GaryBannister86
@garybannister86bsk.bsky.social
long-suffering QPR, Kent and England cricket fan (men and women)
aha, thankyou, missed that.
October 8, 2025 at 9:55 AM
aha, thankyou, missed that.
So impressed with Marufa. How she was left with half her allocation unbowled is mystifying, was she injured? She will remove a lot of batters this tournament. I remain totally unconvinced by Jones under pressure. Her keeping has been really poor so far and could have been out twice today.
October 8, 2025 at 6:23 AM
So impressed with Marufa. How she was left with half her allocation unbowled is mystifying, was she injured? She will remove a lot of batters this tournament. I remain totally unconvinced by Jones under pressure. Her keeping has been really poor so far and could have been out twice today.
Absolutely correct. Anyone else cringe with embarrassment at the pictures of Charlotte Edwards celebrating and laughing at Knight's (ridiculous) third reprieve? English cricket has a hard enough time shaking off its unfair reputation of looking down on others, to do that against Bangladesh was awful
October 8, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Absolutely correct. Anyone else cringe with embarrassment at the pictures of Charlotte Edwards celebrating and laughing at Knight's (ridiculous) third reprieve? English cricket has a hard enough time shaking off its unfair reputation of looking down on others, to do that against Bangladesh was awful
I would be stunned if they win. This quote is brilliant, and I couldn't agree with it more. This is at Edwards' door, legend or not. "The West Indies series was a golden opportunity to experiment, but it just produced false hope in some of the existing players, which has subsequently been crushed."
July 23, 2025 at 10:16 AM
I would be stunned if they win. This quote is brilliant, and I couldn't agree with it more. This is at Edwards' door, legend or not. "The West Indies series was a golden opportunity to experiment, but it just produced false hope in some of the existing players, which has subsequently been crushed."
Yes, it is a frustrating and worrying lack of self awareness. The scorelines do not flatter India in any way. There has been very little progress and all it reflects is a lowering of standards. I don't think the fans are fooled, we look really average.
July 23, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Yes, it is a frustrating and worrying lack of self awareness. The scorelines do not flatter India in any way. There has been very little progress and all it reflects is a lowering of standards. I don't think the fans are fooled, we look really average.
At least they made a go of it, if never really looking likely once NSB was out. Concerned by the noises captain and coach made in the interviews after. Not sure any England captain beaten at home should say "It's been brilliant to be put under pressure". How about "Not good enough"? Standards?!
July 23, 2025 at 8:01 AM
At least they made a go of it, if never really looking likely once NSB was out. Concerned by the noises captain and coach made in the interviews after. Not sure any England captain beaten at home should say "It's been brilliant to be put under pressure". How about "Not good enough"? Standards?!
I think you are going to be right. It may, in an odd way, do the team a favour to get trounced here (although the Ashes trouncing didn't really work for us!). Turn them into caged tigers, underdogs. Find some fight. Or persuade Edwards, World Cup or no World Cup, that a lot needs to change. A lot!
July 22, 2025 at 4:07 PM
I think you are going to be right. It may, in an odd way, do the team a favour to get trounced here (although the Ashes trouncing didn't really work for us!). Turn them into caged tigers, underdogs. Find some fight. Or persuade Edwards, World Cup or no World Cup, that a lot needs to change. A lot!
Hopefully we will bat well and make a fist of it, but yet again the fielding was atrocious. You can get outskilled, as they like to say, but there is no excuse for this level of fielding from an England professional team game after game. They look devoid of confidence.
July 22, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Hopefully we will bat well and make a fist of it, but yet again the fielding was atrocious. You can get outskilled, as they like to say, but there is no excuse for this level of fielding from an England professional team game after game. They look devoid of confidence.
Oh dear, I can only presume the umpire got bemused by the switch hit. Pitching outside leg stump law still applies even in the switch hit doesn't it...don't even think it was going to hit the stumps either?!
July 20, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Oh dear, I can only presume the umpire got bemused by the switch hit. Pitching outside leg stump law still applies even in the switch hit doesn't it...don't even think it was going to hit the stumps either?!
And having been such a harsh critic, it would be remiss of me not to commend Amy Jones' innings. I could still argue wasn't really a chip are down moment, but that would be churlish. Let's hope she keeps it up and moves on in her career from here.
July 20, 2025 at 8:30 AM
And having been such a harsh critic, it would be remiss of me not to commend Amy Jones' innings. I could still argue wasn't really a chip are down moment, but that would be churlish. Let's hope she keeps it up and moves on in her career from here.
She has of course proven herself to be a good coach but I am really disappointed, not necessarily by the results, but by not making a statement, an impact. Steady as she goes is not right following this winter's performances. It is just Jon Lewis minus the over aggression, entertain mantra.
