Macca

The loss we had to have re the Packers . Though our lack of a running game is a worry . We need James Starks back asap . San Diego are in with a chance as well but they'll need a few cards falling their way . Huge game tomorrow with your 49ers against the Steelers - hoping Big Ben plays and we get a great match . Rex got a win , the Tebow show was halted , Detroit had a great comeback win and the Eagles were supreme .

858,000 watched the 1st game on Foxtel - that's huge numbers for a cable station in Australia . http://www.smh.com.a...1218-1p0ra.html The Big Bash "opponents" are going to have to put up with the "New kid on the block" . We've already seen Warner and Lyon progress from t20 to Test cricket and there will be lots more like those 2 . Edit : Forgot to mention Patrick Cummins played his first lot of games in the "Big Bash" . In the UK they play over 150 games of t20 every season ( They've cut it back to around about 100 for the 2012 season but it's still a truckload more than the 30 odd we play in Australia ! ) Apparently they ditched a "poorly attended" 40 over comp to make room for the t20 comp so there effectively wasn't any "extra" cricket . T20 certainly divides opinion and whilst I prefer Test cricket I like this version of cricket as well and ...................it's not going away in a hurry . Traditionalists need to accept it ( you don't have to like it of course ) . Cricket boards the World over and the ICC need to find a way to manage all 3 versions of the game so that they all prosper . How they manage to do this is anybody's guess .

Decca got lucky with the "Stones" hey . Never knew that bit about the Beatles . This thread continues to educate me !!

Rodney Hogg was once a writer for the "Truth" and came out with the "bold" predition that Shane Warne would take 500 Test wickets . They then promptly sacked him ! That's his story anyway .

Macca 4.0

Here it is Wyl

This is just so much fun ! Yeah I know it's not "Proper" cricket but who cares ? That catch by Steve Smith was a beauty !

The influence of John Lennon stands out in this track - though maybe that's just me . Macca 3.9

Re "Hell on Wheels" - I've watched 2 episodes so far and I'm getting hooked . Good thread this one as there's been some good shows recommended by others that I've got into . "Homeland" was one and "Life's too Short" is another . "Breaking Bad" is on my list as well !

Here are the Aussie squads for the 2 warm up games vs India . Shaun Marsh is a late withdrawal from the 3 day fixture ( back injury ). Ed Cowan takes his place . http://www.24cricket...announced/8638/

On the subject of Shield players on the fringe of Test selection , there are any number of them depending on opinion - Wade , Paine , Hazlewood , Maddinson , Christian , Ferguson , Harris , Cutting , Forrest , Rogers , Cowan , Klinger , Cooper , Davis , Bailey , Herrick , Hogan , Butterworth , Faulkner , Maxwell etc etc . Just throwing some names out there as obviously some of those I've mentioned may never play Test cricket . It's my belief that the Sheffield Shield system is the best 2nd tier 1st class cricket in the World . It has served us well over many years and largely explains why Australia has been the most successful Test nation . Edit - Mitchell Marsh ! Now there's an up and coming player . Future star .

No 1st class cricket whilst the Tests are being played . This amounts to about 53 days ( from about Dec 9 until Feb 2 ) . This is a ridiculous piece of scheduling . The battle weary players can rest . What happens to Khawaja if he gets dropped ? There is no pathway back .

3 days to go .

Macca 3.8

Thanks Wyl We used to have the Tests out of the way after Sydney so the current problem is a new one . I think the only way you can have a round of Shield games during the Tests ( apart from next weekend ) is if you put the Big Bash on hold for 5 days sometime in January . An ideal time would be during the Sydney Test so fringe players can prepare for the final 2 Tests . Usually the Team doesn't change much from the Boxing day Test to the Sydney Test . Btw , this new system of Boxing day Test , Sydney Test , Perth Test in mid January and the Adelaide Test over Australia day is probably here to stay so C.A need to get it right. Cheers

