Rajiv over excited at meeting Botham

 Third in the series "Cricket related Facebook posts by Rajiv Radhakrishnan".

Rajiv's been celeb spotting over the last week...

 The 2nd in the series "Cricket related Facebook posts by Rajiv Radhakrishnan"

Softly softly for England

As predicted, Joe Root scored a hundred!   It was always going to happen.   On a sunny day at Lords against a mediocre Sri Lankan attack, it looked like a nice time to be batting during the afternoon and evening sessions.   And Prior certainly didn't look like he was struggling to get over an injury as he sprinted some needlessly close runs, which is great for England.

It was interesting watching Herath - his place is tricky to question as he has a very good recent record, but he was bowling *so* slowly and his fielding is much like mine....not as good as it used to be!

England need to set out to bat until tea if they can (I heard Vic Marks saying that par was 350 on TMS....I'm not sure it is!).   So 380 all out then.

Root sure to score a hundred, you heard it here first

 

I think I've got to be the only one questioning Joe Root's position in any of England's teams, so I trust he will go and score a huge hundred at Lords.   The cricket media appear to have him third as England's player of the year!?!   Admittedly there haven't been many players doing well, but they must be watching different matches to the ones that I've been watching.

Fast start

 Steyning just a touch ahead of the run rate in their Twenty20 last night, chasing 136...

 

Never before and same again

 

Yet another pretty new ground to play at in Kent. This time Frindsbury just off the A2. You wouldn't know it's there as the traffic thunders by but the ground is in a hollow so you don't hear it at all.

Another stumping, another batting collapse, another asterisk and another defeat but still good fun. Our tame brewer brought some really good samples (does that account for the batting?). The new experience was being part of a 5-5 fielding split until the skipper spotted that he was over-subscribed and took himself off - was he tempted by the samples?

National Cricket Playing Survey

You may have seen this already - the ECB are promoting the National Cricket Playing Survey as a way of helping them to get things right - I've filled it in and it's approx 15 minutes or so.

I think they've missed a trick in that there's no free text area at the end to allow you to give extra input on anything you feel strongly about.   I know free text fields need manual analysis and are a pain from that point of view, but that's normally where the most pertinent insights come from.

Perhaps I'm just sour because I didn't get to rant about bad light and the way it's handled!   Last year bad light even became an issue in Sussex Division 3 West!   In one game we were sure to win we had to take off our overseas bowler due to the light and the opposition held on 9 down (thanks umps).   That result was one of the many reasons we're now in the restructured Division 4 having finished 6th out of 10 and we now get opposition teams asking us what we're doing in their league (having won 5 from 5 so far).   I'd like to point them in the direction of the umpire we had that day who took pride in how many times he'd taken players off for bad light in his career as a club umpire.   Once would be too many!!   Fingers crossed we can maintain our run of wins and continue to have clubs questioning why we're in Div 4 (no doubt an implosion will happen!).

As well as ranting about bad light, it also meant I couldn't praise the Sussex League for moving back to County-wide leagues.   While there was a Division 3 East and West, players had long been suggesting that the East league was far weaker than the West league.   We're not quite a third of the way through the season, but that suggestion would appear to be right given that Division 4 is populated by West teams in the top 5 and East in the bottom 5 (5th and 6th having the same points).   Division 3 shows West teams in the top 3 positions, although Stirlands (who came 2nd in 3 West last year) are bottom having lost 2 of the 3 players that held their team together to Middleton.

Boundary double act

Not a bad catch from Yorkshire's Adam Lyth and Aaron Finch the other day.   It doesn't seem right that it goes down as Finch's catch - cricket will need to start counting assists within fielding data.

Pringle holding Pringles

I can't promise, but I think this could be the first of a lengthy series: "cricket-related posts made on Facebook by Rajiv Radhakrishnan".

Post 1: a snap with Derek Pringle and a packet of Pringles!

I'll be amazed if you have to wait long for the next post in the series....

Cotswold Cricket Museum

Randomly found out about the Cotswold Cricket Museum, so just wanted to advertise it....it sounds like such a labour of love.   It's £3.50 entry so the next time I'm passing through, I'll be popping in....

Woakes the beneficiary of the England selectors' inconsistent interpretation of fitness

So we now know the England line up for the first Test, although the batting order is perhaps a little debatable as we don't know whether Bell or Root will bat at 3.   But presumably:

Cook

Robson

Root

Bell

Ballance

Ali

Prior

Plunkett

Jordan

Broad

Anderson

I've no problem with Robson, Plunkett, Ali or Ballance...I picked all but Plunkett myself.   I feel very sorry for Michael Carberry, but sadly he's a victim of the away/home thing (as those that debut away are statistically far less likely to be successful long-term), doubled with the fact that he's played 5 of his 6 Tests in a losing team against a very high quality bowling attack.   As Nick Knight's just said on Sky, Carberry must be gutted not to face a far friendlier Sri Lankan bowling attack in home conditions.

