Thoughts From The Metal Cavern: Recent Episodes

Bill Peters

Opinions are like toenails. Everyone has them, but you get treated like dirt if you pick your teeth with them. I can't claim to know everything about all the things I hold an opinion on, but I'll give you my ten cents worth and I'll let have five cents back. Will we agree with each other? Not all the time, but perhaps I'll give you something that is worth thinking about and worth discussing with your own circle. This is my poor man's version of a podcast. Welcome to Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.

For your consideration, here is episode thirteen of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it.

This week's rant comes in two parts.

Firstly, I will regale you with the joys of the communal kitchen of the workplace, and how enjoyably frustrating it can be when no matter what cleaning and tidying is done, the same scene replays over and over each time you return for your next cup of coffee.

Secondly, I muse on my own changing weaknesses when it comes to wanting to actually see what is happening in the outside world, and the madness that was on show with the crowds at Sydney's Vivid Festival.

So please join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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A Weekly Snapshot

For your consideration, here is episode thirteen of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it.

This week I’ve had a little bit of a change, going down the track that I have some points to offer you, some things that have happened to me over the past week that I'm just going to discuss with you. They aren’t big worldly events as I've been doing over the last few episodes, or remembrances of my old days watching movies or the schoolyard or anything like that. And while I’m sure that those things will come back into vogue on episodes down the track, today it's just me talking about what I did in the last week - which may be of interest to you, or could well bore the crap out of you.

But if you are interested in hearing about what I watched on TV this week with my daughter, the movie that I went to the cinemas to watch, what I'm cooking in the kitchen, or even what is coming out of my head at the moment, then why not stick around and check out what I've got to say.

So please join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

Welcome back to a new episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", the episodes of this podcast where Helen and Bill take on the roles vacated by David and Margaret and bring you the reviews that matter... on movies from the past that no doubt you have all seen before.

Today's episode features the five films that were nominated for Best Picture at the 78th Academy Awards in 2006, all released in 2005. So why not tune in to hear what these two cinefiles think about:

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

CRASH

CAPOTE

GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.

MUNICH

That's the agenda on today's episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", on the podcast where agreeing on anything is a full time commitment, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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For your consideration, here is episode twelve of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it. It has been a long time since I have, in the words of Cat Stevens, ‘remembered the days of the old school yard’. Some of those things were great, and other things were not. In my case any enduring trauma from the less than spectacular things that occurred has faded well and truly over time.One of the best parts of school was the games that were played at recess and at lunchtimes. Some of those games involved only a few friends, others felt as though it incorporated most of the entire school.Like all schools around the world, there were some games that were similar to what you would have played at your own school. However, some of those games would have adapted rules to take in the unique area that each school was in. And then there were games that could be said to unique on their own, made up by yourself to keep you entertained.All of those things were what I experienced in my school days, and on today’s episode I’m going to reminisce about some of them, and hopefully rekindle some memories for you about the games you used to play.So please join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

Welcome back to a new episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", the episodes of this podcast where Helen and Bill take on the roles vacated by David and Margaret and bring you the reviews that matter... on movies from the past that no doubt you have all seen before.

Today's episode features the five films that were nominated for Best Picture at the 77th Academy Awards in 2005, all released in 2004. So why not tune in to hear what these two cinefiles think about:

MILLION DOLLAR BABY

SIDEWAYS

FINDING NEVERLAND

RAY

THE AVIATOR

That's the agenda on today's episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", on the podcast where agreeing on anything is a full time commitment, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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For your consideration, here is episode eleven of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it.

In Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day has rolled around again, and with it the annual discussion and remembrance of the same day back in 1915 when the first troops were dropped onto the shores of Gallipoli, and the start of a battle that has become a part of folklore for both of these countries.

In the years since, the day has become one where we remember the sacrifice a generation of young men made in the name of King and Country, with traditions of the dawn service, the march, and the two-up. But in more recent times, have those traditions held up, or have they been overtaken by the need to make sporting events the major focus of the day in a masquerade of celebrating that sacrifice. And perhaps more to the point, is the day as relevant to the younger generations now, some 110 years after the outbreak of what was known as The Great War.

On today’s discussion, I am going to ramble on about my memories growing up of ANZAC Day, and how the way I have looked at the day has changed over the intervening years.

So please join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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For your consideration, here is episode ten of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it.

As this podcast has moved away from being the sports-heavy discussion that it started out to be and has become more a reflection on things I’ve seen and done and thought about in my life, I have had several episodes which talk about movies and the spectacle of watching them. And today's episode is no different.

Like most of you, I was able to enjoy movies from a young age, and especially so in going to the cinema and enjoying that experience. So, on today’s episode I’m going to talk about my first forays to the cinema, what I saw, who I went with, and what are my memories of those films along with the cinemas I watched them in. And perhaps those of you who are of my vintage will pick up on some similarities to what you watched, and those of you who are younger may wonder just what was so attractive at that time.

So please join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

For your consideration, here is episode nine of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it.We’ve just moved through the Easter period, a time when Christians all around the world celebrate the resurrection of God’s son and signifies the most important event of their faith. It was a time of miracles and of God demonstrating his power and omnipotence through his son, and a belief he will one day return to expunge the wicked and reward the faithful.As someone who believes in a different set of circumstances, what it got me to thinking about once again is how certain events through your life can combine to create the life you are now living, and how even the slightest of tweaks to certain moments in my own timeline would have changed everything that brought about where I am right now.On today’s ponderous thoughts, I’m going to expand on a few of those moments in time that have set me on the course I have been on over the course of my 54 and some years, to show just how much things could change if just one small event had not occurred when and how it did, along with discussing where my thoughts differ on divine intervention and fate.So, join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

For your consideration, here is episode eight of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it. Easter is upon us again, and as we have reached the period where more people are excited about their four day weekend than anything else that surrounds the concept, let’s have a conversation about just where we stand with this whole... tradition... in the year 2024.Just what is it about Easter that makes this time of year special to every single person in a completely different way? Whether it is about celebrating the sacrifice of one man’s life for the lives of all, and then his supposed resurrection, or whether it is celebrating the arrival of the bunny loaded up with chocolate eggs and other various animals for kids to feast on without any qualms of their parents (for one day of the year) or whether it is just the masses who are availed of a four day weekend without working – of course now suitably ignoring all of those who still have to work over this period, in many cases without the penalty rates they were once afforded for doing so. Whatever it is, everyone has a different take on it. So what does it all actually boil down to, and is there any way all of it can still be correlated together in this more modern of times? That will be the topic of today’s episode.So, join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

For your consideration, here is episode seven of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it.

Over the years, it seems to have become increasingly easy for movie makers looking to make a quick buck to do one of two things, rather than seek out original ideas in order to make a decent and hopefully profitable movie.

One of course is to make the sequel, a movie that continues on in the same vein as another already successful movie, and continue that story on with the same characters, hoping to lure back the same people to spend their money without really knowing if it will be any good or not.

The second is to just remake an old movie, take the basic storyline and characters within that movie, and remake it with different actors and sometimes a slightly different storyline, in the hope that the same people who enjoyed the original film will turn up again to see it again, but a different version of it.

On today’s episode, we’ll take a look at some upcoming versions of these types of films, and discuss the pros and cons to what may eventuate from them.

So, join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

For your consideration, here is episode six of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it.

How many of you remember “We Are the World”? Better yet, how many of you KNOW “We Are the World”? In this day and age it’s a reasonable question. On top of that, how many remember “Do They Know It’s Christmas”? Better yet, does ANYONE know about “Stars”?

1985 was a big year for charity songs for the purpose of raising funds for poverty in Africa, all of which culminated in the Live Aid concert that became the biggest music event of all time.

A new documentary has landed on Netflix that goes behind the scenes of “We Are the World”, but there are others out there on the other songs as well, and this week I binge watched them all, and then put together my thoughts on both the songs and the docos for your listening pleasure.

So, join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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Welcome back to a new episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", the episodes of this podcast where Helen and Bill take on the roles vacated by David and Margaret and bring you the reviews that matter... on movies from the past that no doubt you have all seen before.

Today's episode features the five films that were nominated for Best Picture at the 76th Academy Awards in 2004, all released in 2003. So why not tune in to hear what these two cinefiles think about:

SEABISCUIT

LOST IN TRANSLATION

MYSTIC RIVER

MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING

That's the agenda on today's episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", on the podcast where agreeing on anything is a full time commitment, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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For your consideration, here is episode five of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the weekly rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life, where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it.Taylor Swift fever has hit Australia, and for the past week it has been impossible to get past it. From watching the first ever Superbowl where the actual teams playing were the sideshow to the main event, to spending another few hours frivolously trying to procure tickets to her upcoming Sydney concerts, my week seems to have inextricably intertwined with the Swiftmeister. So today, I’ll talk about the SwiftBowl and the craziness that surrounded it, the ludicrous nature of trying to get tickets, what my daughter will be doing instead of being in the stadium, and the episode of my new favourite Taylor Swift podcast that I listened to in order to glean some reason to all of this madness.So, join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of “It's a Ponderous Life”, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

Welcome back to a new episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", the episodes of this podcast where Helen and Bill take on the roles vacated by David and Margaret and bring you the reviews that matter... on movies from the past that no doubt you have all seen before.Today's episode features the five films that were nominated for Best Picture at the 75th Academy Awards in 2003, all released in 2002. So why not tune in to hear what these two cinefiles think about:THE HOURSCHICAGOTHE PIANISTGANGS OF NEW YORKTHE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERSThat's the agenda on today's episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", on the podcast where agreeing on anything is a full time commitment, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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For your consideration, here is episode four of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the daily rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it.

Today I converse on how, having been subjected to six straight weeks of non stop ads telling me all about the returning shows on the commercial networks while watching the cricket, the tennis, and whatever equates to that on Channel 10, I must relate on the start of the three big reality shows that have started this week, along with the three big quiz shows that have also begun their annual trek on the television. In general, my lowly regarded opinion on their existence is what you can listen to here.

So join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of It's a Ponderous Life, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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For your consideration, here is episode three of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the daily rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it.

Today I reveal just how I use music in my life to retain my sanity in different situations, and discuss just how much music is involved in my day-to-day life. The way that certain songs can send me back in time to places that I never visit in my memories except for when a certain song triggers that said memory.

So join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of It's a Ponderous Life, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

Welcome back to a new episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", the episodes of this podcast where Helen and Bill take on the roles vacated by David and Margaret and bring you the reviews that matter... on movies from the past that no doubt you have all seen before.Today's episode features the five films that were nominated for Best Picture at the 74th Academy Awards in 2002, all released in 2001. So why not tune in to hear what these two cinefiles think about:GOSFORD PARKMOULIN ROUGEA BEAUTIFUL MINDIN THE BEDROOMTHE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RINGThat's the agenda on today's episode of "Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema", on the podcast where agreeing on anything is a full time commitment, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

It's the return of Josh and Bill, and they indeed do talk a lot of crap, and today it has been recorded for a podcast episode.

Why not stop by as these two buffoons of news offer you the following important discussion points:

Tetris has been defeated! And no one really knew that was a thing! But we discuss the worldwide implications.
Dogs eating homework? How about dogs so smart they avoid having to go on a plane by eating a passport!
Steamboat Willie starring a cartoon mouse that we are not allowed to name, is public domain, and we talk about cartoon horror movies that come as a result.
David Warner lost his baggy green caps. Or did he?! We contemplate the outcome.
Jerome Luai has signed with the Wests Tigers. One of us didn't know this. We ponder the likely outcomes.
The Melbourne Nude Cycling event has been cancelled after this year! Possible reasons for this outcome are collated.

That's the agenda on 2024's newest podcast sensation, Josh and Bill Talk Crap, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern

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It has been a lengthy spell of eating and drinking over the Xmas and New Year period, but Helen and Bill are back for the next episode in their series of Retro Cinema, where they take on the roles vacated by David and Margaret and bring you the reviews that matter... on movies from the past that no doubt you have all seen before.

Today's episode features the five films that were nominated for Best Picture at the 2001 Academy Awards, all released in 2000. So why not tune in to hear what these two cinefiles think about:

ERIN BROCKOVICH

TRAFFIC

GLADIATOR

CHOCOLAT

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON

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On today's episode of The Casual Mankadder, we attack and discuss three current points of contention in the world of Australian cricket.

Firstly, we preview the start of the Test series and discuss the chances of both Pakistan and Australia in the First Test in Perth and the series overall, and whether Pakistan's less than full strength squad is a match for Australia's bully boys on home turf.

Secondly, we discuss the recent bust up of Mitch Johnson's comments on the David Warner retirement junket, and whether or not he was justified in his comments on Warner's form or his legacy in again bringing up the shadow of Newlands in 2018.

Finally, we once again go over the debate of the upcoming opening at the top of the order for the Australian Test team, and debate heatedly the foolish notion of offering that place to a middle order white ball slogger instead of a hardened red ball four day specialist opener.

That's the agenda on today's episode of The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast that will continues to roll its eyes at the selection process, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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After a lengthy delay for a reworking of the format (and for Helen to stop watching Gilmore Girls and The Crown), Helen and Bill are back for the next episode in their series of Retro Cinema, where they take on the roles vacated by David and Margaret and bring you the reviews that matter... on movies from the past that no doubt you have all seen before.

Today's episode features the five films that were nominated for Best Picture at the 2000 Academy Awards, all released in 1999. So why noy tune in to hear what these two cinefiles think about:

THE INSIDER

THE CIDER HOUSE RULES

AMERICAN BEAUTY

THE SIXTH SENSE

THE GREEN MILE

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On todays episode of The Casual Mankadder, we preview the upcoming 13th edition of Australia’s Big Bash League. Despite the dwindling ability to attract the top flight short form cricketers from around the world, the BBL still showcases the best talent that Australian domestic cricket has to offer as they look to force their way into the national setup. Today we’ll take a look at each team's squad, and assess just where they stand in the pecking order for this season's competition. I will then offer my thoughts on where they will all finish from 8th to 1st, giving everyone something to laugh at as the season progresses. That’s the agenda for today’s episode of The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast that knows it is only a few short weeks until Boxing Day, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

For your consideration, here is episode two of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the daily rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it.

Today's discussion points include my recent catch-up of TV viewing, including the second season of "Loki", the first of the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials, and the reality show based on the TV hit "Squid Game". I also start a version of "On the Couch with Bill" as I delve a little into my current home life and the travails that follow. And I've been asked once again by my daughter to buy her concert tickets, this time to Coldplay, which you can follow in real time.

So join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of It's a Ponderous Life, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today's scintillating episode of The Casual Mankadder, we discuss the current Australia Test summer and the fact that the red ball game should already be well underway with me watching in the Metal Cavern with beer and chilli chips, and instead it won't be until mid-December that we see that first day of the First Test. The cons pile up and we look at them all. Following that we take a dive into the whole new world of disputed catches, and how the current plethora of batters standing their ground and expecting the catch to be referred to the Third Umpire may only get worse. We discuss the possible outcomes.

All of that makes up today's episode of The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast that just wants the first day of the First Test to hurry up and get here, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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There has been a lot of talk in recent times about the so-called failure of blockbuster films at the cinema, that they have failed to take in the kinds of first weekend box office returns that they were expected to, or were EXPECTED to. The movie doesn’t seem to get judged on how good it is anymore, it's just how much money it makes in its first week of release at the cinema.

So why is this happening? Why is it all about that first week reaction to people paying their money and stampeding to the cinemas? And why is it that some movies get those big returns and others don’t? And what could this mean going forward in the creation and release of movies for the big and/or small screen?

That’s the agenda on today’s episode of the podcast that is listened to by 25% of this house’s residents, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today's episode of The Casual Mankadder, we take a look at two quite amazing incidents that have occurred in the 2023 World Cup over the past couple of days.Firstly we discuss the first ever incident of a player being dismissed 'timed out' in an International match. We look at the timeline of what occurred, talk about why it happened, and the various options that COULD have been taken by all parties involved and why in the long run they did not.Secondly, last night's match saw arguably the greatest innings in ODI history played out by Glenn Maxwell, an innings under both game pressure and body wreaking pressure that it hard to believe that it could actually occur. We discuss Australia's part in practically losing their match against Afghanistan, before Glenn 'The Messiah" Maxwell brought Australia back from the dead to pull off an incredible and incredulous victory.That's the talking points on today's episode of The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast that is still the bastion of all things cricket, even the most unbelievable, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

For your consideration, here is the debut episode of "It's a Ponderous Life", the place where I offer you the daily rantings of a middle aged man trying to come to grips with life where the wife and kids all have their own lives that don't require me, and I get fist shakingly annoyed at the world as I see it.

Today's discussion points include my sudden onset of the symptoms of Mondayitis, and just what could be the root cause of this occurrence. Then we can have a few thoughts on Melbourne Cup Day, about gambling in particular, and why does everyone get so excited by it? And finally the onset of Xmas Fever, and the need to count down the days until it arrives from six months out, and how it suddenly seems fine to put up decorations and lights seven weeks prior.

