Being out of the UK, the only way I have been able to follow the Test is by BBC Sports updates. While catching up with today two thoughts ocurred to me as parallels with the Saints situation. First, lots of posters have whined their way through a very good day. "Cook's left it too long to declare" being one whinge. In fact as the days have unfolded , the criticisms of the England team have gone on almost despite their clear ascendancy. It reminds me of an important cricket lesson. You can only judge decisions when you can measure their effect. Secondly, in Moeen Ali England seem to have a future player. He plays for Worcestershire, currently top of Div 2 having yo-yoed for a few years. Will Moeen be off to seek fame and fortune elsewhere? Probably not. The gap in rewards is not as great as in football. I'm sure I don't need to spell out the similarities. BTW, delighted to hear of Test match cricket being played in my old home town - but where are the crowds?
I thought he probably should have declared as soon as the lead hit 400. But I suppose he and Joe Root were enjoying themselves too much.
Went down the Rose Bowl today - £15 and didn't even get to lunch. Humph. Though I suppose it was still better value per minute played than the football.
That's very true - slightly soured by the fact that my wife and my mother were supporting India - like my dad, I support the winner when it comes to India v England in the cricket.
Well he may well seek fame and fortune but it won't be by changing counties, it'll be by playing in the IPL. Guess the parallel there is with European football. At the moment the county system (and test cricket) isn't too affected by the IPL, but it might one day suffer as might the EPL if/when a super league happens.
The EPL would be far better off it the 'Big Clubs' f&*#ed off to play in a European Super league. The test playing nations collectively need to adapt to the IPL and do a deal where they get a slice of the money in return for moving their seasons calendars around so players can play in the IPL & Domestic competition.
Interviewer: (in a very loud voice) Do you play cricket? You're fired! (yells) You're fired! (in normal voice) Do you play cricket? Mr Leyton: No, no, no I play tennis actually. Interviewer: Tennis really, I use to play cricket. I remember on one occasion I was bowling to an ex county player actually, I gave him a half volley just outside the off stump, he put his left foot down the wicket, he hit the ball back at me like a bullet didn't have chance to move, ball hit me straight between the eyes. I gave him a half volley just outside the off stump, he put his left foot down the wicket, he hit the ball back at me like a bullet didn't have chance to move, ball hit... I'm so sorry um, where was I? Mr Leyton: Bowling. Interviewer: Bowling, that's right next ball I gave him a shorter faster one, he went on the back foot, he hit the ball back at me like a bullet didn’t have chance to move, couldn't protect myself the ball over my head down to the sidescreen fielder ran round picked the ball up, threw it in I was watching the wicket keeper the ball landed right on the bu, bu, bu, bu, bu, bu, last ball of the over I gave him a slower one, threw it right up in the air he came all the way down, he took the ball on the full toss, hit the ball back at me like a bullet didn't have chance to move, couldn't protect myself, ball hit me straight, smack, plumb between the eyes, course I was getting used to it by then. Now ah, where were we, where were we? Now languages, what languages do you speak? French?
