It's just not cricket

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 19:34 Tue 02 Sep 2014

GO HAWKS!

There has been a curious occurrence in the NFL recently (and perhaps longer). Of the last 8 Super Bowl champions, 4 did not even make the playoffs the next year, and the remaining 4 all lost their first round playoff game. Most pundits attribute this to parity in the NFL combined with a tendency for Super Bowl teams to need a few years to peak, by which time they have multiple players at or near the end of their contracts. Since a Super Bowl win boosts the value of every player involved, the team cannot afford to re-sign all of their stars.

Experts are predicting that will not happen this year. The Seahawks are predicted to do very well this season, reaching at least the NFC championship game if not the Super Bowl itself. The offense should be noticeably better (and it wasn't at all bad last year), while the defense should hold steady. While it is true that we lost a couple of very valuable assets on defense (Red Bryant and Chris Clemons most noticeably, both now with Jacksonville), their replacements look promising and we do still have the best secondary in the game. (Best Free Safety, best Strong Safety, and arguably the best Cornerback at least in his own mind.)

This week's opening game against Green Bay should be epic, in no small part because Green Bay is one of the other NFC teams predicted to be a strong contender for the Super Bowl. The only thing better than a repeat Fail Mary ending (just to rub it in for Green Bay fans) would be for Seattle to crush them.

Recent developments (read: injuries and suspensions) in San Francisco and Arizona have made Seattle's path marginally easier, so things are looking good for the season.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 21:09 Fri 05 Sep 2014

ROOOOOooooooot

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 04:16 Sat 06 Sep 2014

36-16 counts as crushing them, I think.

Post by **jdaw1** » 22:45 Thu 11 Sep 2014

The BBC: Geoffrey Boycott on England, Test cricket, the Ashes and his legacy.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 19:00 Wed 17 Sep 2014

This rather lovely book was left in my pigeonhole at work by someone, I've no idea whom. With being in Berlin, I haven't checked it since June. Eagar was a famous cricket photographer and the introduction contains a brief but fascinating history of cricket photography. Did you know they were using large-format plate cameras until the 1960s, and would sometimes run out of plates before the exciting conclusion of a day? Or that the first long lenses used in cricket photography were seized from Zeppelins shot down in the First World War - lenses still in use when this book was written!

QUIZ: which very famous photographer took the reputed 'first photograph' included in the book?

benread · Post by **benread** » 05:43 Thu 18 Sep 2014

David Bailey?

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 07:13 Thu 18 Sep 2014

About 100 years earlier.

LGTrotter · Post by **LGTrotter** » 10:42 Thu 18 Sep 2014

Henry Fox talbot.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 14:15 Thu 18 Sep 2014

LGTrotter wrote:Henry Fox talbot.

Clever. Getting two guesses in because you're in a different thread. Not him either.

LGTrotter · Post by **LGTrotter** » 17:27 Tue 07 Oct 2014

I see Kevin is doing the rounds of the sofas, defining an era of cricket in his own inimitable way. Do I hear the sound of daggers being sharpened?

Interesting comments on Prior and the bowlers.

Anyone care to own up to pre-ordering the book?

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 19:56 Tue 07 Oct 2014

The man is a Walter Mitty. He can't see that nobody agrees with him except him: that dashing chap he looks at adoringly in the mirror every morning, lunchtime and evening. And occasionally in between.

LGTrotter · Post by **LGTrotter** » 20:38 Tue 07 Oct 2014

Listening to a couple of interviews I started to notice how often he said 'I' and 'me', often about things which applied to the English cricket team rather than to K. Pietersen per se: "I won the Ashes four times" which, in a sense he did, but still...

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 20:40 Tue 07 Oct 2014

You just noticed this???

LGTrotter · Post by **LGTrotter** » 22:10 Tue 07 Oct 2014

djewesbury wrote:You just noticed this???

I was putting it out there. No comment on Broad and Anderson; the spoilt little teacher's pets?

LGTrotter · Post by **LGTrotter** » 22:59 Tue 07 Oct 2014

And look what he called his good mate Swanny (allegedly): http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/con ... 87889.html

Post by **DRT** » 00:03 Sat 25 Oct 2014

There appears to have been a bit of a scandal going on in the cricket world while I was in the Caribbean. Is the absence of discussion here an indication that it is of no relevance?

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 00:12 Sat 25 Oct 2014

I think everyone is just holding their heads in their hands and wondering what on earth can possibly happen next: the world's richest national cricket board attempting to sue one of the most bankrupt seems like a silly idea, but then should the Windies be allowed to get off scot free, after wandering away like this? The complexity of the negotiations between the WICB, the WIPA and the BCCI is enough, never mind the shady goings-on at the ICC. It's a dog's breakfast.

