Songs of My Life #47 - Sunnyboys - Alone With You - 1981

Songs of My Life #47 - Sunnyboys - Alone With You

This got some airplay back in the day in 1981, and I still remember it being one of those songs when I was in 6th Class that I enjoyed.

It wasn't until some years later that I heard the two albums that were the real deal from the band, before they moved on their own paths and the band was only kept alive by various 'session' artists and Jeremy Oxley as the only original member.

What I like about it is its simplicity, and while it is from that Australian pub rock era, post-punk and all, it's not as frantic as some of those bands. It's almost gentle in its musical exposition, but that great rhythm riff underneath the vocals all the way through makes it entertaining and 'head bopping'. What a shame they couldn't keep it together and go on from this, and Jeremy Oxley's well publicised problems with schitzophrenia made this difficult (if you haven't seen it, watch this if you can: http://thesunnyboy.com.au/)

NRL Week 2: Are the Dogs Done Already?

Week 2, and already in trying to do my tips, I couldn't find a certain winner. All eight games seemed to be evenly matched, whether it was a weaker team getting the home ground advantage or just two teams on an even keel. Or, perhaps more likely, I just haven't got a clue when it comes to rugby league after 40+ years of watching and trying.

1. It was a game of dropped ball and strange options, but the Roosters vs Bulldogs game was a beauty, entertaining right to the very end. Still couldn't draw a crowd, which one can only assume will be a continuing problem with the Thursday night game, whoever is playing. The Bulldogs like last week had no passing or kicking game. The spine of hooker/halves/fullback is just not up to it. They are in real trouble. Josh Jackson was forced into the centres because of an injury and was a real liability. It didn't help the Bulldogs cause. The Roosters will be pleased with their victory over a team that should be a hell of a lot better than they are performing. They again tried to surrender a huge lead in the second half but again managed to hold on. the 28-24 win makes them 2-0, a much better feeling than the Dogs 0-2.
2. I didn't see the Warriors vs Storm game, played in atrocious conditions, though by tipping the Warriors I guess I put too much weight on their back. The 26-10 victory highlighted once again the excellent defense of the Storm team, and leaving opposition teams the job of having to try and find a way to penetrate it if they are to compete with them this season.
3. While everyone sprouted praise and amazement at yet another golden point game between the Broncos and the Cowboys, I was more interested in the refereeing decisions that allowed it to come to pass. For awhile it looked as though the Cowboys were copping revenge for last week with a penalty count at 5-1 and the leniency tending towards the Broncos. Then it looked as though it was time to even up that count (even wife Helen said this exact thing - "so do they just try and even up the penalties at the end of the match?"). The blatant forward pass that led to a Broncos try overshadowed two others I saw that were not even mentioned, simply because no try came from them. And if JT had kicked that field goal at the end of regular time with the two man screen set up to block the Broncos chasers, would it have been disallowed? In the end, I enjoyed the game but have trouble barracking for either team. A draw would have sufficed for me.
4. It had been almost 12 months since their last win, but after their impressive showing against the Warriors last week... surely this was the week for the Newcastle Knights. Well, it was, and it was a happy team, support crew and supporters who cheered them on at Newcastle to their 34-26 victory. Still, the Titans were cruelled by injury, spending almost half the game with only one man on the interchange bench and an inability to hold onto the ball at crucial times. Still, given the increasing drama around him, will the injury to Jarryd Hayne actually be a blessing?
5. After three tries in the first 12 minutes to lead 12-0, could anyone have predicted the collapse of the Sea Eagles? Losing to the Rabbitohs 38-18 after that start was just... awful. Truly terrible. And now two losses at home to start the season, where on earth do they go from here? An 8-3 penalty count against them again, and a 56-44 possession count against them. Souths made a remarkable turnaround from last week's thrashing which was almost as remarkable as how bad manly was.
6. For the first half of their match against Cronulla, the Raiders again seemed to be on the wrong side of every penalty and decision. This was evened up quickly in about three minutes before half time, but by then the damage appeared to be done. Cronulla just run roughshod over the Raiders in the second half as the game fell into their hands. Metres run, line breaks and offloads were all decisively in the Sharks favour. Again, after last week, who saw this coming?
7. It's good to know what happened to the Tigers and the Panthers last week. Obviously the Panthers just thought they had to turn up to beat the Dragons, and the Tigers really were just motivated to beat Robbie Farah. So, this week the Panthers knew they had to play, and the Tigers had no motivation whatsoever. What a rubbish effort from them. If Brooks and Moses are trying to sell themselves around for next season they are going the wrong way about it. The good news for the Tigers is that at least Bryce Cartwright looks to be out for a while with injury.
8. With Russell Packer doing a Martin Bella (look up 1994 Grand Final for reference), meaning the Dragons were on the back foot from the first minute, it seemed an unfair advantage by the end of the game. However, an enthusiastic young Eels team took their chances and ended up dominating in a 34-16 victory that halts the progress made by the Dragons in the first round, Somehow the Eels get a third away game in succession next week as well as a five day turnaround. That seems a tad unfair.

The end result for me? A great tipping card of 1 from 8. But more importantly, it showed that the results last week that may have appeared a surprise at the time (ie Tigers, Panthers) were rectified this week. This season's likely finalists have already showed their hand.

Songs of My Life #46 - The Offspring - The Kids Aren't Alright - 1998

Songs Of My Life #46

With the slow sinking in the west of the grunge element in the mid-1990's, the return of punk influenced alternative music made a rise. The Offspring had a run of four fairly brilliant albums in this time, flavoured with short sharp songs with short sharp messages.

While I got on board much earlier with the excellent 'Smash' album (like most of my generation) and the brilliant 'Ixnay on the Hombre', this song remains one of my favourites. Lyrically it is hard hitting, and musically it is fast and frantic and energetic, like their very best material is.

Cummins Selection Proves Selectors Don't Need the Sheffield Shield

So here we are again. Discussing the reasons - or lack thereof - behind the decisions of the Australian National Selection Panel (NSP). Not since the days of Andrew Hilditch's reign as Chairman of Selectors have we come across so many decisions that appear so baseless on form and so relying on other factors. We have reached a point where despite the overwhelming credentials of the four men who make up the NSP, the question has to be asked as to whether they are adequately performing their job to the standards that are expected of them.

