1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from Newstalk z B. 3 00:00:13,067 --> 00:00:15,387 Speaker 2: Let's get you across the Tasman around this time every 4 00:00:15,427 --> 00:00:17,707 Speaker 2: Saturday with the pleasure of the company of our Australian 5 00:00:17,707 --> 00:00:21,627 Speaker 2: correspondent Adam Peacock. You're heavily involved in coverage of the 6 00:00:21,627 --> 00:00:25,507 Speaker 2: Australian Open, which is underway properly tomorrow after qualifying over 7 00:00:25,507 --> 00:00:28,707 Speaker 2: the last few days, Adam, what are the big storylines 8 00:00:28,707 --> 00:00:29,907 Speaker 2: ahead of the year's tournament? 9 00:00:31,587 --> 00:00:35,067 Speaker 3: Morning Polony, Hello, Pony, I don't know what day is, 10 00:00:35,107 --> 00:00:39,147 Speaker 3: don't know what time it is, mate, This morning when 11 00:00:39,187 --> 00:00:40,707 Speaker 3: you wake up in Melbourne, there's only one going on 12 00:00:40,707 --> 00:00:43,507 Speaker 3: in front of the page, front of the Paperent's curios. 13 00:00:43,627 --> 00:00:46,587 Speaker 3: So yeah, he's probably the biggest story, but there's plenty 14 00:00:46,587 --> 00:00:49,907 Speaker 3: of other storylines. I've rend A Sabalinka going to three 15 00:00:49,907 --> 00:00:52,347 Speaker 3: in a row, Novak Djokovic going for another one? Can 16 00:00:52,347 --> 00:00:57,507 Speaker 3: he rekindle past glories? Annick Sinner, how the specter of 17 00:00:57,867 --> 00:01:00,907 Speaker 3: a drug band that hangs over his head? Hows that 18 00:01:00,947 --> 00:01:03,107 Speaker 3: going to affect him? And plenty of other story who 19 00:01:03,187 --> 00:01:07,867 Speaker 3: hunts as well? So yeah, it's a really interesting few 20 00:01:07,947 --> 00:01:10,947 Speaker 3: days here in Melbourne. With the tournament finally getting underway 21 00:01:10,947 --> 00:01:13,627 Speaker 3: after a big lead up and all those storylines starting 22 00:01:13,667 --> 00:01:15,427 Speaker 3: to be written, what do. 23 00:01:15,427 --> 00:01:17,347 Speaker 2: You predict for Nick carry off over the next I 24 00:01:17,387 --> 00:01:18,787 Speaker 2: was going to say over the next two weeks, over 25 00:01:18,787 --> 00:01:19,387 Speaker 2: the next week. 26 00:01:20,547 --> 00:01:24,107 Speaker 3: I'd be surprised if we're talking about him still being 27 00:01:24,107 --> 00:01:27,787 Speaker 3: in the tournament next weekend. I'm just not sure his 28 00:01:27,787 --> 00:01:29,987 Speaker 3: body's going to hold out. And he's probably good enough. 29 00:01:29,987 --> 00:01:33,587 Speaker 3: He's got an okay draw, Jacibe Furnley, a brick rank 30 00:01:33,747 --> 00:01:36,027 Speaker 3: just inside the top one hundred, good player, but Nick, 31 00:01:36,067 --> 00:01:39,507 Speaker 3: on his day, if he's up to it, beats him. 32 00:01:39,707 --> 00:01:42,627 Speaker 3: So but the problem is with Nick his body, So 33 00:01:43,267 --> 00:01:48,787 Speaker 3: I can't We're guessing, and I shouldn't say definitively can't, 34 00:01:48,787 --> 00:01:52,107 Speaker 3: But I can't really see winning three four matches in 35 00:01:52,147 --> 00:01:54,907 Speaker 3: a row of best of five when he just does 36 00:01:54,987 --> 00:01:58,507 Speaker 3: not have the base and to carrying through. He's already 37 00:01:58,507 --> 00:02:00,627 Speaker 3: had a couple of niggles that he's carrying. So but 38 00:02:00,987 --> 00:02:02,747 Speaker 3: fingers crossed, he does light it up a bit because 39 00:02:02,787 --> 00:02:05,747 Speaker 3: the tournament does become far more interesting than Nick's. 40 00:02:05,507 --> 00:02:08,507 Speaker 2: Going well, that Jokovic is the favorite, and the memes. 