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Did You Know There’s a T20 Series with Sri Lanka Going on Right Now?

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Did You Know There’s a T20 Series with Sri Lanka Going on Right Now?

DYOR Dave

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Tonight sees the second of five T20’s between Australia and Sri Lanka, but after a stellar summer of tests, followed by some spicy controversy, there seems to be little interest surrounding the fixture.

With minimal promotion of the series, one would be forgiven for not even knowing the game was on, especially considering it isn’t even being shown on free-to-air TV.

Despite paying over $5 million for the rights to the cricket, Seven are choosing to show Border Security and Terminator alongside their coverage of the Winter Olympics. No room for cricket apparently.

While T20 is accepted by the dribbler as a gimmick, a manufactured and sanitised version of real cricket, that doesn’t mean the format is completely useless.

As a more easily consumable version of the game, it attracts a lot of young fans into the game, and helps build the passion for cricket in generations to come.

Australia are the current world champions of T20, and our squad has some of the best players in the world, yet these matches are treated like they don’t matter.

In the sub-continent, a match like this would sell out instantly, much like the India Vs Pakistan match at the upcoming World Cup in Australia sold out in 5 minutes.

For the more seasoned cricketing dribbler, two exciting games of Sheffield shield played out during the week, with the NSW vs QLD match drawing a healthy crowd for portions of the day.

Once again, these games attracted barely any attention and were shown only on Kayo streamed in poor quality with the commentators doing their best to bring the atmosphere.

If Cricket Australia wants to grow the game, they need to invest in more than just 5 tests and a season of big bash every summer.

When Australia toured Bangladesh in 2021, some matches weren’t even broadcast in Australia at all, leaving fans with no other option than to turn to pirated streaming sites.

Last night saw a packed-out Parramatta stadium host the NRL All Stars game, and it was clear the thirst for Rugby League was as strong as ever.

Yet the SCG has struggled to fill their seats for these matches, despite this being the last chance to see live international cricket until next summer.

 

Fancy yourself as a bit of a writer? Got some unqualified opinion and unwavering bias you’d like to share with the world? Send it through to dyor@hellosport.com.au to be featured on the site

 

Check out the Latest Hello Sport Podcast episode #339 – Jarchy From Tik Tok

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Why Langer Was Really Let Go: Aussie Cricket Can’t Thrive Without Drama

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Why Langer Was Really Let Go: Aussie Cricket Can’t Thrive Without Drama

by Joseph Murphy

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Think back to the India series. I can’t remember what the score was but for all it matters, it was a complete disaster. The team was relatively untouched by drama, the biggest scandal being whether Mitch Starc needed a rest.

Australian cricket has a proud history of drama. Whether it’s Bradman hating, and being hated by, any players who went to the war, AB threatening to fly blokes home mid-test, or Warnie enjoying a mixed diet of extra-curriculars and match-winning spells, it’s always been there.

Coming into a crucial ashes series, where the boys are looking to recapture the public and build on the meager foothold established via the T20 World Cup win. Looking around, things are relatively settled amongst the Australian setup, the bowling lineup is set, Cummins, the country boy, Starc and Lyon look like a lock all summer.

There are the usual questions around the batting lineup but that’s been the case for the last decade, throwing a Marsh brother in is just old-hat at this point. Suddenly, the powder keg explodes again as the captain resigns in disgrace, we get a new captain, a new keeper, and win 4-0. Success.

Cricket spends maybe 3 months in the public eye before the team goes overseas to play in time zones less conducive to laying on the couch all day. Keeping the spotlight on them when they’re not playing a home series is the number 1 action item on CA’s whiteboard.

The team is about to head somewhere outside of Australia to play teams that aren’t England or India for however long. To the majority of the public, it’s cricket off-season. It’s February and there’s fuck all sport on. What can the incompetent CA do to make sure people know there’s not only an overseas series but a home T20 World Cup? The Alinta ads just aren’t working.

Some portentious foreshadowing here on Uzzie’s YouTube channel

 

Captain blue-eyes is squeaky clean, the team seems to get along so long as Smudge and Marnus stay in their corner.  What else can you do but fire the coach? The firebrand who rebuilt the team from the ashes of sandpaper gate, the legend beloved by his fellow ex-players, the bloke who you would hate to have dinner with, in case he criticised your knife-work.

Now all the ex-players are blowing up and throwing accusations every which way. Captain Pat is facing scrutiny for the first time in his career and cricket’s on the front page of the papers again just as the players are ready to board a plane to wherever they’re going. Success.