The selection of Pat Cummins to replace Mitch Starc for the final two Tests in India goes against everything that should be a part of the natural selection process in regards to picking Test teams. And yes, I know I say this a lot, and I know I have absolutely nothing to back my claims that I know how the job should be done, and these four are obviously know their job. But this constant and consistent ignoring of any kind of form in first class cricket and the Sheffield Shield, which has been the proving ground for Australian cricket for 125 years, is just infuriating. If I was a first class cricketer at the moment, I would be furious, and I would be reconsidering what I was doing. It just doesn't seem to matter any more how many runs you make or wickets you take in our premier first class competition, because that is just being ignored. Completely. Because apart from Matt Renshaw and Pete Handscomb, every other player who seems to get a call up these days is getting judged on white ball form, and not red ball form. And it is a joke. I honestly don't care how much these four tell me "he's got talent" or "he's got that x factor" or "he can change a game in a session". Because that's all I'm hearing about why guys get selected. Whatever happened to "well, he's scored 2000 runs in the last two seasons at an average of 70. That's good form" or "He's taken 100 Shield wickets in the last three years at an average of 24 and a strike rate of 48. That's an impressive stat". Nope. It's got nothing to do with how many runs or wickets you have anymore, it's all about 'he can change the game in a session'. Of course, the fact that he's done that once or twice in fifty games doesn’t matter, just the fact that he CAN do it.

I sound cranky? You better damn well BELIEVE I'm cranky. Picking players in rep teams because they know your father or they saw you score 50 against their son's team or they bowled your son out happens in country cricket (the South Coast especially). It should NOT be the basis of selecting the national team, and this is getting really scary.

Mark Waugh has been especially cautious when speaking about Pat Cummins this summer. He has always spoken of the programme that has been set out for him, and each step has been carefully designed to ensure he doesn't break down again. All summer, as intimated by Waugh, it has happened as he said. There is no doubt he was being built up to play against England next summer. Now, out of the blue, that carefully prepared programme has been thrown out of the window.

Meanwhile, form bowlers around the country are left scratching their heads. I said this earlier, but it is worth mentioning again. This season, Chadd Sayers has taken 50 wickets at an average of 18.60. He is at the top of the wicket takers list this season in the Sheffield Shield. Last season, he took 32 wickets at an average of 27.78. That is a good form line. Also this season, Chris Tremain has taken 37 wickets at an average of 18.24. He is third on the wicket takers list this season in the Sheffield Shield. This week he also scored his maiden first class century. Last season, he took 36 wickets at an average of 21.05. That is a good form line. I watched Tremain bowl against NSW at the SCG in a Shield game in November on a surface not unlike what is being delivered in India. He was dangerous. Tall and quick. He wouldn't be out of place.

Neither has been chosen. How do they feel this afternoon? Disappointed? Gutted? Cheated? How about all three? Instead, a guy who is a very talented bowler but has played only one first class game in 6 years in suddenly on the plane to India, and given the record of this selection panel very likely to play his second Test match next week.

Like all Australians, I hope Cummins succeeds. If he plays I hope he gives the Indians curry. I'd be happy for the four members of the NSP to sledge me over social media if he does. Even though that will prove the NSP was right in many people's eyes, I still will not believe it justifies the complete ignorance of the form of the Sheffield Shield competition and its participants. Who is to say that Sayers or Tremain would not succeed in India? More importantly, would they play in front of Hazelwood and Bird anyway? Should Cummins?

Today the NSP with its four current members was reaffirmed for the forseeable future. Trevor Hohns becomes Chairman (again) and with Lehmann and Chappell will select the Test and ODI teams. Mark Waugh joins Lehmann as sole selectors for the T20 side. Why?! What reasons can there be that we have one member of the panel who ONLY selects the T20 team, a team that plays half a dozen games a year?! This is madness, completely and utterly.

Sadly, I don't think this is the end of my ranting over selections in the Australian Test team, rightly or wrongly. We have tough times ahead by the feel, and the only people who have the ability to change that, but will accept no responsibility for their actions, is the NSP.

Starc Injury to Cause Selection Consternation

JUST IN: Aussies rocked by Mitchell Starc injury bombshell: https://t.co/PjkWihXGlj #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/YPKttsuWfd

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) March 10, 2017

Just so this is out there before the actual decision is made - there are only two possible options for the National Selection Panel (NSP) to make when it comes to who is going to replace Mitchell Starc in India.

No, it is not Pat Cummins and it is not James Pattinson.

This season, Chadd Sayers has taken 50 wickets at an average of 18.60. He is at the top of the wicket takers list this season in the Sheffield Shield. Last season, he took 32 wickets at an average of 27.78. That is a good form line.

This season, Chris Tremain has taken 37 wickets at an average of 18.24. He is third on the wicket takers list this season in the Sheffield Shield. This week he also scored his maiden first class century. Last season, he took 36 wickets at an average of 21.05. That is a good form line.
I watched Tremain bowl against NSW at the SCG in a Shield game in November on a surface not unlike what is being delivered in India. He was dangerous. Tall and quick. He wouldn't be out of place.

One of these bowlers must be the choice to go to India. Why risk either Cummins or Pattinson for the sake of two Tests. Their aim must surely be to be ready for next season's Ashes contest. Take either Sayers or Tremain, and give them the chance to be around the squad and experience Test cricket.

*now waits patiently for NSP to completely fuck up another selection call*

Songs of My Life #45 - Anthrax - Only - 1993

Songs of My Life #45 - Anthrax - Only.

When it was announced that Joey Belladonna was leaving Anthrax, I admit I was concerned about what the future of the band held. John Bush was brought in on lead vocals, whose work with Armored Saint at that time I hadn't heard. However, how was he going to fit into Joey's shoes, and could the band continue the heights they had with their previous albums.

My word yes they could.

This was the lead single from the album Sound of White Noise, and when this came out I was blown away. John didn't have the high pitched notes that Joey did, but he brought a different kind of heavy to the mix, and the songs as written were just perfect for him.
"Only" has it all. The great rhythmic drumming from Charlie Benante, that sensational bass line from Frankie Bello, the awesome riffing from Dan Spitz and Scott Ian, and the introduction of Bush as vocalist.

