Idle cricket musing

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Why doesn't it rain?

4 for 0 in 8 balls is stupendous.

[david_carnell]

What's our record low score against Pakistan?

[david_carnell]

130, best I can work out from this.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Oh dear, you must be bored today if you're doing a Brendan.

[Floating Onion]

That's quite spectacular. Wow.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I love Blowers: "...succulent, red, doubledeckers ..."

[david_carnell]

Well, we've passed the 130 mark so that's a small mercy.

Let's hope Anderson exploits the cloud and moisture as much as Asif has.

And PGC, Blowers is lovely. Has he spotted any pigeons today? Or been sent any cake by listeners?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

None that I've heard mentioned so far. ?10 says chocolate cake for tea.

[david_carnell]

Not a chance - I know how good you are at this betting malarky.

Although I do fancy some chocolate cake now. If I should make some, I'll give you a piece, and then we could send some to Blowers as well. Get our names on TMS.

Trott/Broad looking like a very important partnership at the moment.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

The Carnell-Crasher Chocolate Cake sounds good.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Brilliant Englishmen! Broad & Trott doing a sterling job.

[Marmora Man]

Sad news for cricket this morning - taints not just Pakistan but the whole game. Perhaps this whole series and the records / stats that go with it should be wiped off the scoreboard?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

It is maddening, especially when someone like Amir is such a fine bowler.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

This is the Guardian OBO's take on the matter:

10.44am: To date the word is play will start on time as usual. Pakistan have crept in to Lord's and skipped the warm-up. Feelings are already running high. These are mine for what they're worth:

1. These are just allegations so far. Nothing has been proved.

1. Still, this Test Match now seems entirely irrelevant. I feel for Jonathan Trott and Stuart Broad, but if it is proven the match - and maybe the series - should be expunged. Just my view, but I'd feel much, much better if it was.

2. Mohammed Amir: innocent until proven. But if so... what a tragedy.

3. You can say the bowlers were clearly trying to get England's batsmen out, and that this is just a side issue, but it doesn't work like that. You can't switch your focus on and off. This is endemic.

10.34am: Hello and welcome to - what exactly? Suddenly this - the stuff on the pitch, with England needing six wickets to seal the hollowest of victories - all seems deeply irrelevant. Terrible, terrible news overnight that Pakistan players may have been involved in alleged spot-fixing. Suddenly everyone just feels absolutely terrible about all this.

This is of course a matter of sporting principle, but it is also to do with context. this isn't some pointless ODI in Dubai - it's a Lord's Test. I feel like I've had to watch someone giving Nelson Mandela a Chinese burn, or jabbing the Queen in the eye.

[kpc]

Could well be a very interesting last day of the County Championship. Notts/Lancs and Yorks/Kent will effectively play one-day matches. Notts should declare overnight and hope that Lancashire play ball and forfeit their first innings, allowing Notts to score quick runs and then try and bowl Lancs out. Yorkshire need to score another 250 quickly and allow themselves 50 overs to bowl Kent out. Given that Kent need to win to avoid relegationand scuttle Warks, this could make for an exciting finish. Somerset need to dismiss Durham relatively cheaply and quickly and then go for the runs.

Can't remember a last day with so many teams in the mix before; nervous times all round for those involved.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

As a Maid of Kent, I have to bestow a bane on Yorkshire.

[kpc]

As a Bears fan, we only have ourselves to blame if we get relegated. The lowest total of batting bonus points by a country mile, having failed to achieve a point on seven occasions.

[SimonM]

Somerset look favourites now..but what a shame the weather has ruined these final games!

Still hoping Yorkshire somehow swing it though...and everyone knows there are no "maids" left in Kent! :))

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Pistols at dawn - you choose the place. I baggsy Brendan as my second.

[kpc]

Simon, unfortunately (for you) Yorkshire completely collapsed this morning so it looks like Kent will get the victory that they needed. And unfortunately for Kent (and PGC), this will be in vain as Warwickshire look like beating Hampshire. Title will come down to whether Notts and Lancashire have agreed to go for a result (as Notts are betting on this morning, I presume that both teams have agreed to forfeit an innings). Otherwise, congratulations to Somerset on breaking their duck.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Tsk, tsk, kpc, I thought betting on any outcome in cricket was verboten at the moment!

[Sandperson]

Freddy is retiring from all forms of cricket according to Sky News. No more pedalo shenanigans. :'(

[SimonM]

Pistols at dawn - you choose the place. I baggsy Brendan as my second.

Umm...as your second what?! On second thoughts no answer is required...

If it cannot be God's own county then let it be Zummerzet I suppose!

[kpc]

Bugger. Hampshire making a fist of it (not a George Michael reference).

Edit: Phew. Hants all out. 48 required to win but still not taking anything for granted with this feckless lot.

[Brendan]

I will have a set of matching handbags in a velvet-lined case to hand if needs be.

And in other news;

Freddie's retiring http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/9005165.stm