I've seen Focus a few times. The first time was in the early 1980s and the last time around 4 years ago. Brilliant every time and so much better live than recorded.

Meanwhile, tomorrow I will be at this 

Very nice!

I saw Focus just the once in the early 70s and like @Newportnobby I was blown away by both the musicianship and style of music.
In a way it was the same as other bands of the day but also very different.

These days I still listen to Focus occasionally but very much like Jan Akermaan's later stuff :

Chilling to some Focus - 'Eruption' and 'Focus II' from 'Moving Waves' and 'Focus III' from the album of the same name. Saw them at the De Montfort Hall, Leicester in the 70s and was blown away by their musicianship

I would agree with everything you say Mike @Nbodger plus a certain arrogance amongst management and some senior players.

It's all very well "entertaining", and I say that tongue in cheek, the crowd with so called Bazball but put quite bluntly there are cases when it is just plain stupid.

The 1st test last week was an obvious case in point.
England were in a WINNING position. Bat for two days to build an unassailable lead then bowl out an ageing Aussie team.

What do we do, and here I think arrogance comes to the fore. We try to knock every ball out of the ground. What the thinking is behind this strategy is beyond me unless the players put more importance on three extra days off rather than winning.

If we carry on like this Test cricket will die.

On another of your points, I believe The Hundred will ruin cricket. It's almost akin to football deciding to alter the rules and format for two months in the middle of the season. Let's play 8 a side, ban offside, time outs every 5 minutes, kick ins instead of throw ins etc etc.
it would be disastrous.

We have too many games in the Summer in way too many formats. I fail to see how senior management don't realise that.
Oh.....wait a minute. Of course, money comes first.

Interesting article here about Crawley's history against the Aussies.
Just a shame Cummins and Hazelwood weren't bowling

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cjwyd76l09no

I was asked by one of my brother in laws how I thought the Ashes would go, below is my reply to him, it has taken him a week to respond

Hard to comment on England, my gut is not very well expect lo loose the series.

England at present have lost their way in all forms of cricket under the current regime.

The ECB are unfortunately destroying the English game with their stupid incoherent actions like the kookaburra ball experiment which thankfully has now been terminated..

Oh and the stupid 100 taking over the best part of the English summer.

We have a poor bowling line up. Woods and Archer both injury prone doubt both will be available for all tests. Inexperienced spinners.

Batsmen have not been in any form recently, having only limited one day opportunities, not ideal.

Lot of pressure on this team, little or no experience of Aussie conditions .

Preparation poor, lack of quality game time, no real test since last summer.

Our only hope is the Aussies are past it, most of their players at the wrong end of their careers.

Quote from: Nbodger on November 25, 2025, 06:43:52 PM

Quote from: port perran on November 25, 2025, 06:31:07 PMI have today booked tickets for The Oval Test next Summer (England v New Zealand) Day 3.
I normally go for Day 2 but on this occasion we've gone for Day 3 as my son and son in law would rather take a Friday off work rather than a Thursday. So......day three it is.
I'm just hoping that the game gets that far!

I have tickets for day 2 apparently, which my Son bought. We also have tickets for day 1 at Headingley for the Pakistan test.

Ha....I'll be entering London as you leave.
Shame we didn't both book the same day.
At least we managed to get tickets for five of us all sitting together.

Totally agree mick. Indeed years past touring teams had played matches against State Sides playing in the Sheffield Shield and / or Chairman's Invitation X1. Blame it on schedules,  having a shadow Lions X1. There are many arguments.  Im also wondering how fit players are with injuries and history of such, training,  schedules.  All in favour of 2 days travel, acclimatise Brisbane and ask ACB for 3 / 4 day v Queensland who have concluded their Shield match v Victoria

Quote from: port perran on November 25, 2025, 06:31:07 PMI have today booked tickets for The Oval Test next Summer (England v New Zealand) Day 3.
I normally go for Day 2 but on this occasion we've gone for Day 3 as my son and son in law would rather take a Friday off work rather than a Thursday. So......day three it is.
I'm just hoping that the game gets that far!

I have tickets for day 2 apparently, which my Son bought. We also have tickets for day 1 at Headingley for the Pakistan test.