I was looking forward to a good series between Australia and India - I expected close matches. Perhaps some long draws.
But instead the series - apart from the obvious individual highlights - has been very disappointing.
A good test match is close - the momentum shifts - usually more than once.
These tests have been a bit tedious really. Teams collapsing doesn't grab my interest - unless it comes after a good start.
Ed Cowans innings in Melbourne is a highlight - reminding other batsman how to leave. He's been unlucky with decisions so far twice out of three innings.
The return of Hilfenhaus has also been memorable - as has Pattinson's bowling and Siddle's ability to take crucial wickets.
Ponting and Hussey are certainly back in form - but renewal must come some time. While Australia are winning though renewal is delayed.
Michael Clarke's innings is the highlight of the summer so far. It is the type of sporting event that brings new followers to the game. His captaincy has been good - he will try something new and won't let the game drift. Perhaps he deserves a better go from the fans.
But what about India?
Gambir did nothing until his second innings in Sydney. Sehwag continues to bat like he doesn't care. Dravid has looked solid but not not gone on with it.
Tendulkar has looked to be in sublime form but can't crack that 100th ton. Laxman should have done more - he didn't do much before the second innings in Sydney. Dhoni has played one good innings. Kohli has not performed. At times all the Indian bowlers have looked terrific - especially Sharma.
However, the Indian team has not lived up to the hype that accompanied them.
Still the Indians did well in Perth last time. They could still retain the trophy.
However I foresee a collapse or two and a four - nil series result.
Friday, 6 January 2012
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Bring on the Big Game!
I'm looking forward to the big game at Bellerive. Two top ranking sides at the top of their games. Long standing rivalries and individual brilliance and all the color and movement we expect when India play Sri Lanka. February 28 is the date we await. By then the series against New Zealand will be forgotten, the Big Hash will be over (not that I am against T20 which I think perfectly suits our modern lifestyle I just can't believe the scheduling), the tests against India will have been played too.
What a welcome return to the old Tri series format. I would like it to be called the World Series Cup again - that title had all the right elements. Adamant exaggeration - designed to drive the purists mad.
I suspect the crowd will be poor for this game because Australia won't be playing. (It would be interesting to speculate on the make up of the Australian team by the end of February. ) But it could be the one day game of the summer- one of the teams might be playing to keep the Aussies out of the finals - although current rankings suggest both may be playing to keep the other team out. I think the day will be worth the admission price.
Before that, we have the Test match against New Zealand at Bellerive. No doubt we will be exhorted to attend and told we are ungrateful if we don't. With so much Test cricket to watch on TV and the novelty of the Test Match event having worn I doubt the crowds will be big - unless Punter scores a day straddling 300. Give us an Engalnd or an India Test and the crowds might come - just as they do in any discerning market.
On a footnote I think the selectors have not gone far enough with their renewal policy. It's time from renewal in the batting order too. Surely it is better to build against New Zealand when we are one up than to become desparate against India where are one down with one to play?
What a welcome return to the old Tri series format. I would like it to be called the World Series Cup again - that title had all the right elements. Adamant exaggeration - designed to drive the purists mad.
I suspect the crowd will be poor for this game because Australia won't be playing. (It would be interesting to speculate on the make up of the Australian team by the end of February. ) But it could be the one day game of the summer- one of the teams might be playing to keep the Aussies out of the finals - although current rankings suggest both may be playing to keep the other team out. I think the day will be worth the admission price.
Before that, we have the Test match against New Zealand at Bellerive. No doubt we will be exhorted to attend and told we are ungrateful if we don't. With so much Test cricket to watch on TV and the novelty of the Test Match event having worn I doubt the crowds will be big - unless Punter scores a day straddling 300. Give us an Engalnd or an India Test and the crowds might come - just as they do in any discerning market.
On a footnote I think the selectors have not gone far enough with their renewal policy. It's time from renewal in the batting order too. Surely it is better to build against New Zealand when we are one up than to become desparate against India where are one down with one to play?
