Australia tied India at 1-1 after three tests in their five match series.
The iconic Boxing Day Test is coming up at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday and will display one of the biggest crowds in the world for test cricket.
19-year-old Sam Konstas has replaced Nathan McSweeney after 'being on the radar' for some time.
Australian Correspondent Adam Peacock joins the show to discuss this and more.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Bene
from Newstalk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Let's get you across the Tasman Our. Australian correspondent Adam
Peacock joins us. So let's start with Test cricket. Adam
Australia India tied at one all after three tests and
their five Mats series. The iconic Boxing Day Test coming
up at the Melbourne Cricket Ground starting on Thursday. Is
there still the Boxing Day Test, the biggest event of
the of the sporting.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Summer, Yeah, Piineyer, it's it's Look, it's the focal point.
Day one of the Boxing Day Tests. We get our
biggest crowd, probably the biggest crowd you'll get for Test
cricket anywhere in the world, say for maybe if they
play a massive Test in i Matabad in India, one
hundred thousand mcgy. I think it's sold out Day one
already and fair enough too because it's so evenly poys
(00:51):
this series and now we've got the added storyline of
changes to the Australian team. And it is great, this
this series, and it's it promised to be great, I
should say, and I think it's living up to it
with the twist and turn so far.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Absolutely look at I'm here here on the side of
the tasmhen. We've been watching it with great interest. You
talked about the changes. Nathan McSweeney dropped as an opener
and comes nineteen year old Sam Constance. What a what
a potential debut for her. Imagine walking out to beat
on boxing day at the MCG as a nineteen year old.
What can you tell us about this kid?
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Yeah, he's been on the radar. You talk to and
you know New Zealand's favorite Sun Brad hadden't my mate.
On my Willow Talks podcast, he kind of said about
eighteen months ago, he said, I'll watch out to this
kid who is just blazing a trail in what we
call grade cricket over there, and I'm sure you all
over New Zealand level below first class and he was
(01:46):
going up the grade like every like, get promoted to
third grade, century, second grade, century, first grade centry into
the New South Wales squad. And he started this summer
really really well. He's just he's just a really well
balanced cricketer. You know, probably the first time you saw
Cain Williamson the first time we saw Michael Clark, just
go man, he's got a bit, he's got a bit
(02:08):
of variation and it all looks bloody good. So he
looks like that at the moment. Of course that the
added trashure now comes with temperament and handling setbacks, and
you know, sometimes you're going to get a good ball
from Boomer that you don't do anything about it, You're
going to get out and well, he looks like he's
already made test player. I don't know he's mature enough
to handle this first go at. It remains me seen,
(02:28):
but I think everyone over here can't dispute the kid
has got a ment talent.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
I know he hasn't got any runs Nathan McSweeney, but
that's a bit tough on him because Osmond Kawaja hasn't
exactly said the world on fire either, has he?
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yeah, I reckon he is really harsh for McSweeney because
he's almost been set up not to fail. But it
was a hard attach than it needed to be by
opening because he's not and they thought, well, he's technique
and his sentiment will be able to handle that position.
That hasn't worked out that way. Like I said, in
the last sentence with copying a good ball from Boomer
(03:02):
and he's capped the field of those. So yeah, it's
hard on him, but I think he's got a future.
He's the right age. They like him as a leader,
as a captain, as a tactician. He's led some Australia
A teams, been promoted to that role. He's only mid twenty,
so he's got well enough times to kind of figure
it all out like the Shield Devil and come back
a better player.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
All right, look forward to the Boxing Day test starting Thursday. Meantime,
the Big Bash is underway. Is there still attracting crowds
and eyeballs to Big Bash?
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Yeah? Yeah, I'm getting some good TV numbers and decent
enough crowds. I think it's become a part of the
stomach summer diet of sport over here. They spread it around.
What they did do, which was probably smart. They reduced
a number of games so now it feels like each
game is a bit more important. So they went I
(03:52):
think they went from fourteen to ten. The feedback from
the playoff was it just went too long and probably
did to date into the other cricket over summer. It's
weird over here and probably the same as well. We
watched cricket all around the world and we look forward
to our summer, but our some only video last two
months December, bit in November, December, January and then by
the end of January. For instance, this year our Test
(04:15):
cricketers have been over in Sri Lanka and focus will
be on the women's team playing it an Ashes Test
in cg So, yeah, the big bash. I think they've
got it right the calendar now and yeah that they
are getting decent crowds around the country, which is great
to see.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Good to see indeed, a big another big event on
your sporting calendar, the Australian Tennis Open. I know you're
big on this. I see sixteen year old Cruz Hewitt.
