DangerMark

Finally, a Christmas Carol I can get behind.

Rory Burns is up to 16 though, England's second highest run scorer on the year.

I can't wait for the third test when all this is happening while I'm asleep.

Bah, you're just jealous.

From what I hear Suzuki managed to do that to his own hair, nothing to do wiht Hybrid Wrestling.

But hey, at least they didn't make the twenty (20) run chase without losing a wicket.

They're not doing well, they're just doing better than they were, which admittedly was a pretty low bar to clear. They will probably still lose, but a draw is looking like an okay bet and a win is now merely improbable. As I said: through Joe Root all things are possible.

Australia close the second day nearly two hundred up with three wickets left and the only positive that the BBC can find is that the fast bowlers did well. Jack Leach, a man with much to recommend him, got one wicket for about 8 runs per over; and was out performed in the spin bowling department by Joe Root. Picking Leach over Broad looks increasingly like a bad case of outsmarting themselves. Also, I love Rory Burns' hair but ye gods he's having a nightmare.

Hmm, I may save the "Get in!" until such a time as the Upside Down is getting the kicking they so richly deserve. Through Joe Root, all things are possible.

Maybe this is the bit that's seen as the problem. There's been all sorts of fun midcard shit cut off at the knees or pushed to far or whatever, it seems a lot like WWE are just interested in the stuff that's going to be massive for years to come without giving a damn about stuff which can still be fun in the middle of a show.

I thought we agreed that we were blaming Lancashire for Vaughn. Seriously, I think he'd have been better off if he hadn't been vociferously denying it in the Telegraph. "I don't remember saying it, if I did I clearly didn't think much of it at the time, but now I see I should have and I apologise and will do better;" might have saved his job, but not everyone is smart enough to have me ghost writing their columns. Having said that, my dream Ashes TMS Team wouldn't have had him anywhere near a microphone anyway. Too abrasive, not interesting or funny enough. My commentary rotation would Jonathan Agnew, Isa Guha, Aatif Nawaz, and Henry Moeran on main commentary with Phil Tuffnel, Izzy Westbury, Alex Hartley and the inevitable token Aussie on as summarisers.

Not including the hundred or so more with Genuine Rodgers Brand Immunisation Cards

A question that every person has to ask themselves at some point in their lives.

Don't forget that Liam Livingstone went ahead in the Longest Six chase with a 112m bomb. These are the important things: watching a man try to launch cricket balls into space.

Welp, what a shame, less Michael Vaughan talking about Cricket. Get Aatif Nawaz in there.

I have a feeling that Yorkshire CCC would have done well to lead their response with all the positive things that they need to do to make a more inclusive culture in their club and not "no punishment for anyone." I'm reasonably sympathetic to the argument that there might not be any one person who has said anything bad enough to lose a job, but clearly their culture as a whole is not where it needs to be. I'm going to use the example of Michael Vaughan: what he's supposed to have said is, taken on its own, relatively innocuous; especially compared to the stuff which has also been alleged. However, it does speak of a bunch of important white boys who don't know how the shit they say comes off to anyone else. Stuff something like that will not be solved by suspensions and firings, especially as a lot of the people involved will have moved on. I am upset to note that Gary Ballance has been suspended indefinitely from England duties, when his apology seemed to me to be comprehensive and heartfelt. He's been shown how hurtful the stuff he was was saying was, and taken it on board. It seems like he makes a good point of instruction in this whole sorry affair.

de Kock has made an apology, says he's not a racist, wants to play for SA again, presumably on Saturday. Guess we'll see on Saturday.

"Well I know that's Daniels out there in the Suicide mask, but who's that impersonating Daniels?"

Hmm, well. No-one wants to hear my thoughts on race, so I will confine myself to two points. First, it is a dumb thing to not play international cricket over. Second, Temba Bavuma being SA's first Black permenant captain got me wondering about England in this regard, as far as I can tell, there are three people who may not be considered white who have captained England: Nasser Hussain was the regular captain for a few years at the turn of the century, Mark Butcher led them for one (1) test a few years later and Moeen Ali has captained England for one (1) T20 match.

Didn't he get the sweet Frying Pan money when he was sponsored by a cookware company whose products he couldn't tear in half, or am I thinking of someone else who used to go round wrecking frying pans? I may have dreamed the entire affair.

Well no, because England lost four wickets chasing down that target; Mohammed Rizwan tried to launch the third ball into the Persian Gulf (he actually got one into the second tier later on in the match,) and didn't look back from there. Not even Rishabh Pant knocking sixes with one hand could save India. I made a comment earlier in the year about freewheeling wicketkeepers hitting it wherever and Rizwan is absolutely part of that. Mean Johnny Bairstow is not.

Complete with sound effects.

Apropos of absolutely nothing, this is a wonderful turn of phrase.

How very gracio-ARRRRGHHH (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

I told ALL OF YOU to Boo this man, and you didn't. THIS IS WHAT YOU DESERVE.