the type of person you want representing the sport, a great role model for any aspiring cricketer.

But he has certainly gone to another level in this year’s IPL. There were probably a few question marks at the start of the IPL over his ability to maintain a high strike rate and accelerate with the field spread on the boundary, but he’s adapted his game extremely well, and the stats you quote attest to that improvement.

How long until he is considered the greatest batsman NZ has produced?

Williamson shows a very different way to win from Warner

Agree with both of your sides JamesH. Shakib has to be there, as well as AB de Villiers and De Cock. Anderson is probably stiff as well, considering his standing in the game with over 500 test wickets..
Only one would be with the subcontinent is playing 3 spinners?

The subcontinent vs the rest of the world Test series

“If there was a Royal Commission into how much of the media conducts itself, I fear we could end up in the same room as the big banks.”

That’s a very ominous statement, and one which I fear could be true. As soon as they’ve torn Bomber down, it’s onto the next victim.
I saw that the media were harassing Ben Cousins during the week. Hasnt be in trouble with police, just questioned by a TV crew looking for a story. The bloke finished playing footy a long time ago, let him live his life.

Really good article

Media dropping a bomb on Bomber Thompson

Congestion might be on the agenda again tonight. Proper of old-fashioned footy, hopefully the bloke that puts his head over the ball in these difficult conditions gets looked after. Hawks by 10

Hawthorn vs Sydney: Friday Night Forecast

Cricket Australia have shown that they take a very short-term and maximise profit focus to world cricket. Rejected Ch10s bid of $960m for all cricket on free-to-air in favour of $40m more. Could that have been used to host Bangladesh?

Cancellation of Bangladesh's tour of Australia a mistake

Disagree with a few of the points made. He needs four years to make a proper mark on the team, especially if he is implement the significant changes everyone is talking about. Promoting the same message across all formats is really important at this time, considering the coach and two most experienced players are now gone. Paine’s appointment as ODI as well as Test captain shows that.
I also think his pro-WA focus was part of his job of backing his players, and he is just more vocal that most others.

But agree with number nine in particular. I don’t think there was ever a selection process after Lehmann stepped aside, it was always going to be Langer. Had the feeling of ‘lets go back to the good old days’ approach from Sutherland and co, get back to scenes of 06/07 of best mates, arm in arm after victory. The only cultural change is to go backwards

Nine reasons why I'm not on board with Justin Langer's appointment

Unbelievable justification. As you say Bill, Cricket Australia sign a billion dollar tv rights deal at the expense of free-to-air viewers, and then say hosting Bangladesh is too expensive?
I’m sure channel 10 would have happily broadcast the Bangladesh series…

BCCI bullies again show their disregard for the rest of the cricket world

Glad Ireland have finally got a crack at test cricket, and I hope they win to show the ICC that smaller nations need more opportunities against top nations than less.
But playing in Ireland in cool overcast conditions, Mohammad Amir will take 10 for the match with it going around corners both ways!

Pakistan head to Ireland for an historic Test

Both Scott brothers are quality coaches. Both seem very good at getting the best out of young and previously maligned players. I didn’t think Jacobs was anything more than just a tagger, but he was brilliant on the weekend. Moving Daw to defence looks to have settled him, and developing a game style that gets the most out of Ben Brown is really paying dividends! Great story if they can sustain it

Is Brad Scott the AFL's true coaching genius?

Seems like there were a lot of people listening to Brian Taylor over the weekend! And for once I agree with BT!

Get the ball up in the air, if a third man goes up then its a free kick against.
I also don’t think Buckley’s suggestion is a bad one. I’m normally one to support umpires not over-officiating, but in this case it might be best. More free kicks rewarding the tackler will spread the game out, as more handballs over short distances in close increases the chances of being tackled. Would be something to consider, may be testing in next preseason

AFL’s state of the game: A couple of easy changes will make all the difference

The Big Bash certainly needs more international star power. As much off-field trouble he can bring, people come through the gates to watch players like Chris Gayle.
The Melbourne Stars have a massive hole to fill next season with no Kevin Pietersen – not just on the field where he’s been very consistent, but his status off-field and connection with the fans has been massive.

Bring back Chris Gayle to bash big in the Big Bash

And can you say that cricket is currently run otherwise?

