I’m looking forward to the Test against Pakistan, although it seems Emilio Gay may not be opening as things didn’t go well in Beckenham, a ground I’d like to visit. Perhaps next season.

The Hundred came and went.

Good articles in Saturday’s Telegraph by Nick Hoult and Will Macpherson.

Geoff Boycott waxing lyrical about his Mum’s comments about him.

Sam Billings’ fortunes and misfortunes ~ his new team in the 100 couldn’t quite get over the line last night, but he’ll’ve made the Mumbai Indians London Administration eat humble pie.

Started reading ‘Cricket’s Lighter Side’ which is just lovely. It’s sat on the shelf for the best part of four decades. It was a treat to find out the autograph at the front of the book is that of none other than “Fiery” Fred Trueman.

To cricket!

You gave us a wonderful decade of entertainment playing for England.

According to Henry Moeran, the Kiwis had not played England at the Oval in a Test since 1999. That’s a Princely amount of time. I am pleased the game went to a fifth day, but it wasn’t exactly a thriller. England lost by 253 runs. That is a lot. It reminded me of a book I read a few years before 1999 called 253. The concept made an impression at the time, it’s a bit morbid, concerning 253 people onboard a doomed London Tube, but unique in its own way. Look it up.

Anyway, after the lightning quick Test Match at Lords where all sorts of criticism was hurled regarding the track and how it favoured the bowlers, there was the small incident in a Chelsea nightclub where Skipper Stokes and Atkinson were close to a skuffle which had something to do with a member of the Saracens Rugby Club. Hmm. Curfews. The ‘C’ word indeed.

The long and the short of it is everyone had something to say about it. Agnew popped up on piece to laptop camera from a cosy looking room (Melton Mowbray?) with a Velux window in the background talking about ‘Professionality’, and Lord Beefy Botham could be found doing a piece too. All this meant the real focus, which should have been on what a great Cricketing career Kane Williamson had was glossed over. KW – he’s been electric over the years.

There was a good (horizontal – why waste precious scroll inches) bar chart on the BBC Cricket website which showed Joe Root’s 164 caps against his fellow team mates. Experience matters. Jimmy Anderson did quiz Greg James and Felix White (on Tailenders) as to whether they were happy with the choice of JR as stand-in Captain. I got the impression that they were pleased to be asked. Sir JA did bring up – what was the point in having Harry B in the role if he wasn’t asked to step up, but everyone seemed to just generally jog on, nothing-to-see-here, as per normal, as we English are accustomed to do.

14,000 runs is one hell of an achievement. Well done JR. So a new look team, including a Fisher and a Baker. Shame Cook, Onions and Mustard have all retired. 391 to NZ after first innings. 291 to Eng. Neat. Tidy. Nicholl’s own ton in NZ second innings meant C for Curtains for Eng. Even our brave Yorkies JR and HB couldn’t save us for a heroic draw. Our last four batsmen all posted ducks. Ducks are a dabbling, up tails all.

So to Trent Bridge for a decider. Exciting. The Heat is on. A friend mentioned Gay’s idiosyncracies at the crease reminded him of the nervous energy a certain Jonathan Trott used to exhibit. Let us hope he is half the find JT was.

Keeping a close eye. Will SA get over the line? Can Archer arrest? T20 WC – the climax.

Dismissing SL for under a ton was a surprise. Aussies are out. Zimbabwe playing well. It’s T20 WC Cricket. Is it unfair to call it the House of Mickey Mouse?

Great expression.

It’s taken an American commentating on USA v Namibia for me to stumble across it.

Basketball (let alone Billiards) doesn’t often feature in Cricket Commentary, but the beauty of contests like a World Cup fire up the cultural melting pot.

It’s hottting up. Shock Aus defeat to Zim.

In other news : Great ‘Valentines’ quiz on the Tailenders Podcast.

“Put a bit of Engllish on the ball, that’ll do it”.

A bit blink and you miss it, but a confidence boosting warm up for the England T20 team. Bethell looks to be a handy spinner. 4-11 in the final match changed the fortunes of SL. A beautiful googly from Rashid. WC coming up in India. Doosras aplenty.

More humilliation. Another Ashes thumping (4-1). Jonathan Agnew wrote recently that it has been the most disappointing in his 10 tours of covering the series over the years. What can you say to that?

There are a lot of stories that come out on the back of a tour like this.

Jacob Bethell’s Godfather being Tony Cozier is something I did not know. Caribbean swaying Palm Trees hey.

Ultimately, if you are providing the results, you don’t come under such intense scrutiny. England just haven’t made it happen this time.

Worst case scenario – Ashes contest over before Christmas. Yet again. A margin of 82 runs not as disastrous as it could have been. Finally a win in Melbourne, fifteen long years in the making. 15. Let that sink in.

I am over the moon Joe Root has scored a 100 Down Under. I am devastated that the England Cricket Team just are not good enough as a unit at the moment. After all the analysis, there have been some stand out quotes :

Isa Guha – “This is a Nightmare”.

Sir Alistair Cook – “It’s just a game of cricket”.

Roll on Adelaide.