Macca

Well , we've been losing a lot with certain players in certain positions . Neeld will most probably try some players in other positions and hopefully that will work . We saw Blease play a bit off the HBF and he looked good but is that his true position ? We need blokes who can kick goals . Neitz was a really good CHB but went to FF . Neeld has to move things around to try and find a winning combination . The way we've lined up in the past clearly doesn't work . Reckon we're in for quite a few surprises this season .

Yep , Spurs conceding that late goal was costly , especially with the 2 Manchester clubs losing . It's going to be interesting to see how United and City approach their Europa League games ( Thursday evening games from mid February ) . I'm tipping they'll rest all their good players though they both may still win their round of 32 games ! Tottenham , Liverpool and Newcastle won't have any distractions ( FA Cup fixtures aside ) . Just on the FA cup ( this weekend ) , Man City host Man Utd this Sunday night ( our time ) .

Chelsea lose at home to Villa ! Man Utd lose at home to Rovers ?! The Gunners and the Reds win though . The Andy Carroll move doesn't seem to be working . He may not be suited to Liverpool's game but I hope he comes good . Wouldn't surprise me if he ended up back at Newcastle . And Arsenal have been tracking nicely since their indifferent start to the season . Can the "Black Cats" get up over City tonight ? I'm tipping a 2 all draw . Hoping for a Sunderland win though just so it gets tight in the title race .

Back in the 1860's and 1870's . How quickly fans forget !

Ha ha ha ! And not forgetting the 2 GW$ games this year of course . Eagerly anticipated by all and sundry . 10 years of victories against that rubbish might satisfy Demon fans .

Reckon any win against the Pies is no.1 . Closely followed by Essendon ( and not just because of 2000 ) . We have played them in a number of Grand Finals and it's always a great feeling to beat them . We have beaten Essendon in 4 Grand Finals . In a year where we didn't have too many highlights (2011) that win against the Bombers is a standout for me . Their fans were all very confident before the game ( as usual ) and we beat them quite comfortably . Demons/Cats rivalry ? Maybe , if as 'Wyl' alluded to , we play them in finals . I reckon the Cats will be in the 8 for a few years yet so it could happen .

A bit of holiday reading for you blokes and ladies The late great Keith "Nugget" Miller http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/482217.html

Yes wisedog, you make a good point re the "State competition" though I can understand why CA made the move . Most big sporting comps around the world are City based so they've just re-jigged it . It will take a bit of time before the public warm to the Stars , Renegades , Sydney Thunder and Sixers but in the other Capital cities the new "franchises" have been accepted ( if you go on crowds ) . The "Thunder" having Chris Gayle and the "Stars" having Warnie will help those teams pull a crowd you'd reckon . Possibly by the end of January people will start to accept the new teams and certainly by the end of next summer . I still find it a bit strange switching from "Test" mode to "t20" mode but I reckon most feel this way . Cheers

Yep , we're on the same wavelength Nasher . I think in time the purists will buckle . There's just too much to like about t20 . As ya said , that Gayle knock was exciting . Just wonderful artistry . Effortless in a lot of ways , pure timing . He's done it twice now in the comp and what a crowd puller he is . The sport is part exhibition as well which can't be denied but so what . People love it . I worry about the future of Test cricket sometimes but 189,000 at the MCG eases my mind somewhat . They should come in their droves to the Sydney Test as well especially it being the 100th test at the ground .

Test cricket is a Test and a better game to watch ( for me ) . T20 for me is a much better shorter version of the game . It might surprise some that I don't like 50 over cricket at all . ( except for world cups where I take a bit of an interest ) . To me the 50 over game goes far too long . We already have a long version of the game in Test cricket . I reckon it will be the 50 over game that will fade away to be perfectly honest . Btw t20 pays its way and probably subsidises Shield cricket ( which must cost a small fortune to run ) So , in fact , cricket needs t20 and the money it brings to the game . Big picture stuff in a lot of ways .