So join me in my quest to get a few things off my chest, in another episodic enlightenment of It's a Ponderous Life, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today's edition of The Casual Mankadder, England supporters and websites have finally accepted that their team can no longer reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, something all other cricket watchers worked out two weeks ago. With a week left of the preliminary rounds of the longest World Cup in existence, we discuss the likely semi-final match up rather than wait for the commentators to actually say it.

Following this we have a look at the state of New South Wales cricket, as they find themselves in one of the greatest non-winning slumps in their history, and discuss whether sticking with players despite their wretched form only because of the money and years put into them at junior pathways level is what is causing this greif, or if the talent left in the state just isn't up to the mark.

That's today's talking points on The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast that continues to derive great pleasure from England's pain, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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Om today's edition of The Casual Mankadder, we take a look at the demise of England from this year's World Cup tournament, and not only bathe in the joy that comes with such a situation, but take a look at a couple of the glaring errors made on the selection front that have contributed to the poor showing of 'Dad's Army'.

Then we also have a look at Australia's week, and how two wins in two matches papers over the obvious flaws in their campaign, and what they may have to do in order to not waste the fortune that has come their way if they want to make the most of their now-likely semi final place.

Finally, Mark Nicholas as the incoming President of the MCC recently stated that he believed all ODI cricket should only occur in the years when a World Cup is being played. We discuss just what this may mean for the investment in England's future ODI team, as well as what would be a better solution to decreasing the amount of cricket in the International calendar.

That's the agenda on today's episode of The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast that wallows in the tears of the Barmy Army, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern

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On today's episode of The Casual Mankadder, we sweep back to the World Cup in India, and discuss just how many losses a team can suffer before they find themselves eliminated from the semi-final race, and why that means England cannot afford any more slip ups if they want to retain their title.

Then we head back to Australia, and your host comes up with a radical plan to implement in the back half of the summer once David Warner has finally left the building, and we try to build the perfect opening combination in preparation for the arrival of India the following Summer.

That's the agenda on today's episode of The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast that lives for English defeat, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today’s episode of the podcast, we go forth with another in our series of The Casual Mankadder, where we concentrate on the world of cricket, and discuss the items of interest from around the globe. The World Cup is in its second week, and after upset victories for Afghanistan and Netherlands, we talk about whether the possible repercussions for England and South Africa are tournament destroying, or just a blip on the radar to their chances of reaching the semi finals. Following this, it’s time to have a rant over the position Australia finds itself after three rounds, and whether the points I came up with after their opening two losses are still relevant after their victory in their third match against Sri Lanka. That’s the agenda in todays edition of The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast that knows all too well it can’t steer clear of an argument on cricket, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

What would happen if you didn’t watch the news every night? If you were sick of the fact that it only made you angry and upset, and to avoid those emotions you gave up on the overhyped and politically skewed information the news networks threw at you? And what if, instead, you relied on hearsay and social media ridiculousness for your entertainment?

Well, what you would get is this, the Metal Cavern Musings. On each episode I will sit down with a co-host and we’ll discuss the news behind the social media rantings behind the news, and get to the reality of the real world’s reality.

On episode two I’m joined by regular contributor Josh Peters, as we negotiate our way through Metal Cavern Musings, right here on the podcast that isn’t afraid to try something new because we are running out of ideas fast, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today’s cricketing episode, Australia has completed its five match ODI series in South Africa, losing 3-2 after winning the first two matches. Despite the Australian squad being weakened by injuries it was a disappointing finish to what has been a solid opening couple of weeks. On this episode we will discuss how the missing senior players allowed the squad to show most depth, and give several of their fringe players an opportunity to shine and see if they could make it on the big stage. We also discuss the all rounders experiment, to cram as many of them into the team to have as many options available, and how that experiment appears to have fallen flat with the lack of specialist batters in the line up. And we consider what may happen in the upcoming five match series against India as we head into the World Cup. All of that and much more of my rambling thoughts on todays edition of The Casual Mankadder, right here on Thoughts From the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

What would happen if you didn’t watch the news every night? If you were sick of the fact that it only made you angry and upset, and to avoid those emotions you gave up on the overhyped and politically skewed information the news networks threw at you? And what if, instead, you relied on hearsay and social media ridiculousness for your entertainment? Well, what you would get is this, the Metal Cavern Musings. On each episode I will sit down with a co-host and we’ll discuss the news behind the social media rantings behind the news, and get to the reality of the real world’s reality. On episode one I’m joined by Josh Peters, as we negotiate our way through Metal Cavern Musings, right here on the podcast that isn’t afraid to try something new because we are running out of ideas fast, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

On today's episode of The Casual Mankadder, we discuss some of the major talking points in world cricket that you may have missed.

Firstly we talk about the England squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India, and in particular about the decision to cast aside the up-and-coming prodigy Harry Brook, who has been all the English media have been able to talk about in 2023, in order to resurrect the Saviour in Ben Stokes, and how this may affect the teams chances, but also just what kind of message it sends to someone who has probably spent the past 12 months dreaming of playing in the tournament.

Secondly, we discuss the decision by Cricket South Africa to refuse to send any of their international players who are contracted to teams in their domestic T20 tournament, the SA20, on their two Test tour of New Zealand in February next year. Not only will it mean that a virtual 2nd XI will play Test cricket, but it is the first crack in the wall that Test cricket is the number one priority for all cricket countries, and what that means going forward.

Thirdly we discuss Australia's T20 squad to tour South Africa in September, and how the unavailability of so many senior stars could well be the making of Australia going forward, not only in white ball cricket, but into the longer form of the game as well.

All of that is here on this episode of The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast where summer never ends, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

It has been 25 years since Seinfeld concluded with one of the worst ever concluding episodes in the history of television. For a show that had changed pop culture, and introduced so many new catchphrases into our lexicon, it was a disappointing conclusion.

Over the past 12 months I have fastidiously worked my way through the whole nine series once again and revelled in the joy that is their best moments,and cringed at their least. And through this was raised the age-old question - what ARE the best episodes of Seinfeld? So I have had a stab at it, and offer you my favourite ten episodes from Seinfeld, and over two action packed episodes of this podcast you can hear what I think they are.

Here is the third and final part of that discussion for your listening please, on the podcast where there is no soup for you, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

It has been 25 years since Seinfeld concluded with one of the worst ever concluding episodes in the history of television. For a show that had changed pop culture, and introduced so many new catchphrases into our lexicon, it was a disappointing conclusion. Over the past 12 months I have fastidiously worked my way through the whole nine series once again and revelled in the joy that is their best moments,and cringed at their least. And through this was raised the age-old question - what ARE the best episodes of Seinfeld? So I have had a stab at it, and offer you my favourite ten episodes from Seinfeld, and over two action packed episodes of this podcast you can hear what I think they are. Here is the second part of that discussion for your listening please, on the podcast where the sea is angry my friends, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

It has been 25 years since Seinfeld concluded with one of the worst ever concluding episodes in the history of television. For a show that had changed pop culture, and introduced so many new catchphrases into our lexicon, it was a disappointing conclusion.

Over the past 12 months I have fastidiously worked my way through the whole nine series once again and revelled in the joy that is their best moments,and cringed at their least. And through this was raised the age-old question - what ARE the best episodes of Seinfeld?

So I have had a stab at it, and offer you my favourite ten episodes from Seinfeld, and over two action packed episodes of this podcast you can hear what I think they are.

Here is the first part of that discussion for your listening please, on the podcast where pretzels are always making me thirsty, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

In recent years, July in Australia has become the arid wasteland for tens of thousands of drinkers as they undertake the Dry July campaign, a 31 day stretch where they raise funds to support cancer sufferers by saying no to alcohol consumption. It is an honorable ideal for an excellent cause. Why then, supposedly flying in the face of this, have I set out some years ago to go in an opposite direction, and have my own campaign called the 31 Days of Scotch, where I indeed extoll having a drink a day through the same long stretch of days? Many have questioned why I do this, and what I hope to achieve. Well the answers to all of your questions can be found on today's podcast episode, the first of Season 7 of this podcast, where even the most banal of ideals can find a way to be discussed, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

On today's edition of The Casual Mankadder, we take a look at the start of the Women's Ashes series between England and Australia, and the success of the one-off Test match between the two that has started the series in style, focusing on a couple of wonderful batting performances and the showcase of spin bowling from Sophie Eccleston and Ashleigh Gardner. We also check in on the Cricket World Cup Qualifiers for the men's competition happening in Zimbabwe, and I find myself eating huge lumps of humble pie over the success of the format, and just how well it has given the associate nations a chance to stake their claim for a place in India in October, and how the senior nations are being given a run for their money. We will also preview the 2nd Men's Ashes Test, and ask ourselves if, after all of the rubbish that has been spoken since the conclusion of the 1st Test, both teams can produce a match that truly showcases the skills of both teams on the field. All of that and much much less on today's episode of The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast that continues to fight each day on minimal sleep, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

Welcome to this week's edition of The Hindsight Report, the show where we discuss sports and other world affairs with the benefit of knowing the result, or just ignoring the blindingly obvious, and proving just what a powerful tool that hindsight is. This is where opinions can be expressed based on an infinitesimal amount of knowledge and expert opinion, all with the likelihood that it comes crashing down around us in the fullness of time. This week we concentrate on the outcome of Match 2 of the 2023 rugby league State of Origin series, which the media (generally the game's exclusive host the Nine Network in Australia) constantly berated us with was the 'most important and greatest Match 2 in history'. On the back of the shellacking Queensland once again handed the hapless New South Wales side 32-6, today we will look at three serious aspects of the current state of the State of Origin series. Firstly, we will look at the game itself, and just where the winning and losing of the match occurred, and what affect several incidents within the game contributed to that scoreline. Secondly we will take a look at the coaches and their selection issues, and ponder just what the final outcome of Game 2 holds in store for them going forward. Thirdly, we will dissect the TV coverage of the match itself, and wish that our 14 year old son was not interested in watching the match in the future so that we could all just turn over to something else. That’s today's discussion on The Hindsight Report, where opinions and conclusions can be considered as reliable as the interpretation of the forward pass, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern

On today's edition of The Casual Mankadder, we look back over the highs and lows of the 1st Ashes Test from Edgbaston, once called England's Fortress, which was once again breached by those damn convicts who showed up and refused to be bashed up by Bazball. We'll discuss Australia's recent history in close contest Test matches before delving into the state of play in the 1st Test, and look at all of the discussion points raised by the media during the match, and come up with our own conclusions as to where the match may have turned, and the performances that went into those twists occurring. We'll also ponder whether Ollie Robinson is really the right person to be besmirching Usman Khawaja's batting, in a match where Uzzy was named player of the match, and Ollie was pretty much just a fking p*k. All of that and much more on today's episode of The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast that has lost a bit of sleep over the last five nights, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

Welcome to the first edition of The Hindsight Report, the show where we discuss sports and other world affairs with the benefit of knowing the result, or just ignoring the blindingly obvious, and proving just what a powerful tool that hindsight is. It is also where opinions can be expressed based on an infinitesimal amount of knowledge and expert opinion, all with the likelihood that it comes crashing down around us in the fullness of time. On today's episode, we explore the futility of the NSW Blues Origin team selections for Game 2 of this years series and wonder what Brad Fittler will do once they lose this match. We will ponder whether or not another new coach at the St George Illawarra Dragons is any match for the continued incompetence of the club's managing board. We discuss whether Novak Djokovic is the GOAT of men’s tennis or just a conveniently placed centrifuge within a unqualified group of under performed contenders. And finally we will pursue whether Australian golf will be given a chance to once again be centre stage now that the money men of LIV and the PGA of the US and Europe have formed their own Evil Empire and no longer need the extremities of the golf tour to create a pretend battlefield. That’s today's discussion on The Hindsight Report, where opinions come with a free pen that leaks ink all over your shirt, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern

The World Test Championship Final has been played out at The Oval in London, with a match between the so-called two best Test teams in the world at present.

On today's program, we will look back at the match in full - the scores, the drama, the good, the bad and the ugly.

We cast our eye over the match details, and where the game was won and lost. We also take a more detailed look at each team's performance, and determine if the match itself serves as a satisfying determination of the winner.

We also discuss the situation with over rates in this match and in Test cricket as a whole, whether the pitch was up to Test match standard or just a ploy to help the home team in the upcoming Ashes series, and whether technology should be used in the decion of on-field catches, and just how the over-reaction to a fair catch would have been interpreted if it had been by Australian supporters.

All of that can be found here on The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast where a cricket tragic continues his monologue incessantly, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

Welcome to the next enthralling installment of Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema! Taking on the task of watching every Academy Award nominated film from each year, and then dissecting it for the pleasure of the listening audience, giving them a rating, and then tearing into each other giving their own opinions of who the awards should have gone to, this modern day 'David and Margaret' try to keep things friendly as they trade barbs over the obvious differences of opinion that a married couple would have, in judging the worth of the movies they watch. So tune in every episode to hear about what films they have watched on this rotation, and judge for yourself just who is the cinephile and who is the... opposite of a cinephile... This episode is all about 1952, with the films being: High Noon Ivanhoe Moulin Rouge The Quiet Man The Greatest Show on Earth

On today's episode of In League with the NRL:

We take a glance at the selections of both teams for the first match in this year's State of Origin series, and ponder over whether New South Wales has once again given Queensland a free kick with the team they have selected. Is form now not a pre-requisite for being picked, but merely a happy coincidence if the players chosen are also the best in their position?

Then we cast our eye over several of the decisions made on the field over the past weekend in the NRL, and talk about the influence the bunker now has on the game, and the indiscretion that is shown in not only deciding what incidents have precedence in regards to either being a reportable and sin-binning offence and those that get a free pass and are not acted on until after the match has been concluded. And, what influence this is having on the eventual results of the match.

That's the program for today on the least informed rugby league podcast episodes on the intraweb, In League with the NRL, on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

On a brand new segment on the Thoughts from the Metal Cavern podcast, welcome to...Helen & Bill Do Retro Cinema!Taking on the task of watching every Academy Award nominated film from each year, and then dissecting it for the pleasure of the listening audience, giving them a rating, and then tearing into each other giving their own opinions of who the awards should have gone to, this modern day 'David and Margaret' try to keep things friendly as they trade barbs over the obvious differences of opinion that a married couple would have, in judging the worth of the movies they watch.So tune in every episode to hear about what films they have watched on this rotation, and judge for yourself just who is the cinephile and who is the... opposite of a cinephile...This episode is all about 1957, with the films being:12 Angry MenPeyton PlaceSayonaraWitness for the ProsecutionThe Bridge on the River Kwai

On today's first episode of our winter series of The Casual Mankadder, we delve into the hot topics that current in the world of cricket.

The states have begun their recruiting drive for next season's Sheffield Shield, with a number of players already having made big moves across the border, and we discuss what may be behind those moves.

We then have a deeper look at the problems that beset New South Wales and their two seasons of rubbish cricket, the spectre that Pathways cricket may have had on them and how a return to performance-based selections could well be the way forward.

Australia and India, and to a lesser extent England have all decided against warm-up matches before the start of their big upcoming tours, and we discuss the reasons why and whether or not it is a smart move (spoiler alert - it isn't).

We finish off discussing the recent reports of prominent IPL owners suggesting International cricket is on borrowed time and that franchise T20 cricket is the way of the future, and just what that landscape could look like.

It's the return of The Casual Mankadder, hopefully on a weekly basis for the duration of the winter cricket follies, here on the podcast that rarely relies on the soft signal, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

On today's episode of In League with the NRL, we have a change of format to try and streamline exactly where we are going with this part of the podcast.

Today we discuss the hip drop tackle and just what direction the lawmakers what to take with it, and also discuss other rules that have had a rush of rulings in a four week period before being dismissed without a thought forever again.

Then we have a look at the draw for Magic Round, and wonder why the Brisbane-based teams seem to have an away game when they are playing at home.

And finally we look back at the ladder at the time of the previous two Magic Rounds, and if they offer any insights as to how the 2023 premiership may be panning out.

That's the line up for today's episode of In League with the NRL, here on the podcast that knows a forward pass even if the officials don't, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

The Australian Test squad for the World Test Championship final and the first two Tests of the 2023 Ashes series has been announced, and as expected there were the usual couple of talking points.

Once again, somehow, a Marsh from Western Australia has managed to be named in the Test arena, despite almost zero form on the board to back his claims for selection. We discuss just what it is that gives him this magical permanent hold on a position, and how his selection in front of Michael Neser at the very least is an abomination.

David Warner, as expected, was also given a ticket on the plane to England, and while it was probably not as explosive, we discuss just where his selection leaves the team going forward, and how it gives Australia little fresh air for the entire tour because his spot will be discussed ad nauseum for the entire Test series.

Those are today's discussion points on this edition of The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast that wishes it had as much dirt on the Australian Selectors as some of the players chosen obviously do, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

Most poeple with any sort of taste in comedy and movies have seen the classic Monty Python film, Life of Brian. Now well over 40 years old, it is still one of the best and most cutting and humorous films ever made, with scenes and lines that are still quoted today.

