Golf: Mastering Augusta

by Peter Flynn The second weekend of April is always a special (I’d even go as far as to say a delicious) time for golf fans. It’s US Masters time. It’s like Christmas when you were a kid. The challenging Augusta National layout in conjunction with the tournament’s mystique and quirky traditions present a thorough [Read more]

Tennis: The Garden and the Brat

My first visit inside the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club’s iconic centre court was indeed memorable. Instead of paying close attention to the  action, I found myself reminiscing over famous Wimbledon centre court battles of yore. A catalyst for this was the presence in the BBC commentary box of a certain brash New [Read more]

Cricket: Woods the goods for first-class question

In a typical pre-Christmas work-avoidance email conversation with some fellow Almanackers, the cricket savvy Tony Roberts offered us (the finest literary, mathematical and anagrammatical minds of the Almanac brigade; his words, not mine), a sporting quiz that was used at the Victorian ASSH Christmas dinner. One question of particular interest to me was the following: [Read more]

Fifth Test, Day 4: We’ve been stitched up

The denouement to this topsy-turvy and at times indecipherable series came at 5.48 pm on Day 4 with the dismissal of Mike Hussey for 121. Australia were bowled all out for 348 and lost the deciding fifth Test by 197 runs. England’s crew of battlers and journeymen (Strauss and Flintoff excluded) prevailed 2-1 to regain [Read more]

Cricket: My top five memories of the 1997 Ashes series

In a moment of melancholia over the recent fortunes of the Aussie XI, nostalgic reminiscences of the 1997 Ashes series have offered some solace. So, in the spirit of Hornby, I list my top five moments from the 1997 Ashes series.

Fourth Test – Day 3: Australia home as all eyes turn to The Oval

by Peter Flynn Australia levelled the five match series one all after wiping The Old Enemy like a dirty backside in the 4th Ashes Test at Headingley. Their innings and 80 run dismantling of a largely shambolic and Flintoffless England represents one of the more extraordinary momentum shifts seen in a recent Ashes series. What [Read more]

Third Test, Day 4: Painful memories of Hollies Stand flood back on day of Rudilotto

By Peter Flynn After play was delayed by one hour due to a damp outfield, Australia finally dismissed England for 376 and were a precarious 2-88 in reply at stumps on day four. With the prospect of fine weather on day five, England will fancy their chances of going up two up with two Tests [Read more]

AFL Round 7: One of these vantage points is not like the others

By Peter Flynn I am standing on the hill overlooking the Warrnambool racecourse. The natural geography makes for a magnificent vista. It is 25 minutes until the start of the Grand Annual Steeplechase and I am accompanied by Ando, Doddo and Jonno. It feels like I am spending a day at the races with the [Read more]

Gazza goes nuts and the French girls don’t care

By Peter Flynn Milburn out. Lonergan in. Suggestions that Bomber was overruled at the selection table. Believe! West is unlucky and Mumford gets his chance to impress. I sit myself down in preparation for an even contest. I am next to two strikingly good looking French girls who don’t appear to share my anticipation for [Read more]