We have seen a new low in Australian cricket. The promotion of David Warner to opener for the first 20/20 international was an experiment that unfortunately produced a positive result.
I say positive because Warner fluked a huge score with some sensational batting.
I say unfortunately because he is destined to end up one of the scrap heap of Australian cricket. Along with the Australia V Australia A one day final series we had a few years ago the Warner experiment is indeed that bad.
How can it be that some young fella, who has never played a game of first class cricket, can be expected to open the batting for his country? The 20/20 game was a bit of a hit and giggle with no real pressure but the 50 over game requires a little more than the bludgeon theory. You are expected to bat long hard and graft out an innings and all of these things were missing when Warner came in to bat against South Africa on Sunday.
It is now clear to me why it was 132 years since the last player without any first class experience played for Australia. It is also clear to me that the Australian selectors are an absolute joke and should be removed immediately. It could be a long road back for Warner after this but if he makes it back he will truly deserve it.
On the positive side that niff Clarke is out!! The sparrow hearted one has a sore thumb and can’t front up for the rest of the series… you ok mate?
In other news I have had $6 on the Arizona Cardinals to win the Super Bowl, the Broncos to win the 2009 NRL premiership and the Western Bulldogs to win the 2009 AFL premiership at the tidy odds of 760.5 to 1.
I am not proud of it but I broke one of the rules of men over the weekend.
I went to the pub for the afternoon Saturday. Punted up and beered up a storm all afternoon. Had a few horses come home and lots of giggles with the boys. I was even voted smartest of the whole group…. which… if you saw the group would mean I am of average intelligence.
After the afternoon of beering at the pub a bunch of us trekked across the river to a bacon deluxe burger meal at the jax. After this food top up we snuck into the Casino for a bit more of a flutter and a few more drinks. After a little while there and a few drinks we were told it may be time to move on so we ducked outside for breath of fresh air.
While outside we noticed that the Irish bar across the road from the Casino looked a little quite. So we took it upon ourselves to go and fire that bad boy up. We went in, bought ourselves a few drinks and quietly chatted about the weather.
Seemingly minutes later I realised I was on my own, terribly inebriated and talking to a structural support in the bar. It was about then I shuffled outside jumped in a cabbage and went the hell home.
Rewind 16 hours. A mate of mine had graciously asked me to play golf with him and I agreed to make up the four.
Fast forward 20 hours. I have been home for 4 hours and am not terribly well. I may have even got sick a little….. alright a shitload. This is where the whole thing comes together, I let my mates down and cancelled on Golf.
Even as I write this I no there is no way I could (or would) have played in that condition but I should have been able to. I should have realised my commitment earlier in the previous night and gone home after a couple of quite drinks at that Irish bar.
Now I am poor, still tired and disappointed I let my mates down. I broke the rules and that is bad darts.
I have long found 50 over ODI’s (that’s one day internationals to the uninitiated) the most boring form of cricket. I will admit to a passing interest in watching them. I just don’t understand the crowds fascination with the ODI’s and their lack of interest in test matches. I would much prefer to watch the session to session struggle of a test match anytime than a typical ODI. Maybe this has more to do with my superior intellect than anything else.
The first few overs of an ODI have some excitement with the new ball seeming and swinging around as the batsmen try to get on top while the field is up. Unfortunately this has even tapered off of late with very little seeming or swinging to be found anywhere (no this is not some sort of sex party). Bring back Damien “the swing king” Fleming and I may watch some more.
After the first 5 or 10 overs the typical ODI game slides into a less than entertaining game of tap and run for the next 35 overs. Bowlers run in and bowl, batsmen chops the ball out to one of the fielders on the fence and they run a single or sometimes two. Over and over and over again.
Then at the end, assuming there are enough wickets left, the batting side tries to smash a nearly invisible ball (the ball gets dirty and is impossible to distinguish from the pitch) around the park again. This usually fails with fielders posted on the fence stopping all but the most sweetly hit of shots.
