< 1 minute read We had it all planned out. We were going to cycle up Mow Cop and then, when we got home, we’d ‘refuel’ with our feet up while watching what promised to be the business end of the New Zealand innings. We’d be exhausted and would therefore be able to sit
Continue readingMonth: May 2013
The hard-fought fifty and the quick fifty
< 1 minute read Players are always talking about the brand of cricket they’re looking to play, trying to make it sound like there’s some lofty aesthetic ideal with which they should be associated. No-one ever talks about playing a squalid brand of cricket and more’s the pity. Squalid, low-scoring cricket that’s decided by
Continue readingWatchful batting and watchable batting
< 1 minute read We generally approve of England’s somewhat one-dimensional approach to top order batting. However, the fact that it’s highly appropriate for the current era doesn’t mean it’s always the best approach. Against equally patient bowling attacks, it can result in stand-offs less spectacular than when two cats spend three-quarters of an
Continue readingCould everyone please just calm down a bit
< 1 minute read There’s too much emotion in cricket these days. We need to get back to a world where wickets are celebrated with a handshake, team spirit is expressed with a warm handshake and contempt for the opposition is conveyed via a firm handshake. We’ve written about how everyone’s far too het
Continue readingWhat’s the best way to follow a Test match?
< 1 minute read Armpits of Botham! It’s a Test match tomorrow! How do you prefer to follow a Test? A lazy assumption is that live TV coverage presents the best option, but we’re increasingly questioning that. When a match is tight and it’s the closing overs, it’s hard to beat – but those
Continue readingTim Bresnan’s return from injury
< 1 minute read Tim Bresnan had elbow knack. It was a particularly severe case and so he had surgery. Unfortunately, the procedure made him not particularly good at cricket. He therefore had surgery again (not to get bionic legs or owt, just for the elbow). Now he’s back – even if he wasn’t
Continue reading2013 County Championship – chapter five
2 minute read You should probably stop paying attention to the section at the end of these posts where we tell you what’s happening in the coming week. Last week we said the top four teams were all playing in matches starting on Wednesday. Turns out only one match started that day and
Continue readingRicky Ponting’s batting tips
< 1 minute read Mumbai Indians are currently benefiting from Ricky Ponting’s expertise and Surrey will be getting a few top tips shortly when he arrives to play for them. Don’t believe us? Ask Dinesh Karthik: “Some of the things that he says in team meetings and some of the points he brings to
Continue readingZaheer Khan’s sports lounge
< 1 minute read We’re not entirely sure what a sports lounge is – it sounds oxymoronic – but Zaheer Khan’s opened one. It’s called Toss Sports Lounge. It’s not really selling itself is it? The other day, Zaheer was asking people to come up with a tagline for his new venture. Guys, am
Continue readingAdil Rashid and poor growing conditions
2 minute read Being a young leg-spinner involves being told you’re amazing when you’re not. When you get a bit older and you seem a little less exciting, people tell you that you’re rubbish when you’re not. If you can bat as well, the extra novelty magnifies that first bit and also the
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