Yes this was a change in style from the band, no doubt partly to do with the grunge element that was seeping into metal at that point in history and also to accommodate the difference in style of Bush's vocals, but I still love this album, and I love this song.

Selection Idiosyncrasies Haunt Australia's Chances

The Mitchell Marsh fiasco, and the selection bungle that followed, is as much to be concerned about as any of this other childish back and forth in regards to the DRS controversy still being played out in India. It is much more at the heart of what still cruels Australian cricket in their hope to return to world dominance.

Mitch Marsh was chosen for the tour to India, more on previously identified talent than performance. He wasn’t the only one (yes I’m looking at you Glenn Maxwell), but his selection came further under the microscope this week, when he was sent home from the tour with a damaged shoulder. Yes, this is apparently the same shoulder that was injured during the January ODI series against Pakistan that meant he was under a cloud to tour. Something that was never mentioned again until the recent Test finished. This surely raises the question as to whether he was fully fit at any time to perform the duties asked of him as an all-rounder in the Test team. As it was, he bowled a total of five overs in two matches. What would have happened had he had to shoulder (no pun intended) a larger burden with the ball? Would he have been able to do it? And if he didn’t would the support staff or selectors have taken the blame for that? It seems a rather big risk to make, given that he hasn’t been contributing anything worthwhile with the bat. Can the selectors fully justify the decision to play Marsh at all, let alone if he is carrying an injury? It is yet another example of the mixed messages the panel is sending to players.

And it continued with the decision to send Marcus Stoinis as Marsh’s replacement in the squad.

No one can disparage what Marcus Stoinis did in that one ODI innings in New Zealand. It was a terrific knock, which fell just short of leading Australia to victory. It should be noted however that it was played without pressure on his back, as the unlikelihood of a victory allowed him to free his arms and swing hard. The boundaries were also very VERY short, such that even if he hadn’t been striking the ball so well, they would have managed to clear the boundary. The wicket was also flat and the white balls were no longer swinging. Everything was in his favour – and he took it, admirably – but the conditions are nothing like he will face in first class cricket, and certainly not in a Test series in India.

This is where Australia’s selection policy must one again be brought to bear. The figures as presented by Brydon Coverdale are significant.

2016-17 Shield runs: Henriques 659 at 65.90, Cartwright 520 at 37.14, Wildermuth 501 at 35.78, Stoinis 172 at 15.63

Australia pick Stoinis.

— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) March 8, 2017

And again, when Chairman Trevor Hohns came out and said that the selectors went for whom they considered the strongest bowler, Brydon was on board again with a logical response.

Australia have taken 40 wickets in two Tests, Marsh bowled 5 overs in total and there's an 8-day rest between Tests. But yeah nevermind. https://t.co/iTkD1SO1qe

— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) March 9, 2017

Which poses the question once again – why are players being chosen in Test squads on form in shorter form cricket or on past form and not current form in first class cricket?

George Bailey was chosen for the 2013/14 Ashes series on the back of scoring a thousand runs on the concrete roads and small boundaries that make up an ODI tour of India. Everyone likes George. He’s the kid who is always smiling and you really want to succeed, but just never quite makes it. And he smiled all the way through that five Test whitewash on home soil. Yet by the end of the series it was shown that his feasting of attacks against deliveries that are gun-barrel straight on flat decks wasn’t able to be transferred to the Test arena, despite his crowd pleasing effort in taking 28 runs off one James Anderson over in Perth – perhaps his most memorable innings. But the experiment of picking a player on one day form came to an inevitable end.
Other players have come and gone in the same fashion for pretty much the same results. Glenn Maxwell has been tried before, and within a week we will likely see him tried again. Xavier Doherty couldn’t convert one day frugalness to Test match success. Ditto Michael Beer. James Faulkner got one Test as a fill in and hasn’t threatened since. Any number of other players could be put forward as examples. Let’s face it – how did Sam Haezlett get chosen on that ODI tour of New Zealand? And how does Usman Khawaja go from averaging 50 in the home series Tests to missing out in India? Stoinis may not play a Test in India, and no one doubts his credentials, but surely form, and the CORRECT form, should be the leading category in selection in the national team.

The selection bungles came thick and fast in the recently completed home series as well. Joe Burns couldn’t regain his place at the top of the order for the first Test against South Africa. He was brought in to replace the injured Shaun Marsh in Hobart, and was wiped out like the rest of the team in that shambles of a Test match, before being shown the door once again. Likewise Joe Mennie and Callum Ferguson. Mennie had form from the previous season on his side, and yet after one Test where he bowled in one innings he was immediately discarded like a piece of rotten cheese. And Ferguson was chosen as much for his maturity and past record as he was for anything else resembling current red ball form. His two innings both ended badly, and again like Mennie he wound up on the garbage heap. Whatever happened to giving a player a chance to find his feet? If every player in history was treated the same way… we’d have lost some greats. It was confusing and abhorrent to watchers and supporters, let alone what the players thought about it. Chadd Sayers kept getting picked in the 12, and then staying as 12th Man. Given his season in first class cricket, surely his form warranted a chance on the field. Hilton Cartwright was chosen out of the blue in both the ODI team and the Test team. He finally got a chance in the final Test as the all-rounder to help burden the load of the bowlers, and got four overs while scoring a respectable 37 with the bat. Not good enough to go to India though, even as a replacement for the man who replaced him in the team. What the hell is going on?!?

Then take the selections after this, for the Adelaide Test against South Africa. The selectors chose Matthew Renshaw, Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson to debut. Renshaw was green, but was averaging 45 in first class cricket, and came off a century and a half century in the Shield game against NSW. He has since proven to be worth his weight in gold. Handscomb had scored a double century against NSW as part of his season tally. He too has been a standout. Both of these players were chosen ON form and IN form. Maddinson’s form was shaky, averaging in the low 30’s, while the man who everyone (well, I did) thought would be selected was Kurtis Patterson, who was also IN form and was averaging in the low 40’s. Maddinson was unable to do what his other two debutants did and score runs immediately, though perhaps circumstances could be mentioned. What should be mentioned was that the selectors gave him THREE Tests (not ONE) to find his feet. When he was unable to do so, he was moved aside for Cartwright to get his opportunity. Maddinson has since gone through a publically tough time following his sacking, though he has now returned to first class cricket, hopefully a better cricketer who will get another chance down the line. One wonder though what would have happened had Patterson been given his chance, ON form and IN form. Maybe we would already have our number six established in the Test team, and wouldn’t even be speaking of this.

