tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39963380756847147652024-03-13T00:47:16.875+00:00Down At Fine LegA sports themed view of the world.Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12213273019331765357noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-89417823220919080612019-07-08T14:19:00.003+01:002019-07-08T15:22:38.190+01:00On 2005:<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"I still get people now saying I got into cricket because of '05, so that's what we should all be most proud of: that we inspired people to like the game" - </i>Michael Vaughan</div>
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With the seemingly never-ending men's World Cup finally coming to an exciting conclusion and with an Ashes summer looming on the horizon, many thoughts have turned to the magical summer of 14 years ago. On Sunday, Channel 4 put out a documentary about the 2005 Ashes series, a series which captured the nation's imagination and, as captain Michael Vaughan stated at the end of the documentary, was the beginning of so many people's cricketing stories: mine included.<br />
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Rob Key scoring a double hundred the previous summer and England's run in the 2004 Champions Trophy (I naively thought England would romp to victory having reduced the West Indies to 147-8 in the final) may have laid the foundations, but it was the 2005 Ashes which ignited the fire.<br />
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2005 was a year of great change and one which was, all being considered, fairly awful for me. It's one, in my darkest moments, I often find myself looking back at and thinking, 'Ah, so that's where that started'.<br />
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At the turn of the year, I was heading into my final few months of middle school (a quirk of growing up in West Suffolk meant the three-tier system rather than the two-tier). Year 8 is an awkward time for anyone: hormones are well and truly embedded into your daily life and because of this, emotions are all over the place. Teenage angst is beginning to form and, if you're a young woman, your body decides that once a month it's going to give you a painful punch in the abdomen. Combine all this with an awkwardly growing body and a change of schools and you've got where my mental state was for much of the year.<br />
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The last year of middle school was meant to be a happy one. With Year 8 came increased responsibility, harder work, being seen as role models for those pesky Year 5s. For many of my peers from those days, it was probably a happy time and when thinking about the 'good old days', it's all "remember when..." with a smile. For me, though, it was a torture.<br />
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Looking back, I realise now that I never really fitted in. As I've got older, I've realised that I function best with close friends and I didn't particularly have that at middle school. I flitted between large groups like the world's most socially inept butterfly, desperate to be liked. Desperate to be welcomed. Desperate to be accepted. Desperate to belong.<br />
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But I was too tall, too awkward, too fat, too different, too... desperate. And I remained on the outside, constantly looking in. One of my defining memories of my time in Year 8 was being hit on the back of my head with a shoe, deliberately thrown by my middle school bully, and nobody showing the least bit of concern. I tried to discuss, tried to get this large group of people to show me the least bit of sympathy, but it only made things worse. I shut up about it, occasionally rubbing the back of my head in the hope that someone would ask me how I was. Nobody did and I began to withdraw into myself, building up walls around me.<br />
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Despite this, I couldn't bring myself to hate school. I loved learning, throwing myself into projects and reading with enthusiasm. So instead, I turned the hatred onto myself. Humiliation after humiliation followed (a swimming gala where I, as House Captain and only person seemingly willing, had to do nearly every single event wearing a horrific black swimming costume which only drew attention to my tall chubbiness, is a very vivid one) and the misery piled on. Body confidence deteriorated, my mental health took a nose dive and I spent more and more time in my room, isolating myself from the world and writing terrible things about myself in a fine array of notebooks.<br />
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Apart from Saturdays. Saturday was football day. Sport was my escape from this torrid misery of teenage angst and self-loathing. And Ipswich were doing well, really well. We'd finished third and all that was between us and promotion was three matches. All we needed to do was beat West Ham across two legs and we'd be on our way to Cardiff for the play-off final.<br />
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Or so we hoped. But life in 2005 wasn't like that for me and naturally, Ipswich lost. Rather like my mental health since that year, they've continued to be in decline ever since.<br />
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It was in this environment, then, that the 2005 Ashes kicked off. And it was that series which offered me hope, promise and, most importantly, joy. Memories of that summer include: sitting in my pyjamas, unable to move away from the television, growing increasingly more and more nervous watching the conclusion of the Edgbaston Test before erupting into uncontainable joy when Billy Bowden raised his crooked finger. Simon Jones bowling Michael Clarke ("THAT. IS. VERY. GOOD."). Standing in a packed, tiny village cricket pavilion with Lashings stars sprinkled about, pressed up against a bar watching Hoggard and Giles knock the runs off at Trent Bridge on the world's smallest television set. Starting high school (the torment continued) and racking up an astronomic phone bill using mobile internet to check the score on that final day at The Oval. The format of the scorecard causing me to think that KP was out and being incredibly surprised as I walked through the front door to find that he was still going. Crying as the bails were taken off. Crying as the Ashes trophy was lifted. Crying as the Channel 4 credits rolled because I realised that unless my parents forked out for Sky, I wouldn't be able to watch televised cricket ever again.<br />
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Cricket enveloped me in its welcoming arms and in return, I became obsessed with this game of laws, of ridiculous equipment, random stoppages, obscure facts and figures. This game of intrigue, of luck, of lulls and excitement. Where I had been an outsider in 2004, beginning to learn about this game, the 2005 Ashes swept me up and embraced me, creating a bond of love that is unlikely to break.<br />
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I still have the psychological scars of that year (as you may be able to tell) and it's left me with mental wounds which may never heal, no matter how much I finally open up about it. But cricket, in the form of the 2005 Ashes and what it has given me since, has given me something to help soothe them.<br />
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Cricket is a community. It is a community filled with glorious oddballs, eccentrics and statisticians. A community filled with enthusiasts. A community of clubs, of families, of friendships. Cricket, where school could not, gave me with an overwhelming sense of belonging. And for that, I will always be grateful.Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12213273019331765357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-78896951807290714522017-09-30T23:29:00.001+01:002017-09-30T23:29:47.537+01:0025 Years On<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A special evening.</i></td></tr>
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In a corner of the ECG, in front of the flats at the Hayes Close End, are some ladies toilets. For reasons long since forgotten, these have become affectionately known as 'Nasser's Loos'. The steps leading up to 'Nasser's Loos' are rotten and, despite them being in this state for a number of years, have never been fixed. Some seats in the ground are covered in dirt and cobwebs - we've often joked about cleaning for our memberships - and the place where Tendo smashed a six into the media hut is still visible due to the fact the polyfilla has never been painted over.<br />
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And there's something deeply comforting about all these things. You can visit a Test ground on a county day and you will be greeted by swathes of empty seats and, in the case of some international grounds (coughhampshirecough), some fairly soulless surroundings. Walking into the ECG via the steep path and past the street art of the underpass of the River Gate, you're greeted by a shed. No fancy turnstiles, just a shed. Here, you scan your membership card/ticket, something that only came in at Chelmsford a couple of years ago. And it's as you walk past this shed that you get a sense of 'home'.<br />
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On Wednesday, Essex lifted the County Championship trophy for the first time in 25 years. For perspective, a number of Essex's champions, such as Dan Lawrence, Sam Cook and Jamie Porter, weren't even born.<br />
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As someone who was less than a year old and not even living in England the last time this happened, Wednesday was a pretty momentous occasion. Having been crowned champions in Birmingham a couple of weeks earlier, the final home match of the season was very much a chance to celebrate in front of a passionate home crowd and see if Essex could end the season unbeaten.<br />
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Unfortunately for me, and one of my best friends who I've met through supporting Essex, my days of being able to rock up at Chelmsford during the day are very much over. I found myself leaving work as soon as I could with Yorkshire 36-6. I boarded the train at Ipswich with them 7 down. By the time I reached Witham, it was all over. Now it was a race to see if we could witness Essex lift the trophy.<br />
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Luckily for me, my friend was also in the same boat. We left Chelmsford station at a hasty pace, arriving at the ground to find that the River Gate shed was closed up. We could hear applause as the team made their way down the steps from the dressing room and raced towards the pavilion, only to find there was no room. Essex flags were being waved, chants of "Champione" and, naturally, "Essex" were being shouted and people were stood on the good old pavilion benches. The place was, in modern terms, buzzing.<br />
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And rightly so.<br />
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After years of consistently finishing third in Division 2, the departure of Paul Grayson in September 2015 was quickly followed by the promotion of his former assistant Chris Silverwood, temporarily taking charge for the end of the 2015 season before becoming permanent head coach in the close. Since then, Essex's form in the red ball format has drastically changed.<br />
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In June 2015, Essex became the first side to lose in a four day match to Leicestershire in three seasons. By September 2016, in a season where only one side was promoted, they were Division 2 champions.<br />
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The first opponents of the 2017 season were Lancashire, a side who, in 2013, had bowled Essex out for 20. Thankfully that didn't happen again, but Essex were bowled out for 159 and conceded a lead of 160. Lancashire batted again and, following an unbeaten century from wicketkeeper Alex Davies, set Essex the impossible target of 478 to win or to, somehow, bat it out for a draw. With Jimmy Anderson in the Lancashire side and Essex two down by the close on day three, it seemed like it was going to be a rough start to life in Division 1.<br />
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Step forward Dan Lawrence.<br />
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His seven hour unbeaten vigil to grind his way to 141* off 333 balls is, quite possibly, the defining innings of Essex's champion season. Aged only 19, he stood firm whilst others, with the exception of vice-captain Westley and captain ten Doeschate, failed. His innings set a precedent for the rest of the season.<br />
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Throughout the season, eight different batsmen scored centuries for Essex. No individual batsman, with the exception, naturally, of Alastair Cook, stood out for Essex all season. Instead, if someone hadn't scored a century or a collapse occurred, there was someone to stand up and put in a performance when it mattered - Tendo's 88 at Scarborough, Foster's 47 and Wagner's 44 down in Southampton or even Adam Wheater's 88 in the second innings versus Somerset spring to mind.<br />
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Conversely, the bowling definitely had stand out performers. Let's start with the spinner: Simon Harmer. A Kolpak player amongst a side full of homegrown players, he ended up taking 72 wickets @ 19.19. His performances in June, where he took 28 wickets in two matches, including a haul of 9-95 (Dan 'I got a wicket' Lawrence took the other one) to consign Middlesex to a last-gasp defeat, will remain in Chelmsford folklore for years to come.<br />
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Essex's history of overseas signings has been... questionable, to say the least, but for this season they really recruited well. New Zealand's Neil Wagner, a personal favourite of mine after an utterly hilarious incident in a Test match at Headingley, was signed until June and then, in quite a coup, Mohammad Amir was signed for the second half of the season. Injury prevented Amir from completing his full stay at Essex but Wagner was only too happy to return for the closing matches of the season.<br />
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Following the retirement of the ever-present and consistently excellent David Masters and Graham Napier in 2016, there were two massive pairs of bowling shoes to fill. Jamie Porter made his Essex debut in September 2014. In 2015, he played for Essex against Australia, taking the wicket of David Warner twice in the match. In 2017, at the age of 24, he spearheaded Essex's pace attack and ended up being the leading wicket-taker in the division, taking 75 wickets at an incredible 16.83 apiece.<br />
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Porter, like so many in the squad, is from Essex. An incredibly likeable (I won't hold him being a Hammer against him) and humble young man, he's a credit to club cricket in the county. He, along with Lawrence, made his England Lions debut back in June and should really be in their thoughts for this coming winter. So should, in my opinion, opener Nick Browne, the aforementioned Dan Lawrence and, despite everything that happened versus the West Indies, Tom Westley.<br />
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Essex, remarkably, finished the season unbeaten in the red ball game (don't mention the white ball stuff) and managed a win against every side in the division, bar Lancashire. Even when they were bowled out for 76 and forced to follow on against Hampshire, Essex went on to win. It was another youngster who bowled Essex to victory there with the 20 year old Sam Cook (aka Little Chef) taking 5-18.<br />
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The spirit and tightness of this squad is something that has made them a joy to watch over the past couple of seasons. In a week where cricket has been on the tabloid front pages for all the wrong reasons, wandering around the outfield at Chelmsford with one of my best mates and seeing all the players with theirs, happily posing for photos with fans and playing with their kids, was something that made me feel incredibly proud.<br />
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Ten Doeschate's post-trophy lifting speech thanking all the members of staff at the club (especially the car park attendants), along with the fans, before dedicating the victory to Doug Insole also goes to show the close nature of Essex County Cricket Club. As the players celebrated, members of staff, including the stewards, were invited into a group picture before the supporters were allowed to mingle.<br />
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In this era of cricket, where talk of T20 franchises and changes to every aspect of the game are daily discussions, Essex's victory was very much one for the little guy. We punched above our weight and we came out champions. Let's just hope we can avoid the fate of Middlesex next season.<br />
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10-0-4</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Captain Fantastic</i></td></tr>
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Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12213273019331765357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-75558592205349904222017-01-18T22:27:00.000+00:002017-01-18T23:03:15.878+00:00Ipswich Town: A Tragic Romance<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"You can actually pinpoint the second when his heart rips in half."</i></div>
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There are many excellent things out there about Ipswich Town's current plight but I guess I'm writing this in answer to a question that my brother asked me about my midweek expedition to Lincoln City. "Why did you go?"</div>
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The answer? I don't really know. As I said in a message to my friend after I got home, "I knew it'd happen. I could've stayed at home, had a decent night's sleep but no, I went. And watched that shower of utter shite." At least I can be comforted by the fact the rest of the nation witnessed, and had to suffer 90 minutes of, my pain as well.</div>
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As soon as Lincoln's winner went in, that was it. The crowd, who'd already been pretty glum from before kick-off at the mere mention of the dreaded Skuglas partnership, turned. Anger and heartbreak was directed at anyone on the pitch wearing the blue shirt, the source of pride to all in that away end. I've only ever cried once over a football match. Once, in the nearly seventeen years of supporting this bloody football club.</div>
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Let me paint the scene - it's a Wednesday. Wednesday 18th May 2005. Ipswich Town are in a play-off semi-final second leg at Portman Road. The opposition is West Ham. After finishing third in the league, coming cancelling out a two goal deficit at Upton Park to make it 2-2 on aggregate... Well, you know, or can at least figure out, the rest of what happened on that Wednesday night in May. </div>
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It's a date I think about a lot in relation to the current state of Town. Another is when Marcus Evans took over. Another is when Jim Magilton was sacked and the family club I grew up supporting suddenly became something I didn't recognise anymore. We appointed Roy Keane, clearly in the hope of getting some publicity rather than promotion. He took us to a League Cup semi-final and then was gone, to be replaced by Paul Jewell. </div>
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I, rather luckily I guess, experienced most of these years from afar, cast off at university in the wilderness of the north west. But those years have blurred into one long grim package, rather like this current season. We lunge, clumsily, from one game to another: one week playing like a team of strangers, the next stringing some passes together, the next remembering what a shot on target is and treating everyone to a couple of them. But most of the time we look like we are dial up in a world of fibre optics.</div>
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Last night, my football club, the one I have 'passionately' supported since I was 8 years old, died a death on national television. My beloved football club became a laughing stock (well, even more so) as we lost to a side 59 places below us in the football ladder. My beloved football club showed, on national primetime television, that it has stagnated and may as well be that rotting piece of apple you find stuck to the base of your bin. It's dying a slow death in the Championship and, if things don't change, will continue on a downward decline. The Championship's not going to remain 'Ipswich and Friends' forever, and that's definitely not because we're getting promoted.</div>
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Anyway, as I said, there are excellent pieces out there about Ipswich Town's current state, and this post isn't really to address those issues. I'm not really sure what this piece is, but I'll go back to another earlier point, I've only ever cried once at football. But last night, after that final whistle went and I walked away from the Sincil Bank, I felt like crying over this sport again. The result at Portman Road, and manner of it, against Lincoln had left me with a thundercloud over my head for much of that weekend. Last night at the replay, it left me broken.</div>
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I have spent seventeen years of my life pouring my heart and soul into following this football club. I have missed rehearsals, birthday parties and god knows what else, all to follow Ipswich Town across the country. Football, to me, sadly, is a way of life. In fact, given that I don't have much else going for me, it <i>is</i> my life. And to have something so beloved to me not try and not look like they even care, is utterly heartbreaking.</div>
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I want to watch an Ipswich Town side giving youngsters a chance. I want an Ipswich Town side passing freely, having some attacking intent. I want Ipswich Town to be a part of the community again, being the affordable family club that so many of us fell in love with. </div>
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I want the joy, happiness and pride to come back.</div>
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I want my Ipswich back.</div>
Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12213273019331765357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-58662834187997310772015-07-12T00:58:00.000+01:002015-07-12T01:17:45.022+01:00The Ashes: Cardiff Test, Day FourDay four of this intriguing contest sees England chasing 10 wickets to take a 1-0 lead in this Ashes series. Australia being Australia will do their best to make an effort in chasing down the mammoth target of 412, but on a wearing pitch and with the Welsh weather set surprisingly fair, there's only one likely outcome.<br />
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Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad open with the new ball for England. Here's the action from day four down in the Welsh capital.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Anderson and Broad begin the day looking threatening, and it's not long before the first chance is offered. But it's a disaster to start the day for England. Chris Rogers nicks one off Anderson and it flies to Joe Root, who drops it. It's a similar chance to the one he took off Starc in Australia's first innings, but this didn't stick. This is quickly followed by a big appeal on Warner for caught behind off the bowling of Broad. Cook reviews it straight away but there's nothing on Hotspot or Snicko, so Warner survives...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>But finally, England get a deserved wicket and it comes from Stuart Broad. Chris Rogers edges it...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9IsI1zY5qPhT-Wc660daRCrBfIuAKiNwMtdtnUS8Wt1TvgSwSQeDyG7sPUAr8Rjvu4imAakZ3eEbzVufIvAYVUPi7XvH-xVUqX_IQNd09B9alW2JrXBDFV3-pfVEgiTldad04asEIdQ/s1600/20150711_214253444_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9IsI1zY5qPhT-Wc660daRCrBfIuAKiNwMtdtnUS8Wt1TvgSwSQeDyG7sPUAr8Rjvu4imAakZ3eEbzVufIvAYVUPi7XvH-xVUqX_IQNd09B9alW2JrXBDFV3-pfVEgiTldad04asEIdQ/s640/20150711_214253444_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And he sees it fly low to Ian Bell at second slip. Bell takes a good, low catch. Rogers isn't convinced that the ball was caught cleanly, but replays show that Bell got his hands under the ball. The third umpire informs the on-field umpire to stick with his decision and Australia are 19-1, Rogers going for 10.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uKkJjDTrZmHit9JrkQaf1LBhH-OfzTOo89WrWFqRUybbj5NG3YEXkq2uPact2yNb4IVC3Lxg25mGKAY56rdrEONQje6UtnVPb1zf0FrIt66rR7ZCiuO3Cwi25GMTHg4qzxfp5C8wh2U/s1600/20150711_214417567_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uKkJjDTrZmHit9JrkQaf1LBhH-OfzTOo89WrWFqRUybbj5NG3YEXkq2uPact2yNb4IVC3Lxg25mGKAY56rdrEONQje6UtnVPb1zf0FrIt66rR7ZCiuO3Cwi25GMTHg4qzxfp5C8wh2U/s640/20150711_214417567_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>David Warner is the danger man whose wicket England so desperately crave. Moeen Ali is brought into the attack but any loose deliveries Moeen bowls are punished by the pugnacious batsman.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYsJxYyrHSULIYeljv9jPb8rIqYcza7b6U8bAfWSD_8O3FTF3oK-MO-bkUtbJQjk3wcip3__bfjQFELWIr2CzuULhP0u0JKPVsADBfhL9XbyX8EBuwP1aHX1Rdc9aoNSYmhfb2tpVKzM/s1600/20150711_214514830_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYsJxYyrHSULIYeljv9jPb8rIqYcza7b6U8bAfWSD_8O3FTF3oK-MO-bkUtbJQjk3wcip3__bfjQFELWIr2CzuULhP0u0JKPVsADBfhL9XbyX8EBuwP1aHX1Rdc9aoNSYmhfb2tpVKzM/s640/20150711_214514830_iOS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>He smashes Moeen for a 6 then a 4, and it brings up Australia's 50. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Warner continues to punish anything loose from England and soon finds himself raising his bat for 50.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Vfq2CZGxZIVCQ2pOXgjqDoEEAZjtb5x0mVOYZiQ8jCexr1j2NsWmFa02Bj3peafswlaTaipj_3BvsN5jGWpZPedgMqyDAfVynw8FtYyLDhzznyeBTiv_oVUOoYRGcRaMLlc95HVZQSg/s1600/20150711_214550409_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Vfq2CZGxZIVCQ2pOXgjqDoEEAZjtb5x0mVOYZiQ8jCexr1j2NsWmFa02Bj3peafswlaTaipj_3BvsN5jGWpZPedgMqyDAfVynw8FtYyLDhzznyeBTiv_oVUOoYRGcRaMLlc95HVZQSg/s640/20150711_214550409_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>But after smashing Moeen about, it is the man from Worcestershire who has the last laugh. Warner shuffles across his crease and the ball creeps past his bat to strike him on the pads in front. He goes, LBW for 52. His wicket also signals lunch.</i></td></tr>
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Australia are 97-2 but the wicket of Warner is huge. A batsman very capable of taking the game to the opposition and he's out. It signals another shift in momentum in the Test.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZ9b8mn4WrCxTUAbwjUKtRfDTuf1tAq6aHS72shyphenhyphen-zyReuWR2JiA9_bL5cGpS3pRn_8nOMt0mA-kMxVOj_rbCM1wN6_E0P0-Naj0sScmcOrP_tcBDrpTKd7fSmspqSBIRUloAqvZcSdw/s1600/20150711_214656525_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZ9b8mn4WrCxTUAbwjUKtRfDTuf1tAq6aHS72shyphenhyphen-zyReuWR2JiA9_bL5cGpS3pRn_8nOMt0mA-kMxVOj_rbCM1wN6_E0P0-Naj0sScmcOrP_tcBDrpTKd7fSmspqSBIRUloAqvZcSdw/s640/20150711_214656525_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The afternoon session begins and Steven Peter Devereux Smith is at the crease. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0f8dr2VfQGUM5HbvV8VhjHQYMeXtvTGEdCg8B5MYTpfg6tt0N_pblEq2Gs1URQnXJwfmpQXdLDww87wazHLZR0nG8RLLlIi0JYRV_WdFEQ-bxWPJAurkRlt8rZv3xDQYUxj-kyKgBxzY/s1600/20150711_214734891_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0f8dr2VfQGUM5HbvV8VhjHQYMeXtvTGEdCg8B5MYTpfg6tt0N_pblEq2Gs1URQnXJwfmpQXdLDww87wazHLZR0nG8RLLlIi0JYRV_WdFEQ-bxWPJAurkRlt8rZv3xDQYUxj-kyKgBxzY/s640/20150711_214734891_iOS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>His driven 4 brings up Australia's 100. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you're an Australian cricket fan reading this, I'd go and grab whatever food/drink provides you comfort, because things are about to get messy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1sU_ZqCd69O85HBLzYIShRArk12DRd2nEXlO0qvYjKcJx4m8Hpbzsckh5jRQZnZfXoO0eGQFrB00P6uOrCb9rTRCmKPVT667dYmPZBa-xA_mvz758tS_tAcsfOKXCMXa6t5k80_ZNR0/s1600/20150711_214757150_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1sU_ZqCd69O85HBLzYIShRArk12DRd2nEXlO0qvYjKcJx4m8Hpbzsckh5jRQZnZfXoO0eGQFrB00P6uOrCb9rTRCmKPVT667dYmPZBa-xA_mvz758tS_tAcsfOKXCMXa6t5k80_ZNR0/s640/20150711_214757150_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>But soon, disaster strikes. Smith pushes at one outside off stump and edges it...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SmFGeNCUIgRoFPZa8TZaZalpW2pr7PWJo4CcAbOdqq0ypGIjfonPCw47H1z6QfNMYmMjYAimYfIokZSGur5n8Aemc_gqMOyGspzXdwqLluTLUvLDWprUB5f21RavZUHafhbCNRszhik/s1600/20150711_214812228_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SmFGeNCUIgRoFPZa8TZaZalpW2pr7PWJo4CcAbOdqq0ypGIjfonPCw47H1z6QfNMYmMjYAimYfIokZSGur5n8Aemc_gqMOyGspzXdwqLluTLUvLDWprUB5f21RavZUHafhbCNRszhik/s640/20150711_214812228_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Straight into the waiting hands of Ian Bell at second slip. Smith goes for 33 and Australia are 101-3.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Honestly, go and get some chocolate.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmlqUJzE8epz_m0akOOHZRHQgAi-9uLVwKT1FLO6_okPUX4bBjqTJPaKr2hmAXWUft5IAG6SSJLaF0FqU69tjXhzWzOmO-oHsRu5_PK65r7PNXnPvekHXNbjeybxYlfixPeX0Ik3sh7w/s1600/20150711_214933240_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmlqUJzE8epz_m0akOOHZRHQgAi-9uLVwKT1FLO6_okPUX4bBjqTJPaKr2hmAXWUft5IAG6SSJLaF0FqU69tjXhzWzOmO-oHsRu5_PK65r7PNXnPvekHXNbjeybxYlfixPeX0Ik3sh7w/s640/20150711_214933240_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clarke soon joins the party of poor shots as he reaches for one outside off stump...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTt8RZQ5Fy_3PezLaQ7XuyAVEglpY0ruoT9DYFocBg2VRQ-FNn9DM5_WzG6lA79jeod9OOx3HcnV7k6F_NJv546Lj2Q_MEdmRLPkzuWwvbjBLl4JmSR353kGy0wjIupXzyTEqB16rxdM/s1600/20150711_215013738_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTt8RZQ5Fy_3PezLaQ7XuyAVEglpY0ruoT9DYFocBg2VRQ-FNn9DM5_WzG6lA79jeod9OOx3HcnV7k6F_NJv546Lj2Q_MEdmRLPkzuWwvbjBLl4JmSR353kGy0wjIupXzyTEqB16rxdM/s640/20150711_215013738_iOS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And sends it straight to Ben Stokes at backward point. The Australian captain goes for 4 and it leaves Australia 106-4.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4vxjAE1savMHgiZgwiFMO6-oL2B72oYkUShw9hOm41XBszXI56fKOOrW_R69r0OEX5WIx1samXtOskDvxvfsmE8hTsvUbdETa-jxnzfrXCbLvEjVeRgXs-DqUCR65giS0UxxTxzVZnI/s1600/20150711_215123222_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4vxjAE1savMHgiZgwiFMO6-oL2B72oYkUShw9hOm41XBszXI56fKOOrW_R69r0OEX5WIx1samXtOskDvxvfsmE8hTsvUbdETa-jxnzfrXCbLvEjVeRgXs-DqUCR65giS0UxxTxzVZnI/s640/20150711_215123222_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It doesn't get much better in the next over either as the procession of Australian middle order wickets continues. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0DNTZd-X3muxLzc4VEu6h1zDXpBfnprQn7KYEP3APeWuwgULwgZT-ekvdziKGzsQY5zdFJLT482dCAklmekqqRO5y_7zB8RMkFje9SptDe03qC0Ax_4oZHHwJ7-9Hab90rSz1uYpiIg/s1600/20150711_215202751_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0DNTZd-X3muxLzc4VEu6h1zDXpBfnprQn7KYEP3APeWuwgULwgZT-ekvdziKGzsQY5zdFJLT482dCAklmekqqRO5y_7zB8RMkFje9SptDe03qC0Ax_4oZHHwJ7-9Hab90rSz1uYpiIg/s640/20150711_215202751_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Voges nicks one through to Jos Buttler off the bowling of Mark Wood and Australia are 106-5. Mark Wood celebrates like a man possessed, running to his team mates like he's in a romantic film and has just spotted them across a barley field.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVa5KWM3qNjmn6xw-QWLwwgtirts1QDJlVpGbj1a1kB9vcDYGvi_3Hnmq0yF4aWDWgRDJSgoUcp7D6lDLbzD8Zo8Jw1a1_x4GO1aK-fbMMcWNzfIW8elFpaaolBGcbMbBZ1K6bHlVBQo/s1600/20150711_215304884_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVa5KWM3qNjmn6xw-QWLwwgtirts1QDJlVpGbj1a1kB9vcDYGvi_3Hnmq0yF4aWDWgRDJSgoUcp7D6lDLbzD8Zo8Jw1a1_x4GO1aK-fbMMcWNzfIW8elFpaaolBGcbMbBZ1K6bHlVBQo/s640/20150711_215304884_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Haddin gets off the mark in traditional Haddin style, nearly chopping on but instead finding that it's gone to the boundary. In the 2013/14 Ashes, he regularly rescued Australia when they were 5 wickets down. But it's not to be today. Looking to attack Mo, he ends up hitting it straight to Alastair Cook.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvtrZMKdVg6i1IQNtshe4MAFSUWiuphRWvNy6csavAMk90idigqqG6Q8BgaXUNAGW7Kq1pIqv-zZFZVyysp7SgykzXf6CaX-3cGJpGnSSePjk0eLjm1aF937qXFW7OPzgA2YAeuE7AZ8/s1600/20150711_215344773_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvtrZMKdVg6i1IQNtshe4MAFSUWiuphRWvNy6csavAMk90idigqqG6Q8BgaXUNAGW7Kq1pIqv-zZFZVyysp7SgykzXf6CaX-3cGJpGnSSePjk0eLjm1aF937qXFW7OPzgA2YAeuE7AZ8/s640/20150711_215344773_iOS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Who juggles it a bit, then juggles it some more before eventually catching it flat on his back. It reduces Australia to 122-6 and England only need 4 more wickets to win.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Bi1S4SA0uWteI7emzQxYbJgwd2A255XUwQJz_pi1zfgysoQbA8nRxomHlHLmWpai-mAMAmMm5K1KF1ikXr3iQDFUIob2eMIzBCIEPPoGXj-Igxq_f8Eozoktjl4qRATYJOkRlXnu3gs/s1600/20150711_215501295_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Bi1S4SA0uWteI7emzQxYbJgwd2A255XUwQJz_pi1zfgysoQbA8nRxomHlHLmWpai-mAMAmMm5K1KF1ikXr3iQDFUIob2eMIzBCIEPPoGXj-Igxq_f8Eozoktjl4qRATYJOkRlXnu3gs/s640/20150711_215501295_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Johnson comes in and plays positively. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJqyvrO77FTnlJZN9y4tmrzaqinFOMv0z4qXJQK9ybw6hWYAMLhlgKPgVYIfHtBv9gQJ6aGLnLyn9a8dQnCGwy40nyAM4PoRp_1tpY9ILUkKfvdW0I9DhNRK8f6IoTmQwZKRsFnDZdfU/s1600/20150711_215531075_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJqyvrO77FTnlJZN9y4tmrzaqinFOMv0z4qXJQK9ybw6hWYAMLhlgKPgVYIfHtBv9gQJ6aGLnLyn9a8dQnCGwy40nyAM4PoRp_1tpY9ILUkKfvdW0I9DhNRK8f6IoTmQwZKRsFnDZdfU/s640/20150711_215531075_iOS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>He duly smashes Moeen for 6 over the onside.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'd recommend something stronger than chocolate here.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRLME6s0hyphenhyphenlOO-0_2xSmI2mUyL4JceM0aJSeuuVBlfyDYo4fMLF4rVJMmChgPex4l4sw2RMJO8wJmawG6CKK827_czSF5mcNaAkAgZDnTcEYGURBFzEkYMQ0-ad-HMk9ncjh37k2mZVs/s1600/20150711_215704354_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRLME6s0hyphenhyphenlOO-0_2xSmI2mUyL4JceM0aJSeuuVBlfyDYo4fMLF4rVJMmChgPex4l4sw2RMJO8wJmawG6CKK827_czSF5mcNaAkAgZDnTcEYGURBFzEkYMQ0-ad-HMk9ncjh37k2mZVs/s640/20150711_215704354_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQgyIQrkQqI">Can you guess how Shane Watson was out?</a></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVG4-hs2NLW_ocwY7CPMhsvlsTKKwnEtYRqAxiisnmOachMkis2Xq7i8hTzio2Zj3PUfv4h5X8PFRKjq-xthmf-NHsRE8pU2DB20SKIMdFsdWf9snSML1mpJfZISe7XhiW28ExKgpYVKA/s1600/20150711_220417805_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVG4-hs2NLW_ocwY7CPMhsvlsTKKwnEtYRqAxiisnmOachMkis2Xq7i8hTzio2Zj3PUfv4h5X8PFRKjq-xthmf-NHsRE8pU2DB20SKIMdFsdWf9snSML1mpJfZISe7XhiW28ExKgpYVKA/s640/20150711_220417805_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MUKtvRJe3E">Can you guess what he did next? </a></i></td></tr>
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29 times Shane 'Leg Before' Watson has been out LBW. 14 of those times have been against England. The majority of them have been reviewed, and mostly unsuccessfully. And whilst you can understand why he's reviewed both his LBW decisions in this innings, given that he's the last recognised batsman both times, it's still absolutely hilarious. Sorry.<br />
<br />
Anyway, Moeen nearly gets another wicket on the stroke of an interval, but Starc and Johnson survive. Australia go into the tea break 162-7, having lost 5 wickets in the afternoon session. Having been 97-2, it is Australia's middle order collapse that has pretty much handed victory to England on a plate.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Zbxx7Ba7kJUQeSfOmNMYbI34wqyZLKye0wYpiOcF1S5apYopVJ5NS3ptAaQstNFH2-B9iiWi25-T5COxjmCIiwI0Zd_3nyFdzbT3-lzcConM7qJWkVIbcgZbU35MiLZ3THH4qDbVvFs/s1600/20150711_220551406_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Zbxx7Ba7kJUQeSfOmNMYbI34wqyZLKye0wYpiOcF1S5apYopVJ5NS3ptAaQstNFH2-B9iiWi25-T5COxjmCIiwI0Zd_3nyFdzbT3-lzcConM7qJWkVIbcgZbU35MiLZ3THH4qDbVvFs/s640/20150711_220551406_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The evening session begins and Mitchell Starc, whose highest Test score is 99, plays an absolutely beautiful drive that goes to the boundary for 4.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEZqupsaUPs8km0V6R6LzvmbDTQHYLPKr21gYE1ixuvCO76L59R1FwGQOIdCHkJnAcLfDkvPfL2tq1s-EwSNplWtpo5pdmWWklSZ7lR628qNKa1nPPKqWDlWvEmU483H91Hxb3vAnaKU/s1600/20150711_220612461_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEZqupsaUPs8km0V6R6LzvmbDTQHYLPKr21gYE1ixuvCO76L59R1FwGQOIdCHkJnAcLfDkvPfL2tq1s-EwSNplWtpo5pdmWWklSZ7lR628qNKa1nPPKqWDlWvEmU483H91Hxb3vAnaKU/s640/20150711_220612461_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mandatory use of deface 4/6 card from the England v New Zealand ODI at the Rose Bowl last month.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EwFztBRagkNIJ_6P_WAPL6nxZLos_tzmCBnNQS5ZZOCSvcUPI3EJhdQZCk8Uj5cPafg8wu04Hv_7uATmc5PcWDItlSUM1vm4eUlDkPBq4wcHgznNWz0dqbZchFoByHEGyKUu5VQCAG0/s1600/20150711_220729073_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EwFztBRagkNIJ_6P_WAPL6nxZLos_tzmCBnNQS5ZZOCSvcUPI3EJhdQZCk8Uj5cPafg8wu04Hv_7uATmc5PcWDItlSUM1vm4eUlDkPBq4wcHgznNWz0dqbZchFoByHEGyKUu5VQCAG0/s640/20150711_220729073_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And with Australia's hopes of victory gone to 'very slim', Johnson decides to have some fun. He stands up and punches a four through the off side...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMIN0oyOJSTtEjrdwkmFG-n4P9iFqZzvteSQ68L93PqrmKPX2ibIMhk6HcXIIkseJU-84Z2Q6d3F-eBJi6Fqmk2y-gmADzCqLWiHaNuzn3kIgyy9mDRYtBRQrXmEp6Du1AKGqLvjR1Kk/s1600/20150711_220750396_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMIN0oyOJSTtEjrdwkmFG-n4P9iFqZzvteSQ68L93PqrmKPX2ibIMhk6HcXIIkseJU-84Z2Q6d3F-eBJi6Fqmk2y-gmADzCqLWiHaNuzn3kIgyy9mDRYtBRQrXmEp6Du1AKGqLvjR1Kk/s640/20150711_220750396_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And it brings up his 50. He may not have been able to bowl on the pitch, but he's certainly been able to bat on it.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD08zdonQ0diraHRG28L4-Yg9ob6X3Qulf5iGdJM0OxSWGHmfuymzBN4oRyjvVuRzygBKp71bj_JWijJ1WNMxqN41xyv49lx5Le3q31BijpFtYBTQVekThc2i00xaXeniCmlm3tOLXeL8/s1600/20150711_220945110_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD08zdonQ0diraHRG28L4-Yg9ob6X3Qulf5iGdJM0OxSWGHmfuymzBN4oRyjvVuRzygBKp71bj_JWijJ1WNMxqN41xyv49lx5Le3q31BijpFtYBTQVekThc2i00xaXeniCmlm3tOLXeL8/s640/20150711_220945110_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Meanwhile, Joe Root is brought back on. Johnson's eyes light up and he smashes Root for 4, 4, then a huge six over long on. But at the other end, Starc has been struggling with spin/slower bowling and Root strikes.The ball rises up on Starc who nicks it...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6yC-Jd_dUOSMVcbz6pW0wjwTgOfLiQkgZ74TmDJekCxLKdTLCsIZdXXo0kBRXHZTrG3a_cpdFj2ZBIFo1zomWLrgNKvqk6ESiO_CTEGf7bk9tKV1NwY1d1Shza0zJ41avWgbNldo2Yg/s1600/20150711_220958078_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6yC-Jd_dUOSMVcbz6pW0wjwTgOfLiQkgZ74TmDJekCxLKdTLCsIZdXXo0kBRXHZTrG3a_cpdFj2ZBIFo1zomWLrgNKvqk6ESiO_CTEGf7bk9tKV1NwY1d1Shza0zJ41avWgbNldo2Yg/s640/20150711_220958078_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It flies to Alastair Cook who can only parry it...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiky_e7FZ8vPeaL9GGSmXu0ifHq5yWDS_dcEI6DHHoesUe2bozrXIGN-50coy0gIZFhNBbGWOAM0QVvGGxM_jDoC7TvaEErcgaRwUbkmrksmpGIW-nIDPtQ0t0bWcyXrp6t9W3IDFXUYqg/s1600/20150711_221026390_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiky_e7FZ8vPeaL9GGSmXu0ifHq5yWDS_dcEI6DHHoesUe2bozrXIGN-50coy0gIZFhNBbGWOAM0QVvGGxM_jDoC7TvaEErcgaRwUbkmrksmpGIW-nIDPtQ0t0bWcyXrp6t9W3IDFXUYqg/s640/20150711_221026390_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And it's caught on the rebound by Root's fellow Yorkie, Adam Lyth.Starc goes for 17 and Australia are 223-8.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BBiw6BZrTAGPS53Wds5swrYxne4Cv5rjX1wbAhETBjqUzOmQjJYKpIY-lcThEHO14bOJxq-2X2vPn1hDReOnDCbW1_wjqwNNI8D0H5aHjT5r4b9oVb3T-rNLOKKHasUSWGAn-xyt1pI/s1600/20150711_221113809_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BBiw6BZrTAGPS53Wds5swrYxne4Cv5rjX1wbAhETBjqUzOmQjJYKpIY-lcThEHO14bOJxq-2X2vPn1hDReOnDCbW1_wjqwNNI8D0H5aHjT5r4b9oVb3T-rNLOKKHasUSWGAn-xyt1pI/s640/20150711_221113809_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Josh Hazlewood, another one to be described as 'no mug with the bat' arrives at the crease.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazbe51C5BshYHFFJS5a3WqGVwxBUULt7_lcFsnnv9IJ9_OXPnU3FeRr1SqfH9GIrepORIBViX5ORw7y4AF53u4UHQwS3YXlYMesJbsVqlikiqieeuEBqIzg_7S__9qdd7y-3hF1W4aug/s1600/20150711_221153587_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazbe51C5BshYHFFJS5a3WqGVwxBUULt7_lcFsnnv9IJ9_OXPnU3FeRr1SqfH9GIrepORIBViX5ORw7y4AF53u4UHQwS3YXlYMesJbsVqlikiqieeuEBqIzg_7S__9qdd7y-3hF1W4aug/s640/20150711_221153587_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>He hits Mo for an 'up and over' boundary to show that they're still going to be playing their natural game, no matter what.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tw3fTawR8TRHwe2NccaU6ZDmhGJiH9HkwAerLaf82AyKRrrWhac2RMFH55HtamQYLJsRyPUMCEqvZB17bMvYW6xSu9aOrZ29HPke4VjxAmEZ2oRNRSdOTQMU5d1Iy1VaLxS6pmHIbHk/s1600/20150711_221244049_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tw3fTawR8TRHwe2NccaU6ZDmhGJiH9HkwAerLaf82AyKRrrWhac2RMFH55HtamQYLJsRyPUMCEqvZB17bMvYW6xSu9aOrZ29HPke4VjxAmEZ2oRNRSdOTQMU5d1Iy1VaLxS6pmHIbHk/s640/20150711_221244049_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Down at the other end, Root strikes again and it's the key man of Johnson that he dismisses. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCnVIPfUj53mkCh-9BOrXdYEJnWaJpNXRsBuXKs59cPf-cWX0mwCbsnfFY58gv5B7zs_i0GZBKRrC-LUX_-UJF7-1GPBJG9lrH_B8CCQ9ihZ8Q0vAZMTVoF-4v0gnQ9-jZPQNnN9cES0/s1600/20150711_221318060_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCnVIPfUj53mkCh-9BOrXdYEJnWaJpNXRsBuXKs59cPf-cWX0mwCbsnfFY58gv5B7zs_i0GZBKRrC-LUX_-UJF7-1GPBJG9lrH_B8CCQ9ihZ8Q0vAZMTVoF-4v0gnQ9-jZPQNnN9cES0/s640/20150711_221318060_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Johnson advances down the pitch but gets an edge on it and it goes flying to Adam Lyth at first slip. He takes a very good catch above his head and Johnson has to go for 77. It's a very good knock in vain.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPdLOA4cH9BF5vP02KQj4eX7SCf6Xt94BOQfqqYPI7aVp-_Y2q6Mscjs-9KuTDZMXWeBY6YEsyLMEzMZ9TImfbFR_53GHiwaHcSM_0EZYE0Ded44_GOHnvzyAbaLtWd4VKkuG8YwSFEw/s1600/20150711_221401359_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPdLOA4cH9BF5vP02KQj4eX7SCf6Xt94BOQfqqYPI7aVp-_Y2q6Mscjs-9KuTDZMXWeBY6YEsyLMEzMZ9TImfbFR_53GHiwaHcSM_0EZYE0Ded44_GOHnvzyAbaLtWd4VKkuG8YwSFEw/s640/20150711_221401359_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And it's all over fairly soon afterwards.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwif5FIHfi70S-pM-E8hJP37OmdgXZ0v7VVa0U3_N0Ozk0uB1Xf1GsPQJajn0qMeliVZ1RoILMQEju-Jfb7oybAc9bS0lLkrlV2ldaxXNzNZnlVPtIJvMkMEKE3Ritge54flWRnGk-9Wk/s1600/20150711_221441872_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwif5FIHfi70S-pM-E8hJP37OmdgXZ0v7VVa0U3_N0Ozk0uB1Xf1GsPQJajn0qMeliVZ1RoILMQEju-Jfb7oybAc9bS0lLkrlV2ldaxXNzNZnlVPtIJvMkMEKE3Ritge54flWRnGk-9Wk/s640/20150711_221441872_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hazlewood looks to hit Moeen but gets his timing all wrong...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8qKRJupuw0Wy8ggBweU8nG2IJi7Y0jkqZNrpmnV0bGfCdQnTM4j3yokUTttdh_Q0hZGAd_m_KH3zZVb4ByATE-NHPjkOKNYsr3124aUJz_5b77-MchtT2ksO4_3DYs_8_CUdZIxyvng/s1600/20150711_221449984_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8qKRJupuw0Wy8ggBweU8nG2IJi7Y0jkqZNrpmnV0bGfCdQnTM4j3yokUTttdh_Q0hZGAd_m_KH3zZVb4ByATE-NHPjkOKNYsr3124aUJz_5b77-MchtT2ksO4_3DYs_8_CUdZIxyvng/s640/20150711_221449984_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And he gets caught by that man Joe Root.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSA3nDhaR9Ls2T023lrbqaeze8qEDRJvLNIxtYSVP-jAum6JsD29GqU58fdtvGk21keieoQ3rmlcBkRgsULHBlZZuWzv9IuxzEC9LObcxAldxSwwj0Gj-jvFhdB5fNIWHjdykXquGX1Y8/s1600/20150711_221540472_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSA3nDhaR9Ls2T023lrbqaeze8qEDRJvLNIxtYSVP-jAum6JsD29GqU58fdtvGk21keieoQ3rmlcBkRgsULHBlZZuWzv9IuxzEC9LObcxAldxSwwj0Gj-jvFhdB5fNIWHjdykXquGX1Y8/s640/20150711_221540472_iOS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>England are absolutely ecstatic. Australia, crushing pre-series favourites, have been well and truly humbled down in Cardiff. They're all out for 242 and it's a stunning 169 run victory for England!</i></td></tr>
