WOOF!

Like a dog with a bone returning to its vomit:

Skipper's influence grows on and off the field

Nor did Ponting stand apart from his men during the infamous SCG Test against India, when a visiting captain of immense dignity became the second man in the history of the game to damn an opponent as unsporting. In everyone's opinion except a shrill nationalist rump, Australia reached its lowest point for 25 years in that match.

Reading Tim Blair I discover that The Age and the SMH have slightly different versions:

Ponting proving a fine and popular leader of the men he's helped mould

Nor did Ponting stand apart from his men during the infamous SCG Test against India, when a visiting captain of immense dignity became the second man in the history of their game to damn an opponent as unsporting. Instead, he was swayed by the emotion of those days and especially by the belligerence of his Queensland contingent.

In everyone's opinion, except a shrill nationalist rump, Australia reached their lowest point for 25 years in that match.

Comments

[Russ]

Rightio then.

Along the way he has shown his preference for experience, questioning the choice of so many youngsters for the South Africa tour, and for reliability, not least in the spin department.

Would this be the tour when we, what's the word I'm looking for... um... "won"?

[Tony]

Don't let a good result get in the way of a bad report.

[Carrot]

I live for the day when everyone in the outer starts chanting "Spanky/Roebuck is a wanker!!!"

He is Such. A. Cock.

[Tony]

I remember when Australia played England at the SCG in 1978/79 and Henry Blofeld was the visiting commentator on ABC TV (yes: that long ago, and during WSC). The fans on the hill held up a sign which read something like "Blowers, coom on over for a beer". Needless to say, about half an hour later the camera followed blowers as he walked through the crowd to the blokes holding the sign and had a beer with them.

If the commentator was Roebuck the crowd would not hold up a sign inviting him for a beer, they would hold up clubs, rotten fruit and a noose.

[Bob]

God bless those Queenslanders!

"Apparently Ponting stood behind the lefty in his first practice, watched him closely and that night reminded him of his strengths and talked to him about his weaknesses."

Looks like he's paraphrasing his memoirs, minus the cane.

[Lou]

Roebuck is such a tosser. Wish I hadn't followed the links now. It makes me feel soiled to have read one of his regular pieces of fiction.