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As in ‘returned’. He hasn’t got ankylosing spondylitis or anything.
It’s also worth pointing out that that’s a younger version of his back in the photo above. Younger head too. Same age as the back, in fact – 2010 vintage.
What are the odds on Mohammad Amir getting a wicket first ball? This feels like one of those occasions. We’re a great lover of damp squibs and anticlimaxes, but this doesn’t feel like it’s going to be one. Or maybe the world is toying with us and he’ll pull out of the Test with a minor groin strain.
Speaking of groins, whatever happened to Gary Ballance’s groin has unhappened and he will play. A batsman seemingly designed to fall to late swing from left armers, he’ll no doubt be delighted by Amir’s presence.
Brilliant hover caption from anyone but yourself KC – but given your lofty standards, Amir drop in the ocean.
An utterly squeaky bum early evening but a blissfully happy ending:
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/946883.html
Shove it. Middlesex are the best team in the whole world.
Now it’s throdkin-o’clock, so I’ll be in the kitchen. I might be gone quite some time.
Never mind anybody else.
Especially never mind Somerset.
The less said about your squeaky bum early evenings the better, Ged.
What you do in the privacy of your own home.
From the BBC text commentary:
“The place that remains unchanged? Lord’s.
As it was now and ever shall be.
The Grace Gates, a queue of vintage men in daft trousers, the slope, the Nursery End, the spaceship media centre.
The lush green, the champagne, the Long Room, the history and tradition.
The home of cricket.”
Posted here specifically to make KC twitch in funny ways. I’m sorry King, you have some cruel courtiers.
What is it about the Home of Corks that makes everyone list various aspects of it in dewy-eyed Ron Manager style?
Why is the Lord’s verbal collage a thing?
Old Trafford.
The queues for the tram.
The biggest Tesco I’ve ever seen.
No cash machines for miles (apart from the one outside a newagent that charges you to take money out).
The drizzle.
Old Trafford.
An over of Agnew and Boycott and I’ve got a smile the size of frying pan.
Just tuned in for the first time.
Blowers: “We’ve got a short leg, it’s Gary Ballance…oh no actually I’ve got that wrong…”
Ah, it’s good to be back.
I sometimes feel that the main reason they still have Blowers in the commentary team is that they can post pictures of his eye-searing outfits on social media.
Followed up with “Lord’s is looking an absolute picture” and “Oh my goodness me”.
Good to know some things never change.
We haven’t the energy for this topic. We’ve spent much of the last week discussing the absence of the equally unfit for duty Phil ‘n’ Paul from ITV’s Tour de France coverage.
http://tourdefranceontv.co.uk/phil-liggett-paul-sherwen-itv-tour-de-france/
Main argument for bringing them back: “But they always do it.”
Isn’t that the main argument for most things in cricket?
Yes.
We hate the world.
Two drops and a failed run-out thus far. Quickly moving into “angry [x]” territory here, or would be if the pitch wasn’t so soporific to drain any emotions.