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Who on earth would've thought that? Michael Clarke sounds disgruntled in his post-match interview with Michael Atherton but praises England for their performance. Alastair Cook sounds like a man transformed. Joe Root is named Man of the Match. He doesn't dedicate it to Brad Haddin, but instead to the hard work of his team mates.<br />
<br />
A superb win for England and, given the misery of the past year or so, it's a victory that has given the public something to be proud of. It's a quick turnaround for the Lord's Test and Australia will be sweating over the fitness of Mitchell Starc, who was clearly in pain whenever he bowled, despite how optimistic Michael Clarke tried to sound about it. Will yet another Mitchell play at Lord's as Australia decide to finally drop Shane Watson? Will England follow up their emphatic win with an equally emphatic loss, as seems to be their style at the moment?<br />
<br />
On both counts, the British nation truly hopes not.Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12213273019331765357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-88349684512356611052015-07-11T10:20:00.004+01:002015-07-11T10:20:54.097+01:00The Ashes: Cardiff Test, Day ThreeThis Test continues to canter along at quite a pace. England have arguably had the better the opening two days - could they grab the initiative on day three? Australia begin the day on 264-5 with Shane Watson and night watchman Nathan Lyon at the crease. Mark Wood and Stuart Broad open the bowling for England. Here's all the action from day three at Cardiff.<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>After a couple of LBW appeals, Shane Watson gets hit on the pad again. Broad pleads with the umpire and Erasmus, after having a long old think, gives old Watto out.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And Watson, true to form, decides to review it. It's an understandable review, he's the last recognised batsman and it was a bit high/legsided, but DRS shows umpire's call and Watto's on his way. He goes for 30 leaving Australia 265-6 and England with split sides. It's an ideal start to the morning for England.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It gets even better for England as Mark Wood dismisses Nathan Lyon. He fires in a full delivery and Lyon misses it. He goes LBW for 6 to leave Australia 265-7.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Watson wicket means that England's nemesis, Brad Haddin, has arrived at the crease and he gets off the mark in typical Brad style, an inside edge that narrowly misses the stumps and goes for 4. After an optimistic review, England take the new ball. Jimmy brings out a masterclass of swing bowling and Haddin can't get an edge on it, until he changes his bat... </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And nicks one behind to Buttler. England fans are ecstatic, Haddin has gone for 22 and they no longer have to watch him attempt to edge and slog Australia out of danger. Australia are 304-8. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And it gets even better for England as Johnson, another 13/14 nemesis with the bat, clips Broad into the leg side...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Only to see it go straight to Gary Ballance at short midwicket. He goes for 14, Australia are 308-9.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mitchell Starc, on one leg, comes to the crease. England are bowling superbly and Jimmy picks up the final wicket of the Australian first innings as Starc edges one...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And can only watch as Root dives to his left and takes a good catch. The 'shush' gesture comes out and Australia are all out for 308. England have a lead of 122.</i></td></tr>
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England fans, still shell shocked from the previous Ashes series, wonder if they're dreaming.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>England have about 40 minutes until the lunch break and look to start positively. Unfortunately, Cook goes for 12, going for a drive.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>He's caught well by a diving Nathan Lyon. It's a surprise to everyone and Australia sense a way back into the match as it leaves England 17-1.</i></td></tr>
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Starc bowls a very testing over to Ballance before the lunch break but he survives. England reach 21-1 and have a lead of 143. England fans are confused, a little scared, and are, of course, nervous. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>(The perils of doing this late at night, I've got Hazlewood the wrong side of the wicket. Sorry.) Hazlewood could've had Lyth out twice, but as he's not Shane Watson, the umpire is unmoved by their appeals. But Hazlewood gets a deserved wicket as Ballance is deceived by some uneven bounce...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And he ends up gloving it behind to Brad Haddin. England are 22-2.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ian Bell comes to the crease and he could do with a good innings. He gets off the mark with a controlled edge between third slip and gully.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Which, of course, goes for 4 because who has a third man these days?</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Nathan Lyon comes onto bowl and Lyth greets him with a slog sweep...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGycctDo6LblD-UGQdStwKyciWJpJrvp38L2PwLIbi-qW33eAnaJYReOqRLy-lp-o5HDAoSbg9zNpkt3DIBRXjSD5cyZHo4vv10c_EJn5O9IUo3ZxXM_NDvoavJXIpZN2iUnA4qiSZcgI/s1600/20150710_215519284_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGycctDo6LblD-UGQdStwKyciWJpJrvp38L2PwLIbi-qW33eAnaJYReOqRLy-lp-o5HDAoSbg9zNpkt3DIBRXjSD5cyZHo4vv10c_EJn5O9IUo3ZxXM_NDvoavJXIpZN2iUnA4qiSZcgI/s640/20150710_215519284_iOS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>That goes for 6. A flurry of boundaries after Ballance's wicket, including some glorious Ian Bell cover drives that have people reaching for wet flannels and fans. The 50 partnership comes up between Bell and Lyth as England continue to be positive.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yvu2uLMoFHdZxKRWJrJbvgx6GXp0fPQnD9UOdKeNjP5Vu_amErB-afvSvaR0d29lIbavr7RQSqEcS3AVZVm1C1fE9joJdKt-CmYsosen2mEBSF5PcsJj5mGspDlx93ayNxFDCHfSI6A/s1600/20150710_215605475_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yvu2uLMoFHdZxKRWJrJbvgx6GXp0fPQnD9UOdKeNjP5Vu_amErB-afvSvaR0d29lIbavr7RQSqEcS3AVZVm1C1fE9joJdKt-CmYsosen2mEBSF5PcsJj5mGspDlx93ayNxFDCHfSI6A/s640/20150710_215605475_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>But Lyon has the last laugh against Lyth, who are both apparently 27. Lyth pushes at one that he doesn't really need to and it goes flying off to Clarke at slip...</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JLoRJvm4inGpAF5lyEWuuJCjtldJiFwXlKhhjeYTAe-5ZK1SJyDenu8CnN5_h02Or9Iat3dBu_CHI6r-cw1XLywJ-4yorkI452wqJkmyCPufPn-eaoBBOudHnrzAF3l2GHkcXPzximc/s1600/20150710_215632156_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JLoRJvm4inGpAF5lyEWuuJCjtldJiFwXlKhhjeYTAe-5ZK1SJyDenu8CnN5_h02Or9Iat3dBu_CHI6r-cw1XLywJ-4yorkI452wqJkmyCPufPn-eaoBBOudHnrzAF3l2GHkcXPzximc/s640/20150710_215632156_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Who dives to his left to take a wonderful catch. Lyth goes for 37 and England are 73-3. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClSeTSReI7fnnv2-USMv8u-dhIHGUUevDXveAjXJDNdESoVTiO0HX7WmDezkutFtiSC9yVY4C9bLTxlJBvMmf30myvpeDNekRla2nDQlL1Rq-eyAUEYBCIQpWhF8HCM0zYhklVkeHkqs/s1600/20150710_215835549_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClSeTSReI7fnnv2-USMv8u-dhIHGUUevDXveAjXJDNdESoVTiO0HX7WmDezkutFtiSC9yVY4C9bLTxlJBvMmf30myvpeDNekRla2nDQlL1Rq-eyAUEYBCIQpWhF8HCM0zYhklVkeHkqs/s640/20150710_215835549_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Joe Root comes to the crease. Him and Ian Bell continue to look for runs, scoring with some glorious drives that have the Cardiff crowd groaning. Clarke, desperate for something after Ian Bell has attacked Nathan Lyon so comfortably, turns to Shane Watson. An outside edge from Root sails between Clarke and Smith...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyg-KShSuKWy554Yl7qSfbLZ0hTlZ-gEgiZHSm9KUe2vsUtyp1gh10oXDMDnkMmges3oJfVmhYkIm2ppi1w1AwEg-LKKBamwnkKgylrnpUijhT3pp_lSuOcWkEORVITX8h5e2PiJ_8JTc/s1600/20150710_215854344_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyg-KShSuKWy554Yl7qSfbLZ0hTlZ-gEgiZHSm9KUe2vsUtyp1gh10oXDMDnkMmges3oJfVmhYkIm2ppi1w1AwEg-LKKBamwnkKgylrnpUijhT3pp_lSuOcWkEORVITX8h5e2PiJ_8JTc/s640/20150710_215854344_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And goes for 4. It brings up the 50 partnership between Root and Bell.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAkUw1-U79NQTwiOT6IDG9HCHH24Dnbw5J9m0KmdhckzluEQY35eY3zi4pnqpX485zFx_cNQW1zQM57iZkbtLCB7eIqJ_ONG8zOCMxZ4Dp3BOeeHr6A3Gq0c9qvLDUkepDJJwXc2_QKs/s1600/20150710_220028179_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAkUw1-U79NQTwiOT6IDG9HCHH24Dnbw5J9m0KmdhckzluEQY35eY3zi4pnqpX485zFx_cNQW1zQM57iZkbtLCB7eIqJ_ONG8zOCMxZ4Dp3BOeeHr6A3Gq0c9qvLDUkepDJJwXc2_QKs/s640/20150710_220028179_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And Ian Bell brings up his 50 with an uppish drive...</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCpLpBmJf9MDCOzT6OvmHtF7YpdZHG8nOWq5RBxD8BDk3S7bTuF3osDHKsb1z_vBmb1PwgbJaJrvgQ7xiUDfQDu2FZL5cmunMhCWMXq7vlhVZeSyMF9LA5tsqWbILbp24Wh8xY0CKj4A/s1600/20150710_220056027_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCpLpBmJf9MDCOzT6OvmHtF7YpdZHG8nOWq5RBxD8BDk3S7bTuF3osDHKsb1z_vBmb1PwgbJaJrvgQ7xiUDfQDu2FZL5cmunMhCWMXq7vlhVZeSyMF9LA5tsqWbILbp24Wh8xY0CKj4A/s640/20150710_220056027_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Which goes to the boundary. It's a huge innings for Ian Bell and a relief for him to get some of the critics off his back. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Tea, and England go in 149-3 and the lead approaches 300. Bell is on 53*.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5bgug5sT7gQye2fAqH3RJxtuANTttOh6EEzn-fh9kCdXwBFS1Bmo6NmEPDZCb1LCcWBSypZdHypfpW5xLpP8t44HNWdsYniIdy22XZ3ymldLFxaXOJGp5mIKn7r6Wb1RQiraX4QJRbc/s1600/20150710_220350743_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5bgug5sT7gQye2fAqH3RJxtuANTttOh6EEzn-fh9kCdXwBFS1Bmo6NmEPDZCb1LCcWBSypZdHypfpW5xLpP8t44HNWdsYniIdy22XZ3ymldLFxaXOJGp5mIKn7r6Wb1RQiraX4QJRbc/s640/20150710_220350743_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>But the fun is soon over for Bell. With his 216th legal delivery of the series, Mitchell Johnson finally gets his first wicket. Bell, looking to create some room, leaves his off stump exposed and Johnson fires the ball into it. Bell goes for 60 off 89 balls.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWu8QjHcMFGDIbM97D8DRmV2skoU9pPi2bWlau_nyXH2aE-Fjqjc_EKolfrbiOLuoNqpHDgLyp-wosEWUfyZHY44R1bP1B35WnA6bzaUyGeKqm0E8daWJhyPfRHhrrBeT02W3RYQV6Zk8/s1600/20150710_220637088_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWu8QjHcMFGDIbM97D8DRmV2skoU9pPi2bWlau_nyXH2aE-Fjqjc_EKolfrbiOLuoNqpHDgLyp-wosEWUfyZHY44R1bP1B35WnA6bzaUyGeKqm0E8daWJhyPfRHhrrBeT02W3RYQV6Zk8/s640/20150710_220637088_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Ben Stokes comes to the crease and Mitchell Starc, hobbling between deliveries, causes him some issues. In fact, he was plumb LBW but nobody went up in appeal. Australia miss the chance to review, because they seem to have forgotten how to cricket. Meanwhile, at the other end, Joe Root continues his fine form and hits a lovely cover drive off dear old Johnson...</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnN121-h3EPKUSI8QxTQX24wSdo1JH2Dw4m5i8LB1zz_wKBxeaX-okGTrycb2nQiqcRs9Z1O7vNxwZFe0qJ6GeSOEfDSSirxCN1wBJjaqTx48CQhSl-Sw6pEYLwEoBWZmMyIx73vxSFkQ/s1600/20150710_220701573_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnN121-h3EPKUSI8QxTQX24wSdo1JH2Dw4m5i8LB1zz_wKBxeaX-okGTrycb2nQiqcRs9Z1O7vNxwZFe0qJ6GeSOEfDSSirxCN1wBJjaqTx48CQhSl-Sw6pEYLwEoBWZmMyIx73vxSFkQ/s640/20150710_220701573_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It goes for 4 and Root brings up yet another half century. It's been quite a year for him. The 4 also takes England's lead to 300.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eCOjhANvdugllQxY3oimZ-WzBXjACn9UaUcsvbmRvg-xMgTeDWnSPIwBq4raJ4PwEyuBm8VygN7tCon7u0hb1O5D8znQ5vxWL6YqAmS5UvcBJXe0jl-fZnaatWaJA_J-pHgfBNZx9Gk/s1600/20150710_224335544_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eCOjhANvdugllQxY3oimZ-WzBXjACn9UaUcsvbmRvg-xMgTeDWnSPIwBq4raJ4PwEyuBm8VygN7tCon7u0hb1O5D8znQ5vxWL6YqAmS5UvcBJXe0jl-fZnaatWaJA_J-pHgfBNZx9Gk/s640/20150710_224335544_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Root, looking to play back at one he probably should've been forward to, is bowled by Josh Hazlewood for 60. Cardiff is momentarily stunned. England are 207-5 with a lead of 329.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgida2UGTC6oHnj-MxShmxW7BAGGuFjHdJdtUjoo92Kyhyv-mYxD6OHWhYmBY8QChy98cgD3lSMk7s6hoCpMPpQimJ06sqRftGTgVmPZJYGa9cqGMxudbY3eFlAp-HiVtyDQH9AyJY-nlA/s1600/20150710_224452658_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgida2UGTC6oHnj-MxShmxW7BAGGuFjHdJdtUjoo92Kyhyv-mYxD6OHWhYmBY8QChy98cgD3lSMk7s6hoCpMPpQimJ06sqRftGTgVmPZJYGa9cqGMxudbY3eFlAp-HiVtyDQH9AyJY-nlA/s640/20150710_224452658_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stokes continues to be positive against Lyon, powerfully sweeping him to the fence for 4.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsm4vbCWaop8a60TnUm1123Xf-sLM8ZaMeeh9wVn7syHt5OInKgyNPFEYZbR6weYz_GSrV4NbPs2WZYtdvLwbGf0ppTfxZ0dglV-mUpxfe4uD9qIPVGwBbL2i0O04vaNfaNnPi7K0FVA/s1600/20150710_224650909_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsm4vbCWaop8a60TnUm1123Xf-sLM8ZaMeeh9wVn7syHt5OInKgyNPFEYZbR6weYz_GSrV4NbPs2WZYtdvLwbGf0ppTfxZ0dglV-mUpxfe4uD9qIPVGwBbL2i0O04vaNfaNnPi7K0FVA/s640/20150710_224650909_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Buttler looks to get in on the action by attempting a reverse sweep, but it comes off his glove and loops in the air...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5THsphXMrDwumN834fqPRAwORKuXUy7WPpc1ACrUiwcRj_-rO1g90AEQB8iggJZ4UOFoquCN_7SP_LE6AhE_vK2dF8ZTwBoV6Gstr9PQ9P83Vz5Szmr1ulIFS1uA8dFUXEokam7rgpHo/s1600/20150710_224752445_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5THsphXMrDwumN834fqPRAwORKuXUy7WPpc1ACrUiwcRj_-rO1g90AEQB8iggJZ4UOFoquCN_7SP_LE6AhE_vK2dF8ZTwBoV6Gstr9PQ9P83Vz5Szmr1ulIFS1uA8dFUXEokam7rgpHo/s640/20150710_224752445_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Straight to Brad Haddin behind the stumps. You can almost hear Boycott seething. Jos goes for 7 and England are 236-6, a lead of 358.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddmJQvEFVJC-QXWJJfd5XVB41MD-zc452UB5gVo-z9XJKup2d-k2lYZFpE-HaHSzVoTDrxoNLSooQoF0aV4dvH0j5paSsFj7bjXdvRZgd-ojydGMXHlwmL3nmgENBzOY6GzIbXP1Tf-k/s1600/20150710_230122105_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddmJQvEFVJC-QXWJJfd5XVB41MD-zc452UB5gVo-z9XJKup2d-k2lYZFpE-HaHSzVoTDrxoNLSooQoF0aV4dvH0j5paSsFj7bjXdvRZgd-ojydGMXHlwmL3nmgENBzOY6GzIbXP1Tf-k/s640/20150710_230122105_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stokes continues with his positive intent but ends up chopping on to Starc. He's out for the answer to life, the universe and everything, and England are 240-7. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEA3kcy0oemDB5HiTKWjOJm3kA9Ue7RkG7UEv-IKN0LR6ncKbAdtQNhD8ie8FPCDCNXV6k02950uyMexpTFYFZqekmmwzjiyC4CIs_z-nrNE-UXyowY8itFmMHQcbohDCRaCl_psxdQEc/s1600/20150710_230229096_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEA3kcy0oemDB5HiTKWjOJm3kA9Ue7RkG7UEv-IKN0LR6ncKbAdtQNhD8ie8FPCDCNXV6k02950uyMexpTFYFZqekmmwzjiyC4CIs_z-nrNE-UXyowY8itFmMHQcbohDCRaCl_psxdQEc/s640/20150710_230229096_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It quickly becomes 245-8 as Broad looks to smash Lyon into the River Taff...</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj982J7XI0jPKCGN2kQ1ici2FM5YijTAEwRw5hJNIpMZwBLWTLKZt7895TS5FK-uQ2RvpDiRFiYMbeCYS_cPxPzZH54H_84g04AvNbbim5GTUSys_FArRKCLNsB4nH5B5TfvpXP4dpj08c/s1600/20150710_230300475_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj982J7XI0jPKCGN2kQ1ici2FM5YijTAEwRw5hJNIpMZwBLWTLKZt7895TS5FK-uQ2RvpDiRFiYMbeCYS_cPxPzZH54H_84g04AvNbbim5GTUSys_FArRKCLNsB4nH5B5TfvpXP4dpj08c/s640/20150710_230300475_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>But ends up hitting it to Josh Hazlewood, who takes a good catch diving forward.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
England's lead approaches 400, but with so much time left in the game, the flurry of wickets gives Australia a glimmer of hope.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4K181E8X3Bv8lzeQdPqYYW5n5jT4n-YiS_te4gyrHgdJenXF26DMYDshYP9dDI4P68RSD8y2FX31uhGmECw6ARBlshCFfc4DwX9cF2xO08Bxqg2Chw7ZDME0BccKoN43Cb4a_xjzI7bg/s1600/20150710_230404922_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4K181E8X3Bv8lzeQdPqYYW5n5jT4n-YiS_te4gyrHgdJenXF26DMYDshYP9dDI4P68RSD8y2FX31uhGmECw6ARBlshCFfc4DwX9cF2xO08Bxqg2Chw7ZDME0BccKoN43Cb4a_xjzI7bg/s640/20150710_230404922_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Australia, though, haven't banked on Mark Wood. He comes down the pitch and unleashes a brutal 6 on Lyon.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6dJSYVw0p75tP_niNBDU8AAWU2oeb0PXQ_QajaZCXtFgtIMgnW5sgwcGV06genbybJ0ytlsJ9EQMqWCpR_xwFA9DaEERBgMb9ib2qQ9e12ZPpkorHtBrcx2-bwRLJhRXa69LMlRTudE/s1600/20150710_230427982_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6dJSYVw0p75tP_niNBDU8AAWU2oeb0PXQ_QajaZCXtFgtIMgnW5sgwcGV06genbybJ0ytlsJ9EQMqWCpR_xwFA9DaEERBgMb9ib2qQ9e12ZPpkorHtBrcx2-bwRLJhRXa69LMlRTudE/s640/20150710_230427982_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It's enormous and a potential one for the river, until the ball reappears. His lower order smashing takes England's lead past 400.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVwKVOu1TKAFw6q0tvWLT5yMQYM2yhVQ_rrw4zJMjTc2EMwv7jGn6g-vfKt5aiAY-4kUBAAozsLxdc5BDN54rpUGLcEz2V9-4pqBomiho9KymP7KAlZebmBvPWKVteOTQpJwfWoEe2w8/s1600/20150710_230543386_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVwKVOu1TKAFw6q0tvWLT5yMQYM2yhVQ_rrw4zJMjTc2EMwv7jGn6g-vfKt5aiAY-4kUBAAozsLxdc5BDN54rpUGLcEz2V9-4pqBomiho9KymP7KAlZebmBvPWKVteOTQpJwfWoEe2w8/s640/20150710_230543386_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Moeen Ali looks to join in the fun and, spurred on by the Cardiff crowd's taunts of poor old Mitchell Johnson, looks to chase a wide one. Unfortunately for Mo, he ends up edging it behind.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzF48XT-yPl4sSNYUb6m9s2_O9GVIwnEhScHgBypMbJ8eQf0GwHf20sxcVL6T5_0YyenSJDCbW9kK1zaGK4MEFTwe4wmw_im04vHzRqsvC7wP97nFdIhGHrfitM3ob5wezrTNVf1flhV0/s1600/20150710_230555519_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzF48XT-yPl4sSNYUb6m9s2_O9GVIwnEhScHgBypMbJ8eQf0GwHf20sxcVL6T5_0YyenSJDCbW9kK1zaGK4MEFTwe4wmw_im04vHzRqsvC7wP97nFdIhGHrfitM3ob5wezrTNVf1flhV0/s640/20150710_230555519_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Haddin takes a comfortable catch. Mo goes for 15.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zfTAEBGDanRKkFEcWCqJ6p1qGU1CCAiTsJUZzbjsWWgMz3y8QNyG1qu378l7fowhLDdXJXXIzHh8HXIiedrcA6iBqyjVqh4oPIjGRa8MN3zYBo1PI3oWjSkeUexNZ_it7XCGw-M-LRE/s1600/20150710_230645792_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zfTAEBGDanRKkFEcWCqJ6p1qGU1CCAiTsJUZzbjsWWgMz3y8QNyG1qu378l7fowhLDdXJXXIzHh8HXIiedrcA6iBqyjVqh4oPIjGRa8MN3zYBo1PI3oWjSkeUexNZ_it7XCGw-M-LRE/s640/20150710_230645792_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And England are soon all out for 289. Jimmy, looks for the extravagant, completely misses an attempted sweep and ends up being bowled by Lyon for 1.</i></td></tr>
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England are all out for 289, meaning Australia have 2 days in which to chase 412. A top day's cricket for England, bowling brilliantly, batting with freedom and aggression and, also, with a huge smile on their faces (especially if you're Mark Wood). The one bit of a low point for England is the lower order 'collapse', of sorts, albeit in pursuit of quick runs. </div>
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Lyon finishes with 4-75, Starc with 2-60, Hazlewood with 2-49 and Johnson, finally off the mark, has 2-69. </div>
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Will Alastair Cook be wearing a box in the slip cordon? Can Jimmy Anderson exploit the new ball to the extents that he did this morning? Is there a sickening twist in the tale of this Test match? (England fans certainly hope not) Join the ducks for day four later, as England search for 10 wickets to give them a completely unexpected 1-0 lead in The Ashes. </div>
Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12213273019331765357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-61194853162572253162015-07-10T00:26:00.000+01:002015-07-11T08:56:36.150+01:00The Ashes: Cardiff Test, Day Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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And so, to day two. A fairly even opening day to the Ashes (feels like a long time since that's been said), would anyone grab the initiative on day two? After the wicket of Jos Buttler the previous evening, England begin the day on 343-7, looking to get as close to 400 as possible. Australia, meanwhile, search for some bowling consistency. Here's the action from another enthralling day down in the Welsh capital.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0f56j76-Kev-CVFNl2qvqXwBAD-x_uZPdc4yUVYfKDAsdI49orJu5ekofbFLb8YzQUlSFCQXa9_SMTpVwJJW-Z_nJTcpKtTAXaeR_JgNum9rCQDEYXpKwW-Ls4HPGTaz5EFsep7_kiQ/s1600/20150709_201135908_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0f56j76-Kev-CVFNl2qvqXwBAD-x_uZPdc4yUVYfKDAsdI49orJu5ekofbFLb8YzQUlSFCQXa9_SMTpVwJJW-Z_nJTcpKtTAXaeR_JgNum9rCQDEYXpKwW-Ls4HPGTaz5EFsep7_kiQ/s640/20150709_201135908_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stuart Broad gets off the mark, and also scores England's first boundary of the day off the bowling of Hazlewood, with a lovely drive straight down the ground.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8bF3PD-iOWhM0Gf1jg8ayp6kIzsNQAMZ_ZGURr_o6mbuU1F4lqqbNzxqzFgXiGQSZXk4NW09Via8-_6_oqamlFQ9g2SHt_jLXhZEL0kgJcRRjQ4yGhnH6RmzK-13SONMwxGlKQ7rTek/s1600/20150709_201159251_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8bF3PD-iOWhM0Gf1jg8ayp6kIzsNQAMZ_ZGURr_o6mbuU1F4lqqbNzxqzFgXiGQSZXk4NW09Via8-_6_oqamlFQ9g2SHt_jLXhZEL0kgJcRRjQ4yGhnH6RmzK-13SONMwxGlKQ7rTek/s640/20150709_201159251_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sadly I didn't have the creative ability to recreate the next delivery, but Broad decided to duck into a shorter ball (thinking it would be a bouncer) and ended up heading it away. If it'd been on the stumps and a bit lower, it would've been a decent HBW shout.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqbW0VyvVs5bNcENYGBgbtRy8wz1W2rtM1B6KyxboOvKZZ8OsaSAIfwgDXdDrGh_7JT0lGVO3C2yyHX6Fz0lJgHBukCf5GHy8gMslRcMi0MuTBgycsOVJRvfaX65gmoEVlZY_yAl98Xs/s1600/20150709_201246634_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqbW0VyvVs5bNcENYGBgbtRy8wz1W2rtM1B6KyxboOvKZZ8OsaSAIfwgDXdDrGh_7JT0lGVO3C2yyHX6Fz0lJgHBukCf5GHy8gMslRcMi0MuTBgycsOVJRvfaX65gmoEVlZY_yAl98Xs/s640/20150709_201246634_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Johnson switches to around the wicket in the hope of getting a breakthrough and it almost works. He gives Broad a short ball up near his armpit, which Broad can only fend off up in the air. Adam Voges springs into action, hoping to take the catch...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5GvAbbazJ97xKFnlwfr7dpbPFqFNwyA2h6-MlARM-5U0eeZwIZvvDVAnVF0Ol5_6Ur5f7L_HFJnSOjUB5uFi_c6vSkLRY8ooxBy5clVRBNskyhr1fn3SkBmKw4SiyYh3VQloivP2kSc/s1600/20150709_201318159_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5GvAbbazJ97xKFnlwfr7dpbPFqFNwyA2h6-MlARM-5U0eeZwIZvvDVAnVF0Ol5_6Ur5f7L_HFJnSOjUB5uFi_c6vSkLRY8ooxBy5clVRBNskyhr1fn3SkBmKw4SiyYh3VQloivP2kSc/s640/20150709_201318159_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Which Johnson and the others Australians, the umpires and even Broad think he's done cleanly. After untangling themselves in the middle of the pitch, Broad begins to walk off but changes his mind. Replays show that Voges didn't get his fingers under the ball and part of the ball was touching the ground. It's a good effort from Voges, especially for someone approaching 500, but Broad survives. Boos ring out from the Cardiff crowd, because it's the Ashes, and clearly England never wrongfully claim wickets</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkW7lMIRSifQv2bsrhy-ZjDfoqoP2w3w3oIW92BKK55Rxe2B3n47antrjB6MbGXAjQH5Uq63SZ3iLoLMMykoqVnjx5AoQLU1s9o2HuPnOMg4A4lxG9KGJiSqNH5sDan3rKUVxVN2OLWHc/s1600/20150709_201504171_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkW7lMIRSifQv2bsrhy-ZjDfoqoP2w3w3oIW92BKK55Rxe2B3n47antrjB6MbGXAjQH5Uq63SZ3iLoLMMykoqVnjx5AoQLU1s9o2HuPnOMg4A4lxG9KGJiSqNH5sDan3rKUVxVN2OLWHc/s640/20150709_201504171_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Meanwhile at the other end, Moeen Ali's in a hurry as well. With a massive slice of luck, he reaches his 50 with an inside edged boundary.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3scVVxdF_oev-evGsIkBjKFVUtPAI7QVgRASEJkD4IjC3UgkZ1hBviVBj5bDvBydTK6nHRyDPHKU6tb_I3t5loi1vvMtfq_OUeaML_92UOroHcT1RQNikiPa02aLLpbRJt8py6iTRK1E/s1600/20150709_201633848_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3scVVxdF_oev-evGsIkBjKFVUtPAI7QVgRASEJkD4IjC3UgkZ1hBviVBj5bDvBydTK6nHRyDPHKU6tb_I3t5loi1vvMtfq_OUeaML_92UOroHcT1RQNikiPa02aLLpbRJt8py6iTRK1E/s640/20150709_201633848_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mo sheepishly raises his bat, wishing that the glorious cover drive a couple of deliveries ago had been the shot to take him to 50.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4D_4s-X566VNNbPUaRXlJRzXnOmzr_WvPjaKJ5PGz23xSx3OYdgMoLi0WrwNUrFL2WD6MBu8y-i2glxqkWE_hEAXtwb1dV9BVzW2jv7QfO7BiExFZG8NSpcjwqzjCrqCBB9iZYVO6Yro/s1600/20150709_201722584_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4D_4s-X566VNNbPUaRXlJRzXnOmzr_WvPjaKJ5PGz23xSx3OYdgMoLi0WrwNUrFL2WD6MBu8y-i2glxqkWE_hEAXtwb1dV9BVzW2jv7QfO7BiExFZG8NSpcjwqzjCrqCBB9iZYVO6Yro/s640/20150709_201722584_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Nathan Lyon returns and strikes with his first ball. Broad, looking for a massive slog, ends up bottom edging the ball behind instead.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7D_MYl_IwdJlAuKfvjo-BcNbib17AijF_zNl0lgPzDRATs4mP4DRSNsczVBqusYHS-c1eUeqexqp5uFDGwA8TdmGAbOKwR37si3lS7FDbRI4XPthXO_cVSZD8qsc4k4gzjuUE7rv8YQU/s1600/20150709_201742208_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7D_MYl_IwdJlAuKfvjo-BcNbib17AijF_zNl0lgPzDRATs4mP4DRSNsczVBqusYHS-c1eUeqexqp5uFDGwA8TdmGAbOKwR37si3lS7FDbRI4XPthXO_cVSZD8qsc4k4gzjuUE7rv8YQU/s640/20150709_201742208_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Brad Haddin, having thrown himself around for the fast bowlers, is grateful that this catch doesn't require much movement and hangs on. Broad goes for 18 and England are 395-8.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEcVWREgZAuT4x341U-n4aDKXD3fVG1xVKi1hkiU_owvIjtcYElzdEi_nvdSi3O2zf62kKgow9rI9W7jNWOjsg5R6OUyF5JBVz5u8W4fSCc5O_0sXOtKrX8Td1XLX956hIuDf1JEo674/s1600/20150709_201840264_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEcVWREgZAuT4x341U-n4aDKXD3fVG1xVKi1hkiU_owvIjtcYElzdEi_nvdSi3O2zf62kKgow9rI9W7jNWOjsg5R6OUyF5JBVz5u8W4fSCc5O_0sXOtKrX8Td1XLX956hIuDf1JEo674/s640/20150709_201840264_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And soon, the fun's over. Mooen, going for an extravagant drive, ends up edging it to Watson at first slip. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRICzIh2DRTujnJ1j5AAMs9OmZ4Dvpug6IxEr3NmJ35u7amsys5fBhfyXARtoMt5PFtYkBfFji70z9UrrLcrLBCQz5BLl35DbN-qJsqoJi-oKdFsgm7rKMHKHuSuvsc4JDx8BVP4f2Odw/s1600/20150709_201852404_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRICzIh2DRTujnJ1j5AAMs9OmZ4Dvpug6IxEr3NmJ35u7amsys5fBhfyXARtoMt5PFtYkBfFji70z9UrrLcrLBCQz5BLl35DbN-qJsqoJi-oKdFsgm7rKMHKHuSuvsc4JDx8BVP4f2Odw/s640/20150709_201852404_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Watson, ever the drama queen, nearly falls over when taking the catch but hangs on. Moeen goes for a highly entertaining 77 and England, having passed 400, find themselves 419-9.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwwio9UKlku91QCjREnc6AflQuT3Z6SyjtGlR7U-25fnTMZ3-krZjGdr4SY9ASui3suzHWfpywetl7WjktTxbgsGe6wTI-kCWvl89aJ-oqVfh50cu9wUzC3Jwlsz-Hx5M1wtZnxN8uvI/s1600/20150709_201936787_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwwio9UKlku91QCjREnc6AflQuT3Z6SyjtGlR7U-25fnTMZ3-krZjGdr4SY9ASui3suzHWfpywetl7WjktTxbgsGe6wTI-kCWvl89aJ-oqVfh50cu9wUzC3Jwlsz-Hx5M1wtZnxN8uvI/s640/20150709_201936787_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mark Wood joins the boundary fun by smashing Starc away for a lovely driven boundary. Jimmy tries to join in too, advancing down the pitch to Starc. Unfortunately for him, his stumps get destroyed and England finish on 430 all out. The wicket of Anderson also hands Starc a 5fer, his figures being 5-114. He isn't the only Australian bowler to reach a century - Mitchell Johnson, England's 13/14 nemesis, picks up figures of 0-111. His century is greeted with cheers from the Cardiff crowd and he responds good-naturedly by kissing the badge on his baggy green.</i></td></tr>
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England's innings closes on 430 all out, something that looked a million miles away when Ian Bell went to leave England 43-3. Calculated aggression from Moeen Ali, and a bit of help from Broad and Wood, mean that England have added 87 in little over an hour's play. With the innings break, there's around 40 or so minutes for Chris Rogers and David Warner to bat before lunch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMzTu42Sxxvj0Q1_eoX9hcWDZqm4lR-Bofdr-91ing7A7CqZHsaSTn0D9Z4Qu5Hl03cKYCamG_uH6Tu7VmXvDjGSzTTXbDwRwhWETtWCg3dPVNOR4SnNNWHBx805roJ-FwnE0dL7mAdA/s1600/20150709_202155470_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMzTu42Sxxvj0Q1_eoX9hcWDZqm4lR-Bofdr-91ing7A7CqZHsaSTn0D9Z4Qu5Hl03cKYCamG_uH6Tu7VmXvDjGSzTTXbDwRwhWETtWCg3dPVNOR4SnNNWHBx805roJ-FwnE0dL7mAdA/s640/20150709_202155470_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Anderson and Broad open the bowling for England and four byes off the first ball gets the Australian innings up and running. Broad's first over is eventful. Alastair Cook convinces Broad not to review an LBW shout on Warner, only to forget how to say "no" a few balls later as they go upstairs for a shout off Rogers. It's absolutely stone dead LBW, apart from the inside edge Rogers gets onto his pads.<br /><br />Rogers gets the first boundary of the Australian innings as Broad sends down some wide filth.</i></td></tr>
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Australia make it to the lunch break 26-0.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguak2VrOK4kFCVRbpLJz2uQRATmkRjCQt9Y-fgLhBBDG3NceqTM3g5olNDFRBJes1wPuMnssucOHubW1zBgGLHy5rz8wQ2cYGxz7VxtHx_nqSSGUhvdJZvvUkZUSLRKiWjvYgBhtBRZxU/s1600/20150709_202601328_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguak2VrOK4kFCVRbpLJz2uQRATmkRjCQt9Y-fgLhBBDG3NceqTM3g5olNDFRBJes1wPuMnssucOHubW1zBgGLHy5rz8wQ2cYGxz7VxtHx_nqSSGUhvdJZvvUkZUSLRKiWjvYgBhtBRZxU/s640/20150709_202601328_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Warner is given out LBW off the bowling of Jimmy, but he decides to review it just in the nick of time. It turns out he's correct to review as the ball pitched outside leg. It ends up not mattering too much as he looks to drive a full Jimmy delivery, but ends up nicking it behind...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Where Cook, to the relief of Buttler, takes a good catch high up as he dives to his right.Warner departs for 17 and Australia are 52-1.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPS3mwpIZHvOPNm62wuIz9TdjA-n49uz6BqGTdRy1yUYn2rPtrftE4JCqUVYcLRMvAaGqmHFq7TlNs-rs0MnFRvnE15gxaGgTSXZ9jIB-rs-ig6jsAZFQRtkXzkYaeGxy5jEcm4PJx20/s1600/20150709_202716393_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPS3mwpIZHvOPNm62wuIz9TdjA-n49uz6BqGTdRy1yUYn2rPtrftE4JCqUVYcLRMvAaGqmHFq7TlNs-rs0MnFRvnE15gxaGgTSXZ9jIB-rs-ig6jsAZFQRtkXzkYaeGxy5jEcm4PJx20/s640/20150709_202716393_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It brings to the crease Steven Peter Devereux Smith and his third ball is quite a painful one as he edges it...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NNkvB7gRqgc5okwPTfr_b0pT6pj2ZjGq5MSRkBRTuA9mnuk9Eg3gyAD2D2SqTzOF20Bz7snr-qcOe-GDBvFtLK7J6CtrGDrMdGvZvmB0LfFWYWSxfJC3QQdzUFGWvfjt15qhA2vfee8/s1600/20150709_202736560_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NNkvB7gRqgc5okwPTfr_b0pT6pj2ZjGq5MSRkBRTuA9mnuk9Eg3gyAD2D2SqTzOF20Bz7snr-qcOe-GDBvFtLK7J6CtrGDrMdGvZvmB0LfFWYWSxfJC3QQdzUFGWvfjt15qhA2vfee8/s640/20150709_202736560_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Only for it to bounce in front of Alastair Cook and hit him right in his tender region. Cook receives a lot of sympathy from his team mates, especially Joe Root who responds like he's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUTVmuqviqE">Homer Simpson watching a Hans Moleman Productions film</a>. </i></td></tr>
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Cook leaves the field to receive as much treatment as someone who's been hit in the gonads can get. Dean Cosker comes on as the 12th man, prompting Michael Clarke to crack another <i>Dad's Army</i> themed joke in the Australian dressing room.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1ASpgm7XuznGckVbOeyuvqlm9Hiv3RlPQsSclbrZDdgz3vQ887hzWVNVrLdiKCWvadwTXxNqs92AsAr3d7sZa8Q-Z6dkm6vm_7v0Cz2pmna-r8QTgW-bjClf5UES3J41EHWCFNnlXc8/s1600/20150709_203000875_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1ASpgm7XuznGckVbOeyuvqlm9Hiv3RlPQsSclbrZDdgz3vQ887hzWVNVrLdiKCWvadwTXxNqs92AsAr3d7sZa8Q-Z6dkm6vm_7v0Cz2pmna-r8QTgW-bjClf5UES3J41EHWCFNnlXc8/s640/20150709_203000875_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><strike>Godfrey</strike> Chris Rogers cuts Moeen Ali away for two taking him past 50.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWKHYJvfwFG6ZZkbIoCahHkBJfSNBhsLcgGsqhUYHl1JqQYpRfKayeNrLnQ4QMwmSlSe0cEtGLPON7lGxCg-PyZnAIuULJfaARFU5jxG9jco45dEUFzTesRu25wrKNhEz2pYb09-2X6g/s1600/20150709_203028945_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWKHYJvfwFG6ZZkbIoCahHkBJfSNBhsLcgGsqhUYHl1JqQYpRfKayeNrLnQ4QMwmSlSe0cEtGLPON7lGxCg-PyZnAIuULJfaARFU5jxG9jco45dEUFzTesRu25wrKNhEz2pYb09-2X6g/s640/20150709_203028945_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>He becomes the fifth batsman in Test history to make seven successive half-centuries.Quite some achievement.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u-UeBtbQf_3cDLCZHwbuOj1d13woSRpreUUtLKDkGWF3RVWzgDg3chpVCLkiJ9Lr9QHCBnLGlnAeCDgp1Pz0O06YuAbrhRsLkQiywkHoQhxR6SeWxBeNIEmGhmAkg8De4Cap_xJTC40/s1600/20150709_203114102_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u-UeBtbQf_3cDLCZHwbuOj1d13woSRpreUUtLKDkGWF3RVWzgDg3chpVCLkiJ9Lr9QHCBnLGlnAeCDgp1Pz0O06YuAbrhRsLkQiywkHoQhxR6SeWxBeNIEmGhmAkg8De4Cap_xJTC40/s640/20150709_203114102_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Smith looks to attack Moeen, coming down the track to absolutely batter him down the ground for a boundary.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvmUOj48mztm1YDVNUSFT0EZhnZN7DxQZ7mGKH6RdfXtebdhhi9GcrU8GysL83lhxBGJUE5fuaUmNEH9CwluClXCnQhrQ-GBQeHJMh_mmevi9SOrbZvdd3D8JauyUbL_QF7_UAQVEv1E/s1600/20150709_203304069_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvmUOj48mztm1YDVNUSFT0EZhnZN7DxQZ7mGKH6RdfXtebdhhi9GcrU8GysL83lhxBGJUE5fuaUmNEH9CwluClXCnQhrQ-GBQeHJMh_mmevi9SOrbZvdd3D8JauyUbL_QF7_UAQVEv1E/s640/20150709_203304069_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>But Moeen has the last laugh. Smith, in a shot that is so horrendous that it was incredibly difficult to capture, advances down the pitch, gets into a right tangle and ends up clipping the ball...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfkiO7J6KB_1Ao08r7xINWWMJMBLi0QdgwN1AVUeSUJPy-sZUHKOvZ-cemc67eIPqK6ntM7ajUwOW8gwBdplO6tUaMwWBHm74tJ8gg6ZlvamhLAEjklL3RHXT_MSw0QYRbH0ytKA_yqE/s1600/20150709_203358034_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfkiO7J6KB_1Ao08r7xINWWMJMBLi0QdgwN1AVUeSUJPy-sZUHKOvZ-cemc67eIPqK6ntM7ajUwOW8gwBdplO6tUaMwWBHm74tJ8gg6ZlvamhLAEjklL3RHXT_MSw0QYRbH0ytKA_yqE/s640/20150709_203358034_iOS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Straight into the waiting hands of a patched up Alastair Cook. Steve Smith is gone for 38.</i></td></tr>
