Gotta love behind-the-scenes video

It's been a while, but I guess that's what you get for starting a blog in the final year of high school.

And so I welcome the return of Marc Murphy love:

http://bigpondvideo.com/AFL/128427

Behind-the-scenes with Marc Murphy of Carlton on his trip to the Gold Coast to play Fremantle.
I swear I have stayed in that hotel. I don't know whether that makes me sad or happy

Morne Morkel's Inside Info

http://www.sportsillustrated.co.za/cricket/article.php?article_id=2785

Morne Morkel's writing an IPL diary for South Africa's Sports Illustrated magazine. Gotta love cricket diaries. Any chance to get inside info from the men themselves. I can't help but feel Morne's embarrassment in carrying around a teddy bear wherever he goes, but it teaches everyone a lesson. Never hide the teddy.

Speaking of inside info - this is possibly the most hilarious, fantastic video I have seen in a long time. That is quite sad, but you really have to understand my level of obsession with this South African cricket team. AB de Villiers' time spent in front of the mirror doesn't really surprise me, but I love how Dale Steyn seems to be the go-to man for most questions. He's funny, hungry and can't dress - 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

http://www.espnstar.com/media-player/?goTo=http://publish.vx.roo.com/espnstar/flashmain/?vxSiteId=1458d2e1-b8e3-4d73-8b76-e8420617f8b8&vxChannel=Cricket+Features&vxClipId=2168_ESSCIC_morkel&vxBitrate=300

Sorry bout the dodgy link. But it works

Freak Alert

Phil Hughes, Australian cricket's newest saviour, has made yet ANOTHER century on debut, this time in English county cricket with Middlesex.

It makes me wonder - how many weetbix does he have for breakfast?

Good signs for Australia for July's upcoming Ashes series. All this fuss about Hughes and other Australian cricketers gaining the advantage by playing in England before the Ashes leads me to ask one question - isn't it also an advantage for English players who can see first hand his strengths and weaknesses AND test themselves against him before the competition really matters? I think it plays into the hands of both sides. So quit whinging.

'Phalaborwa Express'

Dale Steyn = "Phalaborwa Express"...i like it!

In case you don't know - Dale grew up in a small mining town on the edge of the Kruger National Park, that town being Phalaborwa.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?newslett=1&em=200671a1a20090422ah&click_id=4&art_id=vn20090422055750533C112882&set_id=6

Shocking revelation from South African cricket writer Stuart Hess:

This MTN ODI series has been noteworthy for the efficiency with which the South
Africans have gone about their play; particularly the batting where AB de
Villiers has starred. In eight one-day matches against the Australians this
summer De Villiers has scored 393 runs with four half-centuries at an average of
65.5. Throw in his exquisite inner-ring fielding in the first half of the
innings, and his boundary fielding at the end of an innings, as well as the fact
that he kept wicket in two of those matches, and his value to South Africa's
limited overs side is in the category of priceless. In fact he is now part of
the spine of the unit that includes Smith, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and Dale Steyn. Increasingly Albie Morkel will become part of that core too, but that is dependent on him becoming more consistent with his bowling.

I thought he already was 'part of the spine'. At least it's good to know he now is.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=17&art_id=vn20090415063921183C291372

'Spirit of Cricket'

Aw how sweet, the spirit of cricket, with Dale Steyn -

Dale Steyn - Catch the Spirit @ Yahoo! Video

Note: Please ignore the use of the word 'black' to describe the boy - he is not racist. Simply stating the truth. You tell me what is an appropriate word to use nowadays.

Marc Murphy

I have a new object of my affection -



Marc Murphy - born 19/7/87 in Melbourne, midfielder with Carlton in the AFL, taken 1st draft pick 2005. He clearly has some talent. I was aware of him, but I obviously never gave him enough credit. I am very, very disappointed with the lack of internet info on him! For shame google, for shame.
However, I did find this:



What a day at footy can do to open your eyes.


Marc Murphy & Bryce Gibbs, number 1 draft picks 2005 & 2006 respectively -
http://bigpondvideo.com/afl/42545