I was in the car when play resumed on the morning of the fourth day at The Wanderers, my mind strongly of the view that the Australians would struggle to contain the South African batting line-up, and certainly were unlikely to dismiss them unless they attacked early. It has been an unusual Test wicket in [Read more]
Music and Melbourne Venues
November 21, 2011 by 7 Comments
The Tote goes on. This iconic music venue in Collingwood, previously closed and now re-opened, is celebrating thirty years of live music. On the other hand, the Prince of Wales Hotel in St Kilda was sold and so another live venue has a future under threat. But as former Age journalist and now Executive Officer [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Four Nations Final
November 21, 2011 by 3 Comments
When the final whistle blew for Australia to defeat England 30 – 8 in the Four Nations final this morning, two thoughts occurred to me. Firstly, Will Evans is a prophet – a week ago he said that the Poms would stay with the Australians for an hour before the Australians got away. Score one [Read more]
Almanac Rugby League – Farewell Fit for a Legend
November 21, 2011 by 4 Comments
Darren Lockyer’s farewell cavalcade finally came to a triumphant end at the fitting venue of Elland Road. The hallowed Leeds ground was the scene of arguably Lockyer’s greatest performance – Australia’s 44-4 thrashing of Great Britain in the 2004 Tri-Nations final. Lockyer laid on five tries, scored one himself and kicked six goals as Australia [Read more]
Perfect media
November 20, 2011 by 8 Comments
JOHN KINGSMILL The best thing about radio cricket is that you know that it is on and that you don’t have to watch each delivery, each ponderous over. Radio lets you get on with your life. When life pauses, you flick a switch and it’s usually just at the right moment. The game is poised [Read more]
Lessons from Other Codes
November 20, 2011 by 1 Comment
My fellow Almanackers. I urged you to join me in launching the Football Improvement Federation of Australia (FIFA). We share a common love of Australian football. But I have become concerned about the decline and stagnation of the code. Games have become predictable, repetitive and defensive. There is not enough variety to keep fans [Read more]
Second Test Day 3
November 20, 2011 by 5 Comments
When the bowler most likely to snare you a wicket is an eighteen year old Test debutant with less than five first-class games to his credit, it is a reasonable assumption that some serious soul-searching regarding the make-up of your bowling attack would be occurring. It is also fair to say that half-way through a [Read more]
Australia eats spinach for breakfast; SA has rocket salad for lunch
November 19, 2011 by 3 Comments
Cricket: 2nd Test: RSA v Aust, Wanderers, Joh’burg, Day 2, Friday 18 November 2011: South Africa (266 & 0/0) versus Australia (296) Australia’s evaporation at Newlands masked the fact that most ofSouth Africa’s Test cricketers have not yet woken up in this mini-series. Had either Hussey or Watson held the chances given early by Amla [Read more]
Premier Cricket: Round 7 Preview
November 18, 2011 by 5 Comments
Round 7 of Premier Cricket will be played over the next two Saturdays (November 19 & 26), weather permitting. Here’s a brief look at those games. MATCH OF THE ROUND Frankston Peninsula (3rd) 20pts v Melbourne (4th) 20pts – AH Butler Oval Frankston 2011/12 FP WWLWLW – MCC LLWWWW Last time they met: Round [Read more]
South Africa v Australia Second Test Day 1
November 18, 2011 by 16 Comments
by Peter Flynn Australia once had a ‘Big Ship’ as captain. Now it’s South Africa’s turn to have a skipper who cuts an imposing figure. Smith and Clarke look like Big Nick and a young Ted Hopkins as they make their out for the toss.
Crio’s Racing: After the Goldrush
November 17, 2011 by 2 Comments
Punters will be flyblown after another pounding out at Sandown last Saturday….good meeting, good crowd, good results for the bookies. Looks like we’ll be back to the old regulars when we front at the Valley this Saturday and have to hope that Ballarat drags a Carnival crowd when we pitch our stand at their Cup [Read more]
President’s Cup Blog
November 17, 2011 by 2 Comments
A selection of the world’s best golfers take to the Royal Melbourne fairways over the next four days. How do we see this event? Any of you going? We’d appreciate your thoughts and experiences.
2nd Test Blog
November 17, 2011 by 6 Comments
After a week of varied traumas in the cricket world, the Aussies saddle up to try and make amends for the (not so) magic number 47. How do we rate their chances?
AFL Comebacks
November 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment
It is becoming an increasing trend in AFL. While I’m not familiar with the figures of pre-2008, surely the number of comebacks to AFL ranks by a player has risen in the past five years. Yes, we saw Tony Lockett return to the Swans a couple of years after retirement, and of course we remember [Read more]
Carey v Hawkins? No contest.
November 17, 2011 by 15 Comments
by Alex Wadelton There has been a lot of discussion lately about the Global Financial Crisis. This will not add to the debate. Rather it will prove once and for all that two-time premiership centre half forward Tom Hawkins is a far superior player to that other two time premiership centre half forward Wayne [Read more]
Crio’s Q: word association
November 15, 2011 by 25 Comments
by Chris Riordan You know the game. Word association. Answer with the first thought. For Joe Frazier, much, it seems, to his chagrin, it was Ali. Some pairs just become inextricably linked. Borg = McEnroe Lou = Jack play on…
Melbourne get the Heart pumping
November 15, 2011 by 1 Comment
by Nick Sculley There have been times this season when you could be forgiven for thinking that the Melbourne Heart were indeed the biggest club in the A-League, rather than their cross-town rivals. However there has always been a missing link; whether it is their inability to put the Victory to the sword in [Read more]
Caught behind off a spinner
November 14, 2011 by 1 Comment
Photo by Peter Argent A great catch by Northern Jets keeper Matthew Wright off the bowling of leg spinner Cameron Williams.
Vale Peter Roebuck
November 14, 2011 by 1 Comment
As a website which values writing – more specifically writing on sport – it is fitting that the tragically premature passing of one of sport’s finest scribes and commentators has already drawn eloquent tribute. More is likely to follow. At the risk of redundancy, I feel compelled to add a few thoughts of my [Read more]
I knew Peter Roebuck
November 14, 2011 by 4 Comments
I knew Peter Roebuck. No, correction, I didn’t know Robey. I had spent two weeks with him in the Press Box in Sri Lanka as one of a small group of Australians covering the test match series. I grew to know most of the others in the box Conn, Maxwell, Lalor and co. [Read more]
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