There's a couple of surprises for me.   The lack of consistency over fitness is strange - of Prior and Stokes I thought Stokes had done a better job of proving his fitness.   James Whitaker said that it's his lack of bowling that has kept Stokes out: "Ben Stokes is very much part of England's future, but with barely 30 overs under his belt we want to see him bowl more overs and get more stamina into his body."   It seems that Stokes is a victim of the English weather as he's only been able to bowl in 2 innings rather than the 4 he would have expected from the two Durham 4 day matches he's played in....I presume he's been bowling in the nets though?

The other surprise is Chris Woakes.   I assume he won't play, but even so it's a bit of a strange selection - you can't pick someone because he's a nice guy and for his captaincy skills when he's not going to be captain.   He averages 15 this season in County 4 day cricket with the bat, but he's been bowling well so the selectors must feel that he's the 5th best seam bowler in the country (or possibly the 6th if Stokes is ruled out due to fitness).   I can't say I agree but there have been worse selections....Woakes may well come through to be an international cricketer, but I'm not overly hopeful!

The player that I think is luckiest is Joe Root.   He's averaging 36 in his Tests to date but his highest score of 180 v Australia last summer was full of luck....Haddin and Clarke decided not to catch him in the 3rd over of England's innings.   But for that non catch he'd have an average of 30 from his 15 Tests.   For Carberry to be jettisoned but Root to get the nod seems inconsistent but, like Woakes, it's not a terrible call.   Root should be England's future....if picking him early and continuing to pick him allows him to develop into an international cricketer in the same way that Steve Smith has for Australia, then the selectors will be able to argue eventually that they got things right.

Interesting that David Hopps on Cricinfo thought that Samit Patel was very unlucky: "No player is more unfortunate to miss out than Samit Patel; even the presence of his Nottinghamshire coach, Mick Newell, on the selection panel has not been enough to win him recognition."   I thought it was only me (and after the last few days Ian Botham and Nick Knight apparently) who thinks that Patel should be playing....but also interesting that Hopps compared him to Ali rather than giving any consideration to dropping Root for Patel.   I'd have had both Patel and Ali in the side.

Given Root's selected, it does theoretically open up the chance of Cook batting 3 with Root and Robson opening but I can't see it, certain though I am that it would do Cook the world of good!

Good luck to all the starting XI....it may not have been the side I would have gone with but it's a new start so let's hope for a new result....a win.

Mankading and throwing

Interesting to note that the consensus (apart from Aggers and one player at my new club in Kent ) is that Buttler was more culpable than anybody else and that he brought the dismissal upon himself, despite warnings.

 

The identity of the mankader, of course, raises another issue about his action but that is not relevant to that dismissal.

The reason that he was in a cricket team at all, let alone an international one, is because of confusion that need not exist. It is said that it's difficult to judge whether an arm is bent at more or less than 15 degrees - nonsense! If you bend your arm at 90 degrees and then halve that angle to 45 degrees and then consider a third of that angle, you've almost got a straight arm. So, as before, if it looks bent it is bent and I would say that this particular character has an angle of close to 45 degrees. I don't see any opportunity for doubt or controversy - it's just obvious.

Buttler dismissal fair enough

I can't really see any reason why England are so upset with Angelo Mathews for going ahead with the dismissal of Buttler yesterday.   He'd been warned and he was still wandering down the wicket without looking at the bowler, so not the most intelligent piece of cricket ever seen.

I agree entirely with what Jayawardene had to say:

"We gave him a fair chance," Jayawardene said. "Twice. Before the first warning, we told the umpires that he was taking too much of a lead and then he was warned again. We had to do that, because they kept doing it. 

"We analysed our game after Lord's. They took 22 twos in the last 12 overs. Ravi Bopara and him ran riot. And most of the time they were taking starts that are not legal by the written laws. We just wanted to make sure we got a fair chance. We warned them and we warned the umpires, but they didn't listen to us, so we had to take the right steps.

"We always try to play in the right spirit, but if the other team is not playing in the right spirit and not going with the law, then unfortunately we had to take the law into our hands. It was the third time. It is fair enough, I think. We all need to play by the rules.

"If the other sides are not going by the rules, then they're not playing by the spirit, so what can you do?"

I can see England's annoyance, but I wonder how much of it is frustration because Buttler was key to the acceleration they needed at the end of the innings.   In effect his dismissal ended England's hopes of a competitive score, but the issue was with the way the batsmen above Buttler batted, as well as his dozy run out.   The talk around Buttler's run out makes it less likely that people will focus on England's batting shortcomings throughout the series.

How's about this for England's next ODI match?

Cook

Hales

Bell

Bopara

Ballance

Morgan

Buttler

Jordan

Etc?