July 17, 2025 at 8:41 AM
She has of course proven herself to be a good coach but I am really disappointed, not necessarily by the results, but by not making a statement, an impact. Steady as she goes is not right following this winter's performances. It is just Jon Lewis minus the over aggression, entertain mantra.
be made to work on her batting to become a proper all rounder, especially as her fielding falls off a cliff. Cross's ageing dobblers not going to threaten anyone. NSB's captaincy appears a pedestrian choice. Edwards may be a legend of the game, but I would really have hoped to see a plan by now.
July 17, 2025 at 8:10 AM
be made to work on her batting to become a proper all rounder, especially as her fielding falls off a cliff. Cross's ageing dobblers not going to threaten anyone. NSB's captaincy appears a pedestrian choice. Edwards may be a legend of the game, but I would really have hoped to see a plan by now.
Edwards needs to stand up and dropping Jones would state what we need to do. Get some fight in the side, she has never turned up when the chips are down. Surely a grittier, louder keeper batter must be out there.
July 16, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Edwards needs to stand up and dropping Jones would state what we need to do. Get some fight in the side, she has never turned up when the chips are down. Surely a grittier, louder keeper batter must be out there.
I think they should borrow from the men's selection ethos and go for potential and bottle rather than numbers? All very well Amy Jones getting tons against an appalling WIndies side but when the big matches come around...nothing again. Impressed with Dunks but other than that - where's the fight?
July 10, 2025 at 9:03 AM
I think they should borrow from the men's selection ethos and go for potential and bottle rather than numbers? All very well Amy Jones getting tons against an appalling WIndies side but when the big matches come around...nothing again. Impressed with Dunks but other than that - where's the fight?
This team is beginning to remind me of England men's in the 90s. Reputations primarily made against the weaker opposition, then totally found wanting against the big guns, both in skill levels and bottle. I am disappointed that Edwards hasn't yet realised some of the old guard have to go.
July 10, 2025 at 6:26 AM
This team is beginning to remind me of England men's in the 90s. Reputations primarily made against the weaker opposition, then totally found wanting against the big guns, both in skill levels and bottle. I am disappointed that Edwards hasn't yet realised some of the old guard have to go.
Nope, I just think England look a pretty average side. Totally unconvinced by NSB as captain, but hope to be proved wrong. Just typical "best player, make them captain" approach.
June 28, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Nope, I just think England look a pretty average side. Totally unconvinced by NSB as captain, but hope to be proved wrong. Just typical "best player, make them captain" approach.
Really poor. Shows Edwards just what the issues are - fielding, top-order batting....and bowling too. :-)
June 28, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Really poor. Shows Edwards just what the issues are - fielding, top-order batting....and bowling too. :-)
True - but once again the standard of fielding has been absolutely woeful. These are professional cricketers, absolutely miles behind Australia in the field. Edwards has to sort this out.
June 28, 2025 at 2:34 PM
True - but once again the standard of fielding has been absolutely woeful. These are professional cricketers, absolutely miles behind Australia in the field. Edwards has to sort this out.
What is the 3rd umpire guessing at there? How can he decide that didn't hit the front pad first? At least if he thinks there is doubt he should say so. Element of doubt still a thing, but he didn't make that clear. #wiaus
June 26, 2025 at 8:48 PM
What is the 3rd umpire guessing at there? How can he decide that didn't hit the front pad first? At least if he thinks there is doubt he should say so. Element of doubt still a thing, but he didn't make that clear. #wiaus
Absolutely. Works so well for the women's game and I will happily watch that. I love men's cricket too, but the whole thing for them is an abomination.
June 7, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Absolutely. Works so well for the women's game and I will happily watch that. I love men's cricket too, but the whole thing for them is an abomination.
These are real hiding to nothing games. We already know this side can easily beat everyone bar Australia in bilateral series. What we don't know yet is if they can eliminate the mistakes under pressure in major competitions. Can only beat what is in front of you, though, so fair play.
June 5, 2025 at 7:13 AM
These are real hiding to nothing games. We already know this side can easily beat everyone bar Australia in bilateral series. What we don't know yet is if they can eliminate the mistakes under pressure in major competitions. Can only beat what is in front of you, though, so fair play.
Well said. What on earth is the point in bowling them out for 2? There are so many things they could have done, lend them players, batters, bowl part-timers. Lots of rubbish is spoken about the Spirit of Cricket, but right here it went missing.
May 28, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Well said. What on earth is the point in bowling them out for 2? There are so many things they could have done, lend them players, batters, bowl part-timers. Lots of rubbish is spoken about the Spirit of Cricket, but right here it went missing.
I know, you can't fault the desperation for things to be brilliant, but this just doesn't do the game any favours. Nor the England cricket team; holding on to these at home to a poor West Indies does not equate to holding on to a vital steepler in a world cup.
May 24, 2025 at 9:36 AM
I know, you can't fault the desperation for things to be brilliant, but this just doesn't do the game any favours. Nor the England cricket team; holding on to these at home to a poor West Indies does not equate to holding on to a vital steepler in a world cup.