Sporting shorts

So, I know there's no Cricket on Free-To-Air TV today, but I was trying to work out if that meant there was no Big Bash match. To me, if there's going to be a home and away season then there needs to be more than one game a night. I think if we did that, we would drastically reduce the length of the season, and might mean we can have more Sheffield Shield rounds amongst the test cricket. But we will see I guess.

Other than the cricket- Djokovic beat Nadal in close to the best game of tennis I've seen Djokovic play. Will be interesting watching how the new wave of challengers go in the next few tournaments.

Other than than, not really got much on aside from the Super Bowl. Will be interesting if Brady can add to his legacy.

Sporting shorts..

So, this weekend sees the end of the Australian Open. It has been quite an interesting tournament. From a Australian point of view, there are still representatives 'alive' in the Legends Doubles (Mark Philipousis), Women's Doubles (Sam Stosur) and the Mixed Doubles (Astra Sharma and John-Patrick Smith), not to forget the wheelchair and junior tournaments.

Can someone tell me what the difference between the quad tournament and wheelchair tournament is.

I think after the weekend's finals the next big tennis event for the Men is Australia's Davis Cup Tie against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Adelaide over the first weekend of February. Will be interesting to see Australia's team for the tie.

The winner of the tie will join 11 other winners and the four countries that reached the semifinals this year (France, Croatia, United States and Spain) and two wildcards (Argentina and Great Britain) in the new 18-team season finale to be played from 18-24 November 2019.

Will be interesting to watch 

The Women's Federation Cup starts Feb 9-10, and Australia has been drawn to play the United States (Away).

I'm hoping to see Kvitova win the Women's Final tomorrow, and Djokovic end up winning the Men's Final (beating Lucas Pouille today, and Nadal on Sunday)...  but we'll see :)

Sporting shorts..

• I thought that it might be difficult to come up with a sporting shorts for this week, but it is not really; apparently there’s a game of Football (called the SuperBowl) in the US on Monday week between the Patriots and the Rams. The New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has played in this game nine times, which is more than some franchises have. I think both teams weren’t favoured to win their ‘Semi-Final’, and I’m not sure who are favourites so I might just try and watch it. I find NFL an interesting sport, it seems built for TV with so many breaks in play. I learned today that Brady was born in 1977 making him 41. I don’t know many sports where many players are still playing at 40, Brady isn’t just playing he’s among the best active quarterbacks.
• January is also the Australian Open, and Tennis. It has been a really great tournament on the court for Australia (we could do without the Davis Cup Feud). Barty is Australia’s last remaining player in the Men’s and Women’s draws, she plays Petra Kvitova in a Quarter Final tonight. The Men’s Quarter Finalists are Stefanos Tsitsipas (who just beat Roberto Bautista Agut to make the Semi-Final); Novak Djokovic (playing Kei Nishakori); Milos Raonic (playing Lucas Pouille) and tonight Rafa Nadal plays Frances Tiafoe. Given both my picks for the tournament are out in Federer and Kerber, I’ll quietly cheer for Barty and Nishakori.
• Onto Cricket, Cricinfo have just posted their nominees for the best performances in men’s test cricket for the year. Batting Nominees; Bowling Nominees. 
• I think my pick for the batting is Khawaja for his innings of 141 which helped saved the test match against Pakistan. An honourable mention would go to Mendis, who batted through the fourth day with Angelo Matthews to help Sri Lanka avoid defeat against New Zealand. Onto the best bowling performance, it’s hard to go past Yasir Shah who took 8/41 against New Zealand. Shah’s figures are the best since Stuart Broad’s 8/15 against Australia in 2015. While ultimately Pakistan didn’t win the test the figures helped Shah become the fastest man to 200 test wickets. An honourable mention would be Jasprit Bumrah (6/33) whose spell helped India win the Melbourne test and ultimately become the first team from the sub-continent to win a Test Series in Australia.
• The Socceroos won their round of 16 clash with Uzbekistan in a penalty shootout. Matt Ryan made two incredible saves. Will be interesting to see how they go in their next game.
• The Women’s AFL Season starts in a few weeks I’ll be hoping the competition is given air to breathe this season, especially with two new teams in the competition.