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A huge wicket for England. Australia head into the tea break on 145-2.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JZMitYR_ch8YrfBrS6r0JShIiLFccC7lhOoNB28pPZp_8stkUq1-2ODC4pAsq3gBE56wuWTu74ywG07IKD1PggoUpOgxjc9IACMKEbyjzgxrP8T5cdCB9ndKAiOFsfYzknlaAN9rMpA/s1600/20150709_204053693_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JZMitYR_ch8YrfBrS6r0JShIiLFccC7lhOoNB28pPZp_8stkUq1-2ODC4pAsq3gBE56wuWTu74ywG07IKD1PggoUpOgxjc9IACMKEbyjzgxrP8T5cdCB9ndKAiOFsfYzknlaAN9rMpA/s640/20150709_204053693_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Broad gives Rogers some short stuff and he ends up top edging one delivery...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwyO_yN0Vpaqlc5hINQ-5S_LxVoZZUnzoY2YpBYjrB6dy64d7ZAfYgCCpm-snsg-MqlpZWXGpjP_46wWU3QEP83UtXQ97SXE1YRdKAQRS7Mk77UZfzaLev5X9r5Ktd7sxkL0D-vbuMps/s1600/20150709_204409953_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwyO_yN0Vpaqlc5hINQ-5S_LxVoZZUnzoY2YpBYjrB6dy64d7ZAfYgCCpm-snsg-MqlpZWXGpjP_46wWU3QEP83UtXQ97SXE1YRdKAQRS7Mk77UZfzaLev5X9r5Ktd7sxkL0D-vbuMps/s640/20150709_204409953_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Over the head of Moeen Ali for 6 runs. It's his first 6 in Test cricket. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_URxhCSEjlyEbGtGGbOYJH2maOM7B0Jse6E-5F31vfDmFa9bey9Om9mKbBcfO2TqqvvZStmfd6Ik9C_O6TYD0ZkL-sNuKpt1sSc5-r0ipLK-NFNIb6XdyS74IaDnyTFOXq07O6mjNyfY/s1600/20150709_204540613_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_URxhCSEjlyEbGtGGbOYJH2maOM7B0Jse6E-5F31vfDmFa9bey9Om9mKbBcfO2TqqvvZStmfd6Ik9C_O6TYD0ZkL-sNuKpt1sSc5-r0ipLK-NFNIb6XdyS74IaDnyTFOXq07O6mjNyfY/s640/20150709_204540613_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Meanwhile, the partnership between Rogers and Clarke develops. Clarke, being given some short stuff as well, looks uncomfortable but is surviving. He pulls one from Wood behind for 4, although it's not exactly where he intended for it to go.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSQZmM_EKVi7lh3AUVhtMoWo0e7ZmRA7a2cM0L8s086kEC8W1G9r4rgVNozYWOQcnl3fZNzMD8oJxXT4lp1UjR5mR3g0uuYPdx_NgzuIkZK8xUCpdMDh26XuJWUr1HpsCOodSz_8aAS8/s1600/20150709_204713728_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSQZmM_EKVi7lh3AUVhtMoWo0e7ZmRA7a2cM0L8s086kEC8W1G9r4rgVNozYWOQcnl3fZNzMD8oJxXT4lp1UjR5mR3g0uuYPdx_NgzuIkZK8xUCpdMDh26XuJWUr1HpsCOodSz_8aAS8/s640/20150709_204713728_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rogers seems to be approaching a much deserved century until disaster strikes. Attempting to cut a ball from Wood, that's a bit too close to him, he ends up edging behind.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzb83tD1zs4-tTJPBeAxO67tfTVnfiQcKQoPtHjYGSkhZZ7SCiSVJxdbIYkTIwB81lypepydzWbivQKa-PbyKIZECTxz2FZuuF8eiHdY2h4_pfdHjpdwqmMSMCQ8TOgRmZ8qI15MThCu4/s1600/20150709_204742111_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzb83tD1zs4-tTJPBeAxO67tfTVnfiQcKQoPtHjYGSkhZZ7SCiSVJxdbIYkTIwB81lypepydzWbivQKa-PbyKIZECTxz2FZuuF8eiHdY2h4_pfdHjpdwqmMSMCQ8TOgRmZ8qI15MThCu4/s640/20150709_204742111_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Buttler gleefully takes the catch and Wood runs off in celebration at his first Ashes wicket. Jubilation for England, despair for Rogers as he goes for 95. At the non-striker's end, Michael Clarke is not at all happy with the shot either. Australia are 180-3.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhow0_ASpV267JhAcOs1GtOjvZFKC38U7NM4UtNGwhb12T0kyjUeREF9zri58mi5OWR_zKssvCCcZjAc-2B58efr5b2Za6sgNWTAnV1nILw9yMDhLHWbrNmeWWJfTqFQsgh8AQbY2LAyrE/s1600/20150709_204908933_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhow0_ASpV267JhAcOs1GtOjvZFKC38U7NM4UtNGwhb12T0kyjUeREF9zri58mi5OWR_zKssvCCcZjAc-2B58efr5b2Za6sgNWTAnV1nILw9yMDhLHWbrNmeWWJfTqFQsgh8AQbY2LAyrE/s640/20150709_204908933_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>One old man is replaced by a slightly younger old man in the form of Adam Voges. But it is captain Clarke who goes next. Also looking to be positive against spin, he advances down the pitch looking to smack Moeen down straight down the ground.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCU9swhVF14QCT0UFvOVFBYCp-DS3V4PFNNDvXb4By5zHv6PB052Unrg8R31lWzcr7HTdzS4DnbG-aK9T9PEkThdFMWyDvqQRXWok9FAyuOLMD9q6qvun1S6ISERFo21n4117rwLGruRs/s1600/20150709_204940569_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCU9swhVF14QCT0UFvOVFBYCp-DS3V4PFNNDvXb4By5zHv6PB052Unrg8R31lWzcr7HTdzS4DnbG-aK9T9PEkThdFMWyDvqQRXWok9FAyuOLMD9q6qvun1S6ISERFo21n4117rwLGruRs/s640/20150709_204940569_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Instead he smacks it straight into the hands of Moeen, who takes a very good catch. Clarke is gone for 38 and Australia are 207-4.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EZCgy8vFpr6qTayxniWbcngOSB7pj9mUeVHNmelvN99D8ZXAfvz-UpeEVWr_bKv6tcM9UhhQuRggoTUzam_UfDYjpPsBR-jNWsk9OqBDLykEPCSrX3XLAeFOr3h1NxTpTYyodnC2d6c/s1600/20150709_205103244_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EZCgy8vFpr6qTayxniWbcngOSB7pj9mUeVHNmelvN99D8ZXAfvz-UpeEVWr_bKv6tcM9UhhQuRggoTUzam_UfDYjpPsBR-jNWsk9OqBDLykEPCSrX3XLAeFOr3h1NxTpTYyodnC2d6c/s640/20150709_205103244_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>In comes Shane Watson, in what is probably a big innings for him given the impressive batting performances of Mitchell Marsh in the warm up matches. Watson, too, looks to be aggressive against Moeen. He comes down the pitch and clips this shot over the on side for 4.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRWIUFKKnbb9ME3sNmTpMnwGAq2vFuhbWLo8Rir2O5pVJ4y6q-tJVPN5oDvxO3dMGAAZyYBph10HViHrF2ham-BajNBp3GCYHrdDxM1eiKn9EjkdQ1psIWv7V5e_qKeh3yMQBBfziQjk/s1600/20150709_205217735_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLRWIUFKKnbb9ME3sNmTpMnwGAq2vFuhbWLo8Rir2O5pVJ4y6q-tJVPN5oDvxO3dMGAAZyYBph10HViHrF2ham-BajNBp3GCYHrdDxM1eiKn9EjkdQ1psIWv7V5e_qKeh3yMQBBfziQjk/s640/20150709_205217735_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Shane Watson has had an LBW shout turned down against him, which England don't review as it is clearly too high. Watson and Voges bring up yet another 50 partnership in the match. But England, led by some miserly bowling from Ben Stokes, sense something is going to happen. And it does. With 10 minutes to go, Voges, for whatever reason, decides to chase a full one from Ben Stokes.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisTOoDpGbKns-BZlWI429AbuJOcB15i_m7v3wnmlqwv1CDsd9N6nbEGiWjk6_MtZWHYtuT-K-QNtD076Y_yvlY9l0rNSgLHbDFyqFXYVcsmUKOSYV5iWKSuTC8teRlKO5BihHs0n1RTs/s1600/20150709_205242061_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisTOoDpGbKns-BZlWI429AbuJOcB15i_m7v3wnmlqwv1CDsd9N6nbEGiWjk6_MtZWHYtuT-K-QNtD076Y_yvlY9l0rNSgLHbDFyqFXYVcsmUKOSYV5iWKSuTC8teRlKO5BihHs0n1RTs/s640/20150709_205242061_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And he smashes it straight to Jimmy Anderson at short extra cover. Jimmy throws the ball up in jubilation and Stokes is fired up (knew a light up duck would be handy one day). </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYH1CGl9ubF9aHjswDnBOFDbIK_BNwzr7BxivUkdHCteIP8Jcy45B1gquu8szSUI0ObctiOqM6FuxNtskGJpSMVG2TAR2c-bOwAz-Hcsqswh5FGz9uz5s64FykVhBrO4YxspyzX5fCZI/s1600/20150709_205419085_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYH1CGl9ubF9aHjswDnBOFDbIK_BNwzr7BxivUkdHCteIP8Jcy45B1gquu8szSUI0ObctiOqM6FuxNtskGJpSMVG2TAR2c-bOwAz-Hcsqswh5FGz9uz5s64FykVhBrO4YxspyzX5fCZI/s640/20150709_205419085_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Australia take Essex's lead and send in a nightwatchman. Joe Root gets incredibly excited and puts himself in a helmet and moves in very, very close as a third slip. It almost works. But Lyon holds on and even hits a boundary, pulling one round the corner.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12MTT2NceiLpIOs0npCxbvRKM5xEHa75uhU5RvirJpCBte8EJ6TBKtpP5C5TvR46ULwd9buKFMDcYGhHkj9alktaEpNCXE1Cxv_YsY0LbbSaMsR61q8B-WKDaonpjXPupxayS53g1RF4/s1600/20150709_205442343_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12MTT2NceiLpIOs0npCxbvRKM5xEHa75uhU5RvirJpCBte8EJ6TBKtpP5C5TvR46ULwd9buKFMDcYGhHkj9alktaEpNCXE1Cxv_YsY0LbbSaMsR61q8B-WKDaonpjXPupxayS53g1RF4/s640/20150709_205442343_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Where Moeen makes a bit of a mess of stopping it. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaPkW6oNIu-zHSq15d7vKQ_Wk3fMAqq52rAyL-rUdvLGTefbRr43VQ8-iS2R-g5L7xjsIF9znEXrHqwl76jDMZpqbcy-AZnPOKnLyN-pHhe47hxiZL3_VI_FNn2tbKkdRzrMa_MI_P-E/s1600/20150709_205514847_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSaPkW6oNIu-zHSq15d7vKQ_Wk3fMAqq52rAyL-rUdvLGTefbRr43VQ8-iS2R-g5L7xjsIF9znEXrHqwl76jDMZpqbcy-AZnPOKnLyN-pHhe47hxiZL3_VI_FNn2tbKkdRzrMa_MI_P-E/s640/20150709_205514847_iOS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Australia survive the day and close on 264-5. The wicket of Voges allows England a small smile and means that they may just be ahead, but this is, of course, Test cricket. It's an utterly enthralling contest.</i></td></tr>
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A massive wicket for England towards the close of play and they probably feel they're just ahead. The day belongs to two left handed batsmen, though. Moeen Ali's aggression in the morning session, combined with the two massive wickets of Smith and Clarke, have shown just how valuable a player he is to the England set-up. Chris Rogers played exceptionally well for his 95 before he handed Mark Wood his first Ashes wicket.<br />
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Anyway, this Test canters along at quite a pace. Will tomorrow bring an inevitable Brad Haddin century? When will the continuous references to the 2009 Cardiff Test send Ricky Ponting over the edge? Will Alastair Cook be able to father any more children? All this and more, tomorrow (if I'm not crying over the results at Wimbledon). </div>
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Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12213273019331765357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-24912271840248489922015-07-08T22:24:00.001+01:002015-07-08T22:37:41.535+01:00The Ashes: Cardiff Test, Day One<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68ydr3SxrnIOzvQc3pTUfsrKRu1wZWs6uPPG0tWFM8MCOKhVX01y2sT_PmRqpp1W6mhemZ1AqZf39yPXJAOVJaFxYjdGzZ4aXuOXohmbPol_X3KbvaEfIL6e1ZvZjPTwej4foO8fmTDo/s1600/Team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68ydr3SxrnIOzvQc3pTUfsrKRu1wZWs6uPPG0tWFM8MCOKhVX01y2sT_PmRqpp1W6mhemZ1AqZf39yPXJAOVJaFxYjdGzZ4aXuOXohmbPol_X3KbvaEfIL6e1ZvZjPTwej4foO8fmTDo/s640/Team.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here they are, the duck England squad. Front row (L-R): Finn, Anderson, Root, Cook (C), Broad, Bell. Back row (L-R): Lyth, Ali, Wood, Stokes, Buttler, Ballance, Rashid. Unfortunately I couldn't find a team photo to mock up for Australia, so you'll have to bear with me for them. </td></tr>
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Crikey, I didn't expect to be doing this again, but here we are. The reason for bringing back duck cricket is, as you would expect, quite odd. But that's duck cricket for you. Anyway, having spent the past three years gathering dust on my various bookshelves, the ducks have been dusted off and are ready for a summer of representing the Ashes action.<br />
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And so, to the action. Like six years ago, the first Test is taking place in the <strike>rain</strike> sunshine of the SWALEC Stadium in Cardiff. Six years ago, the Test finished in a pulsating draw as the last wicket pair of Monty Panesar and Jimmy Anderson held out for 11.3 overs. What will this Test bring? Here's day one...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWV46bhMT4aTTeHm8I8ixbdYqnHR8KT5v8gOv2EG1RqTyfU3YOuocTCTbgHxIgdBhL75DCALEd2IL42C8rS7bsZHPfxU1jifYnmtuHhObwuZY2pbxb7LKFnR8uN5fQzVVyRYcHuOn4E8/s1600/20150708_182410994_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWV46bhMT4aTTeHm8I8ixbdYqnHR8KT5v8gOv2EG1RqTyfU3YOuocTCTbgHxIgdBhL75DCALEd2IL42C8rS7bsZHPfxU1jifYnmtuHhObwuZY2pbxb7LKFnR8uN5fQzVVyRYcHuOn4E8/s640/20150708_182410994_iOS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rain is in the air and the ground has been soaked overnight but England, having won the toss, decide to have a bat. Cook, clearly on a high from an ODI series he had no part in, decides to put his faith in a top order that two Tests ago found themselves 30-4. Australia, to the bemusement of everyone, persist with Shane Watson rather than Mitchell Marsh, who had impressed in the warm up matches against Kent and Essex. </i></td></tr>
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Before the match can begin though, there's a bit more rain and the matter of an Ashes opening ceremony (no, really) to go through. The clock ticks past 11 and instead of Adam Lyth facing the first ball, we are greeted with a Welsh voice choir singing <i>Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, </i>followed by the anthems of Australia and 'England'. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpKpMEAyha0Z-sNosd9XvBEZ-soi9X7w7WS6gQFItQy60WbhAeRhsl4WSk7lk49yGsO9_bpcuOlXmhvChAvygNarX5TrUUn30omexcNBvxBDnGShf1AYGgzMw-N6rRg3LlK-kORCucIM/s1600/20150708_182906262_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizpKpMEAyha0Z-sNosd9XvBEZ-soi9X7w7WS6gQFItQy60WbhAeRhsl4WSk7lk49yGsO9_bpcuOlXmhvChAvygNarX5TrUUn30omexcNBvxBDnGShf1AYGgzMw-N6rRg3LlK-kORCucIM/s640/20150708_182906262_iOS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sadly this doesn't capture the true awfulness of the opening 'ceremony'. In the absence of a team photo for Australia, the duck representatives are, starting with the tiny camouflage one, as follows (L-R): Clarke, Smith, Johnson, Warner, Starc, Lyon, Voges, Haddin, Hazlewood, Watson and Rogers.</i></td></tr>
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Finally, at 11:15, 15 minutes after the scheduled start time, the Ashes gets underway. Mitchell Starc gets the honour of bowling the first ball - a big responsibility as sometimes, it sets the tone for the rest of the series. Would Starc bowl a Harmison? Would he take a wicket?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXwRrcY2ZB9KGdkEEJXJiBofMdX5WFblYGIphNWG6O9HgYteq0V8rl8IlnV7rEkc6_xxAFrG_b4drU5kAraOW3yWYkRZHpTb5okk-tkMoVg6y2JASufsXqycA4SsV_ZrqN0W0Spl3nYw/s1600/20150708_183504609_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXwRrcY2ZB9KGdkEEJXJiBofMdX5WFblYGIphNWG6O9HgYteq0V8rl8IlnV7rEkc6_xxAFrG_b4drU5kAraOW3yWYkRZHpTb5okk-tkMoVg6y2JASufsXqycA4SsV_ZrqN0W0Spl3nYw/s640/20150708_183504609_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>In the end, it sails harmlessly wide of Lyth's off stump and already, the pitch looks dead.</i></td></tr>
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England survive the first over and quickly get off the mark in the second. Lyth hits the first boundary of the England innings off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood as he strays onto Lyth's pads. However, a couple of balls later...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEWwbMBQIr61FzNhK6VAceA3VlWGeV9gmkHIh7G7BB7nU4daxj2ytnjI1k8Mjg78Lk0HsihXyjBu1gAfTWMltoZtLDLzHi58zL0ueztjz1G93N4dPIJwxhC62lEhyln8jkUYtmF2IOtU/s1600/20150708_183554874_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEWwbMBQIr61FzNhK6VAceA3VlWGeV9gmkHIh7G7BB7nU4daxj2ytnjI1k8Mjg78Lk0HsihXyjBu1gAfTWMltoZtLDLzHi58zL0ueztjz1G93N4dPIJwxhC62lEhyln8jkUYtmF2IOtU/s640/20150708_183554874_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lyth, looking to repeat his shot to the boundary gets in an awkward position and ends up spooning a leading edge...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Straight into the waiting <strike>hooves</strike> hands of David Warner. England are 7-1.</i></td></tr>
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An early wicket down and England's 2013/14 nemesis is brought on to bowl in an early change. Nothing to report really happens, so we jump to the 14th over with Nathan Lyon bowling. In a warm up game v Essex, Lyon ended up taking 1 wicket for 200 runs. England planned to attack.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeL7YtRhVXtLW3MRjWFjHAOKltlq9d2n2LUNbcOop8UrJbZBgBe-s1xlKPS6W3dLks6qkReD7ldTcuPD2xwHzglZgZSM5pyIZIVHPbriVvAR6lTlH0Z9_bzyhp4bgKO_DCfhi28UJxhhg/s1600/20150708_183822192_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeL7YtRhVXtLW3MRjWFjHAOKltlq9d2n2LUNbcOop8UrJbZBgBe-s1xlKPS6W3dLks6qkReD7ldTcuPD2xwHzglZgZSM5pyIZIVHPbriVvAR6lTlH0Z9_bzyhp4bgKO_DCfhi28UJxhhg/s640/20150708_183822192_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It didn't go to plan. Cook, not exactly attacking minded like fellow Essex players Tom Westley and Ravi Bopara, ends up bringing out his cut shot...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4dBTModQKk1ge0RdwqhNd8EUvHtlVLNjgec8E5apUtMN7nXevwKWdH4O5IGnGGI0zpUCoRWOKRKL6lJ2ikyMD0l89ihYJZqjuyluxvadK8aua7Uhng0Sc0KjkU8I-06rLN-O1mOeenA/s1600/20150708_183859651_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4dBTModQKk1ge0RdwqhNd8EUvHtlVLNjgec8E5apUtMN7nXevwKWdH4O5IGnGGI0zpUCoRWOKRKL6lJ2ikyMD0l89ihYJZqjuyluxvadK8aua7Uhng0Sc0KjkU8I-06rLN-O1mOeenA/s640/20150708_183859651_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And edging it behind into Brad Haddin's gloves. England are 42-2.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It brings Ian Bell to crease.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79xdetZ9BAlkm5XXG9AgwXn06JAT89SC-aEAdbAihUkmP6AOjaBd59aC0_O21PuPNd0o0YnkWzYlaDZqxW336iR39jjLkGHw4nLeaRSnw6F0i4aLXt3KWLB8DLiyCKsJkKl3ywQ-DxP0/s1600/20150708_184019930_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79xdetZ9BAlkm5XXG9AgwXn06JAT89SC-aEAdbAihUkmP6AOjaBd59aC0_O21PuPNd0o0YnkWzYlaDZqxW336iR39jjLkGHw4nLeaRSnw6F0i4aLXt3KWLB8DLiyCKsJkKl3ywQ-DxP0/s640/20150708_184019930_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And very quickly, he goes. His painful 7 ball innings comes to an end as he's trapped LBW by Mitchell Starc.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhII9PvnKvmHe7BFapO3jIA7HPc3OELSvMcMfXPLsMOmId9BiuJGBF4wjl1pHKeLuUpsP0APK8b1mBQa-PUswB0liAZt56K-0u1uyvhbgm8n5CNNzBB0iv0D0THtbAeSg_8f_OpILdZWYY/s1600/20150708_184040887_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhII9PvnKvmHe7BFapO3jIA7HPc3OELSvMcMfXPLsMOmId9BiuJGBF4wjl1pHKeLuUpsP0APK8b1mBQa-PUswB0liAZt56K-0u1uyvhbgm8n5CNNzBB0iv0D0THtbAeSg_8f_OpILdZWYY/s640/20150708_184040887_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bell ponders a review as it's possibly a bit leg-sided but it's probably umpire's call on Hawkeye. He doesn't bother and it leaves England in trouble at 43-3.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Bell's wicket brings Joe Root, the current darling of English cricket, to the crease. He's greeted with an LBW shout (inside edge) and then, chasing a wide one off the bowling of Starc, ends up hitting one behind. Fortunately for England, Brad Haddin drops it and Root, who later revealed he had no idea he'd edged it, survives.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg917WHLM672wSLleb1f6SmUM6zOU77pkxM25hXrjZVp2QDIm78nO1bUgkum-yGlO0nCXBzzDuZvqGigL_H_70Aq5LpoqikC1z5kgIPSMad1i-KMpRaABYwQ1cUPRbsVY8KP4Yt6dvyU9M/s1600/20150708_184334077_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg917WHLM672wSLleb1f6SmUM6zOU77pkxM25hXrjZVp2QDIm78nO1bUgkum-yGlO0nCXBzzDuZvqGigL_H_70Aq5LpoqikC1z5kgIPSMad1i-KMpRaABYwQ1cUPRbsVY8KP4Yt6dvyU9M/s640/20150708_184334077_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>After an uncomfortable first three balls, Root gets off the mark with a lovely drive down the ground for 4.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCCol_P8KsYb6TMwLSp51-kwvPGnltIYg6xVQoKPZFqq2VvhMgXnfuk9D_4IMjwZcBI6i0YqJvmPFXKchNO5mXIxVyTemU2QYhTlPi4DVAWv4zE6rc-qt8PRCZSvHVz8Ji426MVjGrsE/s1600/20150708_184356908_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCCol_P8KsYb6TMwLSp51-kwvPGnltIYg6xVQoKPZFqq2VvhMgXnfuk9D_4IMjwZcBI6i0YqJvmPFXKchNO5mXIxVyTemU2QYhTlPi4DVAWv4zE6rc-qt8PRCZSvHVz8Ji426MVjGrsE/s640/20150708_184356908_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Essex bias is subtle as ever.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
England go into lunch 88-3. Could be better, could be much, much worse.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYU5UNSwvKI1Bhz4QDoh1Wo2ox_hT3RD8ULjEZSEBfu8lVOCCAWPv3FIsm8bntMSZ9I0lfArQsaHq9BZwuvBb2QIj8HVWE8GQ0MSyqis-8XOkr9TiVOvUeyudd8WPHtvrg1UopsgcYnMI/s1600/20150708_184608451_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYU5UNSwvKI1Bhz4QDoh1Wo2ox_hT3RD8ULjEZSEBfu8lVOCCAWPv3FIsm8bntMSZ9I0lfArQsaHq9BZwuvBb2QIj8HVWE8GQ0MSyqis-8XOkr9TiVOvUeyudd8WPHtvrg1UopsgcYnMI/s640/20150708_184608451_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A partnership develops between Ballance and Root, soon reaching 50. An edged 4 between third slip and gully brings up England's 100. Root, after a dodgy start and a few 'Brad Haddin' esque inside edges past the stumps, is playing some lovely cricket and soon brings up his 50. He attempts to play through midwicket but instead ends up sending it over to cover.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCe9XOWUpC1-23O1RyZbYTp8u25vEtQhCVoIofrHcP7Mxmdq2wJ3nP0t6jM5ZDERMQxH39hCfn5jC1jqfoIXAwNEXTEHNkVZga2MZAzUEAoopwResrZU_unU9WDBsE7y40OLIRwxX48cI/s1600/20150708_184637787_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCe9XOWUpC1-23O1RyZbYTp8u25vEtQhCVoIofrHcP7Mxmdq2wJ3nP0t6jM5ZDERMQxH39hCfn5jC1jqfoIXAwNEXTEHNkVZga2MZAzUEAoopwResrZU_unU9WDBsE7y40OLIRwxX48cI/s640/20150708_184637787_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Root gets 2 and reaches his half century. "ROOOOOOOOOOOT" shouts the crowd, although David Warner is convinced they're booing.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
England continue to rebuild. Root, going at a good pace, and Ballance looking to anchor one end, continue to keep the England score ticking over. In desperation, and w<span style="text-align: center;">ith Clarke off the field, vice captain Smith goes for an optimistic review on an LBW shout on Root off the bowling of Lyon. It's optimistic because it transpires it pitched outside leg. Soon afterwards, a "quick" three between Ballance and Root sees them bring up their hundred partnership. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-Q2TOFNilEki6LJ3aQjW9_-hSwRnXO6_m735LBLCvekiRrK3eXtKC0PsPVlD7wVwP09peiWoPXVGhwhAjT6IGmX_I83gfAFhwOhyEqS4gwDE5x9ZwcnGQ3kzTR0dEHw5-AoGCp3g1v8/s1600/20150708_184849259_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-Q2TOFNilEki6LJ3aQjW9_-hSwRnXO6_m735LBLCvekiRrK3eXtKC0PsPVlD7wVwP09peiWoPXVGhwhAjT6IGmX_I83gfAFhwOhyEqS4gwDE5x9ZwcnGQ3kzTR0dEHw5-AoGCp3g1v8/s640/20150708_184849259_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Another 4 for Root, this time off Watson, sees England bring up the 150.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrncJ7dqAalxB62L2Cf9CJq1AkB6Jqv0lcUpBrjf4RFPyKOcQriWQ-LvrXuKcgrYW4Li1RRufek-O468LSKsKLluZxfoa-kRnOJuKCEOwEVvlkfYblzOURbNTBQx87Zyqv-bJkHj-sgg/s1600/20150708_184937236_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrncJ7dqAalxB62L2Cf9CJq1AkB6Jqv0lcUpBrjf4RFPyKOcQriWQ-LvrXuKcgrYW4Li1RRufek-O468LSKsKLluZxfoa-kRnOJuKCEOwEVvlkfYblzOURbNTBQx87Zyqv-bJkHj-sgg/s640/20150708_184937236_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Starc, getting some abuse from some drunk Welshmen in the crowd, finds himself dispatched to the boundary by Ballance...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGIKfPYoBMjTgC8baytLfalW9oOHaMb4u0XOfsgxIA0Ia0CkdLGRN-K2m-u2EMkYdWNnpDVT2qJ-GMOhLmyMvoYpw6CTisBFf0srDxiKC58g4WB9IOTr8d3S-EsCVkNkz6BjU0-pfNWY/s1600/20150708_185020357_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGIKfPYoBMjTgC8baytLfalW9oOHaMb4u0XOfsgxIA0Ia0CkdLGRN-K2m-u2EMkYdWNnpDVT2qJ-GMOhLmyMvoYpw6CTisBFf0srDxiKC58g4WB9IOTr8d3S-EsCVkNkz6BjU0-pfNWY/s640/20150708_185020357_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>And it brings up his half century. Him and Root see out the rest of the session and head into tea on 190-3. </i></td></tr>
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A recovery from England and some runs for Gary Ballance, which is good to see after some early season struggles against New Zealand.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFVWDsTvEt-_b51yBznIKdiMfYG8FHXu8Y8QtAXZ7UTKTNBXPKn3gYrp-AZAoECToysX3ap-HZ5rrgXoM53GQdnxfq_bdbGo_LoArrYVrYmkmolspa0I7J9cvuCYJM48mXWxVe3SdwfU/s1600/20150708_190204452_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFVWDsTvEt-_b51yBznIKdiMfYG8FHXu8Y8QtAXZ7UTKTNBXPKn3gYrp-AZAoECToysX3ap-HZ5rrgXoM53GQdnxfq_bdbGo_LoArrYVrYmkmolspa0I7J9cvuCYJM48mXWxVe3SdwfU/s640/20150708_190204452_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Soon after tea, though, England's resistance breaks. Ballance misses a straight one off Josh Hazlewood and is on his way for 61. England are 196-4. It brings the leader of the next generation of ginger heroes, Ben Stokes, to the crease.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXQIpMejxAXEUSG4peXhJiOffaJvxjtsTHSdELyiRO7sWqr5i3UuLGkgjlUKiiI_dVDOBw4XH1fa1B6mQwMvnK3Y7PC0NQ4rZmibLR4amPHr7gdFpGcAUr44nultTgry79S4J-mWz4pg/s1600/20150708_190314793_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXQIpMejxAXEUSG4peXhJiOffaJvxjtsTHSdELyiRO7sWqr5i3UuLGkgjlUKiiI_dVDOBw4XH1fa1B6mQwMvnK3Y7PC0NQ4rZmibLR4amPHr7gdFpGcAUr44nultTgry79S4J-mWz4pg/s640/20150708_190314793_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Meanwhile at the other end, Root continues to score runs, here hitting a boundary...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTRGiOOdhHX3WZWIRWuVD3dZqFyzVIUjqdkke4JrcWgOP1H1_DGIiacUniuDsBrQjbJh_p86cgiOnwalManqfk2NRGiNzTlmJVx2Hip5rOM-RdkaApDh0H5MahKA_rRYtHra00Mf4yEI/s1600/20150708_190400491_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTRGiOOdhHX3WZWIRWuVD3dZqFyzVIUjqdkke4JrcWgOP1H1_DGIiacUniuDsBrQjbJh_p86cgiOnwalManqfk2NRGiNzTlmJVx2Hip5rOM-RdkaApDh0H5MahKA_rRYtHra00Mf4yEI/s640/20150708_190400491_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Which brings up his second Ashes century (cheers Brad). Stokes is ecstatic and runs to embrace the young Yorkshireman.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdvYKJPBk3_BUdY4OOtaP5WaAxygK7Up0IsFILEuRN7mqa9CnW_uz6KAFGd_4nFvyEfaJRI74v-2cWVUDNhoz4VTVS6_D5LTLNTGTHMBiYhlnWNjXAeipej_aDwvAu2nctawpKHYS6cE/s1600/20150708_190915649_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdvYKJPBk3_BUdY4OOtaP5WaAxygK7Up0IsFILEuRN7mqa9CnW_uz6KAFGd_4nFvyEfaJRI74v-2cWVUDNhoz4VTVS6_D5LTLNTGTHMBiYhlnWNjXAeipej_aDwvAu2nctawpKHYS6cE/s640/20150708_190915649_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>After top edging Johnson for 6, Stokes continues where Essex left off and almost launches Lyon into the River Taff for a huge 6.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgoeIiomhFH3rn0UIARtg8rpmHljfHRPq5TnoQ86BMWcsp5AcHWjVXUXGKn2DhLFEW6Fg_VPwqlq3-nMiYXL7vn30hEOUVC1CUrF0XDEFLmOaO79MNuSkuiSOwCjUwwr3IOPpSM4C5os/s1600/20150708_191005161_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgoeIiomhFH3rn0UIARtg8rpmHljfHRPq5TnoQ86BMWcsp5AcHWjVXUXGKn2DhLFEW6Fg_VPwqlq3-nMiYXL7vn30hEOUVC1CUrF0XDEFLmOaO79MNuSkuiSOwCjUwwr3IOPpSM4C5os/s640/20150708_191005161_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>England bring up the 250. Clarke, looking for a wicket, turns to the unlikely bowler of David Warner (who actually has 4 Test wickets along with a terrible moustache). But the breakthrough doesn't come until Root, looking for another drive off the bowling of Starc, ends up edging it...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsolQqA6FiKSw5AlCOPepYTCyGg7GJvam8dryePpuMyWfapQFIseRmV0W4Z30hUpcIwJYdaHU6CAx0oZiufAxAdtCnzWrWCc-t4XEAyWm6tH2GNLCoSko0ocFoqdJG8MSFlbg-u5D6rQ/s1600/20150708_191018398_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsolQqA6FiKSw5AlCOPepYTCyGg7GJvam8dryePpuMyWfapQFIseRmV0W4Z30hUpcIwJYdaHU6CAx0oZiufAxAdtCnzWrWCc-t4XEAyWm6tH2GNLCoSko0ocFoqdJG8MSFlbg-u5D6rQ/s640/20150708_191018398_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Straight to Shane Watson at first slip, who takes a low catch.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IG2KnnGqrnszOmNcbHFCUcMTXbcc_Acd0pV2lk8ItVE1_cUSzG-UbZ-Lo9MrSfv6HBWgGR3auW3cu5gHAjXnkZ7T4drMeZSXfKWMjPRG2ZBnQ1_x9cEC3K9RflslpNVGvkkpnGShdDE/s1600/20150708_191208993_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IG2KnnGqrnszOmNcbHFCUcMTXbcc_Acd0pV2lk8ItVE1_cUSzG-UbZ-Lo9MrSfv6HBWgGR3auW3cu5gHAjXnkZ7T4drMeZSXfKWMjPRG2ZBnQ1_x9cEC3K9RflslpNVGvkkpnGShdDE/s640/20150708_191208993_iOS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Root departs for a brilliant 134 and it leaves England 280-5. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgzE0vK59E-0WEVjmR7L-KnP45U-KYA2EKPqay2oxxTaOkmUgqGiu7gTeAXTMeogE_sh2OC9wxbCY31bxZuUHUQCPP_aiTecXD45OMPNkMf62mN3YpIqj6I52CPZto2bcounV5NcPsVU/s1600/20150708_191301191_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgzE0vK59E-0WEVjmR7L-KnP45U-KYA2EKPqay2oxxTaOkmUgqGiu7gTeAXTMeogE_sh2OC9wxbCY31bxZuUHUQCPP_aiTecXD45OMPNkMf62mN3YpIqj6I52CPZto2bcounV5NcPsVU/s640/20150708_191301191_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stokes continues to look to be positive off the bowling of Lyon and he squirts a 3 into the offside...</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnGuUKzvqgEaLCoEV98J37dq4_4FQHOeiJRUlfdIsP5uDXEqK9WJf07Emx2iUylKqGRVk2Z28Wqu2huTtVEZkxyjsX-ioAeEgXvNiGvIrvdYW2253bxLJUHyogw6t70it16J3TSNR6Iw/s1600/20150708_191349098_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnGuUKzvqgEaLCoEV98J37dq4_4FQHOeiJRUlfdIsP5uDXEqK9WJf07Emx2iUylKqGRVk2Z28Wqu2huTtVEZkxyjsX-ioAeEgXvNiGvIrvdYW2253bxLJUHyogw6t70it16J3TSNR6Iw/s640/20150708_191349098_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>To bring up his half century. All England sides need at least one proper ginger.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8NQhxIgVVVYy8DKrxD8XaqN42g-MFpomIML-93KC3wZfhb7Xj62J32vHFXR9TM-A1eXNIsjKKDt6YGwIdUwUvgapiNosEULQpXdxUEGhYz9BauQ_HEr-74yyoyN_HkM5aKXRCfpdpTg/s1600/20150708_191447642_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8NQhxIgVVVYy8DKrxD8XaqN42g-MFpomIML-93KC3wZfhb7Xj62J32vHFXR9TM-A1eXNIsjKKDt6YGwIdUwUvgapiNosEULQpXdxUEGhYz9BauQ_HEr-74yyoyN_HkM5aKXRCfpdpTg/s640/20150708_191447642_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>But Stokes soon departs as well. Starc, a man who clearly hates mornings and is usually rejuvenated by some bread at the tea break, gets one to swing past Stokes and sends his stumps clattering to the ground. Starc raises a finger to his lips, and Stokes is on his way. Expect the 'shush' to turn up at some point during Australia's innings. Probably from Joe Root.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Cd0b4jA7zKeKERjA71tZOlsnGZVKRaWOcQxanvouaWEIPUKcHXQfMkJ5_UJXmqK4nRbcxoilyKyRBC3-WOXkViXq1G28SytIZqJOufDKpWc0iLX1TvVO6bpsLfDrIadA5MqzZdsOneU/s1600/20150708_191610081_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Cd0b4jA7zKeKERjA71tZOlsnGZVKRaWOcQxanvouaWEIPUKcHXQfMkJ5_UJXmqK4nRbcxoilyKyRBC3-WOXkViXq1G28SytIZqJOufDKpWc0iLX1TvVO6bpsLfDrIadA5MqzZdsOneU/s640/20150708_191610081_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Buttler gets down the other end and sends Starc to the boundary in the same over as Stokes falling. But Starc is struggling, either with cramp or an injury. Everyone hopes it's just cramp, although reports suggest that he might've done something to his ankle. We'll have to wait and see.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVu51zhYVk1oKA2C7CdLVOx1pKkBABk11eBm4Fo0vlrFIt15nb-1J2mRDluAtlly4G_32Sp-JujxexDNXcOpAdLowZ6z9TGBAdlvGruAN5s5IxyLFe89g7243M5Sjg3Dxpqb9cRR7r9U/s1600/20150708_191753138_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVu51zhYVk1oKA2C7CdLVOx1pKkBABk11eBm4Fo0vlrFIt15nb-1J2mRDluAtlly4G_32Sp-JujxexDNXcOpAdLowZ6z9TGBAdlvGruAN5s5IxyLFe89g7243M5Sjg3Dxpqb9cRR7r9U/s640/20150708_191753138_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Moeen Ali also gets in on the attacking Lyon action by sweeping him over the boundary for 6.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEbmcFvGEjHqWya7lUPvunWvorORuDEGZg2hWab-BSX-cosAC_ph4M0SeKGwz2pUsr5f00R-1btp1w4As_H9x88OiILfcR7Qj_1IjG9S6B1bdMqa0tU2ct2oaaDZZVt2TLYJaR0TifYk/s1600/20150708_191907252_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEbmcFvGEjHqWya7lUPvunWvorORuDEGZg2hWab-BSX-cosAC_ph4M0SeKGwz2pUsr5f00R-1btp1w4As_H9x88OiILfcR7Qj_1IjG9S6B1bdMqa0tU2ct2oaaDZZVt2TLYJaR0TifYk/s640/20150708_191907252_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A clip off the pads for 4 for Moeen, off the bowling of Johnson, brings up the 50 partnership between him and Buttler.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpunu4VpthMcWAHfRqMIyzqgL8bnGXWOzaLPlr_EqdkBlKz1rFxoV77gexH8sIOXgaJyf90NVF1Dvres6cB_eHfkB-JAC_ovrXB5rAtYYfbVhoiidvZm-2qUAH9C58o4ygl6LUy0_KcU8/s1600/20150708_192004166_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpunu4VpthMcWAHfRqMIyzqgL8bnGXWOzaLPlr_EqdkBlKz1rFxoV77gexH8sIOXgaJyf90NVF1Dvres6cB_eHfkB-JAC_ovrXB5rAtYYfbVhoiidvZm-2qUAH9C58o4ygl6LUy0_KcU8/s640/20150708_192004166_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Their 50 partnership comes up off only 51 deliveries.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgaFNXquK8GYDbIQ1zoiIw9sb9gXwFh1QO2GfNrtLHO3o3XxOmnya6pEV1Cgux-mNTvEEhiX8tmKRphu3Ql8ASkdfXrBLH0TmHe4uvkmubW8y4NFX1cC31I5n34_P3CSOhxIsHqF3Wr0/s1600/20150708_192036853_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgaFNXquK8GYDbIQ1zoiIw9sb9gXwFh1QO2GfNrtLHO3o3XxOmnya6pEV1Cgux-mNTvEEhiX8tmKRphu3Ql8ASkdfXrBLH0TmHe4uvkmubW8y4NFX1cC31I5n34_P3CSOhxIsHqF3Wr0/s640/20150708_192036853_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>But, in a massive blow for England before the close, Jos Buttler departs.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyMU0l1P51mTujE2awZUfKX8kd8Vvt8Uu2PnrYSRZTEII4TlkAwRRfgwRLjRAvXg4b3OBeubBPzmN4DttyYvWN3wZ_mFuBKP1MN8I6VhqDGxpKrGprTR0Bgz98u3YVLN9lJq9neR4QYw/s1600/20150708_192103182_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyMU0l1P51mTujE2awZUfKX8kd8Vvt8Uu2PnrYSRZTEII4TlkAwRRfgwRLjRAvXg4b3OBeubBPzmN4DttyYvWN3wZ_mFuBKP1MN8I6VhqDGxpKrGprTR0Bgz98u3YVLN9lJq9neR4QYw/s640/20150708_192103182_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>He plays a poor shot, clipping it straight to waiting hands of Mitchell Johnson at mid on. He departs for 27 and it leaves England 343-7.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVhUJgp-850q3ZDzT0Twz_OVKs4Kc41YCB5wMOyxtlzuttC-6M1GEfnW3lxiEBh1fOa1qCefr5BpjU-BvJSGwv0YuyQX0eQcyLtAzBckJiqUDfK3opt5TZEXRAyUGIfjx7yaB5MmbM2Y/s1600/20150708_192204156_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVhUJgp-850q3ZDzT0Twz_OVKs4Kc41YCB5wMOyxtlzuttC-6M1GEfnW3lxiEBh1fOa1qCefr5BpjU-BvJSGwv0YuyQX0eQcyLtAzBckJiqUDfK3opt5TZEXRAyUGIfjx7yaB5MmbM2Y/s640/20150708_192204156_iOS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mo attempts to smash Johnson's last ball of the day to the boundary but it instead sails harmlessly past and is collected by Haddin. The last over of the day is bowled by Josh Hazlewood, with Broad facing. He turns down a single off the penultimate delivery of the day and takes the final delivery. It, like the first ball of the day, is wide outside off stump. England survive and close on 343-7.</i></td></tr>
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<br />
Blimey, I forgot how long this takes to put together.<br />
<br />
Anyway, that's day 1 and it's fair to say it's honour's even. The wicket of Buttler is a huge bonus for Australia and a massive blow for England's chances of getting to 400. However, after being 43-3, England closing on 343-7 is excellent and it means that the day belongs, ultimately, to Joe Root. The bowling of Hazlewood and Starc, especially in the later hours of the day, caused England some bother and that's to be commended on a pitch that looking flat, and very dead. Whilst it's only been a year since the last Ashes series, it remains special and it's good to see England, albeit only on the first day, have a bit of fight.<br />
<br />
And so, to the key questions ahead of day two. Will England get 400? Why is Mark Wood a Viking? Is Steve Smith the Baby Jesus? In fact, have I just raided a nativity set for some of these ducks? All these questions will (well, only the first one) be answered tomorrow morning. Do feel free to join me for day 2 highlights, hopefully not at this time of night tomorrow (I got sidetracked the Gasquet-Wawrinka match, sorry).Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12213273019331765357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-79465706701050916552014-11-19T15:02:00.000+00:002014-11-19T15:05:18.494+00:00KP: The AutobiographyThere's a scene in <i>The Simspons</i> episode 'Homer at the Bat' where Bart and Lisa continually bait the baseball player Darryl Strawberry from the stands. Marge, their mother, chastises the children but Bart and Lisa respond with reasoning: that he's a professional athlete, that he's used to it and the taunting "rolls right off their backs". It then cuts to an image of Darryl Strawberry, sniffing and with a tear rolling down his cheek, reminding us that this mega-star of baseball is, in fact, a human being with feelings.<br />
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Throughout reading Pietersen's book I found myself thinking of this Simpsons scene. We, the spectators, sometimes all too easily forget that the people we are watching on the field in front of us are human beings, who can hear our criticisms, our insults and our praise. And then there were other times whilst reading it that I found myself expecting someone to be hit by a bus, like Regina George in the film <i>Mean Girls</i>.<br />
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It is, perhaps, one of the most frustrating books I have ever read. There were times when I would shout at it, throw it in a corner and refuse to pick it up again for an hour or so. But curiosity always got the better of me and I would find myself picking it up again and devouring it.<br />
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I admit to being a fan of Pietersen and someone who has always sympathised with him. It might be because I only started following cricket in 2004 and am not used to the conventional English cricketer, but there was something about him back then that I liked. I remember reading a quote in 2005 from Michael Vaughan stating something along the lines of all Pietersen wanted was a hug, some reassurance and suddenly I found myself sympathising with this larger than life character with the big, bold hair and wondered if there was something more to him than this 'ego' on show.<br />
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Pietersen himself admits something along those lines throughout the book. It is, as you would expect, an incredibly open and frank account of himself. We gain background knowledge of his childhood in South Africa, of his family life (with an account of his father that would probably be of great interest to many psychologists). His South African childhood and his battle with his national identity are always underlying, always a tension within himself and within the book. He states, on page 134, that "I'm not as cocky as my image suggests. I'm as insecure as the next bloke, and when I first played for England I was desperate to be accepted."<br />
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This desire for acceptance, this wanting to be seen as someone who he eventually realises he is not, is something that Pietersen regrets. He admits that "off the field, I'm a much quieter more solitary person than people imagine" (p225). It is clear that throughout Pietersen's career that he feels there has been this great misunderstanding around him. His need for constant reassurance is not met, admitting that he needs "someone to come along and tell me that I'm playing like a million dollars" as he describes himself as "very shallow" (p129). He is frustrated by the image created of him early in his career and is annoyed by how these early conceptions of him have not been disregarded with the more matches he has played.<br />
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Of course, he hasn't helped himself. The sagas in 2009 and 2012 are incredibly difficult to forget, soap operas that were embarrassing for all involved. But they are something, especially in the case of 2012, that he is apologetic about. However, he is a man who is frustrated and hurting. A man who looks at the conduct of some of his other professionals and wonders why they're not being punished like him for similar misdemeanours. A man who looks at his coach stepping down from ODI cricket and wonders why they are allowed to pick and choose their formats whereas he, a player in a similar position, is not. "It was one rule for one player and another rule for me" (p198) he says.<br />
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When he talks about the skills involved in playing cricket, it is an incredibly fascinating read. He talks about the technical side of the game, the adjustments that must be made when playing spin. At times, it does read like a love letter to the IPL but at others, you realise that maybe this is knowledge and experience that a lot of young English cricketers would benefit from. When he talks about the mental side of the game, it is again another interesting read. It gives an insight into the mind of and the pressures on the professional cricketer, especially a batsman. Pietersen says, on his seeming arrogance at the crease that "conveying arrogance at the wicket has always been about using my body language as a defence mechanism. Never let them [the opposition] see a weakness. Never let them know there is a war going on in your head" (p143). His insistence that he has helped to coach younger cricketers, his passion and commitment to practice (although, interestingly, mostly alone and on his own cricketing terms) and his knowledge and enthusiasm for the game all come through in these passages, which is what makes these parts, in a book filled with high school-esque drama, worth reading. <br />
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It would be easy to dismiss the claims in Pietersen's book as those of a bitter ex. Too easy. Because if you can wade through the endless 'buddies' and continual sniping and elements of his flashy life, then you come to realise that, at the heart of it, he may just have a point. One of the most interesting parts of the book comes in one of the early chapters, 'I Am Like a Hurricane. Not.' He states, "I don't do comfort zones, and if I feel like you are the kind of person who enjoys the comfort zone way of life, I tell you [...] I think me confronting mediocrity throughout my career has earned me this reputation of being destructive." (p117). This book is Pietersen's very public attempt at confronting the mediocrity that appears to be endemic in English cricket.<br />
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Yes, he's big, brash and not everyone's cup of tea, but rather than ignore or dismiss this autobiography, perhaps it should be used as a wake up call that English cricket is far too in its own comfort zone. Cricket, especially English cricket, needs big characters, who stand up for their beliefs, otherwise cricket will decline in this country. The English may well have invented this game, but it is the other nations that are rising up and making the game what it is today. And the longer it is that the powers that be in English cricket keep their heads in the sand, the worse off cricket, both in this nation and abroad, will be for it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(All quotes come from Kevin Pietersen, <i>KP: The Autobiography </i>(St Ives: Sphere, 2014)</span></div>
Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12213273019331765357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-24639423463763205612012-12-31T19:09:00.000+00:002013-09-10T14:41:01.218+01:00On 2012:<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxqENm3k-4fPed-L-lxd5MciiNXUv2Et4V5J6K77Wtvltxb2T8V45dDQ_qx0H5AQq77r64BiOwS6tBj_1JkPyET95f9uC7-tEXpyOK7CkanuXSWInMA2KXKgTgjdKmJFdmfNrv5prLVNG/s640/blogger-image--526305250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxqENm3k-4fPed-L-lxd5MciiNXUv2Et4V5J6K77Wtvltxb2T8V45dDQ_qx0H5AQq77r64BiOwS6tBj_1JkPyET95f9uC7-tEXpyOK7CkanuXSWInMA2KXKgTgjdKmJFdmfNrv5prLVNG/s400/blogger-image--526305250.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A golden Monday 3rd September 2012 - Thank you Mickey Bushell.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today marks the end of phenomenal sporting year and has caused me to make a brief return from blogging hiatus to provide a personal reflection on the year of 2012. There are plenty of blogs/articles out there which will provide better and more analytical reviews of the incredible events of this year but, since I have watched so much sport this year, I thought it was easier to make a post rather than clog up Twitter feeds.</span><br />
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I've been all over the country watching cricket this year, travelling up north to Durham, Old Trafford and Headingley, out west to Worcestershire and a wet Glamorgan and have spent more time than is necessary on the Greater Anglia service down to London Liverpool Street to head to Lord's and The Oval. I've spent so long watching Hashim Amla this summer that it bordered on Stockholm Syndrome in the final ODI at Trent Bridge. And through my travels, watching both cricket and Ipswich Town, I've met so many wonderful people, so many that if I tried to list them all then I'd undoubtedly miss someone. </span><br />