And let’s not forget the wicket keeper. Peter Nevill was unceremoniously sacked as keeper after Hobart, with his batting cited as the reason for his being dropped. There was no one who challenged him as being the best keeper in the country, yet now he wasn’t good enough to be in the Australian team. Matthew Wade was reinstated. Wade was generally regarded as the ‘least confident’ keeper in the country. Yes, I should have written ‘worst’. But his batting was what got him back into the team.
When he was dropped, Nevill was averaging 22.28 in Test cricket. This season in the Sheffield Shield he has scored 529 runs at 58.77. When Wade was chosen again, he was averaging less than 20 in Shield cricket. Since his return to the Test team he has scored 118 runs at an average of 14.75. he has also averaged at least one missed chance with the gloves per Test. And yet, there appears no pressure on his position. Indeed, it appears he will be offered one of the highest contracts by Cricket Australia for the next season. This is Selection Criteria Gone Mad.

What is the point of all of this? It is to highlight the inconsistencies in the selection of players for the national team, and it continues with Marsh’s injury and Stoinis being selected over other candidates. It will come again if (when) Glenn Maxwell plays in the 3rd Test, when Darren Lehmann was quoted just three months ago as saying “how can you select someone in the Test team who hasn’t scored a century in over two years?” Well, it’s more than two years now, and he still hasn’t scored a century. But he’s on this tour, and probably about to get another Test cap. If he does, then you can probably expect to hear more from me then.
It is a new world for cricket. Players look to be selected more on instinct and potential than they ever have before. Some players seem to get a hundred chances to perform while others are cast aside after barely a fleeting glance. It can’t be a good way to instil confidence in the teams that are affected if players are always looking over their shoulder the second they get selected. I know it’s easy to say being an armchair critic, but ask Mitch Marsh and Peter Nevill how they feel about their respective selection stories and I think you will find where the truth lies.

Songs of My Life #44 - Ronnie James Dio & Yngwie Malmsteen - Dream On - 1999

Songs of My Life #44 - Ronnie James Dio & Yngwie Malmsteen - Dream On.

I mentioned some time ago, when using "Walk This Way" as one of the Songs of My Life, that I don't particularly like Aerosmith the band; that I didn't mind some of their songs, but overall I just wasn't a fan. But - I did like the version of their song they did with Run DMC, for the reasons I stated then (you'll have to go into the archives to find that if you want further information).

Here is an even better example. "Dream On" is an average Aerosmith song. Find it and listen to it, and I'm sure you'll think 'meh'. I always did. And then this cover version was recorded for an Aerosmith tribute album, and life changed.

I'm happy to admit here that RJD is my hero. He is the greatest vocalist ever, bar none, to my ears and eyes. Yngwie is one of the finest guitarists ever, period. And here they both are, together on this unbelievably brilliant version of this usually drab song. But listen to this version. Listen to the emotion Dio brings to the table, perfectly emotive at the exact right points of the song. And then Yngwie masters the usually boring guitar riffs and solo into something magical and awesome. Together, they have made this a song for the ages, the perfect scenario of a cover version totally crapping all over the original. Yes, the Aerosmith boys laid the bones of the song, but it is Dio and Yngwie who make it a song. Still brilliant today \m/

Songs of My Life #43 - Foo Fighters - Everlong - 1997

Songs of My Life #43 - Foo Fighters - Everlong.

Out of the ashes of Nirvana came Foo Fighters, with Dave Grohl emerging from behind the drum kit to be the frontman and guitarist in what he labelled as wanting to be a 'loud guitar band'. What it became was a phenomenon, coming from the eponymously titled debut album on which Dave wrote and played every instrument, to the amazing follow up The Colour and the Shape, which would rank very highly in my Best Albums of All Time list.

Through the many other brilliant and varied tracks on the album, this has always been the stand out. "Everlong" is a genius track, from the mellow opening into the raucous guitar driven by the amazing 16/4 drum beat and the heartfelt lyrics throughout. Along with the terrific film clip - another in the long list of great clips the band does - this song is as powerful 20 years later (and that in itself is ridiculous, that this album is twenty years old!) as it was when it was released.

* Note: "Hey, Johnny Park!" does run a very close second. Awesome track.

India Squares Series as Old Frailties Return

In a somewhat disappointing development – unless you are Indian – the Australian cricket team managed to slip back into the status quo in regards to their batting on the sub-continent, unable to chase down 189 in the fourth innings for victory in the 2nd Test. The surface played its part, but not to the extent that it dictated the match. The bowling was good, but not great. In the end, the nervy prodding bats of the Australians accounted for more wickets than anything else.

