The Full Toss
Welcome to TFT, one of the UK’s longest serving cricket blogs. We’ll be here throughout the year to debate, moan, and occasionally rejoice about the England cricket team. If something’s bothering you, whether it’s selection, governance, or the cost of a pint, don’t hesitate to get in touch. You don’t need to be a professional writer or copywriter, just a fan with something to say. Email james@thefulltoss.com for more info. Cheers.
Willey, Won’t He?
The three finest cricketing minds in the land (ahem), will meet this evening* to finalise which 15 cricketers will no doubt receive World Cup winners medals in just over a month's time (big ahem). Most players are assured a place. But three or four of them will be waiting anxiously for a call. The big question mark seems to be [...]
A Hundred Supporter Speaks
We're a broad church at TFT, so it's only fair we give counter-arguments a chance. So after all that Hundred bashing, here's Alex with a more positive spin. Has he got a point? Be gentle folks. "Loathing, Unadulterated loathing, For your face, Your voice, Your clothing, Let's just say: I loath it all! Every little trait, however small, Makes my [...]
The Hundred Branding: A Bag Of Spanners
Wednesday was a really exhilarating day. Literally tens of people, most of whom were based at ECB HQ, wet themselves with excitement as the new logo for the most anticipated sporting innovation in history (or so we're supposed to believe) was launched. And boy did it live up to the hype - that's the negative hype that assumes anything connected [...]
Will Sri Lanka Find Their Mojo At 2019 Cricket World Cup?
Sri Lanka's performances during the last 12 to 18 months have gone from bad to worse. If you take away the West Indies, no other major side has lost more money for cricket betting fans. They enter the 2019 World Cup with very low expectations even from even their die-hard fans, who have been let down continuously in all formats [...]
Bonkers
Yesterday's game at the Rose Bowl would've made the authorities purr. It was made to order. England batted first and registered a hefty 373-3 - with golden boy Jos Buttler scoring an extraordinary 110 off just 55 balls - and then Pakistan put up a very respectable fight but eventually fell 12 runs short. Those in attendance witnessed a total [...]
What About Sam Curran?
While all eyes, well most eyes, have been on England's warm-up games against Pakistan, the English players who remained at the IPL have become somewhat forgotten men. One of these young men was Sam Curran, who not long ago was the darling of English cricket. However, he's had a bit of a tricky six months since the end of last [...]
Do New Zealand Have The Hunger To Win Their First ICC World Cup?
New Zealand has had a fantastic ODI team for well over a decade. The Kiwis made it to the 2015 ICC World Cup final but their cricket team came up short after they were outplayed by arch-rivals Australia. They go into the 2019 ICC World Cup as strong contenders and most betting sites, like Bet365, have them down at 10/2. [...]
The One Thing That Could Derail England
The World Cup is only three weeks away. Are you excited? Personally I feel quite nervous already. This is undoubtedly the best chance we've ever had of winning the trophy. We can't blow it. Can we? Unfortunately World Cups, indeed global ODI tournaments in general, haven't been kind to England over the years. We reached the World Cup final in [...]
The Joy Of Keeping
In The Wind in the Willows, Rat tells Mole, “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” As something of an anchor in open water, boats aren’t a favourite. But it’s a phrase that can be translated into a wide array of contexts, and in [...]
Bring Back The Mavericks
Once upon a time cricketers could pretty much do what they liked off the field. Drug testing wasn't so sophisticated, there were no WhatsApp messages, and getting pissed before important games was almost mandatory. Alex Hales would've loved it. Twenty five years ago the public didn't have mobile phone cameras ready to snap every indiscretion. And there was no social [...]
The TFT Interviews
Talking Bats With Charlotte Surridge
I'm sure many readers will remember that well known cricketing brand called Stuart Surridge (SS). It was made famous by the likes of Graham Gooch and Sir Clive Rice back in the 80s. In fact, I bet a few of you owned an SS Jumbo or an SS Turbo back [...]
TFT Talks To Athers, Beefy, Nasser, and Bumble
I enjoy a good chinwag. I enjoy it even more when it's with four guys I idolised as a kid. It has always been an ambition of mine to chew the cricketing fat with Athers and Co - perhaps over a couple of beers in the pub - so when [...]
TFT Talks To Mark Butcher
Back in November 1998, a young Englishman fresh out of uni left these shores to travel around Australia. Obviously it was a complete coincidence that the Ashes was on. On the third day of the first test in Brisbane, he saw another young(ish) Englishman flay McGrath, Fleming, Kasprowicz and MacGill to all corners of the [...]
An Evening With Nasser Hussain
We arrived at the Grace Gate at Lord's. The ground was a hive of activity. Graham Gooch strolled by, shoulders rolling and head bowed in that familiar fashion, and then the penny dropped: it was corporate and media day ahead of the Royal London Cup final between Warwickshire and Surrey. [...]
The Full Toss Meets Devon Malcolm
At one point I didn’t think I’d live to tell this tale. The venue was the Lord’s Academy. The bowler was Devon 'you guys are history' Malcolm, and the batsman was, erm, little old me. And to think that I actually volunteered. The occasion was a promotional event for Play [...]
Ask Hoggy: 20 Questions With Matthew Hoggard
Last week I had the opportunity to ask the legendary Matthew Hoggard some questions. Some were serious and others were, well, not quite so serious. I think you'll enjoy his answers. Hoggy is currently plying his trade as an after dinner speaker. He's one of the leading cricket speakers on the circuit. I certainly beats running [...]
How To Save Cricket – Our Interview With Jarrod Kimber
You've seen him on Cricinfo's Polite Enquiries. You're about to see him in Death of a Gentleman. Now you can hear Jarrod Kimber's passionate and pertinent views on the future of cricket here on The Full Toss. The only drawback: you'll have to suffer my vapid tones at the same time. Sorry about that. [...]