Whispering_Jack

Of course we then realised that Bailey's at the Crows so we might venture out there tomorrow.

Redleg and I are carryimg out our own independent investigation of the phenomenon that has come to be known as tanking. Our first stop was Adelaide where we sought to interview former Demon coach Dean Bailey. We arrived at Alberton Oval this morning with the temperature nudging 40 Celsius even though it was still early in the day. The first unusual thing we noticed was that there was not a soul around. No Hinkley, no players and no Dean Bailey which was unfortunate because we'd spent a day navigating the rough waters of Bass Strait with the aim of securing an interview. We'd endured the sickening nausea that comes even when a big ship encounters waves of ten feet up to thirty at times so it was a major disappointment to miss the great man but he was nowhere to be found. Never mind, we eventually found this bloke named Clarrie who agreed to speak with us: DL: Clarrie, can you tell us about Dean Bailey's position on the tanking enquiry? Clarrie: Sorry sir but I can't tell you a thing. DL: Why is there a cover up going on here? Clarrie: No, no. It's only that I've just arrived here from the Phillipines ... DL: But you work here. You must know something? Clarrie: I'm on the cleaning staff. I know nothing about the football. DL: That's OK. If you hang around this place for a few months more you'll be qualified for a job on the coaching staff. Good day sir and good luck. Well that's it. A wasted morning in Adelaide trying to get to the bottom of the tanking enquiry. Still, I think that as usual, we got a fair bit more than they put in the newspapers. Next stop, Hobart where we hope to catch up with a prominent MFC sponsor.

Redleg and I are on the banana boat. Good omen - one of the flags they were flying over the deck was red and blue. Next stop Adelaide where we hope to interview Dean Bailey about his views on the tanking controversy. In the meantime, rough seas expected and we'll be out of range till Monday morning.

I don't recall Hazelwood getting a gig in Perth. His only international appearance was in an ODI in 2010 when he took 1/41 off seven overs. He's injured and has no hope of going this time around.

Great! The wives love Chadstone as much as we love the G.

Forget Australia v Sri Lanka for a moment. Was anybody concerned for NZ when they were 1/0 at the start of their second dig?

It already is although I have to forewarn that Redleg and I and our respective wives are about to embark on a cruise around the coast of Australia and during much of that time we will be out of range for Demonland so the supply of news here will dwindle to nothing from time to time in the next 12 days. I agreed to this stupidity (I fear the onset of sea sickness already 24 hours before we board the ship) before I discovered the club had appointed Jason Taylor to cover recruiting. I was going to check out the prospective 2013 recruits for Todd in every capital city. We're not stopping in Perth because we already have the best from there in Jesse Hogan. In the meantime, could someone please confirm whether a banana daiquiri is a reliable cure for seasickness?

Disappointed in the Maxwell 12th man decision. With a 2-0 lead in the series, Watson a doubtful all rounder in the future and two batting champions leaving the game in such quick succession, I would have thought playing Maxwell in this test was a no brainer.

I heard part of the news last night on the way home from dinner and thought it was a T20 game. Philander's comeback figures of 5/7 pretty stunning. SA batted out 64 overs till stumps for a handy 3/252. IMO they should introduce the mercy rule for situations such as this although, as they say in the classics, cricket's a funny game

Is that Saddam or Nasser making a comeback or do you have a dodgy spellcheck?

I may be wrong but I have this feeling that the NSW thing might be changing. If you include Maxwell who looks like playing in the third test, then 4 of the last 5 test debutants would have been Victorians. I'm not sure NSW has a batter outside of the current test players who has instant credentials for a test place ATM.

Fantastic word BD. I reckon it must be at least 35 years since I last heard anyone use it. Those of us who have followed Melbourne through thick and thin for so long must be nincompoops. And if we were doing that in the 50s, this might bring back some memories especially for those of us who came from the bush.

I wonder how bold Inverarity and his fellow selectors will be now that Ponting and Hussey are both out of calculations for the tours of India and England? Usman Khawaja and Alex Doolan appear to be the next cabs off the rank (along with Maxwell) but I wonder if they're prepared to really look to the future and blood someone like Peter Hanscomb on the tour to India?

What about a hand for one of country's most exciting young cricketers and a Demon by virtue of coming from the Melbourne Cricket Club - Glenn Maxwell.

On the other hand, Schwabbie's concentrating on lifting the spirits of the Age as Fairfax Media begins its slide into oblivion and the hands of a consortium led by Gina Rinehart, John Singleton and Mark Carnegie. With that lot in control, we can expect a substantial dumbing down of content (if that's at all possible) and several long time contributors and more staff should be gone by winter time. Here's our mention in what passes for our only local broadsheet these days thanks to the efforts of CS who surely deserves compliments for helping lift the MFC's public profile this year - http://www.theage.com.au/sport/demons-exorcised-in-mcg-overkill-20121228-2byr9.html'>Demons exorcised in MCG 'overkill. Thanks to Cam, we have now overtaken Collingwood in media coverage these days. Our sponsors must surely be delighted! However, I should add that the only thing missing when J Howe left the MCG on Boxing Day was his #38 jumper prominently displaying the sponsors' logos although given the manner of his departure, the logos might not have been visible under the red vest.

Why Angelo why?

Nor are Hazlewood, Harris or Cutting and a few others who are not that far off either ...

3/3 - can anyone believe this?

I thought this was the indulgent, post-grinding thread.

I have a hunch that the flies have been swatted.

Because he's thrown away an absolute certain ton in the end with an unnecessary rush of blood for starters. I know that's his style but he does need to discipline himself a bit because he won't be able to do that sort of thing on the Ashes tour.

Does Warner think he's playing in the BBL?

Right street, wong westauwant.

Are you sure about all 14 being friends?

OK back to bananas everybody!