1. At the start of play, Australia would have accepted the 187 lead they conceded to India. It was more than they would have liked to be chasing, but probably less than they could have been, had it not been for the fire from Starc and Hazlewood in dismissing the middle and lower order. Hazlewood’s six wickets was another great effort from an ever improving bowler, while Starc’s burst with the new ball was as erratic as ever but produced the initial breakthroughs that started the final push.
2. Like the first innings, partnerships were always going to be the key to an Australian victory. A little over 20 for each wicket would win them the game, but reality was that 40 for each of the first five wickets was needed, and not to rely on the tail to make up any difference. In the end, Australia did the former almost perfectly, losing wickets at 22, 42, 67, 74 and 101. However, with the last five falling for just 11 runs, it showed once again that Australia’s top order needs to do more if they are to stay in this series over the next two Tests.
3. Once Warner had burned one of the referrals it was always going to be tough on the next person to use one. If they were wrong and wasted that final precious referral, and later on it could have saved someone, the pressure brought to bear would have been enormous. It ended up costing Shaun Marsh his wicket, when he and Smith were unable to bring themselves to refer his LBW decision. The fact he offered no shot didn’t help his cause, and the batsmen went with the umpire. Unfortunately, the decision was possibly the worst one made by the umpires for the whole Test, and the ball was missing the stumps by quite a margin. The question that will always be asked is would a referral have changed the course of this match? If Marsh had stayed, and Australia remained at 2/67, how deep could they have taken it? Given the batting that followed these two, the question probably remains moot.
4. The flashpoint has come, with Kohli accusing the Australians of cheating in regards to referrals. It’s a long bow to draw, but there is little doubt Smith looked to the dressing room following the shooter he received in front of the stumps to be dismissed LBW. It is against the rules to do so, and Nigel Llong moved immediately as Smith turned his gaze to indicate that was it and no referral could be made. Good umpiring. Kohli came up and made his scene once again, visibly making himself seen by all Indians as the one running the show in the middle. He has been actively doing it all Test match, ensuring everyone knows who is in charge in this series. They have a right to be incensed at any perceived help the opposition may be getting in this regard from the dressing room. Kohli's suggestion that Australia has been systematic in rotting the DRS has as much evidence to back it up as anything Donald Trump says. If it was the case, then surely the Aussies would have been looking for help from the dressing sheds in regards to Shaun Marsh's LBW. It's rubbish Kohli you corkhead. But let the umpires deal with it.
5. While Smith underplayed this and all other incidents, Kohli in his press conference decided to go the other way, inflaming it all and making sure everyone knew that once again it was the Australians who are the cause and root of all evil. No one believes the Aussies are angels, but I think we can see positive proof that they are not acting alone. There is no doubt he is doing this to unite team and country. He’s done it too. How he handles himself for the rest of the series will be interesting.
6. Australia have only one reserve batsman in their team, but will he play next Test? Surely the Mitchell Marsh experiment has expired. He has bowled 5 overs in this Test, and scored 13 runs. Australia needs a specialist batsman in the team in order to score the runs required to give the bowlers their chance to win. Usman Khawaja was rather unfortunately cast aside prior to the 1st Test, and surely should be reinstated, but I really don't think you can play him and Shaun Marsh in the same batting line up. However, if you have that same bad feeling that I do, it would not surprise to see Glenn Maxwell batting at 6 in the 3rd Test. Not that this alone will save Australia. Warner is still all at sea against Ashwin and Jadeja. Handscomb looks confident against the spin but is unable to break free after making a start, and both he and Renshaw seem to get themselves out rather than the bowlers doing that job. There are still battles to be won within that top order.
7. I could speak about Matthew Wade, but what is the point when he is the only option Australia will use.

The positive at this point of the tour is that most of us expected it would be 2-0 India, whereas the series is level with two Tests to play. India will now be confident of rolling on, arrogantly believing they are a better outfit in these conditions. They’re right of course. Australia needs to tweak its team slightly, but again must find a way to break free of the bowling. It was always going to be the team’s toughest task in this series, scoring enough runs to win. Batting first is such an advantage too that if Smith can win the remaining two tosses then perhaps it could be the advantage the team needs.

Songs of My Life #42 - Nirvana - Lithium - 1991

Nirvana touched everyone when they first forced their way onto the scene. That's not to say that everyone liked them, or thought they were talented, or thought their music was worth listening to. But everyone was aware of them, and it was probably the first time since Michael Jackson's burgeoning solo career that an artists had done that, worldwide, to the whole population.

They were the anointed frontrunners of what became known as the Seattle scene, and whether you consider Kurt Cobain a genius or as someone who tapped his own distorted and tortured personality to write his songs, they were unique. While the world went made for "Smells Like Teen Spirit" it was "Lithium" that was my favourite from the album Nevermind. I loved the bass line, the quiet into the over-the-top raucousness, and Dave Grohl's hair. It was the song that tied the rest together for me.

I thought about half of Nirvana's songs were worthy of multiple and constant listening, and the other half fairly average fair. When Cobain moved on it was probably a good thing for his music, as Nirvana's legacy will remain untarnished. It also allowed Grohl to start Foo Fighters, which has become a far greater band than Nirvana ever could have.

India Finds Its Feet to Take Control in 2nd Test

It has taken until the sixth playing day of the series, but finally India has put itself into a position of strength, negotiating a dodgy surface through the late afternoon to have a handy lead with wickets still in hand, and the advantage of not having to bat last.

1. Australia’s tail battled hard during the morning session, but the dismissal of Starc and Wade within an over brought the innings to an end with the tourists lead standing at 87. That number is never a good one, but in this match it was a vital statistic.
2. One still wonders why Kohli stuck with Ashwin for so many overs, and handed Jadeja less than half of those? Ashwin’s 49 overs brought figures of 2/84 while Jadeja’s 22 brought 6/63. Yes, Jadeja took down the tail in quick succession to inflate those figures, but apart from Warner it was the left armer who picked up the top order wickets. Ashwin’s frugalness with runs helped to force the issue with Australia, and the pairing of Ishant and Yadav bowled wonderfully well, but one wonders would a lead have been achievable if Jadeja had been given a bit more leeway. Easy to say from the lounge chair.
3. India predictably went hard early to erase the deficit, and with their own share of luck managed to do so. They hit the lead for the loss of two wickets, surely something they would have happily accepted on starting the innings. Whereas the Indian seamers had been tidy but perhaps too wide of the stumps to get full measure for their efforts, Australia’s pace duo failed to take in those lessons, and also found themselves too wide of the mark. This allowed the freedom for deliveries to race through the field – middle and edged. As such the quick flow eased the early pressure on the batsmen.
4. Australia missed some chances here, where in Pune they seemed to snaffle everything. Pujara was missed twice, both extremely tough chances early on, but they now look costly. Wade missed another chance, which no doubt the team spin doctors will put down to the tough conditions rather than the average skills of the keeper. Amongst this, Smith took another screamer, this time at slip to dismiss Rahul. Whether it is enough to offset the tough chances missed is yet to be determined.
5. Virat Kohli. Now let’s say this straight up. He was unfortunate to be given out by Nigel Llong LBW in the first instance, with bat prominent in the mix of pads. He was then unfortunate that third umpire Kettleborough felt there was insufficient evidence available to overturn the decision. To the letter of the law, this was correct. But honestly, does anyone really think that this ‘pad first, bat second, you are out’ law is a good one? If you took the pad away in this instance, surely the ball hits bat. In other instances if the ball hits pad and then deflects to hit bat, and if the pad were to be taken away then the ball would NOT hit the bat – I can get on board with that. And of course, if Llong had gone the other way, and Australia had reviewed, it would have remained not out. Would anyone have really complained about that? Yes, Kohli was unlucky and technology did not resolve the issue. To me it looked not out, and if an Australian had been given out in that way I’d had been livid. But anyway – piss off Kohli.
6. Pujara and Rahane have done the job India needed once erasing the deficit. They have battled and scrapped and forced each run, knowing each one of those runs is one Australia now has to find. It was tough, grinding cricket, and Australia’s bowlers, for the first time this series, started trying too hard to get wickets instead of bowling to plans to execute those wickets. They began looking at the increasing lead, and went harder to get wickets, rather than try and ignore the scoreboard and bowl to plans. That will need to change today if they are to stay in this match.

