Cricket 2023 – politicalbetting.com

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Cricket 2023 – politicalbetting.com

2023 wicket #1 goes to Will Williams!#LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/rWoSUZds1S

Read the full story here

Alphabet_Soup

Thorough piece of work by Ydoethur. Deserves at least one comment, I'd have thought.

The direction of travel for cricket seems to be shorter and shorter and shorter. Ultimately the game will dispense with bat and ball and simply charge people £100 to sit in the sun drinking beer.

kle4

With a title like that it should screen out all but the most committed of anoraks.

LostPassword

I think Hampshire's batting is a bit light to see them as serious title contenders. Even with expected England absences I'd say Yorkshire in division two have a stronger batting side - I think they'll go straight back up.

DecrepiterJohnL

All very well but I cannot find a bookmaker (with whom I have an account) offering prices on the county championship, and the header says nothing about the IPL or Ashes. Is the problem that the county matches are in progress and the header is a couple of days too late?

Nigelb

Longer than a Cyclefree header, and every bit as good.
(With apologies to Cyclefree, who I think has as much regard for sport as for chocolate on a cappucino.)

Casino_Royale

I don't like cricket oh, oh no
I love it, oh, oh no

Nigelb

Clarence Thomas is either a liar, or doesn't understand simple ethics.
Either way he's not fit to be a judge, let alone on the Supreme Court.

https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-response-trips-legal-experts-harlan-crow
...But seven legal ethics experts consulted by ProPublica, including former ethics lawyers for Congress and the White House, said the law clearly requires that gifts of transportation, including private jet flights, be disclosed. If Thomas is arguing otherwise, the experts said, he is incorrect...

Actually it goes beyond ethics, since he's also breaking a law which has been in place since Watergate.
Though there is no available legal remedy other than impeachment.

Nigelb

Another lawless lawyer in action.

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/07/texas-judge-halts-fda-approval-of-abortion-pill-00091096
...U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, sided with anti-abortion medical groups that challenged the federal regulation of the drug, ruling that both the initial approval of the pills in 2000 as well as more recent FDA decisions allowing them to be prescribed via telemedicine, sent by mail and dispensed at retail pharmacies, are unlawful...

It's unlikely that the Supreme Court will uphold this decision, but I expect at least three justices, including the corrupt liar Thomas, to vote to do so.

Nigelb

I could be wrong, of course.
If I am, the legal system in the US will be broken in ways that the existing mess doesn't even begin to approach.

Nigelb

Matthew Kacsmaryk’s decision claiming to overrule the FDA’s approval of abortion drug mifepristone—23 years late—is an appalling and indefensible abuse of power that will go down in history as one of the judiciary’s most humiliating and lawless moments.
https://mobile.twitter.com/mjs_DC/status/1644470392763957249

ydoethur

Couple of errors to correct:

1) Jamie Overton is out for the season, which automatically makes Surrey’s title defence much harder;

2) Warwickshire of course beat Hampshire not Yorkshire in their final match.

No doubt there are others I haven’t spotted yet!

ydoethur

DecrepiterJohnL said:

All very well but I cannot find a bookmaker (with whom I have an account) offering prices on the county championship, and the header says nothing about the IPL or Ashes. Is the problem that the county matches are in progress and the header is a couple of days too late?

Or that you’re betting with the wrong bookies? Sky Bet, Paddy Power and Betfred all have markets up.

DecrepiterJohnL

ydoethur said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

All very well but I cannot find a bookmaker (with whom I have an account) offering prices on the county championship, and the header says nothing about the IPL or Ashes. Is the problem that the county matches are in progress and the header is a couple of days too late?

Or that you’re betting with the wrong bookies? Sky Bet, Paddy Power and Betfred all have markets up.

No they don't, although Betfred does have a note that betting on the county championship is currently unavailable. My guess is we need to wait till the current games are finished.

ydoethur

DecrepiterJohnL said:

ydoethur said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

All very well but I cannot find a bookmaker (with whom I have an account) offering prices on the county championship, and the header says nothing about the IPL or Ashes. Is the problem that the county matches are in progress and the header is a couple of days too late?

Or that you’re betting with the wrong bookies? Sky Bet, Paddy Power and Betfred all have markets up.

No they don't, although Betfred does have a note that betting on the county championship is currently unavailable. My guess is we need to wait till the current games are finished.

Ok, that’s interesting. Those are where I got the odds from, but you’re right, Skybet and Betfred seem to have taken down their markets.

IanB2

How is that an appropriate lead for PB?

ydoethur

IanB2 said:

How is that an appropriate lead for PB?

Quite right. It’s very disappointing I didn’t make any awesome puns in the title. Careless of me.

DecrepiterJohnL

IanB2 said:

How is that an appropriate lead for PB?

Well, it is about betting so it fits the b in pb, whereas some struggle even to make the p. We've had pure betting headers in the past, for the Oscars, for instance.

ydoethur

Nigelb said:

Clarence Thomas is either a liar, or doesn't understand simple ethics.
Either way he's not fit to be a judge, let alone on the Supreme Court.

That’s a possible false dichotomy. He might be a liar who also doesn’t understand simple ethics.

Jonathan

ydoethur said:

Nigelb said:

Clarence Thomas is either a liar, or doesn't understand simple ethics.
Either way he's not fit to be a judge, let alone on the Supreme Court.

That’s a possible false dichotomy. He might be a liar who also doesn’t understand simple ethics.

Ethics are an interesting team, but I prefer suffix.

ydoethur

Meanwhile, to get away from cricket, I have been doing some digging on The Hundred.

Two days ago there was a report in the Times that secret accounts reveal over its first two seasons, it made a headline loss of £9 million.

That's not including payments to the counties, or other staging costs, which would increase the loss to £37 million.

