See below - a dictionary definition of a ramble!

Wine of the week: 

Pepper Tree Wines Tallawanta Semillon 2013

Firstly, yes it is a white wine. However, I have decided that seeing part of this exercise is sharing what I think are good wines, I shouldn't limit my horizons to just one variety - especially as we enter the summer proper and the festive season.

The 2013 Tallawanta Semillon is still young enough to have the acidity that allows you to have it with food such as thai - which we had on Sunday. It also good enough to have it on it's own. Like most Hunter Valley semillons, given time it will develop and become more richer and perfect with that salmon steak you put on the BBQ.

That and you can never go wrong with Pepper Tree Wines either red or white. If you are venturing to the Hunter, stop by the cellar door and have a tasting. You won't get much better. http://www.peppertreewines.com.au/

So, here is the thing. I had drafted a post around my reactions to Phillip Hughes' death and the tragic accident that occurred last month at the Sydney Cricket Ground. There was such an outpouring of sympathy and sadness due to such a random and freak accident that I felt that I needed to share what I was thinking and feeling. And seeing this still is my own little piece of internet real estate, here was the place to post it.

That and as you would have all observed, it has been a while since made an effort to make a post. I thought that if the accident to Phillip Hughes wouldn’t get me out of my internet slumber, nothing will.

Not for the first time and not for the last time, I was wrong.

I drafted what I was going to say and left it. Thinking I would get around to it on Monday night.

Then of course, Monday happened.

Part of my career was working in the business continuity area and after September 11^th, it was a generally accepted view that it wasn’t a case of if an act of terror would happen on domestic soil but when. That said, when it actually does happen it still is a shock.

And yes, there is still debate as to whether it was a political statement or just an act of a mad man. What isn't in debate is that two families have lost a loved one. Other families have been changed forever after living through nearly sixteen hours of torture before their loved ones were returned to safety. 

And a general community is feeling a little less safe, a little less secure and a little fearful that this could happen again and what if it happened to them?

I am not about to debate the causes, the actions, the reactions. In fact, I am not that altogether certain what I wanted to achieve from this post. I guess it is the fact that despite what has happened, we just have to keep moving.

When I say that, it doesn’t mean we forget.

We don’t forget the two lives lost.

We don’t forget those who spent those long hours not knowing what fate would have in store for them next.

And, we don’t forget that the act of one should not tarnish the name of many.

It means we can’t stop living. We can’t stop moving forward.

I heard the Prime Minister and the Premier make statements that we need to take a ‘business as usual’ approach. Part of me says that was just a crock. The other part thinks that it makes perfect sense. All it takes is taking that first step.

For many, that has been back to Martin Place to lay flowers, sign a book or just stop and take in the enormity of it all.

For others, it has been back to Martin Place for another day’s work.

Either way, all it takes is one step. You just have to make a conscious decision to take it. 

However long it takes for you to make it.

For me, it is taking the time to do something that I have been meaning to do for ages but seemingly not having the time to do.

Albeit in an airport lounge.

And watching the cricket in the background.

When 140 characters is never enough…

Wine of the Week:

De Bortoli Estate Grown Yarra Valley Syrah 2010

One of our frustrations has been that we (Trish and I) haven’t been able to find another wine from De Bortoli that we like apart from Noble One. Every time that we have done tastings; be it at both the Hunter or Yarra nothing – that is until we had the Syrah.

The 2010 Estate Grown Syrah is one of those reds that is an above average every day wine. Generally, the Syrah is a little more subtle than the Shiraz but this one has plenty of body for those who want some strength in their reds without having to give it plenty of air to let it all out. It also has enough of that pepper taste without seeming to overpower the fruit. Definitely has the potential for getting better if you leave it for a few years but it loses nothing by having it now.

