A look at happenings in the latest round of county championship matches, which got underway yesterday morning. Also a photo gallery.
This season’s sixth round of championship fixtures got underway yesterday morning. As an indication of changing times it was on May 9 1895 that WG Grace’s first class season got under way. After that late start to the season the fixtures came thick and fast, and precisely three weeks after his season had begun the good doctor notched up his 1,000th run of the campaign. This post looks at what happened yesterday.
BURNS’ BUNGLE
Surrey are taking on Warwickshire at Edgbaston. Yesterday, on a lovely sunny day, Rory Burns the Surrey skipper won the toss, and with overhead conditions suggesting that it was a time to bat and no hint of demons in the pitch he opted to put Warwickshire in to bat. Not only were wickets slow in coming (while runs were not so), both the first two, those of openers Alex Davies and Rob Yates, for 45 and 86 respectively, would have had the batters very annoyed with themselves. Davies, having started very impressively, charged down the pitch at part time off spinner Dan Lawrence, missed his stroke and was bowled. Yates, looking nailed on for a century, had an uncharacteristic swing at one from Tom Lawes and succeeded only in nicking it behind where Foakes, as ever, was unerring. Sam Hain got to 26 before he was caught by Lawrence off Clark. Then Lawrence, whose 20 overs of off spin on day one of a championship match form Exhibit A in the case against Burns’ decision to bowl first, took the only really well earned wicket of the day, producing a fine delivery to bowl Aussie all rounder Beau Webster for 15. New Zealander Tom Latham was looking utterly secure, and moved past three figures with no hint of difficult. He was joined after the dismissal of Webster by Ed Barnard, treated by his former county Worcestershire as a bowler who bats, but now at Warwickshire regarded as a genuine all rounder who is if anything more batter than bowler. This pair were still in residence at stumps, with the score 364-4, and Latham closing in on 150. They are still together as I type, just over a quarter of an hour into day two, with three runs added to the overnight total as they settle in. Ed Barnard has moved to 50 since I typed this section, Latham has passed 150 and Warwickshire are 394-4. Dan Lawrence is about to have his first bowl of day two at 11:37AM.
ELSEWHERE
The most inconsistent day yesterday was that of Sussex, who started with an opening stand of 80, then lost five wickets for one run, and six for eight runs, then recovered to post 284, with off spinner Jack Carson registering a maiden first class hundred and first class debutant James Hayes contributing an unbeaten 33 from number 11 as the tenth wicket stand yielded 73. For Glamorgan, in action against Kent at Canterbury Ben Callaway, an all rounder who bowls both off spin and left arm orthodox spin, was 91 not out, closing in on what will be his maiden first class century. He has just reached the landmark while my photo gallery was uploading. Essex, seeking to recover from a setback against Somerset (see here), are not going well against Yorkshire at Chelmsford. They bowled the visitors out for 216, a decent effort, but are currently 35-4 in reply.
PHOTOGRAPHS
My usual sign off…
This picture and the nest show the new library/ community hub;s current stage of development.
A back at the round of county championship fixtures that took place over the bank holiday weekend, a look at the points system and a photo gallery.
The most recent round of county championship fixtures took place between Friday 2 and Monday 5 May. It was an excellent round of fixtures overall, with the only clear cut dud game, the one at the Utilita Bowl where both hosts Hampshire and visitors Durham seem to have decided almost from moment one that a high scoring draw and consequent boost to a few people’s batting averages was all that was available. In the rest of this post I will look at the games I actually followed some of, and will end with something about the current points system in the county championship.
