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The day there was no news
By Will yesterday, in the early evening, 2 Comments »
We can but dream (video):
2 Comments »It’s what the fans want. Or is it?
By Will 2 days ago, in the late afternoon, 3 Comments »
Thoughtful piece from The Guardian’s Andy Bull on the mundane, line-toeing crap which make up the majority of sportsmen’s quotes.
Quotations command space, but rarely interest. If it wasn’t enough to know that a player was injured, we now also have to know that the manager and a selection of former players think he is a “huge loss to the side”, and we will be told all of this in print, on the radio and 24 hours a day by Sky Sports News. These quotes come in three forms: the interesting, the mundane and the untrue. The volume of lineage and airtime spent relaying other peoples’ words means that the majority fall into the last two categories.
Is it what people want? On the whole, I think it is. In an ideal world, the quotation-supplying cricketer would have Ian Botham’s candour, Steve Waugh’s miserable honesty, Stephen Fleming’s wisdom and Matthew Hoggard’s wit and general affable madness. In reality, sportsmen are best left on the pitch to do what they know best. The rise of “media training” for sportsmen has created several monstrous, inhuman creatures. Normal and likeable on the pitch, in front of a microphone they are reduced to a list of five or six safe phrases which answer (or nearly answer) a multitude of questions. Monty Panesar and his “right areas”. Duncan Fletcher’s obsession with players “putting their hands up” and “coming to the party”. I suppose the frequency of press conferences has understandably dulled their enthusiasm, but is it too much to expect an honest answer? Talking of cliches, Lawrence Booth wrote a superb piece on just this.
I know David Gower’s not a fan of the post-match quote (he famously cut short a press conference in 1989 saying he was late for the theatre. What a legend), but the players are the product and the public want to hear from them. Even if it’s mundane bullshit.
Or do you?
3 Comments »The night sky
By Will 2 days ago, around lunchtime, 1 Comment »
I can still remember Mrs Turner teaching us, aged seven in class 1JT, the planets. On a greyish, cracked blackboard she drew vague representations of the planets. It was crude and completely inaccurate but definitely sparked something within me.
Now, there’s no need for Mrs Turner and her blackboard - which is just as well since she’s dead. Instead, Microsoft have come up with the Worldwide Telescope - a Google Earth for the sky - and it’s completely, magically brilliant. In it, you can zoom around space like Neil Armstrong; visit Venus; dive in and out of the Milky Way and see how far it is from the Moon to Jupiter. 19 years ago, this kind of tool couldn’t have been imagined - and now we have it all to ourselves. Just imagine what the seven-year-olds of this generation are going to come up with in 19 years time having explored space from such an early age.
Truly, bloody awesome. And no, this has nothing to do with cricket. Go get it now.
1 Comment »Hoggard returns; no cover for Collingwood
By Will 4 days ago, in the early morning, 8 Comments »
So, Matthew Hoggard has been included in England’s 12-man squad for the first Test, alongside Paul Collingwood. Interestingly, Collingwood - who has an injured shoulder - wasn’t given any cover. No Ravi Bopara or Luke Wright to be seen. Andrew Strauss retains his place.
Batting looks strong, and the bowling ought to be too…but I’m never comfortable with Jimmy Anderson in the side. Who knows what he’ll do?
England squad
Michael Vaughan (capt), Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Tim Ambrose (wk), Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom, Monty Panesar, James Anderson, Matthew Hoggard.
Flintoff out of first two Tests
By Will 5 days ago, just before lunchtime, 8 Comments »
Well, so much for England’s selectorial headache. It’s been resolved for them, partially, with Andrew Flintoff picking up a side strain which rules him out of the first two Tests against New Zealand. Who to pick? Ravi Bopara? Luke Wright? And how long before Michael Vaughan’s knee collapses?
It’s all jolly exciting, so have your say below.
