2015 in review .. Sport.

So, it has been a busy year in sport. For me the highlight of the year would be the All Blacks becoming the first team to win two consecutive Rugby World Cups.  Other contenders:

• NZ performance at the Cricket World Cup. (no they didn't win, but how the game is played matters more than results to me). 
• The start of the Women's Big Bash League
• The Matlida's performance at the World Cup in Canada. Australia's first Quarter-Finalist at the Football World Cup. The US performance against Japan in the Final, was virtually flawless
• Yep, I wanted the Silverferns to win, but the Diamond's achievement in winning the Netball World Cup. (The last game of the Constellation Cup was also super impressive, were NZ beat the Diamonds by 12 goals, falling just short of the 14 they needed to win the cup.
• Michelle Payne - not really a fan of Horse-racing, but her achievement to get the ride, and win the cup, in a male dominated industry was very impressive
• The Socceroos winning the Asian Cup. 
• The Highlanders winning the SuperXV tournament. Yes, I do support the Hurricanes, but I've always had a soft spot for the Highlanders.
• Thurston's field goal to win the NRL Grand-Final
• Djokovic and Serena Williams were possible the sports-stars of the year. Both won three out of the four majors. 

The less said about the AFL season the better - it was really soured by treatment of Adam Goodes, and another lack-lustre Grand Final. 

Test Cricket team of the year:
Now I'll turn my attention to my test team of the year. Yep, there's still two tests to go (Australia v West Indies & South Africa v England), but don't think that any performance would change my team.

1. Daivd Warner (Australia)
2. Alistair Cook (England)
3. Kane Williamson (New Zealand), capt.
4. Steven Smith (Australia)
5. Younis Khan (Pakistan)
6. Virat Kohli (India)
7. Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), (Pakistan)
8. Stuart Broad (England)
9. R. Ashwin (India)
10. Joshua Hazlewood (Australia)
11. Mitchell Starc (Australia)
12. Yasir Shah (Pakistan)

Captain, hard choice - have to admit, not impressed with any current/former captains, Steven Smith is too conservative for me, so maybe I'd give it to Kane Williamson. Conversely found it hard to pick the middle-order (5-6) and wicketkeeper.

The easiest picks: Williamson (the rankings don't lie, the best batsman in the World this year, 1172 runs at 90.15), Ashwin (best performing bowler this year, 62 wickets at 17.2), Warner and Hazlewood. Taylor's 290 against Australia in Perth, and Stuart Broad, whose 8/15 v Australia was the bowling performance of the year.

In ODI Cricket, hard to go past AB de Villiers 44-ball 149 as the ODI innings of the year, and Mitchell Starc's 6/28 (against NZ) as the bowling performance of the year.

Football finals.

Now that September's here, its time for the Football finals. In our Rugby League we've got

• Roosters v Storm
• Brisbane v North Queensland
• Bulldogs v St George
• Cronulla v South Sydney

To be honest, one of the Roosters, Brisbane and North Queensland will be Premier's this year. Hoping for the Cowboys, but we'll see. All three are way above the pack in terms of the numbers (hard to see a dark horse).

The AFL..

Looking at the fixtures below - its got the makings of one of the all-time great Final-Series.

• West Coast v Hawthorn
• Fremantle v Sydney
• North Melbourne v Richmond
• Western Bulldogs v Adelaide. 

This year has the making of a time from outside the top four winning with Richmond Adelaide and North Melbourne all having beaten the teams in the top four. But we'll see if the finals experience counts for something. If Sydney don't win, I'll be cheering for Fremantle or Adelaide. 

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As an aside, was disappointed with Steve Smith in the last One Day international for not recalling Stokes. It wasn't a good look for the game (or Smith). Read more here.

U2 - Ten Songs

Building from my post about REM and Jars of Clay. I thought it only natural to post my 10 songs from U2. A little caveat, I'm not saying these are the best U2 songs, simply my favourites, at the moment. I've kind of cheated, including a track which combines Bad and Where the Streets Have No Name

1. A Day without me [Boy]

Young, earnest, going to take on the world.  That's how the early U2 sounds, and this track is a classic example. 

2. Drowning man [War]

Intensely personal song, addressed to Adam when he was going through a tough time, and has beautiful images of friendship, ending with quotes from Isaiah 40:31. 

3. The Ground Beneath Her Feet [All That You Can't Leave Behind]

One of the more romantic songs Bono has written. The song was co-written with Salman Rushdie. Salman Rushdie wrote a book with the same name worth checking out. 

