StanSP

This link was always going to be made as soon as Cifuentes was done. Makes too much sense nonetheless so it won't happen

I agree BCCI have their biases and hold a lot of power. Over years it's grown because of the IPL and the lure that has. But ECB don't help themselves either when it comes to cricket in this country. Shite like The Hundred taking priority over how Ashes is diarised, not having Ashes matches at Headingley any more and nothing north of Notts. Adding all those T20 matches in and sometimes not having test warm up matches for big series. There's an imbalance, sadly. And probably indicative across the whole of test cricket. I've heard lots of pundits and commentators mention how test cricket needs to be prioritised. They're not wrong but they need to back it outside of the euphoria and entertainment within a test match in the past week or through this series. Make the tests more accessible (read: cheaper) for fans to attend and you'll have more interest in it as opposed to just the Eng/Aus or Eng/Ind games.

Reading up a bit more on the time thing, there's a 60-second clock between overs to be bowled, and timers in place for drinks break. Sounds like umpires need to be a tad more disciplined with it all, for any side. Fines don't seem to be working as overs per hour is on a constant decline, on average over the years. Have the penalty as runs conceded as that'll be something players take much more seriously...

KO times for the 25th July friendlies?

The BBC article makes it sound like it was on Day 2 of the test with Stokes alluding to fast bowlers being used more which takes longer, but ultimately accepting the punishment. I thought it was all averaged out, especially for the bigger sides. I'd say Aus and Eng have the tougher teams to play, marginally - WI, NZ, SA, Bangladesh and India. With Aus not playing Pakistan and SL, and with Eng not playing SL and WI. India don't play Pakistan and Bangladesh. The points system is weird anyway. Rankings are based on percentage points compared to matches played as opposed to actual points gained. I guess that favours the smaller sides to make it more equal?

Ricardo for sure. Just because a manager brings through youth doesn't automatically mean the youth should get captaincy.

Shuts me up then

I presume a home FA Cup tie gets moved to the Sunday then. Crap 12pm KO time no doubt.

Good luck and hope he's backed. Heard the transfer budget is 50p. Goes up to £1.50 on the back of Hermansen sale as that will be used to pay off club debts. £2 budget if BEK is sold.

Anyone at the club has no foresight or creativity. They probably don't even care about 2016 any more.

They can have Skipp and Faes if they wish.

Much ado about nothing. If that person claiming to be one of the entertainers is legit, and has no issue with it, it's just people getting their knickers in a twist over nothing. Small fry, really.

If Pope goes would you have Bethell in? That Tandoori lamb rump and samosa sounds absolutely gorgeous.

Ah yes, green and black Matrix style because Top and Co think they're the chosen ones.

This is more like NOTOKBET!

Nice

We've taken the extremely cheap option of this tactic then. Cheap financially anyway, not morally or when it comes to being punished.

Can't wait for Kingy to be putting in crosses for the keeper in 30 years time in the pre-match warm up

Brits.

Is it the van

Boland hattrick!

@kyleolly it's training wear just FYI.

Wonder if the club will do sponsorless as an option? Not that it should matter because it's horrible thanks to the white and gold mix, but it goes down as another failure on the clubs behalf...