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2012 will be looked upon with great fondness by many people, both in Britain and abroad, but for me, here are five personal moments that have made my year.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />5. England v West Indies, Trent Bridge</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to a lot of cricket this summer, some would probably argue too much and that I should get a proper job, and this Test was my first one of the long tour around the country. I enjoyed watching South Africa and the ODI series against Australia (remember, that one where Ravi Bopara was good), but there's something about the West Indies, despite the horrible decline they have been in for a number of years, which always gets cricket fans excited. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Windies did show some fight on this tour, giving England some scares along the way in some sessions of play, but they weren't able to continue the pressure. Kemar Roach is one for the future and we did get the joy of Tino Best scoring 95 as a number 11, hopefully consigning the 'Mind the windows' sledge to the past. On the second day of this Test, where we'd sat freezing in the back row of an incredibly windy New Stand on what was probably the hottest day of the year, had brought centuries for Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels and Andrew Strauss.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPF6DjyIxa58cROpc8-ax-WMUGxsidLdCqImoJ4JZAIWqJDf5GWGb1wSGXNQrVIMv8bwuJwUhAQ9pSD71WWmCM_SCpI5u3aBu3M9xp9i7akTzQDCVcB_QHP0wKBXhkqo3VUQw8Pitja4f/s1600/P1100454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPF6DjyIxa58cROpc8-ax-WMUGxsidLdCqImoJ4JZAIWqJDf5GWGb1wSGXNQrVIMv8bwuJwUhAQ9pSD71WWmCM_SCpI5u3aBu3M9xp9i7akTzQDCVcB_QHP0wKBXhkqo3VUQw8Pitja4f/s640/P1100454.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turns out I witnessed Andrew Strauss' last century. That's one for the grandchildren (or not).</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By day four, following a terrible West Indies collapse, England were well on their way to victory. The ground was pretty much empty with only students and the retired present. It didn't stop the Fox Road Stand from having some fun with Ravi Rampaul. At one point they persuaded Darren Sammy to move him back to his old position, chanting "We want our Ravi back" and "Ravi for England". Over on the other side of the ground, a man in a horse mask decided to try and get some cheering going in the New Stand and William Clarke Stand as he ran along the front. He was quickly dealt with by the stewards.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trent Bridge, despite the amount of Norwich City fans I seem to bump into up there, is probably my favourite ground in England. It's a strange choice, I know, but I love the atmosphere of the place and how easy it is to wander round the ground. You feel close to the action and, no matter where you are in the ground, you seem to get a great view. Plus, if you're sat in the middle tier of the Radcliffe Road End, you can always bump into someone like Henry Blofeld or Sir Viv Richards. Or be followed up the stairs by Nasser Hussain.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Twenty20 Finals Day </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What happens when a nun, a cat, a devil, Minnie Mouse and three Somerset fans head to Cardiff for Twenty20 Finals Day? Quite a lot, actually - most of which I will be keeping to myself!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having had a rained off ODI the previous day, we returned to Cardiff to be greeted by blue skies, hard hats and, unfortunately for the players, found ourselves seated in an area near the dugouts. As I was the only one there whose county hadn't reached the SWALEC, I soon found myself adopting Yorkshire and Somerset.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_INagrpZqpt3Qol1o0IYR-4P4XHnjTMCnOeL0byLmKQL0oz3f4EvoIeVYrFof-duqD7MR5sMdMwhqx_wesvbUaosBr6RGVIA7_Qh9QFMNsoYZX02cGmKuabCFP3g_AqKvAPmbCZmToBrS/s1600/P1110628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_INagrpZqpt3Qol1o0IYR-4P4XHnjTMCnOeL0byLmKQL0oz3f4EvoIeVYrFof-duqD7MR5sMdMwhqx_wesvbUaosBr6RGVIA7_Qh9QFMNsoYZX02cGmKuabCFP3g_AqKvAPmbCZmToBrS/s640/P1110628.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See, the sun does shine in Wales!</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a day of laughter, shouting 'Tintin' at Joe Root, getting strange looks off a perpetually confused Tim Bresnan and a day of being able to wander around with a hard hat on without looking out of place. We chanted, we cheered and I got a couple of bats being raised in my direction by a few of the Yorkshire players as I stood up in a nun's habit waving a Yorkshire flag.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Twenty20 often gets a lot of stick. Yes, it doesn't have the ebbs and flow of a Test match, sometimes the quality of the cricket is atrocious and many people don't like the 'football' or 'carnival' atmosphere, but Finals Day is an enjoyable day out, regardless of whether or not your county is there. From the mascot race to the action that takes place on the pitch, there really is something for everyone, from the youngster a parent is desperately trying to get into the game to the seasoned cricket watcher.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEMS7PVuCdAzKNIEz_Q4DcfLRIEj3KOCMn4PvMfBYQNcJbtqJy5y2JDOv61hyphenhyphen6PODbrPCEopaJ9cMZqw0XpQARuPlRyIix1z6-MAp6XLLqY9z2vyMRHzRDrTqUt4h1EMrr6JTMgtZeeCs/s1600/P1110687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEMS7PVuCdAzKNIEz_Q4DcfLRIEj3KOCMn4PvMfBYQNcJbtqJy5y2JDOv61hyphenhyphen6PODbrPCEopaJ9cMZqw0XpQARuPlRyIix1z6-MAp6XLLqY9z2vyMRHzRDrTqUt4h1EMrr6JTMgtZeeCs/s640/P1110687.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Essex's contribution to the 2012 Mascot Race was about as good as their contribution to the 2012 Twenty20 competition.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only down side of the day was that our unfortunate mantra which was 'Anyone but Hamsphire'. Naturally, it left us all incredibly disappointed when they crowned Twenty20 champions despite the heroic effort of David Miller for Yorkshire in the final. It's the second time I've seen Hampshire win Finals Day and I fear I may be some sort of lucky charm for them. We've already sorted out our tickets for Edgbaston next year, so should Hampshire be there and you see someone dressed as a dragon at fine leg, then stick a couple of quid on them as I could unwittingly make it third time lucky for them.<br />
<br /><b>3. The Olympics meets the Headingley Test</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMza3pKFOiiLrNc8QJA2rk1bUcR_ZjL9D42KBlT1q8ZCm0J3i-wXfKfSGltYJIpNtplmYg2ZMX5tQr7niBotkwT2yVQrk_BVL88sSPh58iibvXVvTiFDENkIE_Xfd5ywb21YXJWG-MJMxb/s1600/P1110385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMza3pKFOiiLrNc8QJA2rk1bUcR_ZjL9D42KBlT1q8ZCm0J3i-wXfKfSGltYJIpNtplmYg2ZMX5tQr7niBotkwT2yVQrk_BVL88sSPh58iibvXVvTiFDENkIE_Xfd5ywb21YXJWG-MJMxb/s640/P1110385.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If one picture could sum up an experience in the Western Terrace at Headingley, then this might well do it. </span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I headed up to Yorkshire to go to the second Test between England and South Africa and over the course of 5 days, it became clear that the most popular outfit of the Test was men with sideburns, wearing a yellow jersey and wearing a 'gold' medal around their neck. There were many others dressed as swimmers. There may have been someone dressed in a blonde wig claiming to be Rebecca Adlington, but that might well have been a Terrace induced nightmare after seeing Borat on the shoulders of a Smurf.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To celebrate the Jubilee and the Olympics, Headingley had given out free flags on the first day of the Test. Whenever news reached the crowd of another gold medal, there'd be cheering and people would wave their mini Union Flags or their Flankies. The Test, like much of this year, was rain affected and it was on the fourth day that a massive storm made itself known during the afternoon session. Down in London, less than a month after his Wimbledon final defeat, Andy Murray was well under way in his gold medal match against Roger Federer. I'd been getting text updates from my mum and when we headed down to the bar after I got freaked out by one incredibly loud rumble of thunder, we were greeted by hoards of people, as you would expect, crowded round the bars.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What wasn't expected though was that nobody was buying anything. The queue areas were empty as people kept back, their eyes transfixed on the screen as Murray had Gold Medal point against the match who'd trumped him the previous month. A hush came down across as he was ready to serve and then came an ace. Cheering followed and someone burst into the national anthem. You wouldn't have thought a Scotsman could unite the Western Terrace in song, but the atmosphere in the bars below the stand was something that truly captured the Olympic, and British, spirit.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPPPQ_Pu-X0QUuBG4jNR9pV1FLyeiZaFz3yqcGVcszN2U3ReRZBykLq0HcuuoeZOrJCxHtICZH2vEx3GYARHghlLKMPLlMba9GyF-EhiXbDWITr4LKlUGhBC6pMpu87OgBbzr4XHA6_o5/s1600/P1110445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPPPQ_Pu-X0QUuBG4jNR9pV1FLyeiZaFz3yqcGVcszN2U3ReRZBykLq0HcuuoeZOrJCxHtICZH2vEx3GYARHghlLKMPLlMba9GyF-EhiXbDWITr4LKlUGhBC6pMpu87OgBbzr4XHA6_o5/s640/P1110445.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just another day on the Terrace with the Wiggos.</span></i></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Andy Murray winning the US Open</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've supported Murray ever since he collapsed against Thomas Johansson at Queen's back in 2005. The Wimbledon final broke my heart, and my head as I had a banging cold induced migraine following the conclusion of it. I missed his gold medal run due to being in Yorkshire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd been at the Trent Bridge ODI when he took on Marin Cilic in the quarter final. I checked the score before going to bed and found him a set and 1-5 down. I sighed, texted my mum asking what on earth was going on and then promptly fell asleep. I woke up early the next morning, checked my phone and found a series of texts from my mum informing me that he'd pulled it back to 6-6 and then levelled the game up. I checked Twitter and found myself in utter disbelief. Not only had Murray won, but Roger Federer was out having lost to Tomas Berdych.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The semi-final was a blustery affair, but Murray made it through and, following a delayed semi-final between Ferrer and Djokovic due to a massive storm approaching meant that the final would be held on Monday 10th September. I was prepared. My mum was prepared. Twitter continued with the tedious joke of him being 'British when he wins, Scottish when he loses'. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sat on the sofa, clinging onto my Pride the Lion and a British flag as my dad sat quietly in the corner doing a crossword. The amount of Welsh cursing rose in our living room and that wasn't just because Mark Petchey opened his mouth. It was tense but after a marathon tie break, Murray had a one set lead. The second set was just as tumultuous, as he raced into a 4-0 lead only to be pegged back. He eventually took it 7-5 and excited British tennis fans dared to dream.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then Piers Morgan opened his mouth on Twitter and you just knew everything was going to go wrong.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The third and fourth sets were a horrendous amount of shouting, which then turned into a stunned and miserable silence. I sank lower and lower on the sofa, my mum began to shout more and more at Petchey and my dad decided enough was enough and went off to bed. It was 2 sets all, Djokovic was annoying me whenever he moved, I wanted to kick Murray up the backside and my mum was at the stage where she was passive aggressively muting Petchey every 5 minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was so close and he just needed something, anything, to get him back into contention. Both players were knackered. I was emotionally drained and all I'd done was sit on a sofa using a toy lion as a stress ball. And then the fifth set happened.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Murray, having gone for a toilet break at the end of the fourth set, appeared to be refreshed and rushed into a lead. It was 5-2. He was serving for the match. Djokovic called for a trainer because he didn't understand that it was 2 in the morning in the UK. Murray had three Championship points. Djokovic saved one. And then, then Djokovic hit one long and Murray dropped to his knees, smothering his face with his hands. I gasped on the verge of tears, my mum was cheering, my dad was fast asleep upstairs blissfully unaware of the mayhem taking place in our living room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was so happy and on such a high that I was unable to get to sleep until 4 in the morning. It was the perfect way to end such a great summer of British sporting success and was something that Murray, having worked so hard, deserved. I'm still waiting for a photo of his dogs actually inside the trophy, mind.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Monday 3rd September 2012</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hadn't applied for Olympic tickets. I had considered it as it was my mum's 60th birthday on the first Sunday of the Games, but we ended up enjoying a lovely tea in front of the Ladies Pavilion down at Worcestershire instead. The Olympics is something that my mum has always shared with me. I first experienced it in 2000 when she woke me up shouting at Audley Harrison. On a TV that was well past its sell by date in 2004, we were both jumping up and down in the living room screaming for Kelly Holmes to cross the line. In 2008, we would be up early to watch the swimming and whatever was on the red button and in 2012, we were back to jumping up and down and clapping as the extraordinary Mo Farah won his second gold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If ever there was a person I wanted to share the experience London 2012 with it was my mum. Late one evening, staying up watching indoor volleyball, I tried my luck on the London 2012 ticketing website. As the basket informed me that I had two tickets, I turned to my mum and asked her what we were doing on Monday 3rd September. She had a think and then said we weren't doing anything. I soon corrected her and there it was, we were going to the Paralympics in the Olympic Stadium, the stadium that we had seen grow out of the industrial wasteland each time we passed through Stratford on our way to Liverpool Street.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We arrived at the Park early, sailed through security and then were greeted by the magnificent sight of the Olympic Stadium in all its glory. It was a little while until we would be allowed into the Stadium, so we decided to go for a walk round the park.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a baking hot day but we walked around in our Team/Paralympic GB shirts. We sat in a Park Live area, watching some wheelchair basketball. We walked past the Velodrome, where Great Britain had been so victorious. Mum even bumped into a guy wearing a Welsh flag outfit and ended up having a good long chat with him in her native tongue. It was nearly time to head into the Stadium, but not before we sat outside the Aquatics Centre, listening to the roar for Ellie Simmonds as she broke her own World Record to win her second gold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We entered the vicinity of the Stadium, crossing over the bridge and being greeted by one of the incredibly cheerful and fantastic Games Makers. We went to find our section of seating and then we walked up the stairs and entered the phenomenal arena. My mum's face as we climbed up to our seats is something that I will never, ever forget and definitely made my year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monday 3rd September was the evening that 80000 people booed George Osborne. It was the evening where Mickey Bushell stormed to T53 100m success, allowing the Stadium to fall into a silence before bursting into one collective voice belting out the national anthem. It was the evening where I watched six incredible F42 high jumpers jump over a bar at a height I could only dream about. It was in this event that I witnessed Fiji's first ever medal of any colour, in both the Paralympics and the Olympics, and the celebrations of the gold medallist Iliesa Delana were such a joy to behold as he leapt onto the high jump cushion and waved the Fijian flag to a Stadium all too happy to cheer. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVAdPuBVENgoBugpmNFkIHAouraUbhWgct4etuMIjBWMxSSBa7fRYRPaH5p0u9-OajggV_TiU0Y5wlQkep8tFt5HCmchRcOsTkbTl8DjpIMDufyTALlvyFfdvInYUy2nttZHz-jDDOLqM/s1600/P1110937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVAdPuBVENgoBugpmNFkIHAouraUbhWgct4etuMIjBWMxSSBa7fRYRPaH5p0u9-OajggV_TiU0Y5wlQkep8tFt5HCmchRcOsTkbTl8DjpIMDufyTALlvyFfdvInYUy2nttZHz-jDDOLqM/s640/P1110937.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mickey Bushell on his lap of honour after winning gold.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCym0nK_jsaiC1AWg0CPDmxaJReBCQABkgTzZLPKGn8xs_WtbJeeTDNXdJy0EtgdhoM6tFGPciZZ1dhZFTmGRAwNjHmh2L2mL0yEIHrm3kdTTsIQdscaLK2snlS0L66Q7mbJ4n14I3qClz/s1600/P1120005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCym0nK_jsaiC1AWg0CPDmxaJReBCQABkgTzZLPKGn8xs_WtbJeeTDNXdJy0EtgdhoM6tFGPciZZ1dhZFTmGRAwNjHmh2L2mL0yEIHrm3kdTTsIQdscaLK2snlS0L66Q7mbJ4n14I3qClz/s640/P1120005.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're going to win Fiji's first ever medal, it might as well be gold!</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Going to the athletics at the Stadium wasn't the only piece of London 2012 I experienced. I was lucky enough to go to the ExCel arena to watch the women's sitting volleyball. Due to the trains, we were only able to watch the bronze medal match between the Netherlands and Ukraine (Ukraine won in straight sets) and only half of the gold medal match between the USA and China, but the noise in the ExCel arena was fantastic and the matches, of what we saw, were superb. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh5_3pXEaQ3mqpiQb9xdKyhHGzY2VKkWazPaqDKs7lBoytoxfiObJLgXNvrUGJp-V-9IIyYN0b2EWEnuftUZmGbc4qcPV5gFMF-Jv6KzV1zzvV83DNa2Qfr51jNCKISe3WaCCuUgBWDP-/s1600/IMG_3538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh5_3pXEaQ3mqpiQb9xdKyhHGzY2VKkWazPaqDKs7lBoytoxfiObJLgXNvrUGJp-V-9IIyYN0b2EWEnuftUZmGbc4qcPV5gFMF-Jv6KzV1zzvV83DNa2Qfr51jNCKISe3WaCCuUgBWDP-/s400/IMG_3538.JPG" height="400" width="297" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Weirwolf himself!</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of days later I headed down to London again, this time with my friend Alice, to watch the Paralympic marathons. The atmosphere, made by a Games Maker who we nicknamed Mr. S, was electric with anticipation for the man who Britain had come to know as the Weirwolf.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was incredible, as was Shelly Woods who won silver. We clapped, we chanted his name, I even made a sign which Channel 4's Paralympic Twitter feed seemed to enjoy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Standing behind straw bales, wearing a GB flag as a cape and eating chocolate cake as an early 21st birthday present to ourselves as we watched Weir on his way to his fourth gold of the Games was a perfect way to end an absolutely magnificent London 2012. For Weir to win four golds in one Games, especially across such long distances and in a short space of time, is absolutely phenomenal and a testament to his character. He truly is an ambassador for his sport and, really, for all athletes, regardless of whether they are future Olympians or Paralympians. </span></div>
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So that's my 2012, summed up in a gloriously long and soppy post. You can tell I was listening to Caliban's Dream when I wrote this, can't you? Thanks to everyone who made this year, there are far many people to list but you know who you are and you know how grateful I am. I will make a special mention to <a href="http://twitter.com/amy_cricket">Amy</a> though, as she's essentially become an honorary member of my family after this summer of travelling watching various forms of cricket.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Here's to 2013 and back-to-back Ashes, more adventures down at Chelmsford, hopefully some more success for Andy Murray and hoping that Mick McCarthy can bring back some joy to Ipswich Town.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy New Year, everyone.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-71640967072424186232012-08-29T16:16:00.003+01:002013-09-10T14:50:43.574+01:00Farewell, Straussy.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cwA0kSBH9FSUF6gQloNf-7NNmqLRDTxgkNxO9srCbS9deunIp4JsLQEU4_u8L1imWX3pHlAQRCURcmrRGqE73lXGhD2TLv5Lx0LmZ1ibfUgIOvR2qGu-FXYKlpBf64c0PYzoGyzipB-G/s1600/Strauss2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cwA0kSBH9FSUF6gQloNf-7NNmqLRDTxgkNxO9srCbS9deunIp4JsLQEU4_u8L1imWX3pHlAQRCURcmrRGqE73lXGhD2TLv5Lx0LmZ1ibfUgIOvR2qGu-FXYKlpBf64c0PYzoGyzipB-G/s640/Strauss2.jpg" height="400" width="333" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In happier times Down Under, celebrating a 50 at the SCG.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<i>The truth is I haven't batted well enough for a long period of time now. [...] I've run my race</i>." - Andrew Strauss in his press conference announcing his retirement from all cricket.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been sat here since Strauss' press conference took place trying to think of something to write. I've watched the cursor blink at me, trying to put into words how I feel about one of my favourite players retiring from the game.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As someone born in the early '90s, I didn't have the pleasure of watching England be truly terrible at cricket. Instead, I got into cricket in 2004, around the time Andrew Strauss was establishing himself at the top of the Test order. Since then, I've grown up watching the rises and falls of the career of this quiet, but commanding, presence in the England team. From that catch of Gilchrist at Trent Bridge to the career saving 177 at Napier in 2008 to leading England to their first triumph Down Under in 24 years, Strauss' influence on English cricket will surely be remembered fondly for years to come.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3bPCAKV669hOmrzbGPWCgbITi81qpfofAIyGKcQAGfaYGBz-qRpeE48bqJI3KBBAWwqbfYoRtp7ZXugrlciwmwOVQ16sSrC3JqQrnYZTOcIl3v0l2pvWD2h2ADka0qLObE4aNb9SM52O/s1600/Strauss4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3bPCAKV669hOmrzbGPWCgbITi81qpfofAIyGKcQAGfaYGBz-qRpeE48bqJI3KBBAWwqbfYoRtp7ZXugrlciwmwOVQ16sSrC3JqQrnYZTOcIl3v0l2pvWD2h2ADka0qLObE4aNb9SM52O/s640/Strauss4.jpg" height="168" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About to do the sprinkler at the MCG after England's 2010 triumph.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the highs of 2011, it's been a tough year for Strauss and England. Four straight Test defeats kicked off 2012 and questions about his form began to resurface. His captaincy and his batting were exposed due to England's failings and he realised that, at the age of 35, it's difficult to stop the slump.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rather than cling onto former glories, Strauss has bowed out of the game having played 100 Tests, in which he scored over 7000 Test runs at a respectable average of 40.91 and held onto a record 121 Test catches. His partnership with Cook has scored more runs than any other opening partnership in English Test cricketing history and his captaincy record, whilst somewhat blemished by this dismal 2012, shows that England won almost half of the matches in which he was in charge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are some unwanted memories in there too. The 2006/07 Ashes series, and his massive slump of form during and after it, is one which he'll probably use his 100 bottles of wine to forget about, especially as he was the unfortunate victim behind Shane Warne's 700th Test wicket. Four years later, the furore surrounding the spot fixing accusations against Pakistan in 2010, and the repercussions it had on the ODI series, left him looking visibly drained, but he managed to cope with the daily uproar and Ijaz Butt and displayed great integrity whilst doing so. This summer is one he'll also wish to put behind him, especially with the entire Pietersen affair, something which he'll surely be relieved to have off his plate.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6OsWuWrGBKg_oqnqblPQottGdlGk0MoGamKSN00HH19Nvivd3i1_zy2wAIRef4XSj5n9HHBIr7dWq0RyMl48PTlfH58XGwOFnur2TzZY91PEYPDDuZD46CcKUOmkcqp79-pw9DzilvMT/s1600/Strauss3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6OsWuWrGBKg_oqnqblPQottGdlGk0MoGamKSN00HH19Nvivd3i1_zy2wAIRef4XSj5n9HHBIr7dWq0RyMl48PTlfH58XGwOFnur2TzZY91PEYPDDuZD46CcKUOmkcqp79-pw9DzilvMT/s640/Strauss3.jpg" height="273" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Celebrating his 141, his last Test century, which came at Trent Bridge against the West Indies.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have many memories Andrew Strauss and it's difficult to select a favourite moment. His two centuries in the 2005 Ashes series, one of which came about after being left bleeding by Brett Lee, are usually overlooked because of the worship of the personalities of Flintoff and Pietersen. The career saving knock of 177 against New Zealand, which I watched in darkness whilst wrapped in a duvet on the sofa nursing a migraine, is up there too. Watching him at Lord's make his maiden first-class double hundred last summer was also a joy, because the celebrations of himself, and Matthew Hoggard, showed how much it meant to him. Being there as him and Cook put on 150-0 after bowling Australia out for 98 at the MCG is certainly a highlight of my short cricket watching life, as is his aggressive 50 at the SCG, where he came out all guns blazing to really put the Australians under pressure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today marks the beginning of a new era of English cricket, but for now, I just want to say that it's been a pleasure growing up watching him and it was wonderful watching a successful England team, while it lasted, around the globe. Strauss handled nearly everything, from Ijaz Butt to being asked to pose with a duck shaped candle, with dignity. Whilst his form with the bat was patchy at times, it was when he was in form that watching him square cut to the boundary would always be a glorious sight. An incredibly intelligent man, it is surely to be fully expected that he remains in cricket after his retirement but if he does want to enter into something political, I hope that it's cricket administrators, rather than Tory MPs, who are looking nervously over their shoulders.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strauss has had his critics, but the way in which he has conducted himself as an England player has earned him much respect and plaudits around the cricketing world. England's next Test match is in November in Ahmedabad and it will be strange to see Alastair Cook head out to the middle without the light blue helmet of Strauss next to him. It'll be even stranger to watch Cook face the first ball.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for the memories, Straussy.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-37248147010016393552012-08-22T19:23:00.000+01:002013-09-10T14:50:57.964+01:00England 0-2 South Africa: Where Do We Go From Here?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZiVJhvUvVJonB9x3LCp9XWjHvBCQk8Q-Y5i_Z1kfNxGIhstguF1qZLViOSqv76rpYX1ZFwoNL5rbbrCxfsSZPiR7cteMfWTun7e0XtQrh7gHlys6sUDK-T7_-bnwDT_iqQzyFaXTMmvJ/s1600/Saffers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZiVJhvUvVJonB9x3LCp9XWjHvBCQk8Q-Y5i_Z1kfNxGIhstguF1qZLViOSqv76rpYX1ZFwoNL5rbbrCxfsSZPiR7cteMfWTun7e0XtQrh7gHlys6sUDK-T7_-bnwDT_iqQzyFaXTMmvJ/s640/Saffers.jpg" height="152" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I, for one, welcome our new South African overlords.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a boiling hot day at a packed Oval this time last year. Fans had flocked to the ground to witness history, whether it be Sachin Tendulkar's 100th international century or England's historic rise to number 1 status. When Sreesanth was bowled by Graeme Swann to hand England another innings victory, the celebrations began, despite nobody in the England squad really knowing what to do with the Test mace. After years of turmoil, a dawn for a golden age of English cricket was heralded and many believed that it was a chance for this team to dominate international cricket like no other English side had before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />That was the plan. Instead, woeful batting performances against a resurgent Pakistan in their adopted home saw England slump to a 3-0 whitewash, their first since the fateful 2006/07 Ashes series. A further loss to Sri Lanka in Galle meant that England had begun 2012 with four straight Test defeats. Their number one status was already in the balance having been in possession of it for less than eight months. England managed to win in Colombo and the rain in New Zealand meant that they headed into the English summer clinging onto a status they had worked so hard to obtain.</span><br />
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Had South Africa been able to bowl out Graham Onions in 2010, highlighting an example of where they've been unable to win at home, there may not have even been a debate about the best team in the world. Still, it meant that South Africa arrived in England knowing that even the slenderest of victories would propel them to world number one. Their preparation for the series couldn't have been much worse, rain hindered opportunities out in the middle, Peter Trego took a fancy to Morne Morkel and then Mark Boucher's horrible eye injury against Somerset, forcing him into retirement, meant that concern for his well-being was always at the forefront of their minds.</span><br />
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After a testing first day to the series, in which Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott combined to once again steady England after the early loss of Andrew Strauss, South Africa bounced back on the second day and, since then, never really looked anything other than the best team in the world. At The Oval, Alviro Petersen could only watch on in despair for his duck as Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and the record breaking Hashim Amla piled on the runs, and the misery, against a flagging England attack. After this thrashing at The Oval, South Africa went on to mostly out bat, out bowl and out field their opponents. In the case of fielding, England didn't help themselves and the old cricketing cliché of 'catches win matches' should probably be scrawled on the wall of every dressing room England enter this winter. </span><br />
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Had it not been for Kevin Pietersen's innings at Headingley, England may well have lost this series 3-0. As South Africa, wearing shirts dedicated to Mark Boucher, walked around the Lord's outfield showing the mace off to the gathered South African and a few curious England fans, England watched on from the home dressing room wondering where to go from here.</span><br />
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There are concerns for England on and off the pitch. Firstly, there is the whole sorry saga surrounding Pietersen to sort out. With each passing day, the story becomes more and more ridiculous with accusations, breaches of trust and Piers Morgan/Michael Henderson leaving many people questioning their stance on it all. As it currently stands, it would appear that so long as Strauss and Flower are in charge of this England side, there is no way back for Pietersen.</span><br />
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The whole thing has been handled with all the delicacy of a bull in a china shop and, at times, feels more like a teenage drama in high school than a serious international cricket team. Both sides have their faults, but Pietersen's are far more publicised thanks to his own idiocy. For now, until Strauss and Pietersen have their meeting, it would seem that England are heading into the future without their box office, but insecure and troublesome, batsman in tow. This may well lead to a sense of team unity returning, but we would be kidding ourselves if we believed that this is the only area of concern.</span><br />
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England's batting line up has looked a shadow of its former self this year. Since becoming captain, Strauss has only scored centuries against Australia and the West Indies. His captaincy has always been conservative, but with a negated attack and his fellow top order being out of touch and patience, Strauss' batting form and tactics have once again been exposed. After a break with his family, Strauss has a meeting with Pietersen and then a couple of County Championship matches for Middlesex before England head to India.</span><br />
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Strauss, like the rest of the England top order, has made some starts. But the problem is, compared to the South African batsmen, that throughout the series, they never looked set. South Africa made five centuries this series. England? Only two. The English batsmen wasted good starts by wafting outside off stump, missing straight ones or running themselves out. Cook, Bell and Trott have all been guilty of this, with only Prior, and Pietersen, looking like they could take on a very strong South African bowling attack.</span><br />
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England's bowling attack has been a proud part of the rise to number one, but for this series they haven't seemed at their best. Anderson, who was economical but unlucky at times, picked up 9 wickets at 40.66, whilst Broad and Bresnan looked way off their best. Bresnan has been struggling with an elbow injury for much of the year whilst Broad can't decide whether he's gone back to his 'enforcer' stage. Steven Finn showed glimpses of his ODI form, especially in a spell in the second innings at Lord's, but he is still developing as a Test player. His ability to take wickets is impressive, but some of these wickets have come off absolute tripe and sometimes his figures do not make pretty reading. He has, however, managed to stop his habit of knocking over the stumps with his knee after South Africa complained that it was a 'distraction' during the Headingley Test. Graeme Swann didn't have the impact he would've hoped to have had with only 4 wickets at 77. Whilst he was economical, there is a worry surrounding the state of Swann's elbow and England will be hoping that Swann can return to having some kind of impact for when they head to India this winter.</span><br />
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Whilst the South Africa series has been one to forget for most of the England side, there are some reasons to be cheerful. James Taylor didn't take full advantage of Ravi Bopara's latest setback, but he looks like he's got the technique and the head for international cricket. He played well at Headingley before he was bowled by Morkel and at Lord's a good delivery and a stupid run out proved to be his downfall. His performance may not have completely closed the door on Bopara, but the Lord's batting display of a certain ginger lad from Yorkshire may well have done.</span><br />
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Jonny Bairstow was given a good working over with the short ball by the West Indies. He was dropped and sent back to Yorkshire where he struggled for a while before making a century against Leicestershire in July. His timely century for the England Lions at Old Trafford against the touring Australia A side and the dropping of Kevin Pietersen meant that he returned to the Test fold. Predictably, as soon as he walked to the crease, South Africa set about the short ball barrage. But Bairstow coped, in both innings, and fell agonisingly short of a well deserved maiden century in the first innings after trying to play a flick through midwicket off Morkel. He followed this 95 up with another half century in the second innings, an innings which displayed his aggressive potential.</span><br />
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This winter sees England head back to the subcontinent and then head off to New Zealand. The pressure will be off England, as they have returned to the 'hunters' status, but India will be seeking revenge for that 4-0 hammering inflicted upon them last year. Without Pietersen, question marks over the form of some in the top six and with two youngsters who've never played a Test match in India in the top order, England may well be in for a tough winter. Cracking the subcontinent is something that Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss want to do and they must hope that the team can come back together again as they begin their challenge to South Africa for that number one status.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-7817198850660842732012-08-14T17:03:00.003+01:002013-09-10T14:51:22.405+01:00Sympathy for the Devil?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjvZ8_NwOc-WoeDoRmS1vYwRgO8y7LA1z1QJrLsDMey5zK2qyl6tLiEVm8WzramXRFzrWKmAObeH0mMfg5VWVltwgbV34TaJ-ySAcgMsFhTO7LaSXl1NYejKP17Fa08GTfTFTpyfbXK0M/s1600/Pietersen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjvZ8_NwOc-WoeDoRmS1vYwRgO8y7LA1z1QJrLsDMey5zK2qyl6tLiEVm8WzramXRFzrWKmAObeH0mMfg5VWVltwgbV34TaJ-ySAcgMsFhTO7LaSXl1NYejKP17Fa08GTfTFTpyfbXK0M/s640/Pietersen.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Calm before the storm: Pietersen celebrates his century for England at Headingley. </span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the moment he appeared on the England scene in 2004, Kevin Pietersen has always been a somewhat polarising player. It cannot be denied that he is an excellent cricketer, someone with the ability to change a match in a session, but his personality, one seemingly of brashness and arrogance, is one which rubs a lot of people up the wrong way. His desire to be appreciated and celebrity status has led to him making mistakes, and these mistakes may well have, potentially, drawn the curtains on his international career.</span><br />
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Having retired from international limited overs cricket in controversial circumstances earlier this year, Pietersen's feud with the ECB has escalated so rapidly over the past week that he now finds himself dropped from the England squad. The whole sorry saga began with him wanting to spend more time with his family, then it became about wanting to play a full IPL season and now it's turned into a ridiculous and almost high school drama about Twitter and text messages, the bane of every teenage girl's life.</span><br />
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Since rising to the top of the Test rankings last summer, things have not exactly been plain sailing for the good ship England. In October, whilst on a disastrous tour of India, Graeme Swann, another big personality in the England dressing room, published his autobiography in which he wasn't exactly complimentary about Kevin Pietersen's captaincy skills. In any working environment, cliques will form, and the England dressing room is almost certainly no different.</span><br />
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This being said, it's easy to not feel sorry for Pietersen. Outlandish videos and embarrassing press conferences mean he is a difficult person to understand. For example, his press conference at the IPL earlier this year, where he lamented the absence of some of his England colleagues because of 'second rate Australians', wasn't exactly greeted with rapturous applause. The video he released on Saturday was one to appease, but there was no hint of an apology within it and seemed to be done because he knew the axe was falling anyway. However, a key element of England's success over the past few years has been the management's ability to control the ego. The way in which details of these private meetings about his England future were leaked to the press was reminiscent of the fiasco of 2009 and means that trust between both parties has been broken.</span><br />
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Many have not forgiven Pietersen for this 2009 debacle. He forced a man out of his job, and also wanted his now coach gone too and this, undoubtedly, must have had an impact upon relationships in the dressing room. But there are two sides to every story, and it is incredibly important to remember that. Pietersen wants to continually come across as being the victim, and looking at previous history, it is possible to see why he feels this way. Earlier this year, Pietersen got fined for tweeting his opinion about Nick Knight's punditry. <a href="https://twitter.com/StuartBroad8/status/130285397099024385">Stuart Broad also suggested that Knight's not very good at his job</a> and nobody batted an eyelid. As stated, Swann was allowed to <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-england-2011/content/story/536697.html">publish an autobiography </a>in which he criticised some of his team mates. Pietersen may or may not have sent private texts, which either contained 'acceptable banter between team mates' (South Africa's Moosajee) or 'derogatory' remarks about his captain. The ECB, according to the South African camp, have not asked to see the texts but it was Pietersen's inability to deny their existence which saw him dropped from the squad. For those who label Pietersen as greedy, or think that he shouldn't be allowed to pick and choose his cricket, let us not forget that it's the ECB who got involved with Stanford, a man who now has a 110-year jail sentence for fraud. The people who let that happen are still employed by governing body. Let us also remember that the ECB allowed Andrew Strauss to skip the Bangladesh tour, although this helped him to be rested and be able to lead the team to the success in Australia.</span><br />
