Up Periscope - with Eddie Waring.
Poor old Tim Ambrose, making his Test debut in that shambles. But Tim did okay and anyway, after last summer, he knows all about the deep end.
Remember he got lumbered with the Bears captaincy at home to Surrey and, after the predictable thrashing, faced the press with Mark Greatbatch. And when the coach was asked about the team's shocking batting form, incredibly, he said: "I think that's one for the captain," and handed over to poor Amby, who had just skippered a team for the first time in first-class cricket! Again, he did okay there too. Impressive fella.
On the England debacle, by the way, three points.
1. What on earth are Harmison and Pietersen doing in the team?
2. England are clearly so brilliant that they can just fetch up on tour and play brilliantly without any proper preparation. This appears the ECB view and, on the evidence of this Test and the start of last winter's Ashes series, who could disagree?
3. Most importantly, we can only hope and pray that news of England's appalling efforts did not disturb the concentration or detract from the delivery of the national selector at his speaking engagements back in the UK.
You wouldn't make it up!
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Brian Halford - Brian Halford’s look at Edgbaston.
Pietersen's record is pretty decent (better than Ian Bell's for example!) so he must stay in the team. However, why do you think he played such a defensive innings? And for him to come out and say that was one of his best innings bordered on the ridiculous.In fact do you think his innings actually cost England the game? I mean, normally if KP had batted for 100-odd balls he'd have scored 70/80/90 runs.
I must agree with you on 'Harmy'. Even NP, that pie thrower in your office, would have posed more threat!
Pieterson is not a team player. He's like a striker who scores two spectacular goals a season and has 40 anonymous games.
Almost everything he says borders on the ridiculous. But England's selectors will be the last to see it's a case of the emporer's new clothes.
Bob - I'm not sure about the illustrious Mr P. Last time I saw him bowl he was being biffed about Edgbaston by a brace of seven-year-olds...
I like Pietersen but his flair seems to be draining away with every Test match. Can't take the pressure maybe?
Clive Radley picked up a gong this week. We could do with him in the England team now. Nurdling away.
Ask Mr P about the time his glasses were knocked off by a vicious bouncer in a game of Office Cricket. Memorable. Beats watching that lousy shower called the England cricket team!
Day 1 of the second test allowed ambrose to step into another shambles, up periscope and fire ..... Well done Tim ! Good luck for day 2.
I don't think we'll be seeing much of Tim Ambrose for the next 10 years! Let's hope Frosty is in good enough nick to make a proper comeback.
You could give Ambrose more credit, Brian. A fine innings, full of aggression and intent, unlike the rest of the shower. I suppose Michael 'Ross Hawkes' Vaughan will take the 'positives' out of the impending 180-run defeat. ps, when are you going to be replaced as Mail cricket correspondent with a former professional? Rodney Ontong maybe?
I didn't know Rodney was waiting in the wings, Lindy. I'll willingly make way for him if I get this job I've put in for as a bird-scarer at Dyce Airport.
You fixed that bed yet, by the way?