This is Harry Brook’s highest professional score in Australia, beating his previous best of 22. Look, it’s something.

Oh wow. What happened to chasing? Have we hurtled straight to Bazball 3.0?

Ashes Fever! At an unhappy hunting ground for English tourists, will ultra positivity herald a change of fortune? Or will the hype be followed by hiccups? Here's a puzzle to remind you of the pace and bounce! 🏏😎 @georgedobell.bsky.social @geofflemon.bsky.social @norcrosscricket.bsky.social

Made it to Perth (aka Hot Croydon) and it’s really rather pleasant this time. My cab driver knew nothing about The Ashes. I fancy it’s no more than a brief honeymoon period before the remorseless abuse begins, but I’m going to take every win I can get.

Yep, CRICKET CLICHES is coming – with regular episodes throughout the Ashes – in the masterful hands of hosts @norcrosscricket.bsky.social, @nickmiller79.bsky.social and many more... To get involved (and please do get involved): cricket.footballcliches.com

Tony’s granddaughter Aine is a genius and is literally performing on the radio right now. Give it a whirl. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

People will understandably focus on Rodrigues’ 127 off 134 but this was a proper chase. Literally everyone else had a higher strike rate and Gosh, Deepti and Amanjot between them smashed 65 off 41 at the death. It was a consummate team effort.

Well, that was fun. #indvaus

You may or may not like Marina Hyde, free speech and all that, but this is the definitive takedown of Pochin’s bile www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

This is a lovely thread by my very dear friend about my uncle who died yesterday. The ‘teaching an actor what Eastenders is before he got a part in it’ anecdote is a very cherished memory.

Perry c. Bates b. Tahuhu 429 WODI caps and 107 years old between them.

I’ve been fantasising about a targeted Twat Virus for about 30 years. Around about the time I realised Keith Joseph was probably responsible for the irreversible (without a targeted Twat Virus) breakdown of healthy civic norms.

Steve Cram still has the power to bring you up short. ‘Femke Bol is so popular with fans, with athletes and with meat promoters.’

Oh my goodness, my wife has just spotted that David Lammy has the same voice as Bargain Hunt’s Thomas Forrester.

Excellent turnout for Ashley Giles at our latest @fairfieldbooks.bsky.social event in Vauxhall. Interviewed wonderfully as ever by @norcrosscricket.bsky.social 👑🇪🇸

Equalled the total posted in the very first List A match - 65 overs a side - which was played at Old Trafford in 1963. static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1...

Well, that was magnificently silly. Highest score in matches between full members. Shame that Salt and Buttler won’t get the chance to do that on Finals Day. Tomorrow.

TMS legends John Arlott and Alan Gibson both stood for The Liberal Party at General Elections. I am all in with Binners.

No, as it turns out.

Does the ‘three wickets in the power play’ rule apply if there are only 59 balls left after the power play?

I’m not entirely convinced that this name gives me confidence in the consequences of consumption. #nottingham

Golden silence! When Bradman got his last innings duck, the radio commentator paused . . . paused . . . paused . . . It was brilliant but today he’d be fired! (Thanks to @norcrosscricket.bsky.social for alerting me to this a couple of years ago!) #theashes

A great day out at Wormsley, for the Lord's Taverners charity match between @thefinalword.bsky.social and @zeroduckspod.bsky.social . David Gower umpiring, and an increasingly pissed @norcrosscricket.bsky.social commentating.

My dad’s war diary featuring VJ Day. He was a signalman in the Navy, stationed at this point in the Far East. I hope ‘celebrations at night’ was doing a lot of heavy lifting.

And to make matters even weirder, the first no ball was initially called wide before the square leg umpire upgraded it to a no ball. He should really have 0 off 0. #justiceforcameronsteel

A fascinating weirdness has just occurred at the end of the Surrey v Glamorgan match. Cam Steel came in with 3 balls remaining. 4 runs to get. First ball is a no ball. Which counts for 2 runs in this comp. 2 to get. Free hit. Another no ball which Steel lofts into the deep and is ‘caught’. 1/2

Vincible. Somewhat earlier than is optimal.