At some stage in the last 25 years, it became a tradition in my household to rewatch it every Easter, while others instead go to church and avoid eating meat and those other religious traditions that I don't follow. And having heard other films who put audio tracks on DVDs with the actors and/or directors of a film explaining what they were doing at certain parts of the film, I decided this year that I would watch the movie again, and share my own thoughts and experiences of Life of Brian over the last 40 years.

So if you are in the mood, and would like to watch the movie in a different light, why not get it on your screen now, get ready to press play, and listen to me as I offer a new joy of one of the greats, on today's episode of the podcast that is NOT the messiah, but just a very naughty boy, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

On this week's episode of In League With the NRL, we take a look back on the results of Round 5, and discuss whether teams such as the Sharks and the Cowboys and the Raiders are already in serious trouble in regards to playing finals in 2023, and how much longer they can go before it becomes a real issue.On today's Talking Point, I attended two games in last weekend's round - a first in the past 30 years - and I discuss the two venues I attended, and talk about the positives and negatives of both stadiums and their facilities and fans.Then after a quick look at the ladder I offer you my tips for the upcoming weekend, and hope I haven't put the mocka on the Eels in their clash with the Tigers.All of that on the latest installment of In League With the NRL, on the podcast that always seems too close to the sideline, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

On today's episode, we check out once again WHAT'S ON THE BOX? Our semi-regular look at what I've been watching on TV and hopefully on occasions at the cinema.Firstly we discuss the show "Shrinking" that has just completed Season 1 on Apple TV, and discuss who is behind its creation, the amazing cast that has been assembled to be in it, and how the storylines come together in order to create a watchable show.Then we discuss the film "65" which has just been released at the cinemas, and I talk about how I went in thinking it would be a reasonable way to spend an hour and a half, and how I got much more than I expected.That's today's edition of WHAT'S ON THE BOX? on the podcast that continues to keep an eye out for rogue dinosaurs, THOUGHTS FROM THE METAL CAVERN.

Yes it’s that time of the week again, where we have a look back at the weekend in the NRL and sort out the men from the other men. After we discuss what happened over the weekend, the Talking Point this week focuses on several refereeing decisions that cropped up again, and we’ll wonder if they can ever been adjudicated in a correct fashion. Finally you get my awesome tips for next weekend, which are worth their weight in gold plated nickel. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/metalcavern/message

On today's episode of 'What's on the Box?', we have look at some films that were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture at the recent awards night. And no, there is little chance of me watching "Top Gun: Maverick" or "Avatar: The Way of Water" any time soon, so you can forget all about them.But I have managed to have seen three of those eight movies nominated. The eventual winner "Everything Everywhere All At Once", the Baz Luhrmann adaption of "Elvis", and the remake of the war novel "All Quiet on the Western Front". So to day we'll discuss these three very different films, and how (or whether) they qualify to be considered as 'Best Films' for the past 12 months.After this, I've also completed the new documentary on Netflix titled "MH370: The Plan That Disappeared" which delves into the many many scenarios and theories over the disappearance of this aircraft nine years ago, and whether it is worthy of your time.That's the content available for you on today's television related episode of the podcast that continues to offer opinions that no one cares about, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/metalcavern/message

Welcome back to this week’s uninformed wrap of Week 3 of the NRL. On this week’s episode, we discuss just how jammy the NRL is, with their blockbuster Friday night clash being the first home derby between the Broncos and the Dolphins - and it ends up being a top of the table clash. Then we discuss the ludicrously thought out decision of Mitchell Moses and his management trying to up his asking price with the Eels and the Tigers by trying to suggest that the Roosters were interested in entering the fray. And we take a look at just how the Tigers have begun the season, and how a possible Easter Monday clash could be between two clubs without a victory on the board. And to finish off, I offer my uninformed tips for Round 4, so you can put a line through them in your tipping comp. That’s this week's agenda on In League with the NRL, on the podcast with little to no rugby league credibility, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/metalcavern/message

On todays cricket related episode, we take a look back at Australia’s abortive Test tour of India, and look at where mistakes were made by the team and the selectors, and if the result would have been different had they done things differently. Following this, we take a preliminary look at the possible selections for England and the World Test championship final, and how they may differ from the squad from India. All of this coming up on the podcast that doesn’t know that it can’t get any more wrong than it already is, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/metalcavern/message

The league season has arrived, and already the sponsors boxes have exploded with grief over where rugby league might be headed in 2023.On today's first episode of 2023 (yes it's round two but we've been a little busy here in podcast land), we talk about the surprise packets of the first two rounds of the competition, and sicuss whether or not they may be flashes in the pan or the real deal.Then we unpack just where the Tigers are after their amusing attempts to get back in the game, and whether or not they can come back from the depths they have sunk to.This week the NRL suggested that they were looking to become a 20 team competition in the near future, and we discuss the logistical nightmare that that would cause, and offer some suggestions as to the only way it could happen if it was going to work.The Dragons have come out and asked 1500 of their members and fans what they would think about a change in name and identity. We run the rule over their thoughts and laugh out loud at what the only true solution to that problem is.And then you can revel in the laughability that is my tips for round three, and offer you those teams you can immediately put a line through.Yes, it's 2023, and this is In League with the NRL, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/metalcavern/message

The Border-Gavaskar Test series is about to begin in India, and the mind games have already begun. Whispers of doctored pitches have already started, which conveniently leave out how some of Australia's wickets have played in recent years. With the series on our doorstep, I discuss the recent history of the series, and whether or not Australia has the ability and desire to block out the outside noise and just play cricket.

The Women's T20 World Cup is also about to commence in South Africa, with Australia looking to add yet another trophy to their bulging trophy case. We have a quick look over the groupings and discuss where the tournament could be headed.

And Aaron Finch has retired from all international cricket, leaving the T20 captaincy up for grabs. Even though 2023 is all about Test cricket, we have a short look at the candidates for his position.

So yes, its all about cricket today, on the podcast that never forgets to apply liberal amounts of sunscreen, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern

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Most of us have spent our lives supporting certain sports teams, for better or for worse. Some have supported the same teams all of their lives, others have chopped and changed to suit their own purposes. But one of the more interesting questions to ask about this phenomenon is this - just how did you come about to choosing to support that team or teams? And, if you have changed your allegiance over the years, why?

On today's episode, I'll run you through the teams that I have supported since childhood, and go through what drove me to attach myself to those teams and just what it has meant to me and my life, and through this and a few examples of others that I know, we will try to come to some assessment as to the legitimacy and psychotherapy that it requires as a result.

That's today's discussion on the podcast that is as successful as the teams its creator supports, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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Recent times - well, really forever - has seen turmoil within the DC Extended Universe, with storylines of movies varying wildly from character to character, and no real thread that can link them all in a cohesive and believable way. All that looks to be up for a big change with the announcement that James Gunn and Peter Safran are taking on the role of creating a uniform outline of characters and movies that will look to restart and reinvigorate the DC line of super heroes on the big screen.

On today's episode, I will run through a basic timeline of what has occurred in the past, and then give my own ideas on which way I would like to see the future run when it comes to those signature characters of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman, as well as which of the other DC super heroes I would like to see given the cinematic treatment. And, how I see future "Justice League"-type movies going, and how they should be made.

So if you are a geek and nerd like me, let me offer you a few of my baseless ideas, as we move into the movie verse on the podcast that still thinks it's living in its teenage years, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today's edition of The Casual Mankadder, the past week has had its fair share of controversial incidents on the cricket field in the many varied varieties of the game. And while they have all been spoken about at length during the week, when it comes to adding my own opinion to the mix, I like to do it in this forum.

Whether it be Adam Zampa and his abortive attempt at the mankad, and whether or not it should be allowed (still! after all this time!), or whether it be about the use of technology to decide whether a catch has been taken by freezing one frame of the TV coverage, or whether a catch taken over the boundary should ever be allowed to be given as a dismissal, or how a day Test can continue to be stopped for bad light but a day/night Test can never suffer from this, or whether over rates will ever be fixed - all of that is discussed on today's episode.

So, if you are brave enough to har my right or wrong conclusions, come forth for a half hour of cricket expletives, right here on The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast that is still under Umpires Call, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today's thrilling episode, we move into the realm of the 'limited series' stories that are proliferating the streaming services of the world. And given that the rain is beginning to wipe out all possibility of watching cricket on the TV (much to this podcast's chagrin) then the opportunity to catch up with a good long-form television series is becoming more readily available.

In the spirit of this, today we will examine two such series that I have binge-watched over the past week as I wait to pick up my children from their part time jobs at 11.00pm at night. Both are thriller mysteries, which offer a different approach to the mystery genre. First there is "Inside Man", starring the wonderful Stanley Tucci and David Tennant, and secondly we have a look at "Three Pines" where the protagonist is played by the equally excellent Alfred Molina.

That is the subject matter for today's rambling conversation, on the podcast that continues to morph into all things beautiful, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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2023 is upon us, and as we all look forward to a bigger and brighter year... I have spent my short downtime in watching some movies. And seeing as I have done this, I felt as though I would share my thoughts on them for you here, to either inspire you to sit down and watch them, or to run to the hills to avoid them.Today's episode features the new release from Rian Johnson, a follow up to his 2020 murder mystery "Knives Out" titled "Glass Onion", and also a retrospective look at an Adam Sandler film that I haven't watched for 22 years, in order to see if first (and only) impressions were indeed correct, "Little Nicky".So why not spend 20-odd minutes listening to my dulcet tones as we start a new chapter of the podcast that still has no rhyme or reason, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/metalcavern/message

We're into the home stretch, and for those that can really be bothered to check out what has been said and who has been interviewed, please click the button and enjoy it as much as you can.

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Day 2 for the Greater Southern Marlins at the NSW Youth Championships in cricket, and the Dubbo weather turned it on for everyone - cold and gale winds to start the day, and heat and death sun by the end. In between the Marlins played two T20 matches, and felt both the desolation of defeat and the elation of victory.

If you are of mind to hear the summary of the day's play, and hear some of the finest interviews you could ever imagine, then come join us for today's edition of The Casual Mankadder, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern

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What else would you want to do on the week before Xmas than journey out to Dubbo and play four days of cricket? Well 12 kids aged 14 and 15 have decided that is exactly what they want to do, so just for a laugh, let's have a talk to a few of them during their first match of the tournament, as the Greater Southern Marlins take on the Southern Districts.

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We're back! No one asked for us to return, no one cares that we are doing this, but we are back anyway.

Cricket's most innovative duo return for another season of the Big Bash, and each day will offer you their preview of what is to come.

Today they preview Match 1 of the tournament, with the clash between the Thunder and the Stars.

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When it comes to the greatest cartoons of all time, one that surely has to be in the mix is the “Wacky Races”, which ran for an amazingly short time in the late 1960’s. Inspired by one of the great comedy films of the 1960’s, it also spawned two spin-off series that had their own success, being “Stop the Pigeon!” and “The Perils of Penelope Pitstop”. On today’s podcast episode, we’ll take a look back at what made the “Wacky Races” so special and amusing, and also at those other pieces that made the puzzle so much fun. Because when it comes to great cartoon shows, the ones that made our childhood Saturday mornings so enjoyable, this is one that I still recall so fondly. That’s the agenda on today’s episode of the podcast that sometimes wishes it could return to those heady teenage years of the 1980’s, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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The fact that there was almost no interest in a series of cricket matches between Australia and England played over the past week is not necessarily a reason to go into all out panic mode, but it has to be a wake up call to everyone involved, most especially the International Cricket Council in regards to the scheduling of international cricket in an already overpacked market place, and Cricket Australia in their promotion of such series, and also where they should be played.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss the events of what occurred over that week of cricket, where England showed as much interest in playing more cricket as I do when surveying a plate of steamed broccoli, where the crowds were larger at Keith Grey Oval watching two Albion Park teams play each other, and how the series was as relevant as the Higher School Certificate will be for the kids who just endured it in about six months time.

That's the agenda on today's edition of The Almanack Report, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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Win the toss and bowl. Predictable bowlers. Average fielding. Power batting line up stacked to ensure at least two come off so they can win any game shown up when none of them come off. And a New Zealand team that was well prepared and wanted to win.

Australia's hope of defending their title on home turf is almost over at the first hurdle after an abysmal outing at the Sydney Cricket Ground last night. And all of the gambles that the tam went in with in the belief it was their best chance of winning all blew up in their face.

On today's episode we discuss - or actually just vent - the outcome of the match, and look forward to see if there is any way back for men in canary yellow.

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On today's episode of The Almanack Report, it's time to have a look at the T20 World Cup which began in Australia this week. In particular, we will discuss just how Australia's chances look as they try to defend the title they won last year in the UAE. And in doing so we run the rule over the side that looks like taking the field for the home team, and how the selectors have decided to go all-in on a squad that firing on less than four cylinders, and whether their bluff will pay off. As well as this - who will be the eventual winner of a tournament that already feels like it is happening too often to really take seriously. With India playing more international T20 cricket than any other country in the last 12 months, can they grab one of the three cricket World titles for their own? Or will England, Pakistan, New Zealand or the canary yellow of Australia be able to thwart them once again. Finally, Australia has a new ODI captain, one that was not unexpected, but in the process raises questions as to just how much he will do the job, and who will be his bag carrier when he is not. And the David Warner captaincy question has not quite died down yet, so we'll discuss how that may yet play out. All of that is coming up on this episode of the podcast that continues to bore the crap out of any listeners silly enough to tune in, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today's episode of The Almanack Report, we have a casual discussion about the perfect time of year we find ourselves in when it comes to watching sport on TV.

The rugby league World Cup has begun in the UK, and while the usual contenders have put their stamp on the tournament immediately, a couple of the contenders who we thought may have been pushing the glamour teams have discovered that international league is a different breed of the game than club league. We talk about the first games of the tournament and their implications here.

The T20 World Cup has begun, with the initial qualifying for the main round, and once again teams have discovered that winning the toss and fielding first, which most of the teams in the competition seem to want to do, is not the ideal way to win a game of cricket. I vent my thoughts for the thousandth time here.

And the WBBL has also begun its season, with a couple of teams out of the gates early and showing that they are hell bent on putting away their opponents early, while a couple of teams look like they are in for a long season. we discuss the early exchanges.

All of that coming up on today's episode of the podcast where too much sport is never enough, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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Cricket season has finally arrived, and after three seasons that have been impacted by bushfires, COVID-19 and endless flooding rain, cricketers on the South Coast are hoping that 2022/23 can provide a relatively interruption-free season of hard fought cricket. The combining of the 1st Grade competition of teams from both the South Coast and Shoalhaven areas has added a touch of intrigue to the new season, and a full 22 rounds of cricket to decide just who is the number one cricket club in the area. It has all led me to offer you my unqualified, uninformed, uninteresting preview of the upcoming 1st Grade season, by running through the recent three seasons of both competitions, and then a fairly broadly rambling assessment of all of the teams involved, based solely on MyCricket and what little knowledge I have retained. So if that kind of thing interests you, climb aboard, for this episode of the podcast that continues to offer less informed views than Brendan Julien's commentary, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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It is 40 years ago this week since the first episode of the TV comedy "Cheers" was aired in the US. It is another of those shows that anyone who grew up through the 1980's would remember and would have watched, and surely laughed at. It ran for 11 seasons and a total of 275 episodes and managed to survive a lacklustre start where average rating threatened its existence in the first two seasons. But it eventually established itself as one of the best shows on television, and made stars of several of its actors. On today's podcast episode, I go back through my own memories of the show, of the characters that became such a huge part of my life through my teenage years. Of how the show managed to survive the loss of some major characters and actually become a stronger and funnier show as a result. Of how it was often the secondary stories of each episode that actually drove the show. And how a show that was often marketed as being about the stars was only as good as it was because of the ensemble cast around them. All of that reminiscing is the star turn of today's episode of the podcast where everybody knows your name, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today's episode of the Almanack Report, we take a look at three major incidents in the world of sport over the last 24 hours.

The AFL Grand Final was another wipeout, with the game's "showpiece" again unable to live up to the finals series before it and becoming a blow out on the scoreboard and a game where one team confidently dominated while the other could barely raise a clean possession in anger. We look back at the carnage and discuss where it all went right, and wrong.

Overnight in the women's ODI between India and England, the final match for Jhulan Goswami the Indian legend has been overshadowed by the final wicket of the match, where the so-called dreaded Mankad raised its so-called ugly head once again, sparking another outcry of discussion over how it looks and why it should be allowed. Once again, I come out swinging in defence of the tactic, and discuss how a change in its placement in the Laws of Cricket doesn't seem to have changed people's derision of it.

Then we discuss the end of the match between Victoria and New South Wales in the first match of the domestic one day tournament from Friday, and wonder how it is that the captain of the batting team can somehow be in charge of who the captain of the bowling team can bowl when it doesn't suit his purposes.

