It’s fair to say that 2010 was a year that didn’t inspire me to go to Melbourne to see the Eagles. However, just once I decided to make the investment and fly down from chilly, rainy Canberra and make my way to an iconic Melbourne sporting venue to do just that. I’d actually been watching [Read more]
The Resurrection of Mitch and Mike
December 21, 2010 by 3 Comments
In the three days and fifty minutes of play that encapsulated the Perth test, we received startling affirmation of two of the hoariest cricketing truths of all; firstly, that it is a team game heavily reliant on individual performance; and that so much of the game is played in the mind. Though they played unevenly [Read more]
The better angels of St. Pat’s Ballarat
December 20, 2010 by 5 Comments
“Ultimately it is this innocent charm that provides the lingering impression of John James, a boy who delighted in the stolen moments of jam toast with mates in the stoker room and a man, standing on his own staring in wonder at the corridors of his old school, smiling blissfully to himself.”[i] At 1pm on [Read more]
Oldies but goodies
December 20, 2010 by 39 Comments
by Chris Riordan Next week we turn the calendar to another year, staring down another birthday. Warnie aside, most of us battle the ravages of aging, looking back longingly on our “glory days”. Sportspeople know this acutely. Look at AFL clubs and their “youth policy” mantras. Read the papers on our cricketers – “inject some [Read more]
Throwing away the script
December 20, 2010 by 5 Comments
by Dave Bruce The story of what passed for Day 4 of the 3rd test in Perth was that Australia polished off the last five demoralised and unmotivated English batsmen in 10 quick overs to close out a win that was all but assured at the start of the day. However, I reckon there was [Read more]
Andrew Starkie’s Ashes Diary (8)
December 19, 2010 by 1 Comment
ASHES DIARY Entry 8 Saturday December 18, 2010 Human nature is a funny thing; and we are equally funny creatures. Confidence is that elusive, yet essential ingredient for success in life and sport. We can spend our lives coveting, chasing, gaining, and losing it again. Confidence can turn Alastair Cook, averaging 30 for the year [Read more]
Back from the dead
December 18, 2010 by 1 Comment
3rd Ashes Test WACA Ground by Steve Ingham Day 2 Reports of my death were greatly exaggerated. Written by Mark Twain more than a century ago, but he could very well have been peering into the future and writing a press release for Mitchell Johnson. 10 days ago when left out of the Adelaide Test, [Read more]
The Mitch is back (and he’s remembered to pitch up…)
December 18, 2010 by 4 Comments
by Andrew Gigacz It was interesting to hear Mitch Johnson, in an interview after his great performance at the WACA yesterday, say that the biggest difference between his bowling at the Gabba and at Perth was his follow-through. He said he’d been falling away too early but was now going right through after his delivery. [Read more]
Andrew Starkie’s Ashes Diary (7)
December 17, 2010 by 2 Comments
ASHES DIARY Entry 7 Friday December 17, 2010 In a reflection of how confidently England are travelling, Andrew Strauss won the toss and elected to bowl on a green, yet firm Perth pitch expected to reward batsmen prepared to dig in and weather an early barrage. Nassar Hussain was heard yelling from the commentary box: [Read more]
My Favourite Drop Kick. Part three.
December 17, 2010 by 3 Comments
Vin Maskell continues his occasional series Nashville songwriter Paul Craft wrote Drop Kick Me Jesus in the mid-1970s. It became a minor country and western hit for a bloke called Bobby Bare in 1976. Wikipedia describes the song as the world’s ‘only Christian football waltz’. One doubts not too many people would dispute such a [Read more]
Flemington in December
December 17, 2010 by 4 Comments
by Chris Riordan The weekend before Xmas is always a difficult time to focus on race fields as social functions and compulsory distractions – too many of them financially draining – usually result in punters keeping what ammunition they can store dry until the “real” holiday break which starts on Boxing Day. There are, though, [Read more]
Third Test, Day 1: Australia Plays WACA Test Cricket
December 17, 2010 by 5 Comments
Australia Plays WACA Test Cricket by Peter Flynn On a much-welcomed sporting first day pitch that contained a greenish tinge and provided appreciable (but not quite back to the halcyon days) WACA bounce, Australia were invited by England captain Strauss to collapse first with the bat. They promptly and predictably did so. Just after lunch, [Read more]
Third Test – Day 1: Shocking, Australia
December 17, 2010 by 6 Comments
Sadly, we have all played in sports team like the current Australian Test cricket side: really, really bad ones. I remember the summer of 1979-80, my first in men’s cricket. Big cricket, where the ball whistled, and slips catches knocked you over, and blokes (like Metropolitans skipper Alan Ward, a former English Test quick) sledged [Read more]
Why I love the Perth Test
December 16, 2010 by 15 Comments
by Steve Fahey As a young boy in Melbourne in the early 1970s, Perth seemed a world away and too distant to even be in the same country. But I was glad it was, because it meant that DK Lillee, Rod Marsh and their facial hair were on OUR team. My first memory of cricket [Read more]
Ashes Blog – Third Test, Perth
December 16, 2010 by 102 Comments
Is there any way back for Australia in this series? Or should they be resigned to the possibility of several years in the cricketing wilderness? Is there any hope at all of Australia winning in Perth? And just how many more “Beer” puns can we come up with? Your thoughts, please…
Caught Behind 3/180
December 16, 2010 by 4 Comments
By Steve Ingham DEAR SANTA… On the flight home from Adelaide, I happened to peer over Ricky Ponting’s shoulder to see him seeking some devine intervention! I managed to memorise it word for word and bring it to you all, exclusively for you! Dear Santa, I know that in the past I may have made [Read more]
Andrew Starkie’s Ashes Diary (6)
December 15, 2010 by 5 Comments
ASHES DIARY Entry 6 Tuesday December 14, 2010 Sorry, mostly a negative rant today; with a bit of positivity at the end. If I was confused by Australian selection policies before the Brisbane Test, things aren’t any clearer as we head to Perth. Consider Doug Bollinger. Instructed by Cricket Australia to play the IPL in [Read more]
The cheapest of suits
December 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment
2nd Ashes Test Adelaide Oval by Steve Ingham Day 2 People the world over can’t speak highly enough of the Adelaide Oval, so myself and 11 friends headed off across the border and back the 20 years and 30 minute time difference to find out just how good this ground really is. After having spent [Read more]
In A League of Its Own – Derby #2
December 14, 2010 by 13 Comments
Tom’s weekly outlook on the A-League For Melbourne Victory, Melbourne Derby #2 was all about revenge for when they suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of Melbourne Heart earlier in the season. For Heart, this match was about redeeming themselves as a finals threat and half decent team, following their fall out of the [Read more]
Copeland Night 2010
December 14, 2010 by 2 Comments
By Andrea McNamara Hello everyone I thought I’d take my lead from Presti and save my talking until the end … Way back when the Copeland tickets went on sale, well before we were in a grand final, I got talked into attending the Copeland. And I’m so glad I said yes. I’ve never been [Read more]
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