When do these lot return to training for new season?

If we follow Englands lead we will have a five a side game of football the day before season starts and will be good to go !!!!

Good to go ?

Sir Winston Churchill would never have uttered a ludicrous,American phrase like that.

How do you feel about the BBC describing Ben Stokes as 'Brearley and Botham combined'?

Winny old boy. The few players who arent playing abroad have been training in the indoor nets for a while and they now have the marquee set up on the outfield. I dont think there are many of our boys who are in the country at the moment.

VicNorth wrote:How do you feel about the BBC describing Ben Stokes as 'Brearley and Botham combined'?

To be fair I think that’s quite a decent description of Stokes.

Not as clever as Brearley but he has made some very smart captaincy decisions. The comparison with Botham is quite appropriate.

Sir Winston Churchill wrote:

VicNorth wrote:How do you feel about the BBC describing Ben Stokes as 'Brearley and Botham combined'?

To be fair I think that’s quite a decent description of Stokes.

Not as clever as Brearley but he has made some very smart captaincy decisions. The comparison with Botham is quite appropriate.

I doubt that Brearley has ever been up for GBH though.

Brearley was a superb captain and motivator, no doubt, but he did like pace in his bowlers and experience in his attack more generally. He was a bit fortunate that his county could at that time afford to bring in both pace and experience aplenty, whether it be from abroad or Jones the Grunt. Internationally he was fortunate to have Botham. Fielding three tyro spinners? Not on his watch, I think.

I quite like the idea of Brearley trying to bat in the Bazball style though.

Hi, thought he was completely exonerated from the GBH charge - something to do with Stokes protecting someone unknown to him in a queue. He was a total star - the media portrayed it as something completely different. The man is a legend in more way than just cricket.

Miles better cricketer than Botham ever was.

I am never that keen on comparing cricketers but would say Stokes is the better batsman and Botham ( particularly before he bulked up) the better bowler. Both magnificent in the field.

Northi wrote:Hi, thought he was completely exonerated from the GBH charge - something to do with Stokes protecting someone unknown to him in a queue. He was a total star - the media portrayed it as something completely different. The man is a legend in more way than just cricket.

Just checked - it was affray, not GBH. I wasn't meaning to imply that he was really guilty in a no smoke without fire manner, more that I struggle to imagine Brearley being in a queue for a night club in the street. Trouble often does crop up in the same sentence as "night club", which is why leading sportsmen might do best avoiding them!

If someone asked Brearley "what you looking at?" he'd probably reply "that's a very interesting philosophical question".

VicNorth wrote:Miles better cricketer than Botham ever was.

Stokes ? Don't talk fucking rubbish.Their batting records in Tests are much the same,as are their catches.However ,Botham absolutely wipes the floor with Stokes as a bowler.

Wickets....................Botham 383......................Stokes 197

Average.......................28.40.............................32.07

Best Innings................8/34...............................6/22

Best Match...................13/106....................8/161

5 wicket innings..............27.......................4

10 wicket match.................4.........................NONE

[quSlightly better,not a lot in it.ote="Wokoval"]I am never that keen on comparing cricketers but would say Stokes is the better batsman and Botham ( particularly before he bulked up) the better bowler. Both magnificent in the field.[/quote]

Slightly better though not much in it.

Botham a better bowler by several country miles.No contest.See above.

Okay, but I hate Ian Botham.

You should try Revitive!