A piece of bizarreness from the IPL and a win for the good guys in Wisconsin, plus a large photo gallery.
My main reason for posting is that I have a large photo gallery to share. However I have a couple of small things to share as well.
AN UNBEATABLE RECORD
I was at work yesterday and by the time I was in a position to tune in to the commentary on the IPL match (Lucknow Super Giants v Punjab Kings) there was no real point doing so as it was obvious which way the match was going and there could be no big finish. However, I did keep a cricinfo tab open. Thus I was able to see with my own eyes the calling of officially the most pointless ‘strategic time out’ ever, and while it might be equalled and I can be certain that will not be surpassed: LSG had scored 171-6 from their 20 overs, and at the end of the 16th over of the reply PBKS were 171-2 – scores level, the chasers with eight wickets standing and four whole overs available in which to get that run! It actually took until the second ball on the resumption for PBKS to complete the job.
WINNING IN WISCONSIN
Ordinarily I probably would not even have been aware of an election of a new judge in Wisconsin, but Elon Musk had been putting huge amounts of money behind one particular candidate in the hope of altering the political balance of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. As far as I am concerned a defeat for Elon the Execrable counts as a win, so I am pleased to be able to say that Musk’s candidate has been defeated.
A look at yesterday’s Women’s Six nations clash between Wales and England and a photo gallery.
Yesterday in the women’s Six Nations rugby England travelled to Cardiff to take on Wales at the Principality Stadium. England has won comfortably in their opener against Italy, but the Italians had given a good account of themselves in the second half, albeit one not reflected by them scoring many points of their own. Thus they went to Cardiff looking for a complete performance, not just another win.
THE FIRST HALF
Wales started fast, with Jenni Scoble scoring the first try of the match, which was duly converted. England hit back hard with three tries in the next ten minutes, the first from Meg Jones, not merely possessed of a Welsh surname but an actual Welsh speaker. The second try was scored by Sarah Bern, by dint of sheer power. With 27 minutes on the clock Feaunati scored her second try of the match and England’s fourth to secure the bonus point. That was it for first half scoring, but it was clear that holding England at bay was the limit of Welsh capabilities.
THE SECOND HALF
If the first half had been impressive the second half was downright frightening from England, as they absolutely steamrollered the home side. First Ellie Kildunne showed why she is rated by many as the best female rugby player on the planet right now by scoring a hat trick of tries in the space of about ten minutes. Abby Dow was the next to make her presence felt, scoring England’s eighth try. Try number nine came from Abi Burton, who has been through health problems of sufficient magnitude that at one point she was in an induced coma. Dow scored her second, which took England to 60 points. Then in the dying embers of the match Burton, only on the field for seven minutes, scored the second try of an astonishing international debut, with the conversion ending the match. The final score was Wales 12 England 67, and England were not especially flattered by that score line. This tournament, at least for England, is really a warm-up for the upcoming world cup, of which England are hosts. On the evidence of this performance few would dare to bet against the home side lifting that trophy.
A brief look at the conclusion to the last ‘timeless’ test match ever to be played, a conclusion which unfolded on March 14th 1939, 11 days after the match had begun.
Up until World War II broke out both Australia and South Africa were believers in timeless test matches (i.e. played until one or other side had won). This post looks briefly at the match which finally ended timeless tests.
OF RAIN, TRAINS AND BOATS
As March 14th 1939 dawned England were within sight a victory that had it eventuated would have strained credulity. At one point South Africa had been over 400 runs to the good with all ten second wickets standing. Both sides knew that although the test match, which had begun 11 days previously on March 3rd, had been designated timeless this would have to be the final day as England needed to catch a train to Cape Town or miss their boat home and be stranded for at least a month (and of course war was looming, which made folk even less keen on being trapped abroad than they would have been anyway. Although it had rained on several occasions in the match these interludes had served only to bind the surface of the pitch back together, and it was still playing well and true. England, set a mammoth 696 to win, went past 600 with only three wickets gone. At 611 Eddie Paynter was fourth out for 75. Les Ames now joined Hammond at the crease, and the pair were still together when the 650 came up. At exactly 650 Hammond was stumped off Dalton for 140. That brought Bryan Valentine, a specialist batter, in to join Ames. Four runs later the heavens opened, and the downpour proved terminal. In total the match had seen 1,981 runs scored for the loss of 35 wickets, an aggregate that remains a test match record but was beaten twice in the next decade in FC matches, both involving Bombay as it was then called – Bombay v Holkar yielding 2,078 runs, including 249 in losing cause for Denis Compton, and then in 1948 Bombay v Maharashtra yielding 2,376. The Durban test match still had the record for the longest span of any first class match. Hedley Verity, the left arm spinner, sent down 774 balls across the two South African innings (96.6 eight ball overs under the playing conditions of the day, equivalent to 129 six ball overs. For South Africa Norman Gordon, a seamer no less, sent down 736 balls (92 eight ball overs, equivalent to 122.4 six ball overs). There is a book about this match “Edging Towards Darkness” by John Lazenby. No timeless match has been scheduled since this one. For the moment here is the scorecard.
