Quote from: Bealman on December 27, 2025, 07:25:56 PMNot that I'm aware of

Wot with you being an arch crim an' all that, I thought you'd know

Wow - 47,000 posts

Not that I'm aware of

As life continues, I find that I'm increasingly trying to relieve myself of possessions, rather than wishing to accumulate more of them.  So for Christmas, I got donations to  SSPCA, Crohn's and Colitis UK, Dog's Trust and MacMillan Cancer Support in lieu of presents.

Quote from: Bob G on December 27, 2025, 01:23:20 PMOMG I forgot the red HAPPY XMAS socks and red Santa slippers!

Some things are best forgotten.

Steve Lukather - never heard of him?

You might know him better from ToTo.
In addition he's a very well respected session musician having performed with some legendary artists including on Michael Jackson's Thriller.

Anyway, here's an offering from Steve Lukather himself :

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cly5397m30jo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cdxw1y79rnpo


Fair play to Michael Vaughan and Steve Smith

The pitch was poor and to have 36 wickets in 6 sessions less than two days will be scrutinised by the ICC no doubt.  Totally agree with Martin and Mike over their comments


Too many poor shots by the batsmen and line and length bowling . Makes you wonder where proper batting coaching and bowling coaching has gone. Remember when Sir Geoffrey said ' The Corridor of Uncertainty ' not now, get line lengths right. Play straight and each ball on merit and if its worth putting a bad ball away good. If you learn basics. Oh well

Quote from: Nbodger on December 27, 2025, 01:32:08 PMFunny no one in these comments has mentioned the state of the deck which had a significant impact on this game.

10mm of the green stuff left on top made it a unfair competition and there was only going to be one result, the bowlers won, the batsmen of both sides  would have a very difficult game and so it proved to be.



Sorry rant over

And a merry Christmas to you too!

Funny no one in these comments has mentioned the state of the deck which had a significant impact on this game.

10mm of the green stuff left on top made it a unfair competition and there was only going to be one result, the bowlers won, the batsmen of both sides  would have a very difficult game and so it proved to be.

Will the ICC take action?

Ironically it also gave England a win.

Yes Martin @port perran i totally agree with you about the state of English cricket in fact you rant sounded more like me.

Harry Brook is a very talented batsman, will probably be better than Root over time, he is very young and requires more experience in the long game, he for me is one who should be playing more county cricket grafting hard for his runs.

Cricket is a hard game mentally, concentrating all day whether batting or in the field, your only rest is when sat in the hut either out or waiting in anticipation to go out to bat.

The England set up basically only allows for preparation during practice / net sessions which it isn't important if you fail, they all need match practice on varying surfaces to allow them to know when to adapt to the conditions.

I am sure so called Bazball has changed since its inception. It is not never was about flashing at every ball, it was more about scoring quickly from ball 1, just look at a inform Root who looks to keep the scoreboard ticking over in low scoring shots, blink and he soon has a scored 50 that's without being aggressive.

I am not a fan of Stokes, for me he is hit and miss, yes he has had some winning scores with the bat whilst playing extravagant shots, take his match winning innings at Headingley with Leach, he was very lucky, Australia messed up on reviews and didn't have one left when it really counted else he was out. It was very entertaining day in the sun, yes I was there on that day as I had been on day 1.

Sorry rant over

OMG I forgot the red HAPPY XMAS socks and red Santa slippers!

No socks....