India leads by 126 runs with 6 wickets still in hand. While some will suggest the match is still at an even keel, the scales have tipped inexorably in India’s favour. Whatever their lead ends up being from this point, it will be a mountainous task for the Australian batsmen. Whereas their cautious play in the first innings was admirable under the circumstances, batting the same way in the second innings will play right into India’s hands. They will need to be positive, and keep the runs ticking over, because sooner or later the surface will come into play to try and extricate their innings. In many eyes India already have enough, but will be eyeing a 200 lead as their minimum. From there, it will take some special innings from the Australians to retain their series lead come Wednesday.

India Plays Aggression Card as Aussies Dig In

It’s a tough old time going on in Bengaluru, where the sleeping Indian giant was forced to wake up and try and take the upper hand against an Australian team that is creating more of a fight in this series than anyone thought imaginable. Especially the Indians themselves. And so the stakes were raised in an effort to change the course of proceedings.

1. For all the reports suggesting that this pitch would not be doctored as was the one in Pune, it looks like it has all been a basket of falsities. The surface here at Bengaluru mightn’t be turning as violently as it did during the 1st Test, but it sure is changeable vertically. In the first session alone, at least four deliveries from Ishant and Yadav practically ran along the ground, getting ankle high. This is in the fourth session of the match that is supposed to extend to fifteen sessions. The Indians constantly threw their hands to their heads in anguish at not getting through the batsmen with this variable bounce, but how will their batsmen feel if (when) they are dismissed in such a way? They celebrated Mitch Marsh’s wicket with a shooter as though the bowling was the winner. I wonder how they will react if it happens to one of their own today. The surface is a disgrace, but once again nothing will be done about it because it produces ‘good Test cricket’. That’s fine on days four and five. Not day two.
2. The niggling (read sledging) was turned up today, and it was India who forced the issue. There was no doubt from the first ball that their intent was to get under the Australian players skin. That’s all fine, certainly if you listen to the ex-players in the commentary box. But where is the parity? The second Australia go down this kind of path they are lambasted by the media. No one in the media has breathed a bad word about this yet. All I’m after is consistency. I don’t like the way Australia bullies opponents in this way, and am all for it being brought to bear when it goes over the top. As long as the same is the case of other nations then there should be no problem.
3. India’s use of the DRS continues to astound. They blew three reviews yesterday that were not even close to being out, and complained every time their appeals were turned down by the umpires. In the heat of this environment, both Illingworth and Llong have been superb, unflappable. Shaun Marsh was plumb LBW to Ishant, but no ball was called, and the video proved it to be correct. Wonderful decision. Then an obvious inside edge was missed or ignored by India who reviewed the not out LBW decision. Wasted review one. Then Ashwin was adamant that Wade got a glove to a ball to first slip, and the review again proved the umpire correct. India once again have no reviews left until the end of the innings. Ludicrous, and possibly significant.
4. More important than any individual’s score yesterday was the partnerships. Half a dozen partnerships of 50 would get Australia to 300. They didn’t but most were significant – 52, 30, 52, 26, 3, 57, 17*. There has been no roll on of wickets, denying India the momentum they crave. It has gotten Australia a lead of 48 valuable runs. They need to double that somehow, but yesterday’s effort was of grit and determination, something we haven’t seen from an Australian team in this situation in some time.
5. Matthew Renshaw. Another dogged half century, most of the time with a smile on his face. He fought hard, and wasn’t perfect, but just kept fighting hard. It is fantastic to watch. His only downfall at the moment is when his concentration does snap. In Brisbane and Melbourne against Pakistan, and in the First Test as well, out trying to take down a spinner. It looks as though he decides he is going to take the spinner out of the attack, and he’s not going to stop until he succeeds – or fails. It was great bowling from Jadeja, completely out=thought his younger opponent. Renshaw will only learns from this, but he had done his job again.
6. Cometh the hour. Shaun Marsh was handpicked for this tour for just the situation he walked into. Two wickets down, he was the one to guide the middle order through the rough and make sure it didn’t collapse. And he succeeded here where he failed in Pune, with 138 runs added for four wickets before he fell. It wasn’t pretty, and he saw through reviews and no balls, but he looked the most in control of the Australian batsmen. It’s a job he will have to continue in the second innings if Australia is to win this Test.
7. Wade and Starc. How important is their duet going to be this afternoon? If they can both get away they may get the fifty extra runs Australia craves – or more! But let’s not be greedy, let’s get that 100 lead and see what we can do with it. Matthew Wade is so overdue for runs. Let’s hope he cashes in today.
8. Did anyone else feel dirty about putting our hopes in Marsh and Wade yesterday? It felt so unnatural after bagging them for weeks/months/years. Still, it is the lesser of two evils, the other being India succeeding in this Test.
9. Ishant and Yadav bowled brilliantly yesterday, with the only possible error being they didn’t bowl at the stumps enough. With the variable bounce in play, surely targeting the stumps was their best form of attack. Surely they will learn from this.
10. Ashwin got Warner yesterday with a beauty, and then finished with 1/75 from 41 overs. His tactics have again been questionable, bowling consistently outside the leg stump to the left handers. On a dodgy wicket, surely around the wicket, attacking the stumps, and using the variable spin and bounce to your advantage would have been a better option. Not that I’m complaining.

