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.
Cakewalk
Yesterday's intriguing decider at Headlingley was a complete letdown if you're a neutral. Fortunately, I'm about as neutral as Fox News. Therefore the fact the decider proved to be a cross between a walk in the park and a piece of cake (hence the title above) was extremely sweet ... a bit like eating a Victoria sponge as one strolls [...]
The Decider
It was great to see England bounce back at Lord's in the ODI series. The defeat at Trent Bridge was a bad one. A chastening one. And it was made worse by the fact that everyone predicted we'd struggle against leg-spin. I thought Kuldeep would prove a handful but 6-25? Wow. That was even worse than the pessimists expected. Luckily, [...]
How Big Is The Loss Of Steve Smith & David Warner For The Australian Cricket Team?
The recent news that has created ripples in the world of cricket is about the 12-month ban imposed on Australian cricketers Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft for ball tampering. What will happen to the Australian cricket team and how will the rest of the players respond to this loss is being discussed these days. Does this punishment mean [...]
We Came, We Saw, But It Didn’t Come Home
Bollocks. It just wasn't meant to be. Much as we wanted to believe this particular England team could go all the way, they just weren't quite good enough. There's no shame in that, of course. This young group of players were given no chance a few weeks ago. But I can't deny they were second best on the night and [...]
Mind The Spin: England v India ODI Series Preview
We should all be looking forward to this series. It's the world's two best ODI sides going at it hammer and tongs. What a shame the series has arrived in the middle of a white ball glut (I've had enough already to be honest) and the middle of the football world cup's climax. Even Joe Root has admitted that he's [...]
Less Is More
Sorry I've been largely absent for the last week. I've had loads of work on, plus I'm in the middle of a rather complicated house move with buyers threatening to walk out and solicitors moving at Gavin Larsen pace. Needless to say I'm rather stressed out. However, at least I've had a break from the somewhat monotonous treadmill of international [...]
All The England I Could Eat – Part Two
Today we have the second part of Paul Potter's piece remembering some great Ashes moments from an Australian perspective ... Adelaide 2010 Bell and Pietersen didn’t play a Test together in the ’09 Ashes. It was the latter’s injury that allowed the former back into the team at Edgbaston. Come the next series in South Africa, they were playing in [...]
The Monday Mushroom
First of all we should congratulate Hants on their splendid win in the Royal London Cup Final at Lord's. It was a pretty comfortable win in the end. Hants started the game strongly with the bat, and Kent never really looked like chasing the runs. Rilee Rossouw made a fantastic century, with key contributions from young Tom Alsop and not-to-young [...]
England’s Greatest ODI Side?
Don't be misled by my (admittedly misleading) headline. Unlike some writers I'm not about to argue that the current England ODI team is our best ever. Indeed, I've heard some argue that it's the greatest ODI side in history (out of every nation) full stop. This seems more than a little silly to me. They've got potential but thus far [...]
5-0
What a weekend for English sport. The football team won 6-1 at the World Cup, the rugby team finally found a way to beat South Africa, and our ODI cricket side pinched a remarkable victory from the jaws of what would've been a completely inept defeat. And it was all thanks to the nation's new favourite cricketer, Jos Buttler. The [...]
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. [...]