I recognize the surname. The son of one of your
tennis greats, Lton Hewitt's got a wild card into qualifying
for the Gussie Open. What's the mail on Cruz Hewitt
and his chances of emulating his old.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Man, Yeah, like he's probably got there on merit just
about Look it helps the last name. It helps probably
that the old man is the Davis Cup captain and
has a a fair bit of sway Insie Tennis Australia,
which a Davis Cup captain should have. By the way,
I'm not saying anything wrong with that, so yeah, look,
he's been around the place in junior's for the last
(05:11):
couple of years and he's showing a bit, so yeah,
chuck him in and as long as it's fair and
equitable for the other two news of his standard getting
the same treatment which has been the case over the
last ten years and not haven't investigated the exact breakdown
for this one. Don't have a problem with it that
he's you know, he's a big kid and he's I
think he's already tool and he's old man, so he's
(05:32):
over stick foot and you know, he looks to have
the attributes and whether or not he's good enough, we'll
soon find out. It's a totally different thing juniors to
proper open tennis in women's and men's with tennis. So yeah,
it's a big, big step. So we'll see how he
goes and shouldn't be judged on whatever happens in his
result he's first found qualifying.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yeah, I often wonder about the burden of a surname,
you know, and look there's no getting away from it.
He's late on Ewart's boy. But yeah, I wonder sometimes
whether guys like Herm and others would just prefer if
they had, you know, a different name, or a name
that wasn't so synonymous with the sport that they're trying
to pave their way in.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Well, it's the easiest thing to say for us. Mug
Hunter's watching for the first time. He's not as good
as he's old man. Yeah, it's like that's just a
flip and comment. We turned the TV off and and
forget about it. That's the kid. It would deeply hurt.
So yeah, I like judgment against what someone else did
twenty thirty years ago is completely irrelevant in my eyes.
So I'm interested to see how he goes and what
(06:32):
kind of game he's got.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Indeed, hey, this wasn't on the list, but the Melbourne
derby tonight in the A League means. The backdrop of this,
of course, is that Melbourne victory coach Patrick is Norbo
has up and left the club half a dozen games
into the new season. He's only just taken over. What's
the reaction being to this.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Yeah, not kind, It's a bit of thanks for a
much puddy, but look, it's an opportunity overseas. It's to
be an assistant at Yokohama. That's where and Kevin Musket
and Harry Keele has been and John Hudson recently. John
Hudson just the snaring if they got a job in
j two yesterday, so he moved on from Yokama. But yeah,
kind of unfortunately points toward what's going on with the
(07:09):
A League in a wider sense. It's more attractive proposition
financially and career wise to go and be an assistant
in the JA League rather than be a head coach
or one of the biggest clubs. That's just the facts
of the matter, unfortunately. But yeah, it melt the victory
in a bit of a whole. So they've got the
assistant Arthur Dolls kind of taking over to Deny one
and led to believe, but I'll find someone that will
(07:30):
be fine. It's just a bit of work out for
Christmas that the crew at Melbourn victory had to do
that they didn't think they had to do it. So
I don't think it's impressed a lot of people, what
players and fans and fair enough too, he's just kind
of up and left.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah, but weird, a bit odd, but yeah, I understand
the backdrop to it, as you say, the financial side
of it is probably easy to understand if even if
you don't necessarily agree with the decision that he's made.
All right, Adam, Well, I know you've got a bit
of pre Christmas work to do as well, apart from
chatting sport with me, So I wish you and your
family all the best for the first of season. Look
forward to catching up in the new year.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Thanks Piney. I'm actually my Christmas present myself today is
cleaning the house. And when I say I clean the house,
it's actually getting the house the outside, the facade of
the house, queen. So yeah, high pressure hose.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Oh mate, well look at better you than me. Good
luck with that and we'll see you next year.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Can't wait, mate, if there is a next year after this?