SOMERSET v ESSEX
Somerset came into this round without a win so far this season, and for a long time it did not look like that would be changing. Somerset had surrendered tamely for 145 in response to Essex’s first innings 206. When Essex led by over 300 with only four wickets down in their second innings it was looking horribly one-sided. Although it did not look like it at the time the injury sustained by Jordan Cox in his anxiety to get to three figures (at that stage the previous highest score of the game was the 41 made Noah Thain in the Essex first innings) was a turning point in the match. Cox completed his ton, and immediately retired hurt. From that point five wickets crashed for seven runs, which precluded any return to the crease on Cox’s part. A total of 321 still looked beyond Somerset’s capabilities. At 78-5 the only question seemed to be whether or not there would be a fourth day – with not seeming the more likely answer. However Lewis Gregory now joined James Rew, and redeemed a less than stellar effort with the ball by launching a counter attack. The sixth wicket pair put on a century stand before Gregory was out. Craig Overton now came in and supported Rew to such good purpose that they were still together at the close. On the fourth morning the pair continued their good work, and the Essex bowling, normally among the best in the country, became somewhat ragged, with even the usually metronomic Sam Cook struggling to locate the right areas and regular fourth innings destroyer Harmer not quite looking at his best. A Somerset win had looked very distant when play started, but as Rew and Overton kept going and going it went from deeply improbable through unlikely and on to possible, then probable and finally, as Rew moved past three figures, a near certainty. When Rew finally fell for a magnificent 116 a mere nine more were needed for the win, and Josh Davey, by no means a mug with the bat, was joining Overton. It was Overton, appropriately enough, who struck the final blow, a six that simultaneously propelled Somerset to victory and him past the 50 mark. Somerset have a long history of involvement in bizarre matches (e.g. Headingley 1901 – Somerset 87, Yorkshire 325, Somerset 630, Yorkshire 113, Somerset won by 279 runs after trailing by 238 on first innings), but not even they have been involved in many games to equal this one.
OTHER MATCHES
Lancashire v Gloucestershire bore all the hallmarks of a dull draw deep into day three, when in response to a Lancashire score of 450 Gloucestershire were steadily moving into a lead. However, once they had the lead Gloucestershire did attack, led by Oliver Price, who before this innings had never topped 150 in a first class match. Now he made it 250, a mark that only one previous Gloucestershire batter, Walter Hammond, had ever reached against Lancashire. Gloucestershire ended the third day on 589-8, a score at which they promptly declared. Lancashire were at one point four wickets down and level in terms of runs, but in the end they did enough to draw the match.
Glamorgan against Derbyshire got very tense in the closing stages. When Derbyshire were 248-5 chasing a target of 338 it looked all over, but a clatter of wickets suddenly left Derbyshire clinging on by their finger tips. In the end the match was drawn, with Derbyshire surviving the final over with their score 308-9. This innings featured a maiden first class five-wicket haul for Ben Kellaway, who like Aussie women’s player Jemma Barsby cam bowl both off spin and left arm orthodox spin. Kellaway had earlier played a big innings for Glamorgan as well.
Middlesex and Kent also had an incredible finish. In their case the draw was off the table, but win for either side or a tie were possible deep into the closing stages. The fortunes of wat swayed hither and thither with first one side and then the other looking favourites. In the end Middlesex skipper Toby Roland-Jones got his side over the line for a two wicket win. This was harsh on Daniel Bell-Drummond who had scored a double century in the Kent second innings to put Middlesex under pressure.
THE POINTS SYSTEM
As it currently stands a win is worth 16 points, a draw is worth 8 points and there are 8 bonus points available, 5 for batting (250 = 1, 300 = 2, 350 = 3, 400 = 4, 450 = 5) and 3 for bowling (3, 6 and 9 wickets). These bonus points are awarded specifically in the first 110 overs of each side’s first innings. The big problem is the valuation put on the draw, because a draw with a full ration of bonus points nets 16 points, making it almost as valuable as a win with a low bonus point tally. Although the round that has just gone was a good one overall, there was the game I mentioned in passing at the Utilita Bowl where both sides settled early for a high scoring draw, and there have been several notably cowardly declarations earlier in the season where sides have built their leads to an absurd extent and ultimately declared so late in the game that only rank incompetence by their opponents could result in victory. I would either reduce the award for drawing a game to 6 points, or if keeping the draw at eight points boost the award for winning a match to 20 points, to make sure achieving victory even with a small bonus point count is definitely more desirable than a high scoring draw. Matches like the abomination at the Utilita Bowl are a poor advert for what is actually a great competition – witness the four matches that I looked at in more detail in the course of this post.
PHOTOGRAPHS
My usual sign off…
This is in Grimston – my bus home from work yesterday was diverted from its usual route.
