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.
It’s Time For India & Pakistan To Renew Their Test Rivalry
Rangers vs Celtic looks like walk in the park compared to these two. The strips are the same – one wears blue and one wears green, and blood, guts and years of hatred have spilled onto the shirts. It’s religion, it’s politics, and oh, it’s cricket, too. It’s India vs Pakistan. IT’S NOT JUST CRICKET….IT’S BIGGER THAN THAT If it [...]
Cricket’s Unluckiest XI
At the dawn of this blog, James Morgan wrote about England’s worst XI, a team comprising players who before, during and since their test career confounded expectations by setting low standards and consistently failing to achieve them. There could have been many more on his list: nearly half of those who have played for England lasted only five tests or [...]
Ben Stokes And Protecting Violence
The batsman drops the ball onto the leg side and Ben Stokes runs after it. As he catches up with it he hurls the ball into the ground with a cry of disgust. His face is the same vivid red as his shirt. It caps an over spent screaming at his fielders, berating them as he beats his hands and [...]
“Get ‘Im In!” Should England Pick Jofra Archer Straight Away?
Well, well, well. This is very interesting indeed. The ECB has just changed its eligibility criteria for England players. Non British-born players will now only have to serve a 3 year residency period (down from 7 years), which means < long drumroll > that one of the world's best young cricketers, a certain Jofra Chioke Archer Esq, is now fully [...]
Brian Lara 501 Not Out
Who is your favourite batsman of all time? For me it's probably Brian Lara. Even though I'm a Worcestershire and England supporter, and Lara played for rival teams, I don't think there's any batsman I've enjoyed watching more. He was so flamboyant, elegant, powerful, and quite simply unique. That high back-lift, those dancing feet, those incredible hands, and that amazing [...]
“England Were Bloomin’ Average” – The Moaner Returns
The 3rd Test is over, and England has a clean-sweep in Sri Lanka. And while the Men In White celebrate, The Moaner has stuff to be annoyed about. Why? Because he's as miserable as a wet winter weekend in Whitby. At McDonalds he specifically asks if there’s a ‘Sad Meal’. So what's grinding his gears now? Here goes ... What [...]
England’s Luck Overseas Finally Turns
The prospect of watching England overseas normally fills one with dread. It's an exercise in waiting for the wheels to fall off - which normally only takes a wobble or two. This time, however, it was different. And that's because this England team is different. We might not be the best team in the world, and talk of becoming the [...]
Bairstow’s Brilliance Kicks The Can Down The Road
As someone who once argued that Jonny Bairstow was the second best batsman in the England team, and perhaps the most dominant batsman in county cricket since Graeme Hick, I was beginning to feel a tad silly a week or so ago. England's batting line-up is notoriously porous, yet poor Jonny couldn't even make the XI at Kandy. It has [...]
Introducing ‘The Moaner’
After England’s sparkling, series-sealing victory in Sri Lanka, we didn't think there was a lot to moan about. Until we found The Moaner. This is a man who seems physically incapable of being happy. He's miserable. He's cynical. He's the first person to complain when England are collapsing like the walls of Jericho. And he can still find fault when [...]
Pats On The Back All Round
Overseas wins for the England cricket team are rare. Two wins in a row is rarer. And series wins are even rarer than sightings of Lord Lucan and Elvis Presley. England have therefore achieved something quite impressive this month. This is the side, remember, that couldn't even win in Bangladesh two winters ago. Instead they were humiliated by a teenager. [...]
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. [...]