This is despite claims the tournament made around £10 million profit in each of its first two years, with bonuses paid accordingly.

A report of this report is here: https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/the-hundred-loss-ecb-finances-county-cricket-central-contracts-yorkshire/?zephr_sso_ott=wziFur

Buyer beware on such reports, BUT:

1) Although the Hundred plays to large houses, many of those tickets have been given away for free;

2) Player salaries are set by the board, not by revenue, and are probably too high for the gate money;

3) The TV deal doesn't appear to have been particularly well negotiated;

4) The ECB turned down a large offer to sell the Hundred, claiming £400 million 'undervalued' it. That seemed nonsensical at the time, but if there were auditors' reports claiming the ECB's figures were not truthful, their reluctance to have anyone else probing the books suddenly makes much more sense.

5) There is however a problem in that the ECB cannot afford these losses - certainly not if they continue until the expiration of the current TV deal in 2028 when the Hundred will almost certainly have to be abandoned unless something changes.

6) Also it occurs to me that claiming you have made a profit on something when you haven't may lead to issues with HMRC. False accounting is a crime, as Donald Trump is hopefully about to find out.

You have to feel a bit sorry for the new ECB management. They really have been lumbered with a mess - and ironically, they opposed the stupid thing.

Edit - Times report is here (paywall May apply, I went via Twitter)
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/1d9d71be-d3d4-11ed-b1cd-5223fe349502?shareToken=d150e9f419ada11854fe03f96b979e39

squareroot2

ydoethur said:

Couple of errors to correct:

1) Jamie Overton is out for the season, which automatically makes Surrey’s title defence much harder;

2) Warwickshire of course beat Hampshire not Yorkshire in their final match.

No doubt there are others I haven’t spotted yet!

Thank you for this piece. Surrey already have the upper hand v Lancashire...

ydoethur

squareroot2 said:

ydoethur said:

Couple of errors to correct:

1) Jamie Overton is out for the season, which automatically makes Surrey’s title defence much harder;

2) Warwickshire of course beat Hampshire not Yorkshire in their final match.

No doubt there are others I haven’t spotted yet!

Thank you for this piece. Surrey already have the upper hand v Lancashire...

I just have a great knack as an anti-tipster.

Although oddly I said the Hundred would be a failure.

Still, there are some miracles beyond human capacity...

Casino_Royale

The only thing I really need to know about the cricket is how do I get to the Rosebowl and back from North Hants if I want to have a few bevvies?

squareroot2

ydoethur said:

squareroot2 said:

ydoethur said:

Couple of errors to correct:

1) Jamie Overton is out for the season, which automatically makes Surrey’s title defence much harder;

2) Warwickshire of course beat Hampshire not Yorkshire in their final match.

No doubt there are others I haven’t spotted yet!

Thank you for this piece. Surrey already have the upper hand v Lancashire...

I just have a great knack as an anti-tipster.

Although oddly I said the Hundred would be a failure.

Still, there are some miracles beyond human capacity...

The Hundred is ghastly ...awful graphics and is virtually unwatchable.. hence I ignore it.

TheScreamingEagles

My irony meter just died.

Alex Salmond: “My unsolicited advice to Humza is to find humility.”

https://twitter.com/KevinASchofield/status/1644582619118555137

TheScreamingEagles

ydoethur said:

IanB2 said:

How is that an appropriate lead for PB?

Quite right. It’s very disappointing I didn’t make any awesome puns in the title. Careless of me.

Don't worry, I've got an awesome pun lined up for one of tomorrow's pieces.

TheScreamingEagles

IanB2 said:

How is that an appropriate lead for PB?

PB has a long and cherished history of publishing non political betting posts.

Recently we published pieces on the Cheltenham festival, Roger used to do Oscar threads, I've done threads on Eurovision and Strictly.

We've even done threads on betting whether a sex tape of Donald Trump and pee peeing hookers would be released*.

You don't like cricket, deal with it.

*Guess who wrote that thread and which bookie offered that betting market?

IanB2

Casino_Royale said:

The only thing I really need to know about the cricket is how do I get to the Rosebowl and back from North Hants if I want to have a few bevvies?

The only thing I need to know is what’s on the other side.

TheScreamingEagles

Well.

SNP finances ‘were kept secret amid questions over missing funds’

Senior officials blocked proposal to open party’s books after reports about cash for second Scottish independence referendum

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/snp-plans-disclose-funding-scottish-independence-referendum-2023-9vscr3l6s

Keith Brown, Douglas Chapman, and Mike Russell come out of this well.

Less said about Peter Murrell and Kirsten Oswald though.

ydoethur

IanB2 said:

Casino_Royale said:

The only thing I really need to know about the cricket is how do I get to the Rosebowl and back from North Hants if I want to have a few bevvies?

The only thing I need to know is what’s on the other side.

From Southampton? Either the Isle of Wight or Hythe. Depends on which direction you're facing.

TheScreamingEagles

ydoethur said:

Meanwhile, to get away from cricket, I have been doing some digging on The Hundred.

Two days ago there was a report in the Times that secret accounts reveal over its first two seasons, it made a headline loss of £9 million.

That's not including payments to the counties, or other staging costs, which would increase the loss to £37 million.

This is despite claims the tournament made around £10 million profit in each of its first two years, with bonuses paid accordingly.

A report of this report is here: https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/the-hundred-loss-ecb-finances-county-cricket-central-contracts-yorkshire/?zephr_sso_ott=wziFur

Buyer beware on such reports, BUT:

1) Although the Hundred plays to large houses, many of those tickets have been given away for free;

2) Player salaries are set by the board, not by revenue, and are probably too high for the gate money;

3) The TV deal doesn't appear to have been particularly well negotiated;

4) The ECB turned down a large offer to sell the Hundred, claiming £400 million 'undervalued' it. That seemed nonsensical at the time, but if there were auditors' reports claiming the ECB's figures were not truthful, their reluctance to have anyone else probing the books suddenly makes much more sense.