But the email just arrived asking me if I want to order my Ashes tickets for next year.

If you were starting from scratch, would you organise it like this?

Post by **DRT** » 00:16 Sat 25 Oct 2014

I don't really understand how the cricket world is organised but "a dog's breakfast" seems to describe what I have witnessed in the past few years.

Which days are we going to The Ashes?

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 00:22 Sat 25 Oct 2014

DRT wrote:Which days are we going to The Ashes?

The ECB wrote:England v Australia

Wed 8–Sun 12 July - 1st Investec Ashes Test - SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff

Thu 16–Mon 20 July - 2nd Investec Ashes Test - Lord’s

Wed 29 July–Sun 2 Aug - 3rd Investec Ashes Test - Edgbaston

Thu 6–Mon 10 Aug - 4th Investec Ashes Test - Trent Bridge

Thu 20–Mon 24 Aug - 5th Investec Ashes Test - Kia Oval

Trent Bridge is a lovely ground and Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem is a lovely pub. I've never been to Edgbaston. Cardiff is just a long way away, and in Wales.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 00:25 Sat 25 Oct 2014

The ballot for tickets for the Oval opens next week.. I'll keep an eye on it. The last match can be very exciting.

EDIT:

Surrey County Cricket Club wrote:The draw for the ballot will take place in early November and you will be notified of the result of your application by Friday 14th November. Winning ballot entrants will then be able to purchase from Monday November 17th.
***In the meantime why not let your friends know about the ballot? Who knows, maybe if they’re successful they’ll invite you!***

Post by **DRT** » 00:36 Sat 25 Oct 2014

I am available on all of those dates

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 00:38 Sat 25 Oct 2014

DRT wrote:I am available on all of those dates

Make sure to let your friends Gloria and Batailley know.

Post by **DRT** » 00:42 Sat 25 Oct 2014

djewesbury wrote:
DRT wrote:I am available on all of those dates
Make sure to let your friends Gloria and Batailley know.

I have a friend sitting in the next room who is a Baron from a place called Pichon who might also be able to make it.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 00:45 Sat 25 Oct 2014

Oh we like a bit of class at the cricket. The more the merrier. I must say the chaps you brought last year were jolly decent coves.

LGTrotter · Post by **LGTrotter** » 23:19 Mon 27 Oct 2014

DRT wrote:There appears to have been a bit of a scandal going on in the cricket world while I was in the Caribbean. Is the absence of discussion here an indication that it is of no relevance?

I wrote a lengthy post including Tony Cozier, Viv Richards et al, and the imminent collapse of everything starting with cricket. But then it disappeared so I never wrote it again.

Post by **DRT** » 23:37 Mon 27 Oct 2014

LGTrotter wrote:
DRT wrote:There appears to have been a bit of a scandal going on in the cricket world while I was in the Caribbean. Is the absence of discussion here an indication that it is of no relevance?
I wrote a lengthy post including Tony Cozier, Viv Richards et al, and the imminent collapse of everything starting with cricket. But then it disappeared so I never wrote it again.

Sounds fascinating and insightful. Thank you.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 09:31 Tue 28 Oct 2014

I disagree with what Owen would have said.

LGTrotter · Post by **LGTrotter** » 12:49 Tue 28 Oct 2014

djewesbury wrote:I disagree with what Owen would have said.

Daniel's got a point.

But how about the hot off the press news that Trott is back! Or at least he is going with the Lions to South Africa. I do hope it's true, England batting made a lot more sense when he was around.

Post by **DRT** » 23:24 Tue 28 Oct 2014

LGTrotter wrote:
djewesbury wrote:I disagree with what Owen would have said.
Daniel's got a point.

But how about the hot off the press news that Trott is back! Or at least he is going with the Lions to South Africa. I do hope it's true, England batting made a lot more sense when he was around.

Is this hot off the press? Or did they announce his return a few months ago?

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 23:29 Tue 28 Oct 2014

Is this a new announcement or is it an old announcement re-announced?

EDIT: It's new.

Post by **DRT** » 23:45 Tue 28 Oct 2014

I am sure there was an announcement a few weeks ago that he was returning, which resulted in accusations that he was being a Deva when he pulled out of the tour.

LGTrotter · Post by **LGTrotter** » 23:53 Tue 28 Oct 2014

I think he lost his central contract, I wonder if they will give it back. They seem to be saying it is/was situational anxiety rather than the vaguer "stress related illness". I reckon the comeback should be swift and complete, assuming he has kept his form.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 12:03 Wed 29 Oct 2014

LGTrotter wrote:I think he lost his central contract, I wonder if they will give it back. They seem to be saying it is/was situational anxiety rather than the vaguer "stress related illness". I reckon the comeback should be swift and complete, assuming he has kept his form.

