Ben Cliff won’t forget this match, an 8fer in his 11th FC match.
And I concur with you both, the YT coverage is fantastic
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Naive I guess but I never realised YouTube covered cricket. What a great watch this was and a great result for us Yorkies. Game swung on the wonderful Bess/Hiil partnership. Seemed to break Somerset resolve.
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And now the pitch is being investigated…
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Given the Bess/Hill partnership and the excellent Somerset partnership the previous day that feels really odd. Surely the changeable weather more than the actual grass was the critical variable?
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Not surprised but bit sad. What a nice man, and absolutely put his body on the line. Hurled his body down the wicket too.
Bruce
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I must admit I thought he’d already retired quietly, it was pretty clear his body was not coping. As you say a bowler who gave everything, to the detriment of his health. Thanks for the enjoyment Mark. I’d love him to get a commentary gig, he’s pretty insightful and has a delightful eccentricity.
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Perhaps Wood will be better in the commentary box than Truman?
Interesting, but somewhat controversially, Root thinks ability is more important than experience. In context he was talking about lack of 50 over experience (Banton). Kuma builds on this by suggesting confidence in one’s ability is crucial. I think this might be an excellent legacy of the bazball days.
I have wonderful memories of MW being there for days 4 & 5 at the oval for the final ashes test in 2023. The one when Stuart Broad switched the bails round.
I took this photo close to the boundary when MW had just taken the first Australian wicket and was ambling back to his fielding position. The scoreboard shows that a huge effort by England was still needed to level the series. 
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I think Wood has turned out to be the replacement for Bumble. He manages to put a different slant on things and like Bumble is a unique communicator.
Woods and Broad have been welcome additions to the commentary team.
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Agree, but I was rather hoping he would choose to support TMS rather than Sky.
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Apologies. That is of course Chris Woakes !!!
ECB pre-orders for next year’s internationals are open. 30 minutes in the waiting room for Trent Bridge, got through to the website and the available tickets for days 1-4 of next year’s Ashes Test are sold out.
I’ve entered the Oval ballot, not sure if Surrey members get another ballot in which case I may be in 2 there.
There is also a ballot for the Lord’s Test against Bangladesh next year, I’d be a bit surprised if that sells out rapidly based on the ticket availability near the time for the most recent series. Entered anyway.
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I have a friend who is in the Edgbaston ballot, potentially 6 tickets. £160 each. I paid £70 for the Headingley Test this year.
I have been watching some of the Sri Lanka white ball international matches including yesterday’s ODI. England very disciplined and ticking along nicely, Brook seems to be finding his feet as a captain and the squad is decent. I think England are now ranked 1st in T20is. However this is a meek Sri Lanka squad. I suspect Kumar Sangakarra could still get a place since he still plays club cricket in England. On Comms he sounds pretty sad about his national side.
Bruce
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Looks like England might have a game on their hands, at last.
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Watching the last game of England’s international summer. Brook and Banton making hay after slow starts. No slogging, just clean hitting.
Duckett has all summer looked like a player in need of a decent rest. Both he and Root have had poor summers, Duckett a poor winter too.
Brook has finally clothed one as I type this! 300+ still looks likely
Bruce
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I’m still confused by the runout decision.
I’ve heard the explanations and it makes sense in a way, but I’d have thought the bails off meant dead ball.
And now I’ve checked Law 20 there are fewer reasons for dead ball than I’d think..
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The ball is not dead after a throw hits the stumps. For example you can attempt a runout and then the ball ricochets away for overthrows. That can be a bit harsh but perhaps punishes recklessly aiming at the stumps when the batter is obviously home.
As a some-time keeper I have accidentally nudged off the bail going to take the ball but I thought you then got the runout by lifting out a stump. Turns out it just has to be ‘dislodged’ by whatever means ie by the incoming throw potentially. New to me, but it does have some logic.
Watching the replay Cox knew he’d flicked off the bail I am sure. 
When the ball goes dead in a passage of play is actually rather vague. Ask Bairstow
.
Bruce
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Thanks. Pretty sensible. Pleased people are attempting to sort batters tine-wasting. Will endless changes of gloves apply?
I like Rule 7, might be quite dramatic. I don’t like Rule 9 much, I don’t like the idea of drinks being used as a coaching time-out, although I guess that sort of happens now anyway.
Bruce
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Don’t like rule 9.
Rule 5 might have ruled out Buttler’s stumping in the summer?
Why does the definition of an overthrow matter? I must be missing something.