Macca

The umpires have got a lot of calls wrong and once that happens the whole review system becomes farcical. It's like a perfect storm. If the technology 'ruled' then it wouldn't matter what decisions the umpires make. Human error is therefore just as prevalent if initial rulings by the umpires have importance. Total technology or go back to the old ways ... by the way, I have had no issue with England umpires over the decades. They are renowned as the best in the world anyway. Shepherd & Bird were exceptionally good umpires Now we take away their impartiality by making sure they are nuetral (supposedly) ... effectively undermining the umpires. e.g. Paul Reiffel can't umpire games involving Australia. We are effectively then calling him a cheat in advance. And Paul Reiffel is not a cheat. The insane hatred of umpires leads to even greater issues. Lose the hate I say.

Technology was supposed to rid the game of the howler yeah? I have seen nothing but the opposite. We're back to where we started from where it's now a game-of-reviews with a LBW ruling that is highly questionable. And that's if you trust the technology. In effect it makes for poorer umpiring where the umpires might end up 2nd guessing themselves anyway. It sounds radical but do we actually need the umpires out there at all? If all their decisions are governed by technology what's the point of having them out there? They instead could act as orderly's Pointing the finger at the umpires effectively ignores a much greater problem.

Good point with them winning the session Wadda. Marginally though. So we've possibly won only 1 session out of the 4 in this Test so far. Albeit a comprehensive win in the session after tea yesterday. We could score it like a boxing match ... I'll have a go Day 1 Session 1 Eng 10 Aus 8 Day 1 Session 2 Eng 10 Aus 7 Day 1 Session 3 Aus 10 Eng 6 Day 2 Session 1 Eng 10 Aus 9

He doesn't look at all comfortable to me ... a painful 11 runs so far. Off 57 deliveries. We've bowled well to him all the same. He does have great temperament like Smith so we need to get him soon.

1 wicket changes things DJ ... work for 1. Lyon could get amongst them especially the fresh batsmen. The turn is there. Just need 1 wicket to get on a roll

Have the poms glued the bails onto the stumps? That's extraordinary

Heard Boycott saying he liked the idea ... is Geoffrey trying to be thoroughly 'modern' after all these years? And that Lyon LBW appeal (that was out) could come back to haunt us. You take every chance you get at this level.

Along with the gaudy big numbers on the back of the shirts. It's just not cricket Wadda! Why didn't they go upstairs with the LBW appeal off Lyon? Looked out to me. And Hawkeye reaffirmed it ... hitting leg.

I'd expect Lyon to be used reasonably early and he might end up bowling a number of overs today. There's some turn there and Moeen Ali extracted a bit of movement yesterday.

Goodwood has been great from a punting perspective. 'Too Darn Hot' duly saluted and I had a late flutter on 'Deirdre' at terrific odds in the Mares Group 1 (Nassua Stakes) RacingPost tipped the Japanese runner and for good reason - was way overs. I'll post up the 2 replays later on but I don't think Frankie saw 'Deirdre' coming! (took the rails run) To view go to the results page on Tab.com

At the start of the day I would have taken 284 (batting first therefore not having to bat last - in theory) I questioned a number of the selections especially around our late middle order and the 3 quicks we chose. But if it works, it works. But it hasn't worked yet as we need to restrict England to 320 or less. Even them getting to 340 only really evens things up. Batting 2nd a team would ideally prefer to be 80+ in front on the 1st innings. So right now, England have to get themselves into a strong position. They'd be really annoyed that they let us off the hook ... this conversation would have been way different if we'd only made 150 or so.

Smith is elite ... great grit shown by Siddle & Lyon. Was surprised to see the scoreline as when I nodded off we were 8 - 130 so a fantastic recovery The bowling has a score to defend so you never know. All things being reasonable England will have to bat last on this wicket and that might be tricky. Might take turn later on Wadda (?)

It's like clockwork the way it happens. Need to post more when the poms are batting! Anyway, it's down to Smith now you'd imagine. Needs support of course but he's the one who can make a big score.

Anderson out with a calf injury by the looks of it (gone for a scan) And there was talk of England playing an extra quick with Jofra Archer and they could certainly do with the extra bowler now. A matter of keeping them out there now whilst perhaps targeting Moeen Ali and/or Ben Stokes. At 3 - 98 the game is interestingly poised. We need one of these 2 (Smith or Head) to make a big hundred. If that happens we're right in this Steve. *Mozz factor deactivated (these in-match posts often bring about almost immediate change in the game circumstances)

Stradivarius proved too strong at the weights in the Goodwood Cup raced overnight. A masterful ride by Frankie Dettori all the same. Here's the replay ...

