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“My favourite ever piece of cricket writing (possibly all sport writing) is Andy Bull’s piece on the 1936 Melbourne Ashes Test,” writes Paul Fields. “Wonderful stuff.”
Zak Crawley: a work of art
“While it’s raining, can we take a moment to admire yesterday’s photo of Zak Crawley, kneeling in pain, resting his hands on his bat,” writes Stephen Nichols. “Hang it in an art gallery, next to a painting of a chivalrous knight, kneeling in prayer before battle. Well done Matt West, it’s a work of art!”
Brian Withington has tweaked the last line of Swathi’s ode to Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill, your batting is so sublime
And you are in a zone that is beyond prime
The caress through the covers
Is a treat for purists and lovers
One question, have you left enough time?
“While it’s raining, I thought there would be some time for philosophical discussions with a warm drink of choice,” says Anand. “If England bat sensibly, calculate risks and know when to shut shop, is it really Bazball?
“My son taught me about this Ship of Theseus and Bazball seems to be at this philosophical state at the moment.”
Anand, what have you done to my inbox?! This is the official definition of Bazball in the Collins Dictionary:
a style of test cricket in which the batting side attempts to gain the initiative by playing in a highly aggressive manner
I’m not sure about that definition. I prefer Dinesh Karthik’s, along the lines of “It’s about being the best version of yourself.” If Harry Brook bats all day for a match-saving 72 not out, that’s a pretty good version.
The Film Room latest
This is a joy; I can’t recommend it enough. The balance of insight, humour and warmth is perfect. As I type they’re showing Nasser’s career-changing century, which included a huge let-off when he gloved Javagal Srinath down the leg side on 14.
Just before that, a short ball was dug in and Nasser launched into a hook. “Don’t bowl there to me…” said Nasser, a split-second before the ball went straight up in the air and somehow landed between two fielders.
Sky are filling the rain break with an episode of The Film Room, in which Mike Atherton, Dominic Cork and Nasser Hussain rewatch highlights of Nasser’s breakthrough Test against India at Edgbaston in 1996. I’ve already had three genuinely belly laughs; it’s brilliant.
“Great piece by Andy Bull,” says Michael White. “My favourite bit was ‘breaking Test records like they are plates at a Greek wedding’. I don’t know what it is about cricket, P G Wodehouse and Raymond Chandler, but they do produce the best similes.
“One I treasure (from January 2022) by Barney Ronay is "“Jos Buttler, who crouches for every ball with the look of a laudanum-addled poet splayed in his garret composing his latest ode to death. Can any OBOers top that?”
I sure can’t. I love Andy so much, as a bloke and a writer. Whenever I read him I think of that old David Gower quote: “It’s hard work making batting look effortless.”
There’s good news or bad news, depending how you view the world. The rain is getting heavier again and there’s now a fair possibility of an early lunch at 12.30pm. The plot thickens.
Nothing is happening so I’m going to grab a coffee. In the meantime, here’s Geoff Lemon with the latest from Australia’s tour of the Caribbean.
The rain has eased so the groundstaff are getting to work. It’s still spitting and there’s been no discussion of a potential start time. Could be at least an hour – the outfield looks sodden.
Swathi has written another ode to Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill, your batting is so sublime
And you are in a zone that is beyond prime
The caress through the covers
Is a treat for purists and lovers
To you, I raise this toast of gin and lime
“To which a friend said: ‘With Gill’s current form you will be drinking a lot of gin.’”
Hic hic, hooray!
There was quite a downpour at Edgbaston, much heavier than expected. India shouldn’t be worried at this stage: the drainage is excellent and the forecast is better for the rest of the day.
He’s a class act, whose timeless style is an antidote to modern life. But enough about Andy Bull – here he is paying tribute to Shubman Gill.
Start delayed due to rain
England fans, I hope you’re proud of your cowardice. It’s raining at Edgbaston and the covers are on.
“Hi Rob,” begins Andrew Goudie. “Are we likely to have an on-time start?” And have India confirmed that Bumrah will play at Lord’s? Here’s the overseas TMS link.”
No (because it’s just starting raining), no (but he will), thank you.
“Yesterday really took me back,” writes Will Vignoles. “An opponent ruthlessly putting the foot on the throat before making a mockery of talk of roads by peeling off a succession of jaffas. Who doesn’t love a bit of nostalgia!”
Weather watch
There’s a chance of showers this morning but I suspect no more than 10-15 overs will be lost. England need to do this off their own ideally dead bat.
Preamble
Maturity comes in many forms, from sober wardrobes to sensible haircuts to the uncomplaining recognition that life is inherently futile and we’re all going to die. The same is true for this England cricket team.
At Headingley they chased 371 in a calculated manner that would have been impossible three years ago, but the process of maturity never really stops. Twelve days on from that run-chase, England have an even more difficult task: batting out the final day to secure a result they have previously disdained.
England will resume on 72 for 3, needing a further 536 runs to win, after losing both openers and Joe Root last night during a sizzling new-ball burst from Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj. An old-school batting line-up would fancy their chances of survival but England haven’t tried to bat for a draw in almost four years. You can’t just press a button to go into Defensive Mode.
A heavy, humbling defeat – or, from the Indian perspective, a huge, richly deserved victory – is the likeliest scenario. But if England grind out a draw, the cricket world will see them through different-eyes. And nobody will be in any doubt that Team Bazball has matured.