4. Stay (Faraway, So Close!) [Zooropa]

Just love the video clip for this one, and not to mention the powerful lyric 

'And if you look, you look through me And when you talk, you talk at me And when I touch you, you don't feel a thing'

5. Staring at the Sun [Pop], [this version, Popheart]

Pop is one of my favourite U2 songs, and I really love how they reinvented the song as an acoustic number during their PopMart tour.Highlights the beautiful harmonies between the voices of Bono and The Edge. 

6. Please [Pop], [this version popheart]

I loved the album version of the song, but it gained a life of its own when played on stage, first on the PopMart tour, then when Bono and the Edge played it acoustically on the third leg of the Elevation tour.  

7. Love is Blindness [Achtung Baby] 
Quite possibly my favourite U2 song, and at the moment, the version from London in 1992 (May31). Love how Bono adds two of Yeats poems to the end of the song (September 1913; and Aedh Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven). 

8. One [Achtung Baby], [this version, Miss Sarajevo, single] 

Easily my favourite version of this song. I love the depth the orchestra adds to the song. Along with the harmonies of Bono and The Edge.

9. Bad/Where the Streets have no name [The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree], [this version, Electrical Storm single]

Almost perfection. Two beaut songs melded into one, with a snippet of 40 the connection. Love how Bono quotes Psalm 116 over the introduction of Where the Streets Have No Name. Both songs are really powerful on their own - I get chills when ever I hear the introduction to 'Bad, but the two songs together is magical.  

10. Kite [All that You Can't Leave Behind], [this version, Window in the Skies single]

Picked this, because it was one of the highlights of the Vertigo tour, This version was recorded on my birthday, at the concert I went to in Sydney. 

Just love these lyrics...

'Who's to say where the wind will take youWho's to know what it is will break youI don't know which way the wind will blowWho's to know if the time has come aroundI don't wanna see you cryI know this is not goodbye'

U2 - Innocence & Experience 2015

In case you missed it, U2 are about half-way through the first leg of their Innocence and Experience tour. One of the striking things is how much technology has changed. Fans (and the Band), are streaming every concert via periscope or meerkat. Now you are able to experience the show from your computer on the other side of the world. It's a long way for waiting for an email with the setlist like during the PopMart tour.

So far, the band is in brilliant form, not only have the songs translated beautifully to the stage, the first act, is beautifully constructed play about innocence broken, from the sounds that inspired the band, to their friends, family, and country.

The most powerful segment of the show is the transition from Sunday Bloody Sunday-Raised by Wolves-Until the End of the World. Where you feel you living through the bombing in Dublin. I can only imagine would it would sound like at the arena.  

I can't complain about the set-lists. There is certainly enough variety to make you come back each night, and a few surprises. Ordinary Love and Lucifer's Hands were the most surprising.

I feel that there will be a few more surprises in their eight night stint in New York.  (A 'reversed' show like Osaka in 1989 would be awesome!)

The downside is, I have a suspicion that this tour will be like the Elevation tour and not come down-under.  I truly hope I'm wrong, because if it sounds and looks this good watching online...

Les Miserables - Sydney

It's no secret that Les Miserables is one of my favourite musicals. It beautifully tells a powerful story about us all, or capacities, and our capacity for love and mercy. I've lost count of the times I've listened to the CDs, watched the videos, and seen the stage production (and film).

I was delighted to read that Cameron Macintosh was putting on the his new production in Sydney, so I would get the chance to see it. I have regularly told people that the best production of Les Mis I saw was an amateur production in Wollongong, in the 1990s. There was something about the performances that night which connected and resonated with me. I'll never forget one of the girls in my year (Lisa O'Connell) playing the role of Epoinine in one production, she was amazing.

I got goose bumps when the first notes of the overture were played, and was just riveted through the whole show. One of the highlights were the drawings which were incorporated into the show as backdrops.

Simon Gleeson and Hayden Tee were great as Val Jean and Javert respectively - I loved the orchestrations for 'The Confrontation', and the chemistry between them, Hayden nailed 'Stars' and I loved Simon's performance of 'What have I Done'.

Patrice Tipoki's (Fantine) 'I Dreamed a Dream' was beautiful. The Thenardiers (Trevor Ashley & Lara Mulcahy) added the 'lightness' to the show, as needed.

The highlight for me was Kerrie-Anne Greenland who plays Epoinine. She's always the character in the show that I identified with the most. I just loved the performances of 'On My Own' and 'A Little Fall of Rain' (which usually brings tears). The other moment which really stood out is the song 'Drink with Me' and Grantaire's lines:

'Drink with me to days gone by / Can it be you fear to die? / Will the world remember you When you fall? / Could it be your death means nothing at all? Is your life just one more lie?'.

Would love the cast singing 'Do You Hear the People Sing?' again after they take their bows.

I always have a hard time comparing performers and performances, as each and every time the story strikes me differently, and I notice different things. I don't think I can recommend seeing the musical highly enough, and the cast going to Brisbane after the Sydney season finishes.