Great to have with a homemade pasta or even pizza…but a homemade or pizza shop one. You can get it from the De Bortoli online store for $25 which is one of the better value wines that I have come across in a long while.

http://shop.debortoli.com.au/yarra-valley/yarra-valley-estate-grown/yarra-valley-estate-grown-syrah-2029.html

So here we are again. It has been over a year since the last post which I must admit took me aback as I didn’t realise that it was that long. Rather than going into the reasons as to why so long, the more pertinent question is why come back?

Well, a couple of reasons I suppose. One very good reason is that since the last epistle, Trish and I have visited a number of wineries; both here and overseas. As such, there are many new wines that we have tasted and subsequently stocked up on.

That and I am constantly reminded of the great power of wine. Not only can it taste brilliant, but it also can provide a background for some enjoyable times which in turn create some great memories; all of which can be brought back to life with a single smell or taste.

The other main reason seems to be a collision of factors. I enjoy writing but lately it has been limited to snippets via Twitter. Which has been fine for the most part but I don’t know whether it is because there are some things that have been happening in the world which have caught my attention or whether my ‘whinging old man’ gene has kicked in as soon as I turned 40, but there are some instances where 140 characters is not enough to convey what I am thinking.

Thus to kick this little side project off again, I thought I would just touch on a number of topics that are top of mind at the moment; some may be explored in depth in future posts, others may be replaced by new things that get me to drag out my virtual soapbox again.

1. Quite a few years ago, nearly every IT vendor was proclaiming that access to the internet would be like water or electricity in that we would expect it to just be there. Just turn on your device and you are connected. I think we have reached that point; a point where having an infrastructure that can deliver that now and be able to accommodate growth in the future is so important. Then why isn’t the National Broadband Network treated as being such a key investment in our nation’s infrastructure rather than a political football to score short term points with…by both sides of the house?

2. There seems to be an ever increasing percentage of the driving population that has forgotten what those ruler length, cylindrical things that stick out either the right or left hand side of the steering wheel in their cars are for. For the record, they are indicators which set off a signal visible to other drivers when intending to turn or merge the vehicle. Please take the time to remind others to use them.

3. I remember from my studies that Australian history shows that typically (and I stress typically) when it comes to our economic health, Labor have had a history of running things into the ground and the Coalition look to rebuild. The key thing that no one mentioned was who looked after what I call the ‘social fabric’ of the country. More to the point, why isn’t it as important as our economic health?

There are some trends that are quietly and subtly happening which are disturbing to me. Some of these include proposed changes to Medicare so it is no longer the safety net for all, accusing the ABC to be “un-Australian” for having the audacity to criticise and question the Government and the fact that we are developing a track record of imposing our strong regional position on smaller neighbouring nations as part of our solution to the issue of people trafficking and those seeking asylum. Whatever your position is on any or all of these issues, they need to be discussed and debated far more than they are – not accepting the justification that they all fall under a supposed ‘mandate’ from the last election.

4. Growing up in Sydney, I have followed the game of rugby league since I was very young hence like a lot of people I know, we all have a lot of emotional investment in the game. Especially as the game looks to compete with other sports for not just that emotional investment but of course our financial one. So when will rugby league realise that you can’t look to build the game for the future while still thinking that it needs to stay in the 1980’s to survive? That and you have to have played the game at a high level to have a valid opinion about it?

5. Last night saw the end of the professional career of Harry Kewell; arguably Australia’s best football player. Certainly the best of my generation. I am the first to admit that I am not a football aficionado but whenever you spoke about how Australia and Australian players were progressing in the world game, Kewell’s name was just about the first that was mentioned. Like most of our significant sporting champions, Kewell first represented Australia at a young age – eighteen. From there, he had a stellar career not just with Australia but with Leeds United, Liverpool and Galatasaray. 

In my opinion, when we (we being the sporting nation) needed him and I mean really needed him, he delivered. Namely against Uruguay in 2005 and against Croatia in 2006. I am sure that true devotees of the game can name more examples for both club and country. To me, he has been one of the country’s greatest sportsmen, not just one of our greatest footballers. So why hasn’t his departure been given the same gravitas as a Steve Waugh, a Robert Harvey or a Darren Lockyer?

