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I had been an advocate of ‘Strauss for captain’ for quite some time, but I think it’s fair to say that, to quote a former work colleague of mine, he’s already dropped a b*llock.
What would possess someone to ignore the fact that we had taken nine wickets in less than a day, and that we held a 281 run first innings lead, and fail to enforce the follow-on? I can’t for the life of me work out why we didn’t put the West Indies back in on a pitch that is getting more difficult to bat on as the match progresses.
Perhaps I’m missing something.
On a different note, how joyous was it to see Sir Tossbag’s name dredged across the newspapers in relation to a $9bn fraud? Granted, it doesn’t necessarily help the image of cricket given his recent association, but I hope the ECB will begin to realise just what a shower they are.
I guess it would depend on how fit/well Flintoff and Harmison are, but I agree, unless both are significantly below par, enforcing the follow-on is a must, for the psychological pressure as much as anything. If the pitch wasn’t deteriorating, then it would be a different matter, but it is and Swann is looking good.
Those cringeworthy photos of Giles Clarke and Mr Stanford at Lord’s are getting a good airing again. I wonder at what point Clarke’s position becomes untenable? He was behind the flogging of the television rights to Sky and was very keen on Stanford. Could be tricky for the counties because the majority are behind him.
The well-worn cliche "would you buy a second-hand car from this man?" suits Stanford admirably
Oh that rictus grin and cold, cold eyes. Creepy or what?
Still, it’s an ill wind, and English cricket has at least been spared the humiliation of selling its soul to the devil…presumably
Hmm, a few interesting POV’s stemming from recent events on and off the field.
I think the ECB had to embrace the cash of Stanford – what is the option, stagnate while the IPL and Champions league cricket starts to rule the thinking of England’s big stars?
Cricket has to progress, like any sport. Cash incentives are burgeoning and you cannot ignore that – just as it has with football. Yes, I agree there is too much greed in football – but who is going to cap wages apart from the smaller clubs?
I have no problem with the helicopter/razzmattaz – cricket is becoming more showbiz by the minute. 20/20 is the future, and is it not the most lucrative form of the game?
I stress that I love test cricket and all its intricacies. But aren’t lovers of the long format game in the minority?
Oh, and I also think Stanford have every right to bounce those girlies on his knee…they agreed to it! TBH, I thought they were his daughters
Not exactly the first girls to flirt with a wealthy older man, and it’s invariably reciprocated.
As for the game…I think England may struggle to take the wickets without Freddy, as Andrew referred to earlier.
The main contest is with Windies psychologically – do they really want to tough it out over 4 and a half sessions?
Cometh the hour, cometh Chanderpaul?
Zip
Ps,
Now, gotta squeeze into my jeans – I’m off to find some nubile female students…It made me feel quite ill to learn that it was the pregnant wife of Matt Prior bouncing on the knee of the randy stinking rich texan billionaire Stanford.
The frolics were beamed around the ground on the big screen to the disbelief of the players. KP and Prior have since accepted Stanfords opologies.
WTF was all that about?
How humiliating for Prior. Utterly humiliating.
I’d of gave him thorough going over with several lumps of willow personally.
There is a danger of blithely accepting that anything new, particularly if it involves money, is automatically the future and that we have to suspend all critical faculties in order to jump onboard the departing train before it is too late.
That is precisely what Giles Clarke and the ECB did. It has nothing to do with the England players, it is all about ego and the desire of the ECB to become a corporate powerhouse to rival the BCCI.
The job of the ECB is to look after the best interests of English cricket. We already have a successful Twenty20 competition which is well-attended. We do not need our own version of the IPL nor did we need to get into bed with Stanford. We needed to reform our game, streamline it and do our best to become a successful international team.
Clarke should resign.
Clarke should resign.
We don’t want him back at Somerset the price of beer is already too high.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
That was an enthralling last day’s play Thursday night.
It was good to see Sarwan and Chanderpaul’s efforts supported by the rest of the team; they all tried to hang around, Edwards and Powell were superb.
I wonder if England suffered from a lack of confidence and intent in some of their key decisions – sending Jimmy out as nightwatchman and not declaring earlier?
Really looking forward to the 4th test. Do you chaps think we can still draw the series, let alone win?
Zip
Sarwan is playing like a machine – he has top batted in the 1st innings in every test this series (not including the Antiguan debacle). Can’t remember another batsman doing that…
He and Strauss have surely put their respective top bat markets to bed.
Looks like England are going to have to play 7 bowlers in the last match.
Zip
Sarwan has really been epic in this series – scored 598 runs at an average of 149.50!!!!! In only 3 bloody tests!
Cookie has also had a resurgence and is only 37 runs behind Strauss.
Zip
The series has been very painful to watch and I haven’t tuned in very often but when i have I’ve seen us bowled out for just over 50 then there was the match that lasted about 7 balls or 7 overs cant remember and then the last match i put the cricket on and the very next ball Bopara took one in the eye off Edwards.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Cookie was my big fancy for Eng top bat for the series – but Strauss has really excelled. They both had poor starts to the series but Strauss, like Sarwan for WI, has put it to bed.
That was a pretty insipid first day – Gayle is almost acting like it is a club cricket match.
Zip
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