A look back at James and Sons’ April Auction, a brief mention of County Championship action and a photo gallery.
On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week James and Sons had its April auction, 1,000 stamp and postal history lots across the two days. On day one I was at work, one floor above where the auction was taking place, but had left bids on two lots, the fate of which would decide my approach to day two where I would be following from home.
A MODESTLY SUCCESSFUL AUCTION
The opening day of the auction went well overall for the company, and well for me personally – I got both lots I had left bids on, and both sufficiently cheaply that I was still in a position to bid on more items on day two. Lot 193 was the first of my lots:
Lot 398 was five pages of Russian steam locomotive stamps:
DAY TWO
This could have been a very quiet day, but fortunately it wasn’t completely so. The biggest success of the day was lot 762, which went for £140. My first bid of the day was on lot 701, and I was successful:
Lot 728 was my next success…
Lots 785 and 840 also went to me…
COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Another round of County Championship fixtures got underway today. Due to a meeting this morning I missed the first session of play, and I will be missing most of tomorrow as it is the West Norfolk Autism Group’s annual outing to Pensthorpe. However I have got to enjoy Somerset having superb afternoon and evening against Essex at Taunton. Essex were 115-2 at the high water mark of their innings, but since then it has been one-way traffic – they are now 180-9 with Noah Thain having just gone for 41, caught Rew bowled Pretorius. I am not entirely sure about Kasun Rajitha;s batting credentials, though the fact that he is below Sam Cook, sometimes adhesive (as indeed he was today) but unquestionably a tail ender, tells one something, but Jamie Porter is an absolutely blown in the glass genuine number 11.
PHOTOGRAPHS
My usual sign off…
These coasters (seven images in total) are an early birthday present from my boss.The Trevithick/ Pen-y-Darren £2
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.
A look at the current situation in the BBL and a photo gallery.
The 2024-5 edition of the Big Bash League is now approaching the business end. Every franchise has played at least seven of their 10 group games, with two, Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars having played eight. This post looks at the state of play in the tournament.
DOWN THE TABLE
Hobart Hurricanes obliterated Sydney Thunder earlier today in a match that I only caught the start of due to having an important meeting to attend this morning, and they now have 11 points from seven games, and barring a complete collapse in what is left of the tournament they will feature in the knockouts.
Sydney Sixers have nine points from seven games, and they too are highly likely to be involved in the knockouts.
Sydney Thunder have nine points from eight games. They lost Daniel Sams and Cameron Bancroft to freak injuries resulting from a collision in the field, and the loss of the former has left them absolutely hamstrung in the Power Surge overs. Mohammad Hasnain and George Garton, signed as replacement bowlers, have both proved not to be up to the task, and Wes Agar, who has also been tried in this phase has likewise failed. This means that although one win from their two remaining games would probably be enough their qualification has to be considered as being in jeopardy. The extent of their problems bowling wise is illustrated by todays events – they had a respectable total of 164 to defend, and Hurricanes won with 3.1 overs to spare.
Brisbane Heat have seven points from seven games. They probably need two wins from their last three to qualify, but with Max Bryant coming to the fore with the bat this season I rate their chances of achieving that above those of the Thunder even winning one more game.
Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Renegades are each on six points from seven games, a position from which two wins might be enough, but more likely they would need to win all three of their remaining games.
Melbourne Stars have six points from eight games. However, they started with five straight losses and have won their next three. If they can win their last two that might just sneak them qualification, and they would then be going into the knockouts with tremendous recent form to bolster their chances.
Adelaide Strikers have four points from seven games. They can afford no further slip ups of any sort, but not even they can be officially ruled out as yet.
An account of yesterday’s ODi between the South Africa and England women’s teams and a photo gallery.
At 8AM UK time yesterday morning the second One Day International in the current multi-format series between the South Africa and England women’s teams took place at Durban. This post looks back at that match.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN INNINGS
England won the toss and put South Africa in to bat. Protea skipper Laura Wolvaardt confirmed that she would have put England had she won the toss.