Something to ponder anyway…welcome back! 

Life Lesson No.256 – Don’t be afraid to voice your opinion

Wine of the Week:

Hentley Farm ‘The Beauty 2010’ Shiraz

We don’t have too many “big guns’ in the cellar but this is one of them and it was opened with great gusto over the weekend. It was almost a religious experience as the cork came out slowly but sweetly with that unforgettable ‘pop’. It was smooth from the first taste with the fruit coming out as it rolls around your mouth. Shiraz from the Barossa is not like the big pepper tasting ones of the Hunter Valley but the fruit comes through a lot stronger.

It is an exceptional wine from a great boutique winery in the Barossa and one that is definitely worth hunting down and grabbing a bottle or two. It isn’t the cheapest at about $50 plus a bottle but it is worth the investment as it will only get better with age...if you can wait that long. Hentley Farm Wines

So for those that may not be aware, I turned 40 years old on September 28^th and contrary to the cliche' reactions to a milestone event such as this, it hasn’t led to any bouts of navel gazing nor have I had any lightning strikes hit me with the meaning of life or a book of wisdom.

What I have noticed, and it isn’t so much as a result of making my 40^th birthday but rather as a general consequence of life rolling on, is that as you get older you pay more attention to certain realities of life rather than just brush them away like an annoying mosquito on a January evening - which brings me to the subject of this epistle.

After having a rather enjoyable Saturday night celebrating my birthday with some of my dearest friends, I checked my twitter feed and noticed a great deal of hubbub relating to one Mr Alan Jones. A quick ‘Google’ filled in the details of what had transpired and what the Sunday Telegraph would be leading with the following morning.

Suffice to say, I was going to title this piece “Don’t be afraid to voice your opinion...even though you may be recorded”. I was even thinking of calling it “Don’t be afraid to voice your opinion...even though you may come across as a cruel, sanctimonious prick”...but I figured that was going a little too far and besides, the format of Blogger wouldn’t let me do that.

Let me say right from the outset that I am not a fan of Mr Jones; in fact I think he is one of the most dangerous and divisive people in this country who uses his position at times without fair consideration of the broader consequences. Fact is though; he does have a strong following across many areas of Australian society so it was with interest to watch how all this transpired since the story broke on Saturday and the various opinions and stories that have been voiced and written. As is my want, I made some observations that I wish to share with you.

• I believe his comments were cruel and disrespectful to the extreme. There is a very well known saying in this country that you play the ball, not the man (or in this case a woman but that is irrelevant to the argument despite his rantings on Sunday morning).  We all have lost loved ones in our lives and we all have had to deal with grief. To use a death of a loved one to score some political points or worse case rev up a gathering of Young Liberals, lacks common decency and respect and as such needs to be called out accordingly. It's the same lack of common decency and respect that Rebecca Mifsud, wife of Immigration Minister Bowen showed by her re-tweet concerning the Australian male life-span and the links to Mr Jones’ fight with cancer. 
• He doesn’t seem to know how to apologise – which isn’t surprising for someone who comes across as always thinking that they are right. After watching parts of the press conference on Sunday morning, my opinion is that the only thing he is truly sorry about is the fact that his speech was recorded by a journalist (who was a paying attendee at the dinner) and then released online. There didn’t appear to be a lot of contrition on Sunday as he quickly turned the event into another opportunity to criticise the Government’s policies.
• That said, I think to try and shift the blame to Tony Abbott is a little rich. To be fair, Mr Abbott did come out and condemn Mr Jones’ comments that afternoon. In fact, Mr Abbott’s comments in the Parliament were both sympathetic and respectful – which all anyone asks for in times of bereavement. That and Mr Jones’ reputation has been created over many years – a lot longer than Mr Abbott has been Opposition Leader.
• Irrespective of whether we like what was said or not, Mr Jones (like every other citizen in this country) is entitled to voice his opinion. It may be an opinion that is cruel, insensitive and smacks of arrogance and an over inflated sense of self but it is his opinion. Calling for him to be sacked or banned is both irrational and to be honest, unrealistic. He has and continues to make a career of taking radical points of view. The likelihood is as well that many of the companies who cancelled their advertising on his show will come back over time. Ratings do speak loudly when it comes to reach and ROI.
• While speaking about loudness of volume, many have taken to Twitter, Facebook or even a humble blog to voice their disapproval or otherwise to those comments. For me, it was fascinating to see the reactions of people from different parts of Australian society making their views heard in such a immediate way;  so much so in fact that I think it led to Mr Jones making the decision to address the storm of public opinion on Sunday rather than wait for his usual platform on 2GB. Like a lot of things in our lives, social media can be used for good or evil.
• The Sydney University Branch of the Young Liberals really do have to take a long, hard look at themselves otherwise like the classic line out of ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ – “I weep for the future”. 

