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Reply | Cricket 2026 County/International Thread
at 00:02 19 Sep 2026
The Leicester points deduction might be harsh, but the umpires give a pitch report. Wickets alone aren't the only factor, there was 20 wickets on day 1 between Surrey and Glamorgan, but then 1000 runs between them in the second innings |
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Reply | Cricket 2026 County/International Thread
at 19:50 18 Sep 2026
Northants do seem better at batting than Kent, and are only 4 points behind. Kent need to prepare a decent pitch and get some batting points otherwise they may well be overtaken even if they win. |
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Reply | Lonely pubs
at 08:45 11 Sep 2026
There has been a cultural shift, particularly around lunchtime drinking, but price is the biggest factor. There's a few youngsters at my cricket and darts teams, and they all like a pint but they don't go out as much as people used to because it's too expensive. At cricket now the team does have a few beers but the bigger sessions tend to be now and again.
Andy Burnham is pledging to be more pub friendly, but all we've had so far is a new tax on overnight stays. And at the budget I'd be amazed if they didn't raise beer tax once again. |
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Reply | Cricket 2026 County/International Thread
at 11:31 10 Aug 2026
Good post. I would disagree about the oval being guaranteed a test and odi each year though. It's a great ground, i love going there. Absolutely need a test every year, and I say that as a Middlesex fan.
I think Middlesex would be better off getting there own ground somewhere. It's a bit pathetic that there isn't really a club shop, it's a couple of shelves within an MCC shop. The beer was pants too, all brewdog at god knows what a pint |
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Reply | Cricket 2026 County/International Thread
at 12:27 6 Aug 2026
I just hope if they are going to play four seamers, they are Robinson, tongue, Atkinson and carse. I'm going to headingley for the first two days and the thought of no proper spinner combined with fisher and cook trundling in makes me think I'll be spending more time at the bar. Curran at 6 would have made more sense to me, then we could pick a proper spinner. I know the options aren't great, but I don't know how many times England have left the spinner out over the years and it never works. |
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Reply | Sir Garfield Sobers RIP
at 18:08 17 Jul 2026
One of the greats. To average 57 in test cricket, in an era when batting averages were a lot lower is amazing, allied to being a spinner and seam bowler, and great fielder.
I never saw him play myself, but I did get a video in the late 80s called playing cricket the west indies way. He was the main contributor, and I learned a lot from that( as a mere club cricketer.) |
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Reply | England Thread 🏴
at 12:42 17 Jul 2026
I agree with your posts on this thread, and it would have made more sense to promote Carsley in a similar way to what Spain and Argentina have done with their age group coaches. The problem though would probably be if it didn't work immediately the media and fans would be moaning and would the FA have the bottle to see it through?
In general though, management of everything is a problem in this country. Anything run by governments doesn't work, and most companies I've worked for it tends to be if people hang around long enough or are a good bloke they get promoted to manager. Just because they were reliable and good at their role doesn't make them a good manager. In other countries management is a rated subject/science. I think it's one of the fundamental reasons why we are struggling across the board, not just sports |
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Reply | England Thread 🏴
at 12:33 16 Jul 2026
Great quote from Tk1 about Tuchel being an abrasive German sex dungeon guy. Won't be able to unsee that now😂 |
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Reply | Greatest Sporting Commentators
at 18:26 3 Jul 2026
When I was growing up, my favourite commentator on the cricket was Jim laker. I would also agree with the mentions for Clive Everton. Although Jim laker was one of the earlier player commentators, I think the decline of the non playing commentator is a shame. So many ex players across cricket, football and snooker are massively annoying |
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Reply | Cricket 2026 County/International Thread
at 14:02 29 Jun 2026
I'm a bit sad Stokes has gone. Top player and top bloke. And was a really good captain as well. Yes bazball lost its way in the end, or has it's limitations, but as has been pointed out we had one one in 17 tests beforehand and were lame. However currently we are a total shambles, and don't seem to know what we're doing. As for the captaincy I really don't know. Brook just seems like a bit of an airhead and id prefer him to knuckle down a bit first. For the all rounder slot we could really do with Sam Curran being able to bowl again as he's the only around who could potentially bat at 6 and be a capable fourth seamer. Definitely got to change mccullum too and have a new coach with a different vision |
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Reply | The ultimate World Cup thread
at 07:41 18 Jun 2026
I thought England were really good. From what I've seen of the other games they seem a lot more open and free flowing than normal. I was disappointed the format changed, but maybe it's a plus point of the lack of jeopardy. The Netherlands Japan game was really clean and the managers hugged at the end. Nice boys, very uncynical. I was surprised Croatia were as open and clean as they were, especially with an ageing team. Presumably this will be rectified in the knockout stages. If England end up playing columbia in the heat and it turns into more of a pitched battle hopefully they can cope |
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Reply | Cricket 2026 County/International Thread
at 14:21 11 Jun 2026
Personally I think we've shot ourselves in the foot here. Sam Curran could replace stokes, but isn't in the squad. So we will need four seamers, so they probably won't play a spinner. That never works on a decent pitch. Personally I'm pleased they go out and have a few drinks, don't want them all to be robots. And as im going to the oval next week I'm annoyed that Atkinson and stokes won't be playing. |
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Reply | RIP London Bus Driver
at 06:35 22 May 2026
I'm 55 now. I'm a bit torn on the crime/ society getting worse argument. I think it depends on the area. Statistically there were more murders in the 70s then there are now. I grew up in a decent area, but Erith was nearby and that was always a bit choice, but in Tonbridge now it's fine. But there is a continual stream of people moving out of London who say that it's just a zoo now. I stayed in Archway for the snooker in January and it was like the night of the loving dead round there. Crackheads everywhere
So I think it's still possible to lead an enjoyable life in the UK, but there is a sense that it's on the slide, and there is so much nostalgia about. The country needs to face up to it's problems in one sense, but we do need a bit of optimism too |
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Reply | The Labour Party
at 08:15 19 May 2026
The political situation in this country is really depressing. I can't get over quite how bad labour have been. The cabinet is such low level. When they started off in 97 they had some ability there, but not this time. If but ham or Rayner get in things can only get worse as they will spend and borrow more, the interest rate on the debt will go up and we will be in imf bailout territory. It's not surprising people are turning to reform or greens, but they are only offering simplistic solutions. Blame billionaires, blame immigrants. All very dismal |
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Reply | Club confirm Hamer, Nardi, Hayden departs...
at 10:33 5 May 2026
Hayden may have been disappointing, but it's more experience going out of the squad. We need a few grizzly hard championship types. Just replacing him with an esquardinha type isn't going to help |
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Reply | Printing money
at 09:50 1 May 2026
Ipswich have got pace, power and motivation. I really can't see anything other than a tonking. But to make it worthwhile at 100-30 on you'd have to bet quite a lot. The same rule still applies. Never bet more than you can afford to lose. Their keeper could get sent off after 5 minutes, we score the penalty and suddenly they're panicking. Highly unlikely, I reckon we'll lose 5 nil, but if you can't afford the loss steer clear |
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Reply | Joan Armatrading in concert
at 07:39 27 Apr 2026
I saw her live a few years ago in Tunbridge Wells. I wasn't that fussed about going, but it was probably the best live show I've ever seen. She was stunningly good. Just her and the guitar or on the piano |
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