Roar Guru
Joined February 2013
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Cricket nut. Red V. Man U.
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A batting average of 50 in Test cricket has, in my lifetime at least, always been a magical career milestone. Certainly if you watched…
My Uncle Thomas was as big a league fan as I and we watched a lot of footy together. But there was one key difference – he didn’t have a team that he supported.
I was listening to Roar Guru Julian King host the SEN 1170 lunchtime show earlier this week. One of the topics of the day…
Given the disappointing lack of Test cricket that the Australian team has played since 2019, it may have passed Roar readers’ notice that other…
I have been watching rugby league for about 40 years now. I am very weary Dragons fan but a satisfied Queensland fan. So, it…
In what seems a lifetime ago, I wrote an article after David Warner’s 335* against Pakistan arguing that Warner should have been allowed to…
Yep, you guessed it, yet another cricket team comprising a group of people with some vague connection. I had hoped to put together a…
In Jon Richardson’s current series of articles on the best cricketing birthplaces, he listed Seymour Nurse in his All Time Bridgetown XI. My only…
Like many of you, I have very much enjoyed All Day Roseville’s series on Ashes teams by month of birth. While he is finishing…
We finished yesterday’s review of matches where world-record innings were scored with Don Bradman’s famous 334 at Headingley. That innings was part of Bradman’s…
Tim Paine’s decision to declare on David Warner on 335 not out in the second Test against Pakistan gave rise to debate as to…
In recent months cricket fans and media have become somewhat obsessed with Steve Smith, both with the amount of runs he has been scoring…
Now that I have completed my series of articles on All Time XIs by the alphabet, I thought it would be worthwhile opening the…
We finish with the Ws. As expected, this team is immensely strong and probably the most thrilling of all the teams. So strong, in…
After a three month hiatus while I wasted my long service leave watching the Australian cricket team in England, then held my breath for…
There were some big decisions to be made in compiling this team. Which tearaway – the Terror or Typhoon?; which Hugh, Tayfield or Trumble?;…
This team should be strong given the deep talent pool to choose from. However I did find it hard to compile given the number…
With the pairs of Richards (and sons) and Russells, as well as other high quality players, the 'R' Team is perhaps best described as…
We are coming round the bend now, with the home straight in sight. This is the supercomposite team including all the letters that you…
The P Team is an interesting one in that there are five or six current international cricketers who might reasonably earn a spot in…
Decent list Ben. I was at the Bevan match – nearly 30 years later I still get goosebumps when I read about it.
Also good to see the love for SRW’s innings. His overall match performance is arguably the greatest ever, even pipping AB’s 98*+100*.
And if I am ranking these in order, Hughes is #1.
I’ll hold off making other suggestions until I see the second half of your list but I am going to assume that we’ll see entries from Mark Waugh, Smith, Warner and Gilly.
Hodgey's had his go, now it's my turn: The 20 greatest Aussie knocks of the last 50 years - Part One
Agree. He never had the best team in the comp but he got my Dragons to two GFs in the Raiders-Broncos superteams era.
End of an era: Are we seeing a new style of rugby league tactics developing before our eyes?
Thoughtful stuff as always Mike.
It was a while ago but my memory of that Brian Smith Parra side seems consistent with your description of the modern area. They always backed each other up and always seemed to be looking for the offload.
End of an era: Are we seeing a new style of rugby league tactics developing before our eyes?
RIP Lordy – such a constant presence across multiple forms of media for us Gen X Australian sports fans.
Didn’t always agree with him but he was always worth reading/listening to. However, he was 100% correct on Ken Irvine.
RIP, David Lord: Australian sports journalism icon was 'always thoughtful and thought-provoking'
Nice article.
I think 400 is possible – don’t forget, it itself came just a few months after Hayden’s 380.
I will have to disagree on 19/90 though. It’s not just the Test record but also the FC record. No one else has taken 18 in a match in 160 years. I think it’s as unlikely as 99.94.
I’d also disagree that stats lovers would celebrate if it’s beaten – it’s amazing that an on field record still stands from that very first test and it would be sad to lose that.
Plenty of Test cricket's records look safe, but which ones can still be broken?
Macartney and McCabe are two obvious omissions from the white ball teams.
A younger Armstrong and Jack Gregory also worthy of discussion. And if you have Spofforth then Turner would also be in the running.