When the story first broke, I tweeted the following

 

This blog is what I have decided to do about it. If we don't agree with what is said by those who are in a position of influence - either by profession or popular vote, we shouldn't be afraid to call them out and disagree; especially when we think they have thrown common decency and respect out the window in the process.

Happy Birthday to me!

"Welcome Back!" (with apologies to John Sebastian)

Wine of the Week:  

Heathcote Estate Shiraz 2006 

I have come to enjoy the type of Shiraz that comes from Heathcote in Victoria. They generally have some ‘oomph’ to them and are very much enjoyed this time of year; either with a hearty casserole or a lovely medium rare steak...or even by itself to warm the cockles during the peak of Winter. The 2006 Heathcote Estate Shiraz is no exception. Full bodied with the hint of pepper and spice and well aged. Luckily, this particular bottle was a gift I received earlier this year from my work colleagues. I was appreciative when I unwrapped the bottle and even more so when I tasted the first glass. Thanks one and all who contributed.

 

I must say I have not heard of the Yabby Lake winery which the Heathcote Estate range hails from but suffice to say, I will be looking to learn more about them in the future.

Well, as those who have been regular readers of my blog in the past, you would realise that this is the first time that I have posted in 2012. To those kind souls that have kept asking me why I haven’t been posting and providing suggestions for their Friday night trips to the bottle-o, I apologise for the rather lengthy break. Why the pause in proceedings? I have no real excuse other than being focused on other pursuits and perhaps a slight dose of laziness. That said, what better reason to break the drought other than the Games of the Thirtieth Olympiad in London and more to the point, the performance of the Australian Olympic Team which have left many to feel a bit like my friend here below.

At the time of writing, Australia has 1 Gold, 12 Silver and 7 Bronze medals putting us 19^th in the overall rankings. From what I have seen, this has put the nation at large in a state of apoplexy and looking, nay demanding explanations as to why these results have been so poor, substandard and dare I say...un-Australian???

As for said explanations, I have heard a number of reasons why, particularly our swimmers haven’t followed the script and finished well below the expectations the nation have set for them; not training hard enough, a bad attitude, laziness, lack of Government funding...I even heard that Twitter is potentially the root cause of why our swags aren’t weighed down in golden booty (this last one justifying my decision to turn the sound down when watching the swimming on Foxtel). It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if the Carbon Tax is also trotted out as a probable cause soon as Tony Abbott has been a tad quiet of late.

If I may, I have one that I haven’t heard tabled; maybe... just maybe there are athletes from other nations on this Earth who perform better than us - even when our athletes deliver their best on any given day or night? Crazy I know but it’s just an opinion.

Yes, some of our athletes haven’t delivered their best when the whips have been cracking and some may have written cheques that have bounced when it has been time to cash in. However, many, many others have and will continue to do so over the next week.  

That and one other thing keeps going through my head:

• According to worldometers.info, the World’s population is now over 7 Billion people.
• According to www.mapsofworld.com, just fewer than 11,000 athletes will compete in the Games in London. 
• The Australian Olympic Team that is competing in London numbers 410 athletes.

