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Following up a discussion I was having elsewhere
Much of Essex's success in One Day and 2020 cricket has been due to having two good spinners. In 2020 we always play a Fast bowler, alongside David Masters who is having an amazing season so far, although he is the ultimate county dibbley-dobbler.
I think the fascination with medium bits and pieces cricketers in one day cricket is a mistake. Not to be confused with quality medium-pace bowling, which is different.
So many times positive cricket wins, which is why England looses. Too often England have tried to defend their way to victory, when having a good attack that takes wickets has proved at least very useful.
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Brown and LDV
Today’s blog
Firstly, a cracker:
“However, like all achievements in politics, our successes need to be defended from those with other priorities. David Cameron spoke over the weekend about "an age of austerity". But we need to ask - austerity for who?
While our party offers a £145 tax cut for 22 million basic rate taxpayers, the Tories talk of putting "some taxes up" and prioritising a multi-million pound inheritance tax cut for the wealthiest few.
Gordon Brown”
My second post relates to LDV falling into administration.
I'm glad I was not the only one who thought along these lines: http://www.labourlist.org/alan-giles-ldv-labour-losing-heart-labourlist?utm_source=taomail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=802+Communication%2C+Thu+30th+Apr+2009&tmtid=11331-802-6-1-2089.
I'll give away my far left roots by admitting that the first thought that came to my mind was a worker take over, ideally backed by the Govt if money was otherwise unavailable.
Failing that, then the Government should step in to take over the otherwise failing business and provide it with the orders of environmentally friendly vehicles to really show that not only is the environment fluffy and lovely, it's also the source of jobs for the future. To pass this opportunity by is a real shame
Firstly, a cracker:
“However, like all achievements in politics, our successes need to be defended from those with other priorities. David Cameron spoke over the weekend about "an age of austerity". But we need to ask - austerity for who?
While our party offers a £145 tax cut for 22 million basic rate taxpayers, the Tories talk of putting "some taxes up" and prioritising a multi-million pound inheritance tax cut for the wealthiest few.
Gordon Brown”
My second post relates to LDV falling into administration.
I'm glad I was not the only one who thought along these lines: http://www.labourlist.org/alan-giles-ldv-labour-losing-heart-labourlist?utm_source=taomail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=802+Communication%2C+Thu+30th+Apr+2009&tmtid=11331-802-6-1-2089.
I'll give away my far left roots by admitting that the first thought that came to my mind was a worker take over, ideally backed by the Govt if money was otherwise unavailable.
Failing that, then the Government should step in to take over the otherwise failing business and provide it with the orders of environmentally friendly vehicles to really show that not only is the environment fluffy and lovely, it's also the source of jobs for the future. To pass this opportunity by is a real shame
Cricket Essex
Essex have Kent at 36/3! This is amazing! Having made 370!
And Chris Woakes took a wicket against West Indies. I wouldn't think he can be too far away from selection for England.
36/3!!
And Chris Woakes took a wicket against West Indies. I wouldn't think he can be too far away from selection for England.
36/3!!
Tories to the right of Cameson
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6195107.ece
The piece above supports what I believe, which is that the Conservative Party is still some way to the right of Mr Cameron, as Labour is somewhere to the left of Brown.
In some ways I think a Cameron win may be the lesser of various evils, as a Cameron defeat would likely move the Tories even further to the right without a relatively 'left'/'compassionate' leader.
The problem for Labour, and I think politics and democracy, is that we have Brown Vs Cameron in almost presidential style, instead of the party politics which do show a real divide between divergant ideological views. Labour needs to make the point that only the dressing has changed, let's not forget that.
I have no doubt that Cameron IS to the left of some/many in his party, but they are only really happy to put up with him when he's successful. The economic crisis means the Tories will implement big cuts in their time in government, which will appease the rest of the party, but it depends on how far each goes/wishes to go as to whether he can do what he has so far succeeded at, i.e. getting the party to be very quiet while Cameron takes all the spot light
The piece above supports what I believe, which is that the Conservative Party is still some way to the right of Mr Cameron, as Labour is somewhere to the left of Brown.
In some ways I think a Cameron win may be the lesser of various evils, as a Cameron defeat would likely move the Tories even further to the right without a relatively 'left'/'compassionate' leader.
The problem for Labour, and I think politics and democracy, is that we have Brown Vs Cameron in almost presidential style, instead of the party politics which do show a real divide between divergant ideological views. Labour needs to make the point that only the dressing has changed, let's not forget that.
