Welcome To The Jungle

Bairstow going at almost an odi strike rate. Says it all. Played well but it's not sustainable. That said he could be our first ton

Another long day I fear

We can't bat, but who else is there? We can't bowl outside of England, leaning on Broad and Anderson, but who else is there? Root is a bad captain, but who else is there? ECB need a serious re-think

The problem is that over the last 10 years, we have leaned too much on Broad and Anderson to deliver. They have made us almost unbeatable in England, with just one series loss at home under the captaincies of Root and Cook. That is, until this year, where we lost both series. They are no spring chickens anymore, and as their brilliance fades, the paper falls from the cracks that is our batting line up. No other team collapses quite like England. This is evident when you look at draw percentages. A draw, although often weather related, is usually combined with both sides performing patiently and intelligently with the bat. It is also often a tactical decision by one side to salvage a match which, if played till a result was had, would be lost. The draw percentage under Cook was 22% of matches. Under Root it is just 14%. Compare this to the previous four England captains. Strauss 30%. Vaughan 27%. Hussain 29%. Atherton 37%. We are now drawing only half what we were. This shows the state of our batting. If you don't trust your batsmen to bat for hours, then tactically you are left with the one day batting tactics we repeatedly adopt. It should be noted that Root has won more matches than any other England captain, but with his best bowlers on the decline, I can't see us competing in tests for many years.

The last ashes down under was also BT.

England continue their quest to turn all forms of the game into one day matches

The boys have got to break tomorrow down into phases. Phase 1: Get back in again for a few overs., just stay in. Phase 2: Score till the new ball, but stay in. Don't chase runs Phase 3: Just don't get out for 20 overs Phase 4: Hope Hazelwood can't bowl and Starc and Cummings are tired, score, but stay in. Phase 5: Stay in! Phase 6: Get out Phase 7: Hope the pitch has deteriorated massively and aim for those cracks baby

As a child I was sent out on Christmas eve to deliver presents to friends and family. Turns out it was just ploy to get me and my brother out the house so our presents could be wrapped. Now I drag my wife to see the same people from our flat. Also any carol service, preferably whilst wrapped up warm, in the cold, holding a candle.

Great knock from Hameed. He didnt score massively, but soaked up the hard ball for Malan and Root to score. As long as our openers, Hameed and Malan, make it through to the 20 over mark, they'll give us a chance this series.

Stokes bowling through injury? Why? No consistency. We rest Broad and Anderson, to make sure they complete the tour, but then risk our best player in a game that is probably already lost. Test cricket is so hard at 5am when you're not doing well

Fast becoming an expert in brisbane weather

I don't know if my sleep cycle is ready for the hammering it's about to get

Well a few things. Firstly, the BBC, like any broadcaster, will promote it's own programming, and as they hold the domestic rights to the Euros next year, it's in their interests. I presume the WC qualification matches for Scotland and Wales will be on Sky? Apologies if I'm wrong. Secondly, we are hosting the Euros next year, and the BBC, as a national broadcaster should be helping to promote it, and show off female footballers as role models to encourage more girls to take up the sport. Thirdly, the last time the lionesses played in a major tournament, that game had a domestic audience 2 million more than the combined populations of Scotland and Wales. No one is forcing you to watch womens football, and indeed 99% of football coverage in the UK, be it on TV, radio or other media, is the men's game. You have plenty of options. I'm looking forward to it, and have tickets for some matches. Sure it's different, and I can understand why it's not everyone's cup of tea, but it's certainly not in any way over represented.

Okay, well why is that a problem?

Forgive me, but what women's draw are you referring to?

I've got one episode left. It's good, although the slavery to NFL comparison I thought was wrong, although I can see the point he was trying to make. Still blows my mind that you can have tens of sexual assault accusations thrown your way, and teams are still willing to trade for you. Kneel during the anthem and you're out the game. That is racist.

What an awful Sunday

Banksy painting a wall for Walken to paint over it is the most banksy thing

I'm enjoying it, but it can't quite make its mind up whether it's a comedy or drama. It struggles to balance the two. Still well worth a watch

We've finally shifted obj. Hard to predict his destination. Can't see the giants taking him back.

I always trivialised colour blindness as someone not afflicted, until I listened to the price of football podcast a month or two ago that was dedicated to it. I'm a pretty hard lined traditionalist when it come to sport. For example, I've watched hundreds of Bristol Rugby matches, but never once been to the Bristol Bears, which I see as franchise nonsense that has no place in British sport. However, I pretty much instantly was on board with us wearing the best colour we can, home and away to aid those with red-green (the most common kind) colour blindness, through a combination of patterns and colour choices. If that means we don't wear red at home, so be it. I'd rather the club was inclusive than traditional.

Browns looked poor again. The secondary was very weak, and seemed toothless without Chubb. I backed them to finish behind the Ravens, but look far worse than the Bengals and Steelers too on recent form.

Good film Wet villan Wish I'd rematch spectre before I went

66 yards? Hold my beer Also how good is Herbert, and how crap was the bears O line.

Once I started sampling club football overseas, which coincided with the EE being demolished, I realised quite how passionless English football fans generally are, and I lost my love for it. One of the biggest reasons for this I feel is a lack of affinity with clubs. Too much money involved.