Ended up a bit of a thriller, with Middlesex cocking up the final over to lose by 2 runs.
The marketing men won't understand it, but watching cricket at an outground is one of the pleasures of the English game.
I totally agree. My county, Sussex, have cut Arundel, a beautiful ground, Eastbourne and Horsham from the list over recent years. Most years, I do a tour of 3-4 grounds watching One Day Cup games. This year, I'm managing to see a game at York, but my options are reducing.
Ended up a bit of a thriller, with Middlesex cocking up the final over to lose by 2 runs.
The marketing men won't understand it, but watching cricket at an outground is one of the pleasures of the English game.
I totally agree. My county, Sussex, have cut Arundel, a beautiful ground, Eastbourne and Horsham from the list over recent years. Most years, I do a tour of 3-4 grounds watching One Day Cup games. This year, I'm managing to see a game at York, but my options are reducing.
That's a shame, always meant to catch a game at Arundel.
Most non international county headquarters grounds aren't great. Their facilities are mediocre, and they're often not that picturesque either.
I wasn't planning on any of them, which would have been a shame with The Oval just down the road, but my Indian cricket clubmate has said he'll get me to Day Two of the WTC final!
England Men have named their XI for the LV= Insurance Test against Ireland starting at Lord's on Thursday.
Worcestershire seamer Josh Tongue has been handed his Test debut for the one-off Test ahead of this summer's Ashes series.
England Team v Ireland: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Matthew Potts, Josh Tongue (Debut), Jack Leach.
That is an absolutely bizarre selection. Feels like someone's won a bet
Robin Das at Essex is looking like their latest batting product. In rare form
Das is a real talent and the only surprise is that it's taken so long for him to be given a regular opportunity - he made his debut for Essex 2s five years ago as a 16 year old
That is an absolutely bizarre selection. Feels like someone's won a bet
Robin Das at Essex is looking like their latest batting product. In rare form
Feels like because he caused Smith a few problems a couple of weeks ago that he's now the next hope. Was expecting to see Carse or Mahmood called up.
Or for a one off game, why not Chris Rushworth?
It's a wild card selection but Tongue has been on England's radar since he made his debut seven years ago as an 18 year old and for England U19s. He only played three CC matches last season due to injuries (he's had a lot of them in his career to date ) and didn't perform particularly well either but was still sent with the Lions to Sri Lanka - he took 8-153 against Sr Lanka A whereas Sam Cook, for example, took 3-107. He's also almost 12 years younger than Rushworth. Still, this season's figures of 11 wickets at 41.45 and an economy rate of 4.43 too doesn't have him jumping off the page but they are probably looking at him from a possible "x" factor perspective rather than what he's actually done in the book. As we know from the selection of Crawley (First Class average of 30.43) England do like to do that.
Mahmokd did well for England before injury. He has that extra pace. If he's fit he should be back in the squad.
Such a shame that when we actually have a crop of fast bowlers to get excited about they all get injured. Archer Wood Stone Overton Mahmood would be a serious group of quicks challenging for the side.
Mahmokd did well for England before injury. He has that extra pace. If he's fit he should be back in the squad.
Such a shame that when we actually have a crop of fast bowlers to get excited about they all get injured. Archer Wood Stone Overton Mahmood would be a serious group of quicks challenging for the side.
They're injured because they bowl that fast. The human body isn't meant to do that. It's the same with baseball pitchers. They keep blowing out their elbows. Someone like Shoaib Akhtar who keeps it going for as many as 46 Tests is the exception, not the rule, and I bet he wasn't fully fit for at least half of them
Mahmokd did well for England before injury. He has that extra pace. If he's fit he should be back in the squad.
Such a shame that when we actually have a crop of fast bowlers to get excited about they all get injured. Archer Wood Stone Overton Mahmood would be a serious group of quicks challenging for the side.
They're injured because they bowl that fast. The human body isn't meant to do that. It's the same with baseball pitchers. They keep blowing out their elbows. Someone like Shoaib Akhtar who keeps it going for as many as 46 Tests is the exception, not the rule, and I bet he wasn't fully fit for at least half of them
The Aussie quicks seem pretty bullet proof when it comes to Ashes series. The likes of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc have played in loads of Ashes matches.