Footy recap

AFL
So, yes were only five weeks in to the season...   but there's a few surprises in the top eight at the moment, suspect a few positional changes, and a couple of teams will drop out but after five rounds the top eight are:

• Fremantle
• Collingwood
• Western Bulldogs
• Hawthorn
• West Coast
• Sydney
• Adelaide
• GWS. 

Have been surprised with the form of the Bulldogs or Eagles as they weren't my list for the eight, but they've both impressive to watch so far this year, will be interesting to see how long they kept their form up.

The Swans were let down with both the decision-making and execution, they had the opportunities to win the game (61 inside 50s). Mick Malthouse was all class in the press conference following the Blue's loss on Friday. He's a great steward of the game.

SuperRugby
Impressed with the Hurricanes continuing their dominance over the Crusaders and keeping top spot on the ladder. Hoping for a Waratahs-Hurricanes, though at this stage, it'd be in Wellington...

A-League:
Today was a bit of a dampener on the Phoenix's seasons. A few weeks ago, they were potential winners of the minor premiership but let it slip.

Next week sees the Victory take on City in a Melbourne derby and Sydney tackle Adelaide for a place in the final..

NRL
The League tests were played on Sunday after being washed out on Friday. The Junior Kiwi's lost by two yesterday, and the women's team were outclassed 22-14.  The Men's team won the ANZAC test for the first time since 1998, and the first time they've won three in a row against Australia since 1952/53. Great to see the women's test played before the men's game.

The break to the season for the test is an interesting idea..  though I'd like a two week break for the State of Origin..  playing the games on Friday, Wednesday then Sunday.Would also be great to have a series for the women's teams, or a one-off match. The players who aren't involved in the State of Origin series could be invited to play in a knockout event held in a rotating regional centre. This would certainly help build the game in these areas. I'd love to see the NRL explore a knockout 'Cup' type competition using teams from each local area group, and the Toyota Cup teams from the NRL like the current football cup competition.  Not sure if that'd work.

World Cup Countdown...
- less than 50 days to the Women's Football World Cup.
- less than 100 days to the Netball World Cup.
- less than 150 days to the Rugby World Cup.

Australia received the draw for their World Cup recently. Perhaps a logistical nightmare more than anything else, as fans work out how they can get to the games, but we'll see.

Footy recap...

AFL
Two games of major ebbs and flows with Hawhorn coming back from 50 plus points down to lose by eight. The Swans trailed by 48 before losing by 14. Would have been an 'injustice' if the Swans & Hawks got up...

Four games in, here's a few notes:
With the Suns losing their four games against St Kilda, Geelong, GWS and Melbourne, to start the season, you feel they need a major turn around to say they will make the eight.  The Giants on the other hand have shown more promise but I'm not including them in my top eight yet.

Adelaide are the surprise packets so far, win their game today, and they will join Fremantle as the undefeated teams.

Geelong, will make the eight, but they are on their way down, their two losses have been against Fremantle and Hawthorn (who I still think will finish in the top four), so now disgrace.  Port Adelaide are where you'd expect them to be 2-2.

Shouldn't read to much into things mind you, I think the last time Sydney won the competition they were 1-3 or 1-4.

League
A surprise leader in Brisbane, but hard to not be impressed by how they've started the season.  Surprised with Souths at the moment (but they do have to adjust to being the hunted, rather than hunter...)

After three games, the Cowboys were 0-3, and now they're sitting fourth, so its dangerous to write teams off....

The Warriors haven't adjusted to life without Tomkins and do seem a little one-dimensional...  though they've had a few close losses which could have gone either way, still think they will scrap into the eight.

Test match...
The Kiwi's will compete well on Friday, but I just don't see them winning. Their record in the mid season test is not so good.

Super Rugby
The Waratahs are building some momentum now, and building their title defense.  The Hurricanes were back in the winners list. They've got a few tough games to come..  but the joy of sport is that you can be optimistic about how your team will go. :)

Weekend footy..

The round feels like it went on and on..   Some quick thoughts,

AFL
I know its round one, but gee Hawthorn look ominous this year. There's just an apparent chemistry about the team in how they are playing with and for each other.

Sydney's performance was what you expect from them in round one, a little below par, but then again, the last quarter was something special.

Was happy to see the Demon's win, and the wins from Richmond, Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs should give their fans an optimistic vibe about what the season will bring.

NRL
The biggest talking point from the League round over the weekend was around the treatment of the referee by the crowd and players. It is good to see it being clamped down on. It looked ugly, and we should expect better from club captains. Again, the bottom line is, in sport decisions go against you, you need to cop it on the chin and move on, some days the rub of the green goes your way, and others it doesn't.

