Pakistan has always been one of the most fascinating cricketing nations; though not always for the right reasons. There’s usually an alleged teenage prodigy of indeterminate age, who often turns out to be 26 years old and a father of three; the continual unexplained revolving door of captains, coaches and virtually everyone else in the [Read more]
Mysteries and Demons: Not a Dan Brown sequel, but a Pakistani blockbuster
January 5, 2010 by 2 Comments
Big Bash a big hit with the kids (and Dad?)
January 5, 2010 by 2 Comments
They say parents go to the football and take their kids. With basketball, it is the kids who go and take their parents. Twenty20 is the basketball form of cricket. Having looked at the cricket calendar I knew we weren’t going to be around for the international short-form games but saw January 2 as an [Read more]
Second Test, Day 2: Akmal misses 50, Dips’s daughter misses the 48 tram
January 4, 2010 by 3 Comments
By Damian O’Donnell The first day back at work is the second day of the second Test in Sydney. The first Pakistan wicket to fall is actually the second (after North dropped a dolly), and the first time I heard a live score was when the second wicket fell. The radio is playing quietly in [Read more]
Second Test, Day 2: Intuition wins out over process
January 4, 2010 by 3 Comments
by John Harms Play School was just finishing as the cricket started at the SCG, and on Channel 9. The Australians had it all before them, having been bowled out cheaply the previous afternoon. The Pakistanis had bowled beautifully, and taken most of their chances, and then their openers Imran Farhat and Salman Butt hung [Read more]
Barney’s 2010 AFL Crystal Ball Part 3: Essendon and Fremantle
January 4, 2010 by 20 Comments
by Josh Barnstable Essendon: A tough year for the Bombers finished in an unlikely finals berth that they didn’t deserve, and it showed with a 96-point thumping by the Crows showing them the exit from September. Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas are gone, their two goalkicking stars of the past decade. The Bombers don’t have [Read more]
When Did it Change
January 4, 2010 by Leave a Comment
By Debbie Kairn When Did it Change When Sydney to Hobart got so fast It used to last almost to next year Constitution tested before the yachties rested When did it change The MCG to Simply the G Are M and C less important when goal posts at each end stand rampant When did it [Read more]
NIGHTWATCHMAN? – someone please explain
January 4, 2010 by Leave a Comment
My English immigrant father, having only daughters, raised me with an understanding of cricket; of course when I was growing up test cricket was the dominant form of the game. It is certainly a format for the devoted and over many years of observing and analysing, I have come to enjoy and respect it. While [Read more]
Barney’s 2010 AFL Crystal Ball Part 2: Carlton and Collingwood
January 3, 2010 by 45 Comments
By Josh Barnstable Carlton: After such a promising season, it seems it could all go down the drain with the loss of Brendan Fevola. The two-time Coleman Medalist departed during trade week after the Blues were angered by his performance at the Brownlow Medal. Getting Lachie Henderson for Fevola was a dud deal, but a [Read more]
Second Test, Day 1: Mohammads make a mountain for Aussies to climb
January 3, 2010 by 4 Comments
By Steve Healy A few days ago, I told my good friend Gigs that I’d be able to report on day one of the cricket. But after doing so, I realised that the Test started on Sunday, the day we were hosting my sister’s Italian boyfriend (who came to Australia on Wednesday) for a barbeque [Read more]
Ridiculous things you really didn’t need to know about this Test match
January 3, 2010 by 26 Comments
By Andrew Gigacz AUSTRALIA IN SYDNEY is an anagram of IN A RAINY DAY TUSSLE. PAKISTAN IN SYDNEY? is an anagram of YES! AND STAY IN PINK! DRAW IN SYDNEY is an anagram of DRY ENDS. I YAWN. A TIE IN SYDNEY is an anagram of I.E. DENY SANITY. Australia were [Read more]
Barney’s 2010 AFL Crystal Ball Part 1: Adelaide and Brisbane
January 2, 2010 by 246 Comments
by Josh Barnstable It’s that time, the time we all cherish as youngsters, I’m sure the fellow members of the Fab 5 will be feeling this feeling that I’m having as I type this. It’s a time of hope, anticipation and gratitude. No, not Christmas, no, not the start of the New Year. The magical [Read more]
First Test, Day 4: Aamer red hot, Healy red-faced
December 31, 2009 by 32 Comments
By Steve Healy Going to the Boxing Day test is a rarity for me, in actual fact I’ve only been twice before. Last year on day three, and in 2005 on day four. On both occasions, the visiting team was South Africa. While walking into the MCG on a sunny December 29, I realised that [Read more]
Poetry: “Footyless”
December 31, 2009 by 80 Comments
By Danielle Eid Footyless Being Footyless is not hard to explain Truthfully I must admit I think I’ve gone Insane No happiness, laughter No suffering or pain Just thoughts of Old Malthouse and his almost finished reign. My scarf hangs in my closet, my Collingwood jersey too The flags stand beside them with nothing else [Read more]
First Test, Day 5: Hauritz warms the cockles of an old non-spinning-offie bowler’s heart
December 30, 2009 by 2 Comments
by Patrick O’Keeffe History indicates that chasing 422 on a fifth day wicket is a difficult prospect. Nevertheless, with Pakistan well placed at stumps, against a young bowling attack which has struggled to take 20 wickets in recent times, there is the sense that this could be an enthralling day of cricket. Due to a [Read more]
First Test, Day 4: In search of the pivotal moment
December 30, 2009 by 12 Comments
By Andrew Gigacz Day four of the Boxing Day Test match. Potentially the best day. I’ve never really understood the whole Boxing Day thing. I mean I understand that it’s become a bit of a Melbourne sporting tradition. Huge crowd. Big expectations, no matter who the opposition. But in the context of a Test Match, [Read more]
A tale of two newspapers
December 28, 2009 by 452 Comments
by Steve Healy For many years, Melbournians have lived in a city of two major papers. The question moves from house to house. It is a question that breaks hearts, ruins friendships and causes long term arguments with peers. Which is better, The Age or the Herald Sun?
First Test, Day 2: Views, Sport, Weather on Channel 9
December 27, 2009 by 1 Comment
by John Harms Cyclone Laurence has been gallivanting around the country this Christmas. He started up on the North-west Shelf, then had a puff at Port Headland, drifted towards Uluru where he turned the rock into a giant roof (it was just a pity there were no tanks to catch the run off), hooked up [Read more]
First Test, Day 1: The smoking lady, the PM and the photo finish
December 27, 2009 by 2 Comments
by Matt O’Connor It doesn’t take me long on Christmas Day to start thinking about my main present: cricket at the MCG the next day. Today we were entertained by Michael Burke in the MCC Dining Room. But before we get to that, let’s topple a couple of Boxing Day myths. First, [Read more]
Thoughts of a ‘Honeybird’ (nickname from Steve H.)
December 26, 2009 by 228 Comments
by Danielle Eid As I type this it’s 12:13AM. I know what you are thinking, why the hell is Danni still up at this time? Doesn’t she have anything better to do than write a piece up at this hour? I’m writing this up because I want to and I’m nocturnal. Wide awake till about [Read more]
Boxing Day: What does it mean to you?
December 26, 2009 by 11 Comments
by Andrew Gigacz The Boxing Day Test at the MCG is a tradition that seems to have been around forever. In truth, it’s a concept that only really took hold in the 80s. As late as the end of that very decade, the ACB (now Cricket Australia) were still tinkering with it. In 1988, the [Read more]
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