Neville Scott
@nevillescott.bsky.social
Freelance journalist (Times of London mainly). Writing about cricket and culture/history. Have wandered the uplands of 77 countries.
https://www.lulu.com/en/gb/shop/neville-scott/an-evasion-of-capture/paperback/product-1897k5z.html?page=1&pageSize=4
https://www.lulu.com/en/gb/shop/neville-scott/an-evasion-of-capture/paperback/product-1897k5z.html?page=1&pageSize=4
Dear Viz, What's all this fuss about Rachel Reeves not knowing her mind? Donny Trump cries for soldiers one minute but wants people with no manners dismembered the next. He's head of the world - so hands off Rachel, I say.
November 19, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Dear Viz, What's all this fuss about Rachel Reeves not knowing her mind? Donny Trump cries for soldiers one minute but wants people with no manners dismembered the next. He's head of the world - so hands off Rachel, I say.
Dropping steeply into Wolfscote Dale yesterday and on to distant Ecton Hill. Brass monkeys in a north-westerly at 1000ft but superb after all the rain. A man in grey passes through the squeeze stile of a silver wall under blue winter skies.
November 18, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Dropping steeply into Wolfscote Dale yesterday and on to distant Ecton Hill. Brass monkeys in a north-westerly at 1000ft but superb after all the rain. A man in grey passes through the squeeze stile of a silver wall under blue winter skies.
Gratifying S Africa victory in Calcutta. India's appalling pitch policy one again punished. That's 3 home losses to NZ plus this one (in overs equivalent of 7 sessions) in 13 months. The Test championship deems points penalties for poor over-rates; it badly needs to penalise sub-standard pitches too
November 18, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Gratifying S Africa victory in Calcutta. India's appalling pitch policy one again punished. That's 3 home losses to NZ plus this one (in overs equivalent of 7 sessions) in 13 months. The Test championship deems points penalties for poor over-rates; it badly needs to penalise sub-standard pitches too
441 runs for 27 wkts in Calcutta - i.e. just over 16 apiece. What is the point of these ridiculous 'Test' pitches now habitually prepared in both Pakistan and India? We can be sure, tho, that match ref won't complain. 'Fair contest between bat and ball'? You're joking. The concept's wholly lost
November 15, 2025 at 10:16 PM
441 runs for 27 wkts in Calcutta - i.e. just over 16 apiece. What is the point of these ridiculous 'Test' pitches now habitually prepared in both Pakistan and India? We can be sure, tho, that match ref won't complain. 'Fair contest between bat and ball'? You're joking. The concept's wholly lost
To meet both Notts and Surrey twice in 2025 carried a 50% chance of 2 defeats. Playing Worcs twice gave a 57% chance of a win. Alas poor Yorks: they met the top two twice but Worcs only once. Sussx met Worcs twice, Notts and Surrey just once. Until all sides are faced H&A, integrity is surrendered
November 14, 2025 at 3:43 PM
To meet both Notts and Surrey twice in 2025 carried a 50% chance of 2 defeats. Playing Worcs twice gave a 57% chance of a win. Alas poor Yorks: they met the top two twice but Worcs only once. Sussx met Worcs twice, Notts and Surrey just once. Until all sides are faced H&A, integrity is surrendered
The Div 1 fixture algorithm is driven by final standings in the previous year's table - every side's 5 H&A games is against teams carrying an assumed combined weighting from 2025 of 27 or 28. Bad luck being assigned Hants and Essex to play twice? Both are arguably better than 8th and 6th assumes?
November 14, 2025 at 3:21 PM
The Div 1 fixture algorithm is driven by final standings in the previous year's table - every side's 5 H&A games is against teams carrying an assumed combined weighting from 2025 of 27 or 28. Bad luck being assigned Hants and Essex to play twice? Both are arguably better than 8th and 6th assumes?
Outstanding piece of analysis. Rational exposition for once, of precision and rigour. This is what journalism periodically once provided, but rarely has the resources for today. Eight minutes of acuity and clarity: do listen.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfl0...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfl0...
How Nigel Farage Took Over British Politics.
YouTube video by Byline TV
www.youtube.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Outstanding piece of analysis. Rational exposition for once, of precision and rigour. This is what journalism periodically once provided, but rarely has the resources for today. Eight minutes of acuity and clarity: do listen.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfl0...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfl0...
