Fun piece on Sean Longstaff playing cricket in the off season , think there's a quite a few examples of pro footballers turning out for cricket clubs , didn't Alfie May when he was with us and I believe Tariq Holmes-Dennis plays too?
Alfie May used to play for Farningham CC. He says cricket is his favourite sport.
I know the Neville brothers and Joe Hart are always brought up as footballers that were also incredibly talented junior cricketers who had to make the choice but it's interesting to see how many others there are.
According to Phil Neville's Wikipedia:
Neville was also a talented cricketer in his youth, and a contemporary of England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff in Lancashire's Under-19 side, captaining England Under-15s. Neville holds the record for being the youngest player to play for Lancashire's second XI at age 15. Flintoff described Neville as a "cricketing genius" whose talents could have compared to Ricky Ponting or Sachin Tendulkar, if he had chosen a cricket career.
I know he'll have made a load more money in football, and got quite a few caps, but considering he was always a decent but not spectacular footballer, wonder if he might have been better at cricket than football?
The ECB have informed the Umpires that they are very keen to take every opportunity to get to 30.1 overs.
Rob Key has been seen remonstrating with the Umpires for not staying out for another 7 balls. They have been heard saying that they feared the wrath of Lee Fortis.
Fun piece on Sean Longstaff playing cricket in the off season , think there's a quite a few examples of pro footballers turning out for cricket clubs , didn't Alfie May when he was with us and I believe Tariq Holmes-Dennis plays too?
Alfie May used to play for Farningham CC. He says cricket is his favourite sport.
I know the Neville brothers and Joe Hart are always brought up as footballers that were also incredibly talented junior cricketers who had to make the choice but it's interesting to see how many others there are.
According to Phil Neville's Wikipedia:
Neville was also a talented cricketer in his youth, and a contemporary of England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff in Lancashire's Under-19 side, captaining England Under-15s. Neville holds the record for being the youngest player to play for Lancashire's second XI at age 15. Flintoff described Neville as a "cricketing genius" whose talents could have compared to Ricky Ponting or Sachin Tendulkar, if he had chosen a cricket career.
I know he'll have made a load more money in football, and got quite a few caps, but considering he was always a decent but not spectacular footballer, wonder if he might have been better at cricket than football?
59 caps for England, numerous titles with United and a multi-millionaire suggests that he would have really had to fulfil his cricketing talent to go on and match that. I mentioned Adam Ball above and he was 16 when he was in the same England U19 side as the much older Root, Stokes, Buttler and Vince. He retired by his mid 20s. They don't always kick on and of that U19 side at least three or four never even made first class cricket.
Fun piece on Sean Longstaff playing cricket in the off season , think there's a quite a few examples of pro footballers turning out for cricket clubs , didn't Alfie May when he was with us and I believe Tariq Holmes-Dennis plays too?
Alfie May used to play for Farningham CC. He says cricket is his favourite sport.
I know the Neville brothers and Joe Hart are always brought up as footballers that were also incredibly talented junior cricketers who had to make the choice but it's interesting to see how many others there are.
According to Phil Neville's Wikipedia:
Neville was also a talented cricketer in his youth, and a contemporary of England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff in Lancashire's Under-19 side, captaining England Under-15s. Neville holds the record for being the youngest player to play for Lancashire's second XI at age 15. Flintoff described Neville as a "cricketing genius" whose talents could have compared to Ricky Ponting or Sachin Tendulkar, if he had chosen a cricket career.
I know he'll have made a load more money in football, and got quite a few caps, but considering he was always a decent but not spectacular footballer, wonder if he might have been better at cricket than football?
59 caps for England, numerous titles with United and a multi-millionaire suggests that he would have really had to fulfil his cricketing talent to go on and match that. I mentioned Adam Ball above and he was 16 when he was in the same England U19 side as the much older Root, Stokes, Buttler and Vince. He retired by his mid 20s. They don't always kick on and of that U19 side at least three or four never even made first class cricket.
True.
Obviously I'm sure he made the right decision with the career he had, just one of those 'I wonder....' questions!
Fun piece on Sean Longstaff playing cricket in the off season , think there's a quite a few examples of pro footballers turning out for cricket clubs , didn't Alfie May when he was with us and I believe Tariq Holmes-Dennis plays too?
Alfie May used to play for Farningham CC. He says cricket is his favourite sport.
I know the Neville brothers and Joe Hart are always brought up as footballers that were also incredibly talented junior cricketers who had to make the choice but it's interesting to see how many others there are.
According to Phil Neville's Wikipedia:
Neville was also a talented cricketer in his youth, and a contemporary of England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff in Lancashire's Under-19 side, captaining England Under-15s. Neville holds the record for being the youngest player to play for Lancashire's second XI at age 15. Flintoff described Neville as a "cricketing genius" whose talents could have compared to Ricky Ponting or Sachin Tendulkar, if he had chosen a cricket career.
I know he'll have made a load more money in football, and got quite a few caps, but considering he was always a decent but not spectacular footballer, wonder if he might have been better at cricket than football?
Saw an interview with Gary and Phil years ago where they were asked about this and in response to Phil saying he was the better cricketer Gary responds with "you were also the better footballer at that age!"
