It’s been one of those weeks when any one of us has been away (Dmitri, who is currently doing a deal with the Medellin cartel), busy at work (all of us) or can’t think of anything to write that might prove to be somewhat of interest (certainly me, but it may also apply to TLG and Danny). So please bear with us in this slight dip in activity.
I see that England got beaten in the first T20 game without actually having the time or urge to watch it and that South Africa were once again put to the sword by the Indian wrist spinners in another white ball series going on. I’ve never really hidden my lack of appetite for the white ball game and know many on here have exactly the same feelings. Meanwhile Bangladesh and Sri Lanka fought out an utterly compelling (not) match in Chittagong where 600 odd played 700 odd on a road of a pitch, on the type of pitch I believe is killing the game not to mention the careers of a many a fast bowler. I might try and do a piece around that sometime next week.
Indeed news has been so slow this week that ESPN Cricinfo have had to lead on a story that Ben Stokes won’t be allowed to enter and leave court through the backdoor next week, which is my opinion is a complete non-story but might get them a few clicks.
However never fear. As many of our readers on the blog might be aware, we are celebrating our 3rd birthday on the blog this week, some 900 blog posts later. Not too shabby for a few ‘bilious inadequate’ and ‘social media zealots’ I’m sure you will all agree. TLG has been tasked with writing a special piece to celebrate our 3rd birthday, so there will be that to look forward to towards the end of the week/weekend.
As I’m sure you’re all aware, writing for the blog does take up a lot of time for 4 part timers with real jobs, so we will always have peaks and troughs of activity. I’m sure we’ll be back on song once the New Zealand Tests come around or when someone from the ECB inadvertently shouts his mouth off, but in the meantime please excuse the lack of regular posts. As ever, if you have a burning desire to write something or just to start a conversation, feel free to either comment below or drop us a guest piece.
Have a good rest of the week.
Being Outside Cricket 
Quality not quantity, I reckon. If you want any old tosh thrown at you day after day, buy a “news”paper. I don’t
LikeLiked by 2 people
Seeing as the Ecb don’t give a shit that England have just lost the ashes 4:0 why should I give a shit about the rest of the tour?
I have lost interest in the sport Iam afraid. I have not watched any of the t20. Don’t even know when it was on.
Meanwhile football continues to eat it itself, with managers blaming the fans (customers) for not creating the right working environment for their over paid narcissists. Funny how managers must never criticise their players. Attacking the fans is just fine. They are too quiet by all accounts. Well if you demand the ludicrous prices to keep the man babies in the Ferrari’s they are accustomed to then your are going to have to rely on Japanese tourists to pay their wages. There’s is no free lunch suckers!
LikeLike
4th anniversary of something else significant on Friday, isn’t it….?
LikeLiked by 2 people
I thought that was wiped from the ECB annals…
LikeLike
…but not from the PCA annals.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Realised the t20 was on with about 5 overs to go. I am a big cricket fan – Think that says it all about how far the sport has allowed itself to fall from mainstream consciousness.
Hoping New Zealand beat us. They’ve come close enough recently.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Are England now only good at the one format of the game that everyone wants to scrap?
LikeLike
To be fair to England, they were doing pretty well last night until they got Maxwell’d.
England 2/88 after 9 overs Before Maxwell entered the attack and took 3 key wickets.
Australia 2/4 after 4 balls before Maxwell came in and hit 103*. Next highest score 30, next highest score 6.
Steve Smith’s reason for leaving him out of the ODI side on the grounds that “he doesn’t train smart” is starting to look pretty silly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember saying that cricket has a way of getting back at a person for decisions made based on bias when discussing Maxwell. 🙂 Happened to Oz fairly quickly. Smashed in ODIs, reliant on maxwell to get them home in t-20s. 🙂
LikeLike
The drop from Hales was so crucial.
One of the good things about this T20 stuff is that it is a tri-tournament, including the Ashes giants, New Zealand, and an actual, tangible final. It isn’t the most thrilling tournament going, but it gives an incentive to all teams to actually care a bit, and not just write it off as a bit of fun at the end of a tour. England have Pakistan, India and Australia touring next summer. What an absolute waste of an opportunity for a lovely little 4 way (or 5way + Ireland) tournament that is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re saying England should play some games against Ireland? Our nearest neighbours? The ones who now even have some kind of half-baked Test status? The country that kindly donated us a quite able limited overs captain? Absurd idea, who’d pay to see it? Totally impractical, no room in the schedule…
LikeLike
Tom Harrison *nods in approval*
LikeLiked by 1 person
So far, the wrist spinners Chahal and Kuldeep seem to be befuddling SA. One would think that Shane Warne and Bedi were bowling in tandem. Weird.
LikeLike