Poor batting and a strong Indian attack I think. They should have won the last test but absolutely blew it by failing to mop up the Indian tail in the first innings and then batting like donkeys in their 2nd.
No, got it wrong, the Indians are just too damn good at home...!! Come on Jimmy, lets get the 700th Test wicket now, you legend...!!!
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Bazball, to an extent. I do think Stokes captaincy has big question marks over it. It’s also a job for the boys team, his mates clearly get preferential treatment. Bairstow has played every game and not hit a single 50. What’s he doing in the side? He’s best mates with Stokes, is the answer. Stokes reluctance to persist with bowlers at the end of an innings instead of changing it around to mop up the tail is awful to watch.
I watched the back end of the Fortuna Dusseldorf v Bochum second leg pay-off game last night, Bochum 3-0 down from the first leg having to do to Fortuna what they did to them last week. What a crazy game it was, Bochum somehow getting back the 3 goal deficit, forcing extra time and keeping them in the top flight Bundesliga with a 6-5 victory on penalties... I think from memory, that when the play-offs were first introduced in this country we had the 3rd from bottom team play the 3rd from top in the then 2nd division but didnt last long. But i can't help but feel that this always helps the team in the higher division as on paper they should be the better side of the two, proved by the fact the last 2 teams to have won this play-off tie have been the nigher placed team.... Anyway, it was a good game, and had everything you want in a play-off game with goals, great saves and crucial missed chances all leading up to a penalty shoot-out...!!
Man City launch legal action over financial rules I'm not sure what to think about this whole Citeh thing that they are going to launch a legal case against the Premier League and all of its financial rules, as it might back fire on them as much as the Premier League in the end. They claim that they are the victims of "discrimination", that the amended rules were approved by rivals to "stifle" their success on the pitch, and call it "a tyranny of the majority". I wonder what the likes of Newcastle think of that, being that they cant spend owt due to insufficient funds coming in to their own clubs despite having a wealthy owner...?? I suppose this is to counter attack these 115 charges that the Premier League have been threatening to do for what seems like an eternity, so maybe Citeh are throwing the first punch here. This could be better than the Fury v Usyk fight...!!
This T20 Cricket World cup has, up to now, been a good watch which i think is down to the fact that the scores have been quite low. Having watched some of the recent IPL T20 comp, where scores went well over the 200 run mark, i think 285 was the highest, the drama of trying to defend a low score, or chase one, has made it a worth while watch. I will add that some of the pitches have ben dubious to say the least with the excessive bounce and turn, but nevertheless, it has levelled out the playing field and made it at times a very nervy and twitchy watch... Maybe, bigger, better and faster of the IPL isn't the be-all-end-all...
Haven't seen any of the matches but it seems bizarre to be playing cricket in the USA. Meanwhile the "opening ceremony" for Euro 24 is ongoing - no idea why we have to sit through this trashy Euro-pop garbage at the start of every tournament. Just get on with it FFS.
One has to wonder what Scotland (and, to be fair, England, with the current antics of Southgate) are doing over there. That kick in the pills by the Scottish player just before half-time this evening was pretty grim. Deserved the red card IMHO. Think the French referee, Clement Turpin, is doing a good job and is very competent. (Missus just popped into my little 'study' and said it is now 4-0. Good grief!)
If the Yanks get their heads around the game of cricket then they have a massive base of 'cricketers' able to pick it up with just a little training. The baseball stars that they have over there must be suited to playing T20...?? Fast eyes, powerful batters and fielders that thrown bullet like tracers to the white bases that adorn the baseball turf, you can see it happening... Though the huge gloves they wear will have to be taken into account, as that's just cheating in our eyes... Yes they will have to learn the tactical side of the sport, but they are half way there in terms of talented sportsmen. So who knows, it maybe the hotbed of T20 cricket in 5 years time, though i must confess, knowing as i do several people over in America, the idea of playing 5 days of sport for there not to be a result baffles the heck out of them. Test cricket is maybe a step too far for them...!!
The cricket ball is very hard too for the Yanks tender hands? At school once, got hit in the 'goolies' by the ball from a full-bloodied drive by the school's top batsman. Was a lousy cricketer anyway, so decided to do a bit of umpiring, which I enjoyed regardless of the many muttered threats I received from guys I had given 'out', as they walked back to the pavillion (e.g. 'see you later', and all that)
A novel Tour de France this year with the finish moved to Nice to avoid a clash with the Olympics. Looking at this year’s stages it appears that the organisers have opted for a less mountainous route, perhaps to try and keep the GC more interesting? It doesn’t jump off the paper at me as being a classic tour but let’s see. I just hope Vingegaard is doing the right thing by competing this year. It might have been wiser to give his body more time to heal and focus on next year but I’m sure he knows best. The pundits have Pogacar as clear favourite with some even saying the GC will be all over after 4 days. Let’s hope they are wrong.
If they've adopted a less mountaineering route then yesterday's outing couldn't have been more brutal.
I have absolutely no time for this Romelu Lukaku. Cannot count the number of times he screwed things up for Belgium against France. Gave the ball away so often I lost count. Chelsea will be lucky to get anything from selling this joker. Damn shame Belgium lost, by an own goal too.