That's the agenda on today's edition of The Almanack Report, brought to you by the podcast that always seems to be playing devils advocate, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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50 years ago today in the US, the series MAS*H first aired. It is a series that became one of the most beloved and watched television series of all time. It is also one that defied its own critics. Over the course of 11 seasons and 256 episodes, it managed to be considered a comedy, a sitcom, and a drama, sometimes all within one episode. It became essential viewing in its timeslot and in repeats. It created characters that are still quoted today, and its finale became the most watched television episode of all time.

On today's episode, I waffle on about what I know of the show, and what it meant to me in my childhood, and try to dredge up a few memories, in a poorly executed and completely unproduced episode that may at least give you cause to remember the show and perhaps inspire conversation amongst those you know.

That's the basis of today's discussion on the podcast that still claims ScoMo stole its idea for posting photos of curries, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today’s episode of the podcast no one listens to except me to make sure the volume levels are sort of correct, we discuss the world of sport that took place on Friday evening. The bloodbath that was the AFL preliminary final between Geelong and Brisbane. The bloodbath that was the qualifying semi between Parramatta and Canberra. And the intrinsic joy that is the return of the European Cricket Championship. And all of this while I am forced to slave away cleaning the house because I am the literal last man standing. All of that and a smidgen less in the bank, on today’s episode of the podcast that isn’t afraid to sledge the wife because you know she never listens to your podcast, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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It's taken me 192 episodes to realise that no one actually cares or listens to my podcast episodes, or what they are about. So I've gone freeform, just talking off the top of my head about random subjects that will be the complete opposite opinion of everyone else.

Interested? No, of course you aren't, or else you would have tuned in before. But just on the off chance, I ramble on here about the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the ODI series between Australia and New Zealand, the AFL finals series so far, and the schemozzle of the first week of the NRL finals.

All of that, and of course much less, on today's signature episode of Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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In recent times there has been a section of the cricketing media suggesting that the one day international is on borrowed time, and that it will be only Test cricket and T20 cricket that will remain down the track. From an Australian perspective, our national cricket team are playing like they have forgotten how to play the 50 over form of the game, that it requires a different set of skills from the other formats, and that sometimes different personnel are required to play it.

Over the last week and a half we have seen a worrying trend. Having completely overpowered Zimbabwe in the first two matches of this six match series in the Top End, Australia then collapsed improbably in their batting in the third match, which allowed Zimbabwe to register their first ever victory over Australia in this country, and then in the first match against New Zealand the top order batting was once again completely undone by the swinging ball, and the team only registered a narrow victory thanks to their impressive middle order coming to the fore once again.

Now we all know that I am wrong at least as often as I am right when it comes to cricketing matters, and that my opinions can often be full of bullet holes within moments of uttering them. But if you’d like to hear my thoughts on where the team may have gone right or wrong, and where we may go down the track when it comes to building towards the ODI World Cup in India next year, then feel free to tune in to this episode and find out just how mistaken I can be. All of that is for discussion on this episode of The Casual Mankadder, here on the podcast that has less regular listeners than the times Aaron Finch must change his front pad, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today's edition of The Almanack Report, the first ever BBL Draft occurred on Sunday, and despite the overtures of the presenters and commentators, did it really live up to the glamour and glitz that was promised? We discuss the outcome of the evening, and in particular how it affects the media rights holders who have pushed so hard to inject big name internationals into the tournament, only to have the eight BBL clubs renege on it and make it more about what suits their roster rather than Channel 7's TV coverage. As well as this, we take an overview of the 2nd ODI between Australia and Zimbabwe, a discussion that lasts almost as long as the match did, and try to dissect any talking points that we can from a match that lasted just 42 overs. That's what is the discussion points on today's episode of The Almanack Report, on the podcast that was hoping to reach Platinum status in the draft order but found itself instead in in toilet paper status, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today's edition of The Almanack Report, we celebrate the return of cricket to Australia's top end, and the joy there is of International cricket in Australia in August and September, while discussing just why there should be more of it. On top of this, we discuss the ins and outs of today first one day international between Australia and Zimbabwe, and what the main talking points of the game were.

That's on today's edition of The Almanack Report, on the podcast that don't like cricket, no, it loves it, Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.

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On today’s episode of The Almanack Report, the first post-Covid AFL season has reached the finals stage, and eight teams remain in the fight to take home the 2022 premiership cup. For ten teams however, their planning for 2023 has no doubt already begun. Some have coaching issues that have either just been solved or still require some patching up. The trade period is fast approaching, and these clubs will be furiously scribbling down what kind of players they require to ensure that next season they are still on the playing field and not on a four week bender instead. Today’s podcast episode runs its eyes over the ten clubs who have already begun their post-season mini-break, and hazard a guess as to whether they can make leaps and bounds in the right direction next season. That’s today’s edition of The Almanack Report, on the podcast that was also chasing Alastair Clarkson to help coach the crew, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today's edition of The Almanack Report, this podcast needs to end a debate that has been raging for some years, and it appears that ONLY this podcast can set this right. We did this with the question “Is Die Hard a Christmas movie” back in season 1, and now we intend to do so with this question. It has been the question that has seemingly stumped experts, theologians, astrophysicists, politicians, the everyday man and woman, and Italians for 60 years. It is a much more straight forward argument than whether or not God exists, whether or not an election was stolen, or whether a prime minister can essentially secretly take over the entire government by swearing himself in to every ministry without any consequence. It is a question where many people who claim to know the answer, are quite simply wrong. The question? It is a simple one. “Does pineapple belong on pizza”. The answer? Well, that is all coming up on The Almanack Report, on the podcast that has been pineapple free since 1969, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today’s episode of The Almanack Report, it’s a hard life being a Collingwood supporter, what with every other club’s supporters hating you because of your love of your team, and the joy they have when the Magpies fall over on or off the field. Well this past weekend has been one where it has paid off in spades, with the bombsite that has been the Essendon Football Club over the past week, and then the several results coming from one of the greatest last round matches ever in VFL/AFL history.

Today’s episode will have a look back at the week that dissolved for Essendon off the field, and just where it leaves them and, more importantly, their supporters, after a decade of constant torment. And then you can bask in the glory that can only come when a Collingwood victory and more Carlton misery come together in such a spectacular fashion.

That’s the line up on today’s Almanack Report, on the podcast is beginning to believe that the premiership could be cakewalk, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today's episode of The Almanack Report, England's resurgent efforts in Test cricket thanks to the so-dubbed 'Bazball' came crashing down around them during the week as they suffered an innings defeat against the underrated South African team. As a result they have gone from media darlings to media dogma in the space of a week. But was it just because of poor execution, as skipper Ben Stokes explained it, or were they out-Bazballed by the onset of Bouchball? The discussion today will highlight some of my thoughts on the match, and what the future may hold as we approach next week's 2nd Test.

As well as this, Brisbane hosted Melbourne in two football codes on Friday night, with both matches following a similar path and similar fortunes for all teams involved. And then on Saturday, in the NRL, these two teams next opponents had scintillating victories that had overzealous media types suggesting they were back in the premiership race because of their large wins over flaccid opposition. We discuss the situation and try to separate the hype from reality.

All of that coming up on today's edition of The Almanack Report, on the podcast that plays KiamaKollapseBall, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today's edition of The Almanack Report, the cricket world today has had a major conniption with the announcement that Trent Boult has been release from his central contract with New Zealand, essentially so he can tour the world and play in all of the T20 domestic competitions that now exist, that also offer more money than he could earn by remaining a New Zealand only cricketer. The immediate fear that has been plastered over the airwaves is that it is the beginning of the end for cricket as we know it, and that all the big stars will follow suit. Well, this isn't LIV Golf so you shouldn't be overly concerned about that. But rather than panic, surely this move can be seen in a different light. That instead of being the end of Test cricket and the sliding of the importance of international cricket, it could actually herald a new era of international cricket, by pruning away the dead wood, and allowing new buds to flourish and bloom to take their place. Rather than killing cricket, could this movement instead actually reinvigorate it? That is the discussion point on today's episode of The Almanack Report, on the podcast that is still waiting for its IPL contract to be ratified, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today's edition of The Almanack Report, in recent weeks we have seen the threat of cashed-up overseas T20 competitions start to wield a concerning influence over the future of Australia's cricket summer. First South Africa pulled out of their ODI series in Australia in January to start their own T20 franchise league. Then the UAE announced their own new league, and both shorter series began offering bigger money to players. India's IPL teams then invested heavily in the South African T20, and declared their player contracts would extend beyond the IPL itself. And then Dave Warner asked for a release to turn out for a T20 tournament that was in complete competition with the BBL.

We discuss the various ins and outs of how all of this could impact Australia's season, along with the next round of negotiations for both the Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian Cricketers Association and the TV networks for the rights to televise the game. All of that coming up on today's episode of the podcast that can't seem to keep its nose clean, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today's edition of The Almanack Report, season 2022 was supposed to be the year that Carlton finally got the most out of their 20 year rebuild, and bounced back into the AFL finals, while for their rivals Collingwood, it was to be a season where they would attempt to find something in the rubble that had been their past two years. It all started off according to plan, but the last 11 weeks have revealed a swift change in fortunes, and now it looks as though their seasons will be decided in a blockbuster final round match at the MCG in two weeks time. Today we discuss just what has been going on.

As well as this, I've finally managed to get back to the footy, and apart from dissecting the reasons why GWS and Essendon are holding up the base of the ladder, I wax lyrical about just how enjoyable it is to be back at the game amongst the crowds.

All of that is coming up on today's edition of The Almanack Report, on the podcast that knows how to play the game, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today's episode of The Almanack Report, there has been a whole lot of NRL fans screaming for blood over the past 24 hours over, you guessed it, refereeing decisions. The crowning glory of the final match of the weekend, where the Cowboys managed to get a last minute penalty and parlay that into a penalty goal to win their match over the Wests Tigers, has brought down social media and after-game sports programs around the nation. Well, in two states anyway.

But you should all know by now that this is all part of the overall plan. And because it obviously isn’t a secret anymore, I can share it with you today. The fact is, the NRL, among other sports competitions around the world, are as scripted as the WWE wrestling is. And just like the wrestling, that proclaimed it was ‘real’ right up until about 25 years ago, it is now time to reveal that rugby league is also no longer a real game, but a carefully formatted results-driven spectacle that most of the participants believe is real, but is widely known to the administrators and officials of the game that it is not.

Intrigued? Then come in a check out my totally not-unfounded argument, today on The Almanack Report, here on the podcast that is 47% accurate, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today's episode of The Almanack Report, Australia has fallen at the final hurdle in their Test series in Sri Lanka, but despite the disappointing way the game was lost, has Australia gained more than it lost over the last three months? We look at the way the game progressed, and discuss the ups and downs of the middle order batting of the team in that time.

David Warner's form in Tests has come to the media's attention again, with questions being asked about his longevity. But what is the real concern, his contributions on the scoreboard or the way he has gone about his innings. We have a conversation about where the problems may lie. And after the mooted inclusion of Glenn Maxwell for the final Test as a part time spinner batting at number eight, we dissect whether this move would have been worthy of inclusion or a backwards motion.

That's all for discussion on today's episode of The Almanack Report, on the podcast that surely Australia's selectors should be listening to, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On today's episode of The Almanack Report, things have gotten a little too power-hungry with those who are manning the Bunker in the NRL, something that came to the fore(arm) in last nights Knights-Rabbitohs game, when the end of the match became a farce. With the on field adjudicator looking to have defused a tough situation, the Bunker rose its head and decided to impose itself. Today we'll have a look at the repercussions of that action, and why if at all it was necessary.

In good news for some and not for most, Collingwood found a way to come back from a 29 point deficit against cellar dwellers North Melbourne to win their seventh successive match of the 2022 AFL season, and in the process continue to puzzle and annoy most supporters of the other 17 clubs. Is it significant that the Pies seem to win the close matches or is it just a matter of time before they crumble.

Those are today's discussion points on The Almanack Report, here on the podcast that knows how to play the game, Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.

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On this episode of The Almanack Report, Brandon Smith has said what many supporters watching games at home have said for years, but he decided to say it to the referee in the middle of a match, while his team had the ball and was attacking their opponents line. Given that the Melbourne Storm in the past have had the referee wearing their number 9 jersey, is this turn of events something that could change the Storm's season, and just how do Sydney Roosters supporters come into this equation? In other discussions, Nick Kyrgios has heard the two greatest words in sport - "DE-FAULT" - and is in to the Wimbledon Men's Final, but why is it that so many of Australia's twenty-somethings think he is worthy of their support? And six weeks ago the Melbourne Demons were being spoken of as possible undefeated champions in 2022, and we discuss where the AFL competition is just six weeks later. That's today's discussion on The Almanack Report, on the podcast that is full of cheating bastards, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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On this episode of The Almanack Report, Nick Kyrgios has fought his way through just as many min-scandals as tennis matches at this year's Wimbledon Championships, on his way to his first ever grand slam semi-final. In having a look back at his fortnight, is it time to concede that he may well be living out the plot of the movie "Happy Gilmore", and that he may well be fated to finally prove (to himself at least) that he has reached his destiny.

Also, the Wests Tigers are looking to secure their coach for the 'new era' of the club, and media reports in recent days suggest that that person may already be in place to take on the role. We discuss the what has been going on, and whether any candidate who is available for the role is actually going to be able to resurrect their fortunes.

That's today's discussion on the Almanack Report, right here on podcast that cannot be serious, Thoughts From the Metal Cavern

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On today's episode of The Almanack Report, Australia has come out and thrashed Sri Lanka in the 1st Test of their two match Test series in Galle, by showing a refreshing change in their batting against spin and their spin against a batting attack. In conditions that have put the tourists in a spin in past history, a positive attitude and plans that drew from that gave them a much better chance of success. Today's episode will include a discussion of the important pieces of the puzzle that fell in to place over those three days, and then offer some thoughts on what more needs to be looked at going forward.

That's all on today's episode of the podcast that still laughs at the thought of Shane Watson being referred to as an all-rounder, Thoughst From the Metal Cavern.

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On this episode of The Almanack Report, eligibility for state and international representation came into question once again this week, with Penrith and NSW winger Brian To'o declaring his intention to play for Samoa at the end of year rugby league festivities of the World Cup. It created some discussion between fans on whether or not a player could choose to play for their state in the Origin series, and yet still be allowed to play for a different country when it came to the International game.

Today we will take a look at To'o's case, and a number of others who are facing the same choice as he is, and discuss whether they have a right to two pieces of completely different pie, or whether they have to choose one pie or the other. And in doing this, we look at how times have changed in the way that representative teams are selected, and whether or not that plays into the current dilemma that some players are facing.

That's today's discussion on the Almanack Report, right here on podcast that is only eligible for one selection criteria, Thoughts From the Metal Cavern

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On this edition of The Almanack Report, State of Origin II saw any thoughts of a dead rubber third game thrown out the window (to the audible sighs of Channel 9 and the NRL) with the Blues being able to turn around their performance from game one and get up for a victory on their second home turf at Optus Stadium in Perth. And through the twists and turns of the match, the positives and the negatives, the controversy and the conquest, viewers once again had to put up with the chosen few of the Channel 9 commentary team, and suffer through their supposedly unbiased angles of the game. And perhaps I am the one who is biased (not the first time I've been accused of it) but there are a few things to bring up and discuss when it comes to the ignominy of being rated as an 'expert' commentator. Beyond that, the game had its own stars and moments, and it would be remiss of us not to mention a few of them and give them their moment in the sun. That's coming up on The Almanack Report, on the podcast that is far less negative than a conversation with Phil Gould, Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.

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On today's edition of The Almanack Report, international rugby league returned to the sporting calendar for the first time since the covid outbreak, and what a refreshing and amazing time it was. Six nations pitted against each other in three Tests, with proud men showing true emotion during the anthems as to what it meant to them to be able to represent their country in a rugby league Test match. W have a look back on what was a fantastic day for rugby league. Also, given its success, we then hurl abuse at the NRL and Channel 9 who have actively decided to cut this from next season's schedule despite everything positive that came from it, and wonder whether someone will come to their senses and ensure this isn't lost to the rugby league calendar each season. That's today's discussion on The Almanack Report, on the most over-underrated podcast on the planet, Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.

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On today's episode of The Almanack Report, coming out of the two years of Covid, cricket has managed to survive reasonably well, but it looks as though now the world bodies are looking for a way to recoup all of their monetary losses, and that revolves around the bastardised form of the game, T20 cricket. And the danger of over-proliferation of this less-cricket part of the sport is already well at hand, and is a threat to everything I love about the game. India has signalled its intention of asking for an extended window for its IPL tournament. England's The Hundred has already messed with the T20 format, and now we have the West Indies version of the 10 over a side game, The 6ixty. And in Australia, we are now going to have a draft introduced for international players wanting to play in the BBL.

Is any of this, and I do mean ANY, good for the sport as a whole? Is it what the spectator wants? And perhaps just as importantly, is there any room left in the annual calendar for anything but these shortened forms of the game?

