The Full Toss. English Cricket. No Spin.
Welcome to TFT, one of the UK’s longest serving cricket blogs. We’ll be here throughout the season to debate, moan, and occasionally rejoice about the the England cricket team. If something’s bothering you, whether it’s selection, governance, or the cost of a pint, don’t hesitate to get in touch. You don’t need to be a professional writer or copywriter, just an ordinary fan with something to say. Email james@thefulltoss.com for more info. Cheers.
When Anything But Disaster Feels Like A Triumph
The headline above sums up how I feel about day one in Christchurch. I went to sleep with England on 38-1. Vince and Stoneman were looked a little more secure, and Trent Boult was having a breather. Perhaps both batsmen would make a hundred and England would score 400? I knew I was kidding myself. Vince had played a few [...]
Disgrace
** Update: Darren Lehmann has just announced that he's stepping down as Australian coach after the next test. -------- I've just watched the Steve Smith press conference in Australia. Wow. Do you think he was a bit upset? He cried more than my little sister when she watched Bambi. The poor bloke. But should we feel sorry for Smith? On [...]
ICC Must Act To Protect The Spirit Of Cricket
“It seemed completely beyond belief that the Australian cricket team were involved with cheating.” It might have shocked you Mr Turnbull, but only the brazenness of Australia's cheating surprised the rest of the world. The fabled spirit of cricket has been under attack for some time, and Australia have been one of nations leading the assault. Not that the Aussie [...]
Ignominy
Ignominy has been the word of the weekend. But I'm not using it to bash the Australians today. Instead I'm using it in reference to England's latest pathetic result away from home in test cricket: a defeat by an innings inside three days to New Zealand. I haven't got the stat book in front of me but of our current [...]
Australia’s Sticky Situation
This is quite possibly the stickiest situation for Australian cricket since Sticky the stick insect got stuck on a sticky wicket. At times like this it seems apt to fall back on Blackadder references. If only because Australia's attempts to win the second test against South Africa by using sticky tape like sandpaper was a plan so lacking in cunning [...]
What? How?
After long and careful consideration, I've decided to laugh rather than cry. England's batting performance in the first innings at Eden Park was so farcical that it's probably comic rather than tragic. Today was a comedy of errors ... and it just about summed up the team's miserable winter's tale. Although I wasn't able to stay up all night and [...]
Ta-Ra, Kevin
Although it has been on the cards for a while, Kevin Pietersen finally announced his retirement at the weekend. Forgive me for being a bit late to the party on this one. As someone who rarely watches the various T20 leagues around the world these days, I haven't seen KP play in years; therefore as far as I'm concerned he [...]
Lancashire Supporter Has Lifetime Membership Cancelled
Timothy St. Ather, a leading figure in a fans' rebellion at Lancashire, has had his lifetime membership of the club cancelled, writes Barry Turner. St. Ather was sent a letter of dismissal along with a cheque for £1045, the amount he paid for lifetime members' status more than 20 years ago. The move is seen as an attempt to quash the [...]
Test Cricket Is Not Dying, But The Way Traditionalists Think About It Should
Today we have a guest article by new writer Mark Cohen. He argues that cricket is certainly changing but denies these changes necessarily threaten Test cricket. It's an interesting perspective, and one that might mollify the doom and gloom around here. It certainly challenges my own assumptions. Over to you, Mark ... For the best part of this millennium, T20 [...]
See You Jimmy
It's official. James Whitaker, England's national selector (or 'chairman of selectors' in old money), is leaving his post. Andrew Strauss wants to overhaul the selection structure and our Jimmy, known by many as the man with the mobile, is the first person to get his marching orders / mutually part ways with his esteemed employers. Although Andrew Strauss was keen [...]
The TFT Interviews
The Full Toss talks to Simon Jones
Last week I had the pleasure of talking to Ashes favourite Simon [...]
Our Jonathan Agnew interview
Here's our interview with BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew - [...]
The Full Toss Meets Andrew Flintoff
When Shell wanted an ambassador to help promote their new [...]