Yesterday was the most important day in this series so far. Still, before that the first day of the Test was. And now, Day Three becomes the most important day of the series so far. Australia’s eventual lead will dictate just how difficult India’s task is, which in turn will dictate how difficult Australia’s task is. The surface will be all encompassing, and the will of the bowlers, batsmen and fielders at critical mass. This Test has so much more ahead for the spectator. We couldn’t have wished for a more exciting and nerve racking series.

NRL Round 1: WTF Did Inglis Stay on the Field?!?

What did we learn from Week 1 of the NRL? It's far too early to make generalisations about teams chance for the entire year... well, no, not for me it isn't. In fact it is quite easy. If it wasn't I wouldn't be doing it would I?

1. It's going to be a long year for the Sharks. It is tough to face up without stars from last year, but it was enough to show they can't win again this season. Perhaps it won't be a disaster, but if they finish in the top eight this season it will only be because others teams have not improved when they should have. Broncos won't have completely shaken their critics, but their defensive effort on Thursday will allow their supporters to breathe a sigh of relief. If they can make Lang Park their fortress, then away victories like the 26-18 win over the Sharks will get them to the pointy end of the season.
2. The Bulldogs passing and kicking was deplorable in their loss to Melbourne. Yes it was wet but they were bad before the rain hit. If they weren't chasing Keiran Foran next year before Friday you can bet they are now. They've backed the wrong horse in Mbye and should be waving him bye bye. How they must wish they'd kept Hodkinson. Des Hasler also looks on thin ice, especially with the roster the Dogs actually have. If they cannot go deep into September this season - or even REACH September - then he is gone, maybe before then. The Storm got all the ball and all the penalties in the first 15 minutes against Canterbury and built a 12-0 lead. When the possession changed to the other direction, their defense won them the match from that point. They were gifted the lead built on that possession, but you can't argue with their wall that allows them to win 12-6. And they did it with 16 men. Jesse Bromwich is a huge loss for their season though.
3. Greg Inglis. How the hell did he injure his ACL? Why did he then stay on until half time? And why did he come back AFTER half time? Michael Maguire and his medical staff have completely fucked up there, and now the Rabbits season is in tatters. One man doesn't make a team? Maybe not, but Inglis sure is a huge part of the Souths makeup. Replacing his presence will be the problem. The fact that he stayed on gave the Tigers an enormous boost, as they plundered his side of the field knowing he was incapable of stopping their rampant attack. To a zero-year player but a 40+ year watcher of the game, it seemed a ludicrous decision. How good were the Tigers victory in the wash up? It was the start they needed. Their big four in Tedesco, Moses, Brooks and Woods did everything they had to, and their support players were able to shine in their 34-18 victory given the impotence of the Rabbits game after the Inglis injury. The Robbie Farah influence probably helped a little too. How they follow it up next week against the Panthers will be telling for both clubs.
4. The Dragons obliterated a woeful Panthers team, who had been spoken of as one of the Premiership favourites. What do you make of it? Are they both just aberrations? Have the Draongs improved that much since moving on Benji and Rein? Have the Panthers opponents finally realised Cartwright is a pretender? I don't know. Of all matches this weekend, this result had to be the most unlikely.
5. The first "Are the refs on the take?" moment for the season is awarded to the Cowboys vs Raiders match. Seriously. The Cowboys had a 59/41 possession advantage for the match. They had the penalty count 11-4 in their favour. The Raiders had a man sent to the bin for 10 minutes. The Cowboys only had to make 247 tackles compared to the Raiders 358. And yet despite this, it was 16-16 at full time, and only more fortune for the Cowboys got them the victory in golden point (and why is this rule still in the game?). Does all of this deplete the nature of the Cowboys win, or does it make the Raiders appear like the Real Deal in 2017? Watching the game, I didn't get the feeling that the Raiders were so much more undisciplined that they deserved those kind of stats against them.
6. Did anyone care that the Roosters played the Titans? Did anyone watch? I didn't.
7. Somehow the Warriors managed to sneak away with a victory that they didn't necessarily deserve. Once again, they have the best players New Zealand can offer and once again they just seem to lack the cohesion to make them a team to fear. Newcastle were good, and maybe won't play better than that all season, but if the Warriors cannot beat last season's wooden spooners without any sense of authority then they are yet another seemingly overrated team in 2017.
8. Parramatta and Manly both showed determination and some promise for the season ahead without standing out as contenders. The Eels had the mountain share of possession especially in the second half, and yet Manly's goal line defense was superb, holding out wave after wave of attack. Manly's attack is still a work in progress, while the Eels 2017 defense is yet to be fully tested given Manly's few chances at their opponents tryline.

Stand Outs in Week 1:  Storm, Tigers, Dragons.

Rubbish in Week 1: Souths, Penrith, Ben Cummins.

Lyon Roars as India Capitulate Again in 2nd Test

It really is too early to start jumping up and down and punching your fist in the air in celebration, but after what happened in Pune last week, the first day of the 2nd Test in Bengaluru could hardly have gone any better for Australia than it did. One can only wonder what has happened over the past couple of weeks to have brought this huge turnaround in fortune for both teams, but with so much cricket still left nothing can yet be taken for granted.