Last word on the Buttler run out from Jeff Sheldon of Kidmore End (via my Facebook feed) - it certainly inspired quite a few comments!

Jos Buttler isn't ready to keep for England in Tests

I couldn't believe it when I heard Michael Vaughan saying last night on Vaughan and Tuffers that he thought Jos Buttler should be picked for Test cricket if Matt Prior isn't fit.   And he said that picking Foster would be a huge step backwards for England.

As you can tell by the fact that I didn't even include Buttler in the list of possibles for a keeping spot, it didn't even occur to me that he could be in with a shout...his keeping just hasn't been good enough for Test cricket in ODIs and Twenty20s.   And more to the point, the man himself doesn't think he's ready, and his captain doesn't think he's ready.

It's been reported that Peter Moores thinks he's in the frame, but if you actually read what Moores said, it sounds like a coach who simply wants to encourage someone for the future.

“When you look back in history, not every player is perfectly ready when they play,” said Moores. ­“Sometimes they develop in the formats which they go to.
“I think Jos would quite rightly say, ‘I’m not the finished article’ and he wouldn’t be - not many people are. The key is whether it is the right time to introduce him to Test cricket.
“Obviously Jos has been talked about a lot and how he played the other day hasn’t done him any harm - it was a fantastic innings.
“If Matt’s fit he’s a very strong contender. Jos is improving quickly and I thought he kept well so he has certainly pushed his name forward.
“I don’t think you want to be set in stone and you never want to put ceilings on people. People do have moves. He’s improving and it was great to see him play like that.
“If that’s enough to get into the Test team, then we’ll sit down and talk about it.”

So perhaps Buttler should have been on the shortlist but I just can't see him squeezing in.   There is a precedent for "successfully" bringing in a batsman keeper when they weren't ready to keep in Test cricket and for them to improve out of sight....Mark Boucher.   He really was a poor keeper when he started but South Africa stuck with him and he was quality at his peak undoubtedly.   But, although I don't know, I suspect the difference is that South Africa didn't have a James Foster, someone with a legitimate claim to being the best out and out keeper in the world, waiting as a possible alternative.

I will despair if England pick Buttler for the 1st Test!

Your England Test team

It's like going back in time to the 90s at the moment because no-one seems to know who the majority of the Test team will be to play Sri Lanka.   But the fun of that is that we all get to have a go as selectors!

Openers

Carberry, Compton, Cook, Chopra, Lees, Robson, Root.

 

3 and 4

Ali, Ballance, Bell, Bopara, Taylor (plus any of the openers for 3)

 

5 and 6

Morgan, Stokes (plus some of those above for 3 and 4)

 

7 - batsman who bowls spin

Borthwick, Rashid or one of the other batsmen that bowl spin above (Ali, Patel, Root)

 

WK

Bairstow, Foakes, Foster, Kieswetter, Prior, Read

 

9

Bresnan, Jordan, Plunkett, Woakes

 

10 and 11

Anderson, Broad, Finn, Onions

 

Anyone you'd add into the mix?   From the above, I'm going for (having changed where people bat a little):

 

Cook

Robson

Bell

Ballance

Stokes

Patel

Ali

Foster

Jordan

Broad

Anderson

 

Onions very unlucky and 12th man, Root the spare batsman.

 

This isn't the team I think they'll go for but I think it would be mine....spin bowling turning the ball in both directions, plus not taking the chance with Prior.   Given Jordan's form in the one-dayers I can't see them not picking him and it will be interesting to see how he goes.   They'll almost certainly pick Root so it will be one of Robson, Patel and Ali who will make way I imagine, with Patel being the favourite.

 

I'd have loved to have found a way to bat Cook at 3 rather than asking him to open, but it doesn't work unless you pick 2 very inexperienced openers which doesn't seem sensible.

 

It'll be interesting to see what direction they go in....I imagine there will be a surprise or two!

Shaky start for Downton

By all accounts, Paul Downton is a good selection for the England Cricket MD position, but I can't say his immediately endeared himself to me in his position.   My memories of his playing days are hazey but in short I remember someone who was picked for his batting rather than his keeping, but generally failed to deliver with the bat.   Of course his playing credentials are irrelevant to his current position, so I was looking forward to seeing how things would go.

The subject that's worried me is Kevin Pietersen.   Not the decision itself, as Pietersen disgraced himself with the whole South Africa/Strauss incident and was lucky to get a second chance, but more the rationale behind the decision.

Downton has said that he went to Sydney for the final game of The Ashes and observed a player that was "disengaged".   I watched a fair bit of it myself and there were a few of Pietersen's colleagues who didn't appear to be 100% either....not a total surprise as they were getting beaten for the fifth time.   Graeme Swann couldn't even be bothered to complete the tour.   But most importantly, I thought the comments from Downton showed a misunderstanding of "ego" players and completely undermined Alastair Cook.   Apparently Pietersen was ok to play when managed by strong people around him, but this was a new team and that was no longer the case.   The inference was that Cook is or was too weak to handle him - not a great statement of confidence in your captain.