I have decided to give 20 Twenty the job of replacing all 50 over ODI’s by the year 2012, and with your support I think this is achievable. Write your local member, tell them that 20 Twenty cricket limits the drinking opportunity at the cricket (games are shorter) which in essence ends the Yobbo-ism associated with ODI’s. These Yobbos have been the bane of everyone’s existence for the last 30 odd summers and we have a real opportunity here to get them back to Rugby League where they belong.
So support me in the Ban Boring Cricket Club (BBCC) and make 20 Twenty the way of the future.
Here we go again. Every halfwit with an opinion is into Prince Harry about his racist remarks, disgusted by his apparent lack of respect for the nation of Pakistan.
“Our little Paki friend” is racist how? The dude is from Pakistan. Please let me know if the term Paki has some sort of hidden meaning I am not aware of. I am sure some of you out there will have some fictional reason for this.
If someone called me a “little Aussie friend” I wouldn’t get upset. If the Paki called Harry his “little Pommy friend” I would doubt he would get upset either. Nevertheless every sook to comb a beard is tearing up at the moment.
Even a sacred cow of the Pakistani banking system (a truly honourable industry no doubt) has come out with “He should not have said it. I condemn his words. I was very surprised. I profoundly condemn it.” Oh he profoundly condemns it? Wow that has so much more meaning.
The cow continued “That word he used is a hate word and should never be used against any Pakistani. Prince Harry should apologise to the Pakistani Army and to the Pakistani Government for this. I cannot accept his apology unless they first accept his apology.”
Well I am not quite sure what it feels like to be verbally admonished by an industry leader from a foreign country but the sweet smell of leather glove slapping Harry’s cheek should still be prevalent as you read this.
Are you ok Pakistan? You all right mate? Is the sun still gonna rise tomorrow? A bigger bunch of sparrow hearted whingers I do not recall. I am now happy we don’t bother travelling to your piddly excuse for a nation to flog you in cricket. Do your self a favour, you stay on your side of the developing world and we will stay on our side of the developed world. Next time we need your advice we will ask India.
This bald headed dude basically runs the UFC. I find him entertaing and interesting at the same time. He can swear the game and sometimes can look like a bit of an uperty niff, but then again, I have come across few bosses who don’t.
Main Event is showing the event live from the UK early Sunday morning with a replay on a 1pm Qld time.
One of my favourite fighters in the UFC Rich Franklin enters the Octagon to face on of his toughest tests. It should be an entertaining battle with Rich facing former ‘Pride’ Welterweight and Middleweight champion Dan Henderson.
The under card includes a rematch between Mark Coleman and Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua. In there first encounter Rua seemed to be getting the best of it until Coleman picked him up to slam him and Rua’s arm snapped like a twig on impact. The ensuing mêlée from the opposing corners was most entertaining. You can watch the fist fight here.
I am torn on the whole Matty Hayden situation. I am normally the first on the band wagon for some of the old codgers to resign. But this time it’s a little different as Australia is playing rubbish cricket.
Except for a few hours in the last test overall Australia didn’t play to well. Even as Graeme ‘not so soft’ Smith was facing up with his broken hand I could not fathom the line the Aussie bowlers were delivering. Wide, well outside off stump did not like getting the job done and I was starting to panic that the opportunity was going to slip. Luckily Mitchell Johnson had other ideas with a beautiful delivery to knock over the snap dragon.
Back to Matty Hayden. I know this will sound stupid but I honestly think he has something left to offer in the upcoming tour of South Africa and England. It’s just a gut feeling I have and I think the Australian selectors should listen to me. A big result for the next Sheffield Shield game should lock his position.
For the weekend we have the Magic Millions down the coast to enjoy. I like the look of Paprika to take out the Magic Millions 2YO (yes I am a favourite backer). I also think Mitanni is worth a sneaky each way bet on a long odds.
I also have a feeling that Arizona might beat the Carolina Panthers at the juicy odds of $4.50.
After this weekends ‘feelings’ are turned into actual results you may have a good lead into whether Haydos will make the next test squad or not.
