Summer of cricket is back with rain, sleet and Hales!
13 May 2019
Summer of cricket is back with rain, sleet and Hales!
The cricket season is well underway with the usual elements having its say with mixed results and few postponed and abandoned!
Once again we are reading about issues in the camp, once again Alex Hales is in the news. I have heard from a good source that he was not to blame for the Stokes incident, having said that, he was there. This time we have no idea what’s happened except for the “alleged spliff” if that’s the worst thing he’s done, pretty sure other members of the team would have done something equal to that which the ECB have brushed under the carpet. I know certain players of the great West Indies side who used to visit Chiswick and regularly had cases of Rum delivered for parties! Didn’t affect them and I’m pretty sure the management knew of this!
The “senior” players had a meeting and decided they wanted him omitted from England’s World Cup squad. Well, of course, they would, they are all batsman he’s a threat to someone in the team. Personally, I am a great fan of Hales. He is an extremely talented and aggressive batsman who can single handed take the game from the opposition. I was at Lords 2 Years ago when against Surrey he scored 181 – a record for the London Cup. He is an edge of your seat batsman, he is dynamic and great to watch. There are one or two in the England team who I think are there on name not merit! Personally, I think he will be he will be a huge loss to England if replaced by Foakes who I think is probably the best keeper in England, but batting in a 50 over comp? I’m not sure he will score quickly enough; he scored a century on debut in the test in Galle to what must be said is not the best attack in the world! But he turned the game on its head and of course, it was a test match. I do think Ben will be an outstanding player, maybe this is too soon for him.
Saturday was the Second ODI which England just edged, Although it was a batting paradise I feel the bowling attack is not strong enough. I originally thought it would be so unfair to include Archer in the squad but now having seen the movement he gets out of the new ball he had to be in the squad! I feel very sorry for those omitted, especially as they have been there from the beginning of the road!
Today I am going to Taunton to support my understrength Surrey and meet up with several good friends I have met on tour who are big-time Somerset supporters and have travelled with us several times Roger, Peter and David – left.
I am sorry there is still no news regarding South Africa, but I promise you’ll be the first to know!
