Vale Phillip Hughes

Call for Seven or Nine to commission a drama about a cricket team

Tweed Daily News has hit out at former Aussie cricketers who are the face of everything on commercial television.

According to TDN, It seems you actually can't turn on the television without seeing a former (or current cricketer) parading around on screen. Okay, fair enough it's cricket season so you would expect to see them out there in their whites or coloureds (depending on the type of game they're playing) but it seems they are no longer confined to the field.

Sure there are plenty of retired players in the commentary box, too, but the vast majority of them now seem to have branched out. They seem to be in about every ad on TV - hawking everything from Johnny Walker Whisky to mobile phones and motor oil. But in recent years they have also branched into television shows as well, and this is not only confined to Fox' Inside Cricket either.

I'm wondering how long it will be before Seven or Nine actually commission a drama about a cricket team?

I mean former Test opener Matthew Hayden has had his own cooking show, and at the weekend while everyone was discussing "what went wrong with day three of the Test match" Haydoss was on the Lifestyle Channel hosting a show about "Australia's answers to the Griswalds at Christmas".

Cricketers are no strangers to Lifestyle, with former spin bowler Stuart MacGill hosting his own wine show on the same channel.

But of course Nine has always been the home of cricket, and they brought out the big guns last week - Warnie. Shane Warne's new TV talk show came across as a cross between a toothpaste and hair re-growth ad with famous people thrown in. It received a luke-warm reception from the audience. But it is early days; I suppose - you don't always get a wicket with your first ball.

Actually, with all our famous cricketers busy with their TV commitments, it's little wonder our team is a bit "hot and cold" at the moment. The team might need some new blood, and where better to look than on TV. Well let's face it, with Warne and co taking the TV jobs, we need to do something with the out-of-work showbiz types. I mean I can see Andrew Denton bowling a flipper at the SCG, and I reckon one of those Packed to the Rafters guys would have a good turn of pace.

Maybe someone should have a word to Greg Chappell, Andrew Hilditch and the boys?

Credit: Tweed Daily News, 30/11/10

Gabba - Day 5 - Oz selectors need to show some gumption

Yes, the scoreboard said the match ended in a draw, but anyone with a modicum of common sense knows the Poms had a solid points victory and will head to Adelaide for the Second Test (it starts on Friday) with their heads held high while a few of the Oz mob must be wondering about the security of their spots. Honestly, some of the Oz lot are so deep in the doldrums they need to be sent back to state duties with specific instructions to improve their game or take the big step and advise selectors that their dance cards have expired and will not be renewed.

The Poms piled on record after record performance.

The Poms declared at 1/517 in their second innings - enough said!

Day 2 @ Gabba - promised much, but disappointed

Who gave Michael Clarke the all-clear fitness wise to play in the First Test? If he/she is a registered medico he/she should be struck off. Clarke struggled all the way as he dribbled to a grand total of 9 measly runs while he occupied the crease for an excruciating 81 minutes. An in-form Clarke is a delight to watch, but his performance at the Gabba causes one to recall, "They shoot horses, don't they?"
Truly, Clarke was pathetic.
And, honestly, head honcho Punter Ponting, who preceded Clarke, wasn't much better. Ponting, who scrambled to 10, was never in tune and it was only a matter of time (34 minutes - 26 balls) before he fell over.
Marcus North, who specialises in ducks or tons, did his level best to maintain that record, but failed miserably. He managed a mere solitary single, occupying the crease for just 6 minutes (8 balls).
Honours for the day went to Mr Cricket (aka Mike Hussey), who was 81 not out when rain and bad light forced umpires to call an early halt to the day's proceedings. Second in line for Oz honours was opener Simon Katich (50).
The Pom's bowling attack was, overall, efficient but not something to write home about. Broad extracted a lot of bounce, but was too short too often to pose any real threat. Swann, who went for 30+ off his first 4 overs,  finished with 1/59 off 20 overs but it must be noted that his single wicket was that of North whose tenure on the number 6 spot must be under review. (I heard a wag sitting near me at the Gabba suggest Australian Cricket ought to call for tenders for the position.)

Pom's prepared to take on an Australian XVII

Is there any truth in the rumour doing the rounds that the Poms have invited Australia to field the entire squad of 17 players chosen for the First Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane next week?

Australian cricket teams have not had the best of things lately. Australia’s losing streak in all forms of the game has reached seven matches, the longest since the 1996-97 season.

Respected cricket scribe Peter Roebuck had this, among other things, to say in today's Sydney Morning Herald about the decision to pick a squad of 17 for the match:

Doubtless, player and public were bemused by the absurd function and the size of the party. Presumably the Poms are chortling into their Earl Grey. Australian cricket has been admired for the clarity of its thinking and the extent of its planning. Suddenly it seemed chaotic. At one stage it seemed that all 66 Shield players were to be included, and possibly Richie Benaud as well.

At first sight it will seem that the selectors have lost the plot. Certainly they have invited ridicule. Over the years Australia has considered 16players sufficient to cover an entire tour of England. Now 17 are required for a single match to be staged just up the road.

Credit: SMH