“There are genuine commercial opportunities that players can take up.”

AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson on some of the players’ salary cap-busting deals. Like Chris Judd being an “environmental ambassador” for a cardboard firm.

Nothing makes you an instant expert and instant enthusiast like the Winter Olympics, where events you haven’t even considered thinking about for four years take your whole attention for exactly the time it’s on the telly. Not least Alpha’s lovely Lydia Lassila (she was in the mag, so she’s ours, OK?), and her fantastic effort in the women’s aerials. Were we alone in shouting “Crash! Crash! Crash!” as the Chinese girl did her gold-medal attempt? That’s the Aussie spirit. Worked, though.

It’s a record, but it feels like an epitaph. Sachin Tendulkar hit probably the only one-day double-ton that will ever happen, and it’s a fitting way to put the cap on, pop the 50-over game in a draw and shut it. Twenty20 is sending its longer cousin tumbling towards honorary retirement and surely there’s no better way to remember it than the Little Master’s superlative innings. Thank you, and goodnight.