Kate Cross replaced Lauren Bell for England, and her metronomic accuracy proved an excellent counterpoint to the pace and fire of Lauren Filer with whom she shared the new ball. England soon had two early wickets, Tazmin Brits and Sune Luus each having their stumps rearranged by Filer. From 14-2 the proteas appeared to have launched a very effective recovery when Wolvaardt and the up-and-coming Annerie Dercksen took the total into the 70s without further loss. However now came the period that effectively settled the match. Spinners Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone tore out the middle order in an extraordinary period in which 72-2 and on the road to recovery became 76-7 and definitively doomed. Dean took four of the wickets with her off spin, including performing the hat trick (her victims for this achievement were Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk and Sinalo Jafta, none of whom would be considered not to be a front line batter), while Ecclestone, for once subordinate in destruction, nevertheless claimed the prize scalp of Wolvaardt, clean bowled for 35. Chloe Tryon did her best to save something from the wreckage, scoring an impressive 45 before Ecclestone had her caught by Tammy Beaumont. That was 127-9, and the last pair of Khaka and Hlubi boosted the total by a further eight before Hlubi was bowled by Ecclestone to end the innings. Dean had 4-45 from her full 10 overs, Ecclestone 3-27 from 7.3 overs and Filer who had added Nonkuloleko Mlaba, clean bowled, to her two opening scalps had 3-32 from six overs, all three bowled.
THE ENGLAND REPLY
To have any chance of defending such a small total South Africa needed early wickets, and the England opening pair of Tammy Beaumont, playing her 100th successive ODI, and Maia Bouchier ensured that no early wickets fell. By the end of the 10 over opening power play England were 57-0. 12 more runs came before Bouchier was dismissed, and although Beaumont and Knight followed quickly at 80 and 82, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Danni Wyatt-Hodge took England to the brink of victory. Just seven further runs were needed when Sciver-Brunt was LBW to de Klerk. New batter Amy Jones struck her first and third balls for fours to give England victory by six wickets with 26 OVERS to spare. The ODI segment of the series is thus level at 1-1 with one more match to come. Charlie Dean was named player of the match.
PHOTOGRAPHY
My usual sign off…
New shoes bought today – so far, so good – I have done my afternoon walk in them (I bought them near the end of my morning walk).
A look back at two women’s T20 matches which have taken place in the last 24 hours – South Africa v England and Melbourne Renegades v Brisbane Heat, the final of WBBL10. Also a substantial photo gallery.
Two important women’s T20 matches took place in the space of the last 24 hours. This post looks at both.
POMS PUMMEL PROTEAS
A multi-format series between the South African and England women’s teams is in progress. Yesterday saw the third of three T20Is that started the series off. England had already won the first two matches, and South Africa had weakened side for this match. South Africa batted first and had a horrible start. Lauren Filer, the quickest bowler on either side in this series (the absence of Shabnim Ismail from SA ranks ends all debate on this subject) clean bowled Anneke Bosch with the second ball of the match. In the second over another Lauren, the 6’1″ seamer Bell had Faye Tunnicliffe caught by Bouchier and it was 3-2. Annerie Dercksen got to 19 but then holed to Nat Sciver-Brunt off Bell to make it 25-3. Sune Luus and Chloe Tryon tried to revive things, but the last ball of the sixth over, off spinner Charlie Dean’s first, saw Luus caught by Knight. Eight balls and a mere three runs later Tryon also fell to the Knight/ Dean combo. Nadine de Klerk and Nondumiso Shangase shared a good stand until Shangase was stumped by Amy Jones off the bowling of left arm medium pacer Freya Kemp to make it 97-6. South Africa eventually reached 124, their last wicket falling to the final ball of the innings, with number 11 Ayanda Hlubi run out for 7 to end it. Charlie Dean had 3-26 from her four overs, while the other spinner Sophie Ecclestone had 1-16 from her four, the wicket being that of Eliz-Mari Marx, bowled by an absolute ripper of a delivery. This total looked modest on a pitch with a good deal of bounce (Centurion pitches tend to have this attribute) but little in the way of actual mischief. England soon made it look downright risible. Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt-Hodge got things going with a stand of 56 in 5.4 overs before Bouchier was out for 35 (21). That brought Sophia Dunkley out to join Wyatt-Hodge. Dunkley hit one massive six, but it was Wyatt-Hodge who was leading the charge by this stage. There were still 8.3 overs scheduled to be bowled when Wyatt-Hodge hit the four, her tenth to go with one six, that took her to 53* (31) and England to a nine-wicket win. Dunkley had scored 24* off 17 balls, and South Africa had damaged their own cause by conceding 16 extras. I will draw a veil over their bowling figures. A full scorecard can be seen here.