Outstanding. Says it precisely. Shame these old One-Nation Tories have been so exiled by the Nasty Party.
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
November 11, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Outstanding. Says it precisely. Shame these old One-Nation Tories have been so exiled by the Nasty Party.
Newsweek carries this report www.newsweek.com/memorial-to-...
November 10, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Newsweek carries this report www.newsweek.com/memorial-to-...
Ever felt small?! Ever felt exposed?! It's a grand life
November 7, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Ever felt small?! Ever felt exposed?! It's a grand life
Climbed to this spot in spring and summer - and yesterday added the mists of autumn. Winter awaits. But, in forty days' time, we should be embracing that season in the Pyrenees once more - if only for the three months permitted by Brexit.
November 7, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Climbed to this spot in spring and summer - and yesterday added the mists of autumn. Winter awaits. But, in forty days' time, we should be embracing that season in the Pyrenees once more - if only for the three months permitted by Brexit.
BBC breaking news: "A rail worker credited with saving multiple lives during a mass stabbing on a train has been named as Samir Zitouni." From the name, I'd assume Mr Zitouni's antecedents were from the Maghreb. Presumably Reform etc will suggest this is fake news.
November 4, 2025 at 12:12 PM
BBC breaking news: "A rail worker credited with saving multiple lives during a mass stabbing on a train has been named as Samir Zitouni." From the name, I'd assume Mr Zitouni's antecedents were from the Maghreb. Presumably Reform etc will suggest this is fake news.
Reposted by Neville Scott
Minority representation on TV causes outrage
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
October 29, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Minority representation on TV causes outrage
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
From the new Private Eye, in shops now.
Very good!
statistically, about 24% of television adverts in the UK should feature at least one publicly disgraced member of Reform/UKIP
Over 5% of the Reform councillors elected in May have now either resigned or been fired.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
October 28, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Very good!
A decision to warm the cockles of your heart. Another veteran follows Jimmy by voting for Champo cricket. It won't happen - but theoretically Warks could field a seam quartet in Sept 2026 that boasts 154 years 10 months between them. Rushworth, Barker, Woakes and that stripling OHD (37 next June).
"Extending my commitment to Warwickshire feels like the start of a new chapter with a club that properly feels like home."
Chris Woakes extends playing career with two-year deal at Warwickshire | The Cricketer
Chris Woakes has signed a new two-year deal at Warwickshire, starting a new chapter at his boyhood club
www.thecricketer.com
October 23, 2025 at 5:01 PM
A decision to warm the cockles of your heart. Another veteran follows Jimmy by voting for Champo cricket. It won't happen - but theoretically Warks could field a seam quartet in Sept 2026 that boasts 154 years 10 months between them. Rushworth, Barker, Woakes and that stripling OHD (37 next June).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un9s...
If you don't find this utterly compelling and life-affirming I would fear for your soul! Just the expressions of the guitarist are enough.
If you don't find this utterly compelling and life-affirming I would fear for your soul! Just the expressions of the guitarist are enough.
Piazzolla, Guitarra, Bandoneón y Orquesta de Cuerdas-Alondra de la Parra & Orchestre de París
YouTube video by Alondra de la Parra
www.youtube.com
October 19, 2025 at 2:04 PM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un9s...
If you don't find this utterly compelling and life-affirming I would fear for your soul! Just the expressions of the guitarist are enough.
If you don't find this utterly compelling and life-affirming I would fear for your soul! Just the expressions of the guitarist are enough.
Reposted by Neville Scott
“You described Reform and other parties across Europe today as among the 'right wing equivalents of the fascists in the 1930s'. Why?”
“Because that’s what they are”
@vicderbyshire.bsky.social asks Lord Heseltine about remarks he made at Conservative Party Conference.
#Newsnight
“Because that’s what they are”
@vicderbyshire.bsky.social asks Lord Heseltine about remarks he made at Conservative Party Conference.
#Newsnight
October 7, 2025 at 5:12 PM
“You described Reform and other parties across Europe today as among the 'right wing equivalents of the fascists in the 1930s'. Why?”
“Because that’s what they are”
@vicderbyshire.bsky.social asks Lord Heseltine about remarks he made at Conservative Party Conference.
#Newsnight
“Because that’s what they are”
@vicderbyshire.bsky.social asks Lord Heseltine about remarks he made at Conservative Party Conference.
