Make sure you pack your helmet, and "get ready for a broken fvcking arm"... ;)

Great story.

I know that there is no quick fix for the Australian batting, but I am surprised that we haven't added a specalist opener to the team.
The Indians had the better of conditions and played well, but our first innings batting was where the game was lost.
Being tactically smart we needed 2 openers to dig in occupy the crease and tire out the opposition quicks.
Our players are not good enough but they also are not smart enough.
The selectors are sticking which I would normally support, but seems like a bad idea at this stage.
Perhaps they are going to slowly try a few changes.
I don't think Smith simply coming back in will solve all our problems for the next ashes series.
I am not sure why some of our bowlers are being criticized, as a unit, the bowlers have done the job. As a unit the top 6 batsmen haven't and a lot of the problem starts with the openers.
Harris is young and deserves more chances, it was a mistake to open with Finch, persisting with that mistake is a bad idea.  If it comes off I will admit I am wrong but most experts seem to agree.
Can anyone see Finch making runs in England at opener with a moving ball?

Anyway going to day 1 of the Sydney test, having #TheMock in the stands should inspire the boys or drive Dman crazy.

Good on ya. I used to go to quite a few back in the day but that was when I lived in Sydney. We'd always sit in The Brewongle? Think that's the one - just backward of square opp the hill. Great stand, great bars, always room at the p.sser.

Think I might return one day, next Ashes maybe.

1st post

I really want to thank all of you people for your wonderful content. I even miss KCAMS sometimes. Thanks everyone.

Welcome back OBM... Smack can stay where it is... ;)

Me too...will even tell you when...the twelfth of never.

Reports again today Alex J still wants out of South's so he can play fullback... If true, and we can awing it cap wise, should we be chasing his signature?...

What ever happened to smack?

Wait a bit and see how Meaney goes, closer to June 30th worth considering.

Definitely wait to see how Meaney goes.... I’m sure there’ll be flashes of brilliance & no doubt some simple errors from him, but we’ve got to be patient with him.


We need the $$$$ remaining to be spent on a Centre

Aussie batsmen need to step up to avoid making the wring kind of history... If no centuries are scored in Sydney, it will be the first time in 136 years it hasn't happened in a four or five game series...

First omen bet for the year dedicated to our Mad Monday Syd R1 #9 Staggering... 20-1...

Unfortunately we have a fairly weak batting line up IMO.
Only 1-2 players who look capable of scoring a ton.
If it is a flat easy wicket India easily draw the game and win the series.
If the wicket has some spice, then I doubt that our bstsmen are up to scoring a century, but we might win a low scoring game, I would take the win.
One way or another this team is probably heading for unwanted history, we have earned it.

Pipped for the place...

Souths fans who watch a lot more Souths games than we do think he's a terrible FB, he gets the sort of love on Souths forums that could be described as "Lichaa like".

One thing I'll note is he's lost pace remarkably, not half as quick as he was when he first come on the scene.

They must be a bunch of dribblers then...

Reasonable assumption and not a surprise.

First post of our Premiership Year! 

I like Johnston and while he probably has lost some place, he is still fast and a more than adequate fullback, winger or centre.

Not sure what the asking price is but he would be a good player who can add much needed experience to a backline which I'm afraid will be found wanting for the next year or so. 

Souths have come off a premiership in 2014 and came close again this year so any error that costs them a finals game, their fans will turn on.

After all his various alias incarnations, he finally confessed he was only ever on the BDP to annoy as many people as possible for his own pleasure. Those that witnessed it saw him bagging players, bagging the club, starting arguments & for some unknown reason he took special delight in annoying & insulting Steve. Then, after what seemed like an eternity, he admitted he was actually a Parra fan all along & abruptly left...

It did a bloody good job trolling; but was my second least favoured poster... BB drove me nuts and I don't know how many times matto threatened to suspend me for calling him out on his big noting always wrong 'there'll be an announcement' posts...

Lou (BB) was actually a good bloke...but...it was not intelligent making posts like that. Quite the opposite... It not only stressed out the fans, it was constantly getting the newspapers stirred up & mixed up in it as well. Then it'd end up with players being interviewed & they'd say things like "I don't know where that's coming from, I've never spoken to the club or haven't signed anywhere etc". BB either had an overactive imagination or he was being fed red herrings by someone. I wouldn't be surprised if it was both. He liked the attention, but wasn't the right way to get some...

Plenty have said he was/is a good bloke, and I'm sure they're right... Agree with your entire post... 

Cool. I must be at least 3rd from the bottom then.....

Too right. 
At least some of Tony's stuff comes true...although quite afew are yesterdays news.

I'm not convinced Smack was anything but a Dogs fan...  he had too much passion and no one analyses a team, club, game tactics like that unless you're a supporter.

Plus.....he responded way to early to posts to think that the BDP was just a second forum page....

He was a dogs fan. He may have abandoned them in frustration (God knows I have been close on occasions) but deep down I'm sure he was a dogs fan. Funnily enough, he and I agreed on many things...

I think I'll change my handle to.....Smarki