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Cricket Blog from the BBC

BBC ready for Twenty20 bonanza

Well after a highly eventful four days in Leeds, the BBC cricket team moves back into Twenty20 mode for the climax to this season's domestic Twenty20 competition.

And with the potential pot of gold that could come with qualification for the lucrative Champions League, this is a really important few days for five county sides. I say five, because of course there is some unfinished business before finals day.

One of the few positives to come out of England's four-day demise at Headingley is that we are able to bring full commentary on Five Live Sports Extra of Tuesday evening's much-delayed Twenty20 quarter-final at Chester-le-Street.

It's been a strange few days for Durham. They were originally due to play Yorkshire until that game was controversially postponed at the last moment following an argument over the registration of a Yorkshire player. Then it looked like Nottinghamshire would be Durham's opponents, until an appeal led to Glamorgan being surprisingly given a quarter-final place instead.

The match will be a great opportunity for Paul Collingwood and Steve Harmison to remind the selectors of what they can do, and they will be joined in the Durham side by former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock - fresh from the TMS commentary box. Even if the Test match had gone into a fifth day, we'd agreed to let Shaun go and play in the fixture.

To be honest I am not sure there are many other members of the TMS team who could play in a major fixture 24 hours after a Test commentary. But I do have to report that although Shaun may be in great shape, he has not been able to resist the odd slice of cake which has kindly been sent to us over the past couple of weeks.

Whilst Pollock is moving from the commentary box to the playing field, Australian bowler Jason Gillespie is going the other way for Tuesday's match. Glamorgan have decided to leave out their Ashes bowler for the fixture, but we are delighted that he will be joining us on Five Live Sports Extra instead. Gillespie will be joined in the commentary box by England and Lancashire batsman Mal Loye, one of the country's top one-day batsmen and master of the slog sweep off any kind of bowler.

Coverage starts Tuesday evening at 1715 BST on Five Live Sports Extra.

Then whatever you do, don't miss our commentary on Twenty20 Finals Day live from the Rose Bowl on Saturday. If you've heard our coverage before, you will know that our commentary on this special day is a little different.

We have broadcasters not only in the commentary box, but also out on the boundary edges and in the players' dug-out as we bring you our unique '3D style' coverage. It will be dynamic, dramatic and at times dangerous as the ball lands inches from our brave boundary reporters, especially if the likes of new Twenty20 star Graham Napier get going.

Coverage starts on Five Live Sports Extra at 1115 for the first semi-final between Essex and Kent - shortly before that, listen out for first news of the squad for the third Test. Will Darren Pattinson keep his place or are the likes of Harmison and Matthew Hoggard on for a recall?

Middlesex play either Durham or Glamorgan in the second semi-final before commentary moves to Five Live for the final from 1900 BST.

Before that, from 1800 BST on Five Live you will be able to take part in a special Cricket 606 with Mark Chapman and Phil Tufnell.

Tuffers will be with us throughout the day as part of a commentary team which also includes Mark Pougatch, Arlo White, Alison Mitchell, Kevin Howells and Simon Hughes plus Essex and England fast bowler Alex Tudor and England spinner Graeme Swann.

And make sure you are listening throughout the day, because as well as all the cricket action don't miss our now legendary commentary on the mascots race, this year with a very special twist!

It was always going to be a tough ask for England today and they probably left themselves too much to do.

South Africa batted well in their first innings - which included brilliant centuries from AB de Villiers and Ashwell Prince - a feat none of England's batsmen could manage. More on that later.

In some ways the return of Andrew Fintoff for this Test threw up more questions than answers.

At Lord's England's batting line-up looked solid - they posted a big total and had a great chance of winning.

Here England went with five bowlers to accomodate Freddie, and it meant the batting line-up was unbalanced with Tim Ambrose batting at six, which in my opinion is two places too high for a batsman of his ability.

The result was that England started the match with five specialist batsmen and ultimately they paid for that decision.

Freddie's return is great news for England, but the selectors will have to think carefully about how they approach the next two Tests.

Stuart Broad's impressive second innings knock of 67 showed what was possible batting on this strip at number eight, and his technique compares favourably with that of Tim Ambrose and Flintoff.

There wasn't much in this pitch. On day one the ball did swing but after that the wicket flattened out and it was pretty benign, so England's batsmen would have been disappointed with their performance.

Kevin Pietersen's come in for a spot of criticism - especially regarding his second innings score of 13. As usual he came out blazing and appeared not to bat as the situation required.

Some critics suggested he bats to his reputation and not to what is in front of him.
I wouldn't point the finger at Kevin or blame him for the result - he hit a couple of sparkling shots and was then undone by a good ball from Kallis.

Pietersen's a wonderful player, an entertainer and you just have to accept that sometimes he'll be at his best and sometimes he's going to fail. When the selectors sit down ahead of the next Test at Edgbaston they will not be discussing KP I promise you.

Top of the agenda will be whether to stick with five bowlers or revert to the policy that served them well at Lord's. It has been a problem for a while, especially when Freddie is injured or not in form.

