by Arthur Crabtree » Sat Aug 25, 2018 12:51 am
Fantasy League: England v India 2018 is a boulevard of broken dreams. As so often happens, Mike is operating with less than a full hand by mid series, and clearly invested recklessly in spin bowling all rounders with Moeen Ali, Sir Jadeja joining Murali Vijay in the bargain bin. Doc and DD have been shed off the main thrust of the Fantasy League like the fuel reserves off the back end of a lunar module. The best that most can hope for is a bag of jalebi for finishing eighth.
BFL, Ian, Adi and Durham may dare to hope, but there is more than one way up the greasy pole. All have Kohli, most have Anderson, and then the pattern becomes indistinct. Perhaps it will become clearer at the Rose Bowl where we must gather next.
There's a sorry tale to tell regarding the sponsors for the third Test at Trent Bridge, a partnership package which attracted a great deal of interest across the cricketing world. It was won by Mr Kipling, maker of exceedingly good cakes whose PR department offered to send us a packet of Bakewell Tarts. And who doesn't like Bakewell Tarts? But students at Manchester University got hacked the proposal and then defaced the promotional information and set fire to the pies. So for the first time there is no sponsor and we must ask ourselves what hope is there for a world which has no room for bribery, a nod and a wink, and creative accountancy.
BFL...1848
Ian...1823
Adi...1735
Durham...1724
GG...1648
Red...1644
Prof...1638
Al...1577
Redjr...1574
Andy...1552
Mike...1518
Arthur...1512
Alfie...1505
Doc...1186
DD...885
We meet in Southampton next week for the fourth Test of this exciting five match series.
I always say that everybody's right.