Describing my first butterfly sighting of 2025, with a picture of the butterfly and a large photo gallery.
I will present a full photo gallery at the end of this post as usual, but the feature is indicated by the title.
THE SIGHTING
Yesterday morning in the course of my extended walk to the bus stop for work I had reached the final stage, a short trip along a stretch of the Gaywood River that briefly runs parallel to Gaywood Road, from where I get the bus, and was already reasonably pleased with the photos I had got – it was bright, sunny and by the standards of early March it was warm as well. Before crossing Loke Road, next to the bridge that takes that road across the Gaywood, I had managed to photograph a pair of swans just before they left my field of vision as they headed in the opposite direction to me. I was not expecting anything further, but halfway between the bridge and the path through to Gaywood Road (it pretty much hits Gaywood Road at the bus stop) I spotted a European Peacock butterfly among the dry reeds at the far edge of the river from me. I managed to get a photograph. This butterfly is no great rarity, nor is King’s Lynn outside its usual range, but even so is is rare to get a sighting this early in the year. I emailed Butterfly Conservation about it last night and received an enthusiastic response this morning.
A look at early developments in the second semi-final of the Champions trophy, a link (teslatakedown.co.uk). and a large photo gallery.
The second semi-final of the Champions Trophy is underway. Work commitments meant that I did not catch a single ball of yesterday’s match between Australia and India. India won, which means that the final of the tournament will take place outside the official host nation, and on the worst pitch on show at this tournament, the paceless strip of rubbish that Dubai has served up. This post looks at the early stages of the match between New Zealand and South Africa.
RUNS FLOWING
New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat. The pitch at Lahore looks very flat, with even the towering Marco Jansen struggling to generate bounce. Will Young has been the only casualty so far, for a 23 ball 21. Rachin Ravindra has reached an excellent 50, taking 47 balls to get there. He has added ten further runs of another eight deliveries since reaching the landmark. Kane Williamson is currently on 27 from 36 balls, and New Zealand are 111-1 from 19 overs.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Before the photographs I have a link to share. I mentioned in an earlier post that I will be taking part in a protest at the Tesla dealership near Park Royal station on the Piccadilly line, and there is now a website for people interested in hitting Musk in the pocket, teslatakedown.co.uk. Now for my usual sign off….
A look at the state of the England Men’s ODI team. Also a large photo gallery.
England’s participation in the Champions Trophy is at an end, and they have been the worst team at the tournament, being the only side in either group not to record a single point. This post looks briefly at yesterday’s match and then at the problems with this England Men’s ODI side.
