Monday Buzz: Ferguson repays Meninga’s faith; Clarke, Pietersen get commentary tick; Muscat’s ugly act

BLAKE Ferguson repays Mal Meninga’s faith; Michael Clarke and Kevin Pietersen get commentary tick; Kevin Muscat ugly sideline act. IT’S ALL IN MONDAY BUZZ!

Blake Ferguson was the Kangaroos’ best in the win over New Zealand.

BLAKE Ferguson repays Mal Meninga’s faith; Michael Clarke and Kevin Pietersen get commentary tick; Kevin Muscat ugly sideline act. IT’S ALL IN MONDAY BUZZ!

HIGHLIGHT

Most footy fans, myself included, thought Blake Ferguson was lucky to get a start on the Four Nations tour of the UK after a disappointing season at the Sydney Roosters. On Sunday morning he repaid coach Mal Meninga with a sensational performance against the Kiwis to deservedly get man of the match.

HIGHLIGHT II

We’re loving the new look Channel Nine cricket coverage with the inclusion of Michael Clarke and Kevin Pietersen. And in even better news, Channel 9 sports boss Tom Malone has confirmed the best in the business Bill Lawry will be working at the Melbourne and Sydney Tests.

LOWLIGHT

Muscat’s ugly act.

This vision of Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat spitting on the sideline during the A-League match against Sydney FC on Saturday night. It looked disgusting.

LOWLIGHT II

The Sydney FC-Victory game being decided by a blatant handball that even an NRL referee would have picked up.

$5M SAVER

The huge savings in NRL executive salaries since the departure of former CEO Dave Smith continue. Chief Financial Officer Peter Brown has quit and will not be replaced. Throw in the departures of Suzanne Young, Michael Brown, Smith and all his highly paid consultants and the cost savings are worth close to $5 million a year.

SPOTTED

Blake Ferguson was the Kangaroos’ best in the win over New Zealand.

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg at Sydney airport on Sunday to travel to the UK for the remainder of the Four Nations tour.

SHOOSH

Which former NRL star and media personality dropped his pants on stage at a recent fundraiser in Mittagong in front of shocked Southern Highland types? Thankfully he kept his undies on.

SHOOSH II

Which TAB executive won $47,000 on the first Four in the Melbourne Cup?

CARNEY RUN-IN

The most awkward moment at the Melbourne Cup carnival was Cronulla Sharks boss Damian Keogh bumping into Todd Carney inside the Atrium bar at Crown Casino after the Derby. Keogh walked in and nodded to Carney, who walked straight out.

TAKING A PUNT ON THE CRICKET

You can always tell a great sporting contest by the fluctuations in TAB betting.

The Australia-South Africa cricket Test at the WACA is a perfect example.

Australia began the Test on Thursday morning at $2.10 with South Africa $2.75 and the draw $4.50.

The live betting prices changed dramatically as fortunes fluctuated on each day and each session.

At one stage you could have got $15 about South Africa’s chances.

They’d been bowled out for 242 and Australia was coasting at 0/158 with Dave Warner and Shaun Marsh still at the crease on a beautiful batting pitch.

At this stage Steve Smith’s men were paying just $1.12. The visitors were gone. Or so we all thought.

Australian then lost 10 wickets for just 86 runs.

Suddenly both teams were now paying $1.90. The draw had blown out to $41 with a result (South Africa’s way) now almost certain.

On Saturday afternoon as South Africa cruised to 2/300, Australia got out to $7.50. This is 24 hours after being $1.12. Unbelievable.

After a mini-fightback in the final session they were back into $4.50 by stumps.

Originally published as Monday Buzz: Ferguson repays Meninga’s faith; Clarke, Pietersen get commentary tick; Muscat’s ugly act