+1. You'll be unsurprised to hear that I completely agree with Owen.

Post by **DRT** » 23:35 Wed 29 Oct 2014

djewesbury wrote:
LGTrotter wrote:I think he lost his central contract, I wonder if they will give it back. They seem to be saying it is/was situational anxiety rather than the vaguer "stress related illness". I reckon the comeback should be swift and complete, assuming he has kept his form.
+1. You'll be unsurprised to hear that I completely agree with Owen.

I think I might have been drinking. I could swear I heard Daniel say that he agreed with Owen. There can be no other explanation.

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 03:41 Thu 30 Oct 2014

I have been drinking, and I saw the same thing. Ergo, you must have also been drinking. Q.E.D.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 08:52 Thu 30 Oct 2014

Of course I agree with Owen. I always agree with Owen, what are you people talking about? Glenn, I'm worried, you struck me as a very rational and intelligent chap, but this kind of babbling is what makes the men at Google think we aren't a serious outfit.

Sharpen up, everyone.

LGTrotter · Post by **LGTrotter** » 21:35 Thu 30 Oct 2014

In re the advent of Trott2.0 Aggers is now touting him as a potential opener, which in fairness he always looked like he ought to be. One can only hope that Mitchell Johnson pulls a muscle.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/29805657

LGTrotter · Post by **LGTrotter** » 21:36 Thu 30 Oct 2014

Now I come to think of it there could be space made at number four.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 22:09 Thu 30 Oct 2014

LGTrotter wrote:Now I come to think of it there could be space made at number four.

And it was going so well.

LGTrotter · Post by **LGTrotter** » 22:19 Thu 30 Oct 2014

djewesbury wrote:
LGTrotter wrote:Now I come to think of it there could be space made at number four.

And it was going so well.

I couldn't not. Recidivism of the worst kind.

Post by **flash_uk** » 23:12 Thu 30 Oct 2014

Good to see the old debates dredged up again

Now, Owen. Have you booked your train ticket yet to get to London for the Port Walk?

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 03:32 Fri 31 Oct 2014

djewesbury wrote:Of course I agree with Owen. I always agree with Owen, what are you people talking about? Glenn, I'm worried, you struck me as a very rational and intelligent chap, but this kind of babbling is what makes the men at Google think we aren't a serious outfit.

Sharpen up, everyone.

What can I say? As previously noted, I had been drinking.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 11:17 Thu 27 Nov 2014

It's a sad day for cricket. I saw some very poor web footage of the delivery that killed Philip Hughes, what a freakish accident. This will cast a pall over next year's Ashes, where Hughes might have been expected to cause us no small amount of difficulty.

Post by **DRT** » 11:24 Thu 27 Nov 2014

Sad indeed. I hope the guy who delivered the ball is getting some support.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 11:26 Thu 27 Nov 2014

Is it, technically, a manslaughter or does the law not apply in cases like this? That seems to be a stupid question but I mean, is there a caveat for instances like this?

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 11:26 Thu 27 Nov 2014

I know, of course, that nobody would think of charging him. I just mean hypothetically.

Post by **flash_uk** » 11:34 Thu 27 Nov 2014

It's an accident during a game where nothing abnormal was going on. Were someone to wander across and casually swing their bat into someone else's skull, I think something like that might attract the relevant charge.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 11:37 Thu 27 Nov 2014

Sure, but just looking at this technically a death caused by an accident where someone else is involved is usually 'manslaughter'. Does it depend on how you think of the ball, as either nothing to do with Sean Abbott once it left his hands, or alternatively as a thing he propelled at Hughes?

This is an irrelevant question. Sorry. It's the way I'm made.

Post by **DRT** » 00:23 Fri 28 Nov 2014

I might be wrong but I think if this happened in Italy the bowler (and possibly the officials) would have been taken into custody and charged. I seem to remember that happening at a Grand Prix many years ago.

But my post was more about emotional support. Despite the innocence of the accident this stuff would mess with your head if you were in the bowler's shoes. Life changing stuff.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 01:38 Fri 28 Nov 2014

DRT wrote:I might be wrong but I think if this happened in Italy the bowler (and possibly the officials) would have been taken into custody and charged. I seem to remember that happening at a Grand Prix many years ago.

But my post was more about emotional support. Despite the innocence of the accident this stuff would mess with your head if you were in the bowler's shoes. Life changing stuff.

Agreed with in entirety. What we used to call 'plus one'.