5) There is however a problem in that the ECB cannot afford these losses - certainly not if they continue until the expiration of the current TV deal in 2028 when the Hundred will almost certainly have to be abandoned unless something changes.

6) Also it occurs to me that claiming you have made a profit on something when you haven't may lead to issues with HMRC. False accounting is a crime, as Donald Trump is hopefully about to find out.

You have to feel a bit sorry for the new ECB management. They really have been lumbered with a mess - and ironically, they opposed the stupid thing.

Edit - Times report is here (paywall May apply, I went via Twitter)
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/1d9d71be-d3d4-11ed-b1cd-5223fe349502?shareToken=d150e9f419ada11854fe03f96b979e39

I still get incredibly angry that there are going to be no August Ashes tests this year so The Hundred gets an exclusive window.

squareroot2

They are desperate to make the 100 succeed. Frankly I think it was dead b4 it started but we shall see.

Morris_Dancer

Good morning, everyone.

Didn't end up betting, but Inter Milan only drew away at Salernitana, so if the safety first laying a favourite rather than backing the outsider approach was taken by anyone (NB not my tip, was a new PBer's) that would've come good.

Sixteen point lead minimum (Lazio have a game in hand) for Napoli, nine matches left, so looking good for them.

F1: I bet the stewards/race director(s) are less than thrilled the next race is Azerbaijan. I wonder if there'll be a red flag market?

TheScreamingEagles

Morris_Dancer said:

Good morning, everyone.

Didn't end up betting, but Inter Milan only drew away at Salernitana, so if the safety first laying a favourite rather than backing the outsider approach was taken by anyone (NB not my tip, was a new PBer's) that would've come good.

Sixteen point lead minimum (Lazio have a game in hand) for Napoli, nine matches left, so looking good for them.

F1: I bet the stewards/race director(s) are less than thrilled the next race is Azerbaijan. I wonder if there'll be a red flag market?

We have a sprint race, that’s all the excitement we’ll need.

LostPassword

Casino_Royale said:

The only thing I really need to know about the cricket is how do I get to the Rosebowl and back from North Hants if I want to have a few bevvies?

Your best bet might be to buy your wife a spa day at one of the nearby hotels, arrange something with extended family to look after the child(ren) and have her drop you off and pick you up on her way to/from the hotel.

Not sure how good a bet that is, mind.

Stuartinromford

squareroot2 said:

They are desperate to make the 100 succeed. Frankly I think it was dead b4 it started but we shall see.

It does get some live cricket (or cricket-derived byproduct) on terrestrial TV, which is probably useful for English cricket.

But it's hard to see that as being worth spending this much money on, or contorting the rest of the season for this.

Morris_Dancer

Mr. Eagles, bugger. I'd forgotten about that.

*sighs* I hate that format. But must admit it can be useful for betting ideas (as per Hamilton doing well in Brazil a couple of seasons ago).

Edited extra bit: it also seems bizarre that, apparently, Sargeant has no penalty for running into the back of De Vries and ending his race.

Malmesbury

ydoethur said:

Meanwhile, to get away from cricket, I have been doing some digging on The Hundred.

Two days ago there was a report in the Times that secret accounts reveal over its first two seasons, it made a headline loss of £9 million.

That's not including payments to the counties, or other staging costs, which would increase the loss to £37 million.

This is despite claims the tournament made around £10 million profit in each of its first two years, with bonuses paid accordingly.

A report of this report is here: https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/the-hundred-loss-ecb-finances-county-cricket-central-contracts-yorkshire/?zephr_sso_ott=wziFur

Buyer beware on such reports, BUT:

1) Although the Hundred plays to large houses, many of those tickets have been given away for free;

2) Player salaries are set by the board, not by revenue, and are probably too high for the gate money;

3) The TV deal doesn't appear to have been particularly well negotiated;

4) The ECB turned down a large offer to sell the Hundred, claiming £400 million 'undervalued' it. That seemed nonsensical at the time, but if there were auditors' reports claiming the ECB's figures were not truthful, their reluctance to have anyone else probing the books suddenly makes much more sense.

5) There is however a problem in that the ECB cannot afford these losses - certainly not if they continue until the expiration of the current TV deal in 2028 when the Hundred will almost certainly have to be abandoned unless something changes.

6) Also it occurs to me that claiming you have made a profit on something when you haven't may lead to issues with HMRC. False accounting is a crime, as Donald Trump is hopefully about to find out.

You have to feel a bit sorry for the new ECB management. They really have been lumbered with a mess - and ironically, they opposed the stupid thing.

Edit - Times report is here (paywall May apply, I went via Twitter)
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/1d9d71be-d3d4-11ed-b1cd-5223fe349502?shareToken=d150e9f419ada11854fe03f96b979e39

Did they get the idea for all of this this from “Sir” Allen Stanford?

TheScreamingEagles

Morris_Dancer said:

Mr. Eagles, bugger. I'd forgotten about that.

*sighs* I hate that format. But must admit it can be useful for betting ideas (as per Hamilton doing well in Brazil a couple of seasons ago).

Edited extra bit: it also seems bizarre that, apparently, Sargeant has no penalty for running into the back of De Vries and ending his race.

You don’t want to piss off anyone with the first name Logan.

#Succession

Morris_Dancer

Mr. Eagles, I have not seen that... the only Logan that springs to mind is the eponymous chap from Logan's Run.

Casino_Royale

LostPassword said:

Casino_Royale said:

The only thing I really need to know about the cricket is how do I get to the Rosebowl and back from North Hants if I want to have a few bevvies?