41 00:02:09,187 --> 00:02:12,947 Speaker 3: No Yanix Center, I Reckon Sinner has to be. Djokovic 42 00:02:13,627 --> 00:02:16,547 Speaker 3: in Brisbane was beaten by Riley ol Telke, a big 43 00:02:16,587 --> 00:02:18,947 Speaker 3: serving American look, and that can happen against the guy 44 00:02:18,987 --> 00:02:21,947 Speaker 3: who's nearly seven foot and just serving so well. It's 45 00:02:21,987 --> 00:02:24,147 Speaker 3: like their fine margins. The match comes down to one 46 00:02:24,187 --> 00:02:27,347 Speaker 3: or two points, and Djokhu's didn't quite get those one 47 00:02:27,387 --> 00:02:30,787 Speaker 3: or two points. But the bigger picture is with Djokovic 48 00:02:30,907 --> 00:02:34,187 Speaker 3: is that that half step has he like he's doing 49 00:02:34,187 --> 00:02:36,227 Speaker 3: everything he can to make sure he hangs on to 50 00:02:36,467 --> 00:02:39,427 Speaker 3: what he had, and that's the thing. It's not about improvement, 51 00:02:39,427 --> 00:02:43,147 Speaker 3: it's about just rekindling what he had in previous years. 52 00:02:43,307 --> 00:02:47,747 Speaker 3: I'm not sure he's right at that level. And if 53 00:02:47,747 --> 00:02:50,067 Speaker 3: it was a year where you've got a couple of 54 00:02:50,067 --> 00:02:52,227 Speaker 3: guys who are just still finding their way at the 55 00:02:52,267 --> 00:02:55,187 Speaker 3: top top at the end of the Grandstone Tournament, I'd say, yeah, 56 00:02:55,187 --> 00:02:57,547 Speaker 3: he's very much in commission. But what we're talking about 57 00:02:57,587 --> 00:02:59,827 Speaker 3: here is in the drawer. Carlos Alcaraz and Yanik Center 58 00:02:59,867 --> 00:03:01,867 Speaker 3: they split the Grand Slams last year to a piece, 59 00:03:02,347 --> 00:03:04,747 Speaker 3: So these guys know how to win these things now. 60 00:03:05,067 --> 00:03:08,627 Speaker 3: There's no fear in that regard, and Droptovis's got a 61 00:03:08,667 --> 00:03:11,027 Speaker 3: horrible little section to try and get to make the final. 62 00:03:11,147 --> 00:03:13,547 Speaker 3: So I would say he's actually third behind the two 63 00:03:13,587 --> 00:03:15,867 Speaker 3: I mentioned there in Cinner and out for us interesting stuff. 64 00:03:15,867 --> 00:03:17,147 Speaker 2: And just a word on the women's I see Arena 65 00:03:17,187 --> 00:03:21,787 Speaker 2: Sablinka's on rod Labor Arena in the first night session 66 00:03:21,787 --> 00:03:24,067 Speaker 2: tomorrow night till it's a bit difficult or more difficult, 67 00:03:24,107 --> 00:03:26,627 Speaker 2: I think to pick a favorite in the women's I 68 00:03:26,667 --> 00:03:29,707 Speaker 2: suppose you go by seedings. Would Sabalinka be favorite? 69 00:03:30,267 --> 00:03:33,267 Speaker 3: Yeah? Yeah, sadelake A game's pretty good at the moment, 70 00:03:33,587 --> 00:03:36,667 Speaker 3: judging what she did in Brisbane, Like there's a couple 71 00:03:36,667 --> 00:03:39,987 Speaker 3: of issues normally on a fourhand shot that's not quite 72 00:03:40,107 --> 00:03:43,147 Speaker 3: in sync for her at the moment. But I would 73 00:03:43,187 --> 00:03:47,347 Speaker 3: say that she's the heavy favorite, the clear favorite, absolutely 74 00:03:47,387 --> 00:03:49,627 Speaker 3: three in a row. She's got such an amazing record 75 00:03:49,667 --> 00:03:51,307 Speaker 3: the last two years here in Australia. I think it's 76 00:03:51,347 --> 00:03:54,067 Speaker 3: like twenty six or twenty seven and one, and this 77 00:03:54,267 --> 00:03:56,187 Speaker 3: was going back and you go back three years and 78 00:03:56,227 --> 00:03:58,867 Speaker 3: she couldn't serve. She sorted out issue out with her 79 00:03:58,867 --> 00:04:00,867 Speaker 3: serve and ever since he's come back here and she's 80 00:04:01,187 --> 00:04:03,427 Speaker 3: just being rolled. Everyone basically had no Ash Barty in 81 00:04:03,467 --> 00:04:07,387 