Quite the nightmare tipping round - I picked two winners, but just goes to show the form line early in the season is difficult to read. The Guardian had this beaut line: 'Storm beat the Warriors who beat the Raiders who beat the Sharks who beat the Roosters who beat the Raiders who beat Manly. The Tigers beat the Eels who beat Souths. The Cowboys beat the Panthers.'

Super Rugby
The Hurricanes are 7-0, which I still find staggering for a team whose general character is inconsistency. A win against NSW at home in their next match, will equal the best start in the competition's history, and will also be a club record.  Not that we're getting ahead of ourselves ;)

The other really great read over the week was this piece about All Black captain Richie McKaw.

On the horizon.. 
With the Cricket World Cup over, next attention moves to the Football World Cup (hard to believe the 2018 Qualifiers have started too), the Netball World Cup and the year finishes up with the Rugby World Cup...

World Cup wrap up..

Last night was the World Cup Final, and Australia were worthy winners of the game.  The three highlights to me.

(1) Starc's first over to McCullum, just brilliant bowling, and got the reward he deserved. It set the scene, rather than deciding the match.
(2) Smith's composure and calmness when he came out to bat.  Fitting he hit the winning runs.
(3) McCullum's grace and dignity in defeat. Seeing him chase each ball as if it was the first over, his post match speech and press conference, running to Clarke to shake his hand after he was dismissed, (along with a number of other NZ players). Just pure class.

The honorable mention, would be Clarke - on one level it was sad he wasn't there at the end, but at the same time, he got to walk off the ground to a standing ovation, which he deserved.

The low light, Channel 9's coverage.  How on earth did Shane Warne get the nod for the post match interviews, we learnt more about the players drinking habits than anything else, only Watson and Clarke were asked about their opponents. Disappointing that Mark Nicholas announced Dan's (rumored) retirement to the world while neglecting to mention Misbah-ul-Haq or Shahid Afridi.

Highlights of the World Cup:
(1) The tournament dominated by the bat - 4 scores of over 400, 2 double hundreds, 38 centuries... The average strike rate was in the high 80s.
(2) Admist that, two bowlers stood up above the others Trent Boult and Mitchell Starc. Fitting that Starc was player of the tournament.
(3) The two matches which will live in my memory and which highlight the beauty of cricket were the Afghanistan v Scotland game and the South Africa - New Zealand semi-final.

So proud of the NZ team.

'Footy's' back ...

We've been enjoying the Cricket, SuperXV Rubgy and the NRL for a few weeks now, but next weekend sees the beginning of the AFL Season..   In short, hoping for redemption this year. That is, if the Swans make the grand final, they show up for the game.

Here's my prediction for the top eight

1. Sydney 2. Port Adelaide 3. Hawthorn 4. Fremantle
5. Geelong 6. North Melbourne 7. Richmond .8 Adelaide

I think Sydney will play Hawthorn or Port Adelaide in the Grand Final. But there's a lot of water to go under the bridge before we get there.

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Super Rugby
Very impressed with the Hurricanes, a few All Blacks were rested last night and the team beat the Rebels 36-12, to go 6-0 for the season.

NRL
The two games last night were great advertisements for the game, with Parramatta upsetting the Rabbits, and the Bulldogs running down the Tigers with a golden point field goal.   One thing I've thought since it was introduced, is that it should be changed to a golden try. That's to say, if you score a try - game over, but with a field goal or penalty goal you play the ten minutes out.

Tomorrow, before the Cricket starts, the Warriors and Brisbane play in the NRL, before the game they will mark the fact that the Warriors have been in the competition for 20 years. Hoping for another win, to consolidate a reasonably good start to the season.

World Cup Cricket
The final sees the two best teams in the tournament playing for the right to be called World Champions. I am hopeful that the BlackCaps will lift the World Cup for the first time. I've been so impressed with McCullum and the team for the past year or so, not only for the cricket they have played, but the spirit they have played the cricket in. This piece from Martin Crowe is a must read. 

25 years in Australia

I have now lived in Australia for 25 years. It's not news to anyone, but the longer I've been in Australia, the attachment I feel towards New Zealand grows. That's not to say I don't like Australia, its just NZ is part of who I am. A lot of this piece echoes my sentiment, even if it is in places unnecessarily provocative.

So, this post is a little about NZ, a little about Australia, and the rivalry between. The recent world cup clash added another chapter.(and maybe a meeting in the final will too....)

What better place to start than with some of my lasting memories in Trans-Tasman sport.