Your best bet might be to buy your wife a spa day at one of the nearby hotels, arrange something with extended family to look after the child(ren) and have her drop you off and pick you up on her way to/from the hotel.

Not sure how good a bet that is, mind.

Vanishingly unlikely but, yes, I agree that sounds terrific.

TheScreamingEagles

Morris_Dancer said:

Mr. Eagles, I have not seen that... the only Logan that springs to mind is the eponymous chap from Logan's Run.

Succession is the best show on at the moment.

It ends with this season. I’m so gutted.

Some of the characters make Max Verstappen look like a nice guy.

It is so compelling.

Morris_Dancer

Mr. Eagles, I hope it ends well.

#GOTflashbacks

Northern_Al

ydoethur said:

IanB2 said:

Casino_Royale said:

The only thing I really need to know about the cricket is how do I get to the Rosebowl and back from North Hants if I want to have a few bevvies?

The only thing I need to know is what’s on the other side.

From Southampton? Either the Isle of Wight or Hythe. Depends on which direction you're facing.

Thanks for the tips in the header, and the honourable mention.
You won't be surprised to hear that I'm piling in on Leicestershire and Kent.

ydoethur

Northern_Al said:

ydoethur said:

IanB2 said:

Casino_Royale said:

The only thing I really need to know about the cricket is how do I get to the Rosebowl and back from North Hants if I want to have a few bevvies?

The only thing I need to know is what’s on the other side.

From Southampton? Either the Isle of Wight or Hythe. Depends on which direction you're facing.

Thanks for the tips in the header, and the honourable mention.
You won't be surprised to hear that I'm piling in on Leicestershire and Kent.

I would love to see Leicestershire have a fabulous season and go up. Especially at the expense of Yorkshire.

But I have more chance of a date with Margot Robbie.

Mexicanpete

ydoethur said:

Northern_Al said:

ydoethur said:

IanB2 said:

Casino_Royale said:

The only thing I really need to know about the cricket is how do I get to the Rosebowl and back from North Hants if I want to have a few bevvies?

The only thing I need to know is what’s on the other side.

From Southampton? Either the Isle of Wight or Hythe. Depends on which direction you're facing.

Thanks for the tips in the header, and the honourable mention.
You won't be surprised to hear that I'm piling in on Leicestershire and Kent.

I would love to see Leicestershire have a fabulous season and go up. Especially at the expense of Yorkshire.

But I have more chance of a date with Margot Robbie.

Ydoethur, I have Margot Robbie on the line for you, oh sorry my mistake, he says his name is Robbie Margot.

It would be nice if Glamorgan again surprise on the upside. Nice header by the way.

FrankBooth

What's going on. We got two threads running simultaneously today?

A specialist second thread for the anoraks? Weather is nice and sunny in Cardiff today but it's freezing.

turbotubbs

Re Hants, I posted a couple of days ago that they are a top 3 tip, but not the title. Far too often the batting will let them down.
Best advice - lay the draw in their games.

Nigelb

ydoethur said:

IanB2 said:

How is that an appropriate lead for PB?

Quite right. It’s very disappointing I didn’t make any awesome puns in the title. Careless of me.

You might have mentioned the Overton window closing for Surrey.

Nigelb

Nigelb said:

ydoethur said:

IanB2 said:

How is that an appropriate lead for PB?

Quite right. It’s very disappointing I didn’t make any awesome puns in the title. Careless of me.

You might have mentioned the Overton window closing for Surrey.

Though they are showing some Steel.

MarqueeMark

TheScreamingEagles said:

My irony meter just died.

Alex Salmond: “My unsolicited advice to Humza is to find humility.”

https://twitter.com/KevinASchofield/status/1644582619118555137

Is Salmond offering some from his extensive stash?

Roger

Marina Hyde off the mark as Keir Starmer falls off his high horse at silly mid off

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/07/keir-starmer-high-horse-politics-labour-rishi-sunak

squareroot2

I would love to see Leicestershire do well. The league is stacked against them before a ball is bowled. I am always pleased when they win but would not be so if it was against Surrey!

Cyclefree

Nigelb said:

Longer than a Cyclefree header, and every bit as good.
(With apologies to Cyclefree, who I think has as much regard for sport as for chocolate on a cappucino.)

About 3 times as long. I will remember this the next time some one criticises one of mine, if I write one again. I am sure it is very good indeed even though I understand not a word.

I spent the summer of 1981 in hospital when Botham did something amazing in cricket, I am told. It was - apart from the Royal wedding - the only thing on the hospital TV. Even that prolonged exposure failed to make me understand - let alone appreciate - what the hell was happening.

I have a great regard and love for racing. I enjoy swimming and cycling and, occasionally, riding but as I have a bad leg injury at present I am focusing on lengthy recovery and avoiding pain.

Chocolate on coffee is - and always will be - an abomination.

Mexicanpete

Roger said:

Marina Hyde off the mark as Keir Starmer falls off his high horse at silly mid off

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/07/keir-starmer-high-horse-politics-labour-rishi-sunak

No, as usual she is right.

DavidL

Mexicanpete said:

Roger said:

Marina Hyde off the mark as Keir Starmer falls off his high horse at silly mid off

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/07/keir-starmer-high-horse-politics-labour-rishi-sunak

No, as usual she is right.

Not really a fan but what a sentence this is:
"“Hey, it’s not pretty, but politics is a bloodsport,” will be the position of some boring little inadequate whose other positions include banning bloodsports and having a number of views about where to get the best flat white in SW1."

Ouch.

Cyclefree

DavidL said:

Mexicanpete said:

Roger said:

Marina Hyde off the mark as Keir Starmer falls off his high horse at silly mid off

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/07/keir-starmer-high-horse-politics-labour-rishi-sunak

No, as usual she is right.