In short, you have to be an exceptional athlete to get on the f...ing plane in the first place!!!

In the last few days, I was reminded of a bloke I used to work for in my early working days. As time passed by, we started to get to know one another a bit; as you do when you work side by side each other every day.

One day, I noticed his keyring and it was something that was from “The Olympians Club”. So I asked him the obvious question. Turns out, he had competed in the 1988 Olympics at Seoul in a sport that Australia had and continues to have a long and quite illustrious history in. Add to that, he was a World Champion in his sport the year before.

Even then, I was a sports nut so once I found out he had gone to the Olympics, I would start asking questions – what was it like, what had happened etc. At first, he was reluctant to talk about it as his performance at the Games wasn’t what he had hoped for and I don’t know, I think he wanted to make it a bit of a distant memory. Which was a shame because as I pointed out earlier, very few people get the chance to represent their country at the Olympics and to do so, you have to be close to the top of your sport over a fair period of time.

One day, my mate came in to work with a photo album which he showed me. It was his photos from the Seoul Olympics – ones from the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, ones with others in the Australian Olympic Team at the time and ones with him, in his Australian tracksuit with his proud parents. He also had mementos in there like his Olympic ID which was pretty cool as hey, it would be the closest I would ever get to one.

I was absolutely wrapped that he would share that stuff with me and thankfully a few others in the office as it was something he should have been proud of; irrespective of the result he achieved there. I know I was (still am) and this was years after he competed.

Maybe it is something we should remember when we sit around the coffee tables, water coolers and pubs over the next few days as we pass judgement on our team’s performances and the results that they achieve. That and one other thing...we are all entitled to have a bad day at the office once in a while.

My guide to a merry, merry Christmas!

So to get in the spirit of the season and review a specific wine, I thought I would give you a rundown of how Christmas Day could/may/probably will pan out from a wine perspective; while at the same time perhaps giving some tips on how you could enhance your festive celebration.
Breakfast: Champagne breakfast to kickoff the day and nothing says Merry Christmas better than bacon and eggs on the BBQ and a bottle of Champagne. Pol Roger being the one we have for special occasions. 
Pre-Lunch: You can never go wrong with bubbles to begin the Christmas feast and for us, it is with a sparkling shiraz. Not only can you start with it but it goes well with turkey and ham during the main. Gartlemann Wines consistently do a very good sparkling shiraz so I dare say two bottles will be in our fridge.
Lunch: If you are starting with seafood, semillon is the way to go which goes down especially well with some fresh prawns, oysters or even a lobster tail slightly charred on the BBQ. Margan Wines will be the likely starter at our place. From there, a shiraz with the lamb, ham or curry then graduating straight to the Cabernet Sauvignon. We discovered on our recent trip to the Hunter the 2008 Calcare Cabernet Sauvignon from Pepper Tree. I guarantee it will take you one sip to become a fan.
Dessert: Hard choice but the options will be either a Botrytis Semillon with the christmas pudding or a Suckling Pig Shiraz from Piggs Peake with some chocolate...but who I am kidding? We will have both! 

Here we are. Christmas time again and before we know it, 2012 is here rather than being a title of a dodgy disaster movie. Anyway, I thought that seeing that this would be the last post for the year I would give you (as my Christmas present to you) the ten lessons/realisations that I have arrived at this year. 

In general, these came to me like a lightning strike as I sat on one of CityRail's finest en route to or from work and while all have a particular relevance to me, some are easily in the category of 'something there for all of us'. I will let you decide which ones are which. 

1. The last time I was excited about a piece of technology was the HP 9000 K-Class Unix server - and that was only because I thought it would be a great idea to gut the inside and turn the shell into a bar fridge! However, the iPad2 has won me over. My life has changed forever and more importantly, it makes way cooler than I would be without it (admittedly, I am starting off a low base).   

