Cricket Is The Sweetest Agony

Grew up surrounded by cricket everywhere. I liked playing, but what kid can sit still and watch for 5 days? Turns out a twenty-something can.

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I’ve been having a break from cricket since the World Cup, except for Tailenders, but I’m watching Arsenal (my brother’s team) v West Ham (my local team, although not my team) and I’m really looking forward to reigniting the passion for my main sport. And an Olympic year!

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Losing my mind at this!!!

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Really dead chuffed with this, my third week of playing ever.

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England XI for New Zealand

Pick your England team for their World Cup opener against New Zealand and share it with your friends.

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Curious squad announcements

England squad for ODI series against New Zealand: Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes.

I mean, it’s incredibly similar to the squad of four years ago that won and won dramatically, which is mainly good. I mean, they absolutely won on a wing and a prayer, but the same team will have the same wings and prayers, so. I’m curious if S Curran will be in the starting XI. Probably - hopefully - and it seems to me that he’s the one projected to take on the Ben Stokes, batting-six-and-there-at-the-end role, and he doesn’t seem ready for that now so I guess the inclusion of Stokes is good. Just, you know, it’s better if everyone arrives in India with the Captain able to move.

I’m a bit surprised by the inclusion of Jason Roy. He hasn’t done much for a while. I guess I’m pleased in the sense that I like loyalty to players, but I was expecting Jacks, Crawley and Foakes and they have all contributed more to recent matches (although admittedly in different formats). But I’m also pleased because I have loyalty to players and if J-Roy can find some form with Jonny, England will stand in incredible stead.

Leaving out Harry Brook though.

Chuffed for David Willey.

England squad for T20 series against New Zealand: Jos Buttler (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue, John Turner, Luke Wood.

Yay, Will Jacks! I think he might be the crucial test player of the future so it’s nice to see him beginning to be included. Also great to see more Rehan Ahmed.

I wondered about Crawley, but the red ball and white ball teams seem to be pulling away from each other to some degree, so I’m not that surprised.

No Dan Lawrence in either format, which is a shame.

I don’t recall Gus Atkinson when Surrey have played Middlesex but I guess he must be something. Surrey are certainly an extremely strong side - the white ball team isn’t a million miles from a Surrey 1st XI. Which brings me to…

Seriously. Has Foakes set fire to a pavilion? Murdered a groundskeeper? Chained himself to The Oval and refused to leave?

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My mum and I are dropping Moeen Ali for Will Jacks (sorry, Mo) and Dawid Malan for Harry Brooks.

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Actually, Jamie Overton deserves a look-in across all three formats. I think I’m sending Luke Wood home.

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Imagine forgetting that Jos Buttler is England’s best whiteball batter.

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My ODI 15:

https://ranked-list-images.files.bbci.co.uk/england-world-cup-squad-ce0e08b76626a83d5e193a597d634783.html

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Curious squad announcements

England squad for ODI series against New Zealand: Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes.

I mean, it’s incredibly similar to the squad of four years ago that won and won dramatically, which is mainly good. I mean, they absolutely won on a wing and a prayer, but the same team will have the same wings and prayers, so. I’m curious if S Curran will be in the starting XI. Probably - hopefully - and it seems to me that he’s the one projected to take on the Ben Stokes, batting-six-and-there-at-the-end role, and he doesn’t seem ready for that now so I guess the inclusion of Stokes is good. Just, you know, it’s better if everyone arrives in India with the Captain able to move.

I’m a bit surprised by the inclusion of Jason Roy. He hasn’t done much for a while. I guess I’m pleased in the sense that I like loyalty to players, but I was expecting Jacks, Crawley and Foakes and they have all contributed more to recent matches (although admittedly in different formats). But I’m also pleased because I have loyalty to players and if J-Roy can find some form with Jonny, England will stand in incredible stead.

Leaving out Harry Brook though.

Chuffed for David Willey.

England squad for T20 series against New Zealand: Jos Buttler (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue, John Turner, Luke Wood.

Yay, Will Jacks! I think he might be the crucial test player of the future so it’s nice to see him beginning to be included. Also great to see more Rehan Ahmed.

I wondered about Crawley, but the red ball and white ball teams seem to be pulling away from each other to some degree, so I’m not that surprised.

No Dan Lawrence in either format, which is a shame.

I don’t recall Gus Atkinson when Surrey have played Middlesex but I guess he must be something. Surrey are certainly an extremely strong side - the white ball team isn’t a million miles from a Surrey 1st XI. Which brings me to…

Seriously. Has Foakes set fire to a pavilion? Murdered a groundskeeper? Chained himself to The Oval and refused to leave?

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My mum and I are dropping Moeen Ali for Will Jacks (sorry, Mo) and Dawid Malan for Harry Brooks.

