Archive for the ‘Willow and leather’ Category
Mistakes are human nature, sporting genius isn’t
People cheat. In work, in relationships, in exams and in sport, we mere humans cheat. I don’t need to be a great philosopher to know that as people it is part of our programming that we are going to make mistakes, errors of judgements, and sometimes cheat. If the accused Pakistan players chose to take [...]
Enough talk, time for action
Anyone who has read this blog in the past (I seem to be harking back in time a lot, I do aplogise, must be the age) will know I don’t like Alistair Cook. Well, I do like him, I think he is a wonderful player but my God is he annoyingly inconsistent and I have been [...]
I hate to admit it, but this is bloomin brilliant
Here at Pope and Swift we love test cricket and we have been forever sceptical about the increasingly popularity and dominance of Twenty20. But whether it is the fact that it provides a brilliant distraction from revision or that England are apparently quite good all of a sudden (*massive jinx disclaimer*), this twenty over malarkey [...]
The moment Steve Finn never wanted reminding of
Steve Finn, the young English cricketer, will be the first to admit that he has struggled somewhat in his first spell in the Test side. Energy sapping conditions in Chittagong and Mirpur have made extended periods of bowling tough even for the most experienced of bowlers and he has taken just the single wicket in each of the [...]
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If ever there was a photo that summed up a Test match (aside from Flintoff consoling Brett Lee in 2005), Pope and Swift would argue this was it. On first glance, it’s your average ‘Two England batsmen, heading to tea, on the fifth day of a Test match’ photo. Look closer though and you can almost hear what [...]
Graham Swann. Whatta Man.
Once again, Graham Swann has turn a Test match upside down quicker than you can say ‘England’s number one Twittering twirling dervish of spin’.
But rather than producing a gushy, superlative-filled, ‘We want you as our uncle!’ ode to the Notts’ bowler, Pope and Swift think there it is far more appropriate to nudge you, our esteemed [...]
Sometimes all they need is a blog
Now that is much better Alastair. It’s always nice to know that international sportsman take note when you have a point to make. Cook’s gritty, determined, referral assisted 118 was not only a welcome reminder of his talent and skill but also displayed the kind of winning mentality and commitment to the cause that many, [...]
Time for The Pretenders to prove a point
Now I am not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions myself but I have some early suggestions for two of the great nearly men of modern sport. Two men who are seemingly integral to their respective teams and yet I am fairly sure would not be missed greatly were they to be absent from [...]
Broad may be talking the talk but he needs to keep walking the walk
Earlier this week, Stuart Broad (along with James Anderson but we’ll leave him out of this) has revealed that he will not participate in next years Indian Premier League so that he has every chance of being in tip top shape for England duty. Broad stated that his boyhood dream had been to play for England and therefore that came top on [...]
Fortune favours brave Broad
Cast your mind back to the first week of August. England have just recorded another rain-inflicted stalemate at Edgbaston and have maintained their slender one-nil advantage over the old enemies Australia. The bowling attack again looks toothless and Stuart Broad, the young pretender to the throne of Andrew Flintoff, is being chastised left, right and [...]