BUMBLE AT THE TEST
BOB IS STILL THE TOP CAT
IT was wonderful to receive a text message from famed afterdinner speaker Bob ‘The Cat’ Bevan. Rumours of retirement are apparently unfounded — the former president of Kent CCC is soldiering on. He couldn’t stay to chat long — he was off to meet a notable millionaire I can’t name for legal reasons.
SPILLS BUT NO THRILLS
BEFORE the Test I called at a very nice pub in Winchester — the Wykeham Arms. I was there only 20 minutes when I spilt a drink over my colleague Ian Ward. We were then joined by Rob Key and Mike Atherton. Rob promptly knocked his drink over Athers. We tried to explain to the barmaid but she sniffed: ‘Are you from the north?’
BUMRAH KING OF SWING
IT was a fabulous start by India’s opening bowlers after Joe Root chose to bat. Keaton Jennings fell to an extraordinary delivery. He had lined up for Jasprit Bumrah (left) to go across him but, instead, the bowler brought it back in. Bumrah has made good use of the time between Tests and is now swinging it both ways.
MOEEN SHOWS THE WAY
ENGLAND finally got going with a partnership between Moeen Ali and Sam Curran — the two lads brought into the team. There was intent in their approach, though of course there has to be a balance between attack and defence. Granted, it’s a different game against the new ball compared with a ball 60 overs old, but they showed what was possible.
SOUTHERN ALE FALLS FLAT
BACK at the Wykeham Arms, they had some decent ale — a couple of quaffing-session beers and two or three packing a bit of a punch. All perfectly acceptable, but my beef when coming south is that the beer is that flat they could serve it in envelopes. Come on, landlords — cater for the northern raiders and put the sparkler on!
ATTACK WITH THE BAT
I WOULD still like to ask the question: were England too defensive? Jos Buttler (right) scored a century at Trent Bridge, where he displayed attacking intent. Are the top-order batsmen showing too much respect to the Indian attack? There is a thought that England give away wickets cheaply. Look at it from another angle. Should they not be looking more for runs?
LIGHTS ARE BOWLERS’ FRIEND
FLOODLIGHTS definitely make a difference to how the ball behaves. There seems to be more movement in the air and nip off the pitch when the lights are on. Bowlers love it, batsmen not so much. Of course, it’s right to try to get as much play as possible. Sometimes you’ll be on the right end of it, other times you won’t. Just get on with the game!