I have no doubt that Cameron IS to the left of some/many in his party, but they are only really happy to put up with him when he's successful. The economic crisis means the Tories will implement big cuts in their time in government, which will appease the rest of the party, but it depends on how far each goes/wishes to go as to whether he can do what he has so far succeeded at, i.e. getting the party to be very quiet while Cameron takes all the spot light
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Cricket: First Test Squad
I have to say i'm surprised about Bopara batting at three and Bresnan being picked. The rest I predicted, but to have those two has taken me by surprise.
Fair play to Flower if he thinks they the ones to do the damage. I've followed and rated Bresnan for some time, so it's good to see him get the call. I'm really glad they have loaded the bowling rather than the batting, we might even see a result at Lords, for the first time in seven.
Fair play to Flower if he thinks they the ones to do the damage. I've followed and rated Bresnan for some time, so it's good to see him get the call. I'm really glad they have loaded the bowling rather than the batting, we might even see a result at Lords, for the first time in seven.
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Cricket Overseas players
I've long had a problem with the number of 'kolpac' players in English County Cricket.
Durham are playing Somerset: http://content.cricinfo.com/countycricket2009/engine/current/match/382918.html
with a grand total of four English-born players, with two who are born elsewhere but are/will be eligible for England.
Now the whole eligibility thing makes all this difficult, especially regarding Ireland.
I think 'over-seas' players should be anyone not qualified to play for England in their next game. Maybe some arrangement could be worked out so Scottish and Irish players could play as home-grown players, but not all these Kolpacs.
As an Essex supporter I have a vested interest in maybe non-Test nations not counting, so that Dutch, Danish etc. could play County Cricket thereby getting some of the exposure which should hopefully help them develop. Of course Ten Doeschate is ‘Dutch’ thereby getting out of this, but Grant Flower being Zimbabwean would count as foreign.
Durham are playing Somerset: http://content.cricinfo.com/countycricket2009/engine/current/match/382918.html
with a grand total of four English-born players, with two who are born elsewhere but are/will be eligible for England.
Now the whole eligibility thing makes all this difficult, especially regarding Ireland.
I think 'over-seas' players should be anyone not qualified to play for England in their next game. Maybe some arrangement could be worked out so Scottish and Irish players could play as home-grown players, but not all these Kolpacs.
As an Essex supporter I have a vested interest in maybe non-Test nations not counting, so that Dutch, Danish etc. could play County Cricket thereby getting some of the exposure which should hopefully help them develop. Of course Ten Doeschate is ‘Dutch’ thereby getting out of this, but Grant Flower being Zimbabwean would count as foreign.
Cricket: First Test Squad
With the First Test squad to be named soon, here's my take on things:
I'd plump for
1 *Strauss
2 Cook
3 Bell
4 Pietersen
5 Collingwood
6 Prior +
7 Broad
8 Swann
9 Harmison
10 Onions
11 Anderson
The questions are numbers 3 and 10. Bell has scored some runs so is in, Onions has taken the 2nd most wickets after Anderson and has been around for a while so plays.
If only Sajid Mahmood had any kind of consistancy, he'd be close. The one thing the Australians have been vulnerable to is pace, real quick bowling. Bond has taken them apart in the past, the 2005 Ashes was won with a proper pace attack. Now we need some good pace bowling and Mahmood would be the man if he could get the ball in the same postcode twice in a day's place.
I've gone for three all-rounders in Prior, Broad and Swann to balance the side. Swann is primarily included as the best spinner ahead of Panesar who needs to convince to get back in
I'd plump for
1 *Strauss
2 Cook
3 Bell
4 Pietersen
5 Collingwood
6 Prior +
7 Broad
8 Swann
9 Harmison
10 Onions
11 Anderson
The questions are numbers 3 and 10. Bell has scored some runs so is in, Onions has taken the 2nd most wickets after Anderson and has been around for a while so plays.
If only Sajid Mahmood had any kind of consistancy, he'd be close. The one thing the Australians have been vulnerable to is pace, real quick bowling. Bond has taken them apart in the past, the 2005 Ashes was won with a proper pace attack. Now we need some good pace bowling and Mahmood would be the man if he could get the ball in the same postcode twice in a day's place.
I've gone for three all-rounders in Prior, Broad and Swann to balance the side. Swann is primarily included as the best spinner ahead of Panesar who needs to convince to get back in
Friday, 24 April 2009
A budget for skills
The budget has been welcomed in some quarters for it's emphasis on getting people trained and skilled and into work.
