Thanks for the heads up - caught the last bit.
(In relation to the posh accent thread, the juxtaposition of blowers and tuffers at the hand over was marked - you decide in what manner;-) )
Oops - had him on, but switched to the Vuelta so missed the last bit. Though I suppose as the TV box is still tuned in to TMS and I switched the TV to the XBox to watch cycling I can rewind...
Ahh Blowers. Thanks for the memories. He will be sorely missed from TMS and I will remember him fondly. A true true legend of broadcasting who never failed to brighten my day no matter how England were playing.
it is available on the R4 website, from about 5:40 onwards for his last stint but worth listening a bit earlier for other stories about him
Top entertainer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b093v273
Congratulations Essex, great statistic - first time they have won it without Gooch in the side.
Walloooooooopppp!
Gayle may be exciting, but he's a sodding lazy sod between the wickets.
Lazily strolling rather than defending his wicket.
[i]"I didn't think Evin was coming, so I ball-watched a bit. I jogged and I was a bit surprised he threw at that end. I thought about a dive but I didn't want to get my clothes dirty."[/i]
Quality!
Oops
Complete the following sentence;
Jason Roy is as much use as....
He's either genius..or absolute toilet.
So, a day/night game.
In Manchester.
At the end of September.
Rain inevitable, shirley!
According to our man 'oop North's FB feed, it looks like Manchester is having its annual day of blue skies today
42 overs a side. 1430 start possibly...
WI wobble.....
Moeen SMASH!
And then takes the catch to win the game.
50 to 100 in 12 balls, ouch.
50 to 100 in 12 balls, ouch.
When your innings puts Gayle in the shade, you know it's been a good one!
Also, nice touch from WI wearing black armbands in honour of the devastation caused the recent hurricanes.
I lucked out as i listened to that and it was tremendous something like 7 sixes and 2 fours in 11 balls after 32 iirc
Moeen is an elegant batsman, in the mould of a Gower. Not just a bish-bash-bosh merchant, but lovely stroke play, supple wrists and well, he's just lovely to watch!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/41381083
Cheers for that not seen itHe is a wonderful batter never mind his bowling and at the minute england are blessed with a number of genuine match winners with bat and ball and also some seriously talented all rounders.
If they could have two opening batsmen then they would be close to un beatable
Stokes arrested in early hours of Monday morning. Hales helping police with enquiries.
*Developing....
Not looking good he has been dropped too.
did he punch someone in a walkabout?
(From Avon & Somerset Police Twitter feed)
"APPEAL: Did you see a disorder in the Queens Road/Clifton Triangle area of Bristol at around 2.35am yesterday? A 27-year-old man suffered facial injuries and was taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary for treatment. A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue."
Clifton Triangle is approx. 15 minute walk from a Walkabout so I'm not ruling it out.
FFS. Does he think he's warner?
Just before the test squad is announced too.
So, ashes squad leaked
Root, Cook, Stoneman, Malan, Ballance, Vince, Moeen, Crane, Foakes, Bairstow, Stokes, Woakes, Broad, Anderson, Ball, Overton.
It is, in all honesty, weak. I just hope the Aussies is weaker and the debutants do well.
Overton? That might boost performance today and tomorrow at Taunton (weather-permitting)!
Stokes remains as vice captain.
I'm not massively confident in that team, to be honest.
Root, Cook, Moeen, Bairstow, Stokes, Anderson & Broad are all top quality players. I just don't see us winning the ashes with a seven man squad.
Aus are in a similar position though in terms of team selection. Here's hoping!
[quote=ransos ]Root, Cook, Moeen, Bairstow, Stokes, Anderson & Broad are all top quality players. I just don't see us winning the ashes with a seven man squad.
I'm not sure who else they could have picked though - apart from Hales (who I'd have picked) the selection looks about the best from the possible options they had. Assuming they weren't going to select a complete outsider which they said they weren't - but then there isn't really anybody obvious knocking on the door for the positions they need anyway.
Woakes/Ball/Overton for the 4th seamer doesn't seem all that weak a link - Woakes has been very good, though his lack of express pace may limit his effectiveness in Australia. I presume Ball is the quickest of those 3? Plunkett unlucky to miss out given his pace - what has he done wrong? Though it seems likely Wood will get a trip with the Lions* so will be available for selection depending on fitness despite not being in the squad - I think he's about the quickest option we have when he's not broken. We're probably OK for bowling as long as nobody breaks down, and at least our bowlers give us a longish tail (arguably there are 5 world class batters in that list of 7).
* it looks like the Lions squad will be stocked with a whole load of backup players who could be selected if they're showing form.
I'm not sure who else they could have picked though - apart from Hales (who I'd have picked) the selection looks about the best from the possible options they had. Assuming they weren't going to select a complete outsider which they said they weren't - but then there isn't really anybody obvious knocking on the door for the positions they need anyway.
I agree there's nobody breaking down the door. On the other hand, Moeen is the only player to have come into the side in the last few years and hold a place down, probably only because he's so flexible in terms of where he can go in the batting order. There's something very wrong with the system...
Personally, I'd take a punt on Buttler (playing Bairstow as a batsman), Leach, Finn and Wood.
[quote=ransos ]Personally, I'd take a punt on Buttler (playing Bairstow as a batsman), Leach, Finn and Wood.
Buttler has been tried and failed, and has played very little red ball cricket recently (and hasn't set the world alight when he has). Maybe worth a place in the squad, but I certainly wouldn't put him in the team. I'd actually be quite tempted to put Foakes in the team - far better FC average than Buttler, in fact a better FC average than any of the recent new batting selections, he's almost worth a punt as a specialist bat!
Leach and Finn must have got a lot of discussion in the selection meeting - I'm sure they'll make the Lions trip, so be available for selection to the team. Wood is still recovering from injury I think, but will probably also make the Lions trip - he'd be in the squad if not the team for me when he's fit.
Anyway, on to today's ODI for a bit. Weather looks good but an outside chance of rain towards the end.
Bat first?
Buttler has been tried and failed, and has played very little red ball cricket recently (and hasn't set the world alight when he has). Maybe worth a place in the squad, but I certainly wouldn't put him in the team.
If Buttler has been tried and failed, he is in very good company! Given his talent, I'd much rather give him another go than Ballance, who appears to have learnt absolutely nothing about the flaws in his technique. Ditto Vince: his unerring ability to edge to slip has me throwing things at the telly. I don't know much about Foakes, but presumably he'd only play if Bairstow was injured. Speaking of keepers, Davies has had a brilliant season for Lancs, scoring over 1,000 CC runs.
My concern about the bowling with this squad is that it's far too samey, and easily neutered.
Top tossing, Eoin.
12:06
England captain Eoin Morgan: "The wicket looks good. There might be a little bit more in it than earlier in the summer so we're going to have a bowl."
*Soul limbo*
Gayle gone!
Gayle back in the hutch with a SR of 50 quite possibly justifies bowling first already!
Tidy start here.
I mean game on

