Let’s take a look at the piece by Mike Selvey, chief cricket correspondent of the Guardian, which has ruffled a lot of feathers during the last twenty four hours or so. For those unfamiliar with his work in recent months, Selvey (above) has acquired a reputation as a Pietersenphobe, a Flowerite, and an apologist for the establishment. He described Paul Downton’s performance as “excellent”. This is his first outing since the Pietersen book, and has already been the...
Self-raising Flower
My earliest happiest cricketing memory is the 1985 Ashes. I remember David Gower, in his gilded, silky pomp (732 runs at 81.33, including a 166, a 157 and a 215). I remember an authoritative Graham Gooch, my first sight of him in England colours. I remember Andrew Hilditch, happily hooking. I remember Richard Ellison, scything his way through those forlorn Aussies (seventeen wickets in only two tests). I do not remember who the England coach was. Think back to your fondest memories of...
One Day in the Life of Ivon Ivonovich: chapter one
This piece first appeared on the Guardian BTL pages. Its author has now kindly shared it with The Full Toss Camp 34.7, Omsk, Siberia – October 11 Winter advances apace. The cruel wet snow is a constant reminder of the impossible, relentless struggles that lie in the months ahead. And why? For what end? The prospect of Spring brings no relief – so distant does it seem, such a bleak reminder of the good men we are to lose before then. But oh! – despite the cold, our hearts are...
Viewpoints: affection and support
Here at TFT we’re always keen to give people a voice, and we welcome contributions of all kinds from our readers and commenters. We’re grateful to Owen Benton for this thought-provoking piece. **************** Can you support a team without liking them? I grew up in what I now I think of as the ‘Star Wars’ era of cricket. Australia were the evil empire: dominant, unbeatable bullies. Shane Warne was the emperor, not just beating but mocking those foolish enough to...
His master’s voice
Yesterday I asked why, ten days since the confidentiality agreement expired, the ECB had yet to explain why they fired Kevin Pietersen. Make that eleven days now. But there’s been a development, of sorts: our Dear Leader has granted an interview to BBC Sport. This is the first time that a representative of the board has spoken since the gagging clause expired. As long ago as 1st April, Alastair “Cooky” Cook seemed keen to unburden himself about the sacking: I can’t actually...
The Kevin Pietersen Sacking: The Silence Is Deafening
Ten days have now passed since the confidentiality agreement expired and still the ECB haven’t explained the Kevin Pietersen sacking. What are they waiting for? Huge significance was attached to the lifting of Pietersen’s gagging clause. What would he say? And now he’s said it, what does it mean? But amid all the heat and noise around his book (see our review by Tregaskis), it’s been slightly overlooked that the ECB themselves are now also free to speak. They can tell us...
