The Full Toss
Welcome to TFT, one of the UK’s longest serving cricket blogs. We’ll be here throughout the year to debate, moan, and occasionally rejoice about 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 a fan with something to say. Email james@thefulltoss.com for more info. Cheers.
A Comedy Of Batting Errors? The Definitive TFT Ashes Preview
So the Ashes is here again. Are you ready? Don't worry if you feel less prepared than a priest at a brothel. You can't be less prepared than England are. Half our team haven't played more than a single first class game all season, and some of them are still drunk after the World Cup celebrations. Bodes well doesn't it. [...]
Tim Paine: The Poisoned Chalice Of Dreams
Australia look stunned. That’s the only way to describe the vacant husks that have replaced the real Australian side. Over five days at The Wanderers, they look like eleven men whose minds are so far from their task that they may as well be on Mars. Tim Paine has barely been back in the side a few months, and now [...]
Relief
The England test team doesn't have many strengths these days. But it can win, and usually does, if the groundsman prepares an archetypal seamer's wickets and the weather Gods feel sympathetic enough to provide overcast skies. This is the brew that's been hiding our general frailties for a few years now. And this very specific elixir - this time gobbled [...]
A New Low
Let's start with the positives. Erm. Ollie Stone looked good I suppose. And now for the negatives ... What in the name of Zeus's pubic hair was that? I'm gobsmacked. To get bowled out for 85 in a single session is bad enough. But to get bowled out by Ireland? At home? After winning the toss? It's completely inept and [...]
Why England Will Beat Ireland. Plus A Reason Why They Won’t.
Tomorrow sees a return to red ball relaxation. Or at least the test match against Ireland at Lord's should be a relaxing experience for England supporters. We'll get to sit back in the shade with a pina colada (or seven) whilst the players sweat buckets in the sweltering sun. The match shouldn't provide too much emotional stress either. England are [...]
The Red Ball Returns
With the World Cup triumph in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to think ahead to The Ashes. And first up we have a one-off test against Ireland. The game should be an occasion in itself, although I’m sure England will have one eye on the Aussies. After all, the selectors have decided to rest a couple of key players: Jos [...]
We Bloody Won! A Firsthand Account From Lord’s
It’s Friday morning, and I get a text message from a friend of mine. “Gentle reminder. We are World Fucking Champions. Still can’t quite believe it”. My heart races again. A tear forms in my ear. There’s a clenched fist somewhere and my heart races. And the thought is repeated over and over again: We were there. We were there. [...]
A Cynic’s Review Of The World Cup
Ramiz Raja has lost it. He’s frozen mid-pitch, stuttering through a sentence he’s destined never to complete while his eyes plead with the strip for any clue on what to say next. Call it green, Ramiz, dry, a camel, swear on live television – anything – just get the hell out of there. But he doesn’t. He just stares into [...]
10 Things We Liked Most About The World Cup
So it's all over. The stadiums have emptied, the clear up has begun, and the trophy has been safely tucked away at Lord's - until it's stolen by rapscallions and subsequently found under a bush by a dog. It was a pretty memorable World Cup on the whole, and here are the ten things we liked most ... 1. The [...]
How They Should’ve Settled The World Cup Final
Here's new writer Mojo Wellington with an irreverent take on the World Cup final controversy. With the result hinging on something more obscure than GATT 24 Paragraph 5B, how else might the match have been decided? Feel free to add your own ideas in the comments. What is it with obscure regulations and cricket world cups? The rain rule in [...]
The TFT Interviews
How To Save Cricket – Our Interview With Jarrod Kimber
You've seen him on Cricinfo's Polite Enquiries. You're about to see him in Death of a Gentleman. Now you can hear Jarrod Kimber's passionate and pertinent views on the future of cricket here on The Full Toss. The only drawback: you'll have to suffer my vapid tones at the same time. Sorry about that. [...]
The Full Toss talks to Simon Jones
Last week I had the pleasure of talking to Ashes favourite Simon Jones. I picked his brains about that famous series in 2005, his new book The Test and England's chances against Australia this summer. We also asked him for his thoughts on Kevin Pietersen, who has remained a good friend of Simon's since that [...]
Our Jonathan Agnew Interview
Here's our interview with BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew - the backstory for which is here. It was a really interesting conversation, and we're very grateful to Aggers for finding the time to speak to us and share his thoughts. He discusses the recent criticism of the cricket media over [...]
The Full Toss Meets Andrew Flintoff
When Shell wanted an ambassador to help promote their new FuelSave range, Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff was the natural choice. There’s always been a connection between cricket, automobiles and people nicknamed Fred: The Flintstones' car looks exactly like a cricket pitch roller. Fortunately, today’s automobiles are rather more comfortable than the ‘Flintmobile’. Petrol technology is [...]
From Our Partners
ICC World Cup Predictions: Are India The Team To Beat England?
The 2019 ICC World Cup is going to be entirely different from the 2015 event. Unlike 2015, the 2019 Cricket World Cup shall witness only 10 teams competing against each other to win the biggest prize in international cricket. The tournament will return to its roots this year – with [...]
Pakistan Bring their Brand of ‘Unpredictability’ To The 2019 World Cup
Pakistan has always been one of the most talented and unpredictable teams for cricket betting enthusiasts. They will bring their flagship brand of ‘unpredictability’ to the 2019 ICC World Cup as they can show up and play brilliant cricket or come in cold and get blown away very soon. Sportsbook [...]
Australia In Good Shape To Defend Their ICC World Cup Championship
Australia are the defending ODI World Cup Champions, but the bookies don’t consider them to be the favourites to win in 2019 according to the Cricket World Cup odds. William Hill has the Aussies at 5/1 with the hosts England being the favourite at 2/1. Therefore cricket betting fans might [...]
Can England Realistically Expect To Win The ICC World Cup 2019?
While England has always produced excellent cricketers in every generation of the game, perhaps a stroke of misfortune and a case of nerves has stolen away their chances of winning the ICC Cricket World Cup thrice since the inception of the tournament. However, as England continues to be on top [...]
Jofra Archer A Must For The 2019 Cricket World Cup Tournament
Thanks to new residency rules which came into force here in the UK on the 1st of January 2019, Barbados born Jofra Archer will be eligible to play for the England international cricket team from March. Although the all-rounder (who plays his county cricket for Sussex) was born in Bridgetown, [...]
2019 IPL Preview
The defending champions Chennai Super Kings will open up the 2019 season on the 29th of March in the M.A Chidambaram Check Stadium, Tamil Nadu. Here they will face the Sun Risers Hyderabad, the team they beat by 8 wickets in the 2018 final. This is sure to be a [...]
Caribbean Cricket Cruise with ITC Sports Travel
There’s nothing quite like experiencing cricket in the Caribbean. With a soundtrack of calypso, reggae and soca, matches here are invariably exciting, full-blooded affairs. Combine this with a fantastic climate, swaying palms, plenty of sunshine and the odd drop of rum and you’ve got the perfect recipe for the ultimate [...]