Trending
Prev Story
Next Story

Rubbing the Australian XI up the wrong way

Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) •
October 28, 2026 • 10:00 AM
1
1 reads 0 reactions

They need to show more grit.

1 / 2
Swipe Photos

Regarding the overnight Test action, Don Bain of Port Macquarie isn’t sure “whether the sports reporter was being intentionally punny when he opined that crowd commentary at Newlands, home of sandpapergate, might be ‘abrasive’.” Such wordsmithery can occur in all codes. Granny just heard noted rugby league intellect Denan Kemp accuse the management of NRL halfback Sam Walker of “Playing chicken with the Roosters.”

Still (kinda) in Cape Town, Richard Ansoul of Tanunda (SA) recalls that “as an impecunious student, our daughter, Claire Ansoul, won a Herald competition to name a themed dream team of Australian cricketers (all left-handers, Masons etc) in season 1987-88. As winner, she received a double pass to the Tests. Her motley team consisted of men who had all been filmed on the field, picking their nose. Look out for her in the stands at Newlands.”

David Baird of Burradoo is feeling pretty ticked-off right now: “I’d like to see a downtick in the word ‘uptick’. Ironically, I’d like to see an uptick in the word ‘increase’.”

“Gail Grogan (C8) brought back fond memories of reading the Herald aboard the train,” writes Lawford Steele of Scarborough. “Gail said ‘It was awkward folding the pages’ and I remembered being complimented on my skill at being able to flick, turn and fold the broadsheet Herald to the required size without upsetting adjacent commuters.”

Merran Loewenthal of Vienna, Austria, has more on the Halloween alternative (Martin Luther Day) for David Morrison (C8): “In Germany and Austria and most Catholic European countries, November 1, All Saints’ Day, is a national holiday, if you happen to be of the Lutheran faith, you are also entitled to enjoy a holiday on Reformationstag, October 31!”

“Say it ain’t so,” laments Ted Richards of Batemans Bay. “Are Iced VoVos really smaller now, or is it just my imagination?”

“Dorset Sutton’s sad tale (C8) brings to mind the time many years ago when I was studying solicitor’s bookkeeping at the end of my law course,” says Dave Clark of Springside. “The prescribed text, written by a member of an esteemed legal family, dispensed with the usual accountant’s terms of ‘debits’ and ‘credits’ and replaced them with ‘devours’ and ‘conveys’ – a move which converted what was already an arcane subject into something almost completely incomprehensible. Despite that, I managed to struggle through the exam.” Well, we know that Dave can at least count to five.

Include name, suburb and daytime phone.

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Remove items from your saved list to add more.

You've used all of your gift articles. 3 more will become available on the 1st of every month.

Prev Swipe Story Next

Same Story from Other Publications

Compare how 4 other independent news outlets reported on this story.

4 Publications
SBS News Australia
2w ago
Increasingly complex health issues greatest concerns for GPs

Increasingly complex health issues greatest concerns for GPs

GPs are spending more time with patients and treating increasingly complex conditions, according to a new report.

The Age
2w ago
Homelessness crisis hits breaking point as services turn away desperate Australians

Homelessness crisis hits breaking point as services turn away desperate Australians

A damning new report reveals almost two-thirds of sector providers are rejecting clients as soaring rents and chronic shortages push frontline services to the brink of collapse.

The Guardian
2w ago
South Africa v Australia: third men’s cricket Test, day two – live

South Africa v Australia: third men’s cricket Test, day two – live

Over-by-over report: Australia begin chasing the Proteas’ first innings 329 on the second day of the series decider in Cape Town. Join our writers for updates

ABC News Australia
2w ago
Live: Australia begins day two at crease after Starc blitz flattens South Africa

Live: Australia begins day two at crease after Starc blitz flattens South Africa

Travis Head and Matt Renshaw look to set Australia a solid platform on day two in Cape Town after Mitchell Starc's late blitz blew South Africa's tail away. Follow live.

Related Stories

Australia & Pacific
Build #2611