A Tale Of Two Veterans

You get the feeling things aren't quite going to script for what we all assume are farewell tourists. The great thing about a four test series is the drama is still in the early scenes, with plenty of plot twists to come. The set designers done a pretty good job as well.

Cheer Up Matty

Yeah, it wasn't a great day at the office but there is a hell of a lot of cricket left to play in this one.

Caption Please?

Help me out here people - something patriotic about bell and balls perhaps?

Practice is ...

... the refuge of the true professional.

Funny Old Game

The Lords Test might have been the 2000th ever played but it was a bit quirky in the way it all happened.

This image of MS Dhoni taking off the pads and having a bowl captures one of the odder moments in the game.

An Appealing Days Cricket

OK, there were a lot of injuries and back stories, but any test match that is decided in the sunshine during the last session can't be too bad a cricket event.

I wish Broad would stop picking on poor old Billy - all that yelling can't be good for Bowden's arthritis. While on Broad I propose a new nick name - Broad The Bunny Killer!

Well Done That Man

Firstly, well done the old fella for manfully keeping The Terry hat tradition alive. Not so sure about the trousers.

Secondly, thanks to Livin' on the Outside Edge for bringing this great pick to my attention in a recent post.

Thirdly, good luck Sachin. There are very few people who would not like to see a fairytale 100 on the last day at Lords.

The Flying Buttress

Dravid celebrating the fact he is once again the foundation of an Indian innings. Not a great Indian batting display but where would they have been without their rock?

KP Kicks

Why?

Well being KP probably just because he can.

Always In The Frame

Thank God for Ishant Sharma. Even when the weather is dodgy and the play is pedestrian you can always count on Sharma to take a photo worthy of playing with. The MCC members are always a great backdrop as well.

I think the reason Sharma takes such interesting pictures is that there are parts of his body that don't seem to be quite in sync with each other - I mean where does that right foot think it is going?

One May Be Enough

No equity on this blog. MS is so bright and positive in this image I couldn't bring myself to double up the image - just too scary.

It looks like he is very keen to get going at Lords. I for one am very keen to watch. 

Pop Strauss

The boss looking seriously quiet, or is it quietly serious?

Buy This Bat Or ....

...  I will kill you with it.

That seems to be the look Ian Bell, Adidas and the marketing people were going for in this shot.

Can any one suggest a wittier caption to promote the Adidas Incurza, or for that matter Ian Bell.

Living In The Past

It was Graham Yallop - I am sure you all knew that. Apparently the first man to wear The Helmet in an official test match. The local Aussies were so impressed they booed him to the crease. - fair go mate!

I can't shake the old photos , which is probably a commentary on what isn't happening at present.

So who is this brave soldier? And no, he wasn't part of the riot police social team.

Inscrutable Or Just Bloody Cold

The last of my 1946 retrospective. I would love to know what is going through Gul Mohamed's mind in this photo. There is definitely a touch of "what the hell am I doing here" in his eyes. Of course, 1946 was pre global warming.

India V The Counties

Original photo and commentary from Wisden via Cricinfo.

Against Sussex at Hove on July 29, 1946 the first four batsmen of the Indian team completed centuries. The board shows the position just before the fall of the third wicket. The players from left to right are: V. Mankad who scored 105, L. Amarnath (106), Nawab of Pataudi (110 not out), V. M. Merchant (205). The score-board was presented to Sussex by the most famous of all Indian cricketers, K. S. Ranjitsinhji.

You Have Come A Long Way Gentleman

The 1946 Indian Touring team to England look happy just to be there. I suspect the 2011 touring side will have higher expectations and will perhaps leave the pads off for the team photo.

Any Way You Want It

 

Standing tall or keeping a low profile, the clenched smile and big smile are absolute essentials to the post wicket celebration.

The Lion Of Huddersfield V.2011

OK, the waist is a touch fuller and the hair has a little less gravity defying attitude but Sidebottom has still got the spark in the eye and the cream on the lips. Go you Yorkshire Rose!

Action Shot

M Vijay adds to the action in the Windies. While the weather has been a bit up and down this series has had it's fair share of whirlwind moments.

Run Shiv Run

Head down and going for it, Shiv Chanderpaul pushes for the two he needs to complete another test ton.

He is one of my favourite cricketers - I just love the way he can do his own thing while still carrying his team on those thin yet wiry shoulders.

Terry Of The Week

Harbhajan Singh is the inaugural winner of the Terry of the Week.

While he is still busy adding to his test wicket tally, he does not appear to be wildly excited by this great honour.

Going Both Ways

Dhoni and Raina might be running in different directions but you can tell by the look on their faces they both have the same objective.

Happy 400th

Harbhajan Singh celebrates his 400th test wicket in his usual calm, understated manner.

In an era where the off spinner has been deemed a luxury item in many cricket teams 400 test wickets is a great achievement - and it has almost always been entertaining.

The Terrible Terry

Yesterday's posting got me to thinking about the blind faith and total lack of fashion sense that saw cricketers at all levels take the field in a terry toweling hat in the 1970's.

What mystic power did this hat possess? Did the ancients know something we don't, or were they just bloody silly?

How would 21st century cricketers look in The Terry?

Well leave some suggestions about who you want to see under a White Wonder and I will see what I can do.

Blast From the Past

It's 1975, Dennis Lillee is bowling very short, and very very fast. 

The only protection you have is good eye sight, a piece of willow and a toweling floppy hat.

So what happens next?

See You Jimmy...

... and Swanny, and Broady.

Young Dinesh Chandimal looks even younger than he really is but he certainly can swing that big bat.

It will interesting to see if he can kick on from the "great Lords innings" start that has bedeviled a few before him.

A Colourful Crowd

Praveen Kumar works hard in front of an attentive and colouful crowd. It's all acton between the rains.

Bouncy Bridgetown

Dravid is seen here highlighting the fact that there is nothing like a hard red ball hurled at your head at 140 km to distort time and space.

This effect seems to have been quite common so far in the Bridgetown Test.

Perfect Practice Makes Perfect

Which is all very well but then what the hell is Jimmy Anderson practicing?

All answers on the back of an envelope in 25 words or less - or just leave a comment.