2. I am convinced that there is a conspiracy that some of my favourite things are getting smaller as I get older. Toobs, Iced Vo Vo's and Wagon Wheels are key examples. Tell me I am wrong!  

3. While there is still conjecture about a tree falling in a forest, I have decided that if you make a statement in cyberspace, someone will hear. I know this to be true as I am always pleasantly surprised when someone will tell me that they have read and in some cases enjoyed reading this blog. Same can be said for Twitter. In fact, I am still not sure what has been the biggest thrill; having Melissa Doyle retweet me or having a small yet meaningful twitter conversation with Kristina Keneally.

4. I did not leave my heart in San Francisco but have left it in New York. It was truly amazing and we hardly scratched the surface on what it could offer. We will be back but in the interim, I get my NYC fix via the New York Times (on the iPad of course) and the Yankees! 

5. When I started my working life, I heard stories of how things slowed down on the approach to Christmas and that it was all centred around parties, drinks and general merriment. I have yet to experience such a phenomenon. 

6. While I have resigned myself to staying in the 80's when it comes to my musical tastes, I have to admit here on this blog that I am, in fact a fan of Katy Perry. She is truly a musical genius and 'Firework' is close to my favourite song. 

7. I knew that after the retirements of Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist, MacGill, Martyn, Langer, Hayden etc that the Australian Cricket team was starting a lean patch which could mirror the one that took place in the mid 80's...why is the rest of the country only realising this now? 

8. And while we are on the subject of cricket, why is there this sudden hysteria around 20/20 cricket? I now fully understand what it may have been like when World Series Cricket started in the late 70's. In short, while the players still want to play test cricket it will remain an integral part of the game.  

9. It is true what they say about from little things, big things grow. Seeing the success of Little Ballerinas and the rewards that have come as a result of all the hard work that Trish has put in has been the highlight of the year. While it has been just the first year and there is much more to happen, I am so proud of what she has achieved and am excited of what 2012 will bring. 

10. While it is terribly cliched and it is something that gets said around this time of year...every year, it is true that there is nothing more important than family and friends. And to paraphase my good friend Roy, everything else is froth and bubble.

So to you and yours, all the best for the festive season. May you enjoy the time with your family and friends and I hope that 2012 brings you all that you wish for...not to mention spending it drinking some good wine. See you in the new year. 

Cheers!

Sometimes the nightmare starts when you wake up.

Wine of the Week:
You know what, I walked into Dan Murphy's yesterday and stumbled across the new ACDC wine range. There are a number of wines that are named after classic ACDC tunes and I picked up the 'Back in Black' Shiraz 2010; in the true spirit of not judging a book by it's cover and willing to give anything a go. The bottle itself is a 'must' collectable for ACDC fans with a picture of Angus Young in full flight on stage. As for the Shiraz itself, it is young but unlike the band I don't think it will age as well.

Like most Australians, I awoke on Friday morning to the news of the scoreboard above. I don't know what shocked me more; the fact that Australia was dismissed for 47 or the fact that we were 9/21. 

It was part of a day of test cricket that will go down in history as one of the most eventful and bizarre the game has seen. Ultimately, it led to the South Africans winning the Test before the game reached it's halfway point and has led to a fair degree of analysis by all Australian cricket supporters - including myself. 

For me, there are some key points to take out of what can rightfully be called a shambolic effort by the Australians.

