Cricket: Australia v South Africa: time to test the mettle

Dale Steyn has to be a threat come November (picture: Google)

Raise your hand if you’re excited for the summer of cricket to hit the shores of Australia.

If you did, then the first visitors won’t disappoint; the ever talented South Africa.

Three Twenty20s and five One-Day matches means no long form test matches, but Dale Steyn will come prepared.  So will Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers.

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EFL: Hungry Norwood sends Tigers running

Norwood players fend off a Balwyn attack at Bayswater (photo: Davis Harrigan)

In the biggest game of Eastern Football League action for the year, Norwood came out looking confident from the first bounce.

On a day where thousands from around the community, along with club supporters, media and players flocked to Bayswater Oval, the Wooders put on a spectacle, winning 14.16.100 to Balwyn’s 7.7.49.

After the traditional grand final pleasantries, including the presentation of the match ball, flown in by the Channel Nine News helicopter, Norwood took charge and never let up.

Cricket: Ryan Harris and Meg Lanning in the commentary box: fresh voices a welcome change

Meg Lanning at the Albert Ground (photo: Davis Harrigan)

No longer will the Channel Nine commentary box be an exclusive “boys club” this summer; at least, not for part of the season anyway.

Meg Lanning, Southern Stars and Victoria Spirit captain, might be 22, but she’s made so many inroads on the field that her recognition has skyrocketed. 

Cricket: Precedents or just another ban: the Ajmal saga

Saeed Ajmal in training (photo: Reuters/SMH website)

Was he a target? Is he another in a long line that will be banned? How will Pakistan go without him now?

These are all good questions that surround off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.  Banned by the International Cricket Council this week for throwing, after having been once cleared in 2009 of any illegal action, this ban is an eyebrow-raiser.  Yet, it could well set a precedent of future punishment.

My year with the EFL

Park Orchards and Silvan battle it out in the Div 4 Grand Final (photo: Davis Harrigan)

You might have seen quite the inundation of local footy posts on my blog this year; that’s because of my volunteer work with the Eastern Football League this season.

Having spent 2012 & 2013 building up something of a profile with AFL Victoria and covering state football, in many ways, a move to different pastures felt right.