Not really a fan but what a sentence this is:
"“Hey, it’s not pretty, but politics is a bloodsport,” will be the position of some boring little inadequate whose other positions include banning bloodsports and having a number of views about where to get the best flat white in SW1."

Ouch.

As is this -

"At least the advent of spring means his handlers can finally get him out of the knee-length black coat he favours on outside visits. Coupled with his perma-pained expression, this garment always makes Starmer look like a funeral director. You never quite know if he’s going to say something about manufacturing jobs or murmur that the horse-drawn carriage is now ready to leave."

ydoethur

DavidL said:

Mexicanpete said:

Roger said:

Marina Hyde off the mark as Keir Starmer falls off his high horse at silly mid off

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/07/keir-starmer-high-horse-politics-labour-rishi-sunak

No, as usual she is right.

Not really a fan but what a sentence this is:
"“Hey, it’s not pretty, but politics is a bloodsport,” will be the position of some boring little inadequate whose other positions include banning bloodsports and having a number of views about where to get the best flat white in SW1."

Ouch.

Is she saying only racists will like it?

Nigelb

Cyclefree said:

Nigelb said:

Longer than a Cyclefree header, and every bit as good.
(With apologies to Cyclefree, who I think has as much regard for sport as for chocolate on a cappucino.)

About 3 times as long. I will remember this the next time some one criticises one of mine, if I write one again. I am sure it is very good indeed even though I understand not a word.

I spent the summer of 1981 in hospital when Botham did something amazing in cricket, I am told. It was - apart from the Royal wedding - the only thing on the hospital TV. Even that prolonged exposure failed to make me understand - let alone appreciate - what the hell was happening.

I have a great regard and love for racing. I enjoy swimming and cycling and, occasionally, riding but as I have a bad leg injury at present I am focusing on lengthy recovery and avoiding pain.

Chocolate on coffee is - and always will be - an abomination.

I’m very sorry to hear of the injury; I wish you a full recovery. I crocked my knee a few years ago, so I know how frustrating it’s likely to be.

Please don’t say you’ve written your last header. I read every word.

Oh, and I’ve switched to flat whites, sans chocolate.

kinabalu

Roger said:

Marina Hyde off the mark as Keir Starmer falls off his high horse at silly mid off

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/07/keir-starmer-high-horse-politics-labour-rishi-sunak

It's fair game imo. One of my great pleasures in life is occupying the moral high ground from which I gaze down - sometimes fondly sometimes not - upon Tory supporters. This attack ad rather threatens that. No more of this stuff please, Keir.

MarqueeMark

Roger said:

Marina Hyde off the mark as Keir Starmer falls off his high horse at silly mid off

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/07/keir-starmer-high-horse-politics-labour-rishi-sunak

"the self sainted Starmer" might need to be filed away for future use.

mwadams

DavidL said:

Mexicanpete said:

Roger said:

Marina Hyde off the mark as Keir Starmer falls off his high horse at silly mid off

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/07/keir-starmer-high-horse-politics-labour-rishi-sunak

No, as usual she is right.

Not really a fan but what a sentence this is:
"“Hey, it’s not pretty, but politics is a bloodsport,” will be the position of some boring little inadequate whose other positions include banning bloodsports and having a number of views about where to get the best flat white in SW1."

Ouch.

The thing about Marina Hyde is that, unlike a lot of 'provocative' writers, you get the impression that a) she believes what she is saying, she's not just fulfilling a contractual stereotype and b) she will invariably have at least one memorably crafted sentence to enjoy

TheScreamingEagles

MarqueeMark said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

My irony meter just died.

Alex Salmond: “My unsolicited advice to Humza is to find humility.”

https://twitter.com/KevinASchofield/status/1644582619118555137

Is Salmond offering some from his extensive stash?

It certainly looks like it.

Next, I’ll be offering Humza Yousaf guidance on how to be a modest self effacing Pakistani heritage chap.

Scott_xP

@Aiannucci
Do you think Labour’s campaign team might fuck up their chances of winning? Keir Starmer doesn’t.
https://twitter.com/Aiannucci/status/1644610172369752064

kinabalu

Cyclefree said:

Nigelb said:

Longer than a Cyclefree header, and every bit as good.
(With apologies to Cyclefree, who I think has as much regard for sport as for chocolate on a cappucino.)

About 3 times as long. I will remember this the next time some one criticises one of mine, if I write one again. I am sure it is very good indeed even though I understand not a word.

I spent the summer of 1981 in hospital when Botham did something amazing in cricket, I am told. It was - apart from the Royal wedding - the only thing on the hospital TV. Even that prolonged exposure failed to make me understand - let alone appreciate - what the hell was happening.

I have a great regard and love for racing. I enjoy swimming and cycling and, occasionally, riding but as I have a bad leg injury at present I am focusing on lengthy recovery and avoiding pain.

Chocolate on coffee is - and always will be - an abomination.

With your North London hat on, are you not avidly following Arsenal's tilt for the premier league title?

Nigelb

Cyclefree said:

DavidL said:

Mexicanpete said:

Roger said:

Marina Hyde off the mark as Keir Starmer falls off his high horse at silly mid off

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/07/keir-starmer-high-horse-politics-labour-rishi-sunak

No, as usual she is right.

Not really a fan but what a sentence this is:
"“Hey, it’s not pretty, but politics is a bloodsport,” will be the position of some boring little inadequate whose other positions include banning bloodsports and having a number of views about where to get the best flat white in SW1."

Ouch.

As is this -

"At least the advent of spring means his handlers can finally get him out of the knee-length black coat he favours on outside visits. Coupled with his perma-pained expression, this garment always makes Starmer look like a funeral director. You never quite know if he’s going to say something about manufacturing jobs or murmur that the horse-drawn carriage is now ready to leave."

