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In a not so surprising turn of events last week, Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke injured himself again and will likely miss all the summer of cricket until the World Cup next February.
After two gruelling tests against Pakistan, why Clarke was playing a meaningless one-day series against South Africa is beyond me?
Steve Smith was forced to sit on the sidelines for the first match against South Africa last Friday despite being the highest run scorer in the one day series against Pakistan.
Leading up to February’s World Cup here and in New Zealand, it would have made more sense to rest Clarke, at least from the first two matches, and allow Smith and George Bailey to both play.
This would give the selectors a chance to see them both against arguably the best attack in the world.
Now the selectors will get that chance anyway with Clarke out injured.
Even if Clarke does prove his fitness for the upcoming Tests against India, the current Australian selectors are off to a rocky start this summer.
Some of their selections have left a lot to be desired.
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Speaking of World Cups, Fédération Internationale de Football Association, better known as FIFA, have come out after an internal inquiry into the selection process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to say that the Australian bid was dirty.
It claims the Australian bid tried to buy votes using public money in its $46 million dollar bid.
This is coming from an organisation that showers in their suits because they like to cover everything up!
FIFA ordered the inquiry into allegations of bribery from bidders for the two World Cups with the 2022 Cup to be held in Qatar under intense scrutiny.
Holding a month long tournament in the middle of the desert during the height of summer is ludicrous.
How Qatar was even a finalists is beyond me.
FIFA enlisted New York attorney Michael Garcia to conduct the inquiry which he recorded his findings of in a 430 page report.
FIFA have proceeded to say the report will never be disclosed and have produced their own report from Garcia’s.
This has angered Garcia who has formally stated his report is being misrepresented by FIFA and is a “selective portrayal of his report.”
FIFA’s 42 page report has cleared Qatar of any wrong-doing despite former head of Qatari football Mohamed bin Hammam serving a life ban for corruption.
The FIFA report (in itself a joke) by their own ethics judge, Hans-Joachim Eckert claimed bin Hammam had nothing to do with the Qatar bid.
Further evidence has come forth with documents showing bin Hammam at the centre of the bid and even paying the cost of first class trips for FIFA delegates to meet the Qatari bid team.
None of this exonerates Football Federation Australia from any bribery claims.
All it says is that the Qatar bid had a lot more money than the Aussie one.
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I have to wonder at the necessity of the Four Nations rugby league tournament at the end of every season.
I know they are trying to emulate the success of the Rugby Championship but at what point does player welfare become an issue?
Some of the Kangaroos from Souths and Bulldogs, this year’s NRL grand finalists, have been training since last November, played 26 weeks of tough football, played in even tougher finals football, three super hard State of Origin matches and now play in a pretty meaningless tournament for the past month.
The Rugby Championship follows a 16 round plus finals Super 15 season.
Why not make the Four Nations a biennial event?
Wouldn’t having more time off benefit the players in the long run or are they the guinea pigs of a better TV deal for the NRL?
I understand that wearing the Aussie jumper fills the players with immense pride but at what cost?
If these players aren’t managed properly, look for them to break down early in next year’s season.
Check out the video of Aussie motorcycle stunt rider Robbie Maddison doing a run on the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic luge track and jumping off the ski jump below.
It is awesome!