Glorious 'Goodwood' starts up on Tuesday ... a 5 day festival of racing much like the Royal Ascot Carnival. 3 big Group 1's to look out for ... 'Stradivarius' is up against Cross Counter & Dee ex Bee in the 2 mile Goodwood Cup on Tuesday On Wednesday 'Too Darn Hot' will start close to even money favourite in the Sussex St. (Mile) And on Thursday 'Hermosa' (9-4) will prove hard to beat in the Nassau Stakes (2000m for F & M) Frankie Dettori will almost certainly be riding Stradivarius & Too Darn Hot whilst Ryan Moore will probably saddle up on Hermosa.

Weekend Special MLB Monday 3.05am Philadelphia vs Atlanta Philadelphia Win -1.5 $2.35

Enable just finds a way to win ... often doesn't win by much but never-the-less, she wins! That will-to-win might just land her another 'Arc' too DZ. The other talking point from our point of view are the comparisons with Winx. But as stated previously, I prefer to celebrate all the greats as a collective. They're all great. Here's the race from last night again ...

Tonight's stage distance has been slashed due to landslides. 59k only although the last 35 kilometres is a category 1 climb covering close to 2ks in elevation. There'll be lots of attacks and they'll come early you'd imagine.

Worked out alright for Bernal but he was on the attack and the rules fell in favour of the aggressive rider (or riders) So no complaints from me. Mother nature intervened. All to ride for later tonight though and they're still in the Alps with a category 2 climb as well as 2 category 1 climbs. Including a gruelling one with a summit finish. Not a lot separates the top 5 in the general classification so the tour is still up for grabs Meanwhile, the Demons have started well and we're kicking straight!

In other news the connections of the placegetters still haven't been paid prizemoney from the 'Andrew Ramsden Stakes' run back on the 25th May. Steel Prince & Surprise Baby had a battle down the straight with Steel Prince winning narrowly. The winner gets an automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup.

Shame about 'Sea of Class' Tim ... looked a real horse for the future. But Enable is the new wonder mare although 'Almond Eye' has claims to that title as well. Enable is running in a Group 1 late Saturday at Royal Ascot (King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes) Up against Crystal Ocean & Anthony Van Dyck but she should have those 2 covered. Defoe could get into the finish as well. 'Enable' is currently showing 4-7 so the odds are prohibitive. The exacta might pay better or maybe the trifecta. Go to www.racingpost.com for more details.

Accuracy at goal comes with good kicking actions. The biomechanics. The set up, the address, the hands, the balance, the approach, the lining up, the concentration, the ball drop, the execution and the follow through. And there's other bits and pieces as well. And then lots & lots of practice. We've got any number of players who fail in a number of the above areas. So the problem needs to be addressed at the source of the problem. Not the A-end. The poor execution is a symptom. A very bad symptom. So we need skills coaches in specific areas. At least 2 and maybe even 3. For a professional sport we still see amateur standards with regards to the skills. How good are our players on their opposite side? Both by hand and by foot. I'd give us a collective 2/10. As for our preferred side ... 6/10. And I'm being generous. And our overhead marking skills aren't good either - especially in the forward line. 4/10 How do you win a flag with those ratings? The answer is you don't. Our endeavour, energy, effort, ball winning skills, hard ball gets, clearances & contested work is quite good. But we continually butcher the ball when we do get it.

I'm always hopeful but the one thing I do know is that we are mere onlookers. All the chat in the world isn't really going to change how the club goes about it. So we live in hope. Norm Smith had it all figured out ... have an abundance and excess of talent and stay ahead of every other club in terms of innovation and forward thinking. Other clubs followed his doctrine. The man was a genius but the method was quite basic in a lot of respects. Now, it's ultra competitive but the same principles apply. There's just more clubs trying to be the best of the best. My reckoning is that in a perfect world we'd have a number of very good players not being able to get a regular game. Hard to lose in that scenario. It's why I have a few regulars now as back-up next year. It's nothing personal, I just want a great list.

By and large I find the site to be very good. You'll get pushback early but the longer you're here, the less so. There's a weird sort of internet pecking order at play but it's certainly not representative of how things are in the face to face world. It's why I often try to talk with people but I'm as guilty as anyone else in talking at people. Using someone's user name in a post tends to calm the waters SK. Or just agreeing to disagree early if you know where an argument is heading. You usually know early on if someone is rusted on with their thoughts. What amazes me is how different we all are. For a mob of people who all follow the one team, that observation stands out. e.g ... we have an NFL thread here where at least a dozen contributors all barrack for different teams (with the odd exception - 49ers) Yet we're all Demon fans at the same time.