Good lord, he does have that expression of slightly worried solicitousness adopted by them. Won’t be able to unsee that.

SirNorfolkPassmore

TheScreamingEagles said:

My irony meter just died.

Alex Salmond: “My unsolicited advice to Humza is to find humility.”

https://twitter.com/KevinASchofield/status/1644582619118555137

Next week, Boris Johnson shares his personal mantra that honesty is the best policy, Liz Truss suggests listening carefully to the experts before doing anything rash, and Nicola Sturgeon says always keep a close eye on credits and debits in the joint account.

Scott_xP

Cyclefree said:

this garment always makes Starmer look like a funeral director. You never quite know if he’s going to say something about manufacturing jobs or murmur that the horse-drawn carriage is now ready to leave."

I saw a funeral cortege the other day with a man in top and tails walking in front of the hearse, which is a thing I have only ever seen in television comedy shows before.

mwadams

MarqueeMark said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

My irony meter just died.

Alex Salmond: “My unsolicited advice to Humza is to find humility.”

https://twitter.com/KevinASchofield/status/1644582619118555137

Is Salmond offering some from his extensive stash?

He's kept it carefully wrapped in cellophane and gaffer tape in a bunker in Linlithgow, so noone suspects that he has any.

MarqueeMark

mwadams said:

MarqueeMark said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

My irony meter just died.

Alex Salmond: “My unsolicited advice to Humza is to find humility.”

https://twitter.com/KevinASchofield/status/1644582619118555137

Is Salmond offering some from his extensive stash?

He's kept it carefully wrapped in cellophane and gaffer tape in a bunker in Linlithgow, so noone suspects that he has any.

I thought the place for it was burying it in your garden?

Malmesbury

SirNorfolkPassmore said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

My irony meter just died.

Alex Salmond: “My unsolicited advice to Humza is to find humility.”

https://twitter.com/KevinASchofield/status/1644582619118555137

Next week, Boris Johnson shares his personal mantra that honesty is the best policy, Liz Truss suggests listening carefully to the experts before doing anything rash, and Nicola Sturgeon says always keep a close eye on credits and debits in the joint account.

On Altair IV, all the meters have hammered to the right. Then the planet exploded….

mwadams

MarqueeMark said:

mwadams said:

MarqueeMark said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

My irony meter just died.

Alex Salmond: “My unsolicited advice to Humza is to find humility.”

https://twitter.com/KevinASchofield/status/1644582619118555137

Is Salmond offering some from his extensive stash?

He's kept it carefully wrapped in cellophane and gaffer tape in a bunker in Linlithgow, so noone suspects that he has any.

I thought the place for it was burying it in your garden?

He's refined his advice in the light of recent events.

OldKingCole

Essex started well against Middlesex, taking the first four wickets for none off the bat yesterday.
Quite cheered me up on a day when I’d been depressed by the Labour advert and by not being able to take advantage of the weather to go to the revamped pub down the road.

biggles

Good article. Don’t disagree with any of it but would make two observations:

1) On the margins, the Championship can be very affected by external factors: not just in the obvious ways but also by groundsmen getting it wrong in pursuit of a specific style of wicket (doubly so in an Ashes year).

2) I might go back to watch some of Middlesex this year, so they will be crap again.

squareroot2

Scott_xP said:

Cyclefree said:

this garment always makes Starmer look like a funeral director. You never quite know if he’s going to say something about manufacturing jobs or murmur that the horse-drawn carriage is now ready to leave."

I saw a funeral cortege the other day with a man in top and tails walking in front of the hearse, which is a thing I have only ever seen in television comedy shows before.

I have been to several where that happens. V common in Dorset I am led to believe.

mwadams

On topic, I think Nottinghamshire are a good outside bet this year (though I agree having consistent access to their bowling attack is an inhibitor).

TheKitchenCabinet

Cyclefree said:

DavidL said:

Mexicanpete said:

Roger said:

Marina Hyde off the mark as Keir Starmer falls off his high horse at silly mid off

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/07/keir-starmer-high-horse-politics-labour-rishi-sunak

No, as usual she is right.

Not really a fan but what a sentence this is:
"“Hey, it’s not pretty, but politics is a bloodsport,” will be the position of some boring little inadequate whose other positions include banning bloodsports and having a number of views about where to get the best flat white in SW1."

Ouch.

As is this -

"At least the advent of spring means his handlers can finally get him out of the knee-length black coat he favours on outside visits. Coupled with his perma-pained expression, this garment always makes Starmer look like a funeral director. You never quite know if he’s going to say something about manufacturing jobs or murmur that the horse-drawn carriage is now ready to leave."

I have always more equated his pained expression with the look of someone suffering from severe haemorrhoids and who has not realised where he has stashed his Anusol supply in the middle of a sudden country-wide shortage but it looks like Marina and I are somewhat on the same page.

squareroot2

Scott_xP said:

@Aiannucci
Do you think Labour’s campaign team might fuck up their chances of winning? Keir Starmer doesn’t.
https://twitter.com/Aiannucci/status/1644610172369752064

I wonder how many cases were not prosecuted when Starmer was head of the CPS. I think we should be told.

malcolmg

TheScreamingEagles said:

Well.

SNP finances ‘were kept secret amid questions over missing funds’

Senior officials blocked proposal to open party’s books after reports about cash for second Scottish independence referendum

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/snp-plans-disclose-funding-scottish-independence-referendum-2023-9vscr3l6s

Keith Brown, Douglas Chapman, and Mike Russell come out of this well.

Less said about Peter Murrell and Kirsten Oswald though.