EXITING WITH A WHIMPER
England’s elimination was already confirmed before yesterday’s match began, but the question was whether they would depart with a bang or a whimper. Afghanistan were hoping for it to be an almighty bang, since a victory by 207 or more runs would push South Africa’s net run rate below Afghanistan and mean that the latter made the semi-finals. In the event England exited with the tamest of whimpers. The match started in familiar fashion, with Phil Salt (no 1 in the England batting order) and Jamie Smith (no 3) both departing cheaply, both to terrible shots. That once again brought Duckett and Root together with a rebuilding operation to perform. This time round we got an illustration of the fact that if you keep on needing rescue operations you don’t always get them – Duckett made 24 and Root 37, which would remain England’s top score. Brook, officially next in line for the captaincy vacated by Buttler, managed 19. Buttler, attempting to provide some stability, a role for which he is not well suited, managed 21 off 43 balls, while Jofra Archer ended up second top scorer with 25 off 31 balls, and the comparative ease with which he was able to bat was a damning indictment of his alleged betters in that department. All of this added up to 179 all out from 38.2 overs – a scoring rate of below five an over and 11.4 overs left unused. Marco Jansen took 3-39, and was outdone figures wise by Wiaan Mulder who had 3-25. No South African bowled badly, with Kagiso Rabada’s 1-42 from seven overs being the worst figures of any of their five bowlers. Rassie van der Dussen, 72 not out off 87 balls, and Henrich Klaasen, 64 off 56 balls before perishing in the moment of victory were the chief performers responsible for making England’s total look as pathetic as it was, South Africa winning by seven wickets with 20.5 overs to spare – in other words they had more than the length of a T20 innings to spare.
ENGLAND’S PROBLEMS
England personnel wise (for the moment we will ignore questions of the domestic schedule) have four main issues, of which only the first is definitely being dealt with:
They have the wrong captain. Buttler has stepped down, which starts to address this, but my own feeling is that they need to do something more radical than merely turn to ‘next cab in the rank’ Brook. Perhaps Liam Dawson, who playing skills would help to address other problems could be brought straight in as captain.
Numbers one and three in the order need replacing. You cannot expect to win matches when losing two early wickets on an absolutely regular basis, and the dismissals of Salt and Smith against South Africa suggest that neither learned anything from their failures in the first two matches.
Lack of all rounders. This, with five bowlers required to be used in every innings, creates issues of balance – you either pick five proper bowlers, relying on the top six to do the bulk of the scoring, or you pick four front line bowlers only and rely on part timers to bowl the fifth allocation of ten overs. England have opted for the latter approach, and their lack of either depth or variety in the bowling department has cost them at this tournament, which leads to…
Too much similarity in bowling. England have not a left armer of any type at this tournament (look up the bowling half of the package offered by Dawson the player), the fast bowlers used have all been very similar, making it easy for opposing batters to take them on. The one trustworthy component of the England bowling attack at this tournament, Adil Rashid, is now 37 years old, and the endurance of James Anderson notwithstanding probably has a fairly limited remaining shelf life at the top level.
England have not been struggling in ODIs for nearly as long as they had been when they crashed out of the 2015 World Cup, but a reset of a similar type to the one that took place then is required.
PHOTOGRAPHS
My usual sign off (with a reminder as we start a new month that images can be viewed at a larger size by clicking on them)…
A look at yesterday’s Champions Trophy match between Australia and England. Also a photo gallery.
Yesterday the Champions Trophy saw Australia take on England. This post looks at what has been thus far the match of the tournament (and today’s match, between another pair of fierce rivals, India and Pakistan is not looking like rivalling it right now).
THE ENGLAND INNINGS
Phil Salt and Jamie Smith were both out fairly early for England, but then Ben Duckett and Joe Root had a splendid partnership for the third wicket. There were stages when a total not far short of 400 looked possible. Duckett, often fairly criticized for not being willing to give himself time to get settled in, played an absolute blinder of an innings. Even in ‘restrained’ ODI mode he scored rapidly, eventually falling late on in the innings for 165 off 143 balls. Buttler got himself out in the 43rd over, and in the end England amassed 351-8. Even on a good pitch and a fast outfield that looked fairly impressive…
THE AUSTRALIAN CHASE
At one stage Australia were 136-4, and it looked like England were in control, though they had gone batting heavy – the fifth bowling allocation was in the hands of Livingstone and Root. In the event it was the three specialist pacers, Archer, Carse and Wood who proved shockingly expensive. Buttler demonstrated again what a poor captain he is, giving Root and Livingstone just one over more than the minimum he needed from them, though they were faring less badly than the quicks. The sole England bowler to fare really well was 37 year old Adil Rashid who recorded 10-1-47-1. The Australian comeback began with Inglis and Carey putting on 146 for the fifth wicket in 19.2 overs. The last ball of the 38th over was the moment the match swung decisively – Archer dropped a very easy chance offered by Carey, which would have had Australia 248-5, needing 104 off the last 12 overs with only five wickets left. By the time Carey was dismissed, the ask was down to 70 off 8.2 overs, not normally considered difficult these days, and Australia made it look very easy in the end. There were 2.3 overs to go when Inglis finished it in style with a six, the sixth of his innings. Inglis had 120* from 86 balls. The three fast bowlers had combined figures of 26.3-0-226-3, an average of 75.33, a strike rate of a wicket every 53 balls and an economy rate of 8.53. Livingstone and Root had 11-0-73-1, an average of 73.00, a striker rate of a wicket every 66 balls and an economy rate of 6.64 per over – below the required rate, and 1.89 runs per over less than the quicks went at. England now need to win both their remaining games, the first of which is against Afghanistan.
