A Year of Thinking Positively.

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Re: A Year of Thinking Positively.

Postby Durhamfootman » Wed Sep 16, 2015 9:56 pm

Pleased to see Gary Pratt on the party bus

even more pleased to see that he had more sense than Freddie Flintoff and didn't get absolutely bladdered
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Re: A Year of Thinking Positively.

Postby Arthur Crabtree » Wed Sep 16, 2015 10:19 pm

Don't think GP plays for Durham much. I think everyone's wondering if he'll turn up in the England side one day.

It was an awful moment when Freddie got out, and it looked like all would come to nothing. Yet, even better that England proved themselves one last time. Now it's over.

I suspect I'll remember where I was when I heard we'd won. I remember where I was when I heard Diana Spencer had died and I don't even have any interest in the family of the head of state, so I'd better remember this. Amazing the response to the open top bus.

Freddie was on Jonathan Ross, which was a bit embarrassing. Ross had probably never heard of him, and just went on about drinking. It was a bit disrespectful.

I'll type a bit of an overview when I get time, and thoughts about the winter in Pakistan and India.
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Re: A Year of Thinking Positively.

Postby Durhamfootman » Wed Sep 16, 2015 10:23 pm

Arthur Crabtree wrote:
I'll type a bit of an overview when I get time, and thoughts about the winter in Pakistan and India.

we'll need more than just Ashley Giles in the side...... need to find another spinner from somewhere
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Re: A Year of Thinking Positively.

Postby Arthur Crabtree » Wed Sep 16, 2015 10:29 pm

Keady, Brown... Fletcher won't have a spinner who can't bat.
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Re: A Year of Thinking Positively.

Postby Arthur Crabtree » Tue Sep 29, 2015 1:04 pm

So the party's over. Freddie is sober again and flogging stuff for Asda, and the people who lined the streets of London for the drive by have gone home to whatever it was they did before. I don't get the impression that people in Australia are calling up help lines. I read an article by Greg Baum about the series, an emotional piece that suggested the close games and the individual performances had been a nudge, reminding us all that it is a special game we follow; a light flicked on, illuminating the big contests, and the dusty arcane details. Thankfully, gratifyingly, the Aussie team responded to their rare defeat with dignity, and seemed pleased to be part of a tour which had such an impact here.

It feels like a turning point for the game in this country. Will things go back to normal, or will cricket in the UK grasp its moment, retain the youngsters reportedly turning up for practice at their local clubs, and become more than a flicker on the national consciousness? Cricket has been been taken off terrestrial tv and sold to Sky. This doesn't provoke optimism. The team is changing too. Most are coming in from public schools. They are more aware of image and PR, like footballers. It makes me wonder. Will this be the last England team that belongs to the country and all its myriad peoples? Will this be the last England team I will love?

There are more moments I won't forget from this series than any other. I will always remember the eleven players who made up the team, in a Ripping Yarns, Barnstoneworth United, sort of way. I think the real highlight was watching England batters attacking Shane Warne, and sometimes getting the better of him. And that is partly a huge tribute to the great Australian spinner, as well as an accolade to Trescothick, Pietersen and Flintoff, who most memorably took him on. Even if Warne often had the last word.

England go to Pakistan and India in the winter, and winning in Asia represents the next challenge. I remain cautiously optimistic. This team has met every challenge so far. They are a young team, well led who can play under pressure. The return Ashes are only a year away. Wouldn't it be great if the series was another as dramatic as this? Whoever wins in the end. The best sport is played on the sharp edge between winning and losing. That's what illustrates the qualities of the individuals competing. I suspect every series I see from now on will be played among the ghosts of the memories of this series.
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Re: A Year of Thinking Positively.

Postby Durhamfootman » Wed Sep 30, 2015 7:46 pm

my worry about the sub con winter is that we play 3 match series over there. if we start badly, like we did at Lords, then we always have to win all the remaining fixtures. Blimey.... when was the last time a Pak test match even made it to the last hour of each day? night comes down so quickly, and dew hangs around so long in the mornings. I think I've even heard talk of extending test matches in Pak to 6 days to compensate for the amount of time lost, although it's doubtful that would ever be seriously considered
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Re: A Year of Thinking Positively.

Postby Arthur Crabtree » Wed Sep 30, 2015 8:35 pm

England won on their last tour of Pakistan, though only Gilo and Tresco survive from that team. Gilo did well, and Gough and White bowled good reverse swing. Hit the pitch bowlers like Caddick were less successful. Maybe it'll be down to Freddie and Simon Jones this time. We'll miss Thorpey. It'll be tough, but England have just beaten one of the best sides in history. Admittedly at home.
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Re: A Year of Thinking Positively.

Postby Durhamfootman » Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:46 pm

I think it's a shame that Thorpe spat his dummy out after losing his place to Pietersen. He'd have surely played this winter if he hadn't retired in a fit of pique. Still.... I suppose it means Bell will get a bit longer to cement his rather fragile place in the side.

Kp at 4, and Thorpe at 5. swap a seamer (probably Harmy) for another spinner? that might do it, you know
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Re: A Year of Thinking Positively.

Postby Arthur Crabtree » Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:59 pm

Rana Naved ul Hasan, Shabbir Ahmed and fat Akhtar aren't a scary seem attack. Afridi, Kaneria and Shoaib Malik are only ok spinners. The batting is awesome though, with Salman Butt solving the opener conundrum.
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