All three of those and especially Russell up to their necks in it

Nigelb

biggles said:

Good article. Don’t disagree with any of it but would make two observations:

1) On the margins, the Championship can be very affected by external factors: not just in the obvious ways but also by groundsmen getting it wrong in pursuit of a specific style of wicket (doubly so in an Ashes year).

2) I might go back to watch some of Middlesex this year, so they will be crap again.

They’ve already pre-empted you on that score.
Or rather, absence of score.

kinabalu

On topic: Good grief, this man knows his cricket! Me, I don't really follow the game but what I do do each year, preferably more than once, is go to Lords, which is walking distance from my place, for a Middx county champs match. It's part of the summer for me.

squareroot2

biggles said:

Good article. Don’t disagree with any of it but would make two observations:

1) On the margins, the Championship can be very affected by external factors: not just in the obvious ways but also by groundsmen getting it wrong in pursuit of a specific style of wicket (doubly so in an Ashes year).

2) I might go back to watch some of Middlesex this year, so they will be crap again.

I went to watch Middx v Surrey in the 20 20. Middlesex should be heavily fined and censured for their revolting pink clothing ...UGH.

DavidL

Cyclefree said:

DavidL said:

Mexicanpete said:

Roger said:

Marina Hyde off the mark as Keir Starmer falls off his high horse at silly mid off

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/07/keir-starmer-high-horse-politics-labour-rishi-sunak

No, as usual she is right.

Not really a fan but what a sentence this is:
"“Hey, it’s not pretty, but politics is a bloodsport,” will be the position of some boring little inadequate whose other positions include banning bloodsports and having a number of views about where to get the best flat white in SW1."

Ouch.

As is this -

"At least the advent of spring means his handlers can finally get him out of the knee-length black coat he favours on outside visits. Coupled with his perma-pained expression, this garment always makes Starmer look like a funeral director. You never quite know if he’s going to say something about manufacturing jobs or murmur that the horse-drawn carriage is now ready to leave."

Yes, its a very well written piece but she'll be back to annoying the hell out of me tomorrow. Sorry to hear about your injury. Hope you recover quickly.

NickPalmer

Cyclefree said:

Nigelb said:

Longer than a Cyclefree header, and every bit as good.
(With apologies to Cyclefree, who I think has as much regard for sport as for chocolate on a cappucino.)

About 3 times as long. I will remember this the next time some one criticises one of mine, if I write one again. I am sure it is very good indeed even though I understand not a word.

I spent the summer of 1981 in hospital when Botham did something amazing in cricket, I am told. It was - apart from the Royal wedding - the only thing on the hospital TV. Even that prolonged exposure failed to make me understand - let alone appreciate - what the hell was happening.

I have a great regard and love for racing. I enjoy swimming and cycling and, occasionally, riding but as I have a bad leg injury at present I am focusing on lengthy recovery and avoiding pain.

Chocolate on coffee is - and always will be - an abomination.

Many sympathies for the leg injury - hope you recover as soon as possible.

As for the header - "political betting takes a holiday from politics and betting", though I'm sure it's good in its own right.

ydoethur

Nigelb said:

biggles said:

Good article. Don’t disagree with any of it but would make two observations:

1) On the margins, the Championship can be very affected by external factors: not just in the obvious ways but also by groundsmen getting it wrong in pursuit of a specific style of wicket (doubly so in an Ashes year).

2) I might go back to watch some of Middlesex this year, so they will be crap again.

They’ve already pre-empted you on that score.
Or rather, absence of score.

Four ducks is mental. Just totally quackers.

ydoethur

TheScreamingEagles said:

MarqueeMark said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

My irony meter just died.

Alex Salmond: “My unsolicited advice to Humza is to find humility.”

https://twitter.com/KevinASchofield/status/1644582619118555137

Is Salmond offering some from his extensive stash?

It certainly looks like it.

Next, I’ll be offering Humza Yousaf guidance on how to be a modest self effacing Pakistani heritage chap.

Of working class?

OldKingCole

ydoethur said:

Nigelb said:

biggles said:

Good article. Don’t disagree with any of it but would make two observations:

1) On the margins, the Championship can be very affected by external factors: not just in the obvious ways but also by groundsmen getting it wrong in pursuit of a specific style of wicket (doubly so in an Ashes year).

2) I might go back to watch some of Middlesex this year, so they will be crap again.

They’ve already pre-empted you on that score.
Or rather, absence of score.

Four ducks is mental. Just totally quackers.

Good to see Porter back on form.

kle4

Nigelb said:

Clarence Thomas is either a liar, or doesn't understand simple ethics.
Either way he's not fit to be a judge, let alone on the Supreme Court.

https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-response-trips-legal-experts-harlan-crow
...But seven legal ethics experts consulted by ProPublica, including former ethics lawyers for Congress and the White House, said the law clearly requires that gifts of transportation, including private jet flights, be disclosed. If Thomas is arguing otherwise, the experts said, he is incorrect...

Actually it goes beyond ethics, since he's also breaking a law which has been in place since Watergate.
Though there is no available legal remedy other than impeachment.

A judicial "I'm an idiot" defence, relatively rare. Presumably because it should be hard to sustain your position as one of the countries top jurists and a fine legal mind if you cannot understand basic issues and you admit to, at best, not having the intent to break the rules.

Not understanding ethics sounds like it makes him perfect for the court though, from the perspective of 50% of americans.

kle4

In "there is always someone crazier" news.

Marjorie Taylor Greene is publicly discouraging Donald Trump from hiring Laura Loomer for a campaign role

The Georgian called Loomer, who twice ran for a seat in Florida, "mentally unstable and a documented liar."

https://www.politico.com/minutes/congress/04-7-2023/mtgs-message-to-trump/

biggles

squareroot2 said:

biggles said:

Good article. Don’t disagree with any of it but would make two observations:

1) On the margins, the Championship can be very affected by external factors: not just in the obvious ways but also by groundsmen getting it wrong in pursuit of a specific style of wicket (doubly so in an Ashes year).

