mikenz

As hard as it will be for Sunderland to maintain its position on the table same scenario for Arsenal at the top, lead has been whittled down to 2 points, easier being the hunter than than the hunted sometime, their form is slipping a little. Series A in Brazil finishes tomorrow, only the relagation to sort out..........I also note Thomas Muller plays MLS final for Vancouver against Messi and Miami, seems he's been around so long but he's 36, in soccer terms he's still got time up his sleeve, seems these guys add so much to the US league.

6pm and India 66 for 5, no application whatsoever, roll on the next 20 20 series and will all be hunky dory , sign of the times for Cricket.

In some ways England and India drawing 2 all last English summer and the way they seem to be so fickle these days they may not be the heavyweights in test cricket they are perceived as being, probably don't care anyway.

I know what ya mean, even India don't want to hang around much it seems these days , out for 206, South Africa should squeeze the life out of them, and maybe win series 2 0, i guess if you look at if India have more than 500 to chase why would they bother, a draw is still losing the series and they probably don't care, yes good test Cricket is compelling but good test games are getting few and far between, I'm picking NZ bar weather issues winning series 3 zip against the windies.

Series B in Brazil all done and dusted, Chapecoense are back in the top league and a club called Reno by virtue of a 3 1 win are in top league for first time, 2 teams , in top 4 before last round lose and drop out, such fine margins, interesting, Series A still going, one of the most interesting leagues these 2.

Our lot get to play in Perth next year plus 3 other test, think they only got extra test as no one else touring, that's a massive challenge. Not losing in Perth is the main objective, Taylor got to 290 to set up a draw, and I think Greatbatch did same some time ago, I just doubt these days anyone would want to hang around that long now.

The difference between Heads batting and the rest is, it came off, 2 days for a test, unreal, Mitchell Starc again was Bazas nemesis, harking back to his third ball duck in World Cup final.......you would hope that there will be more Cricket in the next games.

If England can get a lead over 220 it could be interesting but surely aussie couldn't bad as badly again, surely.

Not sure if 19 wickets and 72 overs in a day is all that wonderful, no one batting sticks around anymore.

Curacao have just become the least populated country to make it to the World Cup, extending the teams to 48 will produce these scenarios and more than likely will also produce some record scores in pool play, might even be the case with NZ, given a free pass dosnt mean they will be competitive, same for Scotland who got there too, will be interesting to see Haaland at his first major International tournament, 16 goals in qualifying matches ain't bad irrespective of who they are playing, beat Italy 4 1 so Norway can't be too bad. Series B in Brazil final round this week, results last week sees more musical chairs on the table, one or two contenders might now just be pretenders, fine margins indeed, Serie A got a few rounds to go, Santos who have only had one season out of the Top league last year just keeping out of the relagation zone, makes life interesting none the less.

For all the hype with Trump being back in power, one year into his reign what has really changed ?

Sunderland have ended Arsenals winning run to continue their dream start back in the big league, staying up in the top won't be easy but I'm picking Arsenal fading by round 38, them and Tottenham are pretenders not contenders, Man City, Chelsea or Liverpool are the three, long way to go, same for Nottingham, but signs are they are in the shite, how come such a turn around, West Ham have been crap too but they will probably rise again. Southampton are struggling in the Championship after being out of their depth in the Premier league last year. Meanwhile Brazil serie b, continues to see musical chairs at the top, 7 goes into 4 with 2 and a half rounds left, it's going to be sorted only on last day, don't think there is a more compelling comp than this one, the Premier one there is right up there too, but the usual suspects seem to win out in the long run, Palmeiras look like it's their's to lose.

In what way do you think it reflects badly on the handicapping in the South?

Sunderland fourth at present and Nottingham Forrest, who would have picked that, will Arsenal maintain its lead, it is quite compelling the EPL even though it's stacked with imports just like IPL in Cricket, but thats just the way it is, (Internationals are still number 1), many of the soccer leagues, don't have finals, don't need them, a double round robin suffices. Another league compelling is Brazil A and B, in B there are 7 teams vying for four spots 3 rounds to go including Chapecoense who are rebuilding after team was wiped out in plane crash, the other team of interest is Gremio Novoriztino, 2 years in a row they have missed promotion on last day by miniscule margins, they have just drawn by scoring in 96th minute to stay in the frame, 3 rounds to go, the fights for promotion are as compelling as the fight to avoid relegation.

Just watching the ODI, it's sunny, 5 30 pm half the place is in shade, hardly anyone there, all those yellow seats, visually it looks a bleak place to me being on the foreshore there will be a cold breeze, I think it looks better at night and obviously when it's full, but for many in the A League playing their especially in the day must be very unappealing to play there, must also make it harder to attract players., just an observation.