England Cricket

Two Calendar months all but an hour since the latest post and despite everything ABM is still looking forward to a summers crikit starting on WEDNESDAY this week at 11.00 ~~  urgent shopping trip tomorrow to stock up on comestibles and pain killers  

More proof, if indeed proof is needed, of the triumphs of hope over years of adversity   

Looking forward to Wednesday too, Brian. I've been 'warming up' by watching the Roses match on tv. Wow! what a pasting for Mr Boycott's lot!  A win for the Red Rose county by an Innings and 79 runs, but I'm keeping my head down as the locals are not that friendly, especially when they recognise my Twang ain't the same as theirs! There were 2 notable performers, which in my view, should walk straight into the Test team: Saqib Mahmood and Matt Parkinson. Both at least deserve a place in the squad. Time will tell.

Just started the last session of the First day of crikit at Lords and the noise woke yours truly up to discover the Gross result from the earlier sessions !!  { 144 for 3 }

Well, as usual, I was gently drowsing until Tuffers started talking -- oh, so very nearly fell from my recliner !!    Not complaining tho', it's delightful to be able to wake, take a drink and lie down again { after I've posted this screed of course  } to gently drift  . . . . . . . . . 

z z z z 

The home of crikkit has once again delivered us a flat, boring pitch with just it's slope to rely on. (Why aren't all Test matches played at Old Trafford???)

However, great batting by Devon Conway and England finish on 'Nelsons'' and 2 down (David Shepherd would have been hopping ALL night!) Though a slightly tedious watch, albeit down to his mastery of the willow, Mr Conway's debut double century got me thinking about names: English county as Christian name, Welsh cities as surname (I know, I know, Conway isn't a city but it brings the list down to just 6 and I cant pronounce (or indeed spell) half of the towns)

eg .Kent St Davids, Cornwall Newport, Cheshire St.Asaph (just for you Brian!)  etc. My favourite would be Lancashire Bangor  

Well it beats knitting.........zzzzzz ZZZZZ

Devon Conway, Born in South Africa, Plays now for New Zealand.

But Brians not complaining ~~ think of D'olivera, Greig, Malcolm, etc etc etc 

Add to that Peterson Kevin of that ilk.

Grieg and Peterson even captained the side.

What would we give for batsmen (I refuse to call them “batters”) like them now instead those perennial no hopers playing this week, you know who I mean.😡

I can't think of ANY other side who wouldn't have given that target a go - except of course, England! 

273 off 75 overs is not a huge target and I'm surprised they didn't give it a go, especially as they play more one day and white ball slogging these days. 

The best entertainment came from a spectator and his yellow cagoule!

At least the Gentleman had the good grace to acknowledge that he and his cagoule provided the most entertaining part of the afternoon  !!  And what a lovely smile as well.    

Agree fully with your other comments

Just hope the young lad who has been suspended gets a place in future squads soon and actually gets to play as well ~~ Unlike one chappie named Alex Hales

Really felt sorry for the black caps yesterday , declare with a challenging but far from impossible target and what do England do ...drop anchor. Why it's not as if there were match points involved , basically just a friendly bit of match practice. England could have at least given it a go , offering some entertainment to the spectators . It's a sorry state of affairs when you have to rely on a chap getting tied up in his cagoule to do it . Mind you it was priceless 😁... Sorry rant over.

Being realistic though why would Joe Root want to chase the win with that batting line up based on their pathetic performance in the first innings. Just under half the side contributed 2 runs yes just 2.

Far better to go into the next match on level terms than already one down.

William Shakespeare knew a thing or two about cricket when he said “ discretion is the better part of valour” 😉