Waterlogged at the SCG - NSW v Victoria (Day One)

Today I had nothing to do, so thought I would head down with a couple of mates to the grand old Sydney Cricket Ground to watch some domestic cricket. The two combatents for this encounter, were the two traditional and oldest rivals in Australia, being the two first states and featuring the first ever Sheffield Shield competition (Victoria winning the first ever), so this match had some major signifigance. There was also the fact that the match featured over a dozen current and former Australian players.

Due to friends and train delays, unfortunately I didn't get to the ground until after lunch but in the play that I missed, Victoria were 2/79 at lunch, with Rob Quiney and Aaron Finch falling to Mitchell Starc and Mark Cameron respectively. Michael Hill and David Hussey set about repairing the innings, both passing their fifties and maiming Nathan Hauritz before Hill fell to a slips catch from Hughes off Shane Watsons bowling. Cameron White was the next man to take the long walk from the members pavillion but he would be tracking over his trail again, becoming Mitchell Starc's second victim., Victoria 4/152.

Andrew McDonald joined David Hussey at the crease, the latter taking senoirity and plundered the Blues attack to bring up his 39th first class hundred, filled with strokes all around the ground, making the blues chase leather. Not long after Hussey had passed the milestone, tea was called and play suspended due to a downpour at the SCG, ending Victoria's day on 4/211.

While the rain poured and poured, I had the chance to walk around and soak up some of the history of the ground, looking at the momuments erected for cricketing legends, rugby league and union also various other sports also having a hot dog, managing to spill the sauce all over myself but all in all it was a good day and leaves anticipation of what Day 2 will bring.

My Ashes XI

Team selection, it’s the hardest thing besides playing to do in any sport, there are millions of questions running through your mind, have I picked the right team? Is there a good balance of batting and bowling? Could I have picked a better player in position X

Currently if you talk to any Australian fans, they have failed in this regard, with the team slumping to three straight test defeats (1 vs. Pakistan and 2 vs. India) and have some batsmen *cough* Marcus North *cough out of form badly. Plus we’re leading into an Ashes series trying to regain the urn taken from us last year in England and I think If Australia picks this team; they’ll go close or even win the series down under.

Openers: Well there is no point in really changing something which is working 9 times of out of ten, that being the partnership between Shane Watson who has proven everything including this article writer wrong since his elevation to opener and Mr consistency Simon Katich who even with his unorthodox batting style has made him the rock of the Australia batting order. Together these two create a good combination that Australia will be hoping will get them off to a good start on a bouncy Brisbane wicket.

First Drop: Ricky Ponting has done the job well coming in at the first wicket, and I don’t think there is any need to change it for THIS series, Ricky might have his days numbered if he doesn’t perform with the bat during the Ashes. At his best, he is a beauty to watch and hopefully that is the Ricky we see and not the one who was scratching around in India and England.

Middle Order: This is the place where the wobbles begin for Australia; currently Australia’s middle order is Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Marcus North and Brad Haddin. If some early wickets fall, there is some vulnerability within these four batsmen. I’ll start with who is safe, Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin. Clarke is just having a lean run at the moment, averaging fewer than ten in India but he’ll come good and it should be at Brisbane fingers crossed. Haddin has been injured but Paine hasn’t put enough pressure on Haddin to force a change in this position. Haddin can come in at six and take the innings away from the opposition.

The two positions where I would change something is Michael Hussey who has been a great servant for the baggy green with a great average over the last few seasons but to prolong his career I’d make Hussey an ODI specialist where he can play a run a ball 70 to give Australia a big score. His replacement would be Usman Khawaja who has been piling on the runs in domestic cricket, only recently scoring 214 against South Australia. He’s been around the squad for the Pakistan test series and is ready for the rigours of test cricket.

As for Marcus North, it’s either rocks or diamonds for this guy. He may score a century in one innings, conversely his five centuries have come overseas and all these facts aren’t helping his cause to be picked in the Ashes. Sadly Marcus has had one chance too many and is paying for his form, hopefully this will lead him to score some runs for Western Australia. To replace Marcus, I’d find another young run-scorer George Bailey who has averaged in the forties for the last few Sheffield Shield seasons and has had a taste of Australian action in the T20 arena and would excel in the test match arena.

