While initially treated as a bit of a gimmick by many cricket fans, the Big Bash League has become a mainstay of the Australian sporting calendar, pulling big crowds and huge TV viewership night after night. We’ve witnessed plenty of spectacular moments so far this season and with finals looming right around the corner this is as good a time as any to ask: is it better to bat first or second?   The tactical element From the perspective of the batsmen, knowing the target to be chased informs how a team bats: more aggressively with a larger total to reach and less so with a smaller one....…While initially treated as a bit of a gimmick by many cricket fans, the Big Bash League has become a mainstay of the Australian sporting calendar, pulling big crowds and huge TV viewership night after night. We’ve witnessed plenty of spectacular moments so far this season and with finals looming right around the corner this is as good a time as any to ask: is it better to bat first or second?   The tactical element From the perspective of the batsmen, knowing the target to be chased informs how a team bats: more aggressively with a larger total to reach and less so with a smaller one....WW…

Every year, there are discussions centred around a return of State of Origin for the AFL.  Any combination of the success of the NRL State of Origin, the need for representative football, it being used as a marketable “all-star game”, or to continue the long history of state football are used as a justified reason for the concept to return for Australian football. I would love State of Origin to return for all those reasons, but these aren’t strong enough reasons for its return.  The NRL State of Origin ‘works’, in large part, because the talent pool is concentrated in the two...…Every year, there are discussions centred around a return of State of Origin for the AFL.  Any combination of the success of the NRL State of Origin, the need for representative football, it being used as a marketable “all-star game”, or to continue the long history of state football are used as a justified reason for the concept to return for Australian football. I would love State of Origin to return for all those reasons, but these aren’t strong enough reasons for its return.  The NRL State of Origin ‘works’, in large part, because the talent pool is concentrated in the two...WW…

Footy is often said to be a game for all shapes and sizes. The nature of the game, with the ball often both in the air and on the ground, provides opportunities for both tall and small players. Success stories such as 168cm Caleb Daniel, 167cm Brent Harvey and 163cm Tony Liberatore are used to demonstrate the success that small players can have in the AFL. Often overlooked, however, is that players like these have had league-best traits to helping them overcome their lack of height. Daniel’s 90% kicking efficiency at the U/18 championships combined with the equal-second highest beep test of...…Footy is often said to be a game for all shapes and sizes. The nature of the game, with the ball often both in the air and on the ground, provides opportunities for both tall and small players. Success stories such as 168cm Caleb Daniel, 167cm Brent Harvey and 163cm Tony Liberatore are used to demonstrate the success that small players can have in the AFL. Often overlooked, however, is that players like these have had league-best traits to helping them overcome their lack of height. Daniel’s 90% kicking efficiency at the U/18 championships combined with the equal-second highest beep test of...WW…