#Newsnight
Just setting off for two days' post-season escape. Walking/climbing in Clwydian Range limestone. Forecast very good. Should be rather better than on 1800-ft top of Shining Tor, Pennines last August. "Shining"! Pull the other one...
October 6, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Just setting off for two days' post-season escape. Walking/climbing in Clwydian Range limestone. Forecast very good. Should be rather better than on 1800-ft top of Shining Tor, Pennines last August. "Shining"! Pull the other one...
Spent 1985-1989 nearby in Stepney, passing the mural in Cable Street on the way to the boozer. Wrote my first Cricketer piece on a battered typewriter in that squat - little could CMJ, then editor, have pictured it! But he gave me my first Telegraph assignments on stength of it. Rosen would approve.
In my father's memoir, he recounts the day he and my mother (Connie Isakofsky) took part in the Battle of Cable Street Oct 4 1936 (#otd)
I've recorded the book and it's up on Audible.
www.amazon.co.uk/Are-You-Stil...
I've recorded the book and it's up on Audible.
www.amazon.co.uk/Are-You-Stil...
Are You Still Circumcised?: East End Memories (Audio Download): Harold Rosen, Michael Rosen, Michael Rosen: Amazon.co.uk: Audible Books & Originals
Are You Still Circumcised?: East End Memories (Audio Download): Harold Rosen, Michael Rosen, Michael Rosen: Amazon.co.uk: Audible Books & Originals
www.amazon.co.uk
October 5, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Spent 1985-1989 nearby in Stepney, passing the mural in Cable Street on the way to the boozer. Wrote my first Cricketer piece on a battered typewriter in that squat - little could CMJ, then editor, have pictured it! But he gave me my first Telegraph assignments on stength of it. Rosen would approve.
Sometimes we all need a disused railway after a day in the gorge
October 3, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Sometimes we all need a disused railway after a day in the gorge
www.thetimes.com/article/679e... For the second time in five seasons this hack was able to cover the championship decider for the Times yesterday. This after 33 previous years' reporting that rarely offered a sniff. Giving up hope of ever seeing Northamptonshire prevail, though, I'm afraid.
Nottinghamshire win County Championship for first time since 2010
Haseeb Hameed ton seals county’s first triumph in 15 years as total of 300 against Warwickshire earns batting bonus point to make them unassailable at the top
www.thetimes.com
September 26, 2025 at 10:49 AM
www.thetimes.com/article/679e... For the second time in five seasons this hack was able to cover the championship decider for the Times yesterday. This after 33 previous years' reporting that rarely offered a sniff. Giving up hope of ever seeing Northamptonshire prevail, though, I'm afraid.
Entirely echo the posts about the sad loss of Rob Steen. In my ten years working from London in the '90s, he and I were frequently in the same press box (and bar) and also shared the same publisher. A top man who was still offering acute comment by email from afar. Another good 'un has gone.
September 24, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Entirely echo the posts about the sad loss of Rob Steen. In my ten years working from London in the '90s, he and I were frequently in the same press box (and bar) and also shared the same publisher. A top man who was still offering acute comment by email from afar. Another good 'un has gone.
Visibility outstanding today: three hours after the exact moment of the autumn equinox, looking SW from this 1210-ft trig above Halldale in the White Peak, we made out the Long Mynd, 65 miles distant on the far horizon. With an anticyclone established, weather's now perfect for the Champo finale.
September 22, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Visibility outstanding today: three hours after the exact moment of the autumn equinox, looking SW from this 1210-ft trig above Halldale in the White Peak, we made out the Long Mynd, 65 miles distant on the far horizon. With an anticyclone established, weather's now perfect for the Champo finale.
The score is 8-2 to Surrey against Notts. This the number of England Test players per side, of course. Notts also have the present S African Test 'keeper. Surrey are not fielding an official overseas player but as usual have Worrall, the sometime Aus 1-Day international. David and Goliath, perhaps?
September 15, 2025 at 11:07 AM
The score is 8-2 to Surrey against Notts. This the number of England Test players per side, of course. Notts also have the present S African Test 'keeper. Surrey are not fielding an official overseas player but as usual have Worrall, the sometime Aus 1-Day international. David and Goliath, perhaps?
Reposted by Neville Scott
Here’s a poem called ‘English Roundabouts’.
September 15, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Here’s a poem called ‘English Roundabouts’.