Buttler, Bairstow, Or Foakes?
Arguably the biggest story from England's winning draw against New Zealand A at Whangarei was the performance of Jos Buttler. He kept well by all accounts and scored vital runs when the team needed it. Jos's 110 was just his second first class hundred since 2015. The other one came in August 2018 against India at Trent Bridge. He now [...]
Good Prep
One of the reasons why it's so hard to win Test series away from home these days is the ridiculously short period of time touring sides get to prepare. You arrive in the host country, play a couple of scratch sides missing their best players, and then you're straight into the Test themselves. It gives the battle-hardened home team a [...]
Back To Balanced?
Is this tour a new start for England's test team? It's beginning to feel that way. We have a new head coach, who has made some encouraging noises thus far, and better still England are likely to take the field at Mount Maunganui with a balanced XI for the first time in a long time. When Ed Smith took over [...]
Fluffy Pillow Or Guava Fruit?
After England's run glut on day one of their warm up match at Whangarei it was the bowlers' turn to get stuck in on Wednesday. Unfortunately, however, they got stuck rather than stuck in. It was an all too familiar tale when England travel overseas and the bowlers are handed a Kookaburra ball. The opposition changes but the result is [...]
Top Order Runs? We Swear By ‘Em
At last! Some red ball cricket. At last! England's top order actually made some runs. Both have been a long time coming. Yes it was only against a 'New Zealand XI', which could mean absolutely anything when you think about it, but how refreshing it was to see the overnight scorecard from England's first warm-up ahead of their two-test series [...]
Monday Mirth: The Best Cricket Jokes On The Web
It's time for a change of pace today. I've scoured the internet to find the best cricket jokes and I've unearthed the following funnies. Obviously I've tweaked them here and there to give them a distinct TFT flavour. Enjoy ... What's the difference between Cinderella and Keaton Jennings? Cinderella knew when to leave the ball. Why do Australians [...]
Fun In Aukland
I had to laugh when I saw the score in the deciding T20 at Aukland. Of course it was going to end in a tie. The only surprise was that the super over managed to produce a clear winner this time. One wonders what might've happened had the super over ended all square. Would they have bowled another over? Would [...]
Dangerous Dawid
Nicely done lads. England levelled the T20 series in New Zealand this morning with a brilliant performance that must have left the Kiwis feeling shellshocked. When I turned on the TV and saw that we'd set the hosts 242 to win my eyes almost popped out of their head. It was the 11th highest score by a major international side [...]
The Hundred PR Paradox
When Colin Graves became the ECB chairman back in 2015, when all The Hundred PR disasters were just a glint in an incompetent marketing director's eye, he spoke about a sense of decline in the English game and the need to "reinvent and rejuvenate" the sport: I want to leave a legacy for English cricket in that we have improved [...]
Myth Busters Vol 1: The Best Player Should Bat 3
Today is a quiet day. There's not much to talk about other than Steve Smith's T20 heroics against Pakistan down under. Therefore, in a desperate attempt to avoid talking about Steve Smith's T20 heroics down under, I've decided to trial something new. It's the first in what I hope will become an ongoing series called Myth Busters. In each instalment [...]
Welcome To The Full Toss
Thanks for visiting TFT, the irreverent cricket blog with a zero percent bounce rate. If you’d like to write something for us, whether it’s about selection, governance, or the cost of a pint, don’t hesitate to get in touch. You don’t need to be a journalist or copywriter, just a fan with something to say. Email james@thefulltoss.com for more info.
The Interviews
Cider Saturday: Annie Talks RLODC Final With Tom Abell and Andy Hurry
Today we're delighted to welcome Guerilla Cricket 'waffler' Annie Chave to TFT. She caught up with Somerset Director Of Cricket Andy Hurry and skipper Tom Abell at Taunton last week. There was only one thing on their collective minds: Saturday's big Lord's final against Hampshire. On Saturday 25 May, Somerset [...]
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 [...]
Sponsored Articles
England Vs New Zealand Betting Tips
England will kick start November with a tour of New Zealand. The world champions will go head-to-head with the Black Caps in a series of T20 and test matches. The last time these sides met, nobody could have predicted what was about to unfold. The greatest ODI cricket match in [...]
Why Is Cricket So Popular In The UK?
Cricket has a long history in the United Kingdom. Many people see England as the birthplace of the sport. The popularity of cricket in the UK goes back to the 17th century when it was widely practiced in rural areas. Besides the long history of cricket here are some of [...]
India And The Rise Of The Cricket Business
The League of Outstanding Gentlemen of the Yellow Ball is a two-month private soccer championship featuring old celebrities. Far from everyone knows that it is not an ordinary championship but a cricket league with a billion dollars turnover. Inspired by the North American model, India is actively developing a highly [...]
England Level The Ashes Series, But Steve Smith Will Be Back For The 4th Test
England and Australia have produced some fantastic games in the Ashes down the years, but the third test of the 2019 Ashes series is a match that will go down in history as one of the greatest ever played. England fans, who are old enough to remember it, regularly talk [...]
The Lowdown On The Ashes
The sad truth about the world today is that everyone will continue to milk the same cow till a new one comes into the picture. We are of course talking about England’s controversial, not exactly but many would have you believe that, win in the World Cup. It’s quite surprising [...]
