CWC 2015: Australia v England – Aussies set to fire at home

Steve Smith in the ODI Tri-Series (photo: Getty Images)

(Read here for the same post on Infinity Cricket)

ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP: AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND

(Prediction: Australia. Both teams have talent, but Australia is putting it together with consistent performances)

AUSTRALIA

A home ground advantage in sport usually equates to visiting opponents being clinically beaten.

The way the Australians have prepared for the World Cup is ideal.  Back atop the ODI rankings, and a very convincing tri-series against England and India means their opponents need to watch out.

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BBL|04 delivered, sparkled, thrilled and excited: the moments of madness, records and big, big scores

Ben Rohrer takes a bouncer on the rise against Brisbane (photo: Davis Harrigan)

When the competition was a fledgling hatched from the egg, now all the way back in the 2011-2012 season, the criticism that a city-based team tournament wouldn’t work came from every which way.  Geoff Hutchison, writing for ABC show The Drum a little over three years ago, wrote that “At the Big Bash, anything goes.  Everything is great; but the cricket was secondary to everything else.”

Everything about it has gone upwards and onwards – not to stardom, but to a level where the fans are breaking ground crowd records, and the overseas imports have been stepped up a level.

Quiney works seagull magic as Stars burst into life

Peter Handscomb tees off on his way to 103 at the MCG (photo: Davis Harrigan)

The 33,580 fans that flocked to the MCG on Wednesday night went to see a Stars win – but they got a lesson in “bird handling” as well.

As the Stars – with much of the thanks to Peter Handscomb, who scored a career-defining and magnificent, unbeaten 103 – powered to a three wicket win after an early struggle, the entertainment, for a time, was front and centre on a seagull.

You cannot switch out new for old; cricket is no different

Steven Smith celebrates a century against India (photo: Getty Images)

After his first test in charge of the Australian test cricket team, Steven Smith showed poise, humour, tenacity, grit, and positivity.

Michael Clarke watched on from his home in Sydney, live tweeting his thoughts about the game.  The crowd and audience were glued to the action in earnest and suspense; more so after India were able to post a competitive total with the bat.

Beyond Realisation in 2014: What you will see

Melbourne‘s sporting precinct, November 2013 (photo mine)

Every year, sport evolves, and so does the coverage.

Athletes are subjected even more to the tiniest little misdoings or events they attend – there is no hiding from the media.  In turn, the intrusion can sometimes be too much.

Cricket: The Ashes: Emphasis on a whitewash

Steve Smith & Australia will look to continue their good form on Boxing Day (ESPN Cricinfo/Getty Images)

The message has been simple, if not roundabout: Australia needs to keep the foot on the gas until the end of the Sydney test.

With the fourth Ashes test starting tomorrow at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), England faces – metaphorically – a do or die battle to regain some pride. 

Cricket: Big Bash League: Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades: the keys

Stars v Renegades banner (Google Images)

In BBL|03, the Melbourne Stars slogan is: “all or nothing.”  Across the city in Docklands, the Melbourne Renegades want you to “get on red.”

Cricket: Players In Focus: Alastair Cook, Martin Guptill and Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle playing for the Sydney Thunder, Jan 2013 (photo mine)

Sports teams need leaders.  Whether it be a captain, or an experienced head, someone on the field needs to be able to take charge and encourage.

England captain Alastair Cook, New Zealand opener Martin Guptill and West Indian whirlwind Chris Gayle continue to light up stadiums around the world with powerful performances, and are three such players who are not only leaders for their team, but also their country.

Cook

Since taking over the test captaincy from Andrew Strauss in August of 2012, Cook immediately established himself as a captain who could also be tasked to perform at the top of the order.

AFL: MCG set alight as Bombers outclass Magpies

A jubilant Jobe Watson after his teams win (Source: AFL.com.au)

ANZAC Day once again provided a spectacular stage for football, and this time, the Bombers found something special in front of a huge crowd.

Red and black dominated the hallowed turf as Jobe Watson skippered an emotion-charged Essendon outfit to a romping 46 point victory over Collingwood on Thursday.

In fighting ANZAC spirit, Essendon small forward David Zaharakis ran rings around the Magpie defenders to finish with four outstanding goals and the ANZAC Day Medal, as Essendon triumphed 121-75.

With a huge 93,373 packed tightly into the MCG, it took 15 minutes of game time before the goal drought was broken by Zaharakis.  Calamity ensued for the majority of the first quarter, as no one properly cleared the ball away from the contests and stoppages, with plenty of kicks intercepted.  Kicking “yips” plagued the Magpies throughout the game, with Jarryd Blair registering the black and white army’s first goal five minutes out from quarter time.  Sitting high on the back of an Essendon pack, Blair reached with outstretched arms, before going back and calmly slotting the ball through the big sticks.

Cricket: Australia v Sri Lanka: Boxing Day Test Preview

Overview:

Momentum looks to be with the Australians heading to the MCG and the 2012 Boxing Day Test, after the Aussies found some spark to rout Sri Lanka on the final day in Hobart.

Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc, who both bowled more than 50 overs each in Hobart, were the catalysts for the turnaround in the final innings after Sri Lanka began to settle in.  Nathan Lyon, despite match figures of 2/133, bowled some superb tight lines to keep the Sri Lankans under pressure.