Hello all.
Been having laptop issues, and writing posts on the tablet is a real pain. Plus, it’s a weekend and I have other things to do!
England’s victory, which came as a great surprise to some, but as evidenced by my tweet midway through the South African’s innings, was fantastic. The theory I have is that by scoring 230 to win it does rather unclutter the mind. It’s put the pedal to the metal and have a real old go. So in the same way South Africa chased down that 430 odd those years ago, by going for it from ball one, so did we. And that’s the flip side of this new attitude. Plenty of column inches were devoted to the lack of sense this team showed towards the end of the South African series, and yes, that might be fair when setting a total. But when chasing, you have a less cluttered mind. It’s focus 100% on giving it a lash from the start. Jason Roy did that, Joe Root played the superstar innings we like to see from him, and the others (with perhaps the curious exception of our captain) maintained the pace. It was a top win. I’m not going to pretend any otherwise because to do so would be having an agenda, and that’s not me. I’m so fed up with explaining the wilful misrepresentation of my position, but I’ll say this – the performance on Friday does not neutralise the argument any more than Wednesday’s supported it. I will always say this country puts character above talent.
We have a bit of a break before the next game, so add your comments on the current matches on here. I saw AB’s 29 off an over this morning, and felt for Rashid who was getting all the plaudits on Twitter! I’ve just seen Cloete’s LBW decision on Dilshan and laughed. I defend umpires, but good grief.
Have a good week. I have a guest post from Sean B on the stocks which will be up later, as he discusses the T20 and other world cricket perspectives. It’s a good one.
As I said, the laptop is giving me some grief, so do bear with me.
Being Outside Cricket 
Great farce about getting Gayle into bat.. Only in cricket😉😉😉😉
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So only the three diabolical umpiring decisions against SL in that game….. not that their poor batting and fielding deserved anything other than defeat.
It’s obviously foolish to get too far ahead of things – so that’s what I’m going to do. Pool A looks like NZ first and India second. Pool B looks like it’ll hinge on the WI v SA match. WI win that and they run away with the group leaving England a probable second. SA win and there could be a three way tie decided on NRR. SA have been utterly dominant over WI in ODIs recently (won 16 of the last 18) but the T20I record is more even. WI look better balanced for the conditions but with the toss mattering more than it should and some injury issues around, who knows?
So, England/NZ and WI/India SFs perhaps? Can anyone work out the likely venues? One SF is in Mumbai which would play to England’s strengths. NZ have been playing on very different sorts of pitches. Meanwhile, in the other SF the two fancied teams knock seven bells out of each other and one must be eliminated. The Final? Only 40 overs from glory….. unpredictable format…. toss could be crucial…. yes!….. arise Sir Andrew…. Farbsy OBE….
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I would have thought that with Windies playing Afghanistan in one game, they will likely win that and their net r/r should see them through. SA probably don’t have that bad a run-rate as they only just lost to England but will need to beat Sri Lanka and West Indies to see themselves through. England’s likely progress of course is on beating Sri Lanka. I worry about us playing a whole host of spinners still and of course our bowling can still disappear around the park.
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Also, because the last Pool matches are not played at the same time, SA will go into their last match against SL knowing what they’d need to achieve in NRR (if it has come down to that).
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Cooky on Countryfile now!
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Alice calls him Cooky. How perfectly delightful.
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Does he call her ‘Cooky too’?
(And Elsie Cooky 3)
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Missed it, sadly. Any of this?
http://www.shootinguk.co.uk/shooting/deer-stalking/international-cricket-star-alastair-cook-goes-deer-stalking-24129
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I heard that being trailed on the TMS commentary the other day.
Just the thought of it made me ill. I think watching it might have finished me off altogether.
Still, Countryfile is usually stuffed full of c………ountryfolk. So he’ll fit right in.
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Great news!! Countryfile is available on iplayer so anyone who missed it… can I suggest you fast forward to about 53 minutes. A lovely piece on Pooh bear.
Nonoxcol, I thought Alice called him f**kwit so a repeat viewing may prove fruitful.
SimonH, you won’t be disappointed. No slaying of innocent young deer admittedly but the way he carries his lambs had my Mrs thumbing the phone book for animal welfare.
Northern Light, I’d stay well clear unless your living room rug is in need of some semi digested Sunday tea decoration.
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The number of 1 game a day that they have in the world t20 is a joke. This should be a short and sweet tournament but they muck this up.
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https://mobile.facebook.com/mustafizur.rahmankhan.3/posts/948942668507229?_rdr
This is a quite interesting piece about one of the Bangladesh bowlers who is banned after failing an assessment test for an illegal bowling action. It reveals how bizarre the test process is. For example Taskin did not bowl any bouncers during the match, Yet was asked to bowl 9 bouncers at the test. Not only that he was asked to bowl 9 bouncers in 3 minutes. Hardly reflective of normal match conditions.
Seeing as Bangaldesh are today playing one of the big 3 without 2 of their bowlers it is quite interesting. Make of it what you will. But would an English, Indian or Australian bowler be treated like this?
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http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-womens-world-twenty20-2016/content/story/986139.html
Not exactly the kind of thing you want to happen. Now, I am not sure who is in charge of the logistics, but sounds like a monumental stuff-up.
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Not great that is it? It didn’t hinder them mind you, they stuffed Australia this morning!
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Okay, who’s behind this?
http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/986479.html
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Double FICJAM today. We are blessed>
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/sport/2016/03/chris-robshaw-and-why-being-good-follower-every-bit-important-being-good
Abridged: know your place, plebs.
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I knew there was a reason I don’t attempt to read longwindEd Smith.
That’s given me a right ‘ed ache. He’s usually that busy telling us the square root of a tin of beans we starve before he gets round to opening it. Does he mean ‘I’ when he says ‘this column’? Perhaps he can claim the additional nine letters on expenses.
Sheep are good followers (watching countryfile hasn’t been a complete waste of time) stick fourteen of them in your team Ed, you…..
(Self moderated to avoid swear box donations)
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Interesting,lengthy thread to this one that’s worth reading.
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You might expect paid pundits perhaps to know the rules?
No shiny toy for Shiny Toy.
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Ah yes, spreading the game by persisting with a closed-shop mentality.
The same rule that I proposed for Mike Selvey articles, should be expanded, and include the ICC, ECB and several other boards.
As a suggestion:
Whomever is interested in this guy, could hire the Surrey lawyers – the ones that always find England roots for whatever South African they are interested in – surely a Pakistani grandparent or two can be found?
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