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The different roles the batting line-up of international cricketers:

Batter (Zac Crawley, Jason Roy): And that’s it. Usually batting 1-5.

Batter and part-time bowler (Harry Brook): In the team on the strength of their batting, but in a pinch or wanting to save your bowlers for the new bowl, they can occasionally hit the mark. Batting 1-5.

Batting all-rounder (Joe Root): Useful bowler, but would not get into the team on the strength of it. Batting 3-5.

Cumulative all-rounder (Sam Curran, for now): Would maybe not get into the team on the strength of the batting or bowling, but the sum of their parts as a batter or bowler gets them into the team. Batting 6-8.

True all-rounder (Ben Stokes, when fit): Would get into the team as a batter or a bowler. Rare. Usually bats 6.

Bowling all-rounder (Chris Woakes): In the team on the strength of their bowling, but capable of winning a match. Batting 7-9.

Batter Wicketkeeper-Batter (Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler): In the team of the strength of their batting and the best keeping option considering there isn’t room for the best keeper. Often a batter with excellent technique, so you just can’t drop them for the best keeper. Usually bats 7.

True Wicketkeeper-Batter (Adam Gilchrist): The best keeper and would get into the team on the strength of their batting. Rare. Usually bats 7.

Wicketkeeper Who Can Bat (Ben Foakes): The best keeper, but wouldn’t necessarily get into the team on the strength of their batting and spends their lives in a twelfth man vest, even though everyone knows they deserve better. Batting 7-9.

(All of these are true all-rounders for their county.)

Bowler who scores Useful Runs (Mark Wood, Adil Rashid): They often lead the bowling attack. For some reason, there’s no such thing as a part-time batter, but that’s what these guys are. Still considered part of the tail. Don’t tap it, whack it. May be a bowling all-rounder for their county. Batting 8-10.

Bowler (Jimmy Anderson): Lead the bowling attack. Sometimes bats a good defensive game. Batting 9-11.

.

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Curious squad announcements

England squad for ODI series against New Zealand: Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes.

I mean, it’s incredibly similar to the squad of four years ago that won and won dramatically, which is mainly good. I mean, they absolutely won on a wing and a prayer, but the same team will have the same wings and prayers, so. I’m curious if S Curran will be in the starting XI. Probably - hopefully - and it seems to me that he’s the one projected to take on the Ben Stokes, batting-six-and-there-at-the-end role, and he doesn’t seem ready for that now so I guess the inclusion of Stokes is good. Just, you know, it’s better if everyone arrives in India with the Captain able to move.

I’m a bit surprised by the inclusion of Jason Roy. He hasn’t done much for a while. I guess I’m pleased in the sense that I like loyalty to players, but I was expecting Jacks, Crawley and Foakes and they have all contributed more to recent matches (although admittedly in different formats). But I’m also pleased because I have loyalty to players and if J-Roy can find some form with Jonny, England will stand in incredible stead.

Leaving out Harry Brook though.

Chuffed for David Willey.

England squad for T20 series against New Zealand: Jos Buttler (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue, John Turner, Luke Wood.

Yay, Will Jacks! I think he might be the crucial test player of the future so it’s nice to see him beginning to be included. Also great to see more Rehan Ahmed.

I wondered about Crawley, but the red ball and white ball teams seem to be pulling away from each other to some degree, so I’m not that surprised.

No Dan Lawrence in either format, which is a shame.

I don’t recall Gus Atkinson when Surrey have played Middlesex but I guess he must be something. Surrey are certainly an extremely strong side - the white ball team isn’t a million miles from a Surrey 1st XI. Which brings me to…

Seriously. Has Foakes set fire to a pavilion? Murdered a groundskeeper? Chained himself to The Oval and refused to leave?

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Also, Middlesex WON!

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Ahhhhh…Ben Stokes shouldn’t be allowed to make his own decisions. What will happen if he gets broken?

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It’s okay, Middlesex.

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We had years of AB and Eoin Morgan to keep us going.

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It’s okay, Middlesex.

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On the cricket summer of 2020, the Great Mattchin: “Borrow from the third, bowl me a swinger, the 11th hour scramble for the 12th man ringer…the Burnley Express comes into view. I can see the steam again.”

Got some weird looks running along the beach (visiting my parents) while leaking nostalgic tears.

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I completely believe that the potential greatness of Ben Stokes (who I could not STAND when when he entered the team) is due to a willingness —> fierce determination to learn. To learn how to be a better cricketer, how to be a better role model, how to be a better team-mate, how to be a better captain.

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Now it’s time to boycott the Hundred, in the desperate hope that all the “We Must Save Test Cricket” ECB crowd realise what the main problem (in England) is.