That's today's agenda on The Almanack Report, right here on Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.

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On today's episode of The Almanack Report, can anyone understand how the Logies, Australia's so-called premier awards night for television, is still a thing? When Covid came along and made the whole thing disappear, there seemed to be not one iota of complaint from anyone in the industry or the viewing public. And yet, this week it has resurfaced, with all of the same problems. We'll have a run through of the most ridiculous parts of it right here.

Following this, Australia has risen to be champions of the world - in darts! Yes, the Australian duo of Simon Whitlock and Damon Heta have shocked the world in taking out the World Cup of Darts, something that needs to be celebrated by home darts experts everywhere.

That's today's agenda of The Almanack Report, right here on Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.

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On today's episode of The Almanack Report, the US Open golf provided a brilliant final nine holes with a three man battle to win the right to lift the cup, and saw three of the sports brightest talents showcase their skills on one of the world's toughest courses. It provided an interesting backdrop to the battle that has opened up between the PGA and LIV Golf, and we'll take a look at the circumstances surrounding what is no doubt just the beginning of the war.

Beyond this, FINA has become the first world sporting body to change its rule regarding the future of transgender athletes in its sport, by announcing it will have strict protocols in place for for athletes to adhere to in order to be allowed to compete at their elite championships. FINA's decision has seen a number of other bodies follow suit and announce they will be reviewing their procedures as well. But is this a fair and inclusive set of circumstances? We'll carefully navigate through the storm to discuss both sides of the argument.

That's today's agenda of The Almanack Report, right here on Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.

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On this episode of The Almanack Report, the NSW Blues have chosen their squad for the second State of Origin rugby league match of the season, and despite the coaches trying to play down why so many changes have been made, it smacks of a massive panic attack, or an admission that they completely stuffed up their selections for Game One. we take a look at the squad and try to come to grips with what has been done.

Australia has lost the third ODI in their series in Sri Lanka, but is it through a lack of first choice players, or has Sri Lanka just out-thought and outplayed their opponents? We take a look at the result, and make a suggestion or two about how the series has gone so far.

Those are today's talking points on The Almanack Report, on the podcast that is still trying to rediscover itself, Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.

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On today's first exploratory episode of The Almanack Report, we discuss the Gold Coast Titans continuing fade into obscurity in 2022, and wonder if they have anything left in the tank for the remainder of the season. We've also seen the start of the northern Test summer, and after a first day that saw 17 wickets fall can either team take any positives from that opening position.

Sure, so maybe there's a lot of sport here, but I'm sure you knew that going in. Now let's see if any of it is of any interest whatsoever.

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Australia's mens cricket schedule for the next 18 months has now been released, and it is one that is packed solid, such that the players will barely have time to take a breath. In amongst both the T20 World Cup and the ODI World Cup, Australia also has marquee Test tours of India and England, as well as plenty of other bilateral series in all three formats of the game mixed in between.

On today's episode of The Casual Mankadder, we will have a look at that schedule, and how an ability to have three focused sections of the calendar may well enable Australia to wind their way through to the best chances of success. We will also discuss just how important it will be to have more one-format players in these squads in order for Australia have the greatest success in that period coming up.

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Another round of footy is behind us, and with it an increasing injury toll that is beginning to affect some clubs as they look to push towards both the Origin period and their ability to play finals in 2022. We also came to learn that the obstruction rule is not as black-and-white as the NRL may have led us to believe, and that the sin-bin is having a much greater influence on matches now than it ever has before.

On today’s program we’ll go over the results of the eight matches played, and sort out the good from the average. Today’s Talking Point has a look at the fast approaching Origin series, and discusses whether it is as brilliant and world stopping as the NRL and Channel 9 would have us believe it is. Finally, after tipping 1 from 8 last week, I’ll offer you this week’s collection of thoughts on the next round so that you can ensure you steer as far clear of them as possible. That’s all coming up on this week’s episode of In League with the NRL, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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Australia woke on Sunday morning to the terrible news that former Australian all rounder, and in the top three of current cricket commentators Andrew Symonds, had died in a car crash aged just 46. On top of other recent losses of cricket greats in Rod Marsh and Shane Warne, this one felt harder. Symonds always carried himself like a normal bloke. He didn’t seek the limelight like Warne, he didn’t dedicate himself to being a coach, selector and administrator like Marsh. He stayed involved in cricket, but he also had his life away from it, and that’s what made him so accessible to ‘normal’ Australians.

As the country mourns, on today’s episode we will look back at Symmo’s career, and the ups and downs that made him so likeable, and why statistics don’t always tell the full story of a payers influence on the game of cricket. As well as this, we will delve into the Brisbane Heat’s decision not to re-sign foundation player Chris Lynn for next season’s BBL competition, and discuss whether this signals the fall of the last bastion of T20 cricket being seen as just entertainment as it becomes more about money than the fans. That’s today’s program of The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast where opinion seems to outweigh common sense – a bit like the mainstream media and politics – here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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Throw the coaching books out the window, forget about sitting down and trying to methodically work out your tips for each weekend, because it looks as though it is all just a complete waste of time. Magic Round didn’t provide a lot of what people might consider Magic, but it did provide some surprise results and matches that will have a far greater consequence on the outcome of the 2022 season than just picking up the two points.

On today’s episode we will once again try and work out what happens from week to week in this competition, where teams seem to be on fire one week and decimated the next, while teams that are all but dead and buried find a way to rise from the grave. Today’s Talking Point can really only be on the continuing tragedy that is the coaching career of Trent Barrett, and we try and see if there is any future for him down the track in the head coaching role. And just for fun, we’ll throw form out the window and have a bit of a flutter on some unlikely results as we try and tip some winners for next weekend in a competition that is as beguiling as it has ever been.

All of that coming up on today’s edition of “In League With the NRL”, on the podcast that has lasted longer than any Trent Barrett coaching appointment, “Thoughts from the Metal Cavern”.

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It has been an oft-quoted mantra in Australian cricket for 150 years. “If NSW cricket is strong, then Australian cricket is strong” as well as “NSW players get a baggy green cap when they get their first baggy blue cap, it just saves time later on”. For the past five or six years, NSW has provided the entire Test bowling line up as well as arguably its two best batsmen, and of course they have also been prevalent in the white ball teams as well. Now while this allows for the opportunity for players to come into the Shield team in their absence, there is still a lot of players who are changing states in order to get a chance at state level, and hoping to eventually push their cause for international selection. Given that this is the case, and has been for a very long time, has the time finally come to consider entering another team in the Sheffield Shield competition, as well as the domestic one day competition, in order to give more players exposure to that level of cricket without having to change states in order to find an opportunity?

On today’s episode we’ll discuss the pro’s and cons of such a situation, and whether or not this could fit into Australia’s already overcrowded domestic schedule, and of course whether it would be a benefit to Australian cricket or just a pie in the sky idea. That’s today’s discussion on The Casual Mankadder, the cricket podcast in a podcast of the podcast that is still podcasting along, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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So Round 9 wasn’t quite as simple a round to predict, though the upsets came from different angles and have shown up some deficiencies where one would not have expected. The Panthers lost a game, that at least can stop the speculation that a team could go through undefeated in the modern age. The Broncos came to Sydney without arguably their two most important players and still towelled up the Rabbits. The Knights and the Titans continued their decline and with it the health of the employment of their coaches going forward. The Storm failed to score 50 points in their clash against the Dragons, probably the one thing Craig Bellamy can get stuck into his team for this weekend, while the Warriors have again seemed to have changed their team with one from the underworld from the horror movie Us, as they got smashed by a 12 man Sharks team that had no right to win.

On today's episode we’ll have a look back at the round to try and decipher just what the hell is going on. Today’s Talking Point will discuss the mooted possibility last week of PNG becoming the 18thteam in the NRL, and whether that is a way to offset the discussion that there isn’t enough depth of players to allow a 17th team let alone an 18th. And of course we’ll look ahead to next week’s Magic Round and try to sort out whether we will see as many players dismissed this season as we did last season.

All of that and much much less on today’s edition of “In League With the NRL”, on the podcast that has as much credibility as a Will Smith apology, “Thoughts from the Metal Cavern”.

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It would be fair to say that Round 8 of the NRL contained its fair share of surprise results, either through unexpectedly close games or from upset results that will have turned a number of clubs on their ears. As always, we’ll run the rule over the weekend’s results and ponder whether they are something to worry about as we reach the 33% mark of the regular season. Today’s Talking Point brings us back to one of the bug bears of this program, the habit of laying down in tackles to gain an advantage, whether it be a penalty or a player going to the bin or a chance to level up a game late in the match, and if there is any solution that can deal with this if the players themselves are not going to do so. Finally, we’ll look at next weekend’s match ups and how the teams that collapsed this weekend can redeem themselves.

All of that and much much less on today’s edition of “In League With the NRL”, on the podcast that just keeps finding a way to resurrect itself, “Thoughts from the Metal Cavern”.

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On today’s episode you can listen to me carry on like a pork chop over the plethora of squads that Cricket Australia’s selectin panel has announced for the tour of Sri Lanka coming up in June and July. Four separate teams have been announced, including squads for all three formats of the international game, as well as an A team squad to help give some upcoming contenders a chance to show their wares. We’ll take a look at the surprise choices, the obvious losers, and whether we can work out what it shows in regards to their future selection policy. I’ll also discuss the appointment of the new England Test captain, along with the other shuffling of the deck chairs on the Titanic, and discuss if it will help as they approach that iceberg in the distance. Thanks for tuning in, and welcome back, to The Casual Mankadder, on the barest minimal podcast on the web, Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.

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On today’s episode you can listen to my dulcet tones as I bring forth five points arising from round 7 of the NRL, and offer up discussion points for you all to consider as a result. Have Penrith and Melbourne already done enough to lock in a Grand Final match up come the first Sunday in October? The Dragons and the Tigers have found a way to win, but will that be enough going forward? The Knights and the Titans played finals last season, so what’s gone wrong in 2022, and can they reverse the trend? Is Ricky Stuart quickly coming to a sticky end in his coaching term at the Raiders? And what the hell is going on with the high tackle rule in the NRL? Coming up you’ll be able to hear my ideas, and maybe they will correspond with a few of your own, on a sort of new segment I like to call "5th and Last! NRL Talking Points", on the least listened to podcast on the net, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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So we’ve reached the end of round four of the NRL season, and things are starting to settle into place. Have there been some surprise packets? Yes there have. Have there been some obvious points as well. My word there has. Would you say the season is over for some teams already? That’s a soft yes at this stage.

On today’s program we’ll take a look back at the results for round four and how the teams stack up their start to the season. Our Talking Point today has a look at forward passes, and whether this part of the game is ignored for some teams and not so much for others. And then we’ll check out the road ahead into Round five and see if we can’t pick a few winners for a change. All that coming up on this episode of In League With the NRL, right here on Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.

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As we have begun to come out of weeks and months of covid lockdowns and isolating for days or weeks on end because family has caught the virus, we have all slowly come around to realising that it would be nice to have get togethers. Do you remember them? They were events that you may have organised to celebrate a family member’s milestone, such as a birthday or anniversary, or to invite some friends over just to see them in person again, and converse with them face to face rather than over facetime or zoom. Yes, these things used to occur.

But you know what? There are some things about those events that I didn’t miss, and to be fair I had sort of forgotten about, and one of those was the preparation that goes on for several hours before the event begins, and then the aftermath that evening and into the next day.

And that will be the basis of today’s conversation. The pros and cons of what goes on before and after home gatherings, on today’s episode of Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.

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Super Saturday in the NRL is here again, with three games of varying quality and interest to get you through the day. So before you head to the fridge and grab a beer and one of your daughters Kristen Keene donuts, why not check in with Peters & Peters as they give you the good oil on all of todays matches. First up it's the Warriors and the Broncos, followed by the Sea Eagles and the Raiders, and then the Cowboys and the Roosters.

NRL #PetersAndPeters

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Thursday night NRL is here, and to bring your their thoughts on the Clash of the Year between the Titans and the Tigers, here is league’s most knowledgeable duo Peters & Peters!

Note: 'knowledgeable' could have been used for the purposes of humour.

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Where to now for Australia’s men's football team, the Socceroos. It has been a disastrous few months, winning only one of their last seven qualifying matches, and as a result failed to make automatic qualification for this year’s World Cup. Now they face an uncertain two knockout games against good opposition in order to be in Qatar later in the year. But is it a matter of poor planning and response over recent times, with Covid19 possibly as a reasonable excuse for the downturn, or has this been a long-term downfall, one that has been seen to be coming, but the hope was that it wouldn’t eventuate? To be honest, I’m a novice when it comes to the detailed ins and outs of soccer and its repercussions, but it doesn’t take a genius to see just where, on the surface at least, the sport in Australia is still falling down. That’s today’s talking point on this episode of the podcast where one person’s opinion CAN make a difference, here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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Is it time to just take the follow on out of cricket? For all of the lack of good it is, certainly at the international level, where it looks as though enforcing the follow on is a thing of the past. Teams rarely use it, wanting to retain the advantage they believe they have in bowling to the opposition last on a day five pitch, no matter what type of lead they have following the completion of the first innings of the match. Case in point is Australia in the recent series in Pakistan, when after the first innings of the 2nd Test, Australia led by 408 runs, more than 200 runs more than the point the follow on can be applied, and they refused to do so.

Obviously, there are different circumstances to each match, but given the lack of any ambition of any Test team to utilise it, could it indeed be stricken from the laws of cricket, and perhaps then open other avenues of forcing teams to find a way for victories?

That’s today’s talking point on this episode of the podcast where one person’s opinion CAN make a difference, here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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Has the game of rugby league evolved to the point that the law makers have to start thinking about the integrity of the competition when it comes to sin binning and sending off players during a game? We are only three rounds into the competition, and yet we have seen several matches that it could be said have been unfairly influenced by the fact that a team has been reduced to 12 players for a ten minute period, or in Newcastle's case last weekend, the majority of the match.

Now some will argue that’s the penalty a team must face for illegal play, but in the 2020’s is it time to re-evaluate those thoughts, in a sport that prides itself on being the hardest and most exciting of the winter sports, on ensuring that both teams have an equal chance of winning the match rather than handing one of them a huge numerical advantage.

That’s today’s Talking Point on another largely opinionated without knowledge episode of Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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It's the final day of the second round of the NRL for 2022, and there are two tough matches to negotiate within it. So why not leave it to your favourite duo Peters & Peters to get to the nitty gritty of the matches to offer you the reasons why two teams will win and two teams will walk away as complete losers.

Today's matches will be between the Knights and the Tigers, and the Bulldogs and the Broncos.

PetersAndPeters #NRL2022

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It’s Super Saturday… or at least that is what Josh tells me… and so Peters & Peters offer up their thoughts on todays three NRL matches for you to entirely dismiss with a wave of your hand.

So wade in and listen to three pretty average previews of today's matches between the Titans and the Warriors, The Sharks and the Eels, and the Cowboys and the Raiders.

PetersAndPeters #NRL2022

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Friday night rugby league is here to save the masses once again, and Peters & Peters return to offer their expert(less) opinion and commentary on tonight’s two matches in the NRL, with absolutely no bias against the Roosters.

Tonight's games are Dragons vs Panthers and Roosters vs Sea Eagles.

PetersAndPeters #NRL

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It's the start of Round 2 in the NRL, and your local sports duo Peters & Peters have this week been converted to Covid & Covid as the Peters household goes into isolation lockdown. Still, despite the obstacles, they have still found a way to get this afternoon's edition done, despite some social distancing issues and wifi issues that stopped other ways being used. Still, here they are with a slightly less informed preview of tonight's match between the Storm and the Rabbitohs.

PetersAndPeters #NRL

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We've reached the first Sunday of the season, and today you can be very well assured that one Peters has definitely got the right matches to review. Well, hopefully. So to finish off round one why not check out how accurate two guys can be who know nothing about rugby league!

Previewing:

Eels vs Titans

Cowboys vs Bulldogs.

PetersAndPeters #NRL

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It's the third day of the new NRL season, and with three games to break down, it's time for Peters & Peters to get back in front of the camera and give you the good oil on all three games.

Previewing:

Roosters vs Newcastle

Warriors vs Dragons

Tigers vs Storm.

PetersAndPeters #NRL

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Peters & Peters are back to offer their underwhelming and thoroughly unresearched opinions on tonight's big matches in the NRL. Come in and check it out!

Previewing 11/3/22

Raiders vs Sharks Round 1

Broncos vs Rabbitohs Round 1

PetersAndPeters #NRL

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YES! WE’RE BACK!!

Following absolutely no demand for our services, and the raging success of our Big Bash League (BBL) program, Peters & Peters is back anyway, to get you through the NRL season in style. Here’s our preview of tonight’s big match!

Previewing Panthers vs Sea Eagles Round 1 10/3/22.

PetersAndPeters #NRL

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Round 1 is done and dusted, and if you tip like I do it was a barren and broken wasteland of rugby league. And let’s face face, it is only round one. You can’t win the comp or even lose the comp in the first round, and in many ways you can hardly judge how a team is going to finish the season on their performance in their first true matchup of the season. And there are a lot of clubs who will be looking for forgiveness from their head coaches and their fans after this weekend’s games.