Speaker 3: the field these days. As well, and Share looks like, yeah, 82 00:04:07,507 --> 00:04:09,907 Speaker 3: plays her thing. Absolutely, It's very good in a hard 83 00:04:09,947 --> 00:04:13,307 Speaker 3: court the Polish player, but Sabalanka when she's in a 84 00:04:13,387 --> 00:04:16,467 Speaker 3: rhythm on these courts, very hard to beat. But she 85 00:04:16,467 --> 00:04:18,947 Speaker 3: plays a form me US Open champion in Sloane Stevens 86 00:04:18,947 --> 00:04:21,467 Speaker 3: first up, she's unseated, so it's a really tough first 87 00:04:21,547 --> 00:04:22,867 Speaker 3: round maps and that's what I've got her on the 88 00:04:23,307 --> 00:04:25,267 Speaker 3: night session, Night one, all right. 89 00:04:25,307 --> 00:04:28,427 Speaker 2: Two other matters cricket. The Australian Test team to tour 90 00:04:28,547 --> 00:04:31,707 Speaker 2: Sri Lanka has been named. Steve Smiths going to kept 91 00:04:31,747 --> 00:04:35,027 Speaker 2: in the side. Any blowback on this, Nah. 92 00:04:34,787 --> 00:04:36,947 Speaker 3: We've forgotten about it over here. I'm sure you haven't 93 00:04:36,987 --> 00:04:40,027 Speaker 3: over there. But if we don't really bring it up anymore, 94 00:04:40,027 --> 00:04:42,707 Speaker 3: he's the only option when you look at it. I mean, 95 00:04:43,107 --> 00:04:47,387 Speaker 3: I haven't really put together a succession plan. Arthur pat commons. 96 00:04:47,467 --> 00:04:49,627 Speaker 3: It's like, oh, well, Steve Smith's the next best at 97 00:04:49,667 --> 00:04:52,227 Speaker 3: the moment, so we'll give it to him. Travis Head 98 00:04:52,267 --> 00:04:54,467 Speaker 3: looked like he might have been developing into that kind 99 00:04:54,467 --> 00:04:58,147 Speaker 3: of role. One name I will say is Nathan mcswainey. 100 00:04:58,187 --> 00:04:59,787 Speaker 3: Once he gets back into the Test line up, and 101 00:04:59,787 --> 00:05:01,747 Speaker 3: I reckon he will one day he's the guy that 102 00:05:01,867 --> 00:05:04,827 Speaker 3: could one day end up cappening in Australia after Pat Cummins. 103 00:05:04,867 --> 00:05:07,267 Speaker 3: But that's in the future. In the near future is 104 00:05:07,307 --> 00:05:09,587 Speaker 3: this Sri Lanka tour where it looks like they're blooding 105 00:05:09,587 --> 00:05:12,587 Speaker 3: a lot of younger players. They've chosen Cooper Connelly, Sam 106 00:05:12,627 --> 00:05:15,107 Speaker 3: Constas is going to go as well, and it's a 107 00:05:15,187 --> 00:05:17,227 Speaker 3: chance for these guys to integrate into the national team 108 00:05:17,267 --> 00:05:19,827 Speaker 3: set up because as George Bailey, the champan of Selected 109 00:05:19,867 --> 00:05:22,427 Speaker 3: said earlier this week that there's a lot of tours 110 00:05:22,427 --> 00:05:26,347 Speaker 3: coming to that region on turning slow low decks, so 111 00:05:26,907 --> 00:05:28,507 Speaker 3: need to prepare for it and give these guys a 112 00:05:28,587 --> 00:05:31,267 Speaker 3: chance to integrate into the squad. Maybe not play a game, 113 00:05:31,387 --> 00:05:32,147 Speaker 3: but integrate. 114 00:05:32,307 --> 00:05:34,067 Speaker 2: Yeah, it certainly a look ahead, doesn't it, Because I 115 00:05:34,147 --> 00:05:36,787 Speaker 2: think you know, Glenn Maxwell's name was bandied around as 116 00:05:36,947 --> 00:05:40,067 Speaker 2: a guy who might possibly return to the tear sites 117 00:05:40,067 --> 00:05:42,747 Speaker 2: hardly played RedBull cricket as he for Australia, but no 118 00:05:42,867 --> 00:05:44,827 Speaker 2: real surprise, his name wasn't on the list. 119 00:05:45,547 --> 00:05:47,867 Speaker 3: No, there was two that were being chucked around as 120 00:05:48,347 --> 00:05:51,627 Speaker 3: like you, yeah, let's give him a go because he's 121 00:05:51,667 --> 00:05:54,307 Speaker 3: so good, especially with the white ball game. But Glenn 122 00:05:54,307 --> 00:05:57,907 Speaker 3: Maxwell and Adam's amper, but they just haven't committed to 123 00:05:57,907 --> 00:06:00,667 Speaker 3: Shield cricket, so you don't know exactly what they're like 124 00:06:01,267 --> 00:06:05,107 Speaker 3: with with Red Bull cricket. I don't no doubt Glen 125 00:06:05,107 --> 00:06:07,027 Speaker 3: Maxwell would have been in success it. But is he 126 00:06:07,067 --> 00:06:09,027 Speaker 3: going to be a success? This is to the point 127 00:06:09,027 --> 00:06:11,947 Speaker 3: of George bayleyn in twelve to twenty four months time. 128 00:06:12,027 --> 00:06:13,387 Speaker 3: Is he going to still be playing in twelve to 129 00:06:13,387 --> 00:06:15,667 Speaker 3: twenty four months time? Is he still going to want 130 00:06:15,667 --> 00:06:18,427 Speaker 3: to have that appetite? We're going to tour. It's a 131 00:06:18,427 --> 00:06:20,747 Speaker 3: long way in the distance, but a massive tour given 132 00:06:20,787 --> 00:06:23,307 Speaker 3: what just happened to India at the start of twenty 133 00:06:23,307 --> 00:06:25,187 Speaker 3: twenty seven, which is going to come around really quickly. 134 00:06:25,307 --> 00:06:28,907 Speaker 3: So they've I think they've seen the issue with the 135 00:06:28,907 --> 00:06:31,747 Speaker 3: possibility of older guys retiring all of a sudden and 136 00:06:31,787 --> 00:06:36,627 Speaker 3: this big kind of vacuum there with nothing going into 137 00:06:36,667 --> 00:06:40,427 Speaker 3: it unfortunately. So yeah, they've probably done the right thing. 138 00:06:40,467 --> 00:06:41,947 Speaker 2: I reckon all right, and just a quick word. We 139 00:06:42,027 --> 00:06:44,827 Speaker 2: had your Maxwell, your your countryman on earlier in the 140 00:06:44,827 --> 00:06:47,947 Speaker 2: show talking about this two tier teast cricket proposal which 141 00:06:48,547 --> 00:06:53,227 Speaker 2: seems to have legs. How has this gone down? Over there. 142 00:06:54,067 --> 00:06:58,667 Speaker 3: Yeah, we like it because it's the possibility of playing 143 00:06:58,667 --> 00:07:02,027 Speaker 3: England and India in big series more often. I don't 144 00:07:02,027 --> 00:07:04,227 Speaker 3: know how I'd feel about it if I saw like 145 00:07:04,267 --> 00:07:08,307 Speaker 3: an ASHES every eight tour to eighteen months and an 146 00:07:08,307 --> 00:07:10,987 Speaker 3: India series. It feels like in the past five years 147 00:07:10,987 --> 00:07:14,227 Speaker 3: we've played India a lot. And yeah, it's built and 148 00:07:14,267 --> 00:07:16,867 Speaker 3: it's great, and you know, you get a stack of 149 00:07:16,907 --> 00:07:20,587 Speaker 3: money coming in the coffers for Indian TV rights when 150 00:07:20,587 --> 00:07:23,907 Speaker 3: they come and play on their shoes. But just don't 151 00:07:24,067 --> 00:07:28,227 Speaker 3: go too heavy on it, because sometimes more is too much, 152 00:07:28,507 --> 00:07:30,827 Speaker 3: And I don't know if they want to do this, 153 00:07:30,907 --> 00:07:32,867 Speaker 3: they've got to really space it out, think about it 154 00:07:33,187 --> 00:07:36,307 Speaker 3: and really put value on Test cricket. But you don't 155 00:07:36,307 --> 00:07:38,827 Speaker 3: put value on Test cricket by playing it heaps more. 156 00:07:39,107 --> 00:07:42,147 Speaker 3: You put value on it by having a proper structure, 157 00:07:42,427 --> 00:07:45,187 Speaker 3: I reckon. And the only way that this is workable 158 00:07:45,187 --> 00:07:47,187 Speaker 3: in my eyes, I'm not against it, I'm not ford it, 159 00:07:47,227 --> 00:07:48,827 Speaker 3: but I just want to see how it might evolve 160 00:07:49,267 --> 00:07:52,227 Speaker 3: is promotion