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Respect, though, has been lost on both sides. Pietersen, with his infamous Headingley press conference, alleged text messages which seem to be about his captain, YouTube video and perceived insult at the infamous @KevPietersen24 parody account, has lost the respect of the ECB, and his England teammates. The ECB has lost the respect of Pietersen through their leaks to the press and because he feels victimised. There must surely be more to come with this story, which may well be revealed once this Test series has concluded, but as it currently stands, it feels like an incredibly silly drama between two sides who are just as bad as one another. And it's easy to forget that there is a very important Test match starting on Thursday, because the feud between Pietersen and the ECB continues to be fought out in the playground-esque arena, and now Piers Morgan has appeared to egg them on in the background.</span><br />
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Pietersen being dropped may well mean that the squad return to some semblance of unity. Statements and newspaper columns from England players suggest that they're pleased Pietersen is not in the squad, and they believe they are better for it. His absence gives youngsters a chance to gain experience playing top quality international cricket and it also means that 'Team England' are able to pose for a photo with the Investec Zebra with a smile on their faces.</span><br />
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England managed to win ODI series against the West Indies and Australia without Pietersen, but these teams are not South Africa. With youngster Taylor, who impressed on debut at Headingley, and Bairstow returning to the squad despite questionable form since being worked over by Kemar Roach, England head into the Test at Lord's hoping that their team can come together and perform to overcome this strong and in form South Africa side. England won a must win Test without Kevin Pietersen against Australia at The Oval in 2009, but that side contained a demoralised Mitchell Johnson, not Dale Steyn.</span><br />
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Should England win, they retain their number one status. Should they lose or draw, England will lose that precious number one ranking, less than a year after they gained it, and all that hard work may well have gone to waste. There was talk of this side becoming one of the greatest England sides ever, there being a golden era for English cricket coming. Instead, in true English style, we have become our own worst enemy again and it may well lead to another long and gruelling winter.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-50733457628113057872012-08-13T12:44:00.001+01:002013-09-10T14:51:35.312+01:00Goodbye, London 2012<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My earliest Olympic memory is of my mum shouting, "HIT HIM! GO ON HIT HIM!" at Audley Harrison in the early hours of the morning, as she embraced the millennium spirit by shouting encouragement at the TV for Sydney 2000. Strangely though, it was the 2002 Winter Olympics, and more specifically the sport of curling, which cemented my love for this enormous sportsfest and it was in 2004 that I finally got round to watching the Olympic Games properly. Jumping around the living room and clapping at a slowly dying television as Steve Cram shouted "Come on Kelly" is something which has stuck with me for the past eight years and will, undoubtedly, stay with me for the rest of my life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So when it was announced on 6th July 2005 that London had beaten Paris to host the 2012 Olympic games, I was excited. My home nation would be hosting a Summer Olympics, meaning I wouldn't have to alter my sleeping pattern and would have the world's greatest show about 100 miles away in a city that, to a 13 year old girl, was a terrifyingly exciting place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For seven years I've been one of those commuters, travellers, day trippers, sometimes even dogs, who've gone on the Norwich-London Liverpool Street train through Stratford and have seen the way in which an Olympic Park has risen out of wasteland into a world class sporting site. A place where world records would tumble and heroes would be made. A place where national pride spread, thanks to the athletes, the spectators and the wonderful volunteers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having said this, I didn't get Olympic tickets. I couldn't afford to risk applying for them. Maybe if I were the gambling type, I could've experienced Great Britain's dominance at the velodrome or been in the Olympic Stadium for Golden Saturday. But I wasn't, and I don't regret not applying, because this games, despite the name, wasn't just London's games. It was Britain's games.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was up at Headingley for the second Test, you know, the one where Kevin Pietersen scored a brilliant century on the same day Jess Ennis was crowned the world's greatest all-round female athlete, the day Greg Rutherford leapt to an unexpected gold and the day Mo Farah showcased the Mo-bot to an audience Sky 1 could only ever dream of. But from the large number of people dressed up as Bradley Wiggins to the people standing up and singing Spandau Ballet's 'Gold' when news from the velodrome reached the Western Terrace, it was clear that London 2012 had a nation gripped and that the 'Olympic spirit' was well and truly flowing in Yorkshire. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A digital radio, a dodgy signal and 5 Live crackling away on a train carriage packed full of people ready for a Saturday night is probably a fairly usual occurrence, especially during the football season. But when a guy, who'd spent his day dressed as the Cookie Monster at the cricket, has three people crowded round a tiny mobile phone screen, hoping that the signal would hold out so they could watch incredible athletes run 10,000m and join in with the 80,000 people screaming encouragement for the one with the GB crest on his chest, then you know it's something special. Being greeted by other passengers giving funny looks as we cheered, joining millions across the nation, when Mo Farah crossed the line, was a wonderful moment and certainly one I won't ever forget.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rain meant sparse amounts of play during the fourth day, a Sunday, a month after Andy Murray's big date in the Wimbledon final. A month later, it was the same opponent, the same venue, but this time, a different prize and a far, far different atmosphere. I had updates coming through thanks to my mum and Twitter, but once the lightning arrived at Headingley, everyone was downstairs and watching. The queues for the bars were empty as everyone was transfixed as they watched Andy Murray blowing Roger Federer away. Match point. An ace. Mass jubilation. The national anthem was being sung by drunk people in fancy dress. People, who had in no way supported Murray in the final a month ago, suddenly felt it was their national duty to cheer on the man from Dunblane. The Western Terrace cheering for a Scotsman. You think you've seen it all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Olympics wasn't just about London. This Olympics was about the nation. It was about celebrating and supporting athletes, from the incredible, like Sir Chris Hoy and David Rudisha, to those who were making history just by being there and who gave their all, despite the odds being heavily stacked against them. It was about giving Britain something to feel proud about, something to unify an apparently 'broken' nation, something to prove all the doubters wrong.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">London 2012 showed that the British people are one of the most eccentric, and passionate, bunch of people you could ever wish to meet. They carried home tired athletes, creating a cauldron of noise and a wall of colour for British participants. The volunteers created a community spirit, something to be proud of and also allowed for some truly wonderful moments, especially the Bolt fist-bump before the 200m final.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, London, thank you. The 29 gold, 17 silver and 19 bronze medals for Team GB have been spectacular. Hearing the national anthem be sung so joyfully as the Union Flag has been raised has left many people with a lump in their throat. We have introduced a whole generation to sports outside of the mainstream domain, and have provided them with heroes of humility, like Jess Ennis. There are people who have arrived at these games overcoming personal tragedies, civil wars, poverty, etc, to represent their countries and it is those people that we have celebrated. We have put on a show to the world and it is a show we can be proud of, because where else would have a 40 foot Voldemort being defeated by an army of Mary Poppins?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Olympic flame may well have been extinguished, the BBC Olympic channels are no more and we may well have returned to the travesty of Heir Hunters and Bargain Hunt, but soon it will be time for the Paralympics, which, by the sounds of it, will be one of the most well-supported Paralympics ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bring on August 29th. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-67935860309498557822012-07-18T11:01:00.000+01:002013-09-10T14:52:05.326+01:00Ravi Bopara: Is it his time?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxHq04NSrep2mejojcjQrW1DErrqjZglVzJA-Aw3-gDqw0VoOTY8JeGWJcZxEeN6TwQ24vIBfMzUdsB2bfMdNQO0znMkakO8ZRUMoMNrlCzPq_fSrj3A3SJeAudSKtrrbU5RjJGtkUdQ3/s1600/Bop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxHq04NSrep2mejojcjQrW1DErrqjZglVzJA-Aw3-gDqw0VoOTY8JeGWJcZxEeN6TwQ24vIBfMzUdsB2bfMdNQO0znMkakO8ZRUMoMNrlCzPq_fSrj3A3SJeAudSKtrrbU5RjJGtkUdQ3/s640/Bop.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bopara walks off delighted to know a post-match interview<br />with Nick Knight awaits him.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ravi Bopara is one of those players who, no matter how much some areas of the cricket watching general public don't want him to, continually turns up in the England squad.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After an impressive ODI series against Australia, where he scored 182 runs at an average of 91.00 and also managed to take 4 economical wickets, Bopara now finds himself in the Test squad for The Oval.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bopara comes in for Jonny Bairstow who, having been found wanting on the short ball by the West Indians, has been sent back to Yorkshire to continue his development. Whilst it's disappointing for Bairstow, he is only 22 and there is certainly promise there. However, if he struggled with Kemar Roach then it's difficult to see how he would've overcome Dale Steyn or Morne Morkel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bopara was also selected ahead of Eoin Morgan, who held the number 6 spot ever since Paul Collingwood retired and Ian Bell moved up the order. But an incredibly poor series against Pakistan in the UAE and his decision to sit on the bench at the IPL means that Morgan has gone back to being seen as a one day player for England, rather than a Test player. Morgan was impressive against the poor Australian tourists, but against a swinging ball his technique is questionable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rather than call up someone deemed to be in form from the county game, something which would've occurred before this new modern era, England return to the familiar and his name's Ravi Bopara.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bopara made his Test debut aged 22 in 2007, where he infamously picked up three ducks in 5 innings against the Sri Lankans. He wasn't seen again in the whites of Test cricket until 2009, where he came in at 3 against the West Indies and made three consecutive centuries. This success meant that he came in at three against the Australians in the 2009 Ashes series and in the seven innings he played before being replaced by Jonathan Trott at The Oval, he could only amass 105 runs at an average of 15. He was sent back to Chelmsford where his form had more dips than an Alton Towers roller coaster, but in 2011, after an injury to Jonathan Trott, Bopara returned to the Test fold against India. <span style="background-color: white;">With everyone around him scoring runs with ease and Bopara knowing he was nothing more than a fill in for a shoulder injury, Bopara</span><span style="background-color: white;"> walked to the crease at Edgbaston with England 596-4 and only made 7 before he was out LBW to Mishra. At The Oval, where England were 487-5 when Bopara walked to the crease, he finished on 44 not out as England declared on 591-6. After the 12 Tests Bopara has played, his average currently stands at 34.56, which isn't that bad until you take out the runs he made against the West Indies.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">If you looked up confidence player in the dictionary, a faded picture of Ian Bell would be covered up with one of Ravi Bopara. Whilst he has the technique, Bopara's mental frailties have always been exposed on the international stage. After the West Indies series, he had all the swagger of someone who spends a lot of time with Kevin Pietersen, but during the Ashes series, he was scratchy, slow and, especially at Lord's, incredibly painful to watch. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Bopara, now 27, returns to the Test squad knowing that he has the chance to press down a claim for that number 6 spot. He's older, more experienced and his excellent ODI series against the Aussies aside, Bopara has been playing relatively well for Essex this season, when their matches haven't been flooded off. His unbeaten century against Yorkshire back in April, having come in on a hat-trick ball the night before and somehow surviving the incredibly testing conditions, was played with authority and, with help from the lower order, led Essex from 42-5 to a more reasonable 199 all out. Having been out with injury for much of May, Bopara led Essex to victory over Gloucestershire with an unbeaten 120 in the CB40 match at Chelmsford in June.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Bopara is in some kind of form, he has the advantage </span><span style="background-color: white;">over those competing for that number 6 spot</span><span style="background-color: white;"> of being able to bowl and become that bit part bowler England have been lacking since the retirement of Paul Collingwood. He has been given another chance to prove himself and now Ravi needs to grab this opportunity and prove to his doubters that he can do it. </span><span style="background-color: white;">He, and England, are coming up against one of, if not the, best bowling attacks in world cricket at the moment and everyone, not just Bopara, will need to be on top of both their game and their mind. </span><span style="background-color: white;">For Bopara, he will be tested by pace and line and length. Early on in his innings, he's rarely pretty to watch as he walks across his stumps a lot and is likely to nick off into the slips, something which the South Africans will surely know. It will be challenging, but if Bopara can come through it, then England will hope that he can finally blossom into the player that many at Essex know he can be.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-7176168680682492812012-05-25T21:44:00.001+01:002013-09-10T14:52:48.048+01:00Twitter and Cricket: #KnightGate<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I don't even know what it does", said Geoffrey Boycott on <i>Test Match Special</i> during the evening session of the latest Test with the West Indies. The microblogging social networking website of Twitter has grown in popularity and stature since its formation in 2006 and it has many fans. I, having grown up with websites like Bebo, MySpace and Facebook, am included in this and having had an account on the site for nearly three years, I spend a lot of time on it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Twitter, like any social networking site on the internet, is a hive of information. What Boycott, and others, don't seem to understand is that it's a site for discussion, entertainment and sharing of knowledge. Some tweeters may well have a tendency to update you with what they had for breakfast, but others will have something genuinely interesting to say. Friendships can form on there. My passion for cricket and sport in general has allowed me to meet people who have similar interests to me and means that, finally, I have someone to watch sport with, something that never happened when I was younger.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, my banal rambling aside, Twitter also provides a platform for the celebrity, politician or sports star to share details of their life. One of those characters is that of Kevin Pietersen, who this week got in trouble because of his comments about the Sky commentator, Nick Knight:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRs6G0eLWcjCe7_JaAdLLmHt-7uMoj0JafEoib4bTC5alvTVVqeY47auXvnZpjWT06Frv49N1sCsgwlugHjTFSV4lM9nWWDEDQ-IuEYFpqPu-mZZwgbHYRthO7IpLpsj0PUpu6D4kyqWLW/s1600/KP2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRs6G0eLWcjCe7_JaAdLLmHt-7uMoj0JafEoib4bTC5alvTVVqeY47auXvnZpjWT06Frv49N1sCsgwlugHjTFSV4lM9nWWDEDQ-IuEYFpqPu-mZZwgbHYRthO7IpLpsj0PUpu6D4kyqWLW/s640/KP2.jpg" height="242" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I'm not really a big fan of Nick Knight's commentary style. I have nothing against him as a person and I will give credit where it's due, as he's improved since I saw him presenting my mum's ECB coaching videos, but there's just something about the way he commentates that I don't like. Of course, some people do like it. Others think Ian Botham is a superb commentator, others can't stand Henry Blofeld's love of pigeons and nobody is ever quite sure how they feel about Nasser Hussain. James Anderson has his own opinions on commentators in general and said in a recent feature in the latest edition of <i>The Cricketer </i>that "Cricket commentary must be one of the hardest jobs in the world. It is the only way I can make sense of how so many of them talk such absolute guff".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pietersen was fined a reported £3000 for the tweet and, of course, it's not the first time Pietersen's been in trouble over his use of Twitter. In 2010, he announced he'd been dropped from the ODI squad having apparently forgotten how to use the direct messaging service. He was <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/8974336.stm">fined for his comments </a>back then as well and this, arguably, was a far more worthy reason for him to be fined. Other English cricketers have got into trouble for their use of the site. Tim Bresnan was <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/oct/01/tim-bresnan-twitter-apology-andy-flower">less than impressed</a> with someone's creative use of Photoshop and the Yorkshire all-rounder Azeem Rafiq <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/aug/04/azeem-rafiq-banned-twitter">was banned</a> after a Twitter rant. There are those, such as Graeme Swann, who use Twitter to entertain (and make fun of Steven Finn or Tim Bresnan). David Lloyd and Michael Vaughan, both former players (and in Bumble's case, coaches) turned commentators enjoy filling your timeline with those who 'abuse' them and their attempts to outwit/humiliate the perpetrator.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The relationship between the sports star and the media has become one of the player presenting a bland front and not really saying much. Cliches galore have slipped into speech, sometimes a sparkle in their eye suggests they want to get something off their chest, but they can't. Even the England Lions receive media training as part of their development. Presumably this'll now include a module on Twitter etiquette. However, Pietersen's not going to stop tweeting, nor will his opinion of Nick Knight change. There are those who will argue that if Knight's allowed to criticise Pietersen, how come Pietersen isn't allowed to criticise Knight? There are others who will say that Pietersen should be respectful and wonder what the reaction would be like if this was a team mate or member of staff. Mind you, we know what happens when he criticises a member of staff, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/england/8233079/Kevin-Pietersen-v-Peter-Moores-how-the-captain-v-coach-battle-with-England-unfolded.html">don't we</a>?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's also not the first time that an England cricketer has singled Nick Knight out for criticism. During England's ODI series in India, in which Stuart Broad was sat at home eating crackers/what was really just a student diet and saying that this was really beneficial to his beanpole body, Broad tweeted <a href="https://twitter.com/StuartBroad8/status/130285397099024385">this</a>:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe it was because it's Stuart Broad, someone who some don't think suffers from chronic foot-in-mouth syndrome. Maybe it's because it was said during the ODI series in India which everybody seems to have forgotten about. Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but had this been said during a home series, would it have caused a similar reaction? With Pietersen causing headlines with seemingly every move/statement he makes, has he just become an easy target?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Twitter is a fantastic platform. In a way, it's like a massive press conference, only with more grammatical errors, overuse of exclamation marks and <a href="https://twitter.com/MClarke23/status/202671771407745024">sometimes horses</a>. With more and more cricketers signing up, opinions, spats, and the odd gaffe (Dale Steyn tweeting an "accidental cobra" in the background of a picture, for instance) are now a part of the game. And this will mean that it will continue to perplex and baffle the likes of Boycott and the technophobe Alastair Cook. But it will also continue to create debates and sometimes allows people to feel closer to the action, something which should be celebrated, and not scorned.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-44941089081396449312012-05-17T22:49:00.002+01:002013-09-10T14:57:26.375+01:00England v The West Indies: The Lord's Test, Day 1<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's something magical about the first Test of the international summer in England. It might be the muffled applause of the gloved hands, echoing around a three quarters full stadium. It might be the fact that champagne bottles adorn the boundary as those adorned in red and yellow stripes decide that 11 in the morning is a superb time to crack out the alcohol. It may just be that long suffering England fans are finally able to watch international cricket in their own time zone. Anyway, Test cricket's back and it's at Lord's.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who would be England's third seamer? Well, after a comment from Mike Atherton about Strauss being "long in the tooth", it was revealed that Tim Bresnan had made the cut. Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow was to make his Test debut and was presented with his cap by close family friend, Geoffrey Boycott. For the West Indies, Ravi Rampaul had a stiff neck so it handed a Test debut to Trinidad quick (I'm just going from reports here. I didn't quite reach West Indian domestic cricket in my winter exploits) Shannon Gabriel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still, cricket's back, rubber ducks are back and awful puns may or may not be back. Here's day 1 from Lord's:</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First things first. Despite the whitewash at the hands of Pakistan and a drawn series with Sri Lanka, England retained their number one ranking over the winter thanks to the rain of New Zealand. Strauss again had to hold the mace thing whilst grinning and being surrounded by Colin Croft, Rod Riley and David Collier. You can decide which one's which.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">England win the toss (I forgot to bring a coin out) and decide to field first. Darren Sammy says he would've done the same and has gone for an all pace attack. It will be an early test of the Windies batting order.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">England emerge for their first huddle of the summer. It's been a long winter and one which they will hopefully have learnt a lot from.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so, to the first ball of the international summer. One little ball can evoke so much excitement in a group of people. Anything, as the cliche goes, could happen.<br /><br />Nothing does. It's wide outside off and Adrian Barath lets it sail safely through. Test cricket's here!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barath gets the Windies off the mark with a beautiful cover drive for 4.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bairstow (oh yes, orange balloon treatment for him as well) and Cook go and fetch.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHH6_FRWB3zM-Q1S95JcEE7rMTjoUmR6lsZm252ESjgTnDokWU9x0kCfzFHba0zAxbaAy8D1tPTsTlG1GLifsz0hY7GG-Z8uQPzkGutJkNFQcoPILFJus4G0bbNeDRvJGQ6UIVTcrutEX0/s1600/IMG_3117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHH6_FRWB3zM-Q1S95JcEE7rMTjoUmR6lsZm252ESjgTnDokWU9x0kCfzFHba0zAxbaAy8D1tPTsTlG1GLifsz0hY7GG-Z8uQPzkGutJkNFQcoPILFJus4G0bbNeDRvJGQ6UIVTcrutEX0/s640/IMG_3117.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Windies finally get a single and Jimmy gets a chance to bowl at the left handed Kieran Powell. Poor Powell had been thought to be Pollard for the early overs, naturally causing Blowers a whole heap of confusion on top of his inability to identify Ian Bell. Having played and missed at the previous delivery, Jimmy gets Powell in a whole heap of trouble with a wonderful inswinger which pegs back Powell's off stump.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Powell realised too late that he couldn't leave it. England have their early breakthrough and the Lord's crowd are left wondering whether they'll see the England players padded up by the end of the day. Windies are 13-1.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barath is looking very composed at the other end. He plays a gentle push down the ground...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which ends up going to the boundary for 4. Mandatory reference to the fast outfield and then maybe something about a slope.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQGBRwafJwPT4b-RATms3BtFJBMLxur9YShzflaQnVwkjj3eZyNg_PgqgqLN0oeOwb-Y2qSxBYHuHQ66M266E4GmpKnJKbJgDZO3GngRpXSVftQVIdCiFsEZopvPo4vpxf27WMZ6Nqv-I/s1600/IMG_3121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQGBRwafJwPT4b-RATms3BtFJBMLxur9YShzflaQnVwkjj3eZyNg_PgqgqLN0oeOwb-Y2qSxBYHuHQ66M266E4GmpKnJKbJgDZO3GngRpXSVftQVIdCiFsEZopvPo4vpxf27WMZ6Nqv-I/s640/IMG_3121.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile at the other end, Kirk Edwards finally gets off the mark on his 12th delivery. He then gets out on his 14th. He attempts to play across the line to a full Anderson delivery...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GzucHST8UFHe9-WNv8p00DQ1t_bB3k5bv8zOkdbSupTEQZ-hGa8sOAFUAty5wj9LfvGJNGOEy3tUyaKtJfTyYPIzq8FpdggkVRTexZGRY_NbXhxnf9gJb8gWQ6X0cj2bQU_l67IQAdxY/s1600/IMG_3122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GzucHST8UFHe9-WNv8p00DQ1t_bB3k5bv8zOkdbSupTEQZ-hGa8sOAFUAty5wj9LfvGJNGOEy3tUyaKtJfTyYPIzq8FpdggkVRTexZGRY_NbXhxnf9gJb8gWQ6X0cj2bQU_l67IQAdxY/s640/IMG_3122.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And is trapped dead in front. </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunbNH5vY2lhOesWQ8nytGFIZ3vgVLE1Ul6VLxZ32TuJv-7yRdCaIc2ck201SIoQfyM6vTGF_F-emSKuLfOb5tK0zHOiFtyM1XsL5wOCf9OCJditV9iNjpT8aCrJAFxo8kn6ugfrHQpDN_/s1600/IMG_3123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunbNH5vY2lhOesWQ8nytGFIZ3vgVLE1Ul6VLxZ32TuJv-7yRdCaIc2ck201SIoQfyM6vTGF_F-emSKuLfOb5tK0zHOiFtyM1XsL5wOCf9OCJditV9iNjpT8aCrJAFxo8kn6ugfrHQpDN_/s640/IMG_3123.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">England celebrate their second wicket of the "summer" and the West Indies are 32-2.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRSH3-CqE7_MeImRYmwgE8b74y-O-F0UULmOrnmmGw78FRSE_NgIFniVqWZEP3lyvRGA497P5l1mg7CWtGG3GLpXfTmmzUD5IqyXXMSNureGswLy81b4LzemgQsQi8qK04RvMhwzyAZp-/s1600/IMG_3124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRSH3-CqE7_MeImRYmwgE8b74y-O-F0UULmOrnmmGw78FRSE_NgIFniVqWZEP3lyvRGA497P5l1mg7CWtGG3GLpXfTmmzUD5IqyXXMSNureGswLy81b4LzemgQsQi8qK04RvMhwzyAZp-/s640/IMG_3124.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The much written about Darren Bravo strides to the crease, <strike>mandatory "exuding an air of Brian Lara " comment</strike>. Graeme Swann is brought on for a spell before lunch, but he drops a bit short and Bravo is able to drive it square to the boundary.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtaRyWmqUche5UI0RZ01k9673JJtrtLKICAaRUchhCBC0XZs4VcQbinJkaUyTAb7ONLSvp75cfLYZ61rQ3HXcBbwrifw_3odGKnzdZeY3KKPFTc51ChM3774ckZHpRMLbl9A51Kkin7Lf/s1600/IMG_3125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtaRyWmqUche5UI0RZ01k9673JJtrtLKICAaRUchhCBC0XZs4VcQbinJkaUyTAb7ONLSvp75cfLYZ61rQ3HXcBbwrifw_3odGKnzdZeY3KKPFTc51ChM3774ckZHpRMLbl9A51Kkin7Lf/s640/IMG_3125.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tim Bresnan is bowling from the other end and he has an enormous shout before the lunch break on Adrian Barath. He's hit on the full, but it looks to be sliding down leg, and the umpire remains unmoved. England don't review, which is reassuring considering their pretty naff use of DRS over the winter.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiQ0l4QlbWYEpdwHoaDTrg61witXt8MzLBMC2BYV2WLFxX7GpkfENGyzmXH82Z1RnG4-Kr9T4sy2Qz7goZWzj6PU-ZJvYE1JCac4NX-u8xVtnttnxP6lOg_99VSzWMI3P11tmS7bDTUla/s1600/IMG_3127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiQ0l4QlbWYEpdwHoaDTrg61witXt8MzLBMC2BYV2WLFxX7GpkfENGyzmXH82Z1RnG4-Kr9T4sy2Qz7goZWzj6PU-ZJvYE1JCac4NX-u8xVtnttnxP6lOg_99VSzWMI3P11tmS7bDTUla/s640/IMG_3127.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bravo and Barath, who play domestic cricket together for Trinidad & Tobago, manage to survive until lunch.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4o_H068EX73GxZwbmOQLrfzcfXEx2Ol07OAfXOoRWSBLiYicNZAsRip7XNWPz2Y1ONhPjKEGlguEW9DZRx_OgGQg-TKgo9ZXWd23UOKX4_1O36b14L3Xmg38r9nG7QHhAZBU5gYKeYR5o/s1600/IMG_3128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4o_H068EX73GxZwbmOQLrfzcfXEx2Ol07OAfXOoRWSBLiYicNZAsRip7XNWPz2Y1ONhPjKEGlguEW9DZRx_OgGQg-TKgo9ZXWd23UOKX4_1O36b14L3Xmg38r9nG7QHhAZBU5gYKeYR5o/s640/IMG_3128.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both have displayed their potential in the morning session, with Bravo hitting a lovely shot down the ground for 4 off Bresnan.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDzhfUFFXjQtqUScg0-g3pA8E4sJ5GimjPcmhpkkVUpcoftOJS9lHeswqfWU7-NUZJ7g-UFXzSvwCHxBWnXhkEF7hwiLCHvFsYKo6gTNBNM6AiM0CZ7d5qIIVCn5npmdcfkV8G0juHdeT/s1600/IMG_3129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDzhfUFFXjQtqUScg0-g3pA8E4sJ5GimjPcmhpkkVUpcoftOJS9lHeswqfWU7-NUZJ7g-UFXzSvwCHxBWnXhkEF7hwiLCHvFsYKo6gTNBNM6AiM0CZ7d5qIIVCn5npmdcfkV8G0juHdeT/s640/IMG_3129.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The players head off into the Lord's pavilion with the Windies undoubtedly happy with their 83-2 position. Many pundits had looked at the pitch and expected the Windies to capitulate, but the two youngsters at the crease have put on a 50 partnership.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIgiq58ZqGrPx2gsNYLjCpb5WDJt0MEvvbL0VKXmAklzg5HBFqi5IrToi4q6kz8t-gwx8-rykwNUU4075oi6IMnlsJjYk9QNCFS708UMDoQzgoFIeYsunbzWxpTdaxTw3UmZwGQviDw-H/s1600/IMG_3130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIgiq58ZqGrPx2gsNYLjCpb5WDJt0MEvvbL0VKXmAklzg5HBFqi5IrToi4q6kz8t-gwx8-rykwNUU4075oi6IMnlsJjYk9QNCFS708UMDoQzgoFIeYsunbzWxpTdaxTw3UmZwGQviDw-H/s640/IMG_3130.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having asked for a review, which turned out to be a no-ball, on an LBW shout which would've been not out anyway (it's Aleem Dar!) , Broad strikes. Barath chases at a wide one and it flies to Anderson at gully...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_4lushQeFQWJJyk9qh5xZOvEbQijJOp4Qcs0AISIRjgH6xmylcsOWgx3an0I_A_2l1AM7LTG3xqe6s1c1hZvVAe_yLin9WFZ1-aSRPHlBOIwcTaydpo5SMxygC001KJPVj7uqbdoNls6/s1600/IMG_3131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_4lushQeFQWJJyk9qh5xZOvEbQijJOp4Qcs0AISIRjgH6xmylcsOWgx3an0I_A_2l1AM7LTG3xqe6s1c1hZvVAe_yLin9WFZ1-aSRPHlBOIwcTaydpo5SMxygC001KJPVj7uqbdoNls6/s640/IMG_3131.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who manages to parry it...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ItTwI2MydH5vTlods1SNr31f1QnXLGbc7v4R8g8piFPfUaDdSbQYUopTdyPX6SoTYZfGPjJ5_zs9S4gmdOTfrZok6VyLL7rU5y0zP9qem7s1bqo5RSRvIV9StonMGdBdlUxn9yaDgdcn/s1600/IMG_3132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ItTwI2MydH5vTlods1SNr31f1QnXLGbc7v4R8g8piFPfUaDdSbQYUopTdyPX6SoTYZfGPjJ5_zs9S4gmdOTfrZok6VyLL7rU5y0zP9qem7s1bqo5RSRvIV9StonMGdBdlUxn9yaDgdcn/s640/IMG_3132.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Swann attempts to run across, just in case Jimmy drops it...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1xzbgnLWd8nuWm5ZJjQEyJfUyXGp_OmlJ7c2qwCyRe01jCQt03Xr8nJ2TZrIDmKWc5Abtl1Pn8vNTOJ5u86w-GwUSbYkPVq-4tB9oHUK_FZqNWrbZqxNHoJnfa9SMdymuYF_0iA5oYpE/s1600/IMG_3133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1xzbgnLWd8nuWm5ZJjQEyJfUyXGp_OmlJ7c2qwCyRe01jCQt03Xr8nJ2TZrIDmKWc5Abtl1Pn8vNTOJ5u86w-GwUSbYkPVq-4tB9oHUK_FZqNWrbZqxNHoJnfa9SMdymuYF_0iA5oYpE/s640/IMG_3133.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But Jimmy takes a good catch at the second chance. Broad picks up the breakthrough, Barath goes for 42 and the Windies are 86-3.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbOAp4dtPpnuz4YcE6GSykqzEB6xKb-aSTzyFjKo48MLnM2yioqlZE6a3HLltYNnrm3dIz__9Qgd3peEc9_iSXX8DKkc69o17OVp1zhh3iFrc1kPlu7nSan2aJh4th2CAKFFhdZYOZxIG/s1600/IMG_3134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbOAp4dtPpnuz4YcE6GSykqzEB6xKb-aSTzyFjKo48MLnM2yioqlZE6a3HLltYNnrm3dIz__9Qgd3peEc9_iSXX8DKkc69o17OVp1zhh3iFrc1kPlu7nSan2aJh4th2CAKFFhdZYOZxIG/s640/IMG_3134.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It brings to the crease Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who is currently ranked the number 1 batsman in the world. His crablike stance (I tried) is something all too familiar to the cricket watching world and one that England will want to get rid of early.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4ETnsNqwJ2enZ2tEXjtcJHqATadsU9Cy6Rs5uOJzTiPLJbyw4vi1zTMpObztMdm-1hkM1P5MdoPLNXeoluHjZpIG2wuNCOnuJqYfAFaPH1u7IjbWngPCFbBjyxujdt8rOZwccqIVLAev/s1600/IMG_3135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4ETnsNqwJ2enZ2tEXjtcJHqATadsU9Cy6Rs5uOJzTiPLJbyw4vi1zTMpObztMdm-1hkM1P5MdoPLNXeoluHjZpIG2wuNCOnuJqYfAFaPH1u7IjbWngPCFbBjyxujdt8rOZwccqIVLAev/s640/IMG_3135.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As with many of the Test runs in the summer of 2011, Chanderpaul's first boundary of his innings goes down to the vacant third man boundary.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcLfUjHSCYmKxc4fDZfB9oRaSCcaB4RjGZtWY-aQ1EvWwbj64gp-C8U0Y8zRXvJyWbcCAXCHL3DwMDlYSZ5KaVSQMac8zU7ZSviUS431zTqKKd9XVfp1AN_gl7sEjCZV9NdnhXhd9eZ7c/s1600/IMG_3136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcLfUjHSCYmKxc4fDZfB9oRaSCcaB4RjGZtWY-aQ1EvWwbj64gp-C8U0Y8zRXvJyWbcCAXCHL3DwMDlYSZ5KaVSQMac8zU7ZSviUS431zTqKKd9XVfp1AN_gl7sEjCZV9NdnhXhd9eZ7c/s640/IMG_3136.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some things never change.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2lJ5PPbfW8XJKAts5nfXERcelRyuL4H1Tm6hyphenhyphencbly2an_FdrUUKrnQSGmSLAvvmzWakIyBooCmOZTeZKmGVzVM9UW9wLWOkbnbQJyQuBcJilQpZXPgYiyu_F4fQukJYkSe_r6ASFZoWy/s1600/IMG_3137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2lJ5PPbfW8XJKAts5nfXERcelRyuL4H1Tm6hyphenhyphencbly2an_FdrUUKrnQSGmSLAvvmzWakIyBooCmOZTeZKmGVzVM9UW9wLWOkbnbQJyQuBcJilQpZXPgYiyu_F4fQukJYkSe_r6ASFZoWy/s640/IMG_3137.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Darren Bravo gets a life on 29 as he nicks Jimmy into the slips, only to see Swann get hit on the chest without having got a hand on the chance. Luckily for England, Chanderpaul's in a charitable mood.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATlbBmeG8UbT33XZU3VXrBp3Io_PE0Grp4N0Y8NlRZsF-70RGmkxIT3u9nrB9xbjCgoQ6JjDHvEzT54Jegkh5UJth7iyE9m9hWxugrM4AqXVsLlCgUuh2FOPAFYyEZ8Ms0UIiqaE9A4EC/s1600/IMG_3138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATlbBmeG8UbT33XZU3VXrBp3Io_PE0Grp4N0Y8NlRZsF-70RGmkxIT3u9nrB9xbjCgoQ6JjDHvEzT54Jegkh5UJth7iyE9m9hWxugrM4AqXVsLlCgUuh2FOPAFYyEZ8Ms0UIiqaE9A4EC/s640/IMG_3138.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He turns one round the corner to Ian Bell, but ends up ball watching. Bravo runs for the single, but sees that Chanderpaul isn't running. He has no choice but to carry on.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHW1L4guEbGtI0WvtKyuoGMATY7iixhem6JeWMGRJ69915Frn9LONusS0Jw3pe7q0cH8ApP6G6O0-8TTlxVzts5Ry2sENTgqb_J-W873QCUiJp8_LTFEJ-eCc124Y2yj_oqU4tUzE56MWf/s1600/IMG_3139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHW1L4guEbGtI0WvtKyuoGMATY7iixhem6JeWMGRJ69915Frn9LONusS0Jw3pe7q0cH8ApP6G6O0-8TTlxVzts5Ry2sENTgqb_J-W873QCUiJp8_LTFEJ-eCc124Y2yj_oqU4tUzE56MWf/s640/IMG_3139.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chanderpaul gets his bat down before poor Bravo, meaning that if Prior can throw cleanly to Swann, it'll be him who's on his way back to the pavilion. </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2d4DGKk-tZVUXwoIpH9aqpgZ1fxWBX4D9lVJW5WnIJYW0Iwc5ROph_KwQ4-A9nOJgiQLWKrv6wZGSMoSLp_ioO7rI3SGz24ychDH88AvNU1jMvmFlZZzYU6qPIuguPN2vv2rLjEaux74/s1600/IMG_3140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2d4DGKk-tZVUXwoIpH9aqpgZ1fxWBX4D9lVJW5WnIJYW0Iwc5ROph_KwQ4-A9nOJgiQLWKrv6wZGSMoSLp_ioO7rI3SGz24ychDH88AvNU1jMvmFlZZzYU6qPIuguPN2vv2rLjEaux74/s640/IMG_3140.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prior has different ideas. Seemingly aiming for Stuart Broad at mid on, he forces Swann to hurl himself onto the ground to stop the ball. Luckily for Prior, and England, he stops it from heading off to the boundary...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxG4ktxbi0KrRq-6uXMJR9YFl21uuEXR45Jqh7goO9ff9ZY68laWNOoIorRquBFdp7GtIWoforvp9oSkLlaHOlDOEYekfdh-WzqTIH92BQLXK1HqUpW7wh2ewxCIqqZZYsOeB_oOAgTGo/s1600/IMG_3141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxG4ktxbi0KrRq-6uXMJR9YFl21uuEXR45Jqh7goO9ff9ZY68laWNOoIorRquBFdp7GtIWoforvp9oSkLlaHOlDOEYekfdh-WzqTIH92BQLXK1HqUpW7wh2ewxCIqqZZYsOeB_oOAgTGo/s640/IMG_3141.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And is able to crawl, then stand up, to Darren Bravo out for 29. It's 100-4. All eyes turn to the dressing room lest <a href="http://down-at-fine-leg.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/lords-test-day-five.html">window gate</a> happen again.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsUIfgFGR8TUXsoRJW1L2Kj0sCDTBNPoWnFEsvhToTbm8WPdsalwv-ib-3__kZDhGfinNTbcqbqZ_GbQrB8cHhz8Gy8gaRXomAOP2QqqOMbTLgbRFODuaIgXkuX12xe3-IQ8FAIIWBpar/s1600/IMG_3142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsUIfgFGR8TUXsoRJW1L2Kj0sCDTBNPoWnFEsvhToTbm8WPdsalwv-ib-3__kZDhGfinNTbcqbqZ_GbQrB8cHhz8Gy8gaRXomAOP2QqqOMbTLgbRFODuaIgXkuX12xe3-IQ8FAIIWBpar/s640/IMG_3142.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the disappointment of Matt Prior, Darren Bravo's bat placing skills aren't headline worthy. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, though, certainly is and he decided to capitalise on his correct DRS call off the bowling of Jimmy Anderson and hits Swann for 4 through the covers.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEjJEwnJGxT6ZZgAkpak06C1eso9h9u9VspeHYQA94l8xoDRFVqp1AhDnJc6zIC6NuFvDCp4Xu_luLuufAB6jhIVesSPd9yeaLJlmiYv3Oyx36HvWUY7CTi83iaTLafjtkpwtTO9y1MEP/s1600/IMG_3143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEjJEwnJGxT6ZZgAkpak06C1eso9h9u9VspeHYQA94l8xoDRFVqp1AhDnJc6zIC6NuFvDCp4Xu_luLuufAB6jhIVesSPd9yeaLJlmiYv3Oyx36HvWUY7CTi83iaTLafjtkpwtTO9y1MEP/s640/IMG_3143.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">KP, having just come back onto the field having gone for a "waddle in the pond" or something, mistimes his dive with hilarious consequences and the ball goes for 4.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvu34VXBepSH-AYU6O-NNfKNRwvjWrRJE6k_1GizQ5UfdJVNIvrNjgI7bbm4pCotfKOfmIZOMRWIEJmQy549hvnZgrGtHKgIWqrb_mTi_dOMBMvLErrsbj1L5yfugQYhnHXqe4euwCF2s/s1600/IMG_3144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvu34VXBepSH-AYU6O-NNfKNRwvjWrRJE6k_1GizQ5UfdJVNIvrNjgI7bbm4pCotfKOfmIZOMRWIEJmQy549hvnZgrGtHKgIWqrb_mTi_dOMBMvLErrsbj1L5yfugQYhnHXqe4euwCF2s/s640/IMG_3144.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chanderpaul, worryingly for England, is looking fairly well set. </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElBSgw4ChM3q7PfbcEk7YUJ3KF0XuyOXXee917ai_Jc9o3Ai0VyQlsT-sTs-OrTadUeUapt1pJfokiZOtO1GH0Ug5_oCH3Nztlt1TW8HBLdc_snLWD1uDLSh5TQ0QBoyxWzZRO9TXTySt/s1600/IMG_3145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElBSgw4ChM3q7PfbcEk7YUJ3KF0XuyOXXee917ai_Jc9o3Ai0VyQlsT-sTs-OrTadUeUapt1pJfokiZOtO1GH0Ug5_oCH3Nztlt1TW8HBLdc_snLWD1uDLSh5TQ0QBoyxWzZRO9TXTySt/s640/IMG_3145.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He clips it down the ground for another 4.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJISihnG_Wv8RQIqt_dQXr9iSJ8ibeT03L5oO03hA7VEKhbLooKZHtwljea5O_jZN6qqoprGlmExNEojphwJezuHCNHYX4JyAbhpRPgyUbko7JEDRgV5eo4jLms3LYxidOObcMECdR2dw/s1600/IMG_3146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJISihnG_Wv8RQIqt_dQXr9iSJ8ibeT03L5oO03hA7VEKhbLooKZHtwljea5O_jZN6qqoprGlmExNEojphwJezuHCNHYX4JyAbhpRPgyUbko7JEDRgV5eo4jLms3LYxidOObcMECdR2dw/s640/IMG_3146.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's another decent position for the West Indies, as they head into tea on 146-4. England's bowling, bar James Anderson, has been disappointing. Even Jonathan Trott has bowled. Broad has looked like he's lacking rhythm and Bresnan, whilst incredibly economical, has not troubled the batsmen too much. England will be hoping for a wicket early in the evening session to try and kick start a famous Windies collapse.