Mahmokd did well for England before injury. He has that extra pace. If he's fit he should be back in the squad.
Such a shame that when we actually have a crop of fast bowlers to get excited about they all get injured. Archer Wood Stone Overton Mahmood would be a serious group of quicks challenging for the side.
They're injured because they bowl that fast. The human body isn't meant to do that. It's the same with baseball pitchers. They keep blowing out their elbows. Someone like Shoaib Akhtar who keeps it going for as many as 46 Tests is the exception, not the rule, and I bet he wasn't fully fit for at least half of them
The Aussie quicks seem pretty bullet proof when it comes to Ashes series. The likes of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc have played in loads of Ashes matches.
Lee had a biometrically perfect action, but he wasn't much above 90mph most of his career. Starc is similar. Johnson had a bit more pace than either, and a lot more injury problems too
Mahmokd did well for England before injury. He has that extra pace. If he's fit he should be back in the squad.
Such a shame that when we actually have a crop of fast bowlers to get excited about they all get injured. Archer Wood Stone Overton Mahmood would be a serious group of quicks challenging for the side.
They're injured because they bowl that fast. The human body isn't meant to do that. It's the same with baseball pitchers. They keep blowing out their elbows. Someone like Shoaib Akhtar who keeps it going for as many as 46 Tests is the exception, not the rule, and I bet he wasn't fully fit for at least half of them
The Aussie quicks seem pretty bullet proof when it comes to Ashes series. The likes of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc have played in loads of Ashes matches.
Lee had a biometrically perfect action, but he wasn't much above 90mph most of his career. Starc is similar. Johnson had a bit more pace than either, and a lot more injury problems too
Brett Lee wasn't quick is a take, I'll give you that!
A pub landlord stands to collect £50,000 tomorrow when Tongue makes his debut tomorrow. He is a friend of Tongue's dad, used to play cricket with him and struck the bet when Tongue was 11
Mahmokd did well for England before injury. He has that extra pace. If he's fit he should be back in the squad.
Such a shame that when we actually have a crop of fast bowlers to get excited about they all get injured. Archer Wood Stone Overton Mahmood would be a serious group of quicks challenging for the side.
They're injured because they bowl that fast. The human body isn't meant to do that. It's the same with baseball pitchers. They keep blowing out their elbows. Someone like Shoaib Akhtar who keeps it going for as many as 46 Tests is the exception, not the rule, and I bet he wasn't fully fit for at least half of them
The Aussie quicks seem pretty bullet proof when it comes to Ashes series. The likes of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc have played in loads of Ashes matches.
Lee had a biometrically perfect action, but he wasn't much above 90mph most of his career. Starc is similar. Johnson had a bit more pace than either, and a lot more injury problems too
Brett Lee wasn't quick is a take, I'll give you that!
Mahmokd did well for England before injury. He has that extra pace. If he's fit he should be back in the squad.
Such a shame that when we actually have a crop of fast bowlers to get excited about they all get injured. Archer Wood Stone Overton Mahmood would be a serious group of quicks challenging for the side.
They're injured because they bowl that fast. The human body isn't meant to do that. It's the same with baseball pitchers. They keep blowing out their elbows. Someone like Shoaib Akhtar who keeps it going for as many as 46 Tests is the exception, not the rule, and I bet he wasn't fully fit for at least half of them
The Aussie quicks seem pretty bullet proof when it comes to Ashes series. The likes of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc have played in loads of Ashes matches.
Lee had a biometrically perfect action, but he wasn't much above 90mph most of his career. Starc is similar. Johnson had a bit more pace than either, and a lot more injury problems too
Brett Lee wasn't quick is a take, I'll give you that!
Not what I said!
He was regularly hitting the mid 90s for most of his career, including a 100.1 mph delivery. He wasn't touching 90.
Mahmokd did well for England before injury. He has that extra pace. If he's fit he should be back in the squad.