Best Never Ever XI: The greatest Australian cricketers who didn’t play each of the three formats
Love this team (esp with Macartney) but I wonder if it could fit in another spinner like O’Reilly, probably for Gregory.
Best Never Ever XI: The greatest Australian cricketers who didn’t play each of the three formats
Best and Greatest aren’t the same thing.
I think the context of the game adds to Greatness – in this case a mostly meaningless group game rates poorly versus a World Cup sudden death game, particularly a final.
So Stokes in the 2019 final, Steve Waugh v Saf in 1999 etc get bonus points when considering these innings.
‘Greatest ODI innings ever’: Does Maxi's Mumbai miracle beat Kapil, Viv, Sachin, Gilchrist for best knocks in cricket history?
Like the Mankad Law tweak earlier in the year, this dismissal has shown up the inadequacy of the Law on Timed Out. It clearly relies on a bit of common sense and convention. That’s now gone out the window so there should be an umpire’s discretion in there for reasonable delays. The fact that the umpires twice asked Shakib if he wanted to withdraw the appeal shows that they were uncomfortable with it all.
Forget the spirit of the game - World Cup 'timed out' farce is a failure of basic common sense
Correct comeback from Patty.
'An absolute disgrace': Broad lifts lid on fiery Cummins clash over Bairstow incident - and how the Aussie captain bit back
That is some side. Personally I’d have Pant or Haddin for Murdoch so Sanga can concentrate on his batting (and bat at 5) but it’s a quibble only.
A Second Oct XI looks like it would be pretty strong too.
Team of the Month: An October-born World Cricket XI
Such horrible news.
'In the thoughts and prayers of every Rabbitoh': Souths legend Nathan Merritt found unresponsive, fighting for life
Yeah, not ideal but I think it’s an all round stronger team that way.
Team of the Month: a September-born world Cricket XI
I love this attack. So aggressive. Personally I’d play Ashwin over Bedi but it would be a nightmare to face either way.
Imagine Warnie at one end and thenDemon at the other.
Also if you play Ashwin, you can get Bertie in as the best keeper.
Team of the Month: a September-born world Cricket XI
Crazy strong team but I can’t see how you can leave Steyn out. With Wasim and Deadly (and Macartney) in the side, Davo looks expendable even though it lengthens the tail.
Team of the month: A June-born World XI
Oh, have you already done June as well?
And on behalf of Februarians everywhere, I’ll get in now to say we are at a natural disadvantage with only having 28 1/4 days. 7 of the months have 10% more players to choose from!
Team of the Month: an August-born World Cricket XI
Why do we keep ruining our young leggies by picking them for white ball cricket?
Marnus dumped, Cummins injured, new captain named, uncapped quartet called up as selectors launch new white-ball era
Is it weird to play Gooch out of position at 4 when you have McCabe or Zed on the bench?
Team of the Month: a July-born World Cricket XI
Geez, if Shiv and Kane can’t make this side then it is very strong indeed.
I’d personally have Kane over Lloyd because he’s a decent spin bowler as well. But either way, this side isn’t going to lose many matches. A Second XI would be formidable as well.
Team of the Month: an August-born World Cricket XI
Re the GOAT – since his debut, Aust haven’t won an away Test when he hasn’t been the team.
The Liebke Fifth Ashes Test report card: 'This series will be remembered as the 2-0 GOATwash'
Wasn’t Broad part of the bullying clique identified by Trott et al?
I’m any case, I see him, ironically, as an English Dave Warner.
You can admit it now - if Stuart Broad was an Aussie, he'd be your favourite player
If the rain saved us in Manchester it might have saved England here.
Another 40 overs last night and Aust would be a little over 100 from victory. Even if Aust had lost 2 or even 3 wickets, that would have been a very strong position.
Now, the bowlers get to rest, the batters have to start again and anything is possible.
They couldn't... could they? Khawaja-Warner century stand on rained-out fourth day gives Aussies a chance
It’s not all doom and gloom for the Poms – they have now secured the Moral Ashes.
UK View: 'Timid, petrified' Aussies escape in 'galling travesty' - as Pommy Pauline Hanson's hypocrisy exposed
Unpopular opinion perhaps but that was a sloppy dismissal from Marnus just before tea.
All eyes on the skies as Labuschagne ton, Manchester rain gives Aussies a shot at great escape
Looks like India will now win this.
Wannabe world champs? India routed for lowest EVER total at home as Kiwis rip through pathetic batting line-up