FROM ZEROS TO HEROS
In the ninth edition of the Women’s Big Bash League, last year, the Melbourne Renegades were an absolute laughing stock of an outfit, taking the wooden spoon and never really looking like doing anything else all the way through.
In the small hours of this morning UK time they completed a remarkable transformation, with some assistance from the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, winning the final against Brisbane Heat to lift the trophy.
Brisbane Heat won the toss, and with weather interruptions threatening opted to bowl first. DLS recalculations frequently do benefit chasing sides. Renegades were less than impressive in totalling 141-9 from their 20 overs, for which they were indebted to Hayley Matthews, already confirmed as Player of the Tournament, who held things together for them with an innings of 69. Charli Knott took three wickets and Grace Parsons two, but the most impressive bowling performance for Heat came from 18 year old Lucy Hamilton who capped a memorable first WBBL tournament of her career by producing figures of 4-0-19-1.
Heat were 19-2 after 3.2 overs when the rain came. The adjusted target once play could resume was 98 off 12 overs, meaning that Heat needed 79 off 8.4 overs from the resumption to win the match. Renegades could bowl two bowlers for three overs each if they so desired but otherwise two overs per bowler was the new limit. Heat never came close to getting on terms with the chase, and it was only a by then irrelevant six from Nicola Hancock off the final ball of the match reduced the margin to seven runs. Hayley Matthews had 2-24 to put alongside her 69 and was the clear-cut Player of the Match. Matthews this tournament has scored 324 runs at an average of 40.50 and a strike rate of 130.64 runs per 100 balls, and taken 14 wickets at 17.78 a piece, with an economy rate of 6.98 and taking a wicket every 15.2 balls on average.
The DLS recalculation undoubtedly worked against Heat because they had lost those two early wickets when the rain came, but I do not believe that it changed the outcome of this match – Heat were not favourites by the time the rain started, and were somewhat more clearly second favourites after the adjusted target was issued.
PHOTOGRAPHS
These pictures were all taken yesterday, in the course of two walks – yesterday morning was dull but not cold, yesterday afternoon was genuinely pleasant. Here are the photographs, plus a reminder that they can be viewed at a larger size by clicking on them…
An account of a walk in and around King’s Lynn. This particular variation on a favourite walking theme of mine took place yesterday late morning. There are plenty of photographs.
It is no secret to followers of this blog that I do a lot of walking, and that I go nowhere without my camera. This post looks in detail at a recent walk.
WALKING IN AND AROUND KING’S LYNN
One of my favourite themes around which to construct walking routes in and around King’s Lynn is what I call the ‘three rivers’. The three rivers of that title are the Gaywood, multiple sections of which are encompassed, the Nar, which is crossed twice at different points, and Great Ouse, the main river in this part of the world, alongside which some of the walk takes place. The particular walk that this post uses for detail took place yesterday, when the weather was bright and sunny but cold.