1. For India, the first hour and 59 minutes was just what they would have expected. Kohli won the toss and batted, subjecting Australia to batting last on a pitch that once again looks unlikely to last five days. Then, despite the loss of Mukund early, India was 1/72 with two balls remaining before lunch. The session was theirs. Then Pujara fell to Lyon, and lunch was actually 2/72, and Australia would have felt at parity.
2. Seriously, as a leader, Virat Kohli has failed in all circumstances yet again. He was overly cautious where all season he has been confidence personified. It cost him his wicket, shouldering arms again (somewhat inexplicably) when a positive shot would surely have been the better option. Then having made that fatal error, he then  made an arrogant error, pulling a Shane Watson in referring a decision simply because he is the team's Number One player and he therefore feels they are there for his personal use. It was an abhorrent decision, which was only exemplified that by the time the referral was completed and the umpire about to confirm his dismissal, Kohli had already left the field. Just a complete shambles in every aspect. The problem of believing your own infallibility.
3. At 5/174 India was still in a position to push for a 250-300 score with Rahul at the crease and Ashwin, Saha and Jadeja capable of hanging around and scoring runs. But again the tail crumbled to spin, and with very little idea of what to do against it. Losing 5/15 to complete the innings was a triumph for Australia to once again restrict the Indian first innings to under 200.
4. While India's batsmen suddenly began treating Steven O'Keefe's bowling like hand grenades after his 12 wickets in Pune, Nathan Lyon reaped the rewards at the other end. There is no doubt he is bowling better here than he was in Australia. His line is much more off-stump heavy, and the extra pace he bowls at normally is helping him here whereas at home it is a hindrance. The overspinner especially is getting good bounce and natural spin on these wickets. Like O'Keefe in Pune, Lyon here just couldn't STOP getting wickets. They kept being handed to him, and once he got on that roll against the tail, he decimated them. Like SOK, this was the day Australia's supporters have been waiting for from Lyon. For all the talk of his GOAT (Greatest of all Time) status, he has rarely single-handedly taken control of a Test match for Australia. The second innings is yet to come, but perhaps we are finally seeing it. It was a wonderful display of off spin bowling on the first day.
5. Matthew Wade. Oh dear. Well, Brad Haddin told him before he went to India that it didn't matter how ugly he looked, he just had to get the job done. Four byes through his legs, a fumbled stumping off Lyon that he managed to recover from in time to get Rahane, and a neat stumping off O'Keefe to get Nair showed all aspects of those words. There is still no confidence in ANYONE about Wade's keeping. Except that now he is in the 'inner circle' of the team, he will be impossible to dismiss. We can only hope his batting is just as impregnable today.
6. Handscomb and Warner both dropped tough chances in the field, but neither proved too costly. Rahane dropped Warner last night in the sixth over before he had made double figures - he had to dive but got two hands to it. How costly will that chance be?

Australia start the second day at 0/40 chasing India's 189. What a huge day of Test cricket awaits us. The wicket is already staying low, with one ball Renshaw faced last night almost running along the ground. The ideal is obviously for Australia to not have to bat again, because chasing anything over 100 batting last could be a nightmare. The Australian batsmen will need to be cautiously positive, and not get bogged down. Steve Smith, with five lives at Pune, will need to ensure he doesn't give a sniff of a chance today as luck can only last so long.

Once again, though, Australian's can only exclaim... "How good is cricket!"

Songs of My Life #39 #40 & #41 - The Michael Jackson Trilogy

It's probably not a life with music if you are a part of my generation if you haven't had Michael Jackson somewhere in your music education. Earlier introduction through The Jackson 5 and then Michael's own forays into his solo career came to a head with the Thriller album. Many will have a favourite song from that album, and for me it was "Beat It". It was probably a little bit to do with the film clip, and the two gangs coming together to fight, much like movies that I was watching at around that time such as The Wanderers and The Warriors. The guitar solo in the middle is also just bloody cool, which I eventually was informed was played by the one and only Eddie Van Halen - which of course is plainly obvious when you hear it.



Not long after this was released, comedic pisstaker Weird Al Yankovic came along, and not only did he produce his wonderful version of this song entitled "Eat It", he also produced a music video that that almost mirror-imaged Michael Jackson's original. It was just perfect, and while he had been around for some time before this broke on the radio, it was the point where he really took off.



More than a decade after this, we didn't have a parody of a Michael Jackson song as such make the charts. It was a cover version of the song "Smooth Criminal" by the band Alien Ant Farm. Not only was the song itself a great version of the song (yes, better than the original in my opinion), but the video clip again stole the show, by incorporating every Michael Jackson quirk and story within the film clip again. Terrific stuff.



So there it is - the Michael Jackson Trilogy. A Jackson classic, a Yankovic parody and an AAF ripping cover. The three songs that make up today's Songs of My Life.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Trailer #1 (2017) | Mov...

I'm guessing that the trailer probably has every good bit in it, and the rest of the movie is fairly dull...

Revisiting The Twilight Zone: S4 E11: The Parallel

Revisiting The Twilight Zone: S4 E11: The Parallel

This is one of those episodes that comes along every so often, and opens so many questions about the possibilities of the universe that you can’t help but spend the whole time exploring the varied outcomes that could occur in such a situation. It’s entertaining and it makes you think as well, the best kind of episodes.

This is one that really utilizes the Twilight Zone as a real entity, the cross of another dimension or universe. That is exactly what faces Major Robert Gaines here, as he returns from the longest spaceflight made by man to discover that not everything is the way he left it when he left Earth. In fact, it is the subtle differences that not only have him confused, but also his family, his co-workers and his superiors.

What is most enjoyable about this episode is that it really does make you think. Could there be multiple dimensions or universes? If there are, if they are parallel, is it possible to slip through a crack and wind up in one? And just what would you do if you did?

The end is also the perfect way to complete the loop of the story, with Gaines finding his way back, and just beginning to believe that he dreamed it all and that it didn’t happen… until the final phase of the episode. Terrific storytelling and writing.

Rating: “Who the hell is John Kennedy?” 5/5

R.I.P. Bill Paxton - "Game over, man!"

Songs of My Life #38 - AC/DC - Live Wire - 1975

This might seem like a simple thing to say, but what I love about this song is its simplicity. Sure, AC/DC might have made a career out of it, but this is magnificently brilliant in its simple tones.

Take a listen. The simple open string bass runs along the start of the song, eventually joined by the simple strum of the guitar, the tap on the high hats, the joining of the 4/4 beat of the drums, the rhythm riff and finally Bon Scott's vocals over the top. It's all so simple, but constructed brilliantly to build to the crescendo of the chorus, the second verse, the guitar solo. This is the one, the AC/DC song that gets me every time, the one I love to jam to, because it is just a terrific song in which all the parts almost start on their own, and join to become one.

Play it loud, and sing it loud. \m/