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSP6Kj97U5oIQKxugf_P2Nrfyz_-DucvixJ6jO8aeZ_FmO3C5ECvd3wHuw3rhTcsPveNG79fWNGj7DZ8w_2ICxiCpFMFtrr0Spt7FmnSdC1TmYlGA0bM8Ytdqd-SRjXZUMiVd4beFFqUkh/s1600/IMG_3147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSP6Kj97U5oIQKxugf_P2Nrfyz_-DucvixJ6jO8aeZ_FmO3C5ECvd3wHuw3rhTcsPveNG79fWNGj7DZ8w_2ICxiCpFMFtrr0Spt7FmnSdC1TmYlGA0bM8Ytdqd-SRjXZUMiVd4beFFqUkh/s640/IMG_3147.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anderson continues after tea and Chanderpaul reaches another half-century.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiG0vIaZP2Eclx7K-RMxHxUysFhTFNUS0tmSaAs0BRiJaqKngfgu2ve43YgOoPzr13TX7BWW4pwWJKs_f4S9JiCTKPzeOixx_ShvSs584p6PHebUujcyxsnLT_5lZiAZT_4uijjPzlGOPq/s1600/IMG_3148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiG0vIaZP2Eclx7K-RMxHxUysFhTFNUS0tmSaAs0BRiJaqKngfgu2ve43YgOoPzr13TX7BWW4pwWJKs_f4S9JiCTKPzeOixx_ShvSs584p6PHebUujcyxsnLT_5lZiAZT_4uijjPzlGOPq/s640/IMG_3148.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jimmy tries to stop the ball, but Chanderpaul's still able to go through for the single.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NAjcLtqZCHUwPqAIWOQ4LURRo2zs9kZdfFAUpz2vp0A-6jt1g9S1Rfn3pnfh-hQE1MA-SNIgjuXpmUXiZWKfwMKy9WG2b9ovqZNw0InITxX3EzWekqYRog88pI9a1jQozmIEALvKTSO-/s1600/IMG_3149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NAjcLtqZCHUwPqAIWOQ4LURRo2zs9kZdfFAUpz2vp0A-6jt1g9S1Rfn3pnfh-hQE1MA-SNIgjuXpmUXiZWKfwMKy9WG2b9ovqZNw0InITxX3EzWekqYRog88pI9a1jQozmIEALvKTSO-/s640/IMG_3149.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's Shiv's 60th Test half-century in all and he will hope to convert it into a hundred.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_i3EHI04XYjmMlUXR5HuSMjmoAXj2_M81qfyZ-Ny2tuQf3JgXRBgXYZjMoxx8FdBeShfqE2l328s_x9PbWDqal9af8b-ywSZSQEcsTBDvzLpXCqlcjkFqCGRpOJiVoyQhQYQ6pV69Rix/s1600/IMG_3153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_i3EHI04XYjmMlUXR5HuSMjmoAXj2_M81qfyZ-Ny2tuQf3JgXRBgXYZjMoxx8FdBeShfqE2l328s_x9PbWDqal9af8b-ywSZSQEcsTBDvzLpXCqlcjkFqCGRpOJiVoyQhQYQ6pV69Rix/s640/IMG_3153.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He will hope to have some partners to help him reach the three figures. Marlon Samuels would not be one of them. Samuels, having been in for well over two hours, manages to go for a drive against Broad...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtukCP5bSH-poCL_YZ4uq2PRJ2A3wJbUh1ErcYM1puHHXojoGjP22ABFduGZLS0kMUmea6PN8a4H12bBVtPilO6BaamTriPo4E0Eu8kkDlnJw_0_1P9FZCjoZ2jMNdLWJxsQKDfI-ucwI/s1600/IMG_3154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtukCP5bSH-poCL_YZ4uq2PRJ2A3wJbUh1ErcYM1puHHXojoGjP22ABFduGZLS0kMUmea6PN8a4H12bBVtPilO6BaamTriPo4E0Eu8kkDlnJw_0_1P9FZCjoZ2jMNdLWJxsQKDfI-ucwI/s640/IMG_3154.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And ends up gifting Jonny Bairstow his first catch in Test cricket. Samuels goes for 31 and it's a vital breakthrough for England. The West Indies are 181-5.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UlraJcY_xphm1Zwv-mAtsYeMNToVXNnZuV7LYnfthGTBt19fJ38A8CeLihXmaGDST4roew4e07GjJil7R8FNFcLOyR3PU6whWEGmyh57frIyKx1kgiFSJf4Ox_dUGZEGnEW8QnAubM0O/s1600/IMG_3155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UlraJcY_xphm1Zwv-mAtsYeMNToVXNnZuV7LYnfthGTBt19fJ38A8CeLihXmaGDST4roew4e07GjJil7R8FNFcLOyR3PU6whWEGmyh57frIyKx1kgiFSJf4Ox_dUGZEGnEW8QnAubM0O/s640/IMG_3155.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Denesh Ramdin comes...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4_mVwTmND78N3_KHRBla_QzGWbuoKX9jFwVUBj95jbG3zGoYWzkgS2kvKntCXyO3nGIsMUuE-K4nZQCNm8xoF_4D1T3aIKnDW0TlYgImyAygFi3gFLbjf7zSUj_NsCJDzfo0x7INWti4/s1600/IMG_3156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4_mVwTmND78N3_KHRBla_QzGWbuoKX9jFwVUBj95jbG3zGoYWzkgS2kvKntCXyO3nGIsMUuE-K4nZQCNm8xoF_4D1T3aIKnDW0TlYgImyAygFi3gFLbjf7zSUj_NsCJDzfo0x7INWti4/s640/IMG_3156.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And goes. He leaves his bat hanging outside off and ends up nicking it straight to Strauss at first slip. He departs for 6 and it's 187-6. Is the Calypso Collapso on? </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvKzpT0GenzfsRaZI_touohzPmaDN9bV0uH4F9aLs7PNbD6TTrez-TlYcrjmQ273SHofhBGcPTJ_GnjyVIEDmYzUSNCgJG_eJr5vvE1CIJEDzqpmAlxtCw1n7zma6CvrLMNjBbolUEaNS/s1600/IMG_3157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvKzpT0GenzfsRaZI_touohzPmaDN9bV0uH4F9aLs7PNbD6TTrez-TlYcrjmQ273SHofhBGcPTJ_GnjyVIEDmYzUSNCgJG_eJr5vvE1CIJEDzqpmAlxtCw1n7zma6CvrLMNjBbolUEaNS/s640/IMG_3157.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Captain Darren Sammy (insert something about honey here) is next at the crease. Sammy's enjoys looking to score quickly and Swann offers him the chance to chance his arm.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0U1eUGphpjF5SHq6Ae0-gQ2pKpez2j9E31fFjLXfred4icN_gnB7u25xQD8JVncvkT_x5x9zGt8f2JDVyWBSgc-D4-76j9SQogC6k1vVf796b0h9C4DmlyN1LBcyZ2A6tUSHYLGDt5C6/s1600/IMG_3158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0U1eUGphpjF5SHq6Ae0-gQ2pKpez2j9E31fFjLXfred4icN_gnB7u25xQD8JVncvkT_x5x9zGt8f2JDVyWBSgc-D4-76j9SQogC6k1vVf796b0h9C4DmlyN1LBcyZ2A6tUSHYLGDt5C6/s640/IMG_3158.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He hits one just over the head of the substitute fielder (KP's or Ian Bell's bladders need looking at) at mid off and to the boundary for four.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcch4cw1i1RaVrx2ahX-ZzSWVMkxDzIeJveJmPKulzcd1HtNv9ZnIwVpMdxGtNwqVnmAApT6cxHVzNjA3wHj_Se_z0Tu8B0Z7MRoze1GcpGrWVtiXCuFr-reFaldpfSBN7YRxP0YjesfVO/s1600/IMG_3159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcch4cw1i1RaVrx2ahX-ZzSWVMkxDzIeJveJmPKulzcd1HtNv9ZnIwVpMdxGtNwqVnmAApT6cxHVzNjA3wHj_Se_z0Tu8B0Z7MRoze1GcpGrWVtiXCuFr-reFaldpfSBN7YRxP0YjesfVO/s640/IMG_3159.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chanderpaul's still there and, perhaps aware of the batting to come, he manages to get away a rank Swann full toss to the boundary for a one bounce four.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAGpUcn4IXRppJ5eb0uspq7drNe3Gvv9P3p0bwn97PLt6b7d-NL7RlhH2KVcd3groIpBDk5tbGuNe79kTZ5adS7ANDOWjcm4zR8vft0chCxW0Kc4cXKE1Dkto8e86qztui8pFWcCVw73W/s1600/IMG_3162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAGpUcn4IXRppJ5eb0uspq7drNe3Gvv9P3p0bwn97PLt6b7d-NL7RlhH2KVcd3groIpBDk5tbGuNe79kTZ5adS7ANDOWjcm4zR8vft0chCxW0Kc4cXKE1Dkto8e86qztui8pFWcCVw73W/s640/IMG_3162.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any attacking intent from Sammy is soon over. He gets himself all in a tangle trying to flick one into the leg side. He gets a leading edge...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINPlI5vdx30UNHFKH5RQvZbhSvCUa_ozhtMefZfA5bo00fCTbU8EpBW3RD8z3NI20DcThtFBBeFzNdvK-pCNy-yihM28rJJO7OO7dUlM4Y-KF9UTP97jjHiZL5moELt-HiJ3d3GoVITFs/s1600/IMG_3163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINPlI5vdx30UNHFKH5RQvZbhSvCUa_ozhtMefZfA5bo00fCTbU8EpBW3RD8z3NI20DcThtFBBeFzNdvK-pCNy-yihM28rJJO7OO7dUlM4Y-KF9UTP97jjHiZL5moELt-HiJ3d3GoVITFs/s640/IMG_3163.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it's taken by the bucket hands of Tim Bresnan in the gully, who's just as surprised as Sammy is that the ball ended up with him. Sammy goes for 17 and it's 219-7.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0v-XeoYcg-LDFfvqzGQDDNkChBd67tkvSJdBgBW3dXW18Q7ajLELVKxUOVryF7EhUjXDT_B6iA_ZYZdHglBhYaLxPaHqzxLR2H-sBrKsdynYhPAVAUgqYjmC9n4JdvSiL7STPIdhFYWa/s1600/IMG_3164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0v-XeoYcg-LDFfvqzGQDDNkChBd67tkvSJdBgBW3dXW18Q7ajLELVKxUOVryF7EhUjXDT_B6iA_ZYZdHglBhYaLxPaHqzxLR2H-sBrKsdynYhPAVAUgqYjmC9n4JdvSiL7STPIdhFYWa/s640/IMG_3164.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kemar Roach comes in, manages a four and then... </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmal-zcbieUEhIeWofPzBTSrUn5c8s1BHShpXyHsKaoP6BD7VqQxVhIacA9MRYRL0N8QXAl4W4rfi585QUL04V_CW1-TuKFQqjBaKKqNJ-v0EG8elSILXnys1N9z_V1_o8b88jlTFy8tUP/s1600/IMG_3165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmal-zcbieUEhIeWofPzBTSrUn5c8s1BHShpXyHsKaoP6BD7VqQxVhIacA9MRYRL0N8QXAl4W4rfi585QUL04V_CW1-TuKFQqjBaKKqNJ-v0EG8elSILXnys1N9z_V1_o8b88jlTFy8tUP/s640/IMG_3165.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roach manages to chip one into the air and Broad runs to his left...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2_TkiyRROHn1s-pgk03ZFKPvib8U4OCJEvtFw2NoLA7jR2vqDlPIA_RY9OLa0rvzQ54AbQQpYUtxDY5ygafJq84EaAx-IVCBEnRN21nIMamXzykf6MwanebtRYZrFlx05hGd4T3JKn1x/s1600/IMG_3166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2_TkiyRROHn1s-pgk03ZFKPvib8U4OCJEvtFw2NoLA7jR2vqDlPIA_RY9OLa0rvzQ54AbQQpYUtxDY5ygafJq84EaAx-IVCBEnRN21nIMamXzykf6MwanebtRYZrFlx05hGd4T3JKn1x/s640/IMG_3166.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To take a very good catch. Roach goes for 6 and his wicket leaves the West Indies on 231-8. </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUIedFUg36dXlii8dHZBO7TD7u65MMjQTGmOJfj_6IqQzjqBe8UIbB9j3r2KoDb6YeBPzsnegQ9dF4jqVWv_VTTbSwRaWtc5u3ZjsP8UubkVhlRIHRNNIYT_hVIcF-fvmwUYwOy5LEhlW/s1600/IMG_3167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUIedFUg36dXlii8dHZBO7TD7u65MMjQTGmOJfj_6IqQzjqBe8UIbB9j3r2KoDb6YeBPzsnegQ9dF4jqVWv_VTTbSwRaWtc5u3ZjsP8UubkVhlRIHRNNIYT_hVIcF-fvmwUYwOy5LEhlW/s640/IMG_3167.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His wicket also hands Broad a 5fer. He becomes the eighth player to be on both the batting and bowling Honours Boards at Lord's. Remember how Sachin Tendulkar's not on it and Marcus North's on it for his bowling against Pakistan? Yeah. Cricket's a wonderful sport, isn't it?</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmE0i9Qr09gAsgine2xJMh8ba__yNg0FXn6fAZHzP5eu7gk_dTn4_bfy1sKVqah4lRIF026ZoGNDerPZ8kIAAgFa8voEpSh-eVw4KvVXuFEAE8FaIQzgKi8hZ_0w9WdLxFsQ39xGAQONi/s1600/IMG_3168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmE0i9Qr09gAsgine2xJMh8ba__yNg0FXn6fAZHzP5eu7gk_dTn4_bfy1sKVqah4lRIF026ZoGNDerPZ8kIAAgFa8voEpSh-eVw4KvVXuFEAE8FaIQzgKi8hZ_0w9WdLxFsQ39xGAQONi/s640/IMG_3168.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Broad drops one short in his penultimate over of the day and it ends up being crashed to the boundary for 4 by Chanderpaul, who only has 2 tail-enders for company.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLAHu7GofbHXOLoiQPWmPVTaRzcYpGRoeh2538bXlZUHaDhHl49lUuuB8xPi3oW7Ddbho5c2-gVHSClrj4ylOStHCOSRO5eZ2Kvm7hT4Zp-69MmvI-h-7-x7hivhuKCBNGWbnXtiLQcsQ/s1600/IMG_3170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLAHu7GofbHXOLoiQPWmPVTaRzcYpGRoeh2538bXlZUHaDhHl49lUuuB8xPi3oW7Ddbho5c2-gVHSClrj4ylOStHCOSRO5eZ2Kvm7hT4Zp-69MmvI-h-7-x7hivhuKCBNGWbnXtiLQcsQ/s640/IMG_3170.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite some frankly hilarious plays and misses from Fidel Edwards, Chanderpaul decides, as he seems to enjoy doing, to take a single off the first ball of the over. It leaves Edwards with 5 balls to survive the day and means that Chanderpaul will be not out at the close. Unfortunately for him, Fidel doesn't get the memo and instead nicks one...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzNFgHQElr4SgT2rFOZwqxayywRlQEH0GkFUNH5Y_1Le8pdhmzxzMhKjiJgKN6tPHUg0dcUsvNTUZtYlQnL7UuOh97riIpgQtb3R9AfLqG1xwQr_mnD6Hs2umu30zrtMrQX_6EkcDxezh/s1600/IMG_3171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzNFgHQElr4SgT2rFOZwqxayywRlQEH0GkFUNH5Y_1Le8pdhmzxzMhKjiJgKN6tPHUg0dcUsvNTUZtYlQnL7UuOh97riIpgQtb3R9AfLqG1xwQr_mnD6Hs2umu30zrtMrQX_6EkcDxezh/s640/IMG_3171.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where it is well snaffled by Matt Prior in front of Andrew Strauss. It had been looking to go to first slip, but Prior decided that he wanted this catch for his own and dives in front of his captain to leave the West Indies 243-9.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJi4bfr5AOsC1IEYdgV35RPuSUoHYLw8Y1pbUWVlz1JEjja2U3BYkCti8fk8BiXRDC9b5xTL2XK1GZft65kQFmp09KxJRFk_iSaDuL0z_x6mm7Y5BKWhJ7jHTAFyA2AHh4WnnQ8TDDVds/s1600/IMG_3173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJi4bfr5AOsC1IEYdgV35RPuSUoHYLw8Y1pbUWVlz1JEjja2U3BYkCti8fk8BiXRDC9b5xTL2XK1GZft65kQFmp09KxJRFk_iSaDuL0z_x6mm7Y5BKWhJ7jHTAFyA2AHh4WnnQ8TDDVds/s640/IMG_3173.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fidel's wicket brings about the close of play. Broad finishes the day with 6-72. Anderson's morning spell, where, to quote Bumble in an entirely different context, he got the ball swinging more than a 70s disco, was extraordinary. Chanderpaul remains not out on 87, with only the man on debut with a first class average of 4.85 and a high score of 14 to help guide him through to a second century at Lord's.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The West Indies must surely be pleased with their position at the close. When they were put into bat, many England fans expected them to roll over and be all out for about 150. It's not the best score, especially on a pitch looking so flat, but with an all-pace attack and the weather at Lord's looking questionable tomorrow, could they cause England some trouble? It's lovely to have you back, Test cricket. It was a rough few weeks. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-46113791756477406132012-05-17T00:25:00.002+01:002013-09-10T15:22:03.893+01:00England v West Indies: A Test Series Preview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXx5_hyphenhyphenq92jKDueVX-7kyeN5EK104joRe9Yzl3a_2ESWRiQ1L1jV64JYhacC7cYcJQyusvrYgH_hH_2-OP_SlGqkc6xnYQ60cZxkYhG5elnFbGUIYLFlORN3-sthBq-Qi4kqD6NNiaTIfA/s1600/P1080895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXx5_hyphenhyphenq92jKDueVX-7kyeN5EK104joRe9Yzl3a_2ESWRiQ1L1jV64JYhacC7cYcJQyusvrYgH_hH_2-OP_SlGqkc6xnYQ60cZxkYhG5elnFbGUIYLFlORN3-sthBq-Qi4kqD6NNiaTIfA/s400/P1080895.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ah yes, it's that time of year again. Rummage around in the back of your wardrobe for those winter thermals that you put away during the heatwave in the final week of March, dust off your hand warmers and brush England's winter exploits to one side because England's international summer kicks off tomorrow. It's back to the green and pleasant land of seaming pitches and, presumably, empty seats because it's May. In England. And it's the West Indies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The West Indies arrive and prepare to play in country which can't seem to decide which season it is, with the weather ranging from sunshine to hailstorms in the space of an afternoon. Around the county circuit, it's been a spring of discontent. My own county of Essex have been struggling since their first, and so far only, victory of the season in the first County Championship match of the season and other teams have also struggled to reach 200 on a regular basis. Days have regularly been washed out, with New Road being half submerged in water for a few days and a match at Gloucestershire being abandoned without a ball being bowled. It wouldn't be surprising if, like the Sri Lanka series last year, the three Test matches to be played are rain affected at some point.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Such is the beauty of the British weather. This isn't the MET Office and I long since gave up any dreams of being a meteorologist when I realised it'd help if I wasn't afraid of thunder storms, so I digress and move onto the cricket. Long ago, the West Indies coming over would've sent fear through the England batting order, and they wouldn't even need a spinner to do that. Today, anything less than an England whitewash would be seen as a disappointment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To expect the West Indies to challenge in early English summer conditions is difficult, especially against a side who haven't lost a Test series at home since 2008, but they're not as bad as some make them out to be. Granted, they're not likely to be challenging for the number one ranking (although the top five is a <a href="http://blogs.bettor.com/Darren-Sammy-wants-West-Indies-to-be-in-Top-5-ICC-Test-Rankings-by-2015-Cricket-News-Update-a82695">target</a>) and are liable to a collapse of England against Ajmal proportions, but they are, like many sides in international cricket have been, a side in transition. Ottis Gibson has been their coach for over two years now and captain Darren Sammy has been in charge of all three formats for around a year and a half. They are a young side, with the average age of the squad for this series being around 26, but they do have some bright prospects coming through.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the squad for this series, only five of those who <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/engvwi2009/content/squad/398675.html">came over in 2009</a> remain in the squad. One of those who remains is Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who in 2007 proved a stubborn thorn in England's side and, as recent showings against Australia suggest, he has the potential to do that again. For many years he, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle have been the major batsmen in the West Indian line up, but with Gayle's changeable relationship with the WICB and Sarwan's loss of his central contract meaning he now props up Leicestershire's middle order, Chanderpaul must act as a 'father figure' of batting to the youngsters coming through.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of these batting youngsters is that of Darren Bravo. There's a mandatory reference to him being Brian Lara's cousin, left handed, etc. here, but Bravo is one of the West Indian players I'm excited about. This may be because I'm, somewhat unfairly, subconsciously comparing him to his half-brother Dwayne's performance at the Rose Bowl for Essex in 2010, but I'm hoping that Darren Bravo performs this series. He played a handful of matches for Nottinghamshire last season and his average was in the mid-30s, but in the warm up match against the Lions he got a half-century in each innings. He had a disappointing series against the Australians, but after 30 Test innings, his average is a relatively healthy 49.59. If he can perform in English conditions, then that would be wonderful for West Indian cricket, especially with the lynch-pin of Chanderpaul being 38 this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the bowling front, England would do well not to completely underestimate them. Whilst the England Lions cruised home to a 10 wicket victory in Northampton, when Darren Bravo's coming on as first change, you know something's not quite right. Kemar Roach did not bowl in the second innings, and Fidel Edwards and Ravi Rampaul only bowled 10 overs between them. They bowled the combined total of 45 in the first. Should Edwards, Rampaul and Roach be fit and firing for the series, then England may well face some tricky spells. It won't exactly be the stuff of West Indian legends, but Kemar Roach, like Darren Bravo, is a West Indian youngster I'm excited to see in England.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roach currently has 62 Test wickets under his belt and was the leading wicket taker for the West Indies against Australia, where he took 19 at 19.73. He can be expensive at times, but the 23 year old has pace and in the seamer friendly conditions of the early English summer, this may cause the English batsmen a bit of difficulty at times. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Darren Sammy and Ottis Gibson aren't stupid though and are fairly realistic about the West Indies chances in the Tests. They know how strong England are at home and are also aware of how brittle their batting line up is. The ODI series is the one that the West Indies are more excited about, especially with the return of Chris Gayle. Sammy will be hoping that his young side will be inspired by the surroundings of Lord's and the potential to be on the honour's board, whilst Ottis Gibson has been left hoping that the match reaches four days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you look at the England bowling attack, though, it might take the weather to take the Lord's Test to a fourth day. England's bowlers have been superb over the past couple of years and this winter demonstrated that to full effect. They, especially James Anderson, toiled away in the searing heat of the Middle East and Sri Lanka and helped give England platforms that their batsmen failed to capitalise on. All the talk before this series is of who will be that third seamer. James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann (although how much he will be used is up for debate) are all shoe ins, but it's a choice of lucky charm Tim Bresnan, Steven Finn and Graham Onions for that final piece of the bowling jigsaw. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would expect England to select either Steven Finn or Tim Bresnan. Finn has come on leaps and bounds in the past year and would be playing at his home ground, but I would be tempted to go for Graham Onions. He picked up 7 wickets against the West Indies the last time they played at Lord's. In the County Championship match between Middlesex and Durham, he bowled Andrew Strauss for 0 and 6 on his way to picking up excellent match figures of 10-73. He is the fourth highest wicket taker in Division 1, with 23 at 14.52. Durham have had an awful start to the season, but Onions has stood firm and performed when required. I would love Onions to play, but that may be for sentimental reasons because I still remember the treatment of him in South Africa in 2010. Then of course there's Tim Bresnan. Bresnan had a superb series against India last summer and was a noticeable absentee in the disaster in UAE. He returned for his first Test match of the winter in England's victory in Colombo, where he wasn't really in on the wickets, but provided England with something different in the middle overs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, the bowling debate is something of a positive to have come out of England's dismal winter. The form of Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell's awful time of it are two things that have been much discussed in the run up to this series. Ian Bell had an incredible 2011 and it seemed like so much had been put behind him, but a miserable time of it at the hands of Ajmal and co was not exactly ideal for his confidence. He began the county season with three low scores, before hitting 120 out of Warwickshire's first innings total of 267 against Durham. He followed this up by then scoring 82 not out against Northants to guide Warwickshire home in a CB40 match. However, he decided to play for the England Lions and managed only 29 before being bowled by Roach. He didn't get a chance to bat in the second innings, but Bell, when he's on form, is a wonderful player to watch and I fully expect him to find 'form' again this series.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Andrew Strauss, on the other hand, remains centuryless. After the "witch hunt" of Sri Lanka, the cauldrons and broom sticks are probably on standby and packed in a cupboard in the Lord's media centre. Strauss has not had a happy start to the season, his highest score so far for Middlesex is a mere 49 against Worcestershire. His last first-class century came in a warm-up match against a Sri Lanka Development XI in March, but for his last Test century, you're heading back to the happier winter times of Brisbane in 2010. For his last one on home soil, you have to go back even further to the Lord's Test of 2009. With South Africa meaning far, far sterner bowling tests are coming, Strauss will know that he needs to find form, and will be trying his best to find some. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A timely Ravi Bopara thigh injury has meant that he's now on the sidelines for at least two weeks, meaning that England have decided to hand the batting at number six baton to Yorkshire youngster, Jonny Bairstow. Bairstow is an incredibly exciting prospect and has shown himself to possess an incredibly cool head in limited overs cricket. On debut against India, he basted 41 off 21 deliveries and handed England a 3-0 series victory. If he can perform well in this series, the hapless Bopara may well have run out of England chances without having played a Test match for England since August 2011. Still, England have been lacking a northern ginger ever since Colly retired last year, so Bairstow is a welcome addition to the squad.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Anticipated result</b>: England 2-0 West Indies (weather affected Test being a draw). If the weather's good, which it probably won't be judging by the first two months of the county season, then you would expect England to win 3-0. The West Indies have some talented youngsters coming through, but with the clouds gathering and England back on the green, seaming pitches of home, you get the feeling that the Calypso Collapso headlines may not be that far away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ducks will be back, probably, as I slowly try and not fail my second year. Anyway, here's to the English summer and being able to watch cricket in your own time zone again! </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-35987802128850897672012-04-22T21:18:00.000+01:002013-09-10T15:22:38.120+01:00Close Encounters, Umbrellas and an Abandonment: Day Four, Yorkshire v Essex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The public transport system of Sundays meant that I managed
to miss Masters’ wicket of Sayers, but judging by his willingness to run in and
bowl double the amount of overs that the other quick bowlers managed, it was a
wicket that he deserved. The wicket brought to the crease Jonny Bairstow, and
it was clear that he and captain Andrew Gale were going to go for the
declaration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gale and Bairstow were positive. Bairstow cut Masters for 4
just before there was a rain delay. If a result was on the menu, the rain was
the dish that looked the least appetising. Luckily for Yorkshire, it was only a
shower, so Essex were back out with Tom Westley and Greg Smith bowling to a
spread field with plenty of men on the boundary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Smith bowled better in Yorkshire’s second
innings than he did in the first. Having picked up the wicket of Joe Root,
caught down the leg side, last night, he added the wicket of Jonny Bairstow
too. Looking for quick runs, Bairstow went for a shorter ball and ended up
pulling it to Adam Wheater at deep backward square leg.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yorkshire’s attacking intent was clear. Throughout their
mini partnership, Gale and Bairstow had pushed each other for twos, especially
when the ball was heading in Charl Willoughby’s direction. In the same Smith
over of the Bairstow wicket, Gale went for another six, but looked like he
didn’t have enough timing on it. It was sailing to Willoughby at long off, but
he somehow managed to drop it. In fact, it wasn’t even a drop. It just sailed
through his hands.<o:p></o:p>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About 45 minutes before the lunch break and after a Tymal
Mills over, Gale decided he’d had enough. He clearly thought that there was
something in the pitch, especially from the Kirkstall Lane End, for his bowlers
to exploit and knew that a quick burst before lunch might see his side pick up
a couple of quick wickets. There was also the weather to think about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, with his side 214-4 and with a lead of 261, Gale walked
off. There were some murmurs in the stand, as many were confused about what was
going on, but it soon became clear that Yorkshire had declared. Gale was not
out on 48, but personal milestones clearly meant nothing compared to giving his
side a chance at victory. Essex would require 262 in 74 overs or less and would
want to show that their batting performance in the first innings was a minor
hiccup.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, that was my hope anyway. Ryan Sidebottom and Ajmal
Shahzad had different ideas, Shahzad especially. The battle of the first
innings was definitely the one between Alviro Petersen and Shahzad coming in
from the Kirkstall Lane End. Petersen was having a torrid time of it and it was
no different in the second innings. Having managed to get off the mark,
Petersen then managed to miss one that seemed fairly straight. The umpire had
no hesitation in raising his finger and Essex once again found themselves
losing an early wicket. 4-1 and there was still some time to go before lunch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tom Westley came in on a pair. Westley is a young player
who, like Godleman and Jaik Mickleburgh last year, was fairly disappointing at
the top of the order. With Alastair Cook returning for a couple of games in
May, Westley will want to show that he deserves his chance at number three
ahead of players like Mickleburgh and even Mark Pettini. He managed to get off
his pair first ball and this innings played a bit better. He was hitting a lot
of deliveries through the leg side and did play and miss a couple of times, but
he managed to survive until the lunch break.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Godleman at the other end looked like he was also having
trouble with Shahzad. Some deliveries were keeping a bit low. Petersen’s had
kept a bit low, but he was also playing with his bat behind his pad, which is a
huge danger in the early season conditions. Godleman seemed to be doing
something similar and had survived a couple of LBW shouts until he was given
out when he was on 2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got the camera out, Bernie got out. Sorry, Essex fans.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like with the first innings, Godleman was not happy. The
umpire took a long time to raise his finger and by this point, Shahzad’s eyes
had nearly popped out of his head. For me, from where I was sat although with
Essex tinted glasses, it looked a bit high. Still, the umpire’s decision is
final and Godleman had to go and Essex were in a whole heap of trouble at 7-2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ravi Bopara once again found himself at the crease earlier
than he would’ve hoped and, like in the evening session of the first innings,
was having a lot fly past his outside edge. He played a lovely cover drive off
Shahzad, but a lack of power combined with a wet outfield meant that it didn’t
go to the boundary. Ravi played well this match and will surely be a welcome
addition to the Essex middle order before England, perhaps, come knocking
again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dry conditions over lunch meant that it looked like there
may well be play for much of the afternoon session. During the lunch break Tim
Bresnan was bowling on the outfield with Jason Gillespie as wicketkeeper. He
hit the single stump plenty of times and must’ve spent the majority of the
match sat in the dressing room eyeing up Petersen ahead of the summer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the players did come back out, the clouds were
threatening behind the pavilion. Just after the first ball of a Sidebottom
over, the heavens decided they’d open and the daily April apocalypse duly
arrived. It forced Essex off at 26-2, with Westley on 12 and Bopara on 5.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After an afternoon session of several cups of tea, nearly
bumping into both Graham Napier and Tim Bresnan and ending up awkwardly smiling
at Charl Willoughby, the umpires emerged from the pavilion. They were joined by
the ground staff out in the middle, but despite the sun coming out overhead,
the weather that was threatening behind the pavilion meant that at 15:52, play was
abandoned and the game was declared a draw.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yorkshire will be thoroughly disappointed, especially after
such a positive declaration. For Essex, the weather must have been of some
relief and for them, it is back down to Chelmsford where they will face Northamptonshire
on Thursday. There will be injury problames for Essex. Napier has just
undergone his first round of physio for his calf injury, Phillips can hardly
bend down and Bopara isn’t allowed to bowl. Essex will soon welcome back 18
year old Reece Topley from his England under 19 escapades, but with Napier
gone, Smith and Chambers expensive, Mills only 19 and Willoughby having not
bowled in a “proper” match since getting injured at Fenner’s earlier this
month, the bowling attack is looking like it may well have to be the one man
show of Dave Masters again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, the bowlers managed to fight back against
Yorkshire, so it’ll once again be the batsmen under the microscope. Granted, it
is April, Essex were playing at Headingley for the first time in, off the top of my head, three years and they came across a strong Yorkshire bowling line up, but if the
side harbour serious promotion ambitions, then they can’t afford to keep losing
early wickets. Even against Gloucestershire they did. Essex will be hoping that
Alviro Petersen can soon begin to perform, but apart from his 156 against New
Zealand, he’s been getting a string of low scores. With England presumably
awaiting him this summer, if he keeps playing round straight ones, he’s going
to be in for a rough time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wasn’t the only Essex fan in the ground. There was a
lovely gentleman from Southend who I ended up chatting to during the rain
delay. As we were leaving the ground after the abandonment of the match, he
informed me that he was only doing the away games this year. He was all too
happy to support the team, but this season he’d refused to buy membership and
also refused to visit Chelmsford as he didn’t want to give the club a penny
this year after the shambolic cancelling of the Southend Festival. There’s not
really been a clear explanation as to why the festival has been cancelled, last
year it drew in record crowds and, sadly, like with most issues that currently
surround the club, the reasoning behind the decision has been kept very quiet
indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still, I’ve enjoyed my hour and three days in Leeds. It’s
been cold, it’s been wet and so much tea has been drunk that I was given a free
one on the final day, but it’s been good fun and it was lovely to be watching
the county I support in a different ground. It’s certainly an experience being
an away fan at Headingley and it’s certainly one that I would thoroughly
recommend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mk0l6qA3HqWMRSoWck3_MvtCof-10coe6KPJftYwCFrCeqVketWo44ljKraztUHU00gGYRTIEmT2y40RsSXZFWibE0PNZ-acCOD0LeaOfiOZ5K02m6dyRtFswYrbatsKhb0dLCtu3W97/s1600/P1100185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mk0l6qA3HqWMRSoWck3_MvtCof-10coe6KPJftYwCFrCeqVketWo44ljKraztUHU00gGYRTIEmT2y40RsSXZFWibE0PNZ-acCOD0LeaOfiOZ5K02m6dyRtFswYrbatsKhb0dLCtu3W97/s400/P1100185.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And if you're going to visit Headingley at this time of year, I recommend a snazzy blanket like mine. </span></i></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-87712654012817357362012-04-21T22:48:00.003+01:002013-09-10T15:22:56.544+01:00Sunburn, showers and Ravi Bopara: Day Three, Yorkshire v Essex<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7Rcf2NvA1W0HhMEAhYeFUsAWkAHKuzVseeUtvrAq58leGO9QK6rGjtHDTMvsXok1hbIXkE5SQXWbXwkwryCcQTZpzglzVQtOtEmIvgPFQcc5S6R8ySTCYf8gdxoSFd2MGNMwttTkngpw/s1600/Boppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7Rcf2NvA1W0HhMEAhYeFUsAWkAHKuzVseeUtvrAq58leGO9QK6rGjtHDTMvsXok1hbIXkE5SQXWbXwkwryCcQTZpzglzVQtOtEmIvgPFQcc5S6R8ySTCYf8gdxoSFd2MGNMwttTkngpw/s400/Boppy.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Ravi Bopara celebrates his century. He and Tymal Mills put on 48 for the final wicket.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"April is the cruellest month" said T.S. Eliot. Having been sat at fine leg at Headingley, getting sunburnt and battling the downpours, for the second day running, those words ring incredibly true.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They also ring true for the batsmen, not just from Yorkshire and Essex, but across the nation. Like yesterday, today was about one player and that player was Ravi Bopara. Out of Essex's total of 199, Ravi scored 117 and he finished not out. The next highest innings was from captain James Foster, who got 25 before edging Sidebottom to McGrath in the slips. Only Alviro Petersen and the extras got into double figures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bopara, having survived two separate hat-trick balls and looking incredibly uncomfortable and shifty at the crease yesterday evening, had to farm the strike to try and help Essex build a somewhat competitive total after being 42-5. Once Foster departed, David Masters came in ahead of Tim Phillips. Phillips had been missing for much of the afternoon session and hadn't bowled at all yesterday, so clearly something was up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We soon found out that something was indeed up. When Masters was bowled by Shahzad for 1, Phillips came out to the crease walking gingerly and accompanied by Adam Wheater as a runner. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4RPAAwehJlBtsymqG4MD5GNPAL7rD8AeR-X8lVsCbH6RnfhUp4X_bMPGMUz3NuFEPzaWm7Q1N9P0-9GEoBjkVUi-Jt7j3gGo_vsEEcy-eM805dSAfh53GHNWINJGIDjfmttbbcogkRhq/s1600/Batsmen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4RPAAwehJlBtsymqG4MD5GNPAL7rD8AeR-X8lVsCbH6RnfhUp4X_bMPGMUz3NuFEPzaWm7Q1N9P0-9GEoBjkVUi-Jt7j3gGo_vsEEcy-eM805dSAfh53GHNWINJGIDjfmttbbcogkRhq/s400/Batsmen.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ravi and a batsman with a runner, it was a recipe for disaster...</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Phillips can usually bat. He would, normally, be in before Dave Masters and his first-class batting average is in the low 20s. Today, however, he did not look right. He would leave his bat hanging outside off stump with absolutely minimal footwork, he couldn't bend his knees and he would only play a shot off his pads. He survived 43 balls for his 7, but there was pain etched on his face. It became clear later as he slowly made his way around the boundary and then tried to bend down to replace Tymal Mills' drink that he is suffering with a back injury. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wicket of Tim Phillips brought Maurice Chambers to the crease. To compound Maurice's miserable game, he was gone for a six ball duck, the fourth of Essex's torrid innings. It was also Ryan Sidebottom's 5th wicket, handing him figures of 5-30. Essex, at this point, were 151-9. Reaching 150 had looked a far cry yesterday evening, so it was a testament to Ravi Bopara who was displaying the sort of batting that most England fans, sadly, rarely see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In came Tymal Mills. Mills' top first-class score is 8, which he got on debut against the touring Sri Lankan side. Bopara was a long way from a century and with Mills looking like a rabbit trapped in headlights, it was looking like Bopara may well be stranded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, Bopara farmed the strike well from the youngster. He did turn down a lot of singles, but all things considered, the amount he hit in boundaries probably made up for it. Mills scored only 2, but he batted for well over an hour and faced 41 deliveries for those two runs. At the other end, Bopara was playing some wonderful shots, including a cover drive for four. His century came about in generous circumstances, as Ajmal Shahzad gifted him a nice leg sided delivery for him to glance down to fine leg for four, a full delivery on his pads and then a ball with width.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The desperation to protect the youngster from strike soon proved the downfall for the 48 run partnership. Yorkshire were desperate for a wicket and Bopara was happy to oblige. He stormed down the pitch off the fifth ball of McGrath's over, looking for a single despite hitting the ball straight to the fielder. Mills ran, but Patterson was quicker and Essex finished 199 all out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's telling of the performance of Bopara and the tail that Essex fans were disappointed to miss out on a batting bonus point. To have reached 200, having been at least 5 down when they've reached 100, is something Essex have a knack of doing. It could've been much, much worse, especially if Bopara had managed to nick one yesterday evening, but a lot will be said about his innings and it will provide him with a lot of confidence before the English summer, should he be pencilled in to bat at 6.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yorkshire had a lead of 47, something they may not have expected before the Essex innings. They reached tea 44-0, having nearly doubled their lead and Essex were desperate for a wicket. With Bopara unable to bowl due to a side injury, Phillips in the dressing room nursing a sore back, Napier out injured, Willoughby on as 12th man and a guy who's really a back up wicket keeper on the field, Essex were limited on their bowling options. Masters was ever his economical self, but Chambers was, once again, disappointing. He started off well enough, but as soon as he got straight driven for four by Joe Root, his head dropped and he was expensive. Meanwhile, Tymal Mills was hostile. He was brought on first change and soon began peppering the Yorkshire batsmen with aggressive, but accurate, bouncers. He was far, far less expensive this innings and could have picked up a wicket had James Foster had a short leg in straight away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tom Westley was brought on before Greg Smith, but when Smith was brought on, he was more controlled than he was in the first innings. He did, however, struggle to find the off stump, so it was no surprise that his wicket came from the leg side strangling of Root. This was my first time seeing Joe Root in the flesh, having missed his wicket in the first innings due to trains and sleeping, but he played well for his 67. Westley picked up the other wicket, that of the first innings hero of Phil Jaques. He was out LBW going for a sweep. Nice way to celebrate his new found Englishless.