Saturday, 22 October 2011
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Saturday, 3 September 2011
Friday night feasting
What a Friday night. Firstly a seafood risotto - Mako had Pink Ling on special, a yellow chilli spiced it up and some prawns gave it more flavour. Went down well with the table.
Then a diet of Friday night crime Telly. Silent Witness featured a back from the dead Dr Harry Cunnigham! (Celebrated by a friend on Facebook!) What is it with that team of pathologists? Are they crime fighters? How come no one tells them to stick to their jobs? During their Hungarian jaunt the Magpies and the Cats got underway and at quarter time it looked like a predictable result was coming up. Then the second quarter started and the Cats came back from the dead too! 10 goals! Were Collingwood lying down or just lieing? Meanwhile the Socceroos got underway too and Thailand scored. Could Australia come back from the dead? Apparently - according to the Twitter Feed - the Socceroos were panicked, desperate and playing poorly. Lucky there was a second half where they came back from the dead. Apparently the right cross was overworked and obvious.
Case Sensitive got underway and in Galle the Sri Lankans were in trouble - they look unlikely to do the resurrection shuffle to me. Nathan Lyon went from boom recruit to promising possibility. A great debut from Case sensitive somewhat spoilt by the voice over - "that was the series final of Case Sensitive" - perhaps I missed something?
Meanwhile Geelong made the finals just that little bit more interesting. Were the Pies playing with us? The Socceroos netted twice to put Thailand in their place but the rematch in Thailand may be more difficult than first thought.
A feast of entertainment. Multi-tasting, multi-tasking. All witnessed from the lIving room!
Then a diet of Friday night crime Telly. Silent Witness featured a back from the dead Dr Harry Cunnigham! (Celebrated by a friend on Facebook!) What is it with that team of pathologists? Are they crime fighters? How come no one tells them to stick to their jobs? During their Hungarian jaunt the Magpies and the Cats got underway and at quarter time it looked like a predictable result was coming up. Then the second quarter started and the Cats came back from the dead too! 10 goals! Were Collingwood lying down or just lieing? Meanwhile the Socceroos got underway too and Thailand scored. Could Australia come back from the dead? Apparently - according to the Twitter Feed - the Socceroos were panicked, desperate and playing poorly. Lucky there was a second half where they came back from the dead. Apparently the right cross was overworked and obvious.
Case Sensitive got underway and in Galle the Sri Lankans were in trouble - they look unlikely to do the resurrection shuffle to me. Nathan Lyon went from boom recruit to promising possibility. A great debut from Case sensitive somewhat spoilt by the voice over - "that was the series final of Case Sensitive" - perhaps I missed something?
Meanwhile Geelong made the finals just that little bit more interesting. Were the Pies playing with us? The Socceroos netted twice to put Thailand in their place but the rematch in Thailand may be more difficult than first thought.
A feast of entertainment. Multi-tasting, multi-tasking. All witnessed from the lIving room!
Saturday, 27 August 2011
Is this the most boring AFL season ever?
Is it just me or is this the most boring AFL season ever? Collingwood's dominance is one reason why this might be true. I'm sure fans of the mighty black and white may not agree but even they must miss the anxiety that comes from thinking your team might actually lose?
As a Richmond supporter I have been disenchanted (again) by early season promise , mid season slump and late season surge. It's an all too familiar pattern. Has Dimma got it? I think so. But compare Richmond's progress with that of the Eagles. They are in the top 4 after finishing last last year. That is progress.
Even the Swans have had a pretty tedious year. They are making up the numbers.
Essendon has been exciting at times. Popping up here and there with a surprise win. But can they go far in the finals?
Port have had a miserable year and it is boring to see their losses continue.
Fremantle have struggled. The Saints too. Where is the exciting progress of any team. The cats just continue on.
Has the AFL achieved homeostasis? We need upsets, surprises and change. We haven't got much.
The main problem though has been the bye. A week without your team playing breaks the link with the competition. thoughts turn elsewhere
- perhaps gardening?
What this competition needs is Greater Western Sydney. Bring on Issy and Sheedy, I suspect they will stir things up.