So let’s look back at those matches, and see if they offered us anything in the crystal ball for the 2022 NRL premiership. Then we’ll get into this week’s Talking Point, and let’s discuss just where we sit with the obstruction rule in rugby league at the moment, and whether it could be administered better to give a fairer assessment on its impact on results through the year. And then we’ll take a look at next weekend’s fixtures and see if we can find a few more winners than I managed this weekend. All of that is coming up on the World’s least informed NRL podcast. This is In League with the NRL, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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Welcome to a brand new season of In League With the NRL. It’s 2022, hopefully we have put covid to bed, and we can have a season where there are as few interruptions as possible. On today’s first episode, I’ll give you my exclusive preview of where all of the teams are going to finish in 2022, which gives you the jump start to get onto your bookie and bet on the exact opposite of what I say. So let’s not waste any time, let’s get started with the 2022 edition of In League With the NRL!

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Australia, somewhat surprisingly to some including me, won last year’s T20 World Cup, an achievement that relied heavily on players who had decided against playing any international T20’s in 2021 prior to the competition going ahead, while continuing to mine the riches of the IPL despite this. In achieving this victory, the team has set itself up for a repeat performance in this year’s T20 World Cup, which will be played in Australia during October and November.

As of the recording of this episode, Australia has won all four of their matches in the local series against the young Sri Lankan team, with both sides rotating players both due to injuries and covid infections. And while not everyone will agree, Australia’s victorious run for me has come from a combination of some good play, but also a complete lack of luck for the Sri Lankan contingent.

The current squad and performance does raise the question as to what sort of team Australia will go into the tournament with in eight months time. Given the short turnaround in tournaments, one could have been forgiven for thinking that a very similar 11 would line up in Australia’s first match that played in that final a few months ago, and yet already there are questions being asked over several members of that team, and whether or not a refreshed line up would be required, not only through current form or the lack thereof, but given the different conditions that the tournament will be played in.

On today’s program I’ll run the rule over a number of scenario’s, and as the title suggests, have a look at how Australia’s three longest serving members fit into the team as it now stands, and whether or not they will still be in the running come October. So if you are interested in the opinion of someone who is not Shane Warne and doesn’t carry all of the biases of Victorian mates or hand picked players he wants to force into the team through his constant praise of them, then join me as we move into another edition of The Casual Mankadder, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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When it comes to regular events, we have the rising and the falling of the sun, Shane Warne cutting off fellow commentators at will as well as belittling those players he dislikes and protecting those players he loves, and Will Pucovski finding another way in which to concuss himself which cuts off every comeback he makes the second he has returned to the field.

Very few of us would truly understand the position Pucovski finds himself in, and few of us would understand just what effect it has truly has on a person going forward. But let’s face it. One concussion would be a problem. Two would be something to start taking seriously. But when you have suffered at least ELEVEN concussions at a count… then there has to be something considered as to what the path forward should be. There has already been plenty of opinion throw around from all quarters, ranging from the player needing to quit the game to support for him to come back again at the earliest opportunity.

Now as we know, I have little factual evidence to back me up when it comes to my opinions on cricket, so my factual evidence on medical situations is much much less than that. What I do have is an opinion, one that may not be perfectly backed in all of the facts, but one that SURELY is one worth listening to… No?.... well, that also may be fair… but today I will be discussing the situation that exist around Will Pucovski, once the young kid who was the great hope of Australian cricket, whose whole career now hangs by a thread… on this episode of The Casual Mankadder, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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England’s 2021 Test record was one of the bleakest in the history of Test cricket, though arguably also one of the toughest. They lost a series in India where few teams have won over the past 30 years, they then lost a home series against New Zealand who were then crowned as World Test champions, and found themselves behind in a home series against India before covid issues put paid to the final Test of that series. They then headed to Australia where they have won only one series since 1987 and duly lost 4-0. In between that, they were beaten in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup, a tournament they had been expecting to win. All in all, very little went right over that 12 month period, and it was obvious to most that something had to change if they were to put a halt to the bleeding and start to climb back out of the cellar.

One of the questions requiring answering is – do they have the depth of players in the red ball game to do that? And just how would the England selectors – or selector – go about that? Well, that was answered this week with the announcement of the Test squad to travel to the West Indies for their three Test series, and it is fair to say that it has caused some controversy. So, with Australia currently more concerned about sacking successful coaches, today we’ll have a quick look over the squad that England has selected, and discuss whether or not the changes that have been made are sending the team into the right direction, or if it is just reshuffling deck chairs on the Titanic. So that is today’s discussion on The Casual Mankadder, on the podcast that professes to have some idea on certain issues, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern

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In several different ways over a period of many years, the governing body of cricket Australia has made decisions that have come back to bite them in their proverbial, decisions that have proved costly and embarrassing for Australian cricket and individuals involved in those decisions. And each time those things occur, most of the cricket loving public of the country say to themselves “well, hopefully this time the organization will have learned their lesson, and will ensure that such things will not happen again”. And every single time, the cricket loving public of Australia are proven to be incorrect.

We all watched as the debacle over the last ‘negotiations’ in the pay dispute for the Memorandum of Understanding dragged on, the 9 months where the standoff lasted, which then saw the agreement expire through the arrogance of the business people who now populate the board of CA, and how they eventually had to accede to the ACA and the players or risk losing hundreds of millions of dollars through lost tours. And then leading up to the Newlands debacle, when the players arrogance and behaviour on the field was so ordinary that fans began switching off in disgust, and yet nothing was done to reel them in. And then following the Newlands debacle, that was an obvious offshoot of this player arrogance, the board went hard at the senior players involved, and yet then stopped short of investigating if this ball tampering was a one off thing (which everyone will tell you was literally impossible) or in fact how deep and how long it had been going on, for fear of actually finding out the truth and having to act upon it. All of this resulted in much of the executive being moved on, and though it had been an incompetent time in Australian cricket on the field and in the board room, we could only hope that, surely, this kind of impotency would not occur again.

Error.

What we have seen in the last six months at an administrative level has not only directly contributed to some serious problems in Australian cricket, it threatens to derail all of the positive results that have come in that time. On today’s episode I will offer you my thoughts on those things that have occurred in that time period, my reasoning behind how they should have been handled, and whether or not they can be solved so as to not become bigger problems down the line. While I can’t back up any of these thoughts with complete knowledge of the facts or the support required to support any solutions, as always I can offer a passionate thought process from someone who loves the game of cricket. So if you have any interest in that, allow me to offer you an alternate narrative on this episode of The Casual Mankadder, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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The Australian men's cricket team has had a season out of the box. They took out the T20 World Cup title, the one major competition they had never won, and did so without anyone ever thinking they were a chance to do so. They then returned home to Australia to defend the Ashes, something they did handsomely and without ever looking as though they were in trouble, eventually winning the five Test series by 4-0. And shortly, they will depart to Pakistan to play their first cricket in that country since 1998, and thus be a flagbearer to help kickstart the popularity of the game at international level in that country. So, everything at the moment is golden, right?

Well, apparently not.

Today, after 12 months of infighting and leaked stories that have consistently undermined the Australian team’s head coach’s position without any actual source being revealed, and despite the head coach agreeing to mediation with CA to implement changes that had apparently been a directive of those leaking their disapproval of the coach, Justin Langer had come to the end of his rope, and decided to resign from the position rather than have his reputation tarnished any longer by CA’s inability to make a decision on the matter at hand.

So how did we get to this position, where a successful coach can be cast aside in such appalling fashion, while the perpetrators are able to remain anonymous? And just how will this affect the team going forward? On today’s episode I will speculate on all that has occurred and give you my ten cents worth – all completely free from any facts on the matter – on this edition of The Casual Mankadder.

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Australia has finished 2021 on an enormous high, while England has sunk to depths that they haven't experienced since the dark days of the 1990's. Questions remain for both sides, but are there any easy answers? On today's final episode for 2021, we discuss just where English Test cricket finds itself and wonder how much of the blame can be pointed towards administrators concentrating on white ball cricket and a single head selector/coach, and then we ponder whether Australia has been as dominant as the current score line suggests, and and what problems they may face as they head in to the new year.

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The Gabba has never been an easy place for opposing countries to come to and win. England hasn’t won there since 1986, with a draw in 2010 their only match that has saved a whitewash since then. But if ever they were a chance, surely it had to be this year. Neither team had been firing or had much cricket, but Australia had lost their captain and keeper, two of their strike bowlers were struggling, England’s bowling looked in good shape, and Shane Warner was doing most of the heavy lifting for them in the media by bagging every decision made in the Australian camp. So just how did it go so wrong for England? It wasn’t as if they didn’t have their chances in the match, but once again in Australia they appeared incapable of seizing the moment. On today’s episode, we’ll have a look at a few of those moments, and wonder whether there exists any ‘sliding doors’ moments for England, or whether it didn’t matter what card they’d played Australia would always have had a better hand. All that on the one podcast that isn’t afraid to speculate on how big an ego you have to have if you can’t just shut your mouth once in a while, on The Casual Mankadder, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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The day has finally arrived. The first day of the first Test of the summer. Australia's build up has been chaotic, England's has been under the radar. Rain has stooped both teams from the kind of match practice that they would have liked. But none of that matters now. If you have 20 minutes to spare and are interested in just what I can see as the strengths and weaknesses of both teams leading into today's play, then put in the earbuds and have a listen to today's episode of The Casual Mankadder.

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We are a week away from the 1stTest of this season Ashes series, the first to be played in the Covid pandemic years, and as a result there is a little more up in the air than usual. Both countries have just competed in the T20 World Cup, the one expected to win it fell in the semi-final, the one expected to be making up the numbers got up and won it. As a result the preparation of both sides has been compromised by both quarantine circumstances and the Brisbane November Rain, something not foretold in the Guns N Roses song of the same name. Apart from this, England’s lead up has been sublime, under the radar. The addition of a supposedly physically and mentally fit Ben Stokes has lifted their spirits and boosted their belief. Australia has lost a captain and wicket-keeper through yet another media scandal, their young star through yet another concussion, and several of their players under major form pressure. Taking all of this into account it begs the question – can England find a way to regain the Ashes on Australian soil and win down under as they did back in 2010/11? Is that such a far fetched possibility? Today I’ll be discussing the recent history of the two teams, and running the rule over the England squad in search for these answers, on todays edition of The Casual Mankadder, right here on Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.

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With Tim Paine having renounced the captaincy of the Australian Test team, now comes the problem of finding the right successor, something the selectors would have thought they had another few months to consider. But selecting the new captain is only a part of the problem that now surrounds the Australian Test team. There is also the problem of deciding on the vice-captain, the person who would likely cover the captain should something happen to him, a prospect that will be more daunting if indeed a fast bowler is chosen as the new captain. And could either the new captain or vice-captain actually come from someone who is not currently in the Test XI? And beyond that, there is still a decision that will need to be made as to whom the next Test wicket-keeper will be from a long list of highly qualified candidates, and just when that vacancy will in fact exist. A week ago the Australian line up for the Gabba looked a fairly simple exercise to sort out. Suddenly it has become an entirely different undertaking as the right mix of players and leaders must be found, and that mix isn’t as simple as it may appear on the surface. On today’s podcast episode I will try to navigate our way around some of the thought processes that the national selectors may be working their way through, and most probably will come to the absolute incorrect conclusions in the process. But hopefully that will add up to an interesting and entertaining discussion on The Casual Mankadder, right here on Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.

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There has been nothing good to have come out of the last four days in the Australian cricket news cycle. The euphoria of having won the men’s T20 World Cup has evaporated. The excitement of reaching the pointy end of this season’s WBBL tournament has been buried. Even the selection of the Ashes squad and the A team squad has now been thrown into chaos. I had decided a few days ago that this podcast episode would have been about the racism row that has broken out at the Yorkshire County Cricket Club, and how it has been dragging in well known players and ex-players from all over the shop, and at some stage I may well get back to that. But the sudden news conference on last Friday afternoon where Tim Paine announced his immediate retirement from the Australian captaincy of the Test team has taken on the focus of all of the media since that point in time – some of it well researched, and then the usual flop media who are more interested in gaining clickbait than actual journalism. So, for what it is worth, you can hear my ten cents worth here in regards to how this has all played out, and what the further ramifications are, on today’s edition of the Casual Mankadder, right here on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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So the Australian selectors have named their 15 man squad for the first two Ashes Tests, as well as an 11 man squad for Australia A, who will compete in a warm up fixture for the Ashes squad as well as playing match against the England Lions who are also in the country to do the same thing with England’s Ashes squad. It is the earliest any Ashes squad for a home series has ever been named, and while the problems to do with quarantining and the pandemic will have been uppermost in Cricket Australia’s minds, it also feels as though it was done to stop the ridiculous speculation that has been going on in the media over the last few weeks as to who will make the squad and who will be cast aside. So now that we have those squads, we can turn our attention to who is likely to make the final XI for Brisbane, and whether that team would change for Adelaide whatever the result is of the 1st Test.

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It’s a wonderful thing to be wrong, especially about such things that you think you have a reasonable knowledge of. Cricket for me is one of those things, and while I don’t have a lot of credits to back me up, I have over a long period of time found that some cricketing events back up what I think. That has absolutely not been true over the past month, where my many musings on winning the toss and batting in cricket is the only sure way of victory, that Australia just didn’t have the team or the form to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup, that Marcus Stoinis was a bit of a dodgy selection and would probably be a liability, and many others that I could list, all proved to be almost completely 100% wrong. And that’s okay, because I’m happy to stand by my thoughts at the time and accept the fact that I got it so wrong. But WHY was I, and many others, so far off the mark in so many ways?

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At the moment it is the media's favourite phrase - "ASHES BOLTER!!" Every time someone takes a bag of wickets, or crushes a century, it seems that they become an Ashes Bolter. But how much of that is cricket reality, and how much is media hype? On today's episode we have a look at a few of the names mentioned as "ASHES BOLTERS!!" and discuss just how much of a chance they have of figuring this summer.

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We've reached the semi-final stage of the 2020 (yes it is confusing) T20 World Cup, with four teams remaining and lots of questions to be answered. On today's episode we look back at how the also rans performed befor they were knocked out, and cast our eye over the four teams left to see what may happen this weekend.

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The cricket media used to be the most reliable section of journalism. There was little hysteria with extreme results, good or bad for the local team, and the analysis of the game was generally thoughtful and reserved. In the age of social media and parts of the media more interested in clickbait than actual commentary on the game, that kind of composure is becoming a thing of the past. Instead we have a multitude of former international cricketers who are more interested in having their voice heard above everyone else’s, and don’t mind too much if what they say today completely contradicts what they said yesterday, or what they will say tomorrow. I bring this up after the barrage of opinion that has come in the last three days, firstly over Australia’s unfortunate but not unexpected capitulation to England in their T20 World Cup clash, but also with India falling similarly to New Zealand and now in danger themselves of missing out on the semi-finals of the tournament. So as a result, what I can offer you today is my own opinion on what has transgressed over the past week or so, and see if I can outshout those ex-Test cricketers who seem to love to create drama, on today’s episode of The Casual Mankadder, right here on Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.

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Well, it’s Halloween…. again… and here we are in Australia and despite a pandemic that has raged for nigh on 20 months, it appears everyone is dressing up and going out trick or treating once again. So here today, I want to discuss three things with you. Firstly – should Australians be celebrating a Celtic holiday that was popularised in the United States when it has basically zero to do with our culture. Secondly – if you do like Halloween, then surely the only thing you should be doing is watching the Halloween movies, right? And thirdly, if you aren’t into watching movies, then maybe you just need to listen to some music… from Helloween? If any or all of that interests you, please hang around after the podcast intro music for today’s thrilling - or is that horrific – episode.

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In the past month, the Netflix South Korean limited series Squid Game has become the most watched show in the streaming platform’s history, reaching unprecedented levels of viewership. Telling the story of a dystopian present, where ordinary people with a need for money are coerced into playing kids games in the hope of a huge prize, but with a problematic future for those that lose those games, Squid Game has become a phenomenon, and has raised discussions around the globe not only of ‘how good is Squid Game?!’, but also of how different versions of the games shown could be used if the series was re-tweaked. On today’s episode, I’ll be discussing – is the show really as good as many people think? – as well as raising a few different games that could be used in a retelling of the story. That’s today’s discussion on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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The men's World T20 tournament starts in a few hours, and so it is time to consider two important questions. Can Australia win it? And if not, who will? Today on The Casual Mankadder I give you my thoughts on Australia's squad, how they will line up, and what they need to do to change up their recent poor T20 form in order to have a chance of making the semi-final stage. After that I'll give you my opinion on the favourites from each group, and who I think will make the semi-final stage. All of that on today's episode of The Casual Mankadder.

