Matt Laycock
@mattlaycock.bsky.social
I mean, you’re facing Warne and Kumble. WTF?
December 2, 2025 at 12:11 PM
I mean, you’re facing Warne and Kumble. WTF?
Yeah, he’s had a very rough go, both at the time and in his post cricket life. Very sad.
As noted by Musa Okwonga, 43.67 is a very good batting average, given the attacks he faced. Every match pretty much, he was up against brilliant bowling.
As noted by Musa Okwonga, 43.67 is a very good batting average, given the attacks he faced. Every match pretty much, he was up against brilliant bowling.
December 2, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Yeah, he’s had a very rough go, both at the time and in his post cricket life. Very sad.
As noted by Musa Okwonga, 43.67 is a very good batting average, given the attacks he faced. Every match pretty much, he was up against brilliant bowling.
As noted by Musa Okwonga, 43.67 is a very good batting average, given the attacks he faced. Every match pretty much, he was up against brilliant bowling.
Capable of greatness - when we were terrible in the 90s he was one of the few - along with Thorpe (also gone too soon) - that you’d want to watch.
December 2, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Capable of greatness - when we were terrible in the 90s he was one of the few - along with Thorpe (also gone too soon) - that you’d want to watch.
I am sure the Venn diagram of people who pine for these days and those who think the best scene in High Fidelity is the bit where the main guy says “I will now sell 5 copies of The Three EPs by The Beta Band” and then just plays it in his record store without saying anything is heavily overlapped.
November 30, 2025 at 11:42 AM
I am sure the Venn diagram of people who pine for these days and those who think the best scene in High Fidelity is the bit where the main guy says “I will now sell 5 copies of The Three EPs by The Beta Band” and then just plays it in his record store without saying anything is heavily overlapped.
I mean, yeah, but I will definitely be looking to put One True Voice in my #TheN0ughtie5 list over the top of them, and would encourage everyone to do likewise
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November 30, 2025 at 11:13 AM
I mean, yeah, but I will definitely be looking to put One True Voice in my #TheN0ughtie5 list over the top of them, and would encourage everyone to do likewise
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No Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam or Alice In Chains…but they have managed to get someone from Foo Fighters involved, so they’ve at least nodded to the Mt Rushmore of music.
November 28, 2025 at 3:29 PM
No Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam or Alice In Chains…but they have managed to get someone from Foo Fighters involved, so they’ve at least nodded to the Mt Rushmore of music.
Derry Girls must be funny because I had a humour bypass in 2014 and even I think it’s good.
November 28, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Derry Girls must be funny because I had a humour bypass in 2014 and even I think it’s good.
I have a go at extending the parallel in that conversational thread, as does Tom, so maybe there is something there.
I suspect neither of them would be unhappy with the comparison either tbh.
I suspect neither of them would be unhappy with the comparison either tbh.
November 28, 2025 at 12:51 PM
I have a go at extending the parallel in that conversational thread, as does Tom, so maybe there is something there.
I suspect neither of them would be unhappy with the comparison either tbh.
I suspect neither of them would be unhappy with the comparison either tbh.
Reading this and the facts of his pulling faces from British TV past, I was struck - Peter Kay is the Oasis of light entertainment/comedy
Should I save this type of bullshit for the comments section at FT, so we can try getting that going again or is better in the chip wrapper that is social media?
Should I save this type of bullshit for the comments section at FT, so we can try getting that going again or is better in the chip wrapper that is social media?
November 28, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Drake disgust face: people shouting at clouds.
Drake point and agree face: people investigating The Cloud.
Drake point and agree face: people investigating The Cloud.
November 25, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Drake disgust face: people shouting at clouds.
Drake point and agree face: people investigating The Cloud.
Drake point and agree face: people investigating The Cloud.
I continue to think that 1 Gec is enough for me. Maybe 10 at very most.
November 25, 2025 at 11:57 AM
I continue to think that 1 Gec is enough for me. Maybe 10 at very most.
This is going 50-1. The missing track is Burn/Build by Miyamoto Is Black Enough - I ranked that 6th - and judging by how little it was picked otherwise, I probably stand mostly alone on that one.
November 25, 2025 at 11:11 AM
This is going 50-1. The missing track is Burn/Build by Miyamoto Is Black Enough - I ranked that 6th - and judging by how little it was picked otherwise, I probably stand mostly alone on that one.