1. This team needs a massive attitude readjustment...fast! They have either been part of or grown up during an era when Australian teams played and were successful through a game plan of attacking all the time and almost bullying the opposition into submission. Fact was, they had the talent to do this consistently and the gap between the Australians and the rest of the world was substantial. This is no longer the case. The Australians need to be more adaptable with their game plans and have the good sense to know when to be more circumspect and when to be on the front foot...and the humility and sense of realism to know that this is needed.
2. Due to the fact that we do not have the talent that was the norm over the last twenty years, the majority of the side needs to perform to their potential for Australia to put themselves in a winning position. This means five of the top seven needs to score runs to set a solid total and an attack that bowls as a team to take twenty wickets. There is no longer one or two players that can pull Australia out of the shit to win a Test anymore.
3. Australia can not rely on one player to take five wickets in an innings and then expect him to open the batting ten minutes later. Credit where credit is due, Shane Watson has done a good job opening the batting but has also been increasingly relied upon to do his fair share of bowling; mainly due to the lack of penetration of the selected bowling attack. This is not sustainable and for the good of the team (and ultimately for Watson himself), he needs to drop down the order. 
4. Much has been made about the absolute revolving door that is the selection policy around our spin attack. The same thing can be said of our pace bowlers. There have been many that have been tried and tested but we have not settled on a solid pack of six or seven bowlers that can fit in and out of the Test team when required. This needs to be resolved and resolved this summer.
5. I don't think that there will be massive changes for the Second Test this week as most of the current side deserves the chance to redeem themselves but there is a chance to start the process. Mitchell Johnson has run out of credits and needs to be dropped immediately. Shaun Marsh's back is not looking like it will be right for the game with the news tonight (Sunday) that David Warner will be flying to South Africa as back up. It is an opportune time for Warner to open the innings and Watson to drop down the order. I have been critical of David Warner's ability to build an innings in the long form of the game however over the last twelve months, he has scored runs and shown the flexibility needed to play the ball on it's merits and build an innings. He deserves a chance.
6. I am still of the opinion Ricky Ponting has deserved the right to make the call himself on when he pulls up stumps but the caveat has always been that he needs to keep scoring runs. I am giving him the home series against NZ to do this before I give the beating drums any recognition. However, I do firmly believe that if you are talking about dropping Ponting you need to be having the same discussion about Michael Hussey as well. 

The Second Test will be keenly watched by many to see if Australia can redeem themselves from a shattering defeat. The thing to remember is that they not only lost the First Test but also played key members of the Proteas into form; namely Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn as well as uncovering a new pace bowler in Vernon Philander. The way the Australians will play will be the key to see how long this coming summer actually will be.

PS: Like many cricket followers, I was shocked by the news of the death of Peter Roebuck. Without fail, I would always make sure I read his articles in the SMH and would listen intently to his views on the game during the ABC Grandstand commentary. I wouldn't always agree on his opinions and in fact, thought there were times when he was sounding like a broken record eg; the last home Test series against India and focusing on the Australians as the main perpetrators. However, his views on the game always were relevant, created debate and caused many including myself to think and view the game in different ways. While details are still sketchy of his death and I am sure more will come to light in the next week, one thing that can not be disputed is his contribution to the game through his analysis and commentary. He will be missed not only this summer but for many summers to come. Vale.

My favourites in the Baggy Green

Wine of the Week:
Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 - While I do not profess to be an expert (far from it), there are two things that I know to be true. First is that you can very rarely go wrong with a Cab Sav from the Coonawarra. Second is that if you can, the perfect accompaniment to a Coonawarra Cab Sav is a steak cooked perfectly to how you desire it (for me that's medium rare). 

Trish and I were out in Melbourne last week and had the Balnaves along with some beautifully cooked steak. The Balnaves 2008 is still quite young so it doesn't have the big strong Cab kick that I usually look for in a Cab Sav. However, it is not that far away. It also has a great fruity bouquet which adds to it's enjoyment and befits it's age. The Balnaves is good drinking now, would be even better in a two to three years but if someone puts it in front of you with a nice piece of steak...don't argue. http://www.balnaves.com.au

The weather is getting warmer, the days longer and I can smell jasmine in the air. For me that means that cricket season is upon us. For some, competitions around the country have already started but for me, this season will be purely watching and supporting as Australia continues it's rebuilding, the Sydney Thunder makes their debut in the Big Bash League and NSW dread the day that Michael Clarke and Simon Katich share the Blues dressing room again.