Tim Ambrose's position at wicketkeeper is clearly under threat - he's not a number six batsman although he did show a measure of resolve in his second innings. Essex's James Foster and last year's incumbent Matt Prior are the favourites to replace him.

Prior's been in great form with the bat recently, but the selectors want to maintain consistency and I suspect that could see Ambrose keep his place.

As for the bowling attack, Darren Pattinson could bear the brunt of this defeat. I was suprised as anyone when he was picked, but the main question - aside from qualification - is whether Darren is good enough to be a Test bowler.

He's 30 next month, he doesn't have any tricks up his sleeve like reverse swing or explosive pace, and I suspect if Ryan Sidebottom is fit Darren will be packed off back to Nottinghamshire.

The dismissal of Michael Vaughan late in the day was a crucial breakthrough for South Africa who, with still two full days left of this game, are hot favourites to take a 1-0 lead in this series.

Overall these are worrying times for England; their bowling shows a lack of penetration and menace. Stuart Broad and James Anderson can perhaps be excused for looking jaded after their efforts at Lord's, but while Andrew Flintoff and Monty Panesar tried hard, their failure to extract life from this Headingley pitch is a concern.

South Africa's bowling unit has shown more bite throughout this game and seems a lot more threatening.

As for the debutant Darren Pattinson, he looks a reasonable bowler with a decent action, but bowling at an average of 80 miles per hour, he does not look exceptional.

Was he really a better option than Steve Harmison, who I notice took another four wickets for Durham today, or local boy Matthew Hoggard or the likes of Simon Jones, Sajid Mahmood, Graham Onions and Liam Plunkett?

If Ryan Sidebottom is fit for the third Test at Edgbaston next week, then I suspect Pattinson could well join the "one Test wonder club" - just like Sidebottom's father, Arnie, who appeared in a match I played in back in 1985.

It was interesting to hear Nottinghamshire coach Mike Newell say during the lunch interval on Test Match Special that having picked Pattinson, the England selectors now have a duty to nurture him even if he does not feature in the next Test.

A lot has been said about England's bowling, but the real problem in this match was the team being bowled out for 203 in just two sessions on the opening day.

Whenever that happens a side is under massive pressure for the rest of the game and even if England bat well in their second innings and score say 350 or 400 they will almost certainly still lose the match

What the remaining England batsman need to do, in my opinion, is to be positive and not just try to survive. If they just hang around then I believe wickets are more likely to fall. Although conditions are of course different here in Leeds than they were at Lords last week, South Africa's batsman showed that matches can be saved from this sort of position.

Alastair Cook, who I know well of course with my Essex connection, is just the kind of batsman who can stick in and frustrate the South African attack and after not scoring a century for England since last December, he could do with reaching three figures here.

One other thought. I took part in a phone-in on Test Match Special during lunch today where one caller advocted the dropping of Michael Vaughan.

Although he failed again, I still believe he is worth his place in the side. It is true that his form has dipped since he gave up opening the batting but I still think he is the best man to be marshalling the troops for England and remember he scored an excellent century in the opening Test of this summer against New Zealand.

He does not look as composed at the crease as he used to and is not as aggressive a player, but I believe he is a better batsman when he opens the innings, plays positively and sets the tone by leading from the front. That is exactly what Graeme Smith did for South Africa at the start of their innings.

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Just Some Stuff... Really Bored
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Information republished from the Laughing Camel Virtual Road Trips: Written by Passepartout Glasgow has had more than its fair share of ups and downs - from a major industrial port known as the Second City of the British Empire in the Victorian era, to bleak industrial decline of enormous proportions, and a cultural renaissance in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, Glasgow is Scotland's largest and most vibrant city. Following its year as European...
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An Intoxicating Celebration of English Beer and Drinking Culture

Cricket and beer, two topics I know NOTHING about!!

While the inhabitants of England are famed for their love of drink try not to match them, they drink at a fast pace and those on tour often fall foul to the odd hangover when overindulgence occurs. For a true slice of English culture however, there is no better way than to visit the local pub and sample the unique regional tipple.

The Barmy Army Skulks into Wellington Looking for BEER!

England won by 126 runs

Ripped Headline Image

http://www.teamusk.com/images/camel-headlines-burnt-blistered-bugger.gif

Phil Long's blog (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tms/phil_long/) makes depressing reading for any English cricket fan with the fifth day Seddon Park massacre still fresh in their memories... It seems that not only were the team under prepared, the supporters were also woefully lacking in basic self preservation:

"The sunburn to the shins and feet of one supporter (who shall remain nameless!) on that first day were so bad he had to be taken, hobbling, to A&E at a Hamilton hospital to have the burns dressed and then redressed on subsequent days."

As Phil might say, "It's not the first time England have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory".

The Tea Musk Times confidently predicts a comprehensive victory for England at Wellington. After all; the English (barmy army) HAVE to be "burnt, blistered and buggered" before they really try to win!

England won by 126 runs

A Tour Of The Pubs Of England

ARTICLE SUMMARY: Vacation ideas for tourists visiting England including a tour of the many historic public houses.