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There seems to be a lot of excitement in some overseas places and also on Fox Cricket who have the exclusive rights, to the beginning of the delayed men’s T20 World Cup, which gets underway tonight Australian time. And while we here at The Casual Mankadder are less enamored about the shortest form of the game at an international level, the first couple of weeks will at least showcase some of the lesser know nations as they try to force their way into the main draw. So on today’s episode we will have a quick look at their prospects, and see if there are any upset in the cards as we run through the teams on show.

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Yes, the WBBL starts tonight, and here on The Casual Mankadder, we like to put our money where our mouth is. And then generally lose it. So on today's episode we run through all of the competing teams, and give you a run down on where they will finish this season from 8 through to the number 1.

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On today's episode of The Casual Mankadder, we discuss the turmoil that exists with the Sheffield Shield, both on the field and off, and whether or not Cricket Australia could have done more to avoid the challenges that not face it. The women have won their series against India, but once again I decide to mouth off about the follies of winning the toss and inserting the opposition. And finally, apparently the ECB has agreed in principle to tour Australia for the Ashes this summer - but with so many integral pieces still up in the air, is it really a done deal?

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In the first of a planned 25 years of upcoming episodes, friends of almost 40 years get together on a Saturday and discuss the week in sports, politics, life and covid meltdowns. On today's first episode, these two giants of mediocrity discuss last week's NRL Grand Final, along with rules tweaking, the 17th NRL franchise and Benji Marshall's legacy. Alongside this there is also Toby Green's lengthy holiday into 2022, and just how a new BBL rule could prove to kill off the BBL rather than enhance it. All this and much much less on today's Saturday Session.

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As Australia creeps closer to being released from the grip of Covid lockdowns, this week has seen an outbreak on opinions of the fate of this summers men’s Ashes series and just who if anyone will tour for England. Today we discuss both sides of the argument and try to decide if there is a possibility of a compromise in the air.

The women’s Test on the Gold Coast has raised differing opinions on the tactics used by both teams in the contest, but overall I think they have been unfairly judged and I’ll offer my thoughts here as well.

And with the Sheffield Shield in limbo, it’s the WBBL that will dominate cricket viewing throughout October and we have a look at the great opportunity that holds for promoting the women's game at this level.

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Ravi Ashwin has managed to make the news again this week, this time by being solely blamed for taking an extra run after the ball thrown in had hit his batting partner and bounced away from the backup fielder. Not for the first time in his career he was accused of conduct unbecoming of "The Spirit of Cricket". On today's episode I will rant on once again about my feelings of that magical phrase and just how it is able to be twisted to mean just about anything, and suit the causes of one team to the detriment of the other.

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The ODI section of the Women's Cricket Series between Australia and India have been completed, and the series is a lot tighter than the score line suggests, and today we'll look at what has been occurring in Mackay. The Sheffield Shield is also (finally) underway, but has already hit a hurdle that may well spell disaster for the Australian summer ahead. David Warner has lost his spot (again) for his team in the Indian Premier League, and could this not only prove to be a stumbling block for Warner himself, but for Ausyralia heading into the World T20? And Moeen Ali has hung up his Test boots, and we discuss whether or not this is a tragedy for England or just pre-meditated.

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In round four of the Chip Challenge, there is drama, tears, anger and court action over the final result. It's a no holds barred episode as the decisions of some judges come under attack, and the final result is left completely up in the air until the final seconds. It is the most dramatic episode of the Chip Challenge yet, and is not to be missed.

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We've reached (finally) the third round of the Choc Challenge, and there are some surprising results, as the choc that was expected to be the number one popular choice surprisingly defeated on the day! Tune in for all the action.

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The decision by the ECB to abandon their tour of Pakistan this week, on top of India’s decision to abandon the 5th Test of their series against India two weeks ago, along with New Zealand’s decision to abandon their tour of Pakistan last week, not only leaves the cricket world in a state of flux, but also acts as a warning to Cricket Australia in their decision making over the next 12 months regarding our own standing in the cricket world. On today's episode we will look at the situation, and what steps Cricket Australia should consider to ensure they remain a leader of world cricket.

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Australia’s Test captain Tim Paine has just gone in for surgery on an injury to his neck which has apparently been causing him problems in training for almost two months. Although the prognosis is good and he currently claims he will be fine to lead his country onto the ground for the start of the 1st Test against England, it raises a few questions in regard to why it took so long to have the surgery in the first place, and just what may happen if he isn’t able to get himself right for the start of December. Today on the Casual Mankadder we’ll have a look at what all of it could mean for the start of our Test summer.

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Week 3 of the Chip Challenge, and the judges are really beginning to get into their roles, indeed beginning to even taking into account the health factor and sodium content of the chip. Madness. Anyway, five new chip varieties fight it out to make it to the next round in this episode of the Chip Challenge.

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It has been just over a week now since the 5th Test between England and India was 'abandoned' due to a positive covid outbreak in the Indian backroom staff. Since then, the back and forth between what the result of that match should be, and what the real reason for the 'abandonment' occurring was, has been a source of discussion. Which is just what we'll do here today on this episode of The Casual Mankadder.

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Controversy erupts on this week's edition of the Choc Challenge, as the four judges almost come to blows over the choices for the Ultimate Loser chocolate and then the winning chocolate that progresses through to the next round. Tension abounds as one of this weeks' chocalte actually fights it out for BOTH awards! Tune in to hear how it all unfolds!

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After the raging success of the 1st round of the Chip Challenge, we're back this week with seven new varieties of chips for our contestants to try, in the race to decide what is the best chip in this part of the multiverse. Tune in for all the excitement as the votes come down to the wire!

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If the inaugural Test between Australia and Afghanistan, set down for late November in Hobart, is cancelled due to the Taliban’s stance on women playing sport, which seems increasingly likely, then we can only hope that someone at Cricket Australia already has their thinking cap on and is ready to run with the best way to prepare our Test team for the upcoming Ashes series. Well as it turns out, that man with a plan is me, and on today's episode I'll run through what I think Cricket Australia should be doing. Also, India has won the 4th Test to take a 2-1 series lead against England, and we'll discuss just where the differences in the two teams lie.

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It's been on hiatus for awhile, but with the finals upon us, it's time to ramble on endlessly about the footy, and see just how many people I can disagree with on the subject at hand. We take a look at the final round shenanigans, discuss the pros and cons of the teams in the bottom eight, and then look ahead to this weekend's first finals - all here on In League With the NRL.

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After the amazing success of the introduction of the Chip Challenge - mainly from the members of the family that got to consume the chips - we've decided to take it a step further, and introduce... the Choc Challenge! Here then is the first round of the Choc Challenge, where hungry and sugar starved family members grab a cup of tea and charge in on five different chocolate bars to decide which one will progress to the next round.

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How bored are you getting with the Australian East Coast Lockdown? No doubt, after ten weeks of it, you, like us, are starting to get to a point where you need to find new ways of keeping yourself amused. So what do we do? We decide that what we need to do is start a competition that involves eating salty flavourful snacks, and then record it for posterity. So that’s how this came about – the Chip Challenge to decide, once and for all, what is the greatest chip every invented! Intrigued? Interested? Got nothing to do for 20 minutes? Then why don’t you join us for the first round of the Chip Challenge – brought to you, on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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Over the past couple of weeks there has been a very public and brutal bringing down of the Australia head cricket coach, not only from leaks to the media from within the playing group and the back room staff employed by the national team, but from further stories being aired every day from many news organisations. Exactly what the supposed problems within the closed walls of the Australian cricket team are is difficult to nail down as the information that is being aired seems incomplete and sketchy at best, just that there are disagreements with the coach and his methods. As the team heads towards an attempt to annex the T20 World Cup and then look to retain the Ashes, these ructions all look to be coming at a fairly inconvenient time for Australian cricket. So let’s have a discussion, purely analytical, and without any real evidence, as to what may be driving this malcontent in the several groups of the Australian cricket team, and what it all means both in who REALLY has the power in the Australian cricket setup and how that could impact the coming months.

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Three playing squads from two different countries for several different forms of the game for three different series were announced last week, and while all contained their surprises the men’s squads went in a similar direction – back to the future, consolidating experience against those that in recent times have been asked to cover for their absence. Australia’s squad for the T20 World Cup is looking to acquire the one major international crown they have been unable to win, while England are searching for a way to halt their batting woes. As well as this, Australia’s squad for the Women’s series against India had some big names missing and some exciting names added into the mix. Today we will discuss the selection issues facing both countries, and how that will affect each of their separate series that they are approaching. All of that lies ahead on this episode of The Casual Mankadder.

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In the space of 24 hours we have seen the conclusion of two fantastic Test matches, games that have once again provided all the proof you need that Test cricket is the ultimate form of the game, and must continue to be allowed to be the number one spectacle when it comes to cricket, and defy any attempts to tinker with its format. Today on The Casual Mankadder we will have a look at two different games of cricket, how they have both revitalised what has been a lull in the schedule due to the over abundance of short form white ball matches being played, and what is yet to come on the back of this.

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Perhaps you, like me, have spent the past couple of weeks watching the Olympic Games from Tokyo, and no matter what your thoughts going into were in regards to whether or not it should have gone ahead, I think most of us would agree that it has been an amazing success given the hardships that have occurred over the past 18 months to get it off the ground. On today’s episode, while discussing the pros and cons, the triumphs and the tragedies of the games itself, I want to also look into the future of sports coverage on television, and discuss the success of using a digital platform in the broadcast of this event, and how that initial success can be utilised going forward to enhance other sporting events in the same way. That’s the basis of today’s discussion on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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This week on THE CASUAL MANKADDER, we discuss Australia's collapse to a 4-1 defeat in the T20 series in Bangladesh and try to look forward as to what this result will mean for the players and the team's chances in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Then we take a look at the washup - or washout - of the 1st Test between England and India and why Joe Root has gone from mediocre to sudden saviour in the course of four days. And finally we discuss how a slight change in dates for the first ever Test between Australia and Afghanistan would actually prove to be a greater benefit for Test cricket than what has already been put in place.

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Everyone loves a superhero, right? I mean, when you were growing up, most of us out there wanted to be Superman or Batman, or possibly just Captain America or Iron Man. In many ways arguments could arise at the drop of a hat over which was the best superhero franchise – DC or Marvel. Hang on, that happened just yesterday with that 55-year-old nerdy geek down the street. Anyway... when it came to superhero shows in the 1970’s and 1980’s they were few and far between, and most of the time possibly took themselves too seriously. Well, when I was growing up, there was one TV show that grabbed my attention, and made me fall in love with the concept of becoming a ‘suburban’ superhero, and that show was The Greatest American Hero. Maybe you don’t all know the show, but you sure as hell know the intro music!

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With just four rounds left until the final series starts, it's time to forget about the Olympics and start thinking about the NRL again. This week we'll discuss the latest round of the game that is bunkered down in south east Queensland, and also look at next week's fixtures. Today's Talking Point looks at the possibility of the Grand Final being located to New Zealand and whether that is a good look for the NRL. And we'll also take a stab at how the top eight will finish with The Almanack's Finals Tipping Blitz.

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Australia’s tour of the West Indies has concluded with the completion of the three match ODI series this week. And given the squad that Australia had to choose from for those three matches, the opposition they had to play against, and the covid scare that could have thrown everything into chaos, we probably learned more about the direction Australia is heading than may have been expected. In today’s episode we’ll run the rule over the three matches and their results, and try to dissect just what it means for Australia as they head into the second half of 2021.

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When it comes to successful comedy shows from the UK, the list is an endless one. Given the short length of each series they tend to remain more memorable that way. Through the years there have been several that have dealt with the subject of war. And especially that of WWII, shows such as Dad’s Army and It Ain’t Half Hot, Mum, comedies that didn’t poke fun at the war itself but more the situations that arose around it. One of the most popular and also the most inventive came from the respected and successful creators Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft and was set in France during the 1940’s. A show that interwove plotlines and characters together like my mother knits jumpers. And today, I’ll be reliving and regaling that show - “Allo Allo!”

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Even as parts of the world attempt to open back up to their pre-2020 masses, and other parts of the world shut down once again due to the Covid19 outbreak, the questions of what should and should not occur in the world of sports still seem to be finding several answers and no one knowing which is the right one. In amongst this uncertainty, today we will look at Rugby League and the decision of Australia and New Zealand to pull out of this year's World Cup, Aussie Rules and the race to finish in 8th spot, and the coverage of both the AFL and the Olympics, as we look back at the last seven days of sport on Welcome to the Thunderdome.

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No doubt you are all looking for new shows to watch on TV as we are headed for a lengthy term in Covid lockdown again. So being the top bloke I am, I've gone back and found a beauty for you. The award-winning Kingswood Country, which was not only the funniest show on TV for several years it won many Logie Awards. It was politically incorrect humour, the like which would be difficult to air in the current age. But I'll put the case forward for you as to why you should check it out.

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With the T20 series now over in the West Indies, it's time to have a look at just where Australia's team is at, and where they are likely to head in regards to selection as they approach the T20 World Cup in October. The results will be discussed, and the possibilities will also get an airing on this week's episode.

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Australia's white ball tour of the West Indies is three matches old, and so far it is the home team that has dominated the series winning all three T20 matches so far. On today's episode we'll discuss what has been the reasons behind the poor showing so far, and what those performances tell about Australia's preparation for the upcoming World T20 championship at the end of the year.

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Is there any month on the calendar that is more joyous when it comes to the world of sport? Each and every year it is filled to the brim with brilliant sports action, all for our viewing pleasure. It still amazes me every year that I don’t just take all of July off, park myself in front of the TV and make sure the remote control batteries are working. However, once again I have not done this, and instead I have to play catch up with replays. But because I’ve done that for you – you don’t have to! Because here is the week in sport in a nice friendly 30 or so minute version. League, Aussie Rules, Tennis, Golf, Basketball, Cycling – Welcome to the Thunderdome, right here, on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

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Australia heads into this summer's Ashes defence after a tough run in recent Test matches, certainly struggling to score enough runs to win matches. Some of the pieces of that batting puzzle are immovable, but just how far does Australia go in the retention of elder statesmen or the introduction of rookies. Today's discussion will cover a similar situation that occurred for Australia back in 2013, and suggests a similar solution may be the way to go, and that involves the resurrection of Usman Khawaja.

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NSW finds itself in lockdown again, and once again rugby league is played in front of no crowds. For some clubs over the weekend that was the best news they could have as they didn’t have to let their paying faithful put up with seeing them play at schoolboy level. Today on In League with the NRL we’ll have the weekend wrap of a somewhat amazing weekend of league, before we go into today’s Talking Point which examines how much longer the NRL can survive with the current pandemic – of matches that are so lopsided that viewers are walking out and turning off well before the 80 minutes is up. Questions to be asked, and answers that you may or may not agree with.

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Discussions on the future Australian cricket captaincy have already begun. There is a point in the not too distant future where the captaincy of all three Australian teams will come up for re-negotiation. Tim Paine looks set to take the Test team through the Australian summer, while Aaron Finch has secured the reigns to the T20 World Cup team and looks to be in the box seat to be in charge of the ODI team all the way through to the 2023 ODI World Cup. But what happens beyond that? Today I will take a look back on the captaincy and vice captaincy of all three Australian teams since the sandpaper debacle at Newlands in 2018, and then plot a path forward with what will no doubt be a controversial look at the future prospects for the second highest job in the country.

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How did the weekend without NRL work out for everyone? Get bored? Did you actually spend time with your partners and kids because you had nothing to watch all weekend? Anyway, today I will vent over the men’s 2nd Origin match of the season because no matter whether the Blues win or lose it seems difficult to get a balance in the way the match runs out, so I’ll cast my one-eyed thoughts over the outcome. Today’s Talking Point has a quick look at the case of Ronaldo Mulitalo, and how a rule that was changed because of one defector has cruelled his dream of playing for Queensland. And bugger me, the NRL proper returns on Thursday evening, so I’d better have a quick look and let you get all of the wrong tips for the coming weekend.

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Today we’ll take a look at the World Test final, and discuss where the winning and the losing of the game came about. I’ll also use the discussion that has occurred during and since the game over whether the WTC is worth pursuing, and direct that into talking about whether there are some small tweaks that could be made in order to make it an ever better event in the future. We might even have a look at how the best two teams in the world lined up and performed and pragmatically investigate if there is anything that Australian cricket and cricketers can take away from the week in order to improve their performance and standing on the world stage.

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Round 14 of the AFL competition saw the final split bye round of the season and gives us all a chance to once again be back on par with how the ladder stands at the end of the round. With just five games taking place, there isn’t too much ground to cover this week, not even a random covid case. In today’s Talking Point I’ll have a bit of a ramble about the prospects of a 19th AFL team being introduced, and specifically if it is time that the game gave Tasmania the team it so desperately wants. And then we can have a look at how the ladder is poised with just nine rounds to go – can you believe it – before September arrives.

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What a week it has been. The occasional close game between teams next to each other on the ladder, the odd complete thrashing of teams that must occasionally wonder if they are in the right sport, and another round of exasperated coaches trying to justify their positions, given they know that it is they who are facing the sack and not their underperforming rosters. Oh, and everyone is having next weekend off too, which is a great thing for the NRL... if they are looking to boost the profile of the AFL and the A League.