THE WALK
I started by leaving my house by the back door, as I was heading at first in the general direction of the town centre. The road that runs behind the row of houses in which I live is a private road and is unnamed. It disgorges on to Raby Avenue, which I crossed, and then headed down Townshend Terrace, a side road which forms a right angle, running from Raby Avenue to a pond at which point it swings 90 degrees and disgorges onto another road. However, as you will see I was not going that way. The pond usually yields pictures, and it did so this day as well…
While Townshend Terrace goes on way, a footpath leads in the opposite direction, through to Loke Road. On the far side of Loke Road, almost directly across from this footpath is a side road called Harewood Parade, which leads round the side of a second pond, until it terminates and is replaced by footpath which heads into a section of greenery flanked on one side by a section of the Gaywood River and on the other by Kettlewell Lane. Although the second pond did not yield anything for the camera on this occasion, the rest of this segment of the walk did…
Kettlewell Lane leads out on to what at that stage is Littleport Street, though a little way north it becomes Gaywood Road. By this stage one is very close to the town centre, but one is not committed to main roads. I crossed Littleport Street at the light controlled crossing on Eastgate Bridge, and headed down Highgate, past a little patch of greenery that sometimes yields pictures though not on this occasion, and down a little side passage that leads to a small bridge back over the Gaywood to the town side and another little section of greenery, which I exited on to Wyatt Street at the other side. I then crossed Wyatt Street, and took a footpath that runs alongside Eastgate primary school before coming out on Blackfriars Road, the road that runs past King’s Lynn station. At this point, for a brief period there are no further options for main road avoidance, so I followed the road round past the station, and shortly after the station headed into the park called The Walks. I headed alongside another section of the Gaywood (heavily sculpted at this stage of its route) until I reached the white metal bridge that leads in to the Vancouver Garden wherein is located the bandstand. I exited the Vancouver Garden by the other bridge from it, crossed the Broadwalk, and headed for the Seven Sisters exit. This section did not yield many pictures, but there were a few…
The Guanock Gate
From the Seven Sisters exit I headed to where a passage leads through to London Road, joining that road at a light controlled crossing, which I availed myself of. I then headed away from town, passing the South Gate and then turning down the road that crosses the Nar, which I exited on to Hardings Way before taking a footpath through Hardings Pits to the Great Ouse at a point south of the town.
The South Gate (town side)The South Gate (out of town side).The only picture I got in Hardings PitsLapwings and Gulls at the far edge of the Great OuseKing’s Lynn viewed from the river bank on leaving Hardings Pits/A gathering of birds.
The next port of call was ‘Cormorant Platform’, although none of the birds that led me to give it that name were present on this occasion. There was a heron there however…
The heron and platform in the foreground, West Lynn church in the background.
From here I headed on to a dike which can be muddy, but as we have had little rain of late I knew would be fine, and followed it until the path bifurcated – one route led to more of the Great Ouse, and the possibility of following that river as far as Purfleet Quay, but on this occasion i took the other, heading across another part of Hardings Way, through a gateway and down a side road which leads to play area that is at the meeting point of several roads, one of which leads to All Saints Church, reckoned to be the oldest church in King’s Lynn and then by way of Hillington Square to Millfleet.
I crossed Millfleet at a light controlled crossing, headed up past the library, though on this occasion I did not visit that establishment as I already had a number of books out. I then went past the war memorial and Greyfriars Tower, before heading on to Tower Street and thence to the bus station, though I was merely passing through, not intending to catch a bus. From the bus station I headed along Railway Road, crossed at a light controlled crossing and walked along the northernmost section of Norfolk Street to arrived a triangular road crossing that invariably involves two waits if you are a pedestrian, followed Littleport Street until the junction with Kettlewell Lane, passing through the greenery to the second of the two ponds mentioned earlier in this piece, but I now did not entirely duplicated the starting route, instead heading along Loke Road, on to Columbia Way, and then availed myself of a recently opened cut through to the private road behind my house and thus got home.
King’s Lynn library.The war memorial and Greyfriars Tower.Two images of a scale model showing what the Franciscan Friary would have been like in its 13th/ 14th century heyday.An arched doorway on Tower StreetThis used to be Argos, and when work on it is finished it will be a Library and community hub for King’s Lynn. The old building will remain fully accessible to the public whatever use it may be put to.Once upon a time, when such things still existed, this was King’s Lynn Main Post Office.
I hope you have enjoyed this account of a variation on one of my favourite walking themes, that of the three rivers.
A look at the early stages of England’s ODI tour of the West Indies and a photo gallery.
An England men’s white ball squad is currently in the West Indies for a three match One Day International series. This series has been arranged because England owe West Indies a favour dating back to 2020, when it was West Indies who travelled to play in England under stringent covid restrictions, and have not been able to repay it until now. This post looks at what has happened so far.
THE ENGLAND SQUAD
England travelled with a necessarily experimental squad, the multi-format players being required for the upcoming tour of New Zealand the start of which overlaps with this one.
