It’s time for a marmite post. You’ll either love this or hate it. Here’s Adam Kiddle on why it’s still ok to boo Steve Smith. Although I personally think the booing has got a tad tedious now, Adam makes some really good points … Firstly, let me set my stall out here. I wouldn’t boo Steve Smith. In fact, I didn’t. I was at Edgbaston Day 3 and—while enjoying the atmosphere as much as anyone else in the Hollies—I saved my voice for cheering wickets and sighing audibly...
Aussies On The Run
Another bore draw eh. I can see why this test cricket lark is dying. Ahem. The Lord’s test might have started as a damp squib, with five sessions and an hour ruined by the weather, but it turned out to be an absolute classic. Both sides had a legitimate chance to win the game heading into the final day, and there was drama and controversy aplenty. There was just one problem: I missed the whole bloody thing. I’ve been on holiday for the last week (I’m back today) so I could...
Can Three Players Change Everything?
Sam Curran, Jofra Archer, and Jack Leach. These are the three cricketers we’re pinning our hopes on at Lord’s. They’ll have to shake up the team, raise morale, and give Australia’s batting (otherwise known as Steve Smith) something new to think about. Confident? I wish I was. Personally I’m not even 100% convinced that the first of the three will play. Archer will surely replace Jimmy Anderson, Leach will replace Moeen, but Ed Smith might want to cling on to Joe...
Futile Suggestions
After Ollie Stone was ruled out of the second Ashes test yesterday, I Tweeted out my preferred side for Lord’s. It went as follows: Burns, Roy, Stokes, Root, Buttler, Bairstow, Woakes, Curran, Archer, Leach, Broad. I was immediately given a tongue lashing (I’m going to copyright this expression when Josh Tongue plays for England) by several people who hated this team. “White ball hitters all of them”, “useless”, “where’s Hildreth?”...
Pathetic. But We Can (And Must) Do Better Next Time.
When the end comes, it usually comes quickly with this England team. For all our hype and bravado we’re actually softer than a poodle’s undercarriage. It took Australia just 45 overs to take all ten of our second innings wickets today. And eight of those wickets came in the last 23. It was a gutless performance that lacked any form of application, skill, or courage. They should all be embarrassed. In years gone by we might have been saved by a classic Brigadier Block rearguard...
Shattered – Day 4 at Edgbaston
The last time I checked in (on Friday evening) England were in a great position – just a few runs behind Australia’s first innings score and with plenty of wickets in hand. And then it all went pear shaped thanks to a mini collapse on Saturday morning and another Steve Smith hundred. Is there any more frustrating sight in world cricket than Smith defying convention for hours on end? England had a poor day on Saturday and a really poor one on Sunday. Now the best we can possibly get...