relegation. It has to happen, Like you can't 161 00:07:52,267 --> 00:07:54,627 Speaker 3: just have a locked off six and that's it and 162 00:07:54,667 --> 00:07:57,027 Speaker 3: then a sixth below on. You have to have maybe 163 00:07:57,107 --> 00:08:00,027 Speaker 3: even one go up, one go down automatically and then 164 00:08:00,067 --> 00:08:02,507 Speaker 3: a playoff between second bottom and second top in the 165 00:08:02,547 --> 00:08:06,267 Speaker 3: two tiers. That's potentially a way of doing it. But 166 00:08:06,507 --> 00:08:08,227 Speaker 3: I don't know how you guys feel about it over there, 167 00:08:08,227 --> 00:08:11,387 Speaker 3: because New Zealand might be on the borderline of Top 168 00:08:11,427 --> 00:08:12,947 Speaker 3: six if you know what I mean. 169 00:08:13,507 --> 00:08:16,027 Speaker 2: Absolutely, And we've already chatted about this this afternoon on 170 00:08:16,067 --> 00:08:17,867 Speaker 2: the show. The problem is I think that as soon 171 00:08:17,867 --> 00:08:20,947 Speaker 2: as someone like Australia, England or India is threatened by relegation, 172 00:08:21,187 --> 00:08:22,947 Speaker 2: the whole thing probably goes in the bin. Are England 173 00:08:22,987 --> 00:08:24,787 Speaker 2: or Autralian really gonna want to be relegated and then 174 00:08:24,827 --> 00:08:25,627 Speaker 2: not play the Ashes? 175 00:08:26,347 --> 00:08:28,147 Speaker 3: Oh it's a bit like the A League, isn't it. 176 00:08:28,227 --> 00:08:31,107 Speaker 3: Like Yeah, that's great, we'll have pro rail everything like that. 177 00:08:31,147 --> 00:08:33,627 Speaker 3: What happens if Melbourne victory, you're going to get relegated. 178 00:08:33,667 --> 00:08:35,387 Speaker 3: They're really going to happen. I would have thought so. 179 00:08:35,627 --> 00:08:37,307 Speaker 2: I wouldn't have thought so either. Great to Jed has 180 00:08:37,307 --> 00:08:39,507 Speaker 2: always enjoy your week in Melbourne and and let's chat 181 00:08:39,547 --> 00:08:40,627 Speaker 2: again next Saturday. 182 00:08:41,227 --> 00:08:42,147 Speaker 3: Jeez, finey sounds good. 183 00:08:42,347 --> 00:08:43,627 Speaker 2: That sounds good to me too, mate. Thanks and Dan 184 00:08:43,667 --> 00:08:48,907 Speaker 2: Adam Peacock. They're our regular Australian correspondent, heavily involved, as 185 00:08:48,907 --> 00:08:52,427 Speaker 2: I say, in coverage over there of the Australian Tennis Open, 186 00:08:52,467 --> 00:08:54,227 Speaker 2: so it gives us some real good insight there. So yeah, 187 00:08:54,267 --> 00:08:58,427 Speaker 2: novk Djokovic not favorite, absolutely not the favorite. Alcarez and 188 00:08:58,507 --> 00:09:01,627 Speaker 2: Center are the two. Nick Kirios will take part, but 189 00:09:01,707 --> 00:09:03,907 Speaker 2: for how long I guess the promoters of the tournament, 190 00:09:04,147 --> 00:09:06,147 Speaker 2: not that they need to really promote it as such, 191 00:09:06,627 --> 00:09:09,467 Speaker 2: but they'll be hoping for Nick Krrios staying in as 192 00:09:09,507 --> 00:09:13,587 Speaker 2: long as he possibly can to boost interest, ticket sales, 193 00:09:13,627 --> 00:09:15,547 Speaker 2: all that sort of thing. Get the feeling Whenever Nick 194 00:09:15,587 --> 00:09:17,827 Speaker 2: Kurrios plays, it'll be on rod Laver and it'll be 195 00:09:17,987 --> 00:09:21,627 Speaker 2: in front of packed houses. Maybe only one match. We'll 196 00:09:21,667 --> 00:09:24,347 Speaker 2: wait and see. The tournament proper starts tomorrow. 197 00:09:25,107 --> 00:09:28,307 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 198 00:09:28,387 --> 00:09:31,667 Speaker 1: to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow 199 00:09:31,707 --> 00:09:33,347 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio