By Greg Gibson

Test cricket is such an interesting sport. One of its many interesting features is how so many people fail to appreciate just how interesting it is. I suspect that these people see simply exactly what is happening on the ground, and don’t delve that little bit deeper, because it is just beneath the surface where things get interesting.

You can look at a batsman blocking, or leaving, or playing and missing, and simply see absolutely nothing happening. Conversely, you can look at the exact same actions and see it for all the complexity that is involved. Firstly, there is the complexity of the game itself, which goes over five days, spanning four innings and is played on a deteriorating surface.

Yes, the structure of the game itself makes every one of the almost 3000 possible deliveries per match a potential game changer. This leads into the second interesting element of the sport: the personalities of the people playing it, in particular their decision making over the gruelling five days of play. Cricketers’ instincts, motivations, and intentions are all washed in together with the state of the game, and often the series.

By Mark Franklin

As a lifelong Essendon devotee I have over three decades of healthy hatred for Carlton and Hawthorn. In recent years, in a way, I have missed the fierce rivalry between the Bombers and Blues, but those Hawks remain the most satisfying of all adversaries to overcome. Yet, there grows a new disdain.

I hate the Greater Western Sydney Giants.

The team with the league’s longest name and shortest history already pisses me right off.

By Martin Gibson

There has been a bit of contention of late re the Australian Test selection policy. Ian Chappell believes that picking Adam Voges is indicative of a broken system not producing young players capable of playing Test standard cricket. ESPNCricinfo's Jarrod Kimber disagrees, suggesting that few young players have ever really flourished on their first attempt and that experience is crucial. It is my opinion that the best policy lies in the middle. Like batting and captaincy, selection is at it's best when it is balanced.

Going into the 2nd (read last) Test against the West Indies Australia had 6 players over 32 years of age and none under the age of 24. In and of itself this is not an issue, as modern cricketers are far fitter and prepared to play in their 30's and many believe that batsmen are at their peak in the years between 28 and 34. Looking to the future though, this could be seen as a concern. It is much better to make gradual changes than to lose four or five experienced players in one fell swoop, which was the case when Lillee, Chappell and Marsh retired a year after Walters and when in the space of 3 Tests Martyn, Langer, Warne and McGrath retired.

By Greg Gibson

Gee wiz, I’m not prepared. Suddenly, out of the dark, damp cold of Melbourne winter, when my focus is on the increasingly good form of my Tigers and surviving the slightly torturous season of Vets footy I’ve imposed on myself, The Ashes has loomed.

I’ve watched with casual interest the scores from the Tour games, happily noting the two centuries Australia’s third Mitch and second Marsh has made on tour. Surely we’ve finally found a viable alternative to Watson I thought, but still it didn’t actually occur to me that the Tests would be happening so soon.

Less exciting news was the re-injured knee of Ryan Harris. AFL fans will note that there is very little chance of Ryan Harris disappearing, only to be replaced by Ryan Lake. A truly gutsy performer was big Ryan. He wrecked his knee to get Australia back to the top of Test cricket’s tree. It’s a shame his career is ended, but he was old, and we’ve got plenty of oldies in this side.

By Greg Gibson

I knew that something was missing from this season. I knew it, I knew it, I bloody knew it. I’d commented a few times to mates about how annoying it was hearing all the Fyfe love when Ablett wasn’t there to defend his title. It was annoying, and I had commented about it, but I had missed something crucial. I had missed how awesome it is to watch him play.

Despite my normally negative viewpoint, I’ve been happy to note that the 2015 AFL season has actually been pretty exciting. The style of play has been less stodgy, there have been plenty of upsets, some surprise teams surging up the ladder, and of course my own team finding some much needed consistency. But with all that, there was just something off, and that was the lack of Ablett weaving his magic.