8 Comments »Early summer dupes the batsmen
By Will Wednesday, last week, 2 Comments »
It’s a glorious summer’s day in SW London here but, judging by the county scorecards, the batsmen aren’t yet enjoying it. Wickets have clattered and shattered all over the place. Kent, for example, bowled out Nottinghamshire for 202 but are now 16 for 4. Sidebottom has 3 for 2 from 4.
Lancashire slipped to 143 with Mark Davies storming through them with 7 for 33. In reply, Durham are 97 for 8. But the pick of the destroyers is Hampshire’s James Tomlinson who took 8 for 46 on the normally concrete Taunton pitch. Kevin Pietersen then made good Hampshire’s bowling performance with an even hundred.
I don’t really know why I’m telling you all this - you can look for yourselves.
2 Comments »One to go for Ramps
By Will Saturday, last week, 2 Comments »
So Ramps has made it to 99 first-class hundreds. I suggest any Surrey or Ramprakash fans book tickets for their next Championship against Hampshire at The Rose Bowl on May 14…
2 Comments »Heart or wallet?
By Will Saturday, last week, 3 Comments »
I had a good look at Chris Jordan, the West Indian 19-year-old fast bowler, while I was down at Hove. He looks to be the real deal - lovely smooth action of 12 steps, recoiling as he approaches his delivery stride and a classical follow through. It looks all natural. It was a dead pitch, though he did remove Matt Prior with quite a slippery bouncer.
Have a read of my interview with him. He’s still not sure if he’ll play for West Indies or England, so I pressed Clive Lloyd on the matter…who is clearly desperate to lure him back. I read the other day that Dennis Lillee is utterly convinced Jordan will play Test cricket.
The only question, then: for whom?
3 Comments »Flintoff: should he, shouldn’t he?
By Will Saturday, last week, 9 Comments »
Apologies for the lack of updates. I’ve been down in sunny, rainy, windy Hove. While I was down there, much discussion took place in the press box about Mike Atherton’s debut as The Times’ chief cricket correspondent, namely his interview with Michael Vaughan. The England captain alluded to the likelihood of Andrew Flintoff returning for the first Test against New Zealand, which most media outlets picked up on.
I think it’s both inevitable that it will happen, and a positive for England. I am less convinced he will survive the whole summer - on landing, his ankle still points awkwardly and unnaturally away to the off side, which can only exhaserbate the problems he has had - but I’d rather he broke down playing for England than Lancashire. He’s bowled well enough for his club so far this season, and although he’s not scored any runs, his influence with the ball is still great enough to warrant his inclusion. Hell, Justin Langer - no stranger to OTT remarks - still considers him the best fast bowler in the world, though that was on the back of receiving a battering from Flintoff last week.
So where do you stand? Should Fred play the first Test, or bide his time with Lancashire until the South Africans arrive? Leave a comment and vote at the site.
9 Comments »City, county, region
By Will 1 month ago, 8 Comments »
So Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, doesn’t believe a city-based franchise system would be workable in England’s attempt to challenge the Indian Premier League. In fact, Clarke said that “franchise sport has simply never worked in the UK”, which comes hot on the heels of county chief executives voicing their own concerns over the latest Twenty20 developments.
Clarke was speaking at the ECB’s AGM, but some of what he says concerns me. He was full of praise for India’s tournament, but insisted “much of the look and feel of the tournament was taken from the ECB template”. Valid sentiments, but it only makes the ECB look even more daft, short-sighted and bitter that they didn’t think of it first. There is still no clear idea of what the English Premier League will amount to, and the relevant parties - ECB, Professional Cricketers’ Association and the counties themselves - all appear to be at loggerheads with one another. Meanwhile, Allen Stanford is waiting in the wings, licking his lips at what he believes could be a huge earner. But how? And when?