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If the weather forecast brings up rain tomorrow, then the most probable result is a draw. However, if not, then Yorkshire will probably be looking to attack tomorrow morning and try to declare with a 250-300 lead. If this happens, Essex will have to play far better than they did in the first innings. They will, like Jaques, Bopara, Root and Sayers, have to dig in and display patience. The performance against Gloucestershire, albeit in the first game, has shown that Godleman does seem to be in decent nick. Petersen will want to show that he can handle English conditions, even though he can't keep his hands out of his pockets for longer than the period of time it takes the ball to go past the bat. Bopara will take confidence from his century. Wheater can bat, as can Foster who can also hang around. The number three, Tom Westley, is surely aware that the ominous shadow of Alastair Cook hangs over his position, so he will want to prove himself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Essex may not be able to pull off the remarkable tomorrow, but if they can leave Headingley with a draw and a vaguely decent showing in the second innings, then they can prepare for the visit of Northants on Thursday in a far better mood than if they leave with a heavy defeat.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-71213946317030344792012-04-20T23:38:00.002+01:002013-09-10T15:23:14.023+01:00"Is that your funeral outfit?": Day Two, Yorkshire v Essex<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvL7Hw5W9m-zO2JGpB9YCi_n1Wf4-UFGT9nZZw7FUd0kHbhaNd8EDljNHxQDKRwJ7sW0k_YnJdM3qY8xpsw6T5DIzzbUgkV8aAFXJaIMGE2m9IkBuZqOiTaxeTg98JKX4bwgmD7z0-OTBv/s1600/Tymal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvL7Hw5W9m-zO2JGpB9YCi_n1Wf4-UFGT9nZZw7FUd0kHbhaNd8EDljNHxQDKRwJ7sW0k_YnJdM3qY8xpsw6T5DIzzbUgkV8aAFXJaIMGE2m9IkBuZqOiTaxeTg98JKX4bwgmD7z0-OTBv/s400/Tymal.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tymal Mills (to the right of Westley and looking round) is the centre of Essex's attention on a day that ended in an all too familiar fashion for Essex.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having traipsed across the Pennines yesterday to get nothing more than a £3 breakfast, it was a surprise that there was actually any play at all today, let alone the fact it started on time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was an injury blow to Essex before the start of play as Graham Napier, who has started the season very well, was ruled out with a calf injury. It's not just a blow to the county, but a blow to Napier himself, who has had many injury problems throughout his career. The injury meant that Tim Phillips came in for his first Championship match of the season. There was no place for Charl Willoughby, except seemingly as official Essex cheerleader. Yorkshire won the toss and they decided that they would bat first.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The woeful Essex batting performance (more of that later) will get the headlines, but it should not overshadow the performance of Tymal Mills. If you read this blog regularly, you'll know that I rate him a lot. It's not just because of <a href="http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Sport/Cricket/Tymal-Mills-blooms-on-a-fairytale-journey-to-England-set-up-28122011.htm">Suffolk bias</a>, although it certainly helps, it's because he's quick. Very quick.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mills, 19, is a left-arm pace bowler, who has only played a handful of first-class games for Essex. He was quite expensive today, going at nearly 5 an over, but he made an impact and had a huge say in a Yorkshire collapse which saw them all out for 246. He started off from the Rugby Stand End, but was not at all happy. The poor weather was making the run ups muddy and no amount of sawdust could make him less concerned. As Tom Craddock, the legbreak bowler who wasn't in the squad today but is a graduate of Leeds MET, walked past, Mills informed him how delighted he was to be bowling from the Kirkstall Lane End. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the Essex bowlers were expensive today. Even the usually metronomic Dave Masters got tonked about before finally remembering that he's only going to beat them with naggingly accurate bowling, rather than attempting to bounce Phil Jaques at 78mph. Maurice Chambers and Greg Smith were especially disappointing today. Chambers picked up 2 wickets, but not before he'd been hit about by the Yorkshire top order. After his effort, Greg Smith later tweeted that <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/smithyg83/status/193407212771753984">he's had better birthdays</a>. A golden duck and being smashed for 50 off 10 wicketless overs? Many happy returns.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still, after Yorkshire had been 184-3, to get them all out for 246 was a decent effort from Essex. And Yorkshire, actually. McGrath, Rashid and Shahzad all played shots (or in McGrath's case, didn't) that were so inexplicably awful that they'd have to be rated 18 before being released at the cinema. Jaques played superbly on his return to the county and hardly put a foot wrong in his 126, before he decided he'd finally accept his invitation to the collapsing party and got out to Maurice Chambers. Westley also bowled and he picked up the key wicket of the Yorkshire captain, Andrew Gale, after he and Jaques put on a partnership of 86 for the third wicket.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Essex's batting had started well against Gloucestershire. It was almost too well. This was the side that, last season, regularly reached three figures with at least 5 wickets down. It seemed like Essex took one look at the Yorkshire scorecard and thought, "Sod this, anything they can do, we can do better."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sidebottom and Shahzad started incredibly well. Both were getting angry and both deserved a wicket. The breakthrough came at the end of the 9th over. Sidebottom angrily appealed at the umpire as the freshly shaven Billy Godleman, having made a career best equalling score against Glouchestershire, was seemingly struck on the pad. After a slight hesitation, the umpire raised his finger and Godleman was on his way. He didn't seem too happy about it. He probably thought it hit bat first, but it's probably better he went off with his life spared, as Sidebottom was looking angry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Westley came and went for a golden duck, again to Sidebottom. Down at the other end, overseas signing Alviro Petersen was being roughed up by Ajmal Shahzad. Shahzad was bowling well after an incredibly torrid 2011. Petersen managed to edge one through the slip cordon, prompting Shahzad to release a crude, high-pitched shriek that echoed round the ground.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn't Shahzad who got his wicket though. Sidebottom was replaced by Anthony McGrath who, thankfully for Ravi Bopara, managed to release some pressure with some relatively friendly medium pacers. Shahzad was replaced by the older-than-you-think-he-is Steve Patterson, who unleashed an over that caused me to slump into my seat sobbing at fine leg.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First Petersen, who'd looked uncomfortable, scratchy and he didn't particularly like Britain's idea of April, departed. He was out LBW. In came Adam Wheater who, if this match were in Essex, would be the perfect player for this type of situation. He wasn't. He was gone for a four ball duck. Greg Smith walked to the crease. He walked straight back to the pavilion with the second golden duck of the innings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">42-5. Lovely.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you've watched Ravi Bopara play in the whites for England, or for Essex in early April last year, then you'd have found most of his innings flash before your eyes. He, somehow, managed to survive to the close. He played watchfully. He survived many deliveries that went past the edge, managed to keep some edges down and did actually play a couple of good shots, including a leg sided flick and a cut for four. He and captain James Foster managed to survive until the close, leaving Essex on 72-5.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Essex will need these two to perform tomorrow. With no Napier and Phillips having gone missing for much of the afternoon session (he didn't bowl and Willoughby was on for much of it), Essex's tail is looking quite long. Masters can try and hit it, but apart from that, there's nothing of great substance. Essex only won one game away from home last season, and that was against Leicestershire. Before that, the last time they won away was in 2009 and that was against Derbyshire to seal promotion to Division One.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unless the weather intervenes, or Essex pull off a magic batting performance against a strong Yorkshire bowling line up, Essex may well be facing their first defeat of the season and having to deal with the top order batting demons all over again.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-18485995033629500622012-04-13T11:48:00.000+01:002013-09-10T15:23:40.591+01:00Thunderstorms and a Day at Lord's: Day 1, Middlesex v Surrey<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheplDTf8HkOUqRDp-yfcmzB9zqIXG4c4y6NzMn-jzBRiE4f42-SyTzstrH8YrVzgtdSRbnUKSYelNaPcxUXzIrRPw7_U_ZFrwHdaaUy2tjhYHpqQhDXsNHBLpjjI65zlZQorSMfHpJeYPq/s1600/Surrey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheplDTf8HkOUqRDp-yfcmzB9zqIXG4c4y6NzMn-jzBRiE4f42-SyTzstrH8YrVzgtdSRbnUKSYelNaPcxUXzIrRPw7_U_ZFrwHdaaUy2tjhYHpqQhDXsNHBLpjjI65zlZQorSMfHpJeYPq/s400/Surrey.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Surrey captain Rory Hamilton-Brown (on the right sitting on the step) shows his disappointment as play is suspended by bad light during the evening session.</span></i>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a day in which wickets tumbled across the country, I found myself at Lord's watching the first day of the London derby. Now, I come from a very rural background - I have to get ducks that try and bite me out of my local library and pheasants regularly turn up in my back garden. I am a Suffolk based Essex fan who only ever travels down to London to watch sport. I've been to Lord's around five times now, but as I left the tube at St John's Wood and began the walk down to the ground, I was filled with the same childlike excitement that I've had every time I visit. And it's in this mindset that I found myself in the lower tier of the Compton Stand watching Jon Lewis run in from the Nursery End to bowl to the Middlesex openers of Joe Denly and Sam Robson.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was, ultimately, a frustrating day to be a cricket fan at the Home of Cricket. April showers threatened, rumbles of thunder were heard and there was even flashes of lightning in the distance behind the pavilion. With conditions like these, it's not really a surprise that Surrey decided to bowl first when they won the toss.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Middlesex began watchfully. There were a couple of LBW shouts, but Robson and Denly were playing OK. The pitch looked good and there was no devious bounce, meaning both were comfortable leaving the ball without the fear of doing a Michael Clarke/Shane Watson. Of the two, Robson looked more comfortable at the crease. Denly edged off Lewis through the vacant third slip area for a boundary, and then a couple of overs later, ended up nicking one behind to give Steve Davies a relatively easy catch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Middlesex went into lunch 86-2, with Chris Rogers having been trapped LBW by Dernbach. They were playing steadily, especially when compared to the scores from around the country. Sam Robson had been playing well for his 40 and would be hoping to continue after the lunch break. Unfortunately, the weather decided to roll in.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RDLx6dCOIs24yk1dElN2T4_VgKaDXiQdthkTrcxtZ8qkdNZd70DpbApiXxK84lPjp-fc3UYUnzZKyAMn-_OR2cdUIo-6m0DC0yFt8V-rtCZ6z9h6A6Bw_hxuuC3I-ApZ-gjwwZD0wiF3/s1600/P1100043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RDLx6dCOIs24yk1dElN2T4_VgKaDXiQdthkTrcxtZ8qkdNZd70DpbApiXxK84lPjp-fc3UYUnzZKyAMn-_OR2cdUIo-6m0DC0yFt8V-rtCZ6z9h6A6Bw_hxuuC3I-ApZ-gjwwZD0wiF3/s400/P1100043.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn't as grim as the CB40 final, but that's because Somerset can't lose here.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was about an hour and a half delay, as the covers went on towards the end of lunch. During that time I'd had a look round the MCC Library, thanks to <a href="http://www.twitter.com/muffinnuffin">Liz</a>, and then spent a small fortune on a cup of tea. An elderly chap nearby me struck up conversation with me, deciding to tell me about his knee cartilage, Steven Finn needing a mean streak and how he disliked the Rose Bowl being "built on a bloody great hill", how it was "a nightmare in the winter" and kept telling me that if this match had been there, we'd have been soaked because there's no shelter. Having been to Twenty20 Finals Day in 2010, I knew this all too well and was incredibly grateful to be sat in the lower tier of the Compton Stand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Play restarted at around five to three. Unfortunately for Sam Robson, he couldn't capitalise on his good start and departed for 40, having been comprehensively bowled by Tim Linley for 40. Middlesex were 86-3 and continuing from the Pavilion End was Jade Dernbach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In his second over after the delay, Dernbach could've had the Middlesex captain of Neil Dexter bowled, caught or LBW off the first three deliveries. On his fourth, he finally got his man. Dexter looked to leave, but instead ended up chopping it on to his leg stump to leave Middlesex 91-4 and Jade Dernbach to jump around in celebration. The wicketkeeper John Simpson came and went, as he was out LBW for a golden duck. Middlesex were reeling on 91-5 and Dernbach was on a hat-trick.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6lyzaEXP_8h7BeYpzs1f2QofrsHAebhl3lwg3VImeHGz3ZFd6YwfTtPiefJTrX7Yt9xy8DI0vCzvJI8y0IEiJb0eWIJJs_nAGWabUN_qReAZqUVneS4Qfg4msF5DPoziaqY85ESs89B5/s1600/Dernbach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6lyzaEXP_8h7BeYpzs1f2QofrsHAebhl3lwg3VImeHGz3ZFd6YwfTtPiefJTrX7Yt9xy8DI0vCzvJI8y0IEiJb0eWIJJs_nAGWabUN_qReAZqUVneS4Qfg4msF5DPoziaqY85ESs89B5/s400/Dernbach.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jade Dernbach celebrates the golden duck of John Simpson, which left him on a hat-trick.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The South African-turned Englishman-turned Italian all-rounder of Gareth Berg came in to face the hat-trick ball. He survived and ended up getting off the mark with a single after a mistake at point. Dernbach then unleashed a scream reminiscent of Shan Yu in <i>Mulan</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Surrey were bowling well in the seam friendly overhead conditions. Berg ended up being bowled for 11 by Tim Linley, who I apparently dubbed "The Inspector" when Surrey visited Chelmsford back in September last year, leaving Middlesex 108-6. Ollie Rayner was next in. Dawid Malan was good at protecting him from the strike, but when Rayner found himself facing Jon Lewis, he was eventually beaten and bowled on the off stump for 2. Middlesex went into tea on 142-7 relying on Tim Murtagh and the not out Dawid Malan to help them rebuild to a respectable total.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tea saw me meet up with Liz and then join her in meeting some of the <a href="http://www.testmatchsofa.com/">Test Match Sofa</a> crew. They are a lovely and entertaining bunch, despite obviously being "<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/on-the-front-foot-agnew-caught-in-the-crossfire-of-ballbyball-commentary-war-7441042.html">nowhere near as funny as they think they ar</a>e". It was probably for the best that the tea break was coming to an end when conversation turned to my favourite all-rounder, but the philosophy of "let's drink wine and watch cricket" is one that many people I know would approve of.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cricket fans, especially county cricket fans, are a weird and patient bunch. In football, if you had an hour's delay for the floodlights going off in an evening kick off, you'd probably find that a lot of people wouldn't be very happy. The apocalypse looked like it'd missed Lord's midway through the afternoon session, but a huge cloud had gathered around the sun after tea and it wasn't long before the two umpires had come together and told the players that they were coming off. The hover cover came on, but the umpires and groundstaff could see that there was sunlight still to come on the horizon. It just needed the clouds to shift. A gentleman in the Grand Stand decided to shout "Get on with it!" having earlier told Jade Dernbach that a delivery was "Pitching miles outside leg". Both calls of frustration echoed round the near empty ground.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bad light stops play.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When play eventually got started again, Tim Murtagh and Dawid Malan, who was playing very well, were proving a thorn in Surrey's side. They could not get the 8th wicket. The partnership was steadily growing, and with Surrey's over rate around -3, Hamilton-Brown decided to bring on Gareth Batty. Murtagh, possessed by the spirit of England's winter in UAE, went for a massive swipe across the line against Batty in his third over and was out plumb LBW. Middlesex were 182-8 and Surrey would be hoping to finish them off so they could bat in the morning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It didn't go to plan. Malan continued his steady accumulation and he reached 50 with a single off Batty. He barely raised his bat in recognition. The single also brought up Middlesex's 200, something that had looked increasingly unlikely around the tea interval. At the other end, Chris Jordan, Surrey's most expensive bowler of the day, was being hit around. He was having no-ball problems and Middlesex capitalised on it, with both Malan and Toby Roland-Jones hitting him to the boundary for four. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roland-Jones could not survive until the close and nicked one into the slip cordon off Chris Jordan. Gareth Batty had a break from kick boxing with Steve Davies and just about clung onto the catch at first slip. Roland-Jones then walked off with the second slowest trudge I have ever seen at a cricket match, the first being James Anderson crawling off at Cardiff trying to hide his sheer disappointment at being 99 runs shy of a maiden Test century.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Corey Collymore and Dawid Malan survived until the close of play, leaving Middlesex on 225-9 and Malan on 62 not out. Surrey had let Middlesex off the hook in the evening session, perhaps the bad light interruption had impacted upon them, and Malan was showing that if you got in, survived the early tricky weather conditions and played patiently, then you would be able to build an innings. His anchorage of one end and his partnership with Tim Murtagh allowed Middlesex to rebuild to a fairly respectable first innings total, especially when compared to some of the scores from across the country.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A spectator's county cricket season would not be complete without a trip to Lord's. It would also not be complete without the typical British summer weather having a say in proceedings.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-86936430166028343992012-04-05T22:57:00.002+01:002013-09-10T15:24:01.317+01:00Mistaken Identity, Frostbite and Running Companions: Day 1 of Essex v Gloucestershire<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4W9djdmgR25oycjxWI4IZL8qzdFyKthpqNOGJZpp4ffYr0w68rKAWl5RqNve2mDfaya8RtaPGvAmYruh6_6FE0C8lK71nhgekJYjsKUtawsJwuASo54r3z1M6EH011d0DGPetIZ45eJDz/s1600/Billy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4W9djdmgR25oycjxWI4IZL8qzdFyKthpqNOGJZpp4ffYr0w68rKAWl5RqNve2mDfaya8RtaPGvAmYruh6_6FE0C8lK71nhgekJYjsKUtawsJwuASo54r3z1M6EH011d0DGPetIZ45eJDz/s400/Billy1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Billy Godleman (right) is embraced by captain James Foster as he reaches Essex's first County Championship century of the season. </span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Portman Road in an easterly wind had nothing on this. On Sunday, when I went to Cambridge to watch Essex play the university side, I got sunburnt. Today, I probably came close hyperthermia. And so, in this ridiculous weather of this green and pleasant land, begins another glorious season of county cricket.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cloudy and overcast, Gloucestershire had no hesitation in electing to field first when they when the toss. Charl Willoughby, having only bowled 6 overs in Cambridge due to a tight groin, was ruled out for Essex. Alviro Petersen made his debut and added some much needed experience to the top order. There was no place for Jaik Mickleburgh, but Mark Pettini returned to the Essex fold after what has been a fairly turbulent two years for the former skipper.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early wickets are Essex's forte and Petersen, having hit a couple of boundaries, decided to attempt to extinguish any early season optimism and depart with the score on 19. The majority of Essex's opening partnerships last season were nothing to shout home about, but Petersen, having arrived in the country on Tuesday can only improve. Petersen's departure brought Tom Westley to the crease, with him deciding to grab the initiative and bring Essex's run rate up to nearly four an over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Westley departed for 33 and Pettini departed for 9 soon after. Essex were in the all too familiar position of being three wickets down in double figures. Then in came Adam Wheater. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only photo I have of Wheater is of the shot that got him out, but he played superbly. He thrives in conditions where Essex have their backs to the wall, having done something similar against the same opposition back in August last year. It can be risky, but he's an aggressive player. He smacked a huge six over the top of the hospitality suite and into the car park behind and reached his 50 off only 31 deliveries. It was greeted with a standing ovation, usually reserved for a century.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He may look really small, but he packs one heck of a punch and he really helped Essex seize the momentum of the morning. Three wickets went down, but Essex went into lunch 146-3,. Wheater departed soon after lunch for a very entertaining 56 off 42 deliveries. The 22 year old is certainly one to watch this season.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Greg Smith came in, got 34 off 33 and then went. Along the way in the 50 partnership, he and Godleman had managed to steer Essex to their first bonus points of the season, as they passed the 200 mark. Godleman at this point had passed 50 and was building an innings that another Essex left hander would be proud of.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At 210-5, Essex had a good platform to build upon and captain Foster and Godleman built on it. In around 33 overs, the two put on 94 (if you play for Essex, it's a good number apparently) for the 6th wicket. Godleman reached his century with a boundary off James Fuller, having got past the 94 he made against Cambridge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Billy, or Bernard/Barry as the gentlemen sat behind me christened him, Godleman played well today. He barely offered a chance to the Gloucestershire fielders and played watchfully, anchoring one end and rotating the strike with some ease. He equalled his career best of 130 with this innings and whilst it is only the first day of the season and there are far more dangerous attacks out there, it will be a confidence boost to Godleman after a poor 2011. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James Foster and Graham Napier both provided Godleman with support. Foster fell four short of what would've been a deserved half century. The delight for Godleman was evident as he embraced Godleman before allowing him to salute the crowd. When he departed, Napier began his innings by listening to my Fantasy Cricket inspired pep talk/shout of, "Don't get a duck!" as he walked out to the crease. He hit his first ball for four.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once Napier departed, Godleman quickly followed and Essex went from 357-7 to 364 all out. Chambers bagged a duck and Masters was the last man out for 9. Tymal Mills was not out on 0. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Essex will be slightly disappointed that they couldn't reach 400 and claim all 5 bonus points on offer. They had the platform, but the tail unfortunately didn't wag. However, to score at nearly four an over on the first day of the season, having been put into bat in conditions that looked likely to be bowler friendly, is, compared to previous seasons, a fairly good start. With Cook and Bopara set to return from Sri Lanka in the coming weeks and Shah and ten Doeschate due back from the IPL at some point in May, Essex's batting line up can only be made to look stronger.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tomorrow, it's over to the bowlers. David Masters will be hoping for a repeat of his 6-75 he got at the Colchester Festival last year and Napier will be looking to bring in some of the form he showed against Cambridge after a winter of nursing an elbow injury. Maurice Chambers, Greg Smith and Tymal Mills make up the rest of the bowling attack, with Tom Westley likely to bowl a couple of overs of off spin. Should Essex have a good day in the field, it may well pave the way to a decent start to the 2012 season.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alviro Petersen gains a friendly companion on a pre-Nando's run around the Chelmsford outfield.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a long winter and there's only so much you can refresh the scorecards of the domestic section of the southern hemisphere on Cricinfo. County cricket, you're a strange but absolutely wonderful world, and it's fantastic to have you back.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-37846339117398973012012-04-05T09:02:00.001+01:002013-09-10T15:24:20.541+01:00County Cricket: Essex's 2012 Season Preview<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dust off the Playfair, dig out your sun cream (or woolly hat and scarves at the moment), find that cushion to make your sitting on the benches a far more comfortable experience and get a flask of tea ready. County cricket's back and it begins on Thursday 5th April.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the pre-season done and the press day out of the way, I thought I'd give a season preview for the county that I support before it all kicks off. I'll probably look back at this in September and laugh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As stated in a previous post, Essex's 2011 was one of, ultimately, mediocrity and disappointment. With investment in the squad, Essex will be hoping 2012 is a more successful one and, in terms of actions off the field, a less controversial one. So, in light of all this, here are my key players, players to watch out for and my hopes and expectations for the forthcoming season.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Key Players:</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_nvcl6f8gbj4JJmVJz6Kmy3i0GxlmSkdMizw8KULSImkczmHYSNdDFFAmtr3qxJ_ZS9ngcpyE4KPLQ2Gvt9FRqa8tpDce2CaicE68rKhmNNwny0ayfQNyqaCMq62dYThP01ga8wELh30/s1600/Masters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_nvcl6f8gbj4JJmVJz6Kmy3i0GxlmSkdMizw8KULSImkczmHYSNdDFFAmtr3qxJ_ZS9ngcpyE4KPLQ2Gvt9FRqa8tpDce2CaicE68rKhmNNwny0ayfQNyqaCMq62dYThP01ga8wELh30/s320/Masters.jpg" width="197" /></span></a></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David Masters</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It would be foolish to expect a repeat of his superb 2011 season, but Masters has shown himself to be a reliable and important spearhead of the Essex attack, especially in the first-class format of the game. He took 93 wickets last season, including a career best 8-10 against Leicestershire at Southend, and has started the new season terrorising the students who play for Cambridge MCCU.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He is the perfect team player. Whilst he's not got searing pace, he'll run in all day for you and bowl on a nagging, accurate line and length with incredible economic figures. Foster stated in an interview with BBC Look East that Masters was the perfect bowler to keep to, and this shows because despite being a quick bowler, Foster regularly comes up to the stumps when he's bowling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every team needs a carthorse to do some of the hard work. Masters is the ideal one for Essex.</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alviro Petersen</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His time here for the first half of the season will be crucial. With Ryan ten Doeschate and Owais Shah being a part of the Indian Premier League, and Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara on England duty, Essex will be relying on Alviro Petersen to bulk up the vulnerable young top order and help Essex have a good start to the season.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His form coming into the county season is mixed, but he will surely be buoyed by the 156 he got against the New Zealanders in the final Test at Wellington. He will need time to adapt to English conditions, but having arrived in Chelmsford on Tuesday, he's already asked where Nando's is, so his off the field settling in seems to be going well. The management staff will hope that he has a better time of it in Essex than his fellow countryman Lonwabo Tsotsobe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glamorgan were aggrieved with Petersen's decision to join Essex. He was initially going to play for them as a Kolpak player and give up international cricket, but having returned to the international set up, he wants to pursue his South African career. So instead of returning to Glamorgan, he's ended up at Chelmsford. It's going to make the match at the beginning of next month very interesting indeed.</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James Foster</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heading into his second full season as captain after the resignation of Mark Pettini in a tricky 2010, Foster will hope that 2012 is a more successful one, both for himself as captain and as a player. To me, he is still one of the best glovemen in the country. He has quick reflexes and regularly pulls off excellent stumpings/catches.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last season, there were issues with his, and the club's, on field behaviour and this led to a hefty fine. Foster himself was banned for two matches in the Twenty20 tournament after giving the umpires verbals for a decision he deemed poor in a match against Surrey. It was a frustrating tournament for everyone. On paper, Essex had a good side, but they just could not perform.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2011 was Foster's benefit year, so with that now out of the way, Foster will be able to focus more on the game rather than what's going on off field. He has got more experience of captaining now and will hope that this experience will make his task of juggling keeping, captaincy and lower order batting easier.</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Graham Napier</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been four years since Napier made headlines with his 152* against Sussex in the 2008 Twenty20 tournament, but 2012 marks a special year for Napier. 2012 has been named as his <a href="http://www.grahamnapier.com/">benefit year</a>, so all eyes will be on him for different reasons. Injured for the majority of the 2010 season with a stress fracture in his back, Napier returned to the Essex team and again made headlines by hitting 16 sixes against Surrey in a County Championship match. He took 28 wickets at 24.64 in the County Championship last season and remains a big part of Essex's limited overs attack (despite only taking 12 wickets in the CB40 and 5 in the Twenty20).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the winter he was set to play for Central Districts in New Zealand's domestic Twenty20 tournament, the HRV Cup, but his winter was cut short early by an elbow injury. However, in the match between Essex and Cambridge MCCU, he was bowling with pace and managed to pick up 3 wickets.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His ability to hit big will be crucial in the limited overs cricket, but having already scored a century off 48 deliveries in the aforementioned Cambridge match, his lower order big hitting is just as useful in the four day format of the game.</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tim Phillips</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Given the fast bowling pot that Essex have at the moment, it's easy to overlook the slower bowlers of the squad. However, Phillips will surely have something to say this season. He was a valuable resource in Essex's poor Twenty20 campaign. He was, in fact, the leading wicket taker in the country with 26 wickets at 13.23 in the 15 matches he played. In 2010 he played 16 matches for the county, picking up only 9 at 35.66. In the CB40, he was joint leading wicket taker for the county, taking 17 wickets at 22.35. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Drought conditions in the south east mean that Chelmsford may well become a dust bowl over the summer. With Danish Kaneria now far away from the county, which is very much for the best, Phillips will hope that he can continue to noticeably improve and potentially become a potent part of Essex's 4-day attack.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Players to watch out for:</span></b><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reece Topley</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last year, Topley had to wear the junior version of the CB40 shirt because he was under-age. A tall, left arm medium-fast bowler, with the ability to swing the ball, Topley burst onto the scene for Essex against Kent back in April 2011. He took 7 wickets on debut and finished second in the list of leading wicket takers for Essex last season, with 34 wickets at an average of 23.55.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His name's been known since 2009 when he was clobbered on the side of the head by Kevin Pietersen at Loughborough. He, along with Ben Foakes, is currently in Australia with the England Under-19s for a Quadrangular Series involving Australia, New Zealand and India. When he returns to England, don't be surprised to see the 18 year old straight back into the Essex attack because 2012 may well be a big year for the Ipswich born Topley.</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tymal Mills</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rise of Tymal Mills is one that should warm the hardest of hearts. Having only taken up cricket when he was 14, Mills spent his winter rubbing elbows with the likes of Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow and Stuart Meaker in South Africa and Bangladesh with the England Performance Programme/England Lions squad. Not bad for someone who was playing club cricket on the village greens of Suffolk back in May.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He made his debut for Essex against the Sri Lankans in June 2011 and took the wicket of Paranavitina in the first innings. He finished the first class season with 7 wickets in the 4 matches he played and picked up 1 wicket against Somerset in the only CB40 match he played. He is a quick bowler. His accuracy is a bit off and he can be expensive, but it will come with more games that he plays. He, like Topley, is certainly one to watch out for in the coming season.</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adam Wheater</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last season marked some astonishing performances from the 22 year old, as he managed to get Essex out of tricky situations, most notably <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/ccdiv2-11/engine/current/match/492194.html">against Northamptonshire</a> and <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2011/engine/current/match/492212.html">Gloucestershire</a>. He was named in the Potential England Performance Programme squad over the winter and also played first class cricket in Zimbabwe for Matabeleland Tuskers. He scored 642 runs in 11 innings at an average of 71.33, scoring a century and three half-centuries in the process. He also gained valuable wicketkeeping experience, something that it is difficult to get at Essex with James Foster behind the stumps.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last year Wheater was the second highest run scorer for the county, scoring 804 at 42.31. If he can replicate this form this season, then it may well be a very good one for the youngster.</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tom Craddock</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If not for his ballerina-esque bowling action, it's worth paying attention to Craddock. Plucked from the obscurity of the Unicorns CB40 side, Tom Craddock enjoyed a decent start to his Essex career. He played 8 first-class matches and picked up 22 wickets, double that of Tim Phillips.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having impressed on trial, Craddock has signed a two year deal with the club. He will hope that he can build on his success in 2011 and become a big part of both the first-class and limited overs attack.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pre-season antics:</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rather than spending money heading to warmer climes, Essex decided to stay at home for pre-season. They had three warm-up matches and then a university/first-class match against Cambridge MCCU and made use of a tent on the outfield to have outdoor nets.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Essex players have also been playing cricket across the world, with Zimbabwe seemingly being a popular destination. Like said in the introduction, Essex have invested in the squad. Charl Willoughby has joined from Somerset, Greg Smith from Derbyshire, Alviro Petersen comes in as overseas player and Peter Siddle has been signed up for the Twenty20 tournament. There are rumours of Brendan Taylor also joining for the Twenty20, but Essex have said that this talk is 'premature'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the most notable, and heartbreaking, thing that happened in the pre-season is what took place at the Old Bailey back in January this year. The shadow of Mervyn Westfield's imprisonment for spot-fixing charges hangs over the club, with the court (and cricketing world) accusing the current players of sticking their heads in the sand over the entire issue and taking the wrong methods in going about reporting the corruption. When the sentence was given, the Twitterati descended on the Essex Twitter feed, because they decided that it would be the perfect day to advertise a job opportunity/the new kit coming in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't really know what people were expecting from a Twitter feed run by someone probably sat in the portacabin next to the pavilion and who can only write whatever they're provided with, but it just goes to show the anger that was, and perhaps still is, directed at the club. It has taken Essex around two months to release any public statement about the spot-fixing trial, and that was just to say that the players wouldn't be talking about it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are questions still to be answered and as an Essex fan, but ultimately a cricket fan, I am of course disappointed with the response. But my major issue is with that of Kaneria, and it was at the time. If he was being investigated by the police, why was he still allowed to be at the club? If what the court says is true, that he "joked" about money and cricket in front of more experienced players, then how was this overlooked? With this incident happening in 2009, to me (with Essex tinted glasses, I'm sorry) it feels like an enormous sense of naivety. The Pakistani spot-fixing trial has set the precedent and corruption cannot be tolerated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's not a time to try and score points off the club and have little digs at it, because, frankly, I've always thought the cricketing world was more mature than that. Every club should learn from this. Every club should protect their players, but especially the youngsters, from the lure of an easy few quid. When the news broke about this, I nearly cried in the library and then went to a lecture, sat slumped in an Essex hoody. I felt a mixture of emotions, ranging from being ashamed to angry and, most of all, distraught. Spot-fixing is a serious issue and it has once again claimed a youngster trying to make a cricketing career. And that, is the biggest tragedy of all.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What could happen:</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, what can be expected this year? Well, I'm a terrible Mystic Meg, so I'm not going to bring out a crystal ball or anything like that. However, I will say that there feels like there's a sense of optimism round the club. Even I feel optimistic, which is a strange and foreign feeling to me. I'm even taking sunglasses down today despite the Arctic conditions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The signing of Peter Siddle in the Twenty20 should draw in the crowds. Whilst he's not exactly the best Twenty20 player, a fired up Siddle running in from the Hayes Close/River End in front of a packed out Chelmsford crowd should get everyone rocking. Essex will hope that, like Tim Southee last year, he can add a bit of fireworks to the batting. Let's just hope they decide not to open the batting with him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The CB40 campaign last year was ruined by the weather and the south west, mainly Somerset. This year, Essex won't be playing the habitual runners up in the group stages, but will instead have some tough fixtures against Twenty20 champions Leicestershire, the Netherlands (who claimed a few upsets last year), trips to the south west, Middlesex and Lancashire. Essex are known for being a decent one day outfit and have had some success in recent years in this limited overs format.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As stated many times, the 2011 season was an incredibly disappointing. But with the new arrivals at Chelmsford and a hotbed of youngsters, Essex will be hoping that things will click on the field and they can regain promotion to Division 1 and do well in the limited overs tournaments. Bring on the county season 2012.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-27044908194922688522012-03-29T22:25:00.003+01:002013-09-10T15:25:28.673+01:00The Galle Test: Sri Lanka v England, Day 4<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>At the close on day three, England need 229 runs. To </i><i>stop themselves from losing their fourth Test in a row, they will also need </i><i>a large dollop of patience, skill and a bit of luck. Sri Lanka will need 8 wickets and know that if they put enough pressure on the English batsmen, their current mental state will cause them to play a risky, or in some cases just plain dumb, shot and throw away their wicket on a pitch that once you get in, it's important to stay in and accumulate. </i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"History's there to be rewritten, isn't it?" said Graeme Swann yesterday evening. If you were on Twitter earlier in the day, you'd have seen that Bob Willis was trending in the United Kingdom, which usually means either you've missed a classic rant about Steve Harmison or England have been heavily defeated.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Steve Harmison could breathe a huge sigh of relief as it was, sadly for the huge amount of England fans in the ground in Galle and perched on top of the fort, the latter. England's final innings total was their second highest for a <a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;continent=2;filter=advanced;innings_number=4;orderby=team_score;team=1;template=results;type=team;view=innings">fourth innings in Asia</a> (their <a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;continent=2;filter=advanced;opposition=8;orderby=team_score;team=1;template=results;type=team;view=innings">8th highest total</a> in Sri Lanka itself), but their awful batting exploits on <a href="http://down-at-fine-leg.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/galle-test-sri-lanka-v-england-day-2.html">day 2</a>, mistakes in the field and nobody else learning from their horrible exploits in the first innings to stick around with Jonathan Trott in the second, meant that England were on course to lose their fourth Test in a row.</span><br />
