Twenty20 World Cup 2014

Well, yes and no.

I don't especially need telling - as I suggested from the start: "waste of breath?" - that public opinion, and attempts by writers of letters (such as mine) to express such opinions, is very likely to have a negligible or no effect on the outcome of this appointment. That's plain common sense.

But as I said from the start, sometimes you at least owe it to yourself to put such opinions forward. It's still a better option, I think, than lurking in wise fury and exploding in the comfort of your own home like some exasperated Rumpelstiltskin on speed.

And not only to "save your soul", as they used to put it - in modern terms, "for your own peace of mind". I believe the ECB should be made aware as widely/by as many voices as possible that if they do plump for the "obvious solution", then on their heads it will be.

And - despite obvious scepticism about wasted breath - the first positive point I take out of Paul Downton's response (content-wise - not just the tone and approach already mentioned) is that this point seems duly to be registered.

This matters, I think .... at worst as a bookmark for later reference.

Second positive thing: I was glad to read in PD's reply - I have to say for the first time - that the ECB DOES seem to be conducting some semblance of proper process and procedure - rather than just nodding AG through in hasty, derisory fashion, as widely feared.

In other words:

I think you've got to read all these things with a shrewd "political" eye, as well as write them with some sense of space for the reader (e.g. imputing ill intent and/or assuming idiocy may sometimes be an entirely  correct conclusion, but tactically it's just about always a mistake, in such cases).


But obviously - everyone has their own opinion on all such matters. Whatever seems best.

There's always plastic explosive if you get desperate a la Guy Fawkes. Or knowing cynicism.

do these people have personal staff who answer their emails. I doubt if they take out the time to do reply to each email individually.

It struck me as a personal reply...Downton goes up in my estimate

horace wrote:It struck me as a personal reply...Downton goes up in my estimate

Some people are easily impressed.

taipan wrote:

horace wrote:It struck me as a personal reply...Downton goes up in my estimate

Some people are easily impressed.

considering that horrie rates cockroach shit above poms then its not much of an achievement

PeterCS wrote:That's exactly what I thought.

Hence my particular highlighting of the courtesy, fair-mindedness and balance in the second man's response.

And the "Paul".

Downton is and was always a decent man.
I didn't expect anything less from him.

(Whereas, Mr Clarke ....)

In any case, another match fizzles to dust.

Fair play to Malinga, though. Still a force.

SA women getting thumped as expected.

So SA lost another semi. I fully expect the chokers comments to be aired on here.

Personally I didn't expect to get out of the group games.

Is this still on? FFS, UnRikki. Who gives a toss?

When's the next Test?

taipan wrote:SA women getting thumped as expected.

Well, if they will insist on not doing the washing up....

all aboard the Sri Lanka bandwagon!

Now we haven't got the crapulence of England or Australia to talk about in this tournament it seems nobody's bothered...

So Jaywardene and Sanga are retiring from 2020 internationals after tonight... Dilshan too maybe. Wouldn't mind if they walked off with a win.

the lankans must be choking up

Rahane gone to Mathews. Wonder who really the Sri Lankan captain is today, Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Mathews or the remote controlled puppet, Malinga...

Rohit Sharma always finds the shittest ways to get out. Kohli otoh hitting well

Rubbish innings by Yuvraj.

That was the best death-bowling I've seen in a bloody long time - the Lankans bowled to a perfect pre-determined plan - full and a tad wide of off stump (just within the tramlines).
 
Worked a dream.
 
Can the Bannies protect 130 . . .?

Surely Sri Lanka can't throw this one away...

tricycle wrote:Surely Sri Lanka can't throw this one away...

Looks like they're doing their damndest to do just that!

Amit Mishra's been a pressure relief valve. Sri Lanka have won this.

5 to win only

And they win. Congratulations to the Lankans. Their bowling in the last four overs was fantastic.

tricycle wrote:And they win. Congratulations to the Lankans. Their bowling in the last four overs was fantastic.

Sure SL batted well . . . but for me (like you), their last 4 overs in the first session won it for them.
 
Kholi on fire, MS the destroyer at the death . . . and yet only 19 runs were conceded in 24 balls!
It helped the Lankan cause that Kholi only faced 8 of the finl 24 balls - watching on from the non-strikers end -agitatedly - for 16 of them!!
 
Sanga turned it on when it mattered.
 
Well done the Lankans - hard luck India.