By Casey O'Connor
As we count down to the end of the football season thoughts begin to turn to the upcoming summer of cricket and in turn the Ashes Series.
After a moment of indecision, the Poms have confirmed that they will be touring – big of them really.
However, it is the cancellation of the final Test in the series between England and India at Old Trafford that is currently raising eyebrows.
Former England captain, and now respected commentator, Michael Vaughan is not backward in coming forward with his views on the matter.
Hot on the heels of news of positive COVID 19 tests in the Indian camp came advice that the touring Team could not field a team for the final test.
However, it was later revealed that no players were affected. The positive tests coming from the coach and some of the support staff.
Vaughan makes a valid point that the Test could have been delayed a few days.
But wait, that was not possible as it would have had a domino effect on players preparing for the start of the lucrative IPL tournament.
Vaughan feels that Indian Cricket has by their actions placed greater store in the IPL than in Test cricket. He does make quite a valid point, but as they say in the classics, money speaks all languages and may even transcend pandemics.
Australian Cricket tragics will be hoping that there are no such hiccups during the Ashes series. Our biggest worry (aside from an out of form side and queries swirling around the future of the Australian Coach) is the recently announced news that captain Tim Paine has to undergo surgery for a bulging disc in his neck.
No pun intended, it is causing pain in his neck and left arm.
Medical staff are confident the veteran gloveman and captain will be fit for the Ashes which begin on 8 December. Australian cricket fans hope their diagnosis is correct. Me, I am already counting down to the Gabba action.
Casey
It would be remiss of me not mention the tragic passing of our former Editor Jeremy Sollars. His death came as a great shock to the entire Newspaper family across the Southern Downs. I am sure Jeremy had no idea the high regard in which he was held by the Southern Downs newspaper community and the community in general. Both Perditta and I worked closely with Jeremy during his time at the SFT and the Warwick and Stanthorpe Today publications. Perditta and Jeremy had crossed paths years earlier at the Border Post shortly after he moved to the district.
Jeremy was the first to admit that sport was not his forte however he was an outstanding journalist who loved nothing more than getting to the core of an issue no matter how deeply he had to dig. In fact, the deeper the better.
We extend our sympathy to his family and current colleagues at the Journal. Jeremy’s passing should serve as a reminder to us all that we should look out for each other. RUOK should be something not reserved for a particular day in the year. It should be a question more frequently asked.
RIP mate.