2) I might go back to watch some of Middlesex this year, so they will be crap again.

I went to watch Middx v Surrey in the 20 20. Middlesex should be heavily fined and censured for their revolting pink clothing ...UGH.

While I agree with you, their inability to score more than 160 was the really offensive thing. In that context, I felt the kit was more of a penance. “Here comes the tail” was often heard as anyone other than DeVilliers came on to bat.

ydoethur

biggles said:

squareroot2 said:

biggles said:

Good article. Don’t disagree with any of it but would make two observations:

1) On the margins, the Championship can be very affected by external factors: not just in the obvious ways but also by groundsmen getting it wrong in pursuit of a specific style of wicket (doubly so in an Ashes year).

2) I might go back to watch some of Middlesex this year, so they will be crap again.

I went to watch Middx v Surrey in the 20 20. Middlesex should be heavily fined and censured for their revolting pink clothing ...UGH.

While I agree with you, their inability to score more than 160 was the really offensive thing. In that context, I felt it was more of a penance. “Here comes the tail” was often heard as anyone other than DeVilliers came on to bat.

Do we still call it that in women’s cricket? I mean, it does carry an unfortunate double meaning.

Nigelb

kle4 said:

In "there is always someone crazier" news.

Marjorie Taylor Greene is publicly discouraging Donald Trump from hiring Laura Loomer for a campaign role

The Georgian called Loomer, who twice ran for a seat in Florida, "mentally unstable and a documented liar."

https://www.politico.com/minutes/congress/04-7-2023/mtgs-message-to-trump/

Has she unwittingly uncovered a talent for irony ?

Alphabet_Soup

ydoethur said:

Nigelb said:

biggles said:

Good article. Don’t disagree with any of it but would make two observations:

1) On the margins, the Championship can be very affected by external factors: not just in the obvious ways but also by groundsmen getting it wrong in pursuit of a specific style of wicket (doubly so in an Ashes year).

2) I might go back to watch some of Middlesex this year, so they will be crap again.

They’ve already pre-empted you on that score.
Or rather, absence of score.

Four ducks is mental. Just totally quackers.

Thankfully I'm no longer a Middlesex member so I can hold my head high and, like St Peter, say 'nothing to do with me, mate'.

All too often the best part of a day out at Lord's was the train ride from Leamington to Marylebone.

ydoethur

kle4 said:

In "there is always someone crazier" news.

Marjorie Taylor Greene is publicly discouraging Donald Trump from hiring Laura Loomer for a campaign role

The Georgian called Loomer, who twice ran for a seat in Florida, "mentally unstable and a documented liar."

https://www.politico.com/minutes/congress/04-7-2023/mtgs-message-to-trump/

Sounds a perfect fit for the role, actually.

DavidL

I love international cricket but struggle to engage with the County Championship. There is a limited pool of talent and England call ups can seriously weaken some of these teams, as well as the viewing spectacle. But it is more accessible now so we shall see.

As for the Hundred, what a terrible idea that was.

Taz

DavidL said:

Mexicanpete said:

Roger said:

Marina Hyde off the mark as Keir Starmer falls off his high horse at silly mid off

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/07/keir-starmer-high-horse-politics-labour-rishi-sunak

No, as usual she is right.

Not really a fan but what a sentence this is:
"“Hey, it’s not pretty, but politics is a bloodsport,” will be the position of some boring little inadequate whose other positions include banning bloodsports and having a number of views about where to get the best flat white in SW1."

Ouch.

Another zinger from the voice of the working class.

It’s a tired old Schtick she peddles but she has her army of online devotees and sycophants who lap it up.

kle4

kinabalu said:

Roger said:

Marina Hyde off the mark as Keir Starmer falls off his high horse at silly mid off

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/07/keir-starmer-high-horse-politics-labour-rishi-sunak

It's fair game imo. One of my great pleasures in life is occupying the moral high ground from which I gaze down - sometimes fondly sometimes not - upon Tory supporters. This attack ad rather threatens that. No more of this stuff please, Keir.

Politicians falsely claim the moral high ground all the time, and look rather silly while doing it. That's why it's important not to jump off when you do occupy it unless absolutely necessary, as it is hard to get back.

Nigelb

ydoethur said:

Nigelb said:

biggles said:

Good article. Don’t disagree with any of it but would make two observations:

1) On the margins, the Championship can be very affected by external factors: not just in the obvious ways but also by groundsmen getting it wrong in pursuit of a specific style of wicket (doubly so in an Ashes year).

2) I might go back to watch some of Middlesex this year, so they will be crap again.

They’ve already pre-empted you on that score.
Or rather, absence of score.

Four ducks is mental. Just totally quackers.

Have to go elsewhere for a while.

In leaving I’ll just note that Yorkshire will be the House of Saud for the next month.

Verulamius

Who is the better cricketer? Sunak, Starmer or Davey?

kle4

Nigelb said:

kle4 said:

In "there is always someone crazier" news.

Marjorie Taylor Greene is publicly discouraging Donald Trump from hiring Laura Loomer for a campaign role

The Georgian called Loomer, who twice ran for a seat in Florida, "mentally unstable and a documented liar."

https://www.politico.com/minutes/congress/04-7-2023/mtgs-message-to-trump/

Has she unwittingly uncovered a talent for irony ?

I don't know, but Loomer shouldn't take the job - when she, like all his underlings, eventually disappoints Trump he will have no difficulty picking an insulting name for her. Laura Loopy, Laura Looner, he'll have no problem.