There could have been a round of 3 Shield games this Weekend . They could have held off the Big Bash for 4 days so our Test Batsmen and up and coming batsmen and bowlers get to have one last hit out before this important series against India . The Test bowlers could have been rested but now Harris , Hazlewood and others have only nets or 4 overs per game in the Big Bash as preparation for Test cricket ( if they are called up ) . It's a shocking piece of programming by C.A . Also , there are 5 and 6 day gaps between the 3rd and 4th Tests where the only practice Test players will get is in the nets or the Big Bash . That's fine if you are winning easily and have no reason to change the Team but as we well know .......................... The lack of "other" 1st class cricket in the next 7 weeks will be a major issue and the media are already highlighting the shortfalls . Shield cricket is our only real nursery for Test cricket and even though it's heavily subsidised without it we're cactus .

Congratulations to Dave Warner - fabulous innings . The bowlers did their job as well - especially good considering how inexperienced they are ( apart from Siddle ) . Well done to the Kiwi's and they thoroughly deserved their victory . Bracewell's 9 wckts for the match was something he'll always remember - well played . Our current top 7 apart from Warner and Clarke are either getting too old , not good enough , past it or need a spell . It seems most of the new players are performing really well and all of the "Old boys" are either finished or close enough to it . If we were a strong team you'd probably send Khawaja back to Shield ranks . Though this is a little difficult as apart from the "Other" 2 tour games involving India there isn't any 1st class cricket in Australia until the 2nd of February - shocking planning . If Warner has strained his lower back he may not play in Melbourne . Marsh and Watson may not be fit either . Trying to pick the top 7 for Boxing day would be total guesswork . I originally thought that we'd beat India in the upcoming series with a fit Cummins , though even if he were available now I'd be quite concerned . Sport being what is though , we could come out and thrash India in Melbourne !

For those of you who like your "Westerns" , there's a brand new series called "Hell on Wheels" set immediately after the Civil war . It centres on the building of the Trans Continental Railroad by the Union Pacific Company ............... Tough , Gritty and pulls no punches . Here's the IMDb link .............. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1699748/

"el clasico" on at 7.55am tomorrow morning . Real Madrid vs Barcelona . Arguably the 2 best soccer teams in the world and interestingly , both teams are owned by their fans .

Patrick Cummins out for all the Tests vs India - what a shame as I was looking forward to seeing him live in Melbourne . Suppose it gives another quick a chance to cement a spot in the side but it's still a big blow .

Yeah , Sydonia are great . And I liked the solo guitarist in your 1st post - wow !

Thanks for that link HG . I remember the days when we used to get the last session of select Shield games on the tele !

Played a lot of cricket at 2 cricket clubs - at one I was known as "Nuggets" after the great Keith "Nugget" Miller - somebody added an "s" and it stuck ! Btw It had nothing to do with rivaling his cricket ability ! And at the other club I was known as "Macca" - most people I know call me that . When I played footy I had various nicknames but "You" and "Mate" figured predominantly in the early days ! I'm figuring yours is self explanatory yeah ?

Excellent article in that link "Nasher" . Perhaps Dave Warner will set a trend of T20 batsmen progressing to Test cricket - can't see why not . As for India , they were woeful in England a few months back and are notoriously poor away from home . Aussies to win the series though India might win 1 test . Can't wait to see this Cummins / Pattinson duo in action . Bring on Boxing day !

Shane Warne's 1st Test figures 45 - 7 - 150 - 1 ( Ist innings vs India , Sydney , 1992 ) We need to give these new players a bit of a go . Hughes has major issues but what's the bet he makes a big score in Hobart ?! Don't know what to make of him really . Jayasuriya . Sehwag , Gilchrist and plenty of others were highly successful without having perfect techniques , which leads me into "The Suburban Boy" otherwise known as the "Bull" . I reckon Warner will be fantastic for Test cricket if he's successful and I'm backing him to do it for this reason . He may get found out but I really hope not . Cummins and Pattinson should lead our attack for many years if they remain healthy . And Starc will hopefully be a goodin' as well with his variety . And there are other young quicks on the horizon ( Cutting , Hazelwood . Herrick etc ) . Lyon keeps getting better and better . Suddenly this Indian team are quite vulnerable .