By Casey O'Connor
Only a few sleeps until the Big Man in the red suit slides down the chimney or through the key hole or what ever. I hope you like the Aussie Cricketers are on the Nice side of Santa’s list and much like ,myself would never be found in the Naughty Corner.
While it was a blow to the Aussie’s to lose Pat Cummins on the morning of day one, I thoroughly enjoyed the action in the Adelaide Test and was pleased to see Steve Smith back at the helm.
As pleasing as it was to see him Captain another winning side it was also great to see the manner in which the big Adelaide crowd accepted his return to the top job.
Great to see he has finally been allowed out of the naughty corner.
The whole thing showed just how fragile sporting events are in this COVID situation.
It was a great all-round performance from the Aussies and has many wondering where to now for the Poms and, perhaps more particularly, their captain Joe Root who if he is wholly responsible has made some unusual selection decisions.
All cricket fans, especially if you are a current or ex player, were feeling for Root after copping a Mitch Starc delivery where no cricket ball should ever travel.
My favourite quote following the blow to Joe Root was one I’ve never heard before and that was, “Joe Root could not have caught a pig in a hallway following the incident because he was so bandy”.
DRS came under scrutiny on the final day after a dubious referral decision. I will not air my dinosaur beliefs on the role of DRS and Umpires only to say that it probably proved again that technology can get it just as wrong as the officials in the middle in the black and white.
I was hopeful that I would find airline tickets to Melbourne along with tickets to the Boxing Day Test under the Christmas Tree seeing I’ve been sooo good in 2021 – I know that is not going to happen (and not because I’m on the naughty list either). I am not too disappointed given all that is going on at the moment.
I will however have my hands in an esky or wrapped around a prawn on Boxing Day while glued to the TV.
As we close the door on 2021 we hope 2022 is better than the last. (There is a wish I am sure I made last year).
If nothing else 2021 has taught me on many levels that when the world tosses you a wrong’un you slap it out of the ground. If life throws you a Lemon – make Lemonade.
After a pretty tough year, I will have a fair bit of that lemonade in that Esky on Boxing Day keeping the odd frothy one company.
From our house to yours thank you for being such great supporters of Spin. Thanks to our long-suffering offsider Tania for her patience and support. The Spin team wish you all a very Merry Christmas and A Happy Healthy 2022 .
If you are on the roads be safe and simply let’s be kind to one and other.
Back in 2022
Casey
Special thanks to all out contributors