Who’s the next coach? Who cares? Let the drama roll on for another 6 months and let people remember cricket is still being played. If CA have their wits about them they’ll be inviting Warnie, Punter, and even Eddie Jones in for an interview, just to let Mark Taylor whinge about his exclusion for some more attention.

The ultimate twist will be if JL takes the vacant English top job, then comes to Australia for a T20 World Cup with a healthy Joffra Archer looking to take vicarious revenge on the playing group that outed him.

Let the system burn and give me more cricket. Fuck it, fire whoever the CEO is next.

Tin hats soon. Subcontinent victories sooner.

 

Fancy yourself as a bit of a writer? Got some unqualified opinion and unwavering bias you’d like to share with the world? Send it through to dyor@hellosport.com.au to be featured on the site

 

Check out the Latest Hello Sport Podcast episode #338 – Bitter Divorce

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Who replaces Justin Langer if he gets Rissoled?

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Who replaces Justin Langer if he gets Rissoled?

by Intern Brayden

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As Summer approaches, it’s safe to say that the Australian Cricket Team is in a concerning form slump. In all formats of the game our national side has struggled, beginning in January with a Test Series loss to a Kohli-less India, to most recently dishing up our worst ever T20 performance falling to Bangladesh. All Australian’s are proud of our men in Merino wool, which is why something must change. In a result driven business, fingers start to get pointed, and unfortunately in most cases they point to the Coach.

Taking over at arguably the most difficult period in Australia’s cricketing history, losing star players, Langer was dealt a cruel hand and the pressure was on from the get-go. From the outside looking in, it seems this pressure is finally starting to creep up on JL and with an extremely important few months ahead that includes a World Cup and Ashes Series, we can’t afford to be off our game. We wish the best for Justin this Summer but if changes are needed, I have compiled a shortlist of candidates for the top job to help out our national selectors.

Ricky Ponting – Aged 46, 168 Tests, 13,378 runs @ 51.85

Australia’s all-time leading runs scorer and a childhood hero to most of the squad, Ricky commands respect. It’s certainly not our pacemen letting us down and being a batsman himself, I believe Ricky will bring invaluable experience and knowledge to the team. One reason he was overlooked for Langer is his hesitation in spending time away from his young family, however his priorities may have shifted in these 3 years, so is now the right time for Ricky to go the big lift?

Shane Warne – Aged 51, 145 Tests, 708 wickets @ 25.4

There are two different types of coaches – tacticians, and man managers. Whilst there is no doubting Warnie’s ability to spin a Kookaburra into next week, he is known just as well for his performances off the pitch as on it. Anyone who has watched ‘The Test’ would have seen first-hand the volatile nature of Langer’s coaching style. Likely more relaxed than Justin, Shane could provide the team with more of a tranquil environment which may be just what his players need. Currently coaching the London Spirit in England’s ‘The Hundred’ competition, could the leap to head honcho of the Australian side be the natural progression for Warnie?

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Steve Smith – Aged 32, 77 Tests, 7,540 runs @ 61.8

We’ve all forgiven Steve, haven’t we? He has well and truly bounced back from Cape Town 2018 to continue to rip and tear for his nation. I’m far from suggesting Smudge hangs up the gloves, I’m simply putting forth the idea of a captain-coach role. Smudge isn’t getting any younger and although he’s showing little sign of slowing down, his time in the international game is limited. Finding himself a coaching role, surrounded by assistants to get through the grunt work would make for a seamless transition post-retirement, and I don’t think we can rule that option out.

Wayne Bennett – Aged 71, 877 Games Coached @ 62%

It’s tough to stomach the thought of the great Wayne Bennett taking a year off coaching. If anyone knows how to pick a side out of the mud and turn them around, nobody is more proven than Wayne. Having already coached the national side in Rugby League, Wayne is familiar with the responsibility that comes with the top job. The best in the business at dealing with pressure, managing selection decisions, and dealing with difficult personalities are all transferrable skills that would see Wayne excel in this position.

Matthew Hayden – Age 69, 103 Tests, 8,625 runs @ 50.7

If there’s anyone who knows how to swing a willow, it’s the man with the broadest shoulders in the known universe. Occupying the opening batsmen spot in one of the most dominant sporting teams in history for over a decade, and holding the record for the highest total by an Australian, it’s fair to say Hayden oozes success. Off the field, he’s a man in touch with nature, and his country lifestyle and homely presence could bring a calming aura to the team in times of pressure. As long as the players don’t mind swapping their yoga sessions for prayer sermons, Haydos could fit in well.

 

Fancy yourself as a bit of a writer? Got some unqualified opinion and unwavering bias you’d like to share with the world? Send it through to dyor@hellosport.com.au to be featured on the site