daveyaviator

Fuck yes...this is awesome. Nothing was one of the best local records of the last year for me, and their set at the Black Wire benefit was one of the best gigs too.

They dig in. They're a solid unit and a good mix of seasoned veterans and youngsters with real potential who are to a man performing really well under pressure. They sort of remind me of Waugh's invincibles squad...hardly, if ever, looked like they would completely capitulate with the bat or in the field all series. Even when they were getting smacked around in Brisbane and Adelaide they still bowled and fielded quite well, and responded in kind with the bat. And that second innings with the bat in Perth? Outstanding.

They deserve their number 1 status.

We sure did get exposed as pretender contenders for the throne. We've got a loooooong way to go.

Yeah, I totally get that impression too.

ruthlessly exploited by NZ.

hahaha, you know you've got issues when you've been ruthlessly exploited by that team.

It seems to me Australian up-and-comers, both bowlers and batters, have either been getting injured or get stage fright when they finally get their chance since, I dunno, the Greats retirement exodus of the mid-2000s. How many young players in the team could boast a solid incumbent status since then? Not bloody many. Even Warner was under pressure coming into the series.

It's enormous pressure on these players to perform because the mentality seems to be ''if you mess this up, you may not get another chance, because there's plenty of others that we're willing to try out.''

I hope the selectors are proven correct by showing renewed faith in Hughes. What we need more than anything is a settled squad. I reckon that's why the Saff's pasted us in Perth, to be honest.

Yeah, can't help but think Ricky stone-walled Folau's manager, the Eels backed him up and said ''yep, there's the offer, take it or leave it'' and the manager simply called their bluff. If you asked the kid what he really wanted to do over a quiet beer in the pub, I reckon he'd say he ultimately just wanted to come back to league.

Then again, he probably doesn't drink or go to pubs.

Seriously, it seems like these kids don't know their arse from their elbow without their managers advising which is the more lucrative.

Another win for the Jerry Macguires.

News headline screen scroll on Sunrise this morning said: ''Ponting says he'll miss not being out there.'' Translation: He'll miss being in the shed not scoring runs.

Hastings - 120 metre run-up to throw 120kph pies. Go away.

I think he's been tapped on the shoulder and told ''make an announcement or we'll do it for you''. If he was 'going out on his own terms' nothing about announcing the end of his career, right before such a crucial test, makes any sense.