As a Richmond supporter I have been disenchanted (again) by early season promise , mid season slump and late season surge. It's an all too familiar pattern. Has Dimma got it? I think so. But compare Richmond's progress with that of the Eagles. They are in the top 4 after finishing last last year. That is progress.
Even the Swans have had a pretty tedious year. They are making up the numbers.
Essendon has been exciting at times. Popping up here and there with a surprise win. But can they go far in the finals?
Port have had a miserable year and it is boring to see their losses continue.
Fremantle have struggled. The Saints too. Where is the exciting progress of any team. The cats just continue on.
Has the AFL achieved homeostasis? We need upsets, surprises and change. We haven't got much.
The main problem though has been the bye. A week without your team playing breaks the link with the competition. thoughts turn elsewhere
- perhaps gardening?
What this competition needs is Greater Western Sydney. Bring on Issy and Sheedy, I suspect they will stir things up.
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Aker at the Tacca
What a great day at the TCA. After a blizzard of publicity about the poor facilities awaiting our latest mainland import at the "quaint" TCA ground on Hobart's Queen's Domain, a crowd of over 2000 turned up to be treated to a reasonable game, some great skills, some old fashioned biffo and a howling northerly.
Aker impressed me - his skills were on another level to many on the ground. His second quarter receive in the centre square and delivery to a team mate in the goal square was smooth as silk. He knew how to play into the wind - and that didn't come from his local knowledge. He largely got on with the game rather than get distracted.
The crowd impressed me too. I spent the first quarter with AFL Tasmania's Talent Manager Nick Probert, the second with our very own Minister for Infrastructure and lots more, David O'Byrne and his two daughters who were white with excitement- about their imminent birthday! Just before half time, anxious to grab the best spot for first serve at the half time bar in the Den I met up with the ubiquitous Dean Parry - telling tall tales and true of his trip to the ground and the parking prowess of his mentor, Dr Brian Morey.
After a quick cooling refreshment at half time I met some of our brightest young political activists (some of whom were) at their first TSL game, Mr Henry Pill, bemused by his recent elevation to fake mimicry in the twitter sphere, Mr Matt Nesham, Mr Kester Takayama, Ms Lisa Caswell and Mr Scott Bacon MP (certainly not at his first TSL game) Later local raconteur Mr Paul Munting joined our small group on the terrace.
Why is all this important? Because this was local footy at its best. A spectacle, the opportunity to share thoughts with friends, former students, political friends and rogues from these parts. Afterwards in the Den we purchased tickets in the meat raffle, discussed the ethics of local restaurants charging minimum seating fee and the next big day at the Tacca - Good Friday when Hobart will take on and cut down to size North Hobart, who will be exhausted from the bus trip up the hill.
Aker impressed me - his skills were on another level to many on the ground. His second quarter receive in the centre square and delivery to a team mate in the goal square was smooth as silk. He knew how to play into the wind - and that didn't come from his local knowledge. He largely got on with the game rather than get distracted.
The crowd impressed me too. I spent the first quarter with AFL Tasmania's Talent Manager Nick Probert, the second with our very own Minister for Infrastructure and lots more, David O'Byrne and his two daughters who were white with excitement- about their imminent birthday! Just before half time, anxious to grab the best spot for first serve at the half time bar in the Den I met up with the ubiquitous Dean Parry - telling tall tales and true of his trip to the ground and the parking prowess of his mentor, Dr Brian Morey.
After a quick cooling refreshment at half time I met some of our brightest young political activists (some of whom were) at their first TSL game, Mr Henry Pill, bemused by his recent elevation to fake mimicry in the twitter sphere, Mr Matt Nesham, Mr Kester Takayama, Ms Lisa Caswell and Mr Scott Bacon MP (certainly not at his first TSL game) Later local raconteur Mr Paul Munting joined our small group on the terrace.
Why is all this important? Because this was local footy at its best. A spectacle, the opportunity to share thoughts with friends, former students, political friends and rogues from these parts. Afterwards in the Den we purchased tickets in the meat raffle, discussed the ethics of local restaurants charging minimum seating fee and the next big day at the Tacca - Good Friday when Hobart will take on and cut down to size North Hobart, who will be exhausted from the bus trip up the hill.
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