A video version of our latest podcast episode is now available on YouTube. Join us as we watch Nathan Barley and please like, subscribe and comment if you enjoy it. Peace and fucking. Believe! youtu.be/yGvSOnKJ68o

A good day to repost the puzzle below. I was privileged to watch every ball of Graham's 114* at Trent Bridge and his 138 at Edgbaston 4 years later. A wonderful cricketer to be celebrated. @kiaoval.com @georgedobell.bsky.social @norcrosscricket.bsky.social @zaltzcricket.bsky.social

We begin the 3rd day of an Old Trafford test match with not one over bowled so far by a specialist off spinner. Jim would, I think, not have approved. Here's a puzzle dedicated to the most noble form of bowling. Have a great day everyone! @norcrosscricket.bsky.social @georgedobell.bsky.social

What a glorious listen it was to hear @norcrosscricket.bsky.social go to town on my nerd pledge in @finalwordcricket.bsky.social Story Time 233. Surrey! Australia! New Zealand! Glasses! Siblings! Posh idiots! I couldn't have asked for more. Perhaps see you at Old Trafford on Days 2 and 3 sir 👌🏻

The Put-Em-In Roadshow now visits Manchester! I was out of the country for the Battle of Lord's, but here's a little puzzle to commemorate the courage displayed by those who faced the prospect of batting for 2 overs before the close! 🏏😎 @georgedobell.bsky.social @norcrosscricket.bsky.social

This is a marvellous evisceration of ‘Quisling traitor’ Gubby Allen. I’ve just read it out loud to my portrait of Douglas Jardine and he thoroughly approved.

A piece in which I get to mention the most iconic moment of Kevin Pietersen’s career: his 2014 appearance on the Graham Norton Show with Taylor Swift www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/m...

It would appear that this Scheffler guy has as much regard for the spiritual fulfilment that golf can bring as I do.

(The three) regular listeners to @zeroduckspod.bsky.social will be delighted to learn that I have finally had a shower in my newly (virtually) completed bathroom. You will never be assailed by tales of poobergs, rancid groins and pee bottles again.

“Better than the jet engine” - a wonderfully funny summary of the dramatic last day at Lords from @norcrosscricket.bsky.social, highly recommended: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/z...

West Indies’ top six have managed just two scoring shots between the lot of them. Surely this is unique @zaltzcricket.bsky.social

This series is eerily reminiscent of the 2009 Ashes. England have been marginally second best in all three tests so far. And yet they’re ahead.

My work here is done. And fear not, I will turn down the inevitable offer of a knighthood.

Before Prakash gets back on comms, can I remind everyone that the last time Bumrah batted at Lord’s he made 34 not out in an unbroken 9th wicket partnership of 79. India have this game in the bag.

Prakash is doing it again. ‘England will look to wrap up the series in the next match.’ ‘The three wickets this morning have sealed the game.’ Pitch gone flat. Ball gone soft. Jadeja and Reddy have this game sewn up. #reversejinx

Exhibit B

Exhibit A

Surely you have to be 100% certain it’s out before risking a review on Crawley.

Stokes spooked? Advantage India. Unless this is unlike every Lord’s pitch for the last few years. And Bashir becomes a world beater in the 4th innings.

I take it all back. Mulder has declared on himself 34 short of the record. The man is a hero for our times. Brian, stand down. The comeback is postponed.

Sorry Wiaan but this is all wrong. We urgently need to arrange a one test comeback for Lara in Antigua v Zimbabwe. Let’s make this happen, team.

How wonderful that we have another test match today between two teams full of enigmatic and energetic cricketers. Here's a puzzle in memory of a game a few decades ago also involving a few eccentric heroes. Have a great day, everyone! @georgedobell.bsky.social @norcrosscricket.bsky.social