Hot take: I've seen Botham and Flintoff AND Stokes in their pomp
Stokes is, by a distance, superior to them both. Not least because he's such a superb captain, unlike them
The best English cricketer and possibly English sportsman of my adult life
Hmm. Its tricky comparing eras (and even Flintoff is almost a generation ago). Botham was an extraordinary player - 14 centuries at 33.54 and over 5000 runs (this is test numbers). Bowling he took 383 wickets at 28.40 in 102 matches.
Jimmy took 704 in 188 at 26.45. That's essentially the same (so if Botham had played as many games he would have taken 700 wickets too). Clearly Botham enjoyed life* a lot and so played fewer tests and I think there were fewer in that ear anyway.
Flintoff scored 5 centuries at an average of 31.77 and scored 3845 runs. Bowling he took 226 at 32.78.
Stokes to date has 13 centuries at 35.15 and has scored 6891 runs. Bowling he has 224 wickets at 32.02 (from 114 test matches).
From the numbers alone I would suggest that Botham is the better bowler than Flintoff and Stokes, but Stokes is possibly a better bat. Right now he seems better as a bowler than a bat, but it may turn round.
Both Botham and Anderson's figures are a bit misleading. If you take out Anderson's first 20 or so Tests, when he was being horribly mismanaged, he averaged around 23-24. If you include Botham's first 50 Tests only, he averaged about 22 (he took half his wickets before 1982 at an average of just 18).
In that period, Botham also averaged around 40 with the bat in Tests. After 1984 he scored one century and had no fifties.
So at his best, Botham was a better all round player than Stokes. He was never quite so good with the bat as Stokes at his best, but was a much better bowler, possibly even better than Anderson although he couldn't maintain his fitness long enough to take as many wickets.
Its quite hard to maintain your fitness under a regime of weed, booze and shagging barmaids, but I'd say Botham did his best... Those Somerset years with Viv and Joel must have been fun.
How does shagging barmaids negatively impact fitness? Asking for a friend.
The MAGA coalition has completely disintegrated with the new video leaks of the Epstein deposition. I think they're going to have to release the files and be damned or the whole unite the right effort will come to an end in the US. It's also mostly younger commentators under 30 who are the most incensed by the u-turn so that content cycle on YouTube that has helped Trump/MAGA to capture so many Gen Z voters could be coming to an end as well. