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.
A Gunn and Moore XI
When you’re sent a line-up and your first reaction is “Wow. What an XI”, you know you’re onto a good team. Anyway, Alex Ferguson put together his best-ever Gunn & Moore XI following on from a piece on this ‘ere blog about the All-Time Duncan Fearnley XI. While Duncan Fearnley had its heyday, GM has boasted a constant stream of fantastic [...]
Bairstow In? Buttler Up? England’s XI For Kandy
It's time for a bold statement. It doesn't particularly matter what specific XI England pick at Kandy nor the order they bat in. We will win the match (weather permitting) and go on to win the series comfortably. And now for the caveat: England will win comfortably unless Sri Lanka improve big time. The problem for the hosts is that [...]
The Wartime XI
Heeding no advantage, asserting no virtue, claiming no righteousness, the August volunteers marched away, the vanguard of a generation doomed to die untimely … There was no estimating the extent to which creative thought was depleted, or the cost to learning, literature and science of the destruction of so many strong and cultivated intelligences. Reginald Pound (Great War veteran and [...]
Galle Day 3 – Jennings Sweeps His Way To A Hundred
It looks like this game is in the bag. There's always a chance that something miraculous might happen - although Sri Lanka aren't exactly blessed with many miracle workers - but one would expect England to romp home quite comfortably from here. I guess the rain might make an unwelcome return too, but we probably only need one of the [...]
Galle – Day 2
Well this is rather pleasant isn't it? England are currently sitting pretty with a lead of 177 and all ten wickets still intact. The only thing that can stop us winning this test match is the weather. Famous last words. The day couldn't have gone much better. Ben Foakes completed a debut century in the morning - the only other [...]
Galle – Day 1
Ben Foakes. Where have you been? Maybe there's some magic spell which automatically turns England No.7s into world beaters (and our number 3s into frogs) or maybe, just maybe, the selectors and all the so-called experts got Surrey's keeper all wrong. This lad can bat. He's justified his place in the side and he hasn't even put his keeping gloves [...]
Selection Dilemmas And Scheduling Ineptitude
So then. After a few weeks of inactivity, and a series of farcically wet ODIs which captured precisely nobody's imagination, we've finally got some meaningful cricket to look forward to. There's just one problem: it's still monsoon season in Sri Lanka and I sense this pre-series buildup will be a complete waste of time. I've just looked up the Galle [...]
Would England Really Drop Broad?
There has been much talk about England's potential line-up in Galle next week. Some reporters are even suggesting that Stuart Broad might miss out if England pick three spinners. Really? I can't see this myself. Broad is England's second leading wicket taker of all time, a huge figure in the dressing room, and he hasn't been dropped (as opposed to [...]
Australians Officially Go Mad
I've just spent some time reading the Longstaff and McCosker reviews, and digesting some of the reactions to these reviews down under. I have to say that I'm a little incredulous. Aren't they taking this a bit too seriously? It takes naval-gazing to new heights. I'm not sure if it's funny or a bit sad. These reviews were initiated after [...]
Before The Rain … A Total Shower
I couldn't be bothered with the 5th ODI. Perhaps I subconsciously knew what was about to happen. I put the TV on, watched the first ten overs or so, and thought "this is incredibly dull". The pitch was incredibly flat, the batsmen were cashing in, and England hadn't even bothered to pick their best side. The game had 'dead-rubber' written [...]
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. [...]