Sporting shorts

It's January, so it is time for tennis. The lead up tournaments are done and the Australian Open is about to start.

Tennis

• Needless to say I'm impressed with the form of De Minaur and Ash Barty. They have to be Australia's great hopes going into the Open.  De Minaur (winner) and Barty (runner-up) at the Sydney International. If I have read the draw right De Minaur faces a potential match-up with Nadal in the third round, and Barty (Seeded 15) may end up playing Caroline Wozniacki (last years' winner). 
• So who do I think will win.  The Women's tournament is hard to pick, especially seeing there has been a different winner for each of the last eight Grand Slam tournaments, and it seems the field is so even. 
• On the Men's side; of the last eight Grand Slam tournaments, Federer has won three, Nadal three, and Djokovic two. I think you'd be brave betting against one of them winning, but my heart would love to see Andy Murray win, especially seeing as he is getting close to the end of his career. As an aside, I'm saddened to hear of Murray's impending retirement. He is a gentleman both on and off the court. I admire how he has often spoken out about Women and their treatment in terms of scheduling and prize money. Appointing Amélie Mauresmo as his coach (from 2014-2016) also showed the value and esteem he has for women. 
•  I also admire him as a player - a triple grand slam winner, and winner of the last two Olympic tournaments.  A great achievement especially when you consider who he played against. 
• Back to my question - who do I think will win.  I'm going to pick Federer to win the Men's tournament; and Kerber to win the Women's tournament. 

Cricket

• I have to admit, it is sad that the One Day Series was not on TV today - it was a good win to Australia, with Handscomb (73*) and Jhye Richardson (4/26) the standouts for Australia; Sharma's 133 wasn't enough to get India home. I don't know much about Jhye Richardson, but he certainly bowled beautifully today.

Asian Cup

• Australia have split their first two games; a one-nil loss to Jordan was followed by a 3-0 win over Palestine. 
• Next up is Syria, and should they win, I think they will play Oman in the second round. 

My reading life

The year has started well book wise, I've managed to read four books through January so far. Going away has helped. This year, at least so far, I've been reading a lot of sports books.

• Gideon Haigh - Crossing the line
• Pete Sampras, with Peter Bobo - A Champion's Mind: Lessons from a Life in Tennis
• Dan Carter with Duncan Grieve - My Story

Haigh's book is a look at the culture of the Australian Cricket team in the lead-up to and following 'Sandpaper-gate' last year. I found it quite informative, even though it didn't really offer much in the way of solutions to improve the fortunes of the team on the field. Nothing in the team selected for Sri Lanka has clarified the philosophy the team selectors are taking. 

To me, the scheduling of the Sheffield Shield has to be looked at. It does seem that there are fewer players banging to the door to selection with bags full of wickets or runs. 

I'm certainly happier with the spirit the Australian team is now playing the game in, and also don't think good results are too far away. 

Pete Sampras, was one the first male tennis players I really took notice of.  I really loved how he played the game, how he conducted himself both on and off the court. His book is filled with great comments on some of his contemporaries and the younger players coming through as he ended his career. Along with Federer and Agassi, he is among my favourite male players to watch. 

I also enjoyed reading Dan Carter's book too - I'm not getting into the greatest of all time conversation, but I'll just say I enjoyed watching him play. He was a unique talent.  The book has certainly made me look forward to the start of the Rugby Season this year with the 'Super-Rugby' competition, Rugby Championship and World Cup to look forward to. 

Next on the list - is Paul Roos book 'Here it is'. The book is both a sporting memoir and a look at leadership. 

I am really taken with reading autobiographies, they give great insight into how people act and behave, and tell the stories behind events that have happened within my lifetime. Given I've moved to sports stars, these biographies are slightly less heavy :) 

Hard Choices / Becoming - Hilary Clinton & Michelle Obama

During my hospital stay this time around I slowly worked my way through Hilary Clinton’s book ‘Hard Choices’ which is a memoir detailing her time as US Secretary of State under former President Obama. I have to say after reading through the book my respect for her has grown immeasurably. She has the grace to admit she may have got some things wrong and has a remarkable ability to work across the aisle of US politics which may not have clearly been evident at the time.