We can forget 18 counties being involved. That much we know. And I’m not in favour of city-based franchises either as this will inevitably lead to some cities and towns being left out, or merged with a neighbour. For example, thinking purely geographically, Gloucestershire and Glamorgan would presumably be combined…but as what? Bristol or Cardiff? Exclude one and you’re effectively ruling out 50% of the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Regionalisation seems a fair and simple solution:
North Yorkshire, Lancashire, Durham
London Surrey, Middlesex, Essex
South Hampshire, Kent, Sussex
Wales and West Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Somerset
West Midlands Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Northants
East Midlands Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire
Fascinating to think of the teams these would put on the park, too, and who would captain them. Your thoughts?
8 Comments »New, online Old Bailey
By Will 1 month ago, 1 Comment »
Well, this is just brilliant: records from the Old Bailey stretching back to 1674 have been put online. The marvel of tinterweb, isn’t it, but the flood of visitors has crashed the website. Keep an eye on it though: http://www.oldbaileyonline.org.uk/
I searched for cricket, but clearly it hadn’t occurred to the evil gentry of the 18th century to use a bat on someone. It’s quite in vogue nowadays, by tattooed wifebeaters and the like.
… Noon, and we went into Moorfields, and play’d at Cricket till ’twas dark. Then we came through the Tenter-grounds, and through Sun-street, and bid Akins Good-Night, and he cross’d the Way from us, and went
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… he swears to is the Day when the Women play’d the Cricket-Match. This Woman went with me into the City for Mr Locke’s Linen to the Back of the Royal Exchange, and stay’d there till 10 o’Clock; it was of a Mo .
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… perty. Prisoner’s Defence. I was going to see the cricket-playing in the fields; I went up to this girl’s door, and asked for a halfpennyworth of apples; she said, they did not sell apples; then I went into
Leave a comment if you find any interesting cases.
1 Comment »Cheerleaders turn blue
By Will 1 month ago, 8 Comments »
The rights of cheerleaders to do what they do best - cheer, half-nakedly - are being cruelly restrained in India. And quite honestly, I’ve had enough, so in the spirit of the free and democratic internet, it’s our misson - no, obligation - to catalogue the events in the medium of photos. Here are the lovely ladies prior to being asked to cover up:
But the Maharashtra police got in a right tizz about the flesh on show, and their natural attributes have now been painted blue. It’s a walking, garish travesty.
Cricinfo reports it as follows:
Modesty is the best policy
The Deccan Chargers’ cheerleaders followed the police dictact to dress in a “decent manner” during yesterday’s match in the outskirts of Mumbai. The cheerleaders wore full length tights beneath their regular outfits and the police were pleased with the way things panned out. “Our personnel were keeping a tight vigil on the performances. I am glad to say everything went off smoothly. We did not find anything objectionable in the dances or the dresses,” Ramrao Wagh, the Navi Mumbai police commissioner, told the Hindustan Times
Cricket fantasia
By Will 1 month ago, No Comments; be the first!
Will Smith filed his latest blog yesterday which made for interesting reading. We asked if he’d compile a Cricinfo Fantasy XI, so his choices were quite revealing. They included Francois du Plessis, Richard Pryah, Chris Jordan and Steven Finn. Have a read, why don’t you, or enter your own team for this season’s Championship.
No Comments »Six and out
By Will 1 month ago, 5 Comments »
The health and safety facists have done it again. A cricket club in Harrogate has banned players from boshing sixes and, if they do, they are automatically out of the game.
“Most of the neighbours are very supportive of the club, but we have the odd person who complains,” he said. Mr Rawlings maintains that not many of their balls make it into the residential areas.
He said: “Most of them just throw the balls straight back, but some of the residents, the ones who have concerns, keep them. We hope the new nets will solve the problem.” The pitch is used by the club’s third and fourth teams and by junior teams but is not suitable for national competitions.
More on this exquisitely anal piece of bureaucratic bullshit can be read at the Sunday Times.
5 Comments »Grannies lose out to IPL
By Will 1 month ago, No Comments; be the first!
Is the IPL a flop or not?
- I love it more than my grandmother (66%, 69 Votes)
- It’s a complete flop and I despise it (34%, 35 Votes)
Total Voters: 104
