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Shame he couldn't sign off at Old Trafford, but Lord's not a bad 2nd best. I guess the deal must have been to be given one last run out at a home test.
Sadly his place in the team isn't a sympathy vote - short term the team will go backwards without him available for selection.
I hope he goes into coaching rather than media. Just pulls a different sweater on and stays with the team for the rest of the summer.
He was obviously forced, he has been very vocal about his desire to keep going (which is refreshing for top level sports people, who seem to be in a race to retire sometimes). I'm sure he would have preferred to exit at OT but maybe its full circle, wasn't his debut at Lords?
I'm sure he will appear at OT on the pitch but I would have paid handsomely to be in the crowd had he been playing, you've no choice but to pay handsomely at Lords...
Just listened to the Tailenders episode and from that I suspect that whilst it was a tap on the shoulder it may have been just what he needed.
It’s sad to see him go, I thought he’d play the full English summer then go, going overseas again felt unlikely to me.
Scotland absolutely belting it round, shame there was only 10 overs of that!
Although covers coming back on at the break and some pretty serious clouds around, not even sure if we’ll get a result?
RM.
Rained off 😕
I think Scotland could of edged that.
Raining here raining in the westies
No way - England would have battered that score I reckon - it’s a shame we didn’t get the opportunity.
Thriller between USA and ****stan.
Thriller between USA and ****stan.
Anyone else thinking what I'm thinking?
Mind you, the USA guy Jones, gives it a whack.
Unusually pleased for USA tonight - after that ending (at 20 overs) I thought they’d bottle it big time in the Super Over but the ****stani bowlers were very weirdly completely undisciplined.
Only ****stan could deliver a Super Over like that.
Well played USA after nearly choking it.
If your referring to the fantastic Indian performance then yeah.
Although winning the toss helped, losing to bowling like that is no real shame I suppose
Hope he gets his best ever figures in the first test and they have to ask him to stay on for the series
So hear we are, first test of the summer and the last of Jimmy's career.
You can't help but think they'll be looking at the balcony in 2 tests time wondering if their best bowler is sat there in a tracksuit with his feet up.
All hopes are that he goes out on a high, 5 wickets and a good knock with the bat would be just about perfect.
Sat here in northern Scotland with the rain lashing horizontally past the window. I really hope the weather is better down south - it'd be a shocker if his last test is spent watching the covers for 5 days.
Something slightly odd about picking a keeper who does not keep for his county because Foakes, the bloke he has deposed, is preferred. Mind you, did Alec Stuart keep for his county - can't remember. I know it's not very bazball but Foakes, the defacto best keeper in the world, coming in to bat and holding up an end whilst the firecracker further up the batting order lets rip seemed to make sense.
Quite a start to the afternoon session....
Seems this Atkinson fella is pretty good, eh?
Not bad at all...
If it wasn't for that expensive 37th over, the figures for his last five wickets would have been stunning.
Monsoon for Lords please. Got a day out there on Saturday….
Folk on TMS were saying how much Atkinson reminded them of Archer because the pace seems effortless. I can see that, but he puts me more in mind of Ben Hilfenhaus circa 2009. Nothing in the approach suggests a 88-90mph rocket is on the cards. For a year or so, Hilfenhaus was that sort of pace. But he was an upright seam, outswing bowler. From what I could tell yesterday, Atkinson was pretty much wobble-seam the whole innings.
Great start, though. Him and Sam Cook and perhaps Potts/Tongue could be the basis of the next stable England attack.
Monsoon for Lords please. Got a day out there on Saturday….
Could be over in two days, forget four! Sold out all four days and there won't be play on Sunday at this rate.
That's why I went yesterday.
Tongue's going straight in to my culinary / food XI
Alongside Salt, Mustard, Onions, Beefy, and Lamb. Root (ginger) in there to add some spice and all pulled together by Captain Cook.
Not totally sure on the balance and I'm 3 short at the moment. Ideas?
(he's too old to make the starting line up obvs, but maybe Grace could address the team at the start)
^ does it need to be recent England players or would you consider Shaun Pollock & Brad Currie? Derek Pringle if brand names are acceptable. Plenty of old school cricketers with names like Berry, Cock/Cockerell, Rice etc if you stretch eras.
This match looks to wrap up by lunch tomorrow; I feel sorry for @Bear.
Pringle's definitely in. Pollock maybe. Currie not, because I've just now arbitrarily decided it's ingredients rather than finished dishes.
Will Beer (Sussex) & George Bacon (Notts)?
Oh well, definitely over tomorrow unless a miracle happens.
Mainly disappointed for my guest as I am very lucky and can go anytime.
Come on Jimmy, you missed that c&b, now inswinger top of off and wicket cartwheel
Bah.
?
:,0(
No Sunday cricket then
For the final time,
The Burnley express departs.
That's over, Jimmy.
Go well!
Lords gave him a decent send off - pretty much a full house - didn't see him necking a pint on the balcony though - looks as if he might have done that a couple of times before.
Greatest fast bowler I’ve seen, his mastery of swing bowling is unprecedented.
loved watching him set batsmen up like a spinner.
Just a shy lad from the Lancashire league. Class act.
Graham Thorpe has died aged 55. Proper gutsy battler at a time when England were playing against some fearsome attacks.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/c06kkkkjmz6o
Very sad news
A very sad day indeed. The word great is over used but he was a great player, tough opponent and a great player for Surrey and England.
RIP
A class act, whose average was better in Australia than his overall one. Against McGrath, Warne etc shows his quality.
Aye, a real shame. Great player.
It gets worse 🙁
I tried in my early 20s, and seriously contemplated again 6 or so years ago before getting help.
Please FFS talk to someone, anyone. 🙁
Yes, today's revelations are so sad. Poor guy. And his family. I'm assuming it was a well kept secret amongst those that knew him professionally. His public persona was of such a together, strong dependable person - I guess the typical person who carries this stuff without seeking help or others having concerns.....until it's too late.
His public persona was of such a together, strong dependable person
TBH he came across as very (maybe a bit too) intense to me. Don't know if that is my bias having heard/read things that his contemporaries said. It's not intended as a criticism, just an observation.
Poor bloke. It doesn't sound like anything was missed so much as he just couldn't recover enough. This is why mental illness needs the same recognition as physical illness. People shake their heads when strong, athletic people get cancer - "but he kept himself fit, didn't smoke" etc. It is the same with mental illness "she always seemed so 'together' and 'normal'". It can strike any one of us at any time. All of a sudden perspective and fortitude can disappear.
RIP.