Tom Russell
callatruce.bsky.social
Tom Russell
@callatruce.bsky.social
Misanthropic optimist.

Here to discuss film-making, test cricket, law and mediation.

And other stuff sometimes.
The five pacemen of the Ashocalypse have ridden into view.

And it was some entrance.

Some of us remember the Gabba test in 1990, but this feels more ruthless.

Don't blink.

Breathe.

Here's something for the first drinks break.

🏏😍

@georgedobell.bsky.social
@norcrosscricket.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Ashes Fever!

At an unhappy hunting ground for English tourists, will ultra positivity herald a change of fortune?

Or will the hype be followed by hiccups?

Here's a puzzle to remind you of the pace and bounce!

🏏😎

@georgedobell.bsky.social
@geofflemon.bsky.social
@norcrosscricket.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 10:55 PM
This person knows A LOT about history.

A voice worthy of listening.

👍👂👂
Nationalism is a shibboleth. The challenges we face are daunting. But we are not going to overcome them by hunkering down behind of imaginary lines scrawled on a map by medieval warlords. Our problems are transnational, and the solutions are too.
October 24, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Fifteen years between the first day at school and the first at university.

And, just like that, parental redundancy!
September 6, 2025 at 10:20 PM
It is ESSENTIAL that we spread far-and-wide the story of these brave filmmakers.

And the terrible risks faced by innocent journalists going about their calling.

@georgedobell.bsky.social
@norcrosscricket.bsky.social
@mrjamesob.bsky.social

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWm6...
Suburban Mysteries: The Man Who Became A Bear
YouTube video by BSADF
www.youtube.com
September 4, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Win + Lose = Mam
August 9, 2025 at 10:03 PM
WARNING! DISTRESSING SCENES. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

Dear Followers and Friends,

Please watch and share this film.

It tells the true story of an ill-fated investigation.

The awful perils faced by documentary filmmakers is a serious issue of our times.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWm6...
Suburban Mysteries: The Man Who Became A Bear
YouTube video by BSADF
www.youtube.com
August 9, 2025 at 9:07 AM
A good day to repost the puzzle below.

I was privileged to watch every ball of Graham's 114* at Trent Bridge and his 138 at Edgbaston 4 years later.

A wonderful cricketer to be celebrated.

@kiaoval.com
@georgedobell.bsky.social
@norcrosscricket.bsky.social
@zaltzcricket.bsky.social
Good Evening Cricket People of BlueSky!

Here's a little puzzle to keep you busy for a few minutes whilst events in Christchurch reach their denouement.

Homage to a magical moment 31 summers ago and a really wonderful cricketer who brought about lots of happiness.

@norcrosscricket.bsky.social
August 1, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Some real courage in the face of injury on display in this test match.

Here's a puzzle dedicated to those who've been brave enough to leave the treatment table for the field of play over the years.

@norcrosscricket.bsky.social
@georgedobell.bsky.social
@geofflemon.bsky.social

🏏🙂
July 27, 2025 at 1:09 PM
I am privileged to have occasionally been in the presence of greatness during my lifetime.

Sachin, Brian, Ricky*, Kumar, Jacques. Wonderful.

Here's a tribute to the great Joe Root.

Enjoy the game, everyone 🏏.

@georgedobell.bsky.social
@norcrosscricket.bsky.social
@tmsproducer.bsky.social
July 26, 2025 at 9:51 AM
We begin the 3rd day of an Old Trafford test match with not one over bowled so far by a specialist off spinner.

Jim would, I think, not have approved.

Here's a puzzle dedicated to the most noble form of bowling.

Have a great day everyone!

@norcrosscricket.bsky.social
@georgedobell.bsky.social
July 25, 2025 at 10:09 AM
The Put-Em-In Roadshow now visits Manchester!

I was out of the country for the Battle of Lord's, but here's a little puzzle to commemorate the courage displayed by those who faced the prospect of batting for 2 overs before the close!

🏏😎

@georgedobell.bsky.social
@norcrosscricket.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Happy 50th to a goddamned marvel of modern filmmaking.

Get out of the window.

Just get out of the window.

Please.

Just once after all these years.
July 22, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Good Morning Bluesky Cricket!

Will England still play to win if the run rate is 20+ per over this afternoon?

Here's a little puzzle to while away the morning in memory of a rainy Birmingham test match many years ago.

@georgedobell.bsky.social
@norcrosscricket.bsky.social

#flippergate
July 6, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Watching this England cricket team is a bit like watching the Russian Roulette scenes in the Deer Hunter.

Eventually, there will be a bullet in the chamber!

Here's a puzzle for the morning session.

🏏😍😎

@norcrosscricket.bsky.social
@georgedobell.bsky.social
@oscarress.bsky.social
July 5, 2025 at 10:28 AM
How wonderful that we have another test match today between two teams full of enigmatic and energetic cricketers.

Here's a puzzle in memory of a game a few decades ago also involving a few eccentric heroes.

Have a great day, everyone!

@georgedobell.bsky.social
@norcrosscricket.bsky.social
July 2, 2025 at 9:19 AM
G'day Bluesky Cricket!

It's not unheard of for a team to concede the best part of 500 in the first innings at Leeds and then chase over 400 on the last day.

But it doesn't really matter who wins. Just love it!

@georgedobell.bsky.social
@norcrosscricket.bsky.social
@melindafarrell.bsky.social
June 24, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Some chat on the TMS today as to the relative merits of Bumrah/Marshall.

Leaving statistics to one side, a remarkable anecdote about Macco is the Lahore test match of 1986.

WI picked 2 spinners for the first time in years and they bowled one over between them!

@zaltzcricket.bsky.social
June 23, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Alone and without a ticket at the Gabba in 1998, I wandered into a pub and got chatting to a huge man sitting at the bar for a few hours.

It was David Lawrence. Utterly without pretention. Heart-warmingly friendly.

Rocking and rumbling.

@georgedobell.bsky.social
@norcrosscricket.bsky.social
June 22, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Good Morning Bluesky Cricket!

If Zimbabwe create an upset over the next few days, it wouldn't be the first time that they've stolen from the rich in the city of Robin Hood.

Who's missing from this pride of parsimonious predators?

🏏😁

@norcrosscricket.bsky.social
@georgedobell.bsky.social
May 22, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Good afternoon Bluesky Cricket People!

It seems like a long time since I last saw Zimbabwe play at Trent Bridge.

But I've snaffled a ticket for tomorrow.

Here's a little puzzle in homage to a famous game back in the day.

😎🏏

@georgedobell.bsky.social
@norcrosscricket.bsky.social
May 21, 2025 at 3:01 PM
After extensive testing in both shower and basin, I can confirm that "Hand and Body Cleansing Bar" is the product formerly known as "Soap".
April 9, 2025 at 3:40 PM
A ticket inspector carrying a rooster is my kind of railway platform furniture!
February 12, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Freelance enthusiast views Siamese twilight (4,6)
February 12, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Spot the Wat!
February 12, 2025 at 3:51 PM