Honestly - I would like to see Australian cricket back at the top level - competing with the other teams like India, England, South Africa, NZ, etc.

I would like to see the likes of Matt Renshaw given a chance in Test. He was very impressive as a youngster in India in early 2017.

Newlands and the sandpaper incident is in the past and I am not going to put the boot in when the Aussies are down.

Here are my thought - random

1. David Peever is a total idiot. An arrogant SOB, a bully. A former mining company boss with the same kind of people skills as a 25 tonne earth mover. How dumb could one bee to not issue the review results until he is re-elected as chairman. What arrogance to say that he is not embarrassed by the whole fiasco. Peever was the real architect behind the confrontation with the players' association when negotiating the MOA for contracts last year. Kevin Roberts is his lackey and another mining bully. He should have announced his resignation in May. Now he is humiliated into publicly admitting that he has lost the confidence of NSW board.

2. Kevin Roberts will not be able to do his job without his puppet master, Peever. I do not see Roberts lasing even 3 months. It will be interesting to see who the new chairman is and how the dynamics are.

3. I have a lot of respect for Mark Taylor. A very good cricketer, a great captain and a very fair & balanced commentator. I cannot understand how he sat on the board and allowed Peever to continue. WA board member quit in protest. I think Taylor would make a great chairman. But I doubt he will have the hard and brutal temperament he would need to control Kevin Roberts.

4. On to the actual cricket. David Warner walking off the field because someone called him a "disgrace" is just ridiculous. Warner is one of the worst sledgers in the game and has been involved in far too many ugly incidents on the field. He has proved to be a typical bully who cannot take what he dishes out. I seriously doubt that he can come back in May 2019 and perform well. International cricket is very tough and he will get a lot more than just "disgrace" from India, England, South Africa etc.

Good to see Finch getting runs. Good player. I hope Travis Head cements his place in the side long time. Looks very promising.

I am really looking forward to India's visit in December & the 4 tests. I hope it is a good contest and the best team wins.

Rebuilding is the catchword Hey

but
methinks there is some more wood to be trimmed before regrowth takes root.

Secure career for 'Tubby' in commentating & media that would be compromised by chairman's role rather than would be as a director.
I respect his decision.

The death of sportsmanship.

Win at any cost.

It is in all sports now.

Don't really care to tell the truth. Can't stand the game and how they put cricketers up on a pedestal.

A love of watching test cricket is a sign of a misspent life.
(with apologies to Mark Twain)

Cricket ? That's an insect that chirps in the night, isn't it ?

Grizz

Was incivility, bullying, and [fill in the blank problem] as pervasive and pernicious when entertainment sports were not professionalized - that is, pick-up basketball in New York City's black neighborhoods, American Legion and Babe Ruth League baseball, intra-university football, basketball, pond ice hockey, etc. were, and are, fun. The operant word "entertainment" appears to have been lost from consciousness of participants, participants' minions, and those who are intended to be entertained.

Amateur athletics, to me, is analogous to being a first-time square dancer. You don't feel like a buffoon for not being expert while enjoying participation.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

1 down and 3 to go.

Good competitive game.

Good to see the old Aussie fighting spirit is still there among a lot of the players. India cannot afford to take them lightly.

Entertainment !!!!!!
WWF was entertainment.............the ball sports are serious sport ( incl 'puck' sports).

Very competitive AUS v India at the moment.

Spot on. Real oled school street fighting Test cricket without all the stupid, ugly abuse and sledging.

India bowled a bit too short for the fist half hour. Once they pitched up, the Aussies were done.

The Aussie bowlers bowled brilliantly. Not too many freebes

Great to see Kholi & Rahane fight back with attacking batting.

Aussies are still ahead but if India can get 50 run lead, game on.

Kohli was unlucky........hard call
"Gary" was on song

Some war wounds for a couple of the lads early in the Oz 2nd innings...........might need the 40 lead from the 1st innings.

Tight game so far.

Whoo Hoooo
We managed to win

Boxing Day Test will be very interesting now.

Good fight by Aussies.

I think India should have picked Jadeja instead of Yadav. That would have given better control and also added a few runs.

For Melbourne India will probably bring in Prithvi Shaw. I wonder if Hardik Pandya will be called in as well.

That will give them a better balance. Not sure if Ashwin has recovered from his niggle. I am not happy with this. He was carrying a niggle into the Oval test in England and did not bowl well.

WTF does cricket have to do with hunting in Australia and NZ beats me.

You can pretty much talk about anything here mate.

quote:

WTF does cricket have to do with hunting in Australia and NZ beats me.

If you understood the psyche of both Nations you would not need to ask that question.

downunda the ball sports are legal war.

they are a source of national pride.

the trans-tasman battles ( AU-NZ ) in every code are epic..........with mutual respect between the nations.

Heck, the Kiwi's even do a war dance before engagement .... they grow 6" & double heart in the process...... amazing.

wider international competition is just about who is beating who before the AU-NZ siblings meet again........in anticipation of another good battle.

The Indian Tiger hunts the Aussie kangaroo! I thought that was obvious!

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:
WTF does cricket have to do with hunting in Australia and NZ beats me.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:
WTF does cricket have to do with hunting in Australia and NZ beats me.

Kiwis hunt down roos and roos hunt down kiwis. Mounting your trophy has a different connotation in our part of the world

The boxing day test was a very good one.

A second century by Pujara.

The new debutante Mayank Agarwal was really impressive. He looks like a good bet for the future. No nerves. Very correct in playing straight. Very positive and scored at a good clip.

Good knocks by Kholi and Rohit too. I think Kholi has been carrying a side strain for a while. He has not played the pull shot to bouncers for a while. He is one of best players of the pull shot since Ricky Ponting.

The Indian fast bowlers have outdone the Aussies in their own game. Very impressive performance from Bhumra, Shami & Ishant.

What is wrong with the Aussie fast bowlers? Stark is struggling. Hazlewood is steady but not threatening. Cummins is bowling short and getting wickets but not really testing the good batsmen most of the time.

I think The Indian batsmen have won the mental game too. Their tactics have been better.

Final test at Sydney - the rain has been the spoiler. India have deserved to win the series 3-1.

622 for 7 declared is a fantastic performance. Pujara has now been recognised by all Aussie experts as truly world class. Those who follow Indian cricket have known his class for at least 8 years.

Rishab Pant has show how quickly he can adapt and play a responsible and yet attacking knock. That 159 not out was demoralising for the Aussies.

Indian blwlers also have done well - spinners doing the bulk of the damage this time.

I hope the rain stops and we get 2 sessions of play so that India get a chance to show if they can win the game.

This has been a great old fashioned test series. India making history with a first series win in Australia.

The One day series has started.

The first game was well won by the Aussies.

last night the Aussies looked like getting 320+. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar then took 3 wickets in 2 overs and India took 4 for very little restricted the Aussies.

Great knock by Shaun Marsh.

India replied with a solid steady assault. Great 100 by Kholi and good finishing by Dhoni. Mr Ice.

Bhuvaneshwar should have got the MVP in my opinion.

All set for a great final at the MCG