ENGLAND’S CHOSEN XI
England named four debutants in the XI – Jacob Bethell, a batter who bowls a bit of left arm spin, Dan Mousley, enough of an off spinner to be described as a batting all rounder, Jamie Overton, making an ODI debut at the age of 30 and down to bat at number eight an known to not be fit enough to bowl, and John Turner, a fast bowler and number 11 batter. The side as a whole was inexperienced, with Adil Rashid, a leg spinner officially listed to bat at number ten, having more career ODI runs than any of his team mates. However, no degree of inexperience could excuse the horror show of a batting performance that was about to unfold.
FAILURE TO ADAPT
West Indies won the toss and put England in to bat. For all that is named in honour of an all time batting great and one of the first players to truly master the art of limited overs batting, the Sir Viv Richards Stadium rarely provides pitches on which batting is straightforward. On that basis one might argue that a total of 204 in 45.2 of a possible 50 overs was not a terrible achievement. However, it was the manner in which the innings developed that was so very disappointing. Virtually every dismissal was self inflicted, and the mistakes leading to those dismissals were all of the same type – essaying cross batted shots on a pitch on which hitting the ball straight was a necessity. One or two such dismissals could possibly be allowed for, but the collective failure/ refusal to adapt to the nature of the pitch was inexcusable. Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran batted best in a poor display, but neither could get as far as 40.
The West Indies was delayed by rain, and then interrupted again by more rain, but there was not enough rain to save England. Evin Lewis played a superb innings which put the ‘efforts’ of the England batters into sharp perspective.
A large part of the problem (and something that the ECB are to blame for) is that the best English white ball players only now play 50 over cricket in an international setting – the English domestic One Day Cup because of when it takes place is basically a tournament for second team and youth cricketers. Thus they approach the game with a T20 type mindset and rapidly become impatient if they are not scoring at high speed. The second match of this series takes place today, starting at 1:30PM UK time.
Some highlights from a remarkable auction that took place today, and a photo gallery.
Today saw the second day of James and Sons’ October auction. Under the hammer were mainly coins, but also some banknotes and cheques. This post looks back at a sale that was the stuff of dreams.
A FAST START
Some bidders were actually present at James and Sons HQ in Fakenham, there was at least one telephone bidder, and the both the online platforms used for our auctions, the-saleroom.com and easyliveauction.com were well patronized (I was following the action by way of the latter). Lot 501, with an estimate of 1,500-2000 soared to 3,800.
A UK 1980 gold proof set showing the heads side.The tails side of the same set.A close up of the tails side of the biggest coin.
LOT 502 – THE ULTIMATE TRIUMPH
Lot 502, a rare (so rare that my employer, who has been in the business almost 60 years and one of whose specialities is coins has never previously auctioned one) 1911 specimen coin set carried an estimate of 3,000 – 5,000. By the time the auctioneer’s verbal description of the item was complete the bidding was already close to the £10,000 mark, and by the time the bidding finally stopped the hammer price was £11,800! I have been involved with James and Sons for 11 and a half years and this is comfortably the highest price I have seen for a single lot of any type in all that time…
The set in its display box, heads side uupThe same, tails side up.The heads side of a single coinThe tails side of a single coinThe top of the boxAn image focussing only on the coins, to accompany a press release I hope to be sending out tomorrow.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
After a start like that the rest of the auction was bound to be somewhat ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’, but a few items succeeded spectaculalrly.
Lot 639, a Queen Victoria penny with an estimate of 50-60 was in relative times the success of the whole auction, going for an eye-popping £1,100
Lot 647, a gold coin from the reign of George III not in the best condition, went for £340.
Lot 670, a Canadian five cent coin from 1885 fared even better, fetching £380.
Lot 673, a Canadian gold coin of recent vintage expected to fetch 15-20 ended up going for £80.
Lot 705 was the last big success of the auction (the auction ended at lot 756), going for £160.
I bring this section to an end with an item that did not fare especially well. Lot 731 was knocked down to me.
PHOTOGRAPHS
A reminder that all pictures can be viewed at a larger size by clicking on them. Now for my regular photo gallery.
aspiblog 