A friend of mine, Gavin Hamilton, was on Arsenal books as a kid. He was gifted at any sport he did but gave up football because, as a very small kid, he got fed up with being kicked off the park. Prior to returning to Scotland at the age of 15 he was an opening bat, leg spin bowler and could keep wicket too. Omah Henry took him for a couple of winters to South Africa and by the time he returned at the age of 18 he had become a bowling all rounder who would go on to play for Yorkshire, Durham, Scotland and England (albeit bagged a pair against Allan Donald).
His career came to an end when he developed the yips and literally could not land the ball on the strip. That just goes to show that even the most talented of sporting individuals are dictated to by the mental side of things.
Gavin Hamilton was a great white ball player. Another case of “wrong era”, would’ve had a much longer international career playing white ball if he was around now.
Mark alleyne, for example, would’ve been a great white ball captain for England.
38% of deliveries were "channel" - the lowest in the whole series with the best conditions to bowl that line too. Taking 5 wickets with the ball is probably no more than par.
38% of deliveries were "channel" - the lowest in the whole series with the best conditions to bowl that line too. Taking 5 wickets with the ball is probably no more than par.
I think we did pretty well to get 6 wickets. 1 was a suicidal run out & 2 were unplayable balls from Tongue who spent most of the time sending down other unplayable balls....so unplayable they went for 4 wides.
To be fair to our bowlers, it's a bit of an indictment of the way they are managed these days. Actually playing cricket in the summer to get into rhythm seems a bit out of fashion.
Tongue looked ridiculously raw or rusty, while J Overton improved once he got some rhythm back.
England didn't bowl well, but it's not as if it was horrendous batting conditions either. The pitch is true, and the ball will have gone soft with all the rain around.
Fun piece on Sean Longstaff playing cricket in the off season , think there's a quite a few examples of pro footballers turning out for cricket clubs , didn't Alfie May when he was with us and I believe Tariq Holmes-Dennis plays too?
Alfie May used to play for Farningham CC. He says cricket is his favourite sport.
I know the Neville brothers and Joe Hart are always brought up as footballers that were also incredibly talented junior cricketers who had to make the choice but it's interesting to see how many others there are.
According to Phil Neville's Wikipedia:
Neville was also a talented cricketer in his youth, and a contemporary of England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff in Lancashire's Under-19 side, captaining England Under-15s. Neville holds the record for being the youngest player to play for Lancashire's second XI at age 15. Flintoff described Neville as a "cricketing genius" whose talents could have compared to Ricky Ponting or Sachin Tendulkar, if he had chosen a cricket career.
I know he'll have made a load more money in football, and got quite a few caps, but considering he was always a decent but not spectacular footballer, wonder if he might have been better at cricket than football?
59 caps for England, numerous titles with United and a multi-millionaire suggests that he would have really had to fulfil his cricketing talent to go on and match that. I mentioned Adam Ball above and he was 16 when he was in the same England U19 side as the much older Root, Stokes, Buttler and Vince. He retired by his mid 20s. They don't always kick on and of that U19 side at least three or four never even made first class cricket.
True.
Obviously I'm sure he made the right decision with the career he had, just one of those 'I wonder....' questions!
England were really poor today, that looked like an early season wicket, green with some seam movement plus the light was poor. You'd expect experienced bowlers to know to keep it pitched up on a tight on off-stump line and let the pitch and slip cordon do the work. These were the sort of conditions they've been playing in all their lives.
Gus Atkinson bowled well but Josh Tongue and Jamie Overton looked like they hadn't played in months, the latter averages over 100 with the ball and he'll never get better conditions to play Test cricket in.
India were allowed to escape with just six wickets down.
Comments
Neville was also a talented cricketer in his youth, and a contemporary of England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff in Lancashire's Under-19 side, captaining England Under-15s. Neville holds the record for being the youngest player to play for Lancashire's second XI at age 15. Flintoff described Neville as a "cricketing genius" whose talents could have compared to Ricky Ponting or Sachin Tendulkar, if he had chosen a cricket career.
I know he'll have made a load more money in football, and got quite a few caps, but considering he was always a decent but not spectacular footballer, wonder if he might have been better at cricket than football?
Rob Key has been seen remonstrating with the Umpires for not staying out for another 7 balls. They have been heard saying that they feared the wrath of Lee Fortis.
Obviously I'm sure he made the right decision with the career he had, just one of those 'I wonder....' questions!
His career came to an end when he developed the yips and literally could not land the ball on the strip. That just goes to show that even the most talented of sporting individuals are dictated to by the mental side of things.
As always, that does happen.
38% of deliveries were "channel" - the lowest in the whole series with the best conditions to bowl that line too. Taking 5 wickets with the ball is probably no more than par.
Tongue looked ridiculously raw or rusty, while J Overton improved once he got some rhythm back.
England didn't bowl well, but it's not as if it was horrendous batting conditions either. The pitch is true, and the ball will have gone soft with all the rain around.
Gary Neville also once scored a hundred batting with Matthew Hayden in a club match:
Article about a big partnership between Matthew Hayden and Gary Neville for Greenmount Cricket Club | ESPNcricinfo.com
I love how the article has to point out that Gary Neville is the one on the right.
England were really poor today, that looked like an early season wicket, green with some seam movement plus the light was poor. You'd expect experienced bowlers to know to keep it pitched up on a tight on off-stump line and let the pitch and slip cordon do the work. These were the sort of conditions they've been playing in all their lives.
Gus Atkinson bowled well but Josh Tongue and Jamie Overton looked like they hadn't played in months, the latter averages over 100 with the ball and he'll never get better conditions to play Test cricket in.
India were allowed to escape with just six wickets down.