Cricket

• Hadlee's 9/52 and Crowe's 188 (1985/86)
• Whitney & McDermott batting out most of the last hour against Hadlee in Melbourne (1987)
• Both McGrath & Warne's highest test scores came against NZ (Gillespie and McGrath put on 114 for the tenth wicket, McGrath made 61, 2004),
• Warne made 99 before he decided to offer catching practice in 2007.
• The 2007 Chappell-Hadlee trophy series - NZ chased over 340 twice (and won the series 3-0)
• Bracewell's 6/40 (and Warner's hundred) in Hobart. (2011)

Rugby Union

• George Gregan's tackle (1992), Mortlock's intercept or Carlos Spencer's pass, (2003), numerous last minute penalty goals or tries (by Burke, Kefu & Eales). Does anyone else remember Eales stopping a penalty before it went over the crossbar. 
• The All Blacks flawless 43-6 win in torrential rain (Wellington, 1996)
• Lomu's try after the siren in the first Rugby Union international at Homebush. The All Blacks won 35-31; and the test has been described as the best played.
• The one Bledisloe cup I saw at ANZ Stadium (won 50-21 by the All Blacks, 2003)
• The miracle in Brisbane last October.

Netball

• The closeness of the Netball results most tests are decided by a handful of goals, I can only remember two which were won by more than six goals. Both NZ and Australia have won in Extra-time.

A few other sporting memories (which don't involve Australia)

Cricket

• Most recently Guptil's 237* (highest score by a Kiwi; highest score in a World Cup Game, and the second time Guptil has batted all 50 overs in an ODI)
• Crowe's 299
• McCullum's 302
• Corey Anderson's 36 ball hundred (until earlier this year the fastest ever).
• It says something about the NZ team that in ODI Cricket, NZ have 3 entries in the top 10 highest successful chases.
• Crowe & Jones shared a 467 run partnership for the third wicket in 1991, 
• Watling shared in an unbroken stand of 365 with Williamson; and a 352 run stand with McCullum
• Ronchi & Elliot's 267 run stand for the 6th Wicket in the ODI against Sri Lanka earlier this year.
• As an aside Hastings and Collinge (1973) had the highest stand for the 10th Wicket until Agar & Hughes (165) and then Jimmy Anderson & Joe Root (198) both went past their stand of 151. 

Rugby

• At school watching the All Blacks game against Italy during the 1987 world cup
• The drop goal in 1995, the two French disasters; this song sums it all up
• Madly refreshing a phone during the last few minutes of the World Cup Final in 2011. 
• The miracle in Dublin (2013)

Rugby League

• Any win by the Kiwi's is one to cherish, given they are so rare (the World Cup win in 2008, the 24-0 win in 2005, and last year's Four Nations where they beat Australia twice) would be the highlights. :) 

Other sports... 

• The America's Cup Win (and retention) before the amazing loss in the 2013 series (they led 8-3 before losing 9-8.
• Can't forget the All Whites being the only undefeated team at the 2010 World Cup, despite leaving at the group stage. 
• The Breakers - who were the first team from NZ to win in an Australian competition, and earlier this month won their fourth tittle in the past five years.
• The Phoenix have done really well in the A-League and may not have a better chance to win the competition

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Cricket World Cup (Week 5)

Three games to go.... and the last four standing are Australia, India, New Zealand and South Africa.  There's a nice symmetry about the Semi-Finals - the most successful team Australia (4 titles) playing the defending champions India, and the challengers South Africa and New Zealand fighting for their first appearance in a World Cup Final.

World Cup Best XI
I'm making three changes - Guptill to replace Amla, Maxwell to replace Faulkner and Boult for Southee. Imran Tahir is unlucky, but I'm keeping Dan for his catch today ;)

1. B. McCullum (C) (NZL) 2. M Guptil (NZL) 3. K. Sangakkara (SL) 4. A.B. deVilliers (S Af) 5. V. Kohli (Ind)
6. G Maxwell (Aus) 7. M. Dhoni  (wk) (Ind) 8. D. Vettori (NZL) 9.  M Starc (Aus) 10. D. Steyn (S Afr) 11. T Boult (NZL)

First thoughts on the Semis
Australia v India: the World Cup means so much to the players & fans than all of the other games on the tour to date.  You have the feeling Australia will handle the pressure better than India...
New Zealand v South Africa: South Africa have been good, but not great in the tournament so far, with losses against India and Pakistan (and both chasing). The signs from the game against Sri Lanka were good for their bowling. A line ball call with NZ probably a nose in front...

Footy season?!?

While the AFL seasons starts in April, the Super Rugby Season started three weeks ago, and the NRL have just finished their first game with Souths defeating Brisbane.

I'm really looking forward to heading up to Newcastle on Saturday to watch the Warriors play the Knights in their first game of the season. The Warriors are usually slow starters to the season - though hopefully not this year.  In terms of predictions, I suspect the Warriors will make the eight, but how high depends on their consistency, and my tip would be for South Sydney (or Canterbury) to win the Grand Final.