This week, the Fairfax press have previewed an upcoming book where the living Australian cricketers were asked to vote on who they thought was the greatest Australian cricketer. While it is no surprise that Sir Donald Bradman was number one, the make up of the top 25 will certainly make for many a conversation this coming summer. http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/players-decide-the-greatest-to-wear-the-baggy-green-20111024-1mge6.html 

Of course, it got me thinking...not so much my opinion on who were the best but who were the five that at some point would have been my answer to the perennial question when you are growing up - "Who is your favourite player?" So, at risk of being controversial (Skull???)...here they are:

1. Allan Border:

In short for anyone who grew up in the 1980's, Allan Border epitomises Australian Cricket. The man who was given the Captaincy reluctantly and then started to rebuild the Australian Cricket team and set the foundations for their ascendancy to the number one spot in world cricket; starting in 1989 when he became the first captain to regain the Ashes in England since 1934. For me, meeting the great man on his 2002 charity walk from Sydney to Brisbane and getting to walk with him on his way to the Gabba was both memorable and inspirational...especially when he put his arm on my shoulder and asked if we (I) was ok to get to the Gabba. At that point, I could have been walking over broken glass, barefoot and it being fifty degrees in the shade - if Allan Border asked me to do it, I would have. And I'm just a nuffy - imagine the effect he had on his players???

2. Mark Taylor:

Mark Taylor was the cricketer I wanted to be apart from one thing - he was left handed. He opened the batting and captained NSW and Australia with distinction and took the baton from Allan Border and raised Australian Cricket to the next level; culminating in beating the West Indies in their backyard in 1995. While many would say his finest hour was his 334 in Pakistan, the Ashes century in 1997 to get him out of a form slump was one of the gustiest innings I have seen. While I haven't met him, I do remember my mate Jeff and I walking behind Taylor as he walked through the Members pavilion at the SCG to the NSW dressing room; not uttering a word - both of us in awe of 'the Captain'. We were both 24 years of age at the time...

3. Shane Warne:

Looking at this from purely a cricketing perspective, I couldn't go past S.K. Warne. He is a freak and truly a once in a lifetime cricketer. He had the ability to win games for Australia and while for many "the ball of the century" in 1993 marked his arrival on the scene, for me it was the return Ashes series at the Gabba where for the first time he had to bowl Australia to a win - and he delivered. His setup of Alec Stewart to get him out with the flipper still sticks in my memory. Look at the other end of his career and the final day of the Adelaide Test in 2006 where he took the ball at the start of play and was not giving it up until England were all out epitomised Warne's impact on Australian cricket. He bowled England out with both his talent and his aura. I have no doubt that he is the greatest Australian bowler that I will see in my lifetime. Off the field...one word comes to mind - suspect!

4. Ricky Ponting:

When Ricky Ponting started in the Australian team, I found him to be a smart alec - always chipping at the opposition. Then of course you tend to forget that he made his debut at nineteen and still yet to grow up. Ponting, while not a captain of the ilk of Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor he was certainly a better captain than his predecessor Steve Waugh - and a job he did with a less talented side. I did meet Ricky Ponting after the 2006/07 Ashes series...but enough said about that encounter the better. 

5. Michael Whitney:
The Whit - Michael Roy Whitney was a legend in my eyes. He gave his all; whether he played for Randwick, NSW or Australia. The sight of Whitney walking back to his mark, tugging at the knee brace he always wore. Then at the start of his mark, the slight skip and stutter as he ran in to deliver the ball and hit the deck hard. While Australia won the Ashes in 1989, it was a travesty that he wasn't selected on the tour - a decision that still remains unexplained. I still remember the ball he bowled Brian Lara during a one dayer in Sydney which took the top of Lara's off stump. The Hill (and I) went nuts! I also remember the night Jeff and I met the Whit at a Calypso night for the West Indies team of 1992...he may have been taken back by our enthusiasm but it WAS Michael Whitney!

So...who are your favourite Australian cricketers? Feel free to join the conversation.