I just have the impression over the years that you need tough characters in your team to win. It always seems to me that our sides are generally full of slightly apologetic, slightly quiet, very polite, timid, gentlemen rather than ruthless, single-minded, ultra-competitive maniacs with a "I am going to bloody win this" attitude. Look back over the years and the likes of those I mentioned before inspired the quieter members of the team to come out of their shells, feel more confident, and get swept up in the emotion of the event in the 2015,2019, 2011 ashes. It's one of the reasons I don't like Root as captain as he just doesn't seem the type to grab teammates by the short and curlies and motivate a team to win. OK it may be that Hales has gone too far, but many of the more aggressive winning types have the sort of personality that does cause them to sail close to the wind. We need more of them, not less.
I agree with most of your comments. Unfortunately I see taking drugs as a sign of weakness, so Hales does not have the tough character needed to win.
The Australians are winners & certainly pick a lot of brash extroverts. Since 2005 we have won The Ashes more than them, an unusual occurrence. Our stalwarts in this period have been Cook, Bell, Anderson & Broad, all of whom won 4 or 5 times. Honourable mentions to Strauss, Trott, KP, Swann, Flintoff & Prior. I would say all were hugely competitive. Essential to repeatedly beating Australia. The last 4 are the only in your face types. KP & Prior were very divisive characters & Swann & Flintoff were me first types. Our successful dressing room was created more by the tougher, quieter, lead by example players than the mouth & trouser, can my agent get me on Corden’s game show brigade, imho.
First, Harvey Trump at Somerset, now Judd Trump in the snooker. Coruscating display by the latter last night.
On the topic of the snooker, I would recommend Eurosport’s coverage. It conjures up a brilliant geezers down the boozer vibe. In the studio, Jimmy White & Neil Foulds share the sofa. While Jimmy sports an odd hairstyle reminiscent of the Upton Park terraces c1982, Neil looks as though he is sleeping at the bus station. There’s a pleasing symmetry between his baggy suit & his baggy face. The host, a humourless man lad whose name I didn’t catch, would make an interesting subject for an Attenborough film.
Archer selected which is no surprise. Willey the one to miss out. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/48347499
I've heard that they have now decided to drop Archer and play Gomes, as he's such a nice guy. I guess they did have a similarish issue in dropping Willey who had been in the team for years. Good to see they made the cold objective decision, as we should have done on Saturday.
Has to be the right decision. Brilliant prospect and British dad so it's not like one of these weaker "lived in the UK for x years so qualifies" situations. How did Pietersen qualify? Just through living in the UK for a few years ?
In typically England before a World Cup fashion there is an injury scare! Eoin Morgan suffering a fractured finger but they think its very minor and he should be ok for next week.
Somerset have second 10 times in the last 10 years. No trophies. About to change? Hildreth comes to the crease.
Not sure prosecco was in anyone’s lexicon when that song was written. What has the EU ever done for us, part 84...
Some players are always injured. A tragedy for them but a liability for the squad. I’d put Mark Wood in that bucket. Willey is an admirable backup. The theory about out & out pace for the WC is hogwash, anyway. Fletcher said the same thing & refused to pick Anderson, somehow picking Collingwood instead.
Mrs Keighley likes it though. Always improved by a dash of creme de cassis. Saving the bottle of Cremant de Bourgogne in the fridge for another occasion.
No! Italy over France every time. I thought Archer claimed to have made the olympic squad for sprinting? He looked slow for the last wicket yesterday.
If Archer did make an Olympic squad, it would have been for Barbados. The loser in the sparkling stakes has been Spain. Cava, which sits in the middle on price, has been decimated. Echoes of Corbyn’s Labour?
Ditto re Prosecco. Champagne is horrible dry stuff. It's basically poor quality Prosecco. Acceptable with some cassis or peach juice but not as good as Prosecco. Champagne is the BMW of fizzy wines. Over-priced and not very good.