2 minute readIt is if the extracts are anything to go by. Duncan Fletcher’s book is called ‘Behind The Shades‘ – a reference to his inscrutable public appearance. Fletcher didn’t care what the media said about him and he didn’t have a lot to say to them. Well, it turns out that
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Duncan Fletcher on Ian Botham
< 1 minute readNot literally. That would be hideous. That would be really, really, world-class, title-taking hideous. No. This is the view of Ian Botham expressed in Duncan Fletcher’s book: “‘Get rid of all the guys like Atherton, Caddick and Tufnell,’ he [Botham] told me. ‘Why?’ I asked. ‘Because they’re too old, rather
Continue readingAndrew Flintoff likes a beer
< 1 minute readWe’ve been weighing up whether to address today’s ‘big story’ or not all day. The latest extract from Duncan Fletcher’s upcoming autobiography reveals how Andrew Flintoff turned up for a practice session during the 2007 Ashes series a little the worse for wear. He was captain at the time. Apparently
Continue readingEveryday cricket every day
< 1 minute readHere’s a comparison. The Rugby World Cup finished last Saturday. England played in the final. Their next international fixture will be on the second of February. England’s final match in the Cricket World Cup was on the 21st of April, against the West Indies. Their next international fixture, a Test
Continue readingStrauss being conspicuously indifferent to Strauss’s omission
< 1 minute readLemon Bella has the latest on Strauss’s omission from the England squad: “Here is a picture of StraussCat being indifferent to Strauss (again). It means you can get two posts out of the Andrew Strauss announcement, instead of just the one.” “You’d think in this time of crisis his namesake
Continue readingAndrew Strauss’s omission
< 1 minute readSo Andrew Strauss has finally been dropped. It’s about time. We don’t mean that in the sense that he’s not good enough for England, just that it seems to have been certain to happen for altogether too many matches. Strauss has been going to the crease thinking it was his
Continue readingDilhara Fernando’s slower ball
< 1 minute readEvery bowler’s got a slower ball nowadays. Some have got several. Sajid Mahmood bowls about 20, but appears to have absolutely no clue when he should use them or what they’re supposed to achieve. Dilhara Fernando bowls one, as far as we can tell. He spreads his fingers widely so
Continue readingGraeme Swann fails to conquer his bail addiction
< 1 minute readFor years Graeme Swann has secretly suffered from a rare and debilitating disease. Graeme is addicted to bails. Graeme’s been through a number of treatments – enforced withdrawal, hypnosis, various types of medication – but in the end he just has to accept it. He’s a bail addict and he’ll
Continue readingEngland win a one-day series on the subcontinent
2 minute readIt’s England’s first one-day series win on the subcontinent since ages ago. Except for one they won in Bangladesh, because everyone knows that you don’t include Bangladesh in things like this. They’re not a ‘real’ team. They’re just messing about. It’s definitely England’s first one-day series win in Sri Lanka
Continue readingGraeme Swann the hero for England
< 1 minute readWe’ve been waiting to write that headline since March 31st last year, when we made Graeme Swann one to watch for that season. Graeme let us down then, but since being given a chance in the England side, he’s been encouragingly solid at a time when solidity has been at
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