No time to trade today which was doubly annoying as I see the ARod took a set off the Fed Express - who traded at prices up to 7.0 before staging a comeback to wrap the match up. But at least it gives me a chance to chat about Trescothick's withdrawl from the Ashes and his replacement by Ed Joyce.
First up I wish Banger a speedy recovery. England's 11th highest scorer in test match history with 5,825 runs he's going to be missed. Especially as Joyce, talented as he maybe, hasn't played a single test match yet - let alone been part of an Ashes series. I don't know the why's wherefore's or WTFs about the Trecso situation but I suspect this article isn't too far from the truth. Sadly you do have to wonder if we'll ever again see Banger despatch another 4 through the covers off the back foot for England.
Of course, as soon as the news Trescothick was on his way home was announced attention turned to his replacement. The usual suspects were all put forward. Rob Key must have felt he was in with a shout while no doubt Owais Shah kept his mobile on.
But of all the players feeling disappointment it wasn't them that got the call perhaps Mark Ramprakash has the most to feel aggrieved about. Afterall, despite being 37, he's in the form of his life. Recently named the PCA Player of the Year he scored 2,278 1st class runs last season at an average of over 103. On top of that he smashed 292 runs in a single innings in May, before getting 301 not out in August. Oh, and he has Ashes experience and averages 42 against Australia! If ever a man was justified in thinking his England days are now behind him then Ramps is him. Still, at least his twinkled-toed moves in Strictly Come Dancing means at least someone still appreciates him. Bless.
Which brings us to Ed Joyce. After a fantastic 2005 in which he scored 1,168 County Championship runs - more than any other player - he emerged onto the international scene in 2006 playing 3 ODIs and an international Twenty20. And although some may think he got the call up against Ireland just to ensure England could win a ODI by nicking the opponent's best player there's no doubt the Middlesex batsmen is talented.
But is he a Spedegue? Who he I hear you ask? Why, Tom Spedegue, of course! The school master called up for a deciding test match in a bygone Ashes series. An asthmatic he may have been, with a weak heart to boot, but Spedegue had a secret weapon - and ensured the Ashes remained with the Motherland after a nailbiting final test victory.
His weapon? The Spedegue Dropper! A ball that was bowled over 50ft in the air, peaking above the batsman's head before dropping directly down on to the stumps. Spedegue perfected his dropper over many years practising in the New Forest by bowling a ball over a rope tied between two 50ft trees. Plucked from the obscurity of village cricket he was the Ashes hero of his day - carried shoulder high from the field by a victorious England team and into international retirement.
Eh? You never heard of him? Oh, ok. Hands up. It's a fictional story. By no less than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself. Who, it seems, between knocking out Sherlock Holmes yarns, also found the time to write a short story called Spedegue's Dropper. Not quite as strange as it may seem at first as Doyle was actually a first class cricketer who made 10 appearances for Marylebone Cricket Club!
The discovery of which all rather amused me. Because with the way the press, bookies - infact anyone you care to listen to - is going on Australia have already won the Ashes 5-0. And us English need a secret weapon like Spedegue to stop it being 6-0!! This Aussie, who has now fessed up that he was the brains behind the infamous Betfair Cricket Forum thread "New Market: Can the Poms avoid an innings defeat?" even reckons it's a "mistake to take the Poms seriously".
But, if I may be so bold, I'd like to proffer a different opinion. Ok, the Aussies may well win. But I've just got a sneaky suspicion the series will be a little more competitive than many are giving England credit for!
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2 comments:
Quality post bft. A good read and I think there may be some suprises too in the Ashes.
FunnyRamprakash link that. PMSL at this comment about him on there...
"As well as his brilliant dancing and lovely smile, I'm getting more and more transfixed by the beautiful breadth of his shoulders *swoon*"
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