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 5: Hauritz warms the cockles of an old non-spinning-offie bowler’s heart
December 30, 2009 by 2 Comments
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]
Footy: Why I barrack for the Eagles
December 24, 2009 by 2 Comments
By Brad Carr I’m an Eagles supporter who lives in Melbourne. The most common question I get asked is, “Why do you barrack for West Coast?” The conversation normally goes along the following lines: Local: “Who do you barrack for?” Me: “West Coast” Local (contorts face uncomfortably): “Eeeeww (pauses). Are you from over there?” Me: [Read more]
Sheffield Shield, SA v WA: The Hill, the Hilditch and the Hughes
December 22, 2009 by Leave a Comment
by Patrick O’Keeffe I arrived at Adelaide Oval on the first morning of the Shield game between Western Australia and South Australia, feeling a great deal of apprehension. Since my last visit, the Edwin Smith, George Giffen, and Mostyn Evans Stands had been pulled down, which saddened me. I really loved those stands. Andrew Hilditch was [Read more]
Memoir: My Father, My Football
December 22, 2009 by 9 Comments
This piece was written in 2000, and has not been published before. By Terry Chapman My life’s first footy moment comes courtesy of a black-and-white image of me in Grandma’s backyard in Coburg. I’m about four. Mum would have been behind the old Kodak 126, freezing forever the opening entry on my life’s stats sheet. [Read more]
Punter’s Predicament
December 21, 2009 by 2 Comments
A good trick in life is to get out while you’re ahead. No one wants to be stuck with the cleanup when the party’s over. It’s often better for your reputation to remain a vision of eternally splendid youth, than to suffer the indignities of ageing. To be Jim Morrison, not Mick Jagger. Team sports [Read more]
Third Test, Day 5: This is the end
December 20, 2009 by 2 Comments
After an extra half an hour on Day 4 stumps were called with the West Indies 51 runs short of a potentially transformational victory. Australia on the other hand were a solitary wicket away from a flattering victory. Day 5 was set up. The potential of a grand stand finish was just as strong as [Read more]
Third Test, Day 3: Introducing the Test Cricket Quaddy
December 19, 2009 by 3 Comments
by Chris Riordan Here’s a new betting medium I’ve just uncovered. As we know, they’re what keep sports afloat. It’s the Test Cricket Quaddy and you’d have scooped the pool if you got it right by tonight. The challenge is to pick runs and wickets per session, from tea one day until stumps the next.
Footy Talk: Gary Ablett jnr talks to God (not his Dad, the Guy Upstairs)
December 18, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Gary Ablett jnr: You’ve already met. God: What can I say? Allegedly the only bloke (blokette?) who can hit a one iron. Initial negotiations with GC17 had been unfruitful… and rather baffling. Gazza felt no closer to resolving his dilemma. Having finally made it back from Queensland, his Manager decided to be proactive. Player managers [Read more]
Footy: A touch of gold on black clouds
December 18, 2009 by Leave a Comment
By John Sawyer I’ve been doing it a bit hard. A bit like Richmond, I suppose. I’ve lost confidence, everything seems to go wrong. Everything seems to be lined up against me, even the bloody AFL are trying to do me down. “I’ve a good mind to write to the ACCC. I’ll make a formal [Read more]
Eulogy: University don inspired footy history study
December 18, 2009 by 4 Comments
By Rod Gillett The ability to inspire performance is a quality that is most often attributed to sports coaches. It is also attributed to teachers of art, music and literature, even mathematics. Many of us have had a teacher profoundly influence our scholastic life and engender in us an enduring enthusiasm for a particular subject. [Read more]
Third Test, Day 2: A Day In The Life Of An Accountant
December 17, 2009 by 15 Comments
by Damian O’Donnell (Note – at least 50% of this story is fictional) I’m sitting at my desk with my brown cardigan on (the one with the brown leather elbow patches) singing that well known accountants’ song “For Every Debit There’s A Credit” (sung to the tune of “Stairway To Heaven”). The cricket is on [Read more]
Golf: Tiger and the seed of destruction
December 17, 2009 by 11 Comments
By John Harms It’s official. Tiger is bigger than climate change. Bigger than Copenhagen and the ETS and greenhouse gases and ozone layers. Bigger than global self-destruction. Bigger than any of the statesmen and stateswomen who are trying to understand what is happening to this planet, and what might happen to this planet, and how [Read more]
Christmas Quiz: How did you go? Check your answers here
December 17, 2009 by 1 Comment
1. What the hell do the books The American Way of Death and Love In a Cold Climate have to do with the present-day politics of international Formula 1 car racing? Both were written by aunts (Jessica and Nancy Mitford) of Max Mosley, the recently deposed President of FIA, the F1 governing body (son of [Read more]
Almanac Launch: An Adelaide trip with a few twists
December 17, 2009 by 2 Comments
By Bob Utber With the Copenhagen climate summit in full swing as I wandered down from Mildura to Adelaide last week, I could not help but notice the way in which country clubs in South Australia and Victoria look after their sporting ovals. Indeed some of the finest grounds are along the highway between Mildura [Read more]
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