Does anyone see the point of this new "The Hundred" tournament? Franchises with names like Northern Superchargers, London Spirit, Welsh Fire and so on. All wearing bright coloured new uniforms, mostly sponsored by crisps. Is there any need for it, it all looks ridiculous.
Pakistan have won their first home Test series in a decade, 1-0.
After drawing the first match against visitors Sri Lanka, and getting bowled out cheaply in their first innings, they subsequently racked up 555/3 in their second innings, with all top four batsmen getting centuries. SL lost their last three wickets this morning without scoring a run. Pakistan batsman Abid Ali was man of the series, scoring a century on debut and a century in his second Test as well.
England begin their away series against South Africa on Boxing Day. Australia start their Second Test against NZ on the same day, already 1-0 up.
Nice win for Ireland yesterday in their opening T20 match against the Windies in Grenada. Quite the knock by Paul Stirling. Ireland struggle to get 208 in an ODI, with the batters they have they're probably more suited to T20 at the moment.
I'm at a mate's and i've been watching an England v West Indies 5-dayer from Manchester. It's been good to just sit there and watch it all. I don't know any of the players. Gooch, Gatting, Stewart etc., appear to have retired.
It's great to hear David Lloyd's accent and him chatting about Kylie Minogue. Mike Atherton still sounds like he's lost his drinking money. The lass, Ebony Double-Barrelled Something is a good co-commentator.
Rain stopped play. It's summer. It's Manchester. Of course it did.
I'm at a mate's and i've been watching an England v West Indies 5-dayer from Manchester. It's been good to just sit there and watch it all. I don't know any of the players. Gooch, Gatting, Stewart etc., appear to have retired.
It's great to hear David Lloyd's accent and him chatting about Kylie Minogue. Mike Atherton still sounds like he's lost his drinking money. The lass, Ebony Double-Barrelled Something is a good co-commentator.
Rain stopped play. It's summer. It's Manchester. Of course it did.
It was all doom and gloom after the first Test. We lost it, 0-1 down to one of the worst Test teams in a three match series. Thank God we turned it around. Some fantastic bowling but it has to be said that the West Indies captain gave us a helping hand by putting us in to bat. Twice.
The Pakistan Test series starts next week - at Old Trafford again - and they will be a tougher proposition. Joe Root and Jos Buttler need to start scoring big runs and Jofra Archer needs to stop leaking runs like a sieve when he bowls.
I have to stop following the England cricket team. It isn't good for my blood pressure. They bowl horrible spells, allow the opposition to rack up big scores, and the top order batting collapses like a pack of cards. It's a real rollercoaster ride with them.
And if someone mentions Joe Root as a member of 'the big four' again, I shall scream. He isn't even close.
I have to stop following the England cricket team. It isn't good for my blood pressure. They bowl horrible spells, allow the opposition to rack up big scores, and the top order batting collapses like a pack of cards. It's a real rollercoaster ride with them.
And yet somehow... we've won that match. England were rank in all respects until this afternoon. I seriously don't know how they pulled off that chase.