Such a shame that when we actually have a crop of fast bowlers to get excited about they all get injured. Archer Wood Stone Overton Mahmood would be a serious group of quicks challenging for the side.
They're injured because they bowl that fast. The human body isn't meant to do that. It's the same with baseball pitchers. They keep blowing out their elbows. Someone like Shoaib Akhtar who keeps it going for as many as 46 Tests is the exception, not the rule, and I bet he wasn't fully fit for at least half of them
The Aussie quicks seem pretty bullet proof when it comes to Ashes series. The likes of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc have played in loads of Ashes matches.
Lee had a biometrically perfect action, but he wasn't much above 90mph most of his career. Starc is similar. Johnson had a bit more pace than either, and a lot more injury problems too
Brett Lee wasn't quick is a take, I'll give you that!
Not what I said!
He was regularly hitting the mid 90s for most of his career, including a 100.1 mph delivery. He wasn't touching 90.
Like Starc though, he was only capable of bowling really, really quick when it was full. Johnson is the only one of the three who could bowl fearsomely quick and short
Mahmokd did well for England before injury. He has that extra pace. If he's fit he should be back in the squad.
Such a shame that when we actually have a crop of fast bowlers to get excited about they all get injured. Archer Wood Stone Overton Mahmood would be a serious group of quicks challenging for the side.
They're injured because they bowl that fast. The human body isn't meant to do that. It's the same with baseball pitchers. They keep blowing out their elbows. Someone like Shoaib Akhtar who keeps it going for as many as 46 Tests is the exception, not the rule, and I bet he wasn't fully fit for at least half of them
The Aussie quicks seem pretty bullet proof when it comes to Ashes series. The likes of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc have played in loads of Ashes matches.
Lee had a biometrically perfect action, but he wasn't much above 90mph most of his career. Starc is similar. Johnson had a bit more pace than either, and a lot more injury problems too
Brett Lee wasn't quick is a take, I'll give you that!
Not what I said!
He was regularly hitting the mid 90s for most of his career, including a 100.1 mph delivery. He wasn't touching 90.
Like Starc though, he was only capable of bowling really, really quick when it was full. Johnson is the only one of the three who could bowl fearsomely quick and short
I don't think Alex Tudor would agree. There are loads of clips of Lee bowling short and quick on YouTube.
You have got to factor in that in backing up McGrath and Warne they never really needed a plan B to get wickets. I think had a much better "line and length" game than Johnson so didn't have to go short to get wickets, it's not the same as couldn't.
Comments
Most non international county headquarters grounds aren't great. Their facilities are mediocre, and they're often not that picturesque either.
Ireland - Lords - Friday Day 2
England Men have named their XI for the LV= Insurance Test against Ireland starting at Lord's on Thursday.
Worcestershire seamer Josh Tongue has been handed his Test debut for the one-off Test ahead of this summer's Ashes series.
England Team v Ireland: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Matthew Potts, Josh Tongue (Debut), Jack Leach.
Robin Das at Essex is looking like their latest batting product. In rare form
Here is some of his play, and an interview. He reminds me quite a lot of James Taylor
Wednesday, Saturday Lords (days 1&4)
Saturday, Sunday Headingley (days 3&4)
Friday, Saturday, Old Trafford (days 3&4)
Thursday Oval (day 1)
For the Ashes, I've got
Day 3 Edgbaston, Day 3 Lord's, then Days 4 and 5 (ha ha) at The Oval
also got ODI tickets on the 15th Sept (Lord's)
Feels like because he caused Smith a few problems a couple of weeks ago that he's now the next hope. Was expecting to see Carse or Mahmood called up.
Such a shame that when we actually have a crop of fast bowlers to get excited about they all get injured. Archer Wood Stone Overton Mahmood would be a serious group of quicks challenging for the side.
You have got to factor in that in backing up McGrath and Warne they never really needed a plan B to get wickets. I think had a much better "line and length" game than Johnson so didn't have to go short to get wickets, it's not the same as couldn't.