If t20 is aimed at kids then why do so many adults like the sport as well ? Check out the faces in the crowd . T20 is here to stay and will only get bigger . As an aside , the Test crowd at the MCG was over 189,000 so what are people worried about ? The crowd at the Sydney Test will be big as well btw It seems there is a percentage of people who don't like t20 and that is their right . But do they need to tell everybody about it ? There are loads of things in life that I don't like but I don't feel compelled to tell the whole world about it . I'll give you one though - I don't like brussels sprouts ! You do however make a good point about Test players playing t20 and that does need to be addressed . You are also correct in saying that it's a completely different game . If you treat it as such , you may not dislike it as much . I compare Test cricket to t20 like I do the Marathon to the 100 metre sprint . It's ok to like both . Overall t20 is family friendly , fun , exciting , entertaining . There's music and dancing etc etc . I go to the games and everybody is smiling and happy . What's wrong with that ? Btw , I'm waiting for the cavalry to arrive . I seem to be the only one on this thread who likes the sport . ( And I didn't kick it off ) Cheers

Came across a good new comedy called "Episodes" about a British couple who have a successful comedy in the UK . The plot revolves around the "American" version of the show with the lead played by Matt LeBlanc ( who is somewhat miscast as a Headmaster of an elite boys academy ) . It has been nominated for a Grammy award for best comedy series . Worth a look .

Renegades are on the board at last ! Scores are lower this year . It seems the bowlers are fighting back in this form of the game .

Macca 4.4 All the best for the New Year all you rock fans !

Here are the 2 scorecards from those 2 tests vs Pakistan in 1972/73 . 5 changes from a winning test ! ( For various reasons ) . The great DK Lillee bowled 23 overs straight in the 2nd innings in Sydney ( albeit with a break overnight ) . He of course broke down with stress fractures in his back soon after . Pakistan made 574 in their 1st innings in Melbourne yet somehow lost . They were chasing 159 for victory in Sydney and at one stage were 3/83 and lost again . Eerily similar to events in Sydney 2 years ago . http://www.espncrici...atch/63095.html http://www.espncrici...atch/63096.html Well done to the Aussies today . For a while there yesterday I thought we'd be 1 nil down but we got there in the end . Great team effort .

Possibly Norman Banks is the commentator in the 1st part ( 60 secs ) . In the 2nd part I reckon it's Ian Cleeland with Ian Major and right at the end it's Norman Banks again . Though I stand corrected . There is a strange "humming" sound in the 1st part as well . Like a bored child !

Great video bush demon . Thanks . Never seen Neil Cromptons kick sail through before . Neil is sadly no longer with us .

Too good WJ ! Yeah , John Benaud . After he failed in the 1st innings of the Melbourne Test vs Pakistan in 1972/73 he was dropped for the Sydney Test . He then went out and made 142 in the 2nd innings . I was at the game . He then went to the West Indies in 1973 and played one more Test ( his last ) Well played sir !

Quiz time Who was the Australian top order batsman who scored 142 in the 2nd innings of a Test match but was dropped for the next test match ? Clue - they were consecutive Test matches .

Whilst I like and prefer the DRS , I don't reckon we will see too many "sus" LBW decisions given . Batsmen on the front foot will probably get the benefit of the doubt . I can live with that . What we might see is a 1 or 2 LBW decisions where the batsman gets a thin inside edge . These ones are the toughest to adjudicate on . So far , India haven't been on the wrong end of a clanger . But it will happen . And can you imagine if it's Sachin ? ( in the 90's )

Well done Hilfo and the other bowlers . It's a pity that a lot of the cricket writers often don't seem to know much about Shield cricket . I'm wondering if any of them trot along to the games at all . They don't quote stats or have much to say at all . The general public seem to know very little about all these new players coming through . I go to cricket.com a lot these days to read match reports etc because you won't find much in the online daily's ( re Shield cricket ) . Hilfo has apparently been bowling well in Shield ranks but most folk wouldn't be getting this information . Therefore some opinions on Hilfo can only be based on last years Ashes series . Just on those Shield stats - if you asked the average punter about Jayde Herrick , Michael Hogan or Peter Forrest you'd get blank looks . Herrick and Hogan lead the aggregates in wickets taken ( 32 each ) and Forrest leads the batting aggregate ( 500 plus ) I had to look up these figures btw .

We might have a chance if we can take a catch !

Not so sure about that Indian big first innings score WJ . They're not the batting team they used to be . The extra bounce will sort a few of them out . Some good short stuff ( wisely used ) wouldn't hurt either . And there's a bit of sideways movement in the deck as well . We'll win this Test though they might get 300 in their 1st innings . Edit - I am , however , unusually optomistic when it comes to the Test side ! Ditto for the Demons !

The "Ab Fab" girls are back ( Absolutely Fabulous ) . A few specials only . The 1st of which was shown in the UK on Xmas day . Good for a laugh .

Yep I agree , but the question is the "Fully fit" bit . Do the selectors wait until he's fit enough to bowl (as well) before they select him ? I'm not sure they even know what to do with him at the moment . We're a team in transition right now and I can't see that changing for quite a while .