Terrific and well-deserved reception for him. Incredible debut for Atkinson yet Jimmy leads the team off.
I think the wind has got my eyes watering, it’s definitely not that interview with Jimmy in the changing room.
Brilliant way for Jimmy to bow out - **** these fairy-tale endings, the real pros drop a dolly off their own bowling and refuse to speak to themselves for the rest of the day
Durham well on top and should have this won in the next half an hour. Someone hurt tonight from a 6 flying into the crowd.
I'm still seething Jimmy wasn't given these two games to get past Warne. Would have been an absolutely unthinkable achievement for a pace bowler. Seems really really foolish to me.
I'm not sure foolish is the word. The powers that be have decided to move on and start building a new team with an eye on 2025/2026. They would have liked Jimmy to have retired last summer, or after the India series but agreed to give him a farewell test at Lord's. Now that is done, it's time to move ahead with Atkinson, Pennington, Potts etc etc
Aye, we went through again. Great bowling from Parkinson. Turner and Raine decent with the bat as well. Got tickets for tomorrow but pissing it down all day today so not too hopeful
I think it's foolish myself. It's an indelible piece of cricketing history left unwritten by choice. I will never understand it.
"Foolish" though? It's an odd choice of words because it implies retiring Anderson early will impact the England side v WI and SL this summer. Maybe you mean "unfair"?
No, sorry. I find it foolish. I'm not sure what's unfair about the situation. It definitely wasn't the word I was reaching for when I decided on foolish. It's likely we just view the situation differently.
Test cricket is dying in England and across the cricketing world. This was a rare opportunity to write a piece of cricketing history that likely won't come again. A piece of history that has taken someone 21 years to be on the verge of. One that speaks to the sheer grit and determination and professionalism of a man outweighing an arguably unmatched talent. Maybe it inspires a few kids coming through, maybe it's just a story that becomes part of cricketing folklore. Either way it comes at the expense of getting a couple of meaningless games into a new face. To my mind, it's a cheap price for a dear reward. I think it is a foolish decision that deprives the game and the nation of a wonderful story. It's OK that you don't find it foolish but I'm afraid I do.
The test game isn't dying in England. I was at Lord's on Weds and the place was packed, nor do personal milestones influence the future of the test game.
