No matter how great the margin between South Africa and Australia in the first Test match, it would always flatter the hosts. A final gap of 177 runs was no indication of the difference between the teams.
It is an oddity, or perhaps part of the lunacy, of contemporary international cricket that South Africa, an ocean away from home, will have more players to choose from for the second Test match in Hobart than will their hosts.
Before the start of Saturday's cricket, Steve Smith was receiving advice from his predecessor, Michael Clarke, about tactics for what promised to be a hard, hot day at the WACA. A fit-looking Clarke gave every impression that he would, most of all, have liked to be playing.
Steve Smith's much-discussed dismissal was a win for the laws of cricket and a belated payback for bowlers.
As Test cricket died in Perth on Thursday, two young teams tussled for the initiative as if their lives depended on it.
Test cricket is in the dock for being predictable, boring and biased towards host countries; yet the series starting in Perth on Thursday features two teams who have not beaten each other on home turf since their respective spiritual leaders were Nelson Mandela and Makybe Diva.
The editor of these pages reckons surfing is not a real sport. The crowning of two new world champions this month shows, for better and worse, that it is.
A stroke of genius? A cry for help? An insult to English teachers? Whatever else it is, the A-League's new marketing slogan, 'You've gotta have a team', is as well-struck and accurate as Tim Cahill's first goal for Melbourne City.
The coronial inquest into the death of Phillip Hughes may yet deliver some good.
The Belgian Paralympian Marieke Vervoort was falsely reported last week to be considering euthanasia, for which she has had papers since 2008, after competing in the Rio Games. Once she had won her silver medal in the 400m wheelchair race, Vervoort corrected that mistake. She is 'still enjoying every little moment' and has no plans to depart this mortal coil.
Search pagination
Save articles for later.
Subscribe for unlimited access to news. Login to save articles.
Return to the homepage by clicking on the site logo.