James Fitzgerald
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jamesfitzjourno.bsky.social
James Fitzgerald
@jamesfitzjourno.bsky.social
UK Financial Services Reporter @POLITICO.eu

Australian journo in London, originally from Adelaide/Tarndanya.

- views & rants my own -

- jfitzgerald@politico.co.uk
Yeah, this.
MCG pitch is easy scapegoat but sloppy cricket is to blame for early Ashes finishes | Geoff Lemonff
MCG pitch is easy scapegoat but sloppy cricket is to blame for early Ashes finishes | Geoff Lemonff
While the Melbourne curator had to face the media and say sorry, some of the players owe him an apology in return You know that something has gone wrong when the man in charge of the cricket pitch is giving a post-match press conference. Australian pitches are celebrities in their own right, each with a distinct perceived personality. Perth – gasoline, bounce. Sydney – intrigue, spin. Adelaide – graft, a late finale. Like any possessor of fame who has been around long enough, some trade on past glories that no longer apply, but what those ideas mean to the people repeating them is worth more than the truth itself. Aptly, these celebrities have agents, representatives, fluffers, heading to media appearances before each Test to prognosticate. Where the English grass gaffers are still called groundsmen, clomping around in gumboots yelling at interlopers to get off their giant lawn, the Australians are curators, artfully synthesising the elements of sun and rain and dew and morning mist into something tangible. Their pre-match appearances are oracular, reading the grass clippings like Babylonians did the heavens to say what might happen, to give the mood of the soil, to press one ear to the ground and tell you whether she be restless or still. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 28, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Burn the tape. #Ashes
December 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Reposted by James Fitzgerald
While most politicians mouth meaningless platitudes without backing it up, Kon is out there every day actually making a difference for vulnerable people who need help, all the while copping the foulest racist abuse from Neanderthals on here. He is a genuine Australian hero.
Welcome to our table of humanity, hope and unity. Every culture and faith from more than 50 countries sharing a meal together at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre today. You can support compassion and welcome for refugees through your donation. Donate here: donate.asrc.org.au/donatetoday
December 22, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Lol lmao. Idiot.

Anyway, how good. #Ashes
December 21, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Finish them. #Ashes
December 20, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Oh...good.
December 19, 2025 at 2:53 PM
He sure is. #Ashes
The King of Adelaide 👑

Travis Head reaches three figures for the fourth consecutive Test at his home ground 🔥
December 19, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Reposted by James Fitzgerald
November 22, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Kez ❤️ #Ashes
December 17, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Smudge out 😬 #Ashes
December 16, 2025 at 10:43 PM
....ok.
December 10, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Reposted by James Fitzgerald
Because of course Henry had got the full roll call from Dulwich College and of course Trevor Phillips couldn’t even be bothered to read the stories he’s writing about
On a purely factual point, Trevor Phillips’s column in the Times misrepresents our reporting in casting doubts on claims that there were more boys called Patel than Smith at Dulwich in 1980 (we did not report 1976 as the year it occurred). 1980 roll shows 13 Patels and 12 Smiths.
December 8, 2025 at 11:22 AM
10/10, no notes. #Ashes
Brendon McCullum says England may have trained too hard before the Gabba Test 🗣️
December 7, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Well that shut Jofra up. 2-0 baby. #Ashes
December 7, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Mitchell Starc's bday should be a public holiday Imo. #Ashes
December 6, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Perfect.
December 5, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Cam Green stop doing stupid shit pls. #Ashes
December 5, 2025 at 10:11 AM
I feel Marnus should come on and bowl some gentle pies until the exact time they call stumps, for fairness. #Ashes
December 4, 2025 at 10:56 AM
*taps sign* #Ashes
Starc from both ends pls #Ashes
December 4, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Like...fine, I guess.

But Webster has been seriously robbed. #Ashes
December 3, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Reposted by James Fitzgerald
But I’ve been assured by people having 5 day twitter meltdowns on this subject that this isn’t true
David Miles (of the OBR) at the Treasury Select Committee: Reeves’ speech was not inconsistent with the OBR’s assessment.
December 2, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Good stuff, this.
reneweconomy.com.au
December 1, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Reposted by James Fitzgerald
This story is starting to make me feel I’m going slightly mad - maybe RR overdid the gloom, but the tax rises are paying for a) the welfare U-turns b) the £10bn-plus increase in headroom c) scrapping the two child limit d) bits of other spending eg higher local gov costs 🤷🏻‍♀️
December 1, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Reposted by James Fitzgerald
Honestly the completely weird Budget coverage is mostly a sign of how pretty much any attack can stick when you’re unpopular enough.

Of course Rachel Reeves didn’t brief the full Cabinet on Budget details weeks in advance! No chancellor ever does! It would immediately leak!
December 1, 2025 at 8:54 AM