Please excuse the moth-eaten nature of recent posts, you wouldn't believe it, lately I've been working too hard. Three sick teachers have meant four fill in classes in the last week alone. Rest assured I'll soon have my rigorous work schedule back -- waaaaay back -- to it's regular pace. Can you class "inertia" as pace?
It's got it's upside, at least with different students I've been forced to listen to a whole new brand of conversation...
"Hey Fuckface? Am I driving your fuckin' bitch-arse home tonight?"
I'm pretty sure that was an inquiry as to Fuckface's mode of evening transportation.
As far as blogging's concerned though, I've been forced to read the papers one day, gather the relevant links later that day, and put 'em all together the next day ... or later. Commenting's been restricted as well.
However, just to prove that some things never change .... here's something on cricket.
Straya's best TV commentator tells it as it is. Although you have to feel sorry for Adam Gilchrist who's on the record as far as the Chucker's concerned, yet he keeps getting wheeled out to toe the party line....
Healy calls for total overhaul as Muralitharan is warned of ban
THE entire bowling action of Sri Lankan world record-breaker Muttiah Muralitharan should be comprehensively re-analysed, former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy said yesterday.
Speaking after the International Cricket Council ruled that Murali's new delivery, the doosra, was illegal and threatened the spinner with a 12-month ban, Healy said it was not enough to examine just one type of ball from the controversial bowler.
If Muralitharan bowls the doosra in Sri Lanka's second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, beginning tomorrow, and is reported by the match referee, he can be suspended for a year.
Sri Lanka Cricket has officially instructed him not to bowl the delivery, which turns the opposite way to his normal off-break.
Healy claimed that analysing any bowler in laboratory conditions was a waste of time.
"It should all be done from live action in the pressure of a game," Healy told The Australian.
He described the recent examination of Muralitharan's action at the University of Western Australia as "a bit thin".
"It's a bit of a shame," Healy said. "The public wants to know how the rest of his action stands up.
"Let's get the whole thing analysed. If I was Murali, I would want that."
Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes that Murali's action may have deteriorated recently.
"It might have got worse over the last couple of months," Ponting said at a training camp in Brisbane yesterday.
"He certainly hasn't taken all his Test wickets with that delivery."
Vice-captain Adam Gilchrist, who was reprimanded by Cricket Australia last year for suggesting that Muralitharan had a questionable action, claimed that the Sri Lankan's world record of 521 wickets should stand because his bowling had been considered legal up to that point.
"I don't think we should get too precious about this. I think he is a great exponent of what he does," Gilchrist said.
"I think he is talented enough and resilient enough to refine the delivery or develop something else."
During the six-week first phase of the ICC's complicated bowling action review procedure, Muralitharan has been allowed to continue bowling, doosra and all. However, that stage ends today and ICC chief executive executive Malcolm Speed warned that under ICC regulations, Muralitharan could face a 12-month ban if he persisted with the doosra.
"Should the bowler go against the wishes of his board, bowl this delivery and subsequently be reported within 12 months of the initial report, the issue would progress to stage two of the ICC's process for dealing with bowlers with suspected illegal bowling actions," Speed said.
"This would result in this delivery being scrutinised by the ICC's own bowling review group, which has the power to impose a ban of 12 months on the bowler if his action is deemed illegal."
Muralitharan broke the previous record of 519 wickets held by retired West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh against a below-strength Zimbabwe side in Harare last week.
The Sri Lankan has been no-balled for "throwing" in the past by three Australian umpires.
Match referee Chris Broad reported him to the ICC after the spinner used the doosra during Sri Lanka's home Test series against Australia in March.
He was then sent to Australia to work on his bowling action with a biomechanical expert.
The report showed an initial straightening of the arm of around 14 degrees which after some remedial work was reduced to 10 degrees.
This compares with an allowable level of tolerance for spinners of five degrees under ICC regulations.
"The degree of straightening is well outside the ICC's specified levels of tolerance," Speed said.
"In light of this finding, Sri Lanka Cricket has now advised the ICC that it has instructed Mr Muralitharan not to bowl this delivery in international cricket. The ICC supports this action."
Hey Tony, cricket aside... what's it like being a teacher these days? We up to the stage of frisking kids for 9mm automatics yet? Or just the odd shiv?
Posted by: Mike Jericho | 14 May 2004 at 15:05
Hey, I knew a fuckface once. Maybe it's his son? There's a story in SMH saying Murali reckons he can still bowl his chucker.
Posted by: Simon | 14 May 2004 at 15:46
I had a neighbour about ten years ago who was a teacher at Carrum Downs. One day, on yard duty at lunchtime, he spotted a kid throwing rubbish on the ground and the following conversation took place;
Teacher: Pick that up
Kid: Get fucked
Teacher: What did you say?
Kid: You fuckin' heard, you c*nt
The kid was then marched up to the principals' office - no physical contact of course. The parents were called and when the father arrived his response was "Why the fuck should he have to pick it up anyway, you c*nts?"
What hope have you got?
Or the kid for that matter.
Posted by: Dirk Thruster | 14 May 2004 at 19:46
I think Muriliblog.drivelwarehouse.com is still available...
Posted by: Adam | 14 May 2004 at 21:42
Mike, did you see Louis Farakan's "Million Man March"? Well, we teach from behind perspex shields.
One of his many many many -- all too many -- relatives, Simon. I hope Murali tries it on.
Dirk, I stress -- I mean I REALLY stress -- my students have no hope.
It's getting a bit that way, Adam. Still, the fight must be fought.
Posted by: Tony.T | 17 May 2004 at 08:02