Bowlers: The bowling attack which has taken the field for Australia has been Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus. There has been word that Brisbane is going to be bouncy and hard, not being the domain for off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, so he may be omitted. Firstly I’ll state that if Johnson, Hilfenhaus and Bollinger are fit, they would be my three quicks for the first test. If one of those three isn’t fit, Clint McKay has played a few tests and his line and length could test the English batsman. 

Now Hauritz who struggled in India, ok he isn’t the first guy to go over to India and not come home with a bag of wickets but Nathan hasn’t done much to retain his position, amplified with all the press coverage on his bowling, though I’d persist with Nathan there aren’t many options knocking down the door, with Stephen Smith still raw.

Justin’s Ashes XI for Brisbane

1.       Shane Watson

2.       Simon Katich

3.       Ricky Ponting ©

4.       Michael Clarke

5.       Usman Khawaja

6.       George Bailey

7.       Brad Haddin

8.       Mitchell Johnson

9.       Nathan Hauritz

10.   Ben Hilfenhaus

11.   Doug Bollinger

Like usual if you want to praise, abuse or wonder why I haven’t picked your favourite player, you can hit up my twitter account @Dragonpunk12.

The diary of a Fantasy Football newbie

American Football or NFL, it's fanbase outside the Superbowl is mostly confined to small groups but I've found some people who are passionate about the game and their team. I've decided to jump into the deep end, and participate in a Fantasy NFL league, branching from my usual wheelhouse of NRL and Soccer fantasy also not being very good.

The first challenge for Reality Check Tech, is the draft, in real life, this is the day where all the fresh faced teenages from college found out where they are being shipped off to NFL teams, starting their long journey of being a pro footballer. In Fantasy terms, it's where the aforementioned group of fans, claw and fight for the players they want to fill out their rosters for the upcoming season.

Said draft is underway, with Reality Check Tech taking superbowl winning Quarterback Drew Brees in the first round, surprised he was on the board that long. The draft is on-going at the moment, so not much more to report back but this is the first entry of my entry into the colourful world of NFL Fantasy football.

Why the 2009 run was the worst thing to happen to Parramatta

"I think our fullback is learning. He wasn't good tonight in my opinion. Not many people will say it but he was off his game. I think he would have been frustrated at some of the decisions he made." That quote, I think sums up the Eels season thus far in 2010. obviously Daniel Anderson is refering to Parramatta's million dollar man Jarryd Hayne, who reflects how Parramatta are going, he is trying hard but the results aren't coming. Parramatta after 16 rounds of the NRL competition are sitting 10th on the ladder, with six wins and eight losses the latest being a 10-6 loss to the Brisbane Broncos.

Looking deeper though, what is happening out at Parramatta? Hayne admits "We're just not jelling. It's the coach's job ... it's for him to bring us together and to work that out." Uhh no Jarryd, you and your 16 mates are getting paid the big money especially yourself to produce results. The squad has only been strengthened from 2009, Justin Poore who was eating the metres like they were pies for the Dragons, Shane Shackleton who was doing well last year with their two losses being Kevin Kingston who was playing off the bench and Todd Lowrie who you couldn't say, was the secret to their success.

 In 2009, Parramatta fell agonisingly short of winning the grand final, so in 2010 they were expected to go that extra step and win. Their first game vs the St George Illawarra Dragons at home, with Dragons starting hooker Nathan Fien going down inside the first half, this all points to a Parramatta win right? St George held out and won 18 points to 12, thanks to two second half penalty goals. Ok they lost Shane Shackleton through the game but that game started the downward spirial for Parramatta.

They sprinkled in a few good performances with wins against Manly (via two forward passes), Souths in Hindy's record breaking game which led to a three week winning streak but that was where the wins ended for Parramatta. They have lost twice to the Sharks and just seem to have gone away from the gameplan which got them so far in 2009, or the belief that got them so far.

Looking through the stats on nrl.com, Parramatta are first in offloads with 239 but watching some Parramatta games, they are attempting these offloads but there is no one backing up, offloads from Hindmarsh and Cayless are falling harmlessly behind them. The forwards aren't making the metres, no one is bending back the line which is reflected in the stats being 11th in rum metres with 18933 besting teams who have either given up on 2010 already or have nothing to play for, so that is a major concern but one area coach Anderson an be proud of his team is they are 3rd best defensive side behind expelled Melbourne and table leading St George Illawarra Dragons.

