ArchiveFebruary 2015

First, an apology. This post is a little dated, as it relates to a piece which is now ten days old, and many of you will already have read and discussed it elsewhere. You may also have seen an excellent fisk of this material on another blog of similar mien. Alas, resources of time prevented me from addressing this before. But better late than never. If I’ve tried to do anything on this site during the last year, it’s to hold Paul Downton to account, analyse what he says, and apply...

More fun from our Australian friends The 17th Man Diary. Let’s hope they won’t be in such a bullish mood after Saturday’s game. Though I suspect they will be. Scene I A bright day. The batsmen are consolidating a partnership after lunch. The bowlers have settled into a quiet rhythm. The spectators are restless. A young lad balancing trays of beers for his thirsty companions slips on a burger bun and up ends in the spreading bosom of an old woman amid desultory cheers. In the...

The World Cup is about to begin and that means one thing: it’s time to don a stupid costume, put lots of eye make-up on and gaze mystically into a crystal ball. Who will be crowned world champions at the end of March? Which players will light up the tournament? How badly will England lose to Scotland? I’m sure you’ve all read plenty of tournament previews by now. You’ll find undoubtedly the best World Cup Preview on this page (I can’t recommend the author more, wink, wink);...

Ah. So that’s what a world-class batsman looks like. Every time I start getting optimistic about England’s chances in the upcoming world cup, something happens that immediately deflates me. Today it was the sight of Misbah-ul-Haq – a genuinely world-class player who averages 50 in test cricket and 42 in ODIs – rescuing his side and carrying them over the finish line. Players like Misbah are invaluable. And England do not have a single one. We all know England have lots of very good players, but...

Is it really only a year? On 9th February 2014 the ECB made sporting history by declaring war on their own supporters. In issuing their infamous press release, Giles Clarke and his henchmen drove a stake through the heart of English cricket. Forever would the dividing line be drawn. Were you inside or outside cricket? The ECB’s statement was a masterclass in pomposity, self-pity, and malevolent spite. On the first anniversary of its publication, it deserves re-reading in full. ECB and PCA...

It’s a funny old game. You lose one spectacularly; you win one spectacularly. The fortunes of this England team change like the wind. One day we collapse in a heap; the next we make the oppo collapse in a heap. I don’t know about you, but I much prefer it when the latter happens. I also much prefer the Chris Woakes that turned up today. To take 5-19 in 7.3 overs is pretty handy in anyone’s book. After his struggles against the Aussies, his performance today showed great...