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At a point during the afternoon session, there was hope. It was slim, but there was hope because there was a decent partnership. But this was all but extinguished as key wickets fell in a collapse before the tea interval. Enough talk, here's the ducks with what happened once play began on day 4:</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trott will be a crucial man for England and Sri Lanka, having seen enough of the man at Cardiff, will know this. He gets England's first boundary of the morning as he hits a drive through the covers...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And to the boundary for 4. The Trott Trench is coming along nicely and the look of dogged determination is in his eyes. It's enough to make Geoffrey Boycott purr.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pietersen, meanwhile, will play as Pietersen does. He wants to dominate this attack, which is one that England managed to over 1600 runs against last summer (granted, in home conditions and when they hadn't just been hopelessly thrashed by Pakistan).</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Naturally then, Pietersen almost hits one straight back to Quackmal (sorry), but luckily for KP, it's just out of Quackmal's reach.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKa8zyQ6jizgiD7PYFgnqwqeywxP_kv2-nJYYMn45Ae9kB4NQVfi6pG5QKqvBBud57Fgo1TVP59SGoelfaa4XGLyEQmGkFj3i6R3EO3Ex5BcXUFi-2MRXtXzr-ZD9V5TOH7KVudVpRFzo-/s1600/IMG_2719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKa8zyQ6jizgiD7PYFgnqwqeywxP_kv2-nJYYMn45Ae9kB4NQVfi6pG5QKqvBBud57Fgo1TVP59SGoelfaa4XGLyEQmGkFj3i6R3EO3Ex5BcXUFi-2MRXtXzr-ZD9V5TOH7KVudVpRFzo-/s640/IMG_2719.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In an over that had many England fans of a nervous disposition reaching for a cushion/an early morning gin, Trott had to cope with two incredibly loud appeals for just having his bat near his pad. He then top edged a sweep for a single and it brought Pietersen on strike. Jayawardene has a plan for KP, and it ends up working. He dances down the wicket to Randiv, looking to hit powerfully through the midwicket region...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxZvhyttDECHtRcxH4ng8gxwuw6Djw8aShUyYhJPLVmfLBvO0-jANa6S_6ncfo7psHhqd14lBcxrcJofvS4ER0UkC9pnCLTtkXDMn6i40dNuj4U7ncNQyyJxEX6_oA91N9pbNk7c2Hq19/s1600/IMG_2720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxZvhyttDECHtRcxH4ng8gxwuw6Djw8aShUyYhJPLVmfLBvO0-jANa6S_6ncfo7psHhqd14lBcxrcJofvS4ER0UkC9pnCLTtkXDMn6i40dNuj4U7ncNQyyJxEX6_oA91N9pbNk7c2Hq19/s640/IMG_2720.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only it ends up in Mahela's grasp.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6sBVvxTt37xayH051vxTn2LKi2x0r47on5iwO3J16KCHZ9xUNRIgAnL-62tdUvcZpzx3WiGjr0AqiLxePjmD29vu-IbcvEL_Appo0KApQcN3U0Z0Nxv_i652nnnooUpL2l9dIMnrMZKv/s1600/IMG_2721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6sBVvxTt37xayH051vxTn2LKi2x0r47on5iwO3J16KCHZ9xUNRIgAnL-62tdUvcZpzx3WiGjr0AqiLxePjmD29vu-IbcvEL_Appo0KApQcN3U0Z0Nxv_i652nnnooUpL2l9dIMnrMZKv/s640/IMG_2721.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pietersen is gone. Trott continues to dig his trench. Sri Lanka celebrate wildly and England are reduced to 118-3.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CMgFb8F0OoV5fZ_2lMJ72SJc3MIMmVHwuB7uCGBktbnjBb9lBk3F_dkG1LL8XhcEz0gc8GwgnErUsANAg6Run14pEXrKnmSMLRe1dMGMWfdG2SRir87I9CfGO2GczMC5mgglTR0Jy-PA/s1600/IMG_2722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CMgFb8F0OoV5fZ_2lMJ72SJc3MIMmVHwuB7uCGBktbnjBb9lBk3F_dkG1LL8XhcEz0gc8GwgnErUsANAg6Run14pEXrKnmSMLRe1dMGMWfdG2SRir87I9CfGO2GczMC5mgglTR0Jy-PA/s640/IMG_2722.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trott is still there and he decides to bring out a reverse sweep. England have been incapable of playing the sweep shot properly this winter, let alone one in reverse.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlvCtp9CCShtZ03_pkudBb2cNKzo97z7YVhUaMGbwOXhYWz1_KOy2ETK7a8PrproOVb4Btiv3jtvjWEyg5vNx9TEvVgFSxCRXFG6_zhYNJI7n5vM9l8RVSVVjcak20pOlCkiOpAbgznOb/s1600/IMG_2723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlvCtp9CCShtZ03_pkudBb2cNKzo97z7YVhUaMGbwOXhYWz1_KOy2ETK7a8PrproOVb4Btiv3jtvjWEyg5vNx9TEvVgFSxCRXFG6_zhYNJI7n5vM9l8RVSVVjcak20pOlCkiOpAbgznOb/s640/IMG_2723.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His reverse sweep heads to the fine leg boundary for a four...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqny_8l8JpSq-r-aqc19mmwyjJPxNYCnb4c0dnwuIAK1Evq3sqXe6PHK7mhyWS8LrzzonpQRssniC6OduAxJgFqX69i5uLsjNxoqOv5mHrJqvU7D8JbUfQrL-w2mJit1emkc_TeEAlrbg4/s1600/IMG_2724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqny_8l8JpSq-r-aqc19mmwyjJPxNYCnb4c0dnwuIAK1Evq3sqXe6PHK7mhyWS8LrzzonpQRssniC6OduAxJgFqX69i5uLsjNxoqOv5mHrJqvU7D8JbUfQrL-w2mJit1emkc_TeEAlrbg4/s640/IMG_2724.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Allowing him to reach his 50. The Warwickshire boys are England's main hope for now.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bw3crLXHMfr7YszIxOwrsA1Hj7nCjog5j82cylfS2UasLEZGtH0N3Q9oEXFzPmWwzJU6SWBvO0yya25iOFa34fGR_Xst98GoDDNiIUgBtcBhpl7X4aE8YjYAmZIqPP9hKjrSfIAR6k4a/s1600/IMG_2725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bw3crLXHMfr7YszIxOwrsA1Hj7nCjog5j82cylfS2UasLEZGtH0N3Q9oEXFzPmWwzJU6SWBvO0yya25iOFa34fGR_Xst98GoDDNiIUgBtcBhpl7X4aE8YjYAmZIqPP9hKjrSfIAR6k4a/s640/IMG_2725.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But Ian Bell decides to ignore this memo. Having been far more effective using his feet, sometimes coming down the pitch and only bringing out the sweep when it was really, really necessary, Bell decides to bring out the much, much loved premeditated sweep.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7LGh8UC5zw99KqPlPEW3EMpgo8oyFxH0HUPk2ABMTKM_Nxm52VU__fSHsnb3U6YpGzinhf8bL37H-yPRvOAZh3QtYdCOcJ7ftNwot6hyphenhyphenNGbyYW0lApV-DbxdMyHfT-VUS4l0EfCF5lnP/s1600/IMG_2726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7LGh8UC5zw99KqPlPEW3EMpgo8oyFxH0HUPk2ABMTKM_Nxm52VU__fSHsnb3U6YpGzinhf8bL37H-yPRvOAZh3QtYdCOcJ7ftNwot6hyphenhyphenNGbyYW0lApV-DbxdMyHfT-VUS4l0EfCF5lnP/s640/IMG_2726.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He misses, he's struck on the pad and is naturally given out LBW.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKP4neVyFB2Lluoiyx8MEYtBrrgiH5sOSlC-CXP-ZAdWe0PSbHY2NFVhGVNRs04gUalQzQojAUd3b33qV1DaQl2T5GO4zLnIXb1B60DvtAYisgzUnH2isFCBBe5WPPGl6jseoLfA8-NYOY/s1600/IMG_2727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKP4neVyFB2Lluoiyx8MEYtBrrgiH5sOSlC-CXP-ZAdWe0PSbHY2NFVhGVNRs04gUalQzQojAUd3b33qV1DaQl2T5GO4zLnIXb1B60DvtAYisgzUnH2isFCBBe5WPPGl6jseoLfA8-NYOY/s640/IMG_2727.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bell reviews almost straight away. He was a long way down the pitch and he may feel that he got an inside edge on it.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxoOrEwCof5r3G9WFV4zZcjRm3wyqrykKpImgdtX2Y7z1TFFAKksNMpJlCzPTSiHe127TwzJEidzJ6jfCA_2ds-8YeBwBJIzrlBpDrOxKFPpV-_hQSwxQHAgyCngEfDMEZOxyc4Tx7dQjW/s1600/IMG_2728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxoOrEwCof5r3G9WFV4zZcjRm3wyqrykKpImgdtX2Y7z1TFFAKksNMpJlCzPTSiHe127TwzJEidzJ6jfCA_2ds-8YeBwBJIzrlBpDrOxKFPpV-_hQSwxQHAgyCngEfDMEZOxyc4Tx7dQjW/s640/IMG_2728.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But as with so many Hawkeye decisions this game, the ball is shown to be hitting him just about in line and is projected to clip the off stump. It's umpire's call and Bell is on his way for 13. England are 152-4.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia01pz5Tr6rJb3BswAFZNHqcz_g30A7d5YeNSjp7gmqEZnxY_OWALf9OzNPo580KRio84AEMBRJqIl_ujJkbdU6ofWB9uESiQc_L_EBbVx4TDAOaIONhp5jtKKfRuXfxw1w0T7F2uXvN-p/s1600/IMG_2729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia01pz5Tr6rJb3BswAFZNHqcz_g30A7d5YeNSjp7gmqEZnxY_OWALf9OzNPo580KRio84AEMBRJqIl_ujJkbdU6ofWB9uESiQc_L_EBbVx4TDAOaIONhp5jtKKfRuXfxw1w0T7F2uXvN-p/s640/IMG_2729.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dilshan is brought on for an over or two before the lunch break. Prior, who judging by his shot had probably popped off to the toilet when Ian Bell got out, decides to sweep as well.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZV6Rhv1ZqoHxnWE8mu4bGYbvQ-wHBOSXOjKUwIJwc3h2W0GbM7Ox0uFLfFddhoKiRSo8BbROZdPQpjqtVgEHFsiXqmaCG9P9Nbl2fSbeFIxoT0ZxUTW8gJmvszyvXBzeRbXYkQyibzdr/s1600/IMG_2730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZV6Rhv1ZqoHxnWE8mu4bGYbvQ-wHBOSXOjKUwIJwc3h2W0GbM7Ox0uFLfFddhoKiRSo8BbROZdPQpjqtVgEHFsiXqmaCG9P9Nbl2fSbeFIxoT0ZxUTW8gJmvszyvXBzeRbXYkQyibzdr/s640/IMG_2730.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Luckily for him, Chandimal misses the chance and Prior gets away with a four. I hope the </i><i>Boycottism </i><i>of, "No more brains than a pork pie" was brought out.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwh_8GcAAgFmkvRPgOdI4RSq0AbHyrPO0Ns66MtSWQDGYVFh1WJLGrq3n-Bu9-JS6MKMv1LBKuvjXE-sANa8jFiDUIAVLwvGM6fKrgV0VVj5aL0kOBrA0gLAfVkM6Ptead0XDfO_QaQcB/s1600/IMG_2731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwh_8GcAAgFmkvRPgOdI4RSq0AbHyrPO0Ns66MtSWQDGYVFh1WJLGrq3n-Bu9-JS6MKMv1LBKuvjXE-sANa8jFiDUIAVLwvGM6fKrgV0VVj5aL0kOBrA0gLAfVkM6Ptead0XDfO_QaQcB/s640/IMG_2731.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">England go into the lunch break with no more casualties (apart from the steady disintegration of duck Prior's beard, but enough of that) and they are 177-4, requiring 163 to win (cue Bon Jovi) with 6 wickets left. The afternoon session will have a huge say in the result of this match and both sides, despite England having the potential to do an England, are deemed to still be in it.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgNPqOgNH5A0IYkNtWeOeuycJc3kbca-FFSab22d2eU6PMOI2IslxZD9NPm54OdF7jv4SbSV39wBBDW7hUJABd49F1PAL55S4x57BvuyS6qBi65ENrH7TiEcfeCdpygH0VEKZdy2_8ibr/s1600/IMG_2732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgNPqOgNH5A0IYkNtWeOeuycJc3kbca-FFSab22d2eU6PMOI2IslxZD9NPm54OdF7jv4SbSV39wBBDW7hUJABd49F1PAL55S4x57BvuyS6qBi65ENrH7TiEcfeCdpygH0VEKZdy2_8ibr/s640/IMG_2732.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Herath and Dilshan continue after lunch and England continue their gradual accumulation. </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sw0_evQTf_MmdVYxd_pJaqaRAxf3vBXb6oNk5e5ql6RBdb1cvja-__AJulI2RSN8Is-LR6bVPTsRumVtZ6bgNWK2hLkSr5Pg6KsYRZQsmnNwDS5GIBpiQ7u6ayk4mjmuihc_uunTGXXg/s1600/IMG_2733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sw0_evQTf_MmdVYxd_pJaqaRAxf3vBXb6oNk5e5ql6RBdb1cvja-__AJulI2RSN8Is-LR6bVPTsRumVtZ6bgNWK2hLkSr5Pg6KsYRZQsmnNwDS5GIBpiQ7u6ayk4mjmuihc_uunTGXXg/s640/IMG_2733.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trott gets a single down the ground and it brings up England's 200.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEA4GLNh7W3xj_IsI5CWZCCMXgbYQI3blyKFQJEtVQxMNXwn-Vy9AuceeE99tfF_eUf_Lk39wi4-d9JQhT9YSirx4YnoXohfDxLuut86sOugMbydnQUHFppvjS4vnSNbComop0JbMLZHM/s1600/IMG_2734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEA4GLNh7W3xj_IsI5CWZCCMXgbYQI3blyKFQJEtVQxMNXwn-Vy9AuceeE99tfF_eUf_Lk39wi4-d9JQhT9YSirx4YnoXohfDxLuut86sOugMbydnQUHFppvjS4vnSNbComop0JbMLZHM/s640/IMG_2734.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 50 partnership between Prior and Trott follows. They're like London buses for England in this match.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0h6g3G3pWKYS14UyggC9jGVopwxQEUvsK0jirlLHl3T_GhfbpzDMgfWAAIvikh_ZyXAbB-x7y-m3-iFMRMBhmlXbRtu9Pp2gOk-DZHKogUd9bEV7YQjVCfoBuVwpNmmeeU_oPN73yZ-Q/s1600/IMG_2735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0h6g3G3pWKYS14UyggC9jGVopwxQEUvsK0jirlLHl3T_GhfbpzDMgfWAAIvikh_ZyXAbB-x7y-m3-iFMRMBhmlXbRtu9Pp2gOk-DZHKogUd9bEV7YQjVCfoBuVwpNmmeeU_oPN73yZ-Q/s640/IMG_2735.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prior and Trott's partnership grows and here is where England have that tiny bit of hope. Sri Lanka take the new ball and it allows the pair a break from the trial by spin.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-N5eA9tDzURDvRxS01EDGUZWWJSIIWO8nDs3OJgcvOInaZoG0Bk4Wgd6ofQz6dgN7MI_b_YMGTse4kK06aRN38q-WMOZxBsjTM9tTBpNsOMnJKDxlUcxF0khUkfbVOuf9yChWzfRKnlmF/s1600/IMG_2737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-N5eA9tDzURDvRxS01EDGUZWWJSIIWO8nDs3OJgcvOInaZoG0Bk4Wgd6ofQz6dgN7MI_b_YMGTse4kK06aRN38q-WMOZxBsjTM9tTBpNsOMnJKDxlUcxF0khUkfbVOuf9yChWzfRKnlmF/s640/IMG_2737.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Prior hits Quackmal for 4 with a cover drive. He also hit Welegedara for a lovely 4 through midwicket, but apparently I drew my weird little diagrams and then proceeded to not recreate it. I'll leave you to react how you please.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc0-wRUFv3anhtku234MmKeXBY7OUVhebj2Xv4squRv5VmS9aIqg5xlycDiEI8HV689QyrMm__tS_JEmSRo8NWCzXs47LbAGQ53Y5vW3g1c-OJSj_aydcMLjc6r8KnMY3fcC0UqVqwgww/s1600/IMG_2738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc0-wRUFv3anhtku234MmKeXBY7OUVhebj2Xv4squRv5VmS9aIqg5xlycDiEI8HV689QyrMm__tS_JEmSRo8NWCzXs47LbAGQ53Y5vW3g1c-OJSj_aydcMLjc6r8KnMY3fcC0UqVqwgww/s640/IMG_2738.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Slowly and silently, Trott has moved into the 90s. He gradually moves closer to the magic three figures and reaches it by bringing out the sweep shot.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AScSzAe0EtgsyG0BkfoSpHFbPhH9KObgdrr788xLYCytRQdVeRuAcsP3qSRUSel1eYXJj4IKPR-Cd81CJwuhoSSNjMBvlmP7Xd9148sP3Ws6-5cFNlwtmP3Hb9ttvKpRNxB8AABL2_Ez/s1600/IMG_2739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AScSzAe0EtgsyG0BkfoSpHFbPhH9KObgdrr788xLYCytRQdVeRuAcsP3qSRUSel1eYXJj4IKPR-Cd81CJwuhoSSNjMBvlmP7Xd9148sP3Ws6-5cFNlwtmP3Hb9ttvKpRNxB8AABL2_Ez/s640/IMG_2739.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It goes to the boundary for four and Trott raises his bat to the England crowd who are truly appreciative of England's number three.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeVQIlCAh0A_5sF3sr0w5ofVQQCFOTfjH8p2xvGFqhJcpq7qdHfzRTS-ZpidMz_k0MiLm-mPUSJAm4ihxyyNXoDGwUaJFANkgMdeoLZmUpOGa_3TLZu8jdcvVqmpkSmAHgspLqj98-bFT/s1600/IMG_2740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeVQIlCAh0A_5sF3sr0w5ofVQQCFOTfjH8p2xvGFqhJcpq7qdHfzRTS-ZpidMz_k0MiLm-mPUSJAm4ihxyyNXoDGwUaJFANkgMdeoLZmUpOGa_3TLZu8jdcvVqmpkSmAHgspLqj98-bFT/s640/IMG_2740.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's England's first century of the winter, and of 2012. By this point in 2012, England already had three different centurions. Irrelevant information: One of them definitely wasn't Trott because he got a duck at Sydney as he inside edged Mitchell Johnson onto his stumps. </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGj7-q1XGsebblve_ZNha3xLYhMAw4gKHVvHKjINcqGh_RMDKx_w27TSUXk1mILdTYXkZiDmi8bA91EvwZiIOKbid4WI8kenuoWXsTaZEgqPzAqtWPVC4Sz3aDhXqSwfyzYSjmCkQhq8b6/s1600/IMG_2741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGj7-q1XGsebblve_ZNha3xLYhMAw4gKHVvHKjINcqGh_RMDKx_w27TSUXk1mILdTYXkZiDmi8bA91EvwZiIOKbid4WI8kenuoWXsTaZEgqPzAqtWPVC4Sz3aDhXqSwfyzYSjmCkQhq8b6/s640/IMG_2741.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But Prior's wicket signals the beginning of the end for England. As the celebrations of Trott's century have just died down, Prior brings out the sweep...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BG6OCjxvydlsDx3875gMcovJB5MURgAk-K_pLA9fgVavUIEgL8-fIjt84NZjwa4f774JOFykctCRMauxvYbDtmxWUPOx6m44WLTHDMy_wT4Y5XJtj2bObxni187ser8wLKHR66YZmpk2/s1600/IMG_2742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BG6OCjxvydlsDx3875gMcovJB5MURgAk-K_pLA9fgVavUIEgL8-fIjt84NZjwa4f774JOFykctCRMauxvYbDtmxWUPOx6m44WLTHDMy_wT4Y5XJtj2bObxni187ser8wLKHR66YZmpk2/s640/IMG_2742.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And Thirimanne takes a fantastic catch at short leg to reduce England to 233-5. Prior has to go for 41 and it brings to an end the 87 run partnership.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYplovC_nPubkNX1G2P09kTDnlSmi8MAqcInDC93aBEpzimIVB92VG2jcVYPWDBU5MEwhLFUp_j13sRnQCkGJTFH7MyEzDLkcKfYj_2JbdCMFXAZWFoxYAuv1Q2k7KgrTYg47VGMwH33eS/s1600/IMG_2743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYplovC_nPubkNX1G2P09kTDnlSmi8MAqcInDC93aBEpzimIVB92VG2jcVYPWDBU5MEwhLFUp_j13sRnQCkGJTFH7MyEzDLkcKfYj_2JbdCMFXAZWFoxYAuv1Q2k7KgrTYg47VGMwH33eS/s640/IMG_2743.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prior's wicket is also a milestone for Herath. It's the first time that he's got 10 wickets in a Test match and with England's tail now there for the taking, he's got a chance for plenty more. </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXj6-uX9qwSwYJvnuf-FQ4e0VXQldzwYvy1YUHNaibGBOysbw7bk6pCNnORuSH_bIqGtihVenD2HgHk5mXFYRWtkd06PAxkqUWw6uWAddCnTopP7x4pJ2zr_PCv-MtuHBXJphsts7U1tG/s1600/IMG_2744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXj6-uX9qwSwYJvnuf-FQ4e0VXQldzwYvy1YUHNaibGBOysbw7bk6pCNnORuSH_bIqGtihVenD2HgHk5mXFYRWtkd06PAxkqUWw6uWAddCnTopP7x4pJ2zr_PCv-MtuHBXJphsts7U1tG/s640/IMG_2744.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And he picks up a 5 wicket haul as Samit Patel decides to thump one straight towards Dilshan at cover...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqchUOZWf9yose0rhyphenhyphengyX5SsnKKMYUNUs59FUmRwu8K8QKlbORpIV1wtFpP9ItyO9W127e9sAM24MMN5SLqNdDT0DmFW-XF-xPOFRc8BNhgXM8iLhQySuhIxiTjrBF6ZMZMfEobHkEVDk/s1600/IMG_2745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqchUOZWf9yose0rhyphenhyphengyX5SsnKKMYUNUs59FUmRwu8K8QKlbORpIV1wtFpP9ItyO9W127e9sAM24MMN5SLqNdDT0DmFW-XF-xPOFRc8BNhgXM8iLhQySuhIxiTjrBF6ZMZMfEobHkEVDk/s640/IMG_2745.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who fumbles a bit but ends up taking a good reflex catch. England need less than 100, but the task has just got a whole lot harder. </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qc4o1vDOmnky_DoF9EvM9rjh2d_16XRUQOUSopTXu0NR-jPxHER5V0JtuUlCrfQi_nwm_JlEqBxJVuAikHhvZN5hfh0oXST8uWPd07d8Vq-ROYQuSkac9OZFvlSfyINwocsaM_GNZISF/s1600/IMG_2746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qc4o1vDOmnky_DoF9EvM9rjh2d_16XRUQOUSopTXu0NR-jPxHER5V0JtuUlCrfQi_nwm_JlEqBxJVuAikHhvZN5hfh0oXST8uWPd07d8Vq-ROYQuSkac9OZFvlSfyINwocsaM_GNZISF/s640/IMG_2746.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Samit walks off with England 252-6.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi9atY9syg8bU5_B_Y_7xA-xkDfvMsiyUwC8hvEFB8yMSONAjs_5jWOpqz3lRNVeczlXV4P7lH3KwJ5yWmKvZWbFGajYp_NrCldRIYvuKU7BnzGKF3MDplWKo9QeUg4qyZQ0CN1_Wlur8/s1600/IMG_2747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi9atY9syg8bU5_B_Y_7xA-xkDfvMsiyUwC8hvEFB8yMSONAjs_5jWOpqz3lRNVeczlXV4P7lH3KwJ5yWmKvZWbFGajYp_NrCldRIYvuKU7BnzGKF3MDplWKo9QeUg4qyZQ0CN1_Wlur8/s640/IMG_2747.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And Herath has a second 5 wicket haul of the match.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWE5V7JDpr8PPQlO66lHLhRGeJZ6hmxVeKqrt1ELfjU_udE9QvpICMktdsdYxlrJbuKuQUON5ZDDYlLcgW61A_k3Wj_9ZMEFB50SgtT9oW3LGebaZMuBNTDY69fD00kMBtAiS3MWb7nCb/s1600/IMG_2748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWE5V7JDpr8PPQlO66lHLhRGeJZ6hmxVeKqrt1ELfjU_udE9QvpICMktdsdYxlrJbuKuQUON5ZDDYlLcgW61A_k3Wj_9ZMEFB50SgtT9oW3LGebaZMuBNTDY69fD00kMBtAiS3MWb7nCb/s640/IMG_2748.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And any hope of an England victory is smothered as the crucial wicket of Trott is finally taken.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbJ0wfYcK3wExosMqPI9sVR0dbV0o9bdjNJ366Xnf268FnlvUWuPplwr3Fo-43RIQ4P2csB7_LUEo12fn-hsDLg9iad9QFlNCAHurk_dPLxKgSvBwkqMh0mW15vGnNfDWh5bjsQHfATFf/s1600/IMG_2749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbJ0wfYcK3wExosMqPI9sVR0dbV0o9bdjNJ366Xnf268FnlvUWuPplwr3Fo-43RIQ4P2csB7_LUEo12fn-hsDLg9iad9QFlNCAHurk_dPLxKgSvBwkqMh0mW15vGnNfDWh5bjsQHfATFf/s640/IMG_2749.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Randiv manages to get his edge and the chance flies up to Dilshan again, who takes a good catch at leg slip.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bVgI27ZrOMGQI-bkxDZ5w8ostupGlJe9zXG2mqSeSam6ugcRfxpmbGRJAQLIzZ8F9cqqhfPi6jocLpc6ZjEpPU0wB4mpNvqgH-8INk-PYfZwqXdBNPnWOSsuJRyjqpk91lEayyjIks3t/s1600/IMG_2750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bVgI27ZrOMGQI-bkxDZ5w8ostupGlJe9zXG2mqSeSam6ugcRfxpmbGRJAQLIzZ8F9cqqhfPi6jocLpc6ZjEpPU0wB4mpNvqgH-8INk-PYfZwqXdBNPnWOSsuJRyjqpk91lEayyjIks3t/s640/IMG_2750.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trott looks shattered. He has worked hard and dug in after his disappointing knock and ultimately hilarious dismissal in the first innings. He is drenched in sweat as he walks off to rapturous applause from the Barmies.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbS-wqoWcG18612gmi_xgoENbUuDyNt8cKVIm8MYdS7ZAqO7S7Tswwu6sL891uLybnH2wF2yVRJoY5YzBp1SC-TncRaVVZoXEw3MlqfeSQGkcoVDkZtoVrMCW6cjjDJrazOdu4L4AEglP/s1600/IMG_2752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbS-wqoWcG18612gmi_xgoENbUuDyNt8cKVIm8MYdS7ZAqO7S7Tswwu6sL891uLybnH2wF2yVRJoY5YzBp1SC-TncRaVVZoXEw3MlqfeSQGkcoVDkZtoVrMCW6cjjDJrazOdu4L4AEglP/s640/IMG_2752.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He goes for 112, but England fans will be pleased that someone in the top six has finally got their head down and shown the others how to play.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExkvMiUWxa9hWmgsTXtaZuabABeeDRYMQZGFV4zgprpUG5NfUdkPkgk1ziapWu1za1zC5y-sXAWZjhMPd2Nn3frMctM9szf9AGw9s1xz0xMHVhD313bWnXiVCkBLPyqg9_6SzGGclvhut/s1600/IMG_2753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExkvMiUWxa9hWmgsTXtaZuabABeeDRYMQZGFV4zgprpUG5NfUdkPkgk1ziapWu1za1zC5y-sXAWZjhMPd2Nn3frMctM9szf9AGw9s1xz0xMHVhD313bWnXiVCkBLPyqg9_6SzGGclvhut/s640/IMG_2753.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Swann joins Ian Bell and Matt Prior in getting out to the sweep shot, again. </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDm5uRB6cj7QPxfVoXVy0tfuX7e7B1VlyNnkA_TgwGWHm_l0zcl7DWPmbNv57Mk0KGHRbvcbBD8YxhHC7Jkyc7KVB0ZIC2eHAgrsoxHWYvsW6NyT0I1K_pteiY9_InkVLHPSHZlY_rjJb/s1600/IMG_2754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDm5uRB6cj7QPxfVoXVy0tfuX7e7B1VlyNnkA_TgwGWHm_l0zcl7DWPmbNv57Mk0KGHRbvcbBD8YxhHC7Jkyc7KVB0ZIC2eHAgrsoxHWYvsW6NyT0I1K_pteiY9_InkVLHPSHZlY_rjJb/s640/IMG_2754.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He's given out LBW as he misses the ball entirely.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQYUm3nFYSb0KXHZYMqnHkL3X4smLOlXZF9MLmin1xGyJsOiqdEP4ozN1FRI9hWtAM6pKzVFdqkkd-mO-LAK_m6x1QSqr-k3PAVrAUjtvqCfGhMqtVotUktlCJ5tztxCvRdQodYRBfM8I/s1600/IMG_2755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQYUm3nFYSb0KXHZYMqnHkL3X4smLOlXZF9MLmin1xGyJsOiqdEP4ozN1FRI9hWtAM6pKzVFdqkkd-mO-LAK_m6x1QSqr-k3PAVrAUjtvqCfGhMqtVotUktlCJ5tztxCvRdQodYRBfM8I/s640/IMG_2755.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More in a "sod it, we've got one left and I might be lucky" kind of fashion, Swann decides to review the decision (insert reference to using up Broad's review)...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhBdYeDelOhmTJ-bwVvnxuNynUfBQdxUZVSezPBKwC2pNwPjZc4ApzuYBdjYRWlVQghUHMDs_B-Og8zsiRjI895ZvlxRljlkmcvkk6BgfG9cS-Cf6XZY9uc6hyJqu9QL7DZDKbNgLuWRP/s1600/IMG_2756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhBdYeDelOhmTJ-bwVvnxuNynUfBQdxUZVSezPBKwC2pNwPjZc4ApzuYBdjYRWlVQghUHMDs_B-Og8zsiRjI895ZvlxRljlkmcvkk6BgfG9cS-Cf6XZY9uc6hyJqu9QL7DZDKbNgLuWRP/s640/IMG_2756.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But he's gone. He walks off as his wicket means that it's the final ball of the afternoon session. England are 259-8 and need a miracle to win this. </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMI16nkS6TmKN7iwcrIUAyNdMOr8EoJNE4YHucOFWVhlUaIo-mwqpZtdrBOVkHB2i7Q6hCOR_NYuN4U5OlutzuO3GprVcmDOHq4waPneDrHYPQy1AC6bsZNelmshxPHb8JcdZhxMYm-e1/s1600/IMG_2757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMI16nkS6TmKN7iwcrIUAyNdMOr8EoJNE4YHucOFWVhlUaIo-mwqpZtdrBOVkHB2i7Q6hCOR_NYuN4U5OlutzuO3GprVcmDOHq4waPneDrHYPQy1AC6bsZNelmshxPHb8JcdZhxMYm-e1/s640/IMG_2757.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jimmy decides to show his team mates how it's done and sweeps Randiv to great effect. (When played to the correct line/length, the sweep shot is an incredibly useful tool. It's when you're trying to sweep full tosses and miss where you look like a complete fool)</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5W_cUBdoFpIdxGal0xkkhbVOaR_ENfzcg56VW1puNkwWHXGxi2lyXpyEGuV8K4lpjWsFBHOyuDSjc0f3NlNc4RIIeq_d9lzhJyM8GkDJg0wOHffENfgPiOkxEgBXwCnxJES_Pas1dZWQ/s1600/IMG_2758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5W_cUBdoFpIdxGal0xkkhbVOaR_ENfzcg56VW1puNkwWHXGxi2lyXpyEGuV8K4lpjWsFBHOyuDSjc0f3NlNc4RIIeq_d9lzhJyM8GkDJg0wOHffENfgPiOkxEgBXwCnxJES_Pas1dZWQ/s640/IMG_2758.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And he hits it over the top for a one bounce four.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeMUgwRUJVg4PykCkhKiKVQmSNkxw3oQmDhO9X1nNzDMThyphenhyphenHtUyQ0HQ1VWRtLI7JD0JY6s2q5WBs_5llJV429fmVPp0RxrFe6aDnyekPFC3txFZ-msuy_K8Lt0WicmUUN9IW-vp7hFF0k/s1600/IMG_2760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeMUgwRUJVg4PykCkhKiKVQmSNkxw3oQmDhO9X1nNzDMThyphenhyphenHtUyQ0HQ1VWRtLI7JD0JY6s2q5WBs_5llJV429fmVPp0RxrFe6aDnyekPFC3txFZ-msuy_K8Lt0WicmUUN9IW-vp7hFF0k/s640/IMG_2760.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But that's it as far as the runs go for England. Two balls later, Jimmy edges behind...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqG43OH18s5014-cU8Y5NERxV457EoKbEPdK4PzCfhPgKGlSi0KIiPm-NRI4iiiWWW-2bRAFRWf6lojx3nq4fWUHD2XOoMwPzJF5bApl44bCQO2bAf0Z-Z6gbkqR-lBx_X7NWLqFX6nt4/s1600/IMG_2761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqG43OH18s5014-cU8Y5NERxV457EoKbEPdK4PzCfhPgKGlSi0KIiPm-NRI4iiiWWW-2bRAFRWf6lojx3nq4fWUHD2XOoMwPzJF5bApl44bCQO2bAf0Z-Z6gbkqR-lBx_X7NWLqFX6nt4/s640/IMG_2761.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finds that Prasanna Jayawardene has taken an excellent catch. </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Wf4jaTT7Y-e9Rt30GpFUxdNlgjw4xcEEkMP-3WireXoQDUl5nHTYPwOvapxfPosGmMA53qGjOPLeXftD6bgAVwKxe7N9fhiOk5CDcxjMb8LM4TuFATxMT7w0tzF7hH5cWp7EKE1SzVpY/s1600/IMG_2762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Wf4jaTT7Y-e9Rt30GpFUxdNlgjw4xcEEkMP-3WireXoQDUl5nHTYPwOvapxfPosGmMA53qGjOPLeXftD6bgAVwKxe7N9fhiOk5CDcxjMb8LM4TuFATxMT7w0tzF7hH5cWp7EKE1SzVpY/s640/IMG_2762.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">England are 264-9 and in comes Monty. If Broad can hog the strike and Monty can block like he did in Cardiff, then who knows. Stranger things, like Jason Gillespie got a double century before Jacques Kallis, have happened.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7OF7iQsKCgmPtTePYI6VwFxCucdKbuOQMZsENV-i47542GY3iyF4wN06PcHe5J8J_4qQHd9wZ7H492aN0jYOjEt-LkS7QRLe0YTbhGIdlTjStuy46f5Q_VDeK4-wcOX_yGl3k3hfyDI4/s1600/IMG_2763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7OF7iQsKCgmPtTePYI6VwFxCucdKbuOQMZsENV-i47542GY3iyF4wN06PcHe5J8J_4qQHd9wZ7H492aN0jYOjEt-LkS7QRLe0YTbhGIdlTjStuy46f5Q_VDeK4-wcOX_yGl3k3hfyDI4/s640/IMG_2763.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or not. Randiv gets Monty for a golden as he edges...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-UBDG74Sq05iaUwN-PbuBOiCoTJ-wdDGFBPnap_WiQtCz_gXSjbbVO7tGU0-IXFI5ZnCO_BUKiRsZKP6ntcshIshvJk2GMkyio9XR6z8FgzxSSfwaBaRTAOcZiSbeejU9rGbXmzuBD8u/s1600/IMG_2764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-UBDG74Sq05iaUwN-PbuBOiCoTJ-wdDGFBPnap_WiQtCz_gXSjbbVO7tGU0-IXFI5ZnCO_BUKiRsZKP6ntcshIshvJk2GMkyio9XR6z8FgzxSSfwaBaRTAOcZiSbeejU9rGbXmzuBD8u/s640/IMG_2764.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And is once again taken by Dilshan, this time at second slip. Randiv will be on a hat-trick in Colombo, England are all out for 264.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11RjHxe8fYZccGDQL1GxZrIR9jzcMo7NMZq1HfUgAKe743tNJkhwPNz8swkg5e6aVeOln7Q8X1Wxk_7CRJiFHSZT4wLcLcritKcZGA3diJnTIkpvcyao-6rLreY6HERQFKT4zaFxQG5s1/s1600/IMG_2765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11RjHxe8fYZccGDQL1GxZrIR9jzcMo7NMZq1HfUgAKe743tNJkhwPNz8swkg5e6aVeOln7Q8X1Wxk_7CRJiFHSZT4wLcLcritKcZGA3diJnTIkpvcyao-6rLreY6HERQFKT4zaFxQG5s1/s640/IMG_2765.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monty and Broad walk off dejected. Fielding errors and awful batting have cost England this match...</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObfPewg1a4_kXOf5prwn3LWfXx3ls96Jn-G9ZD-v_mDId5Fh16CZagR0kFJyybbSbwUpMYImehjXEXudmzJNqe9Lk7dZOk4XNN1vpHBA2qu3F-OGWuyJjv9eiManWkdwzKj3tHqqIg2-_/s1600/IMG_2766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObfPewg1a4_kXOf5prwn3LWfXx3ls96Jn-G9ZD-v_mDId5Fh16CZagR0kFJyybbSbwUpMYImehjXEXudmzJNqe9Lk7dZOk4XNN1vpHBA2qu3F-OGWuyJjv9eiManWkdwzKj3tHqqIg2-_/s640/IMG_2766.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But you can take nothing away from Sri Lanka. Mahela Jayawardene's magnificent knock of 180 in Sri Lanka's first innings, Prasanna Jayawardene's incredibly useful runs lower down the order and Rangana Herath's match bowling figures of 12-171 have been the major contributions to Sri Lanka getting their first win in Sri Lanka since the retirement of Murali. They now have 2 wins in 17 Tests and must believe that they have a chance to win the Test in Colombo too.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">England probably can't wait to return to the green and pleasant land, but they can't hide behind their own conditions to rectify this problem. What are they going to do when Imran Tahir comes over here? Run and hide in a corner of the dressing room?<br /><br />For now, England will want to focus on trying to win in Colombo. Can they win at a ground where Sri Lanka have won 7 and drawn 4 out of 14 matches? England have only played at the P Sara Oval once and they won, but this victory occurred in 1982. Will England make changes? Find out on Tuesday after the match has taken place, where I'll have recreated and rambled on with some rubbish underneath in a sleep deprived state, but I hope you'll want to come back because, well, they're rubber ducks playing cricket.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See you Tuesday. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3996338075684714765.post-54991025257696572322012-03-28T23:17:00.003+01:002013-09-10T15:25:42.739+01:00The Strauss Conundrum<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHO9qb7uL0lC1lTaTQ7Mqsw4Emt0bSw6A3pG4iNql2degf-ccJA9nYxKkrTLol0S92Alc6g297HgteNZ5-I0TY17I5RIrYaOK-DOftXK7PyA_B25rntFg8PshM940QTzTS2rXvzhOZF_p/s1600/Strauss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHO9qb7uL0lC1lTaTQ7Mqsw4Emt0bSw6A3pG4iNql2degf-ccJA9nYxKkrTLol0S92Alc6g297HgteNZ5-I0TY17I5RIrYaOK-DOftXK7PyA_B25rntFg8PshM940QTzTS2rXvzhOZF_p/s400/Strauss.jpg" width="275" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Strauss celebrating his double hundred at Lord's for Middlesex against Leicestershire, August 2011.</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've loved cricket for as long as Andrew Strauss has been playing Test cricket. Strauss wasn't the reason I fell in love with cricket, Rob Key was with his double century against the West Indies, but his two centuries against the Australians in the 2005 Ashes series made me sit up and pay attention. During the time after the 2005 Ashes and to the present day, Strauss' form has gone through golden, and barren, patches.</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />He's in a clear barren patch at the moment and the <a href="http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/20387.html?class=1;spanmin1=23+Aug+2009;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting">stats</a> do
not make pretty reading. If we go from the end of the 2009 Ashes series, in which he was the leading run scorer of either side, it
currently stands that he has only scored one century in 42 Test innings, with
that century coming against Australia at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/428749.html">Brisbane</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in 2010. His average since the conclusion of that series in 2009 has been 31.14, a far cry from his overall average of 41.15 (which
was 42.37 before he became captain in January 2009).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But as this form slump has been happening, the team around him has been performing. His opening partner, Alastair Cook, has been on the rise ever since Mohammad Asif handed him a century at The Oval back in August 2010. Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell have all been in prolific form too and part of the reason (along with a hard hitting tail) England posted such mammoth totals in Australia and across the 2011 summer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Yet things all started to come unstuck in the Middle East back in January. Facing quality spin bowling for the first time in a couple of years, England reverted back to the England many of us have grown up with. Suddenly, reaching 150 was considered par and 400 was a pipe dream. Everyone struggled. England only posted one century partnership on the Test side of the tour. Players who'd been in sparkling form in 2011 were suddenly under pressure. <br /><br />But Strauss hadn't been in sparkling form in the whites for England in 2011. He scored 256 Test runs in the summer of 2011, 316 in the year overall. With the other batsmen failing around him, as the first innings of the Galle Test showed that England have a poor mental attitude when it comes to playing spin, and suffering a Test series whitewash for the first time as captain of England after leading them to a whitewash over India which saw his team claim number one Test status, Strauss now finds himself at the centre of the media spotlight. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br />The closest he came to a Test century last summer was against India, but he was out for 87 at Edgbaston attempting a sweep shot against Mishra, which he missed and ended up getting bowled, which sounds all too familiar. </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">During the period since the 2009 Ashes, he has scored nine half centuries, but cannot go on to reach three figures. He, like today in Galle, seems to get himself out, rather than being 'got out' by the batsmen.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />Whilst he struggled in the Tests of 2011, his domestic form was fine. For Middlesex, he scored 614 runs (including a century against the touring Sri Lankans, who he then went on to score only 27 runs against in the whole series) at an average of 76.75. It included his maiden first-class double century. He even went to play for Somerset, to help him try and regain some form. He ended up making an unbeaten century and 75 against India, yet in the Test series managed to score a total of 229 runs. In limited overs cricket, which he has now retired from, he was in the list for the highest run scorers at the Cricket World Cup in India. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Yet he has been unable to transfer this into Test cricket. Granted, facing a Leicestershire side who only won one game all season is a far cry from facing a team who were ranked number one in the world before they visited England, but the old cliché goes that form is temporary and class is permanent. <br /><br />Is Strauss' Test form something of a concern to him? He stated in a press conference last year that "<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/jun/15/andrew-strauss-england-sri-lanka">it is my turn to come to the party</a>", yet nearly a year later, he still has no Test century. His captaincy has been tested. This Test he has been criticised by Geoff Boycott and the journalistic Twitterati for his defensive field placings. Cook's been having a mixed bag of an ODI captaincy since he was appointed back in May last year, but his recent victory in the Middle East (in a whitewash) was a good response to the debacle of the India tour back in October. Home victories over Sri Lanka and India were a good way to start his true reign in charge of the ODI side and, like said, he's been in fantastic form and is beginning to look like a good international limited overs batsman.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />Strauss has stated that his aim is at least <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/england/8495529/England-Test-captain-Andrew-Strauss-eyes-two-more-Ashes-series-after-stepping-down-as-ODI-skipper.html">two more Ashes series</a>. But Strauss is an intelligent man and will know when his time is up and will want to hand over the Test captaincy to Cook or anyone else when he and Andy Flower feel that the time is right. He and Flower have led England to the top of the ICC Rankings, even though this seems to have been undermined by the horrendous displays in Pakistan and (currently) Sri Lanka. India at the end of this year will be a tough tour too and England won't want to go over there with an inexperienced captain. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />Strauss has the respect, and support, of his team mates (judging by Graeme Swann's comments anyway) and they will want him to find some Test form. Strauss has been in a slump before, back in 2007. He was found out in the 2006/07 Ashes by Australia and feared for his international career before he scored a, at the time, <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/300444.html">career-best 177</a> in England's second innings of the final Test at Napier against New Zealand in 2008. Here he came in at 3. Would pushing Trott, or even Bell, to open with Cook and putting him in at 3 or pushing him down the order help him find some Test form?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Should England lose tomorrow in Galle, then they will be 1-0 down in a two match series and desperately clinging on to a number one ranking they worked so hard to obtain. If they lose in Colombo, Strauss will have gone from leading a side who won six out of eight Tests in 2011 to captaining a side who've lost five out of five in 2012, on the continent that they were trying to crack to prove his team were worthy of a number one ranking. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br />Whilst he maintains a cool exterior, surely his own personal form and the slump of the side he's captaining is playing on the back of his mind. England made headlines in the warm up games for the wrong reasons and when Strauss was given out LBW in England's disastrous first innings yesterday, he had a confrontation with the umpires because Sri Lanka decided to wait for the leg bye signal before reviewing. </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">There doesn't seem to be any completely clear cut choices banging at the door (although they've all got to start somewhere) in county cricket and Strauss is still 11th on the list of all time English run scorers. But with a resurgent West Indies side over in May/June and the South Africans and their hostile pace attack coming, Strauss will once again be facing a test of his batting and a test of his captaincy skills.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Strauss is one of my favourite players which is what makes watching him at the moment feel like I'm once again watching the slow decline of a beloved childhood pet. And that's why I really hope that Strauss regains some remnant his Test batting form and doesn't finish off his reign as captaincy like Michael Vaughan. Because Strauss can be a joy to watch when he's deciding to not play horrible sweep shots or poorly executing attempts to hit over the top off the spinners. He may not be involved in the run chase tomorrow, but eyes will be on him in Colombo and there's no doubt that he will want to perform. Whether he will is the question.</span></div>
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