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Last week the ICC announced its international programme for the next decade, including expanding the current ODI and T20 World Cups and reintroducing the Champions Trophy. It means there will be an international tournament every year from now until 2031. Today I discuss the implications to the annual cricket calendar with so many additional tournaments, and whether the benefits will outweigh the deficits.

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It was a mixed round over the weekend, with some dreadful excuses of footy mixed with some cracking games of AFL. i give you a rundown on the good and the bad. Today's Talking Point focuses on the resignation of Nathan Buckley as Collingwood coach, and what his legacy may be. Then we look forward to the final week of the byes split round and wonder if the finals race is already over.

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In this week's edition of my NRL podcast, I take a look at the way the round unfolded, especially the two one-point victories that could have been embarrassing for the team that had been so far in front before allowing a comeback from their opponents. Today's Talking Point focuses on last week's first Origin match, and where the series will progress from that result. And then I'll discuss the logjam in the middle of the table as we approach next week's important round of matches.

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After last week's false alarm, England made sure of it this week by being completely outplayed by New Zealand in the 2nd Test and losing the series, their first at home in seven years. Today I take a look at the ails that England face heading into their next Test series against India. Then I discuss the merits of both New Zealand and India in preparation for their clash for the first ever World Test Championship Final starting on Friday.

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Australia are touring the West Indies in July, but seven of our top cricketers look likely to miss it citing 'bubble fatigue', and yet they all appear likely to want to return to UAE in September to complete the Indian Premier League competition. Today I discuss this situation, and if playing for Australia is no longer the priority, then should those players be automatic selections for the team into the future, including the World T20 in October.

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On this week's cricket related podcast episode, I take a look back at the good and the bad of the 1st Test between England and New Zealand, and wonder whether England's self belief in one day cricket will ever transfer to the Test arena. I also discuss one of my pet peeves in slow over rates which England took to a new level in this Test. And finally we discuss Ollie Robinson's wonderful debut that was ruined by tweets from his youth, and how social media may not be finished in dragging cricketers out of the game from past foolishness.

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The first of the three split rounds provided some entertainment and a couple of surprises, while also confirming a couple of teams whose seasons are pretty much over at the halfway mark. Today's Talking Point takes a sterner look at Carlton's continued fall, and consider that if indeed 2021 is now a lost cause for playing finals, just what can they do to improve after 20 years of mediocrity.

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It's a split round with half of the competition having the week off, a third sitting on the bench because of State of Origin, and the other poor saps having to play to pretty average crowds. We cast our gaze over those superb matches, and then discuss if, in the modern age, this is the way to keep fans interested in the game as a whole.

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Test cricket returns to our screens this week, as England take on New Zealand in a two Test series that for England acts as a big test for their rotation selection policy and as a warm up for the Black Caps crack at the World Test Championship final. We preview both teams here today. Also, we discuss the efforts of the BCCI to complete this season's IPL competition and what hurdles they face to get it done.

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It's been a tough few days in the AFL with fixture changes and favourites being smashed and others doing a bit of smashing of their own. We take a look back on the nine matches of round 11, before we dive into the Talking Point of the week, which discusses just what the Victorian Lockdown may do to the current AFL draw for the next one to three weeks. Then listen as I completely muck up my tips again for next weekend.

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Welcome to another edition of my NRL podcast, where we check out the latest round of footy and try to decipher who is at the top of the tree and who is diving quickly down the ravine. Today's Talking Point is all about the upcoming State of Origin series, and just how much it may be impacted if the current interpretation of the laws continues in this series. I'll also offer my tips for next weekend which should be suitably incorrect.

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Welcome back for another week of AFL highlights. Following a run down on the results from last weekend, today's Talking Point discusses the lack of consistency in the ruling of such laws as the ball being pushed out deliberately, whether players are off or not after taking a mark, and just plain old holding the ball. Then I offer you some wisdom in who not to tip for next weekend's matches.

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In two weeks rugby league has gone from an exciting game filled with everything that makes it one of the best sports to watch, into a havoc-ridden, stop start, penalty sin bin send off game that is starting to wear thin on long time watchers of the NRL. On today's episode I speak to Steve Holz for some clarification as to how and why we have reached this position. Beyond that, as always we run down the weekend's results, look towards next week, and pay tribute to Immortal Bob Fulton, who passed away over the weekend.

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Week 9 proved to be a shocker for some of the big teams from the 70's and 80's, but impressive from the resurgent clubs at the top of the ladder. After a look back on round 9 I once again turn my attention to that basket case known as the Collingwood Football Club, before showing off my non-existent tipping skills for round 10.

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In my newly reshaped and retitled cricket sub-podcast titled "The Casual Mankadder", today we will discuss the same thing the rest of the cricket media has dredged up this week, with more discussion about the sandpaper incident of 2018. So let's get it all out there again, and discuss why this keeps being brought up all the time, when every other incident of ball tampering in the history of cricket seems to have been confined to history.

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Welcome to today’s episode of Thoughts from the Metal Cavern, and in particular this week’s instalment of In League with the NRL. Magic Round has been and gone, and there was plenty of action on the field that we’ll have a short discussion on. Then we’ll move along into week’s Talking Point, which today has a look at the onset of players being chased and signed for next season when we are barely a third of the way through the current season, and also have a sneak peek at what the Cronulla Sharks may do to revive their fortunes next year. And then we’ll finish with me throwing some darts at the dartboard to come up with my tips for next weekend.

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More AFL talk for you diehards who like AFL and like listening to some bozo talking about it. After having a quick look at last week's matches, today's Talking Point delves into the debate over playing strips, both the ones that some restrict one club from wearing, and a discussion on the need for 'clash' jerseys to come into play for all clubs. Finally my tips for next weekend are made available for you to ignore completely.

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Round 9 of the NRL competition has been run and won, and I have a look back on the matches played and give a short analysis of what went right and wrong. And in today's Talking Point I look back on the end of the first half of the Eels vs Roosters match, and discuss the ins and outs of refereeing decisions and the worth of the Bunker and what can be done to avoid it happening again.

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The world of rugby league lost its collective mind again for a few days when those words "Conference System" were mentioned in passing in the circles of the media. And while it has been summarily dismissed by most, is it something worth pursuing? My opinions have been noted here before, but I'm willing to outline them again just for the sake of another podcast episode.

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Haven't seen the reboot of Mortal Kombat yet? Well, not only are you missing out on an entertaining film with lots of enjoyable death sequences, you haven't seen what should be the first role nominated for next year's Academy Awards - Josh Lawson's portrayal of Kano. So today's podcast is the start of my efforts to have this come to fruition, to publicise the excellence of this performance. F*%king whoops!

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The ins and outs of the 7th round of the AFL gets the microscope placed over it... well, the broken pair of binoculars anyway - and we discuss who the winners and losers of the round were. Today's Talking Point sadly focuses on the continuing disaster that is Collingwood's 2021 season, and what may happen going forward as we look at the coaching and recruiting situation the Club faces.

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We've reached round 8 of the NRL, and we look back on the round as it took place and see how the teams are travelling. Then on this week's Talking Point, I discuss the overkill of utilising the broadcast of what is occurring inside the dressing sheds, and the outcry of emotion over Brett Morris not being able to end his career 'the way he deserves to'.

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Anzac Day is done and dusted, and there have been some surprising results over recent weeks that has thrown the whole competition into mass confusion - or perhaps that's just me. Today I have a look at where we stand after six rounds of the 2021 premiership. And in today's talking point, I discuss what has happened to Collingwood and GWS, less than two years after they played one of the best preliminary finals ever, to both now looking at a long long season ahead.

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We've made it almost a third of the way through the season, and the big guns are starting to flex their muscles. We discuss how a few of the teams are travelling and what may be their strengths and weaknesses after round seven. And on today's Talking Point, I rave on about the amount of wasted time that carries on in the modern game, and how some of these aspects are slowly starting to destroy the enjoyment of the game.

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This week, Trevor Hohns announced the 17 players who have been offered Australian contracts for the next 12 months. And it has raised some questions not only about how Australia's players look going into that 12 months period, but what the selectors see as to our prospects in that time period. None of it appears positive, as we ramble on about in this episode.

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It's that time of year again when we wake up before dawn, bow our heads silently, knock back an early beer, and settle in for the Anzac Day traditions of footy. But every year we already know who is going to be playing each other. Has that become a tiresome tradition? Is there a need to change this up and see other matches take centre stage on the day? Or should we be happy with what we have and just get on with it. If you have 15 minutes or so, I'd like to give you my opinion on it all.

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Week 2 of of the AFL is done and dusted, so we look back on the results of the weekend and discuss the highs and lows of what occurred. On this week's Talking Point we get well ahead of ourselves, and discuss the possibility that we can already lock in the first two places and last two places on the ladder for the 2021 season.

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Time to take a look at round three of the NRL, where we examine the latest round of matches and discuss how some teams seem to have enough luck to continue on their winning way, and others are just plain terrible and have a long way to go. This week's Talking Point focuses on the injury toll that continues to increase across the competition, and whether it is time to discuss making adjustments to the interchange bench to cover for the increase in injuries and HIA.

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Another start for a podcast within a podcast, this one looking back at the week in the AFL, talking about the games, some of the weekend's talking points, and looking forward to next weekend. I know there are hundreds of programs with more enlightened people than me involved, but why not give it a go and see what it's like?

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We're back! And the seasons have changed! So it's time for a new podcast within a podcast, In League With the NRL (pretty catchy, eh?). We take a look at the first two rounds of the NRL and see how the teams have fared, and then check out this week's Talking Points, with goalkicking and points tallies in the focus. Come in and see if it is worth it!

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I think it would be an obvious thing to say that the way Australia's summer is currently organised is just not working, and it doesn't give Australia its best chance of winning international cricket matches. So today I throw my hat into the ring and discuss the way I would change things up, and look to give cricketers their best chance at domestic and international level to showcase their talents and give the cricket spectator value for their money.

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In many ways it is hard to believe that it is 40 years since Trevor Chappell bowled the underarm to Brian McKechnie at the MCG, resulting in one of the most recalled and perhaps reviled incidents in the history of cricket, certainly between Australia and New Zealand. So I look back with my own memories of that day, and what an eleven year old cricket nut thought about as he watched it all unfold.

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In continuing to find ways to not only shoot themselves in the foot but actively deflect blame from themselves for doing it, the Collingwood Football Club again finds itself in the news for all the wrong reasons. With my family's long history of support for the Magpies, it has never been more difficult to admit to anyone that I support Collingwood. After today's schemozzle of a leaked report that should have been released weeks ago, I try to find a reason to stick with the faithful.

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The T20 Australian squad has been selected for the tour to New Zealand, and with the Test players unavailable it gives a new bunch of heroes a chance to stake their claim on a World Cup spot. But just how much has current form gone into choosing this squad? And if you are in the team that has dominated the recent seasons of the Big Bash League, shouldn't those individuals be getting a fair run at the team? That's a point of contention in today's discussion.

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Australia's Test squad for the proposed tour to South Africa has been chosen, and the lack of change or variation in the team raises some questions as to where we may be heading, following a desperate defeat at home to India. Today we discuss the possible ramifications going forward, and whether Australia can survive without more change down the track.

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India outplayed, outmuscled and outthought the Australian team to retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy with a virtual 2nd XI squad and a vatful of belief and talent that has not only pleased the entire cricket world outside of Australia, but left plenty of questions to be asked. Today we wander through a maze of distraught reactions to see if any sense can be made from it, before listing what problems lie ahead in Australia's quest to rebuild its damaged legacy.

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Today we have a look at the drawn 3rd Test and try to break down where each team had their chances to win, and what it all means for the final Test later this week. It's also time to have a look at the several controversies that raised their heads throughout the Test on and off the field, and just how bad or important any of them were.

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We're halfway through the Test series, and at 1-1 you would think it has been pretty even. But even skimming across the surface you can see that that isn't quite the case. Today we'll discuss how the first two Tests have proceeded, before having a look at the possible scenarios ahead for the 3rd Test in Covid riddled Sydney.

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It's that time of the year when Christmas has arrived and celebrations have begun. But not everyone is so engaged. So on this program we have a look at several other ways that people celebrate at this time of year and what those celebrations look like. Some have been around for centuries, others have appeared more recently. Whether you like to indulge in a Festivus, or whether it is Cricketmas Day that gets you excited, hopefully there's a little bit for everyone in this half hour.

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Sometimes you just run out of time and don't get to what you want to before it is too late. But it is never too late for a preview, even if the season has already started. So here is my look at the Big Bash League's Season 10 team lineups, and who might be the one to beat come February.

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We've lived through the ODI and T20 cricket series between Australia and India, and there are a few talking points worth considering, not the least the atrocious over rates and the time games were finishing. We cover a couple of those. Then we look ahead to the start of the Test series with the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide, and consider who might actually take the field.

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With the festive season almost upon us, it's time to discuss that much argued position, as to whether or not the movie "Die Hard" qualifies as a Christmas movie. Today I'll show you the reasons why there is only one correct answer to that question. Following on from that, I'll give you a list of the Xmas movies that have kept me and my family company over the years, to give you some recommendations of how to spend your next couple of weeks.

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It's time to vent a little on some recent moments in the world of Australian sport. Whether it is talking about how Mitch Marsh almost replaced Steve Smith when he was concussed and destroyed Australia's cricket story, or Peter V'landys trying to blackmail the NSW Government for money or forcing us to endure watching the Broncos every Friday night, or Collingwood cutting off all of their limbs at trade time, or throwing an Origin series to ensure Queensland viewers stay tuned... there's a little here for most sports tragics.

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Can you believe it has been fifty years since The Goodies first aired? I still can't, but it is fact still the same. The trio of Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie, inspired and entertained a generation with their irreverent humour and ability to poke fun at so many facets of life. While I tend to waffle on a bit here, I talk about my favourite memories of the show and how they influenced my own childhood.

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This week it's back to my favourite subject - cricket! Firstly we have a look at how the TV networks have sought to impose their demands on Cricket Australia to implement changes to the popular Big Bash League in order to get what they want out of their contract, and not what is best for the sport. Then we have a discussion on Australia's Test squad as chosen for the upcoming series against India, and whether we will see a Youth Invasion into the final XI. Then we have a quick look at the ODI and T20 squad before the start of next week's international summer.

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We've made November, and the major footy codes have finally had their season run and won. And as always, there are a few stories that come to the fore during the finals series. As always, I decide to have my say on a few of those moments, and add some thoughts as to where we could go in the future - and as ever that is usually back to the past!

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This month one of the most underrated but brilliant heavy metal bands of all time, Gamma Ray, celebrated their 30 anniversary, and I have been lucky enough to have been along for the ride for all of that time, and for what had led up to the band's formation. This episode is my tribute to a band that I think has few equals. Here is a remembrance of days past and how music blends in with it so much.

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The all new sports talk show, where the greatest sporting minds don't always reside in the greatest sporting bodies.

This week sees likely regular panelists John Cincotta and Daniel Reilly talk their way through a likely NRL finals series, the just-completed T20I series between England and Australia, and other sporting tidbits to excite even the most nauseatingly boring sports fan.

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Cricket has finally begun to filter back into our field of vision, with the IPL about to start and the Australians touching down in England for some ODI and T20 action. Along the way the mankad has come back into the discussion as well as the bad light law, and even a question of again reshuffling the Australian season ahead. Come and join me for a 30 minute walk through some of the issues that have come our way in the last week.

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My knowledge of football in general is at a very basic level, despite a joy in watching the game and finding teams worthy of my support. Mixed in with a personal history of my football journey, we also have a quick review of the Premier League season with special guest Josh Peters, and also discuss possible future directions for Australia's A League in the hope to build it to the level it wants to achieve.

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Time to run the gauntlet yet again and bring up the unfortunately touchy subject that few of us can discuss with allowing emotion to overrule the discussion. Also today, we relive the amazing career of Music Producer and Engineer, Martin Birch, who sadly passed away this week. Live After Death indeed...

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With Victoria down for the count, and New South Wales walking a mini tightrope, the fate of the major sports and the location they can be played in is up for discussion. Today we discuss just what kind of options are open, especially for the AFL and cricket, when it comes to their major pay days in the coming months.

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When the world's sports competitions were shut down due to Covid-19 earlier this year, those of us who relied on televised sport found ourselves with a vacuum. Thankfully, sports documentaries came to the fore to save us from our families. In this episode I run through a few of the best examples out there that you should all have a look at.

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It's a difficult task to try and explain how funny a show can be. Believe me I've tried with this podcast. So listen as I try to explain why these three episodes of great TV comedy shows are the PERFECT episodes, and maybe just realise I know what I'm talking about. Or not...

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While coaching dramas always seem to be heating up come this stage of the season, three NRL clubs in particular are at different stages of implosion development. Here's a short summary of the history and of the possibility forward.

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