PHOTOGRAPHS
My usual sign off…
There are rarely as many as four trains visible at King’s Lynn station.
A look at the early stages of the Champions Trophy, currently taking place in Pakistan. Also a large and varied photo gallery.
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy got underway on Wednesday. This tournament features the top eight sides in the ICC world rankings, which at present means there are several countries missing who might be expected to be there – none of Sri Lanka, West Indies or Zimbabwe made the cut for example. The format of the tournament (round one seeing the eight split into two groups of four, with the top two from each group moving into the semi-finals) means that even early on teams can find themselves in serious jeopardy.
THE MATCHES SO FAR
Today’s match, between Afghanistan and South Africa, was the third of the tournament, with the only two teams yet to see action being Australia and England who play each other tomorrow. The tournament is officially being staged in Pakistan, but India’s matches are taking place in the UAE as they refuse to travel to Pakistan, and their power in the cricket world is such that they get away with this sort of behaviour whenever they choose to indulge in it.
The tournament opened with Pakistan hosting New Zealand in Karachi. New Zealand batted first and compiled 320, which looked substantial, and was soon made to look even more so by a combination of good New Zealand bowling and some poor batting from Pakistan. Babar Azam scored 60, but took 93 balls to get there, which when your side has been set to score at 6.4 per over is simply not acceptable. Of the first 141 balls of the Pakistan innings exactly 100 were dot balls.
I did not catch any of the game between Bangladesh and India yesterday due to work. I gather that India won comfortably, though not as comfortably as they might – Rohit Sharma dropped an easy chance which would have given Axar Patel a hat trick, the first ever in the Champions Trophy, and the reprieved batter than took part in a huge partnership which gave Bangladesh something to attempt to defend.
Today’s match had strong echoes of Pakistan v New Zealand. South Africa won the toss and batted first, and with Ryan Rickelton scoring a fine century, Bavuma helping to set a platform for them with 58 and then van der Dussen and Markram scoring quicker 50s later on the in the innings (each made 52, off respectively 46 and 36 balls) South Africa emerged with 315-6 from their 50 overs, which looked more than enough. Probably the most disappointed of the Afghans would have been Rashid Khan whose figures of 10-0-59-0 continue a very poor showing in ODI tournament matches (he now has 17 wickets in 19 such matches at an average of over 50 a piece, though his economy rate is acceptable, largely because he is so good that opposition sides will happily settle for blanking his wickets column. Noor Ahmad, the young left arm wrist spinner, was frankly poor, recording 9-0-65-1. In reply Afghanistan never got into the hunt. Rahmat Shah played a fine knock but found no significant support. Other than his 90, the next highest scores were 18s from Azmatullah Omarzai and Rashid Khan. When Shah was last out, nicking one from Rabada through to Rickelton South Africa had won by 107 runs, a result which has probably already confirmed that Afghanistan will be making an early exit from the tournament. Rickelton’s century and solid keeping performance (two catches taken, only two byes let through) earned him the Player of the Match award, though Rabada’s 3-36, with Azmatullah Omarzai the least regarded batter of the trio, must have come into the reckoning.
LOOKING AHEAD
Australia are in a weakened state – tomorrow will be the first time in nine years that they take the field without any of Cummins, Hazlewood or Starc, and so makeshift is their squad that they are captained by the sandpaper tarnished Steve Smith. England have been in poor form, and much will come down to how they approach their batting. New Zealand and South Africa have played it right, building a base and then upping the tempo in the later stages. Pakistan were far too conservative in the first half of their chase against New Zealand, dropping irretrievably behind the required rate. England have a tendency to treat 50 over innings as extended versions of 20 over innings, which is how they might well come a cropper. The extra length of the innings means that there are times when consolidation is necessary – though not to the extreme of allowing 100 of the first 141 balls of your team’s innings to be dots!