It certainly reinforced my disappointment that she did not win the US Presidential Election. Funnily enough her book also reassured me a little about even with Trump in the Whitehouse there is hope good decisions can and will be made. Yes, I would probably sleep easier with Trump out of the Whitehouse, but the book served as a reminder there is lots of hope.

I’m now really looking forward to reading ‘What Happened’ which details her experience running for President in 2016, I’m sure it will leave me more disappointed thinking about what might have been had Ms Clinton been elected President. I’m intrigued as at this point there’s no clear idea as to who might challenge the presumptive nominee in President Trump. I think the Democrats have got to be very careful in how they approach the election and campaign over the course of 2019-2020.

The final book I read in 2018 was Michelle Obama’s Becoming. I certainly miss both her and her husband’s class from the White House. It was a great read detailing her life before and during her time as First Lady of the United States

Of course, closer to home we have our own election to look forward to. But for mine, both Labour and the Coalition have limited moral authority to govern, both are compromised by their treatment of refugees, but nothing like an actual election to cause the parties to come up with a narrative about who we are, where we are going and what we should look like as a nation.

I know it will concern some, but I’m leaning to vote Green, and most likely will be swayed from that by the other minor parties standing. I’ll certainly be writing to my local Liberal and Labour candidates once the election is called.

I’m equally concerned by our State Government especially when they can make reckless decisions about knocking down stadiums which are still fit for purpose.

2018 in review - Sport

Probably my last post reflecting on 2018, and the topic for this one is sport.

Cricket

• 2018 saw records set for the highest team totals in One Day International cricket. The New Zealand Women's team scored 490 against Ireland. The 490 included an unbeaten 232 from Amelia Kerr. Her 232 is the highest scored by a Women in One Day International Cricket. In the Men's game, England scored 481 against Australia in their One Day Series. As an aside, it seems we are seeing higher totals scored both batting first and chasing. Maybe it is the influence of Twenty 20 but we will see. 
• The BlackCaps had a great year, winning three test series - against England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. To me it is such a shame they don't play more Test Cricket. NZ's biggest and smallest victories (by runs) came during 2018. 
• Still on the topic of not enough Test Cricket, after the Women's Ashes I certainly felt the Women should play more Test Cricket. The other highlight from cricket during 2018 was Elyse Perry's double century in the Ashes test. Elyse is a star, and I'm certainly keen for my son and daughter to look up to her. 
• I find it hard to write about T20 because the matches and series just melt into each other. That said, congrats to Australia who won the T20 World Cup held this year. 
• A little on Australia, clearly a disappointing year not only in terms of results, but also in terms of how they've played. I am happy for Paine to have been elevated to captain, but it is frustrating watching him captain the side, letting the game drift, not prepared to try things from left field. With Warner and Smith out, he certainly needed to do something. Though with Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon I'd argue he has the best bowling attack in the world. South Africa did give me pause to reconsider, if they can have Steyn, Philander, Rabada and Olivier all on the field at the one time. 
• Hard to really argue with CricInfo's Test team of the year

AFL

• Was an interesting year, with Collingwood and West Coast making the Grand Final to everyone's surprise. 
• It's no secret, I am glad West Coast won, will be interesting to see what this year brings. Have we seen the end of the era of domination by Geelong, Hawthorn, Sydney? Can GWS actually live up to their potential. 

NRL

• Don't think the Warriors will make the eight, but time will tell. Shaun Johnson can be brilliant, but he's not consistent enough for me. Will be interesting to see who his replacement is. 

Other

• The Football World Cup was held in Russia, with France being the eventual winners.
• In tennis, it was a good year for Ash Barty and Alex de Minaur, and hoping we'll see good things from them during the Australian Open and throughout 2019. Not sure where Kyrgios and Tomic are at, but hopefully they'll be fit for the season. 
• Onto Rugby Union - while the All Blacks may have played and won more tests than anyone else in 2018; my team of the year is Ireland. Not just for their impressive win against the All Blacks, but the series win against Australia and the Six Nations Championship.  

Onto 2019

• Looking forward to 2019, and the Asian Cup Football tournament in January, the Cricket World Cup, the Rugby World Cup, and the Women's Football World Cup in June which Australia have an outside chance of winning are my highlights.