On to the Super Rugby, surprised to say that the Hurricanes have won three from three and are at the top of the table, though it is early days at the moment. Consistency has been their struggle in previous years, so hopefully they have resolved that little battle. (They have a bye this weekend and play the Blues the following week)

Onto the AFL; despite their disappointing performance on Grand Final day, I would still put the Swan's in the mix for top four (maybe Grand Finalists). At this stage my pick is a Swans-Hawks grand final (with a Swan's win) .

The NZ Breakers have made the Grand Final series of the NBL comp, after finishing last a year ago.

The team of the World Cup (so far). For me the automatic picks at this stage are:

B. McCullum (NZ) (c) 
K Sangakkara (SL) (wk) 
A.B. de-Villiers (SAf)
D Vettori (NZ)  
M. Starc (Aus)
T Southee (NZ) 

12th Man: Shaiman Anwar Butt (UAE), currently the highest run scorer in the tournament. 

It is a toss up between Amla and Warner - and at the moment, I lean slightly to Amla, Steyn hasn't set the tournament alight yet, but you know he has that match winning performance in him.  Faulkner is a certainly a match winner, and by the end of the tournament, I suspect he would have done enough. Kohli's form in Australia has been electric so I'd include him. It is hard to find places for both Boult and Southee, maybe by the end of the tournament, it will be warranted. I'd pick Vettori as the spinner - he's been brilliant to date, his role against Australia was crucial to the result.

My World Cup XI
1. B. McCullum (C) (NZL) 2. H Amla (S Af ) 3. K. Sangakkara (SL) 4. A.B. deVilliers (S Af) 5. V. Kohli (Ind)
6. J. Faulkner (Aus) 7. M. Dhoni  (wk) (Ind) 8. D. Vettori (NZL) 9.  M Starc (Aus) 10. D. Steyn (S Afr) 11. T Southee (NZL) 

Concert Review: Roxette, Sydney Opera House steps

Last Wednesday night I went and saw Roxette play on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. I've always wanted to see a concert and Roxette had always been on my list of bands to see. Hearing some of these songs performed live, took me back to the 1990s. Boom Crash Opera played support, and I honestly didn't recognise the guitarist as he walked passed or any of the songs.

Per & Marie (and the band) were having so much fun on stage, and was great to see that the chemistry between them hasn't changed.  Per often seems like a young boy living his dream. 

The first thing that was clear from the beginning of the concert was Marie wasn't well. At times it didn't seem to matter and others, it was like she just couldn't quite hit the notes. I hadn't known this, but she had a brain-tumour removed, and sometimes suffers the effects of this. 

Main Set: Sleeping In My Car // The Big L. // Stars // Spending My Time // Crash! Boom! Bang! // Crush On You // She’s Got Nothing On (But The Radio) // Watercolours In The Rain / Paint // Fading Like A Flower // How Do You Do! // It Must Have Been Love // Dressed For Success // Dangerous-Waltzing Matilda // Joyride.
Encore: Listen To Your Heart // The Look.

A few of the things I loved about the concert. Maybe its cheesy, but the instrumental version of Waltzing Matilda played by the guitarist was pretty cool, (It wasn't Hendrix's Star Sprangled Banner, but fun nevertheless). Marie sang 'Spending My Time', which has always been one of my favourites, and one I would probably have been disappointed if they hadn't played. The other highlights were the crowd singing 'It Must have Been Love' (and stuffing up the words), the audience reaction to 'Joyride' and 'The Look', and I quite enjoyed hearing Per sang 'Crash! Boom! Bang!

All in all it was great fun night.

Cricket World Cup - Week Two...

Time to reflect on the tournament so far.  The two matches of the tournament for me, were the UAE v Ireland and the Afghanistan v Scotland games. Partly because given they're not traditional rivals, and they are players we have not seen, they add some much to the sport's history.

For this reason, it will be sad to see the Associate nations not in the next tournament. Partly because every game the 'associates' play is meaningful, the Associate v Associate games seem to be more competitive than the games between 'test-playing nations'.

So, on to the revised predictions:

Pool A: 
New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka; England, with games against Bangladesh and Afghanistan to come, will sneak in.

Pool B:
Pool B seems to be a little tighter. My tips would be:
India, South Africa, and then two from Ireland, West Indies and Zimbabwe. If Ireland beats Zimbabwe they should make the quarter-finals, but with games against South Africa & India you would imagine their net-run-rate will suffer.

A little on the Aus v NZ game:
I was surprised to read that before Saturday's game, NZ hadn't played Australia in a ODI since 2011 (in the last world cup). Especially since the Chappell-Hadlee trophy was established for ODI's between the two nations.