While praise is pretty scant, that makes it easier to spot.
While there is not as much on keeping people at work, the focus on training and investment is welcome, and also significant as it recognises that Britain's future is quality competitive, not proce competitive.
http://www.assetskills.org/News/News2009/BudgetResponse.asp
The creation of jobs in anything related to energy efficiency seems to me the way to go. I would like to see lots of money going to creating worth-while, value-adding jobs in energy efficiency and and combating climate change, insulation and all that sort of thing. To me, as a socialist, I don't care whether they're in the public or private sector, as long as they exist and are done well there's lots to do there
While praise is pretty scant, that makes it easier to spot.
While there is not as much on keeping people at work, the focus on training and investment is welcome, and also significant as it recognises that Britain's future is quality competitive, not proce competitive.
http://www.assetskills.org/News/News2009/BudgetResponse.asp
The creation of jobs in anything related to energy efficiency seems to me the way to go. I would like to see lots of money going to creating worth-while, value-adding jobs in energy efficiency and and combating climate change, insulation and all that sort of thing. To me, as a socialist, I don't care whether they're in the public or private sector, as long as they exist and are done well there's lots to do there
Boris Johnson
Two things I saw in the free London papers on my way to a gig last night gave me hope. One was that I would be better off as a result of the budget.
The other is that Boris is going to launch an assault on Number 10, intending to outflank Cameron to the right and become PM himself.
He’s opposing the new tax rate and calling all Tories to do the same, which Cameron has not yet committed to.
Anyway, this will be good if it helps tear the Tories apart, making them unelectable and leaving Labour as the only party. Under the policy direction of the Bearded Socialist, who will then nationalise Southend United and plough money into them, making them the biggest team in the world at the end of the ten year plan.
Ok, gets a bit off topic, but the plan is there.
In case anyone thinks he’s got good ideas for education:
“He also waded into the issue of academic selection. He told the Spectator magazine that allowing state schools to select on academic merit was the answer “as everybody knows but dare not admit”.”
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23679892-details/By+George!+Boris+Johnson+starts+No10+battle/article.do
This comment on the above link amused me:
“Oh Boris! He's so funny on quiz shows and it's hilarious the way he goes 'Blah blah blah' when asked awkward questions, terribly amusing the way he has exposed Londoners to more congestion, more pollution, more traffic, more accidents, potentially millions of pounds of fines from the EU, the way his advisers keep resigning in disgrace, the habit he has of scrapping press conferences and making his office less and less accountable. Once he's ruined London he can go on to ruin the country because people seem to like to vote for bumbling, dishonest politicians who have been sacked from every job they've ever held. Except it isn't funny any more. It was predicted that Johnson would lose interest in the job once he realised it would involve actual hard work. Instead the power seems to have gone to his head. A joke, now possibly a joke on a national scale. God help us.”
The other is that Boris is going to launch an assault on Number 10, intending to outflank Cameron to the right and become PM himself.
He’s opposing the new tax rate and calling all Tories to do the same, which Cameron has not yet committed to.
Anyway, this will be good if it helps tear the Tories apart, making them unelectable and leaving Labour as the only party. Under the policy direction of the Bearded Socialist, who will then nationalise Southend United and plough money into them, making them the biggest team in the world at the end of the ten year plan.
Ok, gets a bit off topic, but the plan is there.
In case anyone thinks he’s got good ideas for education:
“He also waded into the issue of academic selection. He told the Spectator magazine that allowing state schools to select on academic merit was the answer “as everybody knows but dare not admit”.”
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23679892-details/By+George!+Boris+Johnson+starts+No10+battle/article.do
This comment on the above link amused me:
“Oh Boris! He's so funny on quiz shows and it's hilarious the way he goes 'Blah blah blah' when asked awkward questions, terribly amusing the way he has exposed Londoners to more congestion, more pollution, more traffic, more accidents, potentially millions of pounds of fines from the EU, the way his advisers keep resigning in disgrace, the habit he has of scrapping press conferences and making his office less and less accountable. Once he's ruined London he can go on to ruin the country because people seem to like to vote for bumbling, dishonest politicians who have been sacked from every job they've ever held. Except it isn't funny any more. It was predicted that Johnson would lose interest in the job once he realised it would involve actual hard work. Instead the power seems to have gone to his head. A joke, now possibly a joke on a national scale. God help us.”
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