I think we will see changes to sledging like the scenes of Warner barking like a pitbull at Markram in South Africa after running out De Villiers, and no more “broken F*?!^n arm” comments.
But I can’t see Langer coming in and telling Starc, Hazelwood and Cummins that their not allowed to have a word to the batsmen after they’re played a poor shot, or if they’re just pissed off.. Things like that are just part of any competitive sport

Why Justin Langer is the right man to lead Australian cricket forward

This is a good point Christov. I don’t think there’s been enough discussion around who has actually been appointed to conduct CA’s cultural review.
Watson and George Bailey are two really interesting choices. Watson had well documented clashes with Clarke during his captaincy, and Bailey had his international career cut short well before he was finished under Lehmann. Two guys you would expect to be completely opposed to the how the national team has been run in the last decade. Surprised Simon Katich didn’t a look in either, as he was discarded very early and hated Clarke as well!

Good comment JamesH.
Could anyone be doing any better than Bolton at the moment? The worst thing to do would be to remove Bolton right in the middle of the rebuild, and get someone else in who will inevitably have their own ideas and completely restructure the list again.
Rebuilds take time, especially when you lose quality players to other clubs like Gibbs and others to injury like Docherty, Kreuzer and Murphy

Is Bolton Carlton's man?

That press conference was a disaster for the players’ case.
I’m no law student, but there is a significant distinction there. Not referring to cheating in any way was not in Sutherland’s hands, lawyers prevented him from saying anything that implied cheating, as referring to cheating would have prejudiced the case against the players

I agree with your principle that he has been there too long though, as the degeneration of the team’s behaviour has occurred under his rein and the buck stops with him

"Culture starts at the top": James Sutherland wants to lead cricket's change

To be fair to Sutherland in this case Paul D, Sutherland couldn’t say that they were “cheats” because at the time the investigation was ongoing. If he called Smith, Warner and Bancroft cheats, that would have affected the charges that the players would have faced under CA’s code of conduct, and therefore the severity of the sanctions, so he needed to stay independent of that process.

CA can’t bite the hand that feeds it? India run world cricket and can do whatever they like. They know that even Australia and England rely heavily on the revenue from Indian tours, so India can make threats like we won’t come if we play in Brisbane knowing that they’ll eventually get there way..

Cricket Australia shakes up the Summer

Moving to another state might be the breath of fresh air that Maddinson needs to find his best form. He’s had the pressure of being ‘the next big thing’ in NSW cricket for a while, so to get away from that system might actually serve him well. He’s a serious striker of the ball with a great eye, get the right coach for him and hopefully see him fulfil his immense potential

How can Nic Maddinson not get a state contract?

As you said Scott, big chance for basketball to become the number two summer sport. If a free-to-air deal can be negotiated, then there’s a larger market to aim at seeing a lot cricket in January has gone behind Foxsports’ paywall

Andrew Bogut is the biggest ever signing for Australian hoops

Basketball

Bring back the XXXX Gold Beach Cricket Series?

My only issue with this type of cricket, will we have the stump mics turned up? Sledging in this form of cricket is rife!

Backyard cricket is a better concept than the ECB's 'The Hundred'

I think this is one of the biggest limitations of the Big Bash. The Indian market is the big cash cow, but the BCCI won’t release any Indian players. South Africa generally play tests during December, and Australia and New Zealand’s best players are tied up home summer series. So there’s India plus four test nations and then their opponents all unavailable.
This leaves only a small number of quality players left for the Big Bash to attract, and as a result we’re left with overseas imports like Sam Billings for example, a quality player don’t get me wrong, but not someone who will bring the fans flooding through the gates!

How an expanded BBL threatens Australian cricket

For a kid growing up today, is the football match (AFL or NRL) more synonymous with ANZAC day than say the Dawn Service?

Agree with your point that both the AFL and NRL and the clubs involved can have a big impact in spreading awareness and raising money for various charities for returned soldiers. I think even more can be done here, with a greater proportion of merchandise, ticket sales etc donated, because in the end, playing on ANZAC day shouldn’t be about profit for those involved…

Also loved the spectacle of the Richmond vs Melbourne game last night, however the term “ANZAC Eve” doesn’t sit well with me either

Sport is not war, but it helps us remember and reflect

League

Absolutely cracking comment that one! I’d definitely get on the bandwagon of the Great Walls!

Having been involved in a major sporting event with a national body, an event like the grand final can’t be organised in a week. There are far too many logistics that need to be locked in well in advance, and so many moving parts to a grand final being such a corporate event, I just can’t see it moving.
Sponsors, corporate guests, performers etc are more important than the event itself according to most organisers…

Shanghai is the next stop on the way to Aussie rules finally going international

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