The Australia - New Zealand game was great, because it reminded you that cricket is a contest between bat and ball. In an age when the average run-rate is going up and the game seems stacked in favour of the batsman. I was really impressed with Vettori since he allowed to NZ to settle back down after Australia's excellent start.

The game highlighted the importance of good captaincy.  McCullum backed his bowlers and bowled Boult out. You wonder what the outcome would have been if Starc had been bowled out.

Looking forward:
The Bangledash v Scotland (Thu) & Ireland v Zimbabwe (Sun) games are the two I'm most looking forward to this week.  Bangledash need to keep winning to put pressure on England.

World Cup

So, we are two days (and almost four games) into the tournament. Was very impressed with NZ start. McCallum & Guptill's opening partnership of 111 (in 16 overs) would have settled the nerves.  Williamson wasn't at his best, and still made 50 odd, Daniel Vettori was impressive with the ball and Anderson didn't let the momentum change when he came out to bat.  Important to mention that in the game Sangakkara became the second highest scorer in ODI Cricket, moving past Ricky Ponting.

The BlackCaps play Scotland on Tuesday.

Australia started really well too. I felt for Taylor, given the circumstance of the ending of the game (He handled himself really well).

South Africa highlighted why they are among the favourites, with a brilliant partnership of 256 between Duminy and Miller guiding them from 4/83 to over 300.  The South African's scored 146 off the last 10 overs,

And in the game that just finished, India had too much for Pakistan. With Kohli making another hundred.

Tomorrow sees Ireland and the West Indies play, should be an interesting contest.

And while we are talking about Cricket, the White Ferns (the Women's team) had a 9 wicket win against England, taking a 2-1 series lead

Cricket World Cup...

Tomorrow the World Cup One Day Cricket tournament starts with the hosts, New Zealand and Australia taking on Sri Lanka and England respectively.

I'm strangely excited about the tournament this time around. I suspect the fact its being held in Australia and New Zealand helps along with the form of New Zealand. The BlackCaps form gives me hope they will be there at the pointy end of the tournament.

What I'm looking forward to...
:: Seeing Afghanistan play
:: One of the 'associate members' knocking off an established country (and if any of them do it will most likely be Ireland).
:: In the group stage there are a few mouth-watering clashes - Aus v Eng, India v Pakistan, NZ v Aus, Sth Africa v India.
:: Hoping there's a surprise in the final eight
:: Will be interesting to see how NZ goes, because this time around they are not really dark-horses but a real chance for the tournament.

Down to predictions, going with my heart New Zealand will win the final, but my head says Australia will win. South Africa would be third on my list.

I'll pick Kane Williamson to be the top run-scorer and Mitchell Starc to be the top wicket taker.  I think there's no question this world cup will see the highest average run-rate, and few totals over 400.

Here's some more predictions (from The Guardian's panel).

Out of the Dust - Lead me through [Review]

I actually don't know how I came across Out of the Dust.  I have a feeling it was on a compilation I downloaded from Noisetrade.  Out of the Dust are a husband and wife duo, that remind me of 'All Sons and Daughters' and 'Jenny & Tyler'. Their music features beautiful harmonies, and brilliantly encouraging and challenging lyrics.

What has really spoken to me about their music is how honest it is. The album has six songs, which powerfully remind the listener that God is with us in our darkest nights guiding and leading us.  God is restoring us to himself and each other.

You can read the story of how God worked in their lives here, and their trust and reliance on God is clearly evident in their songs.  The songwriting is the clear highlight of the album.  Each song builds on that message. My favourite is 'How to Love', which is a prayer that God would teach them to love. My favourite line is  'Even though we're broken hope is rising // From humility // Hand-in-hand we face this we are not A strand of two but three // We will overcome this  // Love is never too lost to redeem'.

2014 Cricinfo Awards

I look forward to the Cricinfo Awards each year. The awards are a reminder of the standout individual performances through the year. Between six and ten performances are nominated for both batting and bowling in each format of the game. Here are my picks, you can see the full list here. I've picked one that's not on the list, (and I'd love to see add best performances in Women's international cricket to the list).

Test Batting:
Brendan McCallum - 302 (v India). For me, the easiest to pick. When he came in NZ were 3/52, in there second innings still 194 behind India, (they slipped to 5/94 soon after).  He became NZs first triple-century maker, sharing a record partnership with Watling along the way. I remember riding every ball on the fourth day while he moved 281 to 302.

Test Bowling
It'd be nice to pick Mark Craig the NZ off-spinner who took 7-94 against Pakistan to bring NZ back into the match, but Mitchell Johnson's spell against South Africa is probably the stand-out. The other honorable mention is the Bangladeshi Taijul Islam (who took 8 for 39 v Zimbabwe). These are the best figures by a Bangladeshi bowler and turned a very even test Bangladesh's way.