Speaker 2 (08:26):
He and Peacock after Kleaner's House, our Australian correspondent right
across the year and returning in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talks b weekends from midday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Bene
from Newstalk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Let's get you across the Tasman Our. Australian correspondent Adam
Peacock joins us. So let's start with Test cricket. Adam
Australia India tied at one all after three tests and
their five Mats series. The iconic Boxing Day Test coming
up at the Melbourne Cricket Ground starting on Thursday. Is
there still the Boxing Day Test, the biggest event of
the of the sporting.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Summer, Yeah, Piineyer, it's it's Look, it's the focal point.
Day one of the Boxing Day Tests. We get our
biggest crowd, probably the biggest crowd you'll get for Test
cricket anywhere in the world, say for maybe if they
play a massive Test in i Matabad in India, one
hundred thousand mcgy. I think it's sold out Day one
already and fair enough too because it's so evenly poys
(00:51):
this series and now we've got the added storyline of
changes to the Australian team. And it is great, this
this series, and it's it promised to be great, I
should say, and I think it's living up to it
with the twist and turn so far.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Absolutely look at I'm here here on the side of
the tasmhen. We've been watching it with great interest. You
talked about the changes. Nathan McSweeney dropped as an opener
and comes nineteen year old Sam Constance. What a what
a potential debut for her. Imagine walking out to beat
on boxing day at the MCG as a nineteen year old.
What can you tell us about this kid?
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Yeah, he's been on the radar. You talk to and
you know New Zealand's favorite Sun Brad hadden't my mate.
On my Willow Talks podcast, he kind of said about
eighteen months ago, he said, I'll watch out to this
kid who is just blazing a trail in what we
call grade cricket over there, and I'm sure you all
over New Zealand level below first class and he was
(01:46):
going up the grade like every like, get promoted to
third grade, century, second grade, century, first grade centry into
the New South Wales squad. And he started this summer
really really well. He's just he's just a really well
balanced cricketer. You know, probably the first time you saw
Cain Williamson the first time we saw Michael Clark, just
go man, he's got a bit, he's got a bit
(02:08):
of variation and it all looks bloody good. So he
looks like that at the moment. Of course that the
added trashure now comes with temperament and handling setbacks, and
you know, sometimes you're going to get a good ball
from Boomer that you don't do anything about it, You're
going to get out and well, he looks like he's
already made test player. I don't know he's mature enough
to handle this first go at. It remains me seen,
(02:28):
but I think everyone over here can't dispute the kid
has got a ment talent.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
I know he hasn't got any runs Nathan McSweeney, but
that's a bit tough on him because Osmond Kawaja hasn't
exactly said the world on fire either, has he?
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yeah, I reckon he is really harsh for McSweeney because
he's almost been set up not to fail. But it
was a hard attach than it needed to be by
opening because he's not and they thought, well, he's technique
and his sentiment will be able to handle that position.
That hasn't worked out that way. Like I said, in
the last sentence with copying a good ball from Boomer
(03:02):
and he's capped the field of those. So yeah, it's
hard on him, but I think he's got a future.
He's the right age. They like him as a leader,
as a captain, as a tactician. He's led some Australia
A teams, been promoted to that role. He's only mid twenty,
so he's got well enough times to kind of figure
it all out like the Shield Devil and come back
a better player.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
All right, look forward to the Boxing Day test starting Thursday. Meantime,
the Big Bash is underway. Is there still attracting crowds
and eyeballs to Big Bash?
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Yeah? Yeah, I'm getting some good TV numbers and decent
enough crowds. I think it's become a part of the
stomach summer diet of sport over here. They spread it around.
What they did do, which was probably smart. They reduced
a number of games so now it feels like each
game is a bit more important. So they went I
(03:52):
think they went from fourteen to ten. The feedback from
the playoff was it just went too long and probably
did to date into the other cricket over summer. It's
weird over here and probably the same as well. We
watched cricket all around the world and we look forward
to our summer, but our some only video last two
months December, bit in November, December, January and then by
the end of January. For instance, this year our Test
(04:15):
cricketers have been over in Sri Lanka and focus will
be on the women's team playing it an Ashes Test
in cg So, yeah, the big bash. I think they've
got it right the calendar now and yeah that they
are getting decent crowds around the country, which is great
to see.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Good to see indeed, a big another big event on
your sporting calendar, the Australian Tennis Open. I know you're
big on this. I see sixteen year old Cruz Hewitt.
