Northern Red

That genuinely surprised me. I guess it's because Mick has been doing it for a lot longer.

Yeah, I don't believe they wouldn't have known what they were getting with Mick. I suspect it's a case of them being happy to put up with the style as long as it gets results, but when it doesn't it becomes a problem. Same thing happened with Warnock and Harris in the end.

After we beat them I remember looking at social media and being quite surprised by how many of them really weren't happy with him, bearing in mind that was their first defeat of the season and he'd had a decent run when he took over. Lots of grumbling about the style of play, no plan b when it doesn't work (as evidenced against us) and him not picking their more creative players.

On the red button also.

A "showpiece final" with all the intrigue and interest of a preseason friendly.

It is BBC. They have a long term deal for ICC events.

There's a gag about the Dolman PA system in there somewhere.

We're not used to it after the last year or so, but having the vast majority of players available means that there isn't enough room to accommodate everybody so players will miss out. Vyner and Scott haven't been involved in the last couple, Simpson has missed out on a few, so has Bakinson.

At Blackburn away a couple of years ago when Kasey came on as a sub, the song started up and the bloke in front of me joined in, after which he turned to his teenage son next to him and said "don't tell your mother"

Haha, is that sad ***** still at it?

I've got Usyk winning by at least 4

You lot clearly have more faith in Usyk getting a decision here than I do.

No, it was more about them looking undercooked and not yet fit enough, having not played any preseason friendlies. They do have a few missing through injury but probably no moreso than anybody else.

Interesting strategy to use the first few matches of a season as a preseason warmup. Not sure it'll catch on.

Usual rays of sunshine have started early then. Predicting a heavy defeat yet will still whine and scream like it's the end of the world if it happens. Whoppers.

Did make me laugh that he gave it the big build-up on the first tee, whipping the crowd up, before promptly stuffing his tee shot wildly left into the rough and it hitting a spectator on the leg in the process.

That ball from Woakes was wasted on Leach.

To be fair I don't think anyone can claim it's anything underhand.

I've just heard the first tee shot on the radio and their fans are already doing my head in.

Innit. Look at the scenes at the end there and try telling people that it doesn't matter.

I think my heart just stopped. If we'd lost that I'd have had Blatherwick sacked on the spot for that shot, what the **** was he doing?!

It used to be the case that they'd automatically get involved if more than 15 wickets went on the first day.

Just the 25 wickets at Chelmsford today... What's more of a surprise is that Harmer didn't get any of them.

It is almost like he's just thought "Ah **** it, might as well go full Brent". As cringeworthy as he could be whilst he was here, he's definitely got worse since leaving.