By : Thomas Pretty
Submitted 2008-04-10 13:35:22

Drinking and socialising is a large part of the culture of England and a tour of the various historic pubs and breweries is the perfect way to sample this culture. Many may think that beer in England is purely warm flat liquid that only the locals would be mad enough to sample. This however is a common misconception; while on your tour it would be criminal to miss out on the fine ales, stouts and bitters. They may taste flat to the uneducated, but the acquiring of the taste for the beers of England will definitely add an aspect to your tour.

A pint of good beer is a thing to enjoy and savour, thankfully for those who appreciate the tipple there is such a wide and diverse base of beer types that the drinker is thrown in a 'Willy Wonka's Factory' of delight. On your tour you will see bitters and milds, porters and stouts whilst not forgetting the cider that makes the West Country so appealing. The drinks however should only form a small part of your pub tour of England, after all it is the location as much as the pint that makes a good drink.

The pubs of England are some of the oldest in the world and this history is evident as you sup on your tipple. The ale houses of England that you will see on your tour let the traveller step back in time to a simpler period where the roar of an open fire and the clink of glasses is one of the greatest delights in life and a must for the weary traveller. While chain pubs may be encroaching on the traditional pub market, do not fear; there are still plenty of historic pubs to quench your thirst.

All regions of England have a wealth of historic establishments that will amaze the tourist. While you are on your tour you will see names such as the Royal Oak, The Black Bull and Ye Olde Fighting Cocks; all giving some indication of the pub's heritage. It must be noted that these pubs have been at the heart of their communities for centuries and are still play a major part in modern communities. Nearly all villages will have a pub and stopping off while on your tour for a quick drink or even a spot of lunch can make the journey all the more enjoyable.

In terms of the beers you will see on your tour of England, they generally fall into five categories. The most numerous are the bitters or ales, this are generally very 'hoppy' and low in carbonation, an adjunct of the bitters are the 'mild beers' which are generally sweeter and usually darker in colour.

Dark colour however is dominated by the stouts; of course most have tried Guinness but there are ranges of stout that vary immensely from the taste of Ireland. Porter can be seen as a happy medium between stout and mild and has experienced resurgence in recent years. Cider is becoming evermore popular but for the true 'scrumpy', the West Country is the place to head, this apple based drink can be extremely strong so remember to drink responsibly

While the inhabitants of England are famed for their love of drink try not to match them, they drink at a fast pace and those on tour often fall foul to the odd hangover when overindulgence occurs. For a true slice of English culture however, there is no better way than to visit the local pub and sample the unique regional tipple.

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Another on-target ripped headline. Just why DID the PM go missing??

Gormless, Spineless Gordon Goes Missing at Windsor Castle Piss Up!

The News - Latest Articles

Headline Image:
http://www.teamusk.com/images/camel-headlines-gormless-back-benched.gif

Headline Text:

In television footage, the Queen can be heard saying to Princess Anne: "The prime minister got lost. He disappeared the wrong way...(up his own arse?) at the crucial moment."

Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg were also at the banquet in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle. The prime minister and French President were among 150 guests binging out on a four course meal washed down with vintage wine and champagne. The wine list included a Chateau Margaux, Premier Grand Cru Classe, 1961 and a 1982 Krug champagne.

There's been no comment (yet) from "Health Britain" (an exclusive pressure group determined to destroy any joy left in living) regarding the damage to the livers and possible alcoholic tendencies of the three "great" leaders of the main political parties.

Who Stole MY Spine?
Spineless, gormless and pissed is this really a sober Britain?

I "stumbled on" some unusual news headlines just now and thought one of the headlines to be very apt:

Raining Fat Cats, Dogs and Politicians

Tea Musk Time's ripped headline for today:

Headline Text:

THE GREAT BIG BRITISH FAT CATS AND GREEDY SCANDAL

For once, it seems individuals in parliament cannot be blamed for the way British pet owners overfeed their animals to busting point. "Pet obesity in the UK, you could say, is at epidemic proportions. Nearly 50% of dogs and cats in this country are overweight, and 15% of these are clinically obese." Andrew Wilson, Orchard Veterinary Centre.

The Pet Health Council recommends the following action:

1. check the ideal weight for your pet with your vet;
2. take action if your pet is heavier than its ideal weight by 15%.
3. check for a sagging stomach and bulging sides;
4. if you can't feel your pet's ribs, this may be a sign that they're overweight;
5. breathlessness and reluctance to take exercise are good indicators of an overweight pet.

OBESITY IN HOUSES
OF PARLIEMENT?

Heavyweight politicians, many of whom may have visited the "trough" of their free meal allowances a little to often, have refused to take the new "FAT PET" test. The general feeling among MPs is that; "A few tasty treats never did anyone any harm"!

"Throw me a BONE sometime", seems to be the reply from the Great British Public.

Gormless Gordon says;
"I eats, I drinks, I gets fat
and I falls over; I'm awright
JACK".

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Over feeding pets is very common and this headline makes the point by using a bit of humour.