ODI Batting
No contest, Rohit Sharma who made 264 (173 balls) against Sri Lanka. Sharma scored more than Sri Lanka. Sharma is the only man to score two double-hundreds in international One-Day Cricket.

The honorable mention, is Corey Anderson, who made 131 (from 47 balls, the hundred came in 36 balls)

ODI Bowling
Binny's 6/4 would be my choice.  When he came on Bangladesh were 2/58 chasing 105. Binny picked off the batsman one by one.

T-20 Batting
Stephan Myburgh (Netherlands) for his 63 (off 23 balls). The Netherlands needed to make 190 in 14.2 overs to qualify for the World T20 Cup. With Myburgh on fire, they made them in 13.5 overs. Chantelle Edwards' 92* against Australia, would be my second pick.

T-20 Bowling
Rangana Herath's 5/3 enabled Sri Lanka to defend 120 against NZ at the World T20.

Covers - Christa Wells [EP] - Review

I was pretty excited when Christa Wells posted that she was preparing an EP of cover songs from the 1980s & 1990s. The 80s & 90s was when I really got into music, and the bands I discovered during those years became the soundtrack to my life.

What I was looking forward to in Christa's project was being reintroduced to some of my own 'friends', and being introduced to some of the 'friends' she has shared her journey with.

The cover art for the EP beautifully echoes this point. The cover created the impression of Christa taking you for a walk through her memories and pointing out a few key ones in the gallery. Christa was sharing the sooundtrack to parts of her life, so openly and honestly. 

The five songs on the EP are - Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me (The Smiths), Come as You Are (Nirvana), One (U2), Waiting for the Night (Depeche Mode), Tonight, Tonight (The Smashing Pumpkins). Prior to hearing the EP, I hadn't much from The Smiths or Depeche Mode before. I'll be checking more of their music out.

My highlight is the recording of 'One'. Just love the harmony between Christa and Kaleb Jones. As you will know from reading this blog I am a big U2 fan, and this certainly has to be one of the best U2 covers I've heard. Waiting for the Night, will become one of my new favourite songs.

I recommend taking the time to listen to the EP, through headphones, in the dark.

On the sporting field - 2014

The two standout moments from the year were Brendan McCallum’s innings of 302 against India. When he came in, NZ were in real trouble; his innings enabled NZ to save the game.

McCallum’s had a great year - his innings against Pakistan in November turned that test too. It’s hard to fault his leadership on (and off) the field too.  For mine, he'd captain the test team of the year.

It's easily the best year I can remember for NZ Cricket, since Hadlee and Crowe were playing. Hoping that its a good omen for the World Cup. Here's Cricinfo's take on NZ's year in cricket - which mentions a number of details I forgot. (Chloe Saltau's Test team of 2014 is pretty well on the money)

The second, was Auckland FC, who finished third in December’s World Club Championship (beating the Moroccan champions, the African champions, the Mexican champions, and a gallant 2-1 loss (after extra time) to the South American champions.  Maybe there are good things on the horizon for NZ soccer. ;)

The year ended with the tragic death of Phillip Hughes, Martin Crowe's comments are worthwhile reading.

Other notes on the year:

The Football World Cup --  Germany became the first European team to win the world cup in South America. A world cup of surprises, specifically with Brazil and defending champions Spain no doing so well. The first half of the Germany-Brazil game was unforgettable. On the flipside was how well Colombia, Chile did. (Australia were courageous… but still have work to do, and the Asian Cup will be a big test for them).

The Swans had a great season, the only sour note was their performance in the Grand Final. Hopefully better things in 2015.  The Rabbits won their first premiership in my life-time.  I can hardly believe it, but NSW won the State of Origin.  NZ’s performance in the Four Nations was pretty impressive (they are on a two game winning streak against the Kangaroos).

The Winter Olympics & Commonwealth games were held this year too, but I can’t remember much of either, aside from the fact that the Diamond's dominance over the Silver Ferns continued, and the NZ Seven's team lost ;) The Hockey World Cups were held this year too, with Netherlands winning the Women's and Australia the Men's. (As an aside, would love to see the Men's and Women's Football World Cups held simultaneously like for the Hockey).

On to 2015... 
Looking forward to a few World Cup’s next year, the Men’s Cricket World Cup, the Rugby Union World Cup , the Women’s Football World Cup and the Netball World Cup.; not to mention the AFL & NRL. At least the Swan's Grand Final loss is now last year, and April is not too far away ;)  On the NRL, all I want for 2015 is a consistently good Warriors' team.

It’s going to be a great year.