Search Results for: cricket

We Want Cossie

In choosing Mike Hussey as the replacement player for the injured Doug Bollinger, the Australian selectors have missed a big opportunity to mould the national team into a group with which the general public could more easily identify, and once again grow to love. Much has been written about the “disconnect” that the grass-roots cricket [Read more]

Giga Bites 5 – Director’s Cut

Below is an extended version of Giga Bites, which appeared in the Saturday Age on 5th March, 2011. by Andrew Gigacz RYDERS RIDE AGAIN Two sporting Ryders were scheduled to be in action last night. Paddy Ryder was due to line up for Essendon in its NAB Cup semi-final against St Kilda; and Jesse Ryder [Read more]

Giga Bites 3 – Director’s Cut

Below is an extended version of Giga Bites, which appeared in the Saturday Age on 19th February, 2011. by Andrew Gigacz FIRST UP WINNERS With cricket’s one-day World Cup kicking off tonight, advice might be in order for the captain who ends up winning the toss in the final on April 2. In seven of [Read more]

Real footy: kicking game

Kicking Game. Real Footy. I met Christiano at his home after work. He was covered in dust and stank of sweat. Another day like every other in twenty years on the demolition crew. He hit Billy and hit it and hit it and hit it and hit it and okay, he was ready to leave [Read more]

You are in the Mix

So, the last time I could bear to write it was the week after the second Grand Final.  I’m sorry to say, it still hurts.  But let me fill you all in since then: Week one:  4th October The week was rough, we came back from the second Grand final and ripped down all the [Read more]

Actually Mate, It’s Soccer

With the onset of the real football . . . err . . . soccer season (as opposed to that franchise-based circus called the A league), it’s time to revisit the nomenclature debate.

How Lost Was My Archive?

NEW NARRATIVE POSSIBILITIES IN AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL HISTORIES The recent developments in the digitization of library archives have profoundly affected the researching of sport history in Australia and beyond. Some images, facts and data once buried are now easily accessible via simple on-line searches. We no longer need to trust the factual accuracy of the Turners, [Read more]

It’s never over til it’s over

It’s the end of summer, school is back but that’s the furthest thing from my mind as I stride out to bat in my U14’s grand final. Earlier GWB made an under par 132. It’s a hot day. I’m full of emotions. My determination to win leads a shaky backline of fear and disgust. You [Read more]

Crio’s Q: The changing face of sporting etiquette

I’m interested in how sporting etiquette changes over time. Golf, for example, is a game of great disciplines and accepted protocol. When did players walking out the “front” (lip) of bunkers become acceptable? This was never allowed in my recollection, but has become commonplace – I saw a caddie lend a club to help wrench [Read more]

Knackers v Overland: a case for the mind, the body and the soul

by Straight Break Sport, some Greek with too much red wine in him decided, is about the mind, the body and the soul. That’s our problem. Of all the civilisations on which to base ours, we are stuck with the damn Greeks. They invented the gymnasium, which is not like the gymnasium in the United [Read more]

Almanac XI v Overland XI – Almanac Captain’s report

by Andrew Gigacz I believe it’s part of the unwritten ethos of the cricket commentating fraternity that at least once in a career the phrase, “well bowled, well played and well fielded; good cricket all around”, must be used. Had any of that fraternity been at Gillon Oval on Sunday to call the Almanac XI [Read more]

Flares for Dot Balls Campaign

Add your name to this petition I hope to take to those who run Cricket Australia. We the undersigned believe that bowlers are copping the raw prawn in T20 cricket and believe that flares should whoosh heavenward when the bowler delivers a dot ball:

Almanac XI primed

by ‘Straight Break’ Members of The Almanac XI made their way to the old Brunswick St Oval cricket nets last Sunday, and put in a strong session, in preparation for the much-anticipated fixture against Overland this coming Sunday. Peter Flynn put his captaincy aspirations in jeopardy by not turning up, while Gigs Gigacz served his [Read more]

GIGA BITES 2 – Director’s Cut

Below is a significantly extended version of Giga Bites, which appeared in the Saturday Age on 12th February, 2011.   by Andrew Gigacz   DRAWING A LONG (SUPER) BOW(L) Super Bowl XLV was played this week and the Green Bay Packers’ winning score of 31 should have come as no surprise, especially given the fact [Read more]

I can’t figure out the NAB Cup!!!

I’ve heard it a few times over the last few weeks; bring back the footy. The cricket this summer was disappointing, both because we lost badly, and because the decisions of the cricket selectors were completely baffling for the punters on the street. There is a distinct feeling that we lost the Ashes partly because [Read more]

Dis a Bill ity

I am bitterly disappointed at not being considered for the inaugural Knacker Cricket team. I have sought an opinion from a leading Tasmanian human rights lawyer and I must inform the organisers that an injunction will be placed on the game if I do not receive satisfaction.

SILVERWARE AT LAST: THE T20 BIG BASH FINAL 2010-11

Adelaide Oval, 5 February Finally, the silverware. Fifteen long years. I was there. I hadn’t intended to be but a mate who’d been having his ups and downs asked if we could catch up at the Oval, have a beer or two. Agreed.  ‘See you there.’ We’d have a beer or two. The Redbacks didn’t [Read more]

The Footy Almanac XI selected

The selectors are pleased to announce The Footy Almanac XI for the match against Overland on Feb 20. The team is: C.W.J. Little J.R. Butler A.T. Gigacz David Bridie T.C. Riordan T. Ivins D.A.C. Dawson P.J. Flynn C.D. Down Dave Goodwin G.C.J.D. Haigh Neil Belford (??) J.T. Harms (subject to a fitness test – and [Read more]

Bring on the footy. PLEASE

by Tony Robb Now that the summer sports caravans have packed up and moved north I felt it was time to reflect on a few of the not so published happenings of recent months. While CA and FA have been suitably chastened for their collective ineptitude I believe that a few other individuals and teams [Read more]

Abu Dhabi Falcons Player Profiles

By Dan Brooke (with assistance from Russell Yule) M Day: Flash or Flamer was the nickname decision. Flash won as Mick’s ability to go from here to there in the blink of an eye is superb. Almost manages to disguise his ginger taint through bright eyes and bushy tailed approach. Has promised to demonstrate on [Read more]