Another problem is the superstar, superhuman, of course Jarryd Hayne who has been in the papers the last few days having a "rift" with coach Daniel Anderson. Hayne who after his superb run of form that led him to the 2009 Dally M, also earnt him a fat new contract with Parramatta for two million over four years, now this would lead you to think Hayne is a superstar, well to be honest he's played twelve really good games and scored a good origin try. Hayne is trying too hard this year, he comes into first reciever and kicks on last, tries his dance around defenders and his trademark chip for himself, none of which is coming off and giving pundits the opportunity to bash the "Haynetrain".

Although it isn't all just Hayne, the halves for Parramatta have to take some responsibility, Daniel Mortimer, Jeff Robson and Kris Keating have spent time in the halves for Parramatta and have been ineffective with Parramatta not scoring on two occasions and held to one try twice. This could be attributed to them trying the ad lib gameplan from last year and teams being wise to this fact but Parramatta don't have the natural halfback to fall back on to help create tries, leaving them in their current predicament. With Keating off the Bulldogs next year, a halfback should be high on Parramatta's priorities.

 Parramatta have had their byes and are on sixteen points, needing to win six of their last ten to make the finals series, this is achievable but would need a major turnaround from their last few performances and it would have to start this weekend over in New Zealand against the Warriors, who are coming off a last start victory verse the Roosters also missing fullback Jarryd Hayne which may help team unity.

I don't envy the position Daniel Anderson is in at the moment, and his future if Parramatta continue to lose, the fans will want answers and maybe Anderson's head after being the hero of last year.

Information sourced from:

www.nrl.com.au, www.parraeels.com.au and the daily telegraph.

Picture courtesy of Parramatta Eels and owned by them.

Monday Night Football Drinking Game

It's Monday you're tired from the weekend and returning to the office earlier that day, but it isn't all doom and gloom, Monday Night Football is on! Ryan Phelan, Gary Freedman, Gordon Tallis and Wayne Pearce take you through an hour of insight, previews and laughs using as many cliches as possible.

To help you through this hour long show and even the game, if your team isn't playing, even if they are and they're being pounded by Monday Night Specialists!
 
One Shot when:

• Laurie Daley says "There is a lot to like about (insert player here)"
• Another when he tries to sound smart
• Warren Smith exaggerates the current state of play
•  he also uses the phrase "Play from in front"
• Brandy rips into a player for one error
• Gordon Tallis looks down at his Big League magazine
• Gary Freeman mentions his fans all around Australia/New Zealand

Two Shots when:

•   Ryan Phelan calls a team "Monday Night Specialists"
•   Wayne Pearce uses a large word for no reason
•   The Video Referee takes more than three looks at a decision
•   The game to be played is described as a "Blockbuster"

Finish your drink when:

• Andy Raymond appears on screen
• Warren Smith uses an analogy
• A contenious penalty is given 
• The set of six segment begins
• If anything in said set of six makes you laugh
• MNF game features one of Manly, Parramatta and Canberra

That is the Monday Night Football drinking game, try it out, share your experiences and offer any additional rules you can think of. Contact me @DragonPunk12

Oh blogger i've neglected you.

It's been a while since I last updated this blog! I've been busy (well not really but shh) and trying to get a kick-start on my career in Journalism and it has, I've written a few articles for some university publications and the big one, done two articles thus far for TheBigTip: http://www.thebigtip.com.au/ discussing and dissecting each team every weekend and ranking them.

The latest one is for Round 8 and can be found here

http://www.thebigtip.com.au/league/85-opinion/382-the-champs-championship-rankings-round-8

Fell free to link me to your friends, slander me if i'm wrong or agree if i'm right.

Next post won't be a shill, I'm sorry to the 5 people that read this, next post will detail life in the last few months!

The long break

So i haven't updated this thing in ages, so i think it was due for a post. Now i have finished Uni for the year and now I have fooouuurrr months off (long time). To update you on what i've been doing in order:

• Uni
• Getting killed in COD and swearing
• job hunting
• killing all twilight fans
• being awesome

also it is my birthday soon, woop woop!! 19, man 2009 went so fast, i wish i was 17 turning 18 again that was such a good year but now turning 19, still single and no job, come and get it ladies :p

anyways just a quick how i am post, will update more this time i promise.