Think that broadly chimes with my view. Mojo will do that too but last time I read it they were also talking about Goat, King Gizzard and the like when they were relatively new (I did say it was a long time ago…) which seemed to indicate someone was willing to have people write about different stuff
November 24, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Think that broadly chimes with my view. Mojo will do that too but last time I read it they were also talking about Goat, King Gizzard and the like when they were relatively new (I did say it was a long time ago…) which seemed to indicate someone was willing to have people write about different stuff
I have not read Mojo in years but I always got the sense that, within a pretty narrow field, they were at least really engaged and keen to tell people about stuff that was good. Similarly, I have not read Uncut in year but always felt it was much more cynical.
November 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I have not read Mojo in years but I always got the sense that, within a pretty narrow field, they were at least really engaged and keen to tell people about stuff that was good. Similarly, I have not read Uncut in year but always felt it was much more cynical.
I did this yesterday.
Kasabian’s notes maybe got them a D in the test.
You’re probably looking at a C if you dial down the frontman. Getting a really good bassist in gets you on the A/B border.
Understanding what Kevin Shields actually does and applying it is strictly for the A* student I think.
Kasabian’s notes maybe got them a D in the test.
You’re probably looking at a C if you dial down the frontman. Getting a really good bassist in gets you on the A/B border.
Understanding what Kevin Shields actually does and applying it is strictly for the A* student I think.
November 21, 2025 at 5:54 PM
I did this yesterday.
Kasabian’s notes maybe got them a D in the test.
You’re probably looking at a C if you dial down the frontman. Getting a really good bassist in gets you on the A/B border.
Understanding what Kevin Shields actually does and applying it is strictly for the A* student I think.
Kasabian’s notes maybe got them a D in the test.
You’re probably looking at a C if you dial down the frontman. Getting a really good bassist in gets you on the A/B border.
Understanding what Kevin Shields actually does and applying it is strictly for the A* student I think.
If they can get the remaining wicket quickly, 200 to set near 250 doesn’t give me a lot of comfort necessarily. But it may be enough. I think I’d want to set them 280-300 at minimum. 280 is something like top 10% of run chases of all time - if you can’t defend it, you probably don’t deserve to win.
November 21, 2025 at 10:26 AM
If they can get the remaining wicket quickly, 200 to set near 250 doesn’t give me a lot of comfort necessarily. But it may be enough. I think I’d want to set them 280-300 at minimum. 280 is something like top 10% of run chases of all time - if you can’t defend it, you probably don’t deserve to win.
I wonder how England are going to bat in the second innings. The bowling has bailed them out here - taking advantage will be the hard part.
November 21, 2025 at 9:56 AM
I wonder how England are going to bat in the second innings. The bowling has bailed them out here - taking advantage will be the hard part.
November 21, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Yeah, a lot is going to depend on whose bowling stays fit and whether the big batters on either side can stand up to it.
Despite Cummins and Hazelwood not playing here, I am still very wary about England’s injury history. Batting wise I also am not convinced hitting out of the problem will work.
Despite Cummins and Hazelwood not playing here, I am still very wary about England’s injury history. Batting wise I also am not convinced hitting out of the problem will work.
November 21, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Yeah, a lot is going to depend on whose bowling stays fit and whether the big batters on either side can stand up to it.
Despite Cummins and Hazelwood not playing here, I am still very wary about England’s injury history. Batting wise I also am not convinced hitting out of the problem will work.
Despite Cummins and Hazelwood not playing here, I am still very wary about England’s injury history. Batting wise I also am not convinced hitting out of the problem will work.
78-7 from the point just before Pope gets bowled.
The confidence from the press in our team was something I was pretty sceptical about, but kept quiet. I should have been shouting out loud that we’re losing 4-1 at absolute best.
Cummins and Hazelwood still to come back. A long way to go but…bleak.
The confidence from the press in our team was something I was pretty sceptical about, but kept quiet. I should have been shouting out loud that we’re losing 4-1 at absolute best.
Cummins and Hazelwood still to come back. A long way to go but…bleak.
November 21, 2025 at 7:48 AM
78-7 from the point just before Pope gets bowled.
The confidence from the press in our team was something I was pretty sceptical about, but kept quiet. I should have been shouting out loud that we’re losing 4-1 at absolute best.
Cummins and Hazelwood still to come back. A long way to go but…bleak.
The confidence from the press in our team was something I was pretty sceptical about, but kept quiet. I should have been shouting out loud that we’re losing 4-1 at absolute best.
Cummins and Hazelwood still to come back. A long way to go but…bleak.