I also find it hard to believe that Downton didn't come across players of Pietersen's ilk when playing.   We've all played with them - players who when losing can't be seen to be trying their hearts out because that would imply their best wasn't good enough.   Instead, as it becomes clear they'll lose, those players start to lark about, trying to pass off the inevitable defeat that is hurting them so badly as a trivial event.   It's part of how they manage to stroll out to bat as if they own the stage - when they're at their best they win, they believe.   In club cricket, another trait of these players is their desire to integrate with the opposition after your team has been soundly beaten (and no other time)....it's all part of their attempts not to let a terrible result dent their confidence - they're a winner.

Nevertheless, the decision to sack Pietersen was made and, strangely, a non-disclosure agreement was made between both parties.   At this stage it's difficult to see why that was necessary as Downton says there was no one incident that caused a problem on the tour (it remains to be seen if anything important comes out once the NDA runs out, but Downton appears to be talking pretty candidly despite the NDA).   Pietersen himself has publicly stated that he was not disengaged and has also questioned comments from Downton that he couldn't find one supporter of Pietersen.   Of course, we don't know how the questions were asked as any player wanting an international career was unlikely to say anything that could go against the prevailing attitude and potentially threaten their future selection.   But we do know that two of the players who assumed their international career was over after the tour, Carberry and Tremlett, came out and said that Pietersen hadn't been a problem on the tour.

So while Pietersen's sacking was to a certain extent inevitable, and his performances in Australia certainly did him no favours, Downton's handling of things to date have made me concerned for his potential to be successful in his role.   And while he keeps saying things that are opinions only, Pietersen will continually respond publicly and the team won't be able to move on fully.   It's a pity he appears to be doing his media training on the job rather than before taking such an important role.

Worth all the effort

 

Up to now all the Middlesex games at the school have been on the old School First XI pitch but on Sunday we saw T20 cricket on our own pitch and judging by what we saw it's as much a road as we clubbies find it. Very proud and the culmination of 15 years of committee meetings and architects and accountants offices. With a bit of luck the rain will stop in the next three days and we'll be a first class ground. "Where are we playing on Saturday?" "on the County Ground". Only complaint? Doombar! Even better photos than mine, by Jay Blanche here.

Life in Kent (2)

............and the bar's quite nice, too! Also helps that one of the team is a brewer.

Life in Kent

So we're starting to plan retirement which means finding a new cricket club (only for odd games until we actually move in a few years time). Would you go for the club that said "come to the nets and we'll have a look at you" or the one that said " have a pint, this is the Second XI skipper who you'll be playing for"?

No brainer, but interesting that the more upmarket club call themselves the Village.

First game in and the oppo. have two aged slow bowlers (one injured) - feels familiar and we win (great stumping to start my tally).

Second game and we've got a mismatch. All out 30 so the oppo who are very serious "give" us 190 runs so they need 221 in 40 overs and get them. I think they have batsman who practice a very flash leave in the mirror. I've never played handicap cricket before and we only saw two bowlers and 4 batsmen . Fortunately our skipper was shrewd enough to resist the heavy hints at the toss to insert them. But very pretty, as you see.

I think this is going to be fun and Kent Village Cricket League Division 7 starts next week.............

And back...

 

OK, so after a (relatively) brief interlude caused by a combination of work and parenting, I'll be trying to get back to my previous levels of burbling.   So there's a quantity aim, but as anyone that's read Cricket Burble in the past will know, there's no guaranteeing quality.

It's tricky to read too much into England's selections for Twenty20 and ODIs so far.   A lot of people seem to have turned against Michael Carberry - or perhaps that's just the pieces I'm reading - but I'm not sure why.   I'm all for players being given an extended opportunity to show if they can be successful.   If they're not then by all means drop them.   Carberry's been in and out of the ODI team, had one chance at Twenty20 and was no failure at Test level while his more experienced colleagues were failing all around him.

Carberry haters will all be pleased to see that he's not selected in today's ODI.   But it remains to be seen if a top 4 of Cook, Bell, Ballance, Root will have enough quality, dynamism and sheer strength to match Sri Lanka's top 4.   I can't help feeling that England go in a little bottom heavy, given that 5-7 are Morgan, Buttler, Bopara.   I'd much rather see Bopara and Root swap in both Twenty20 and ODI cricket.   

In contrast, Sri Lanka's top 4 looks pretty daunting, but interesting to see that they've gone with 6 bowlers + Dilshan, and they still haven't included Ajantha Mendis.   I can't quite see the logic, but I'm sure it will become clear!

Prediction: Sri Lanka to win with 5 overs to spare by 5 wickets.