A perfect day for cricket fans to get busy crossing the eyes and teeing up the crosses

Alan Jones on Twitter yesterday:

Today is Good Friday — the brilliant young Australian captain who has made a mistake and is being abandoned by those who profited most from his talent, Cricket Australia and some in the gutless corporate world — Steven Smith is proof that crucifixion exists.

George Megalogenis responding on Twitter:

So late to all this, but fascinating to watch the commentator who crucified a prime minister when she was mourning the death of her father, and who encouraged footy fans to boo an Australian of the Year, draw civility’s line in the sand for the cricket captain who cheated.

Nine News political editor Chris Uhlmann also on the road to cricket’s Calvary on Twitter on Thursday:

It’s Easter. We have all borne witness to — and some have demanded — the crucifixion of this young man. Now, surely, we can all hope for his resurrection.

From Life of Brian (1979):

Nisus Wettus: Next. Crucifixion?

First prisoner: Yes.

Nisus: Good. Out of the door. Line on the left. One cross each. Next. Crucifixion?

Second Prisoner: Yes.

Nisus: Good. Out of the door. Line on the left. One cross each. Next. Crucifixion?

Mr Cheeky: Ah, no. Freedom.

Jailer: Hmm?

Nisus: What?

Mr Cheeky: Eh, freedom for me. They said I hadn’t done anything, so I could go free and live on an island somewhere.

Nisus: Oh. Oh, well, that’s jolly good. Well, off you go, then.

Mr Cheeky: Naa, I’m only pulling your leg. It’s crucifixion, really.

Too late for a crucifixion analogy. The Sydney Morning Herald’s David Wu on Twitter yesterday:

David Warner to speak to media Saturday 11am at the (Sydney Cricket Ground).

Good Friday disagreement? The Australian’s David King yesterday:

Victoria’s opposition has reneged on parliamentary pairing arrangements and voted down a controversial bill to split the state’s Country Fire Authority … Liberal MPs Craig Ondarchie and Bernie Finn were granted a pairing for religious reasons but walked back into the Legislative Council on Good Friday to vote against the changes.

Bernie Finn in the Victorian parliament as Thursday night’s sitting dragged into Friday:

I have long believed in: you do not work on Good Friday — any other day of the year. That is the rule.

Craig Ondarchie in the wee hours:

Today is the day that Jesus died. It is a very important day. Today I want to be with my church family. I want to take up your offer, as do some of my colleagues, about accepting the pair that you have offered.

In the Herald Sun, Labor upper house member Cesar Melhem pondering Ondarchie and Finn’s miraculous return to the chamber yesterday:

If they truly are good Christians the only place waiting for them is hell.

Think positively, as Victor Hugo did in Ninety-Three (1874):

An intelligent hell would be better than a stupid paradise.

On the cross, biblically speaking. Luke 23, verse 34:

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

The Australian Financial Review keeping readers abreast yesterday:

The fact the (Gold) Coast’s reputation is intrinsically linked to tourism and property development — not to mention tits (sic) being a retirement mecca — has not helped the city’s reputation.