I recognize the surname. The son of one of your
tennis greats, Lton Hewitt's got a wild card into qualifying
for the Gussie Open. What's the mail on Cruz Hewitt
and his chances of emulating his old.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Man, Yeah, like he's probably got there on merit just
about Look it helps the last name. It helps probably
that the old man is the Davis Cup captain and
has a a fair bit of sway Insie Tennis Australia,
which a Davis Cup captain should have. By the way,
I'm not saying anything wrong with that, so yeah, look,
he's been around the place in junior's for the last
(05:11):
couple of years and he's showing a bit, so yeah,
chuck him in and as long as it's fair and
equitable for the other two news of his standard getting
the same treatment which has been the case over the
last ten years and not haven't investigated the exact breakdown
for this one. Don't have a problem with it that
he's you know, he's a big kid and he's I
think he's already tool and he's old man, so he's
(05:32):
over stick foot and you know, he looks to have
the attributes and whether or not he's good enough, we'll
soon find out. It's a totally different thing juniors to
proper open tennis in women's and men's with tennis. So yeah,
it's a big, big step. So we'll see how he
goes and shouldn't be judged on whatever happens in his
result he's first found qualifying.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yeah, I often wonder about the burden of a surname,
you know, and look there's no getting away from it.
He's late on Ewart's boy. But yeah, I wonder sometimes
whether guys like Herm and others would just prefer if
they had, you know, a different name, or a name
that wasn't so synonymous with the sport that they're trying
to pave their way in.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Well, it's the easiest thing to say for us. Mug
Hunter's watching for the first time. He's not as good
as he's old man. Yeah, it's like that's just a
flip and comment. We turned the TV off and and
forget about it. That's the kid. It would deeply hurt.
So yeah, I like judgment against what someone else did
twenty thirty years ago is completely irrelevant in my eyes.
So I'm interested to see how he goes and what
(06:32):
kind of game he's got.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Indeed, hey, this wasn't on the list, but the Melbourne
derby tonight in the A League means. The backdrop of this,
of course, is that Melbourne victory coach Patrick is Norbo
has up and left the club half a dozen games
into the new season. He's only just taken over. What's
the reaction being to this.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Yeah, not kind, It's a bit of thanks for a
much puddy, but look, it's an opportunity overseas. It's to
be an assistant at Yokohama. That's where and Kevin Musket
and Harry Keele has been and John Hudson recently. John
Hudson just the snaring if they got a job in
j two yesterday, so he moved on from Yokama. But yeah,
kind of unfortunately points toward what's going on with the
(07:09):
A League in a wider sense. It's more attractive proposition
financially and career wise to go and be an assistant
in the JA League rather than be a head coach
or one of the biggest clubs. That's just the facts
of the matter, unfortunately. But yeah, it melt the victory
in a bit of a whole. So they've got the
assistant Arthur Dolls kind of taking over to Deny one
and led to believe, but I'll find someone that will
(07:30):
be fine. It's just a bit of work out for
Christmas that the crew at Melbourn victory had to do
that they didn't think they had to do it. So
I don't think it's impressed a lot of people, what
players and fans and fair enough too, he's just kind
of up and left.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah, but weird, a bit odd, but yeah, I understand
the backdrop to it, as you say, the financial side
of it is probably easy to understand if even if
you don't necessarily agree with the decision that he's made.
All right, Adam, Well, I know you've got a bit
of pre Christmas work to do as well, apart from
chatting sport with me, So I wish you and your
family all the best for the first of season. Look
forward to catching up in the new year.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Thanks Piney. I'm actually my Christmas present myself today is
cleaning the house. And when I say I clean the house,
it's actually getting the house the outside, the facade of
the house, queen. So yeah, high pressure hose.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Oh mate, well look at better you than me. Good
luck with that and we'll see you next year.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Can't wait, mate, if there is a next year after this?
Speaker 2 (08:26):
He and Peacock after Kleaner's House, our Australian correspondent right
across the year and returning in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talks b weekends from midday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
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