If you like your test cricket old school, and don’t mind seeing just sixty six runs in the afternoon session, today’s play would’ve been right up your alley. It was a test of patience, with two relatively orthodox batsmen digging in and occupying the crease, and the bowlers settling for control once they realised the pitch was still true. After the carnage in Dhaka, it almost made me feel nostalgic. On the face of it, India’s 319-4 looks a fine score. However, it...
Ben Stokes It Up – Day 2 at Rajkot
There’s a lot to admire about Indian cricket. They’ve always produced elegant batsmen, canny spinners and the odd robust seamer. One thing they’ve traditionally struggled with, however, is fielding. Back in the good / bad old days, Virender Sehwag would score a lightning fast century with the bat, and then slowly give several of those runs back in the field. He was about as athletic as molasses. And some of his teammates we’re much better. Although India’s fielding...
Sky Yet To Fall In – Day One at Rajkot
I told you this would be easy. Ahem. After all the pre-series hype, when some doom and gloom merchants predicted we’d lose 0-5, today has come as a pleasant surprise. The sky hasn’t fallen in, not yet anyway, and England find themselves in a pretty useful position at 311-4. So where did it all go so right? There are two main reasons. Firstly this pitch looks good for batting. There was a bit of movement early on but things soon settled down. We certainly didn’t see any...
The Indian Perspective: Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold
It’s time to take a deep breath folks. Today we have a guest article by the Indian supporters’ site 1 Tip 1 Hand. As you can probably guess, they’re feeling a little more optimistic about the upcoming series than ourselves. It’s always interesting to hear the opposition’s take on things, so thanks to Dhananjaya Chak and the 1 Tip 1 Hands guys for joining the debate. I wrote an equivalent piece, giving the English perspective, for their site too (you can read it...
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 Gabba. The first young man was me. The second young man, the one who actually had some talent (and some hair), was Mark A. Butcher. Little did I know that eighteen years later...
Two Years On: Phil Hughes Remembered
Although England’s test series against India starts this week (we’ll have plenty more build up in the next 48 hours) it’s important not to forget that Phil Hughes died tragically playing the sport he loved two years ago this month. Here’s a lovely tribute from guest writer Garry White … “I never thought it would happen with me and the girl from Clapham.” So, went the 1979 pop hit from Squeeze. When I first heard about the death of Australian Cricketer Phillip...
