PHILINFRANCE

So, I checked in to catch up on today's match and David Hopps didn't let me down ?: Dystopian science-fiction novels have never been shy of depicting an isolated and fearful society in which debilitated human beings become over-reliant on technology and are force-fed propaganda in a sad and meaningless existence.

Only every other over on my stream; they show the start of the bowler's run up, then go behind the wicketkeeper.

It's now 5, but a long way to go yet.

George Bartlett scored a Century when we beat Glos last year; today would prove timely if he can repeat it. In other news; Essex now 77/8! I am pleased Durham appear to be improving this season after the deal they were dealt by the powers that rule English cricket. Sorry George ?. Does anybody know why the stream appears to be only showing from behind the wicketkeeper, rather than behing the bowler's arm?

In other news, Essex 36/5 against Durham.

He does open, and even scored a Century last season in the BWT final against Essex at Lords.

Poor old Tom Lammonby. A very promising young batsman, but he now has successive ducks, and only scored 5 in the First Innings against Middlesex - an average of 1.67 so far this saeson.

Actually, mine's a dry sherry.

Well, Well. I would never have guessed; I always had you down as a straight, pretty Macho sort of man. Anyway, Well Done for coming out and I wish you all the best. Yours in friendship.

To the best of my knowledge, the only two professional players I ever played against were the two Mabbutt brothers, our own Kevin and his younger brother, Gary. Unfortunately, Kevin matched your description of Payne, but Gary was just class, both in the way he played and his sportsmanship. To be fair, their father, Ray, the ex-Rovers player, attended the various matches in which I played against his sons, and he was very supportive of all the young players from both teams, his sons and their opponents.

Indeed, it does seem to be a good Glos. side. Should make for a good match this week - for a change ?.

Hmmm. A scratchy 5 in the First Innings and out for a firstball duck in the Second. Told you so ?.

There you are - corrected your wishful thinking. Shame.

Effectively 227/8 at present. Ever the optimist, but we could, couldn’t we. 9 down now! All Out. 285 to win.

It was funnier the first time you told it ?.

You may well (probably) have, but I have forgotten it - it happens to the best of us ?, so feel free to post it again.

Hi @Robbored, I liked your joke as I thought it funny. Nevertheless, I was convinced I had heard it before...so checked: Robbored The voice of reason. OTIB Supporter 1,757 36,887 posts Location: Nailsea Posted February 29, 2020 Two old boys Bill and Tom grew up together and played in the same team and followed cricket all over country most of their lives. Sitting at the County Ground in Taunton during the tea break Tom says to Bill ‘do you suppose that they have cricket up in heaven?’ ‘ Dunno’ says Bill ‘but whichever one of us gets there first, they come back in a dream to let the other know’ Eventually Tom passes away and that night he visits his life long friend in a dream....’ Bill, I have some good news, and some bad news, which one would you like first’? ’ The good news first, Tom’ ’ well, says Tom, ‘there is cricket up here in heaven. It’s wonderful, no rain delays, perfect temperatures’ ‘and the bad news is that you’re opening the batting tomorrow!’ I do prefer the newer, revised version, though ?.

Tom Lammonby appears to be in a bit of form....

Indeed. Greyhound racing used to be so big, that Wembley Stadium refused to cancel a pre-planned meet back in 1966, causing the World Cup group match between Uruguay and France to be played at the White City.

So, you’re a friend of Archie, then ?.

I was just reading the close of play summary of the match between West Indies and Sri Lanka, where Sri Lanka's wicketkeeper, Niroshan Dickwella, was bowled, played on, when he was 96 Not Out. Nothing remarkable about that, you might think, but he was described (by Cricinfo) as 'The greatest nearly-man in Test history' and, to satisfy my curiosity, I looked at the list they helpfully provided of Test players who had scored 50 runs or more in a Test innings but never gone on to make a Century - poor old ND has done it 17 times, with today's 96NO being his highest Test score. What I did also find interesting, however, was that England's former captain, JM (Mike) Brearley, was high up in that list, with a highest score of 91, but without a single Century in his 39 Tests. Of course, memory fades with time, but I would have sworn that he scored at least a few Centuries in his illustrious Test career. Here is a link to the list in case anybody is interested: https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=fifty_plus;qualmax1=0;qualval1=hundreds;template=results;type=batting

I suppose JB's comments about his now ex-Captain make Lee Johnson's comments about Taylor Moore and Hordue Magnússon look quite tame in comparison.

Speaking about Rovers' (now ex)-Captain: The Rovers boss has crossed paths with Ehmer before. The Germany-born defender came through the ranks at Queens Park Rangers, where Barton was captain. "For me, it’s a common theme," the manager said. "Don’t forget I’ve known Max from when I was at QPR. He was training with us when he was 20 and the observations of him then haven’t changed much to the observations of the player I’ve found now. "That is worrying in that period of time, seven, eight or nine years, if you’re still making the same mistakes. Barton believes Ehmer was not the appropriate choice to wear the armband – though the manager says he is committed to "building him back up". "Captain when we came in, and I just don’t understand that," Barton said. "How can that be the leader, the person you set out as the head of your organisation, as the head of your troops? "He’s got a lot of work to do, the boy. We’ve got to build him back up and it’s not straightforward, and, as I say, I can only help people who want to help themselves. "I’m here to do the fans proud, to do the owner proud, to do the city proud, and unfortunately there’s going to be collateral damage along the way. "If you don’t help yourself, you’re not going to be staying on this ship long. You’re going to be getting thrown overboard. bristol.live Follow @bristollive MORE ON

Oh, absolutely; the third umpire was screwed by the on-field 'soft' decision. Conversely, of course, had the on-field 'soft' decision been Not Out, then that is how it would have (quite correctly in my opinion) stayed.

Hmmm. I am not at all convinced that SKY was out there. I suspect there would be major complaints had that been an England batsman given out following an on-field 'soft' call of out.