On today's episode of The Almanack Report, Australia has fallen at the final hurdle in their Test series in Sri Lanka, but despite the disappointing way the game was lost, has Australia gained more than it lost over the last three months? We look at the way the game progressed, and discuss the ups and downs of the middle order batting of the team in that time.

David Warner's form in Tests has come to the media's attention again, with questions being asked about his longevity. But what is the real concern, his contributions on the scoreboard or the way he has gone about his innings. We have a conversation about where the problems may lie. And after the mooted inclusion of Glenn Maxwell for the final Test as a part time spinner batting at number eight, we dissect whether this move would have been worthy of inclusion or a backwards motion.

That's all for discussion on today's episode of The Almanack Report, on the podcast that surely Australia's selectors should be listening to, Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

On today's episode of The Almanack Report, things have gotten a little too power-hungry with those who are manning the Bunker in the NRL, something that came to the fore(arm) in last nights Knights-Rabbitohs game, when the end of the match became a farce. With the on field adjudicator looking to have defused a tough situation, the Bunker rose its head and decided to impose itself. Today we'll have a look at the repercussions of that action, and why if at all it was necessary.

In good news for some and not for most, Collingwood found a way to come back from a 29 point deficit against cellar dwellers North Melbourne to win their seventh successive match of the 2022 AFL season, and in the process continue to puzzle and annoy most supporters of the other 17 clubs. Is it significant that the Pies seem to win the close matches or is it just a matter of time before they crumble.

Those are today's discussion points on The Almanack Report, here on the podcast that knows how to play the game, Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.

On this episode of The Almanack Report, Nick Kyrgios has fought his way through just as many min-scandals as tennis matches at this year's Wimbledon Championships, on his way to his first ever grand slam semi-final. In having a look back at his fortnight, is it time to concede that he may well be living out the plot of the movie "Happy Gilmore", and that he may well be fated to finally prove (to himself at least) that he has reached his destiny.

Also, the Wests Tigers are looking to secure their coach for the 'new era' of the club, and media reports in recent days suggest that that person may already be in place to take on the role. We discuss the what has been going on, and whether any candidate who is available for the role is actually going to be able to resurrect their fortunes.

That's today's discussion on the Almanack Report, right here on podcast that cannot be serious, Thoughts From the Metal Cavern

On today's episode of The Almanack Report, Australia has come out and thrashed Sri Lanka in the 1st Test of their two match Test series in Galle, by showing a refreshing change in their batting against spin and their spin against a batting attack. In conditions that have put the tourists in a spin in past history, a positive attitude and plans that drew from that gave them a much better chance of success. Today's episode will include a discussion of the important pieces of the puzzle that fell in to place over those three days, and then offer some thoughts on what more needs to be looked at going forward.

That's all on today's episode of the podcast that still laughs at the thought of Shane Watson being referred to as an all-rounder, Thoughst From the Metal Cavern.

On this episode of The Almanack Report, eligibility for state and international representation came into question once again this week, with Penrith and NSW winger Brian To'o declaring his intention to play for Samoa at the end of year rugby league festivities of the World Cup. It created some discussion between fans on whether or not a player could choose to play for their state in the Origin series, and yet still be allowed to play for a different country when it came to the International game.

Today we will take a look at To'o's case, and a number of others who are facing the same choice as he is, and discuss whether they have a right to two pieces of completely different pie, or whether they have to choose one pie or the other. And in doing this, we look at how times have changed in the way that representative teams are selected, and whether or not that plays into the current dilemma that some players are facing.

That's today's discussion on the Almanack Report, right here on podcast that is only eligible for one selection criteria, Thoughts From the Metal Cavern

On today's episode of The Almanack Report, coming out of the two years of Covid, cricket has managed to survive reasonably well, but it looks as though now the world bodies are looking for a way to recoup all of their monetary losses, and that revolves around the bastardised form of the game, T20 cricket. And the danger of over-proliferation of this less-cricket part of the sport is already well at hand, and is a threat to everything I love about the game. India has signalled its intention of asking for an extended window for its IPL tournament. England's The Hundred has already messed with the T20 format, and now we have the West Indies version of the 10 over a side game, The 6ixty. And in Australia, we are now going to have a draft introduced for international players wanting to play in the BBL.

Is any of this, and I do mean ANY, good for the sport as a whole? Is it what the spectator wants? And perhaps just as importantly, is there any room left in the annual calendar for anything but these shortened forms of the game?

That's today's agenda on The Almanack Report, right here on Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.

On today's episode of The Almanack Report, can anyone understand how the Logies, Australia's so-called premier awards night for television, is still a thing? When Covid came along and made the whole thing disappear, there seemed to be not one iota of complaint from anyone in the industry or the viewing public. And yet, this week it has resurfaced, with all of the same problems. We'll have a run through of the most ridiculous parts of it right here.

Following this, Australia has risen to be champions of the world - in darts! Yes, the Australian duo of Simon Whitlock and Damon Heta have shocked the world in taking out the World Cup of Darts, something that needs to be celebrated by home darts experts everywhere.

That's today's agenda of The Almanack Report, right here on Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.