PHOTOGRAPHS
My usual sign off…
The first of the spring flowers are emerging, and it has been warm enough yesterday and today to venture out without a coat.A juxtaposition of two stamps each of which depict the world’s first Steam Lcomotive, Trevithick’s Pen-y-Darren, which first ran in 1804.
A brief account of England’s last gasp win over France in the Six Nations rugby, a mention of the West Norfolk Autism Group including photos of our office spacr, and a large photo gallery.
There have been two Six Nations rugby matches today. In the first Wales’ recent miseries continued as Italy beat them, meaning that this Welsh side are now holders of an unwanted record – no other Welsh side has ever lost 14 consecutive matches as this one now has. The second game, which ended just a few minutes ago saw England facing France.
The Latest of Late Winners
Having been beaten by Ireland last time out England needed to win this match, while France had hammered Wales in their first game of the tournament. France were not at their best at any stage of this match, but heading towards the end of the match it looked like they had done enough. There were 79 minutes gone (Rugby Union matches are supposed to last 80 minutes), with France ahead by 25 points to 19 when Elliot Daly received an excellent pass from Fin Smith and scored close to the posts. Smith then added the conversion to make it England 26 France 25. There were some nervy moments even then in the very closing stages, but England held on and secured the win. England have lately been struggling to close out games, but this time it was their opponents who suffered the late reverse.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Before I get to the main gallery, Friday was the AGM of the West Norfolk Autism Group, and our office space in West Lynn is now fully functional…
These first three shots show the little sensory room in one corner of the space.A photo board.
An account of a long morning walk, which was planned for a specific purpose. Includes a photo gallery.
I have an important meeting to attend on Friday at a location just beyond the western end of the road bridge across the Great Ouse, and with the weather much less brutal than it was a month ago I am of a mind to walk to and from the venue, although it is a fair walk from my home in North Lynn. It was with a view to that that I planned this morning’s excursion.
PART ONE: THE LIBRARY
I had 14 library books out this morning, only one fewer than the permitted maximum for a single borrower, which made the library an essential port of call. Of course having returned the books I had out I naturally had a scout for new ones to take out. I found two by a recent find whose work I am really enjoying, Helen Cox. Her series based in and around York features a librarian who doubles up as a private enquiry agent. I also found a trio of north west Norfolk based crime novels by someone named Andrea Bramhall which I am looking forward to reading. This part of the walk was accomplished largely without recourse to main roads, save for a short stretch of London Road, from the end of The Walks to the library.
PART TWO: HEADING FOR THE GREAT OUSE
From the library I headed through Hillington Square and down to the Great Ouse, reaching the river front a few hundred metres before the Nar outflow and the structure I have dubbed ‘Cormorant Platform’. which as you will see more than lived up to my name for it on this occasion.
PART THREE: LOCATION CHECKING
The bright, sunny weather helped to maintain my resolve to extend my walk to the industrial estate on which WNAG’s meeting room/ office space is located, and I duly did so, ensuring that on Friday morning, when I will need to arrive in good time, there will be no mishaps.
PART FOUR: BACK VIA MORRISON’S
My route home followed my route out in reverse as far as All Saints Church, at which point I diverted slightly, away from the crossing of Millfleet and towards London Road instead. I crossed London Road, and left it by way of the Broadwalk, then looping round by way of the Vancouver Garden and the path out of it to St John’s Walk. I got to Morrison’s, did the little bit of food shopping that had to be done today and then headed home. I had been out for about two and a half hours. My bag will be lighter on Friday, and I will have the duration of the meeting to recover from the outbound leg, so I am now confident that walking is the way to go for this meeting.
PHOTOGRAPHS
This gallery features exclusively pictures taken this morning.
This book (three pics) is one I have read on bus journeys to and from work, and I highly recommend it.I am guessing that this chimney has some sort of protected status.
aspiblog 