There certainly are some feathers getting ruffled throughout the cricket world, with the Indian Cricket League offering big money for their breakaway Twenty20 competition.

It seems to me that it is a direct challenge to the governing body of cricket in India, the BCCI, and it seems the reaction of establishments internationally is similar to the Packer rebel cricket days, threats and bans.

Players are being warned off and it seems the bravest are the ones that are at the end of their careers with nothing to lose.

Wouldn’t you think that a lesson was learned in the Packer days and, no matter what side you were on, the game in Australia is better for the experience.

It certainly shook a few administrators out of their comfort zone and pulled a few snouts out of the trough.

Cricketers tone down the aggression

I watched what ended up being the last day of the first Test last week and saw a great interview with retired Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar.

He made some interesting comments about the current Indian side, but it was what he said about the Australian side that caught my attention.

He complimented the on-field behaviour, both here and when the players were in India, which gave me something to think about as I have noticed a distinctly less aggressive approach in the sledging department as well.

Now why would this be?

Is it because under Steve Waugh they were more arrogant, and with a slight changing of the guard and the influence of Ponting and Gilchrist things have changed?

Maybe it is simply because the opposition isn’t putting any pressure on them apart from the current Test, so they have become more benevolent.

I hope it is the former, but it is probably the latter. Stay tuned.

I’d miss Richie’s Bermuda suit

I noticed Munners on Monday stirred up some anti-Ian (the most boring man in the universe) Chappell sentiment the other week, with contributors calling for mass sackings in the Nine commentary team.

Now I would be happy to see Chappell sent to where Max Walker went but I would miss Richie’s comments, as well as his Bermuda suit.

It would also never be the same without Tony Greig’s witless comments or the unbridled excitement in Bill Lawry’s pigeon-like voice.

No, in my view, send Ian to pasture but leave the rest unless Nine can replace Richie with Sir Michael Parkinson.

The road to the top

Last week Munners made some interesting comments about AFL being the most successful at getting Coast juniors into the top level.

I can’t disagree with his comments currently, although he would only have to look back three years in the NRL to see about seven locals going well.

I guess my only comment, and it is more a “wish it were us” thing, is I would like to compare the budgets of the four codes on the Coast and I would think the AFL’s is the biggest. Well done to them.

Bucking bulls put on a show

If you want see a few bucking bulls, get to Pirate Park, Noosa, for the Honky Tonk Rodeo on January 12, with some of Australia’s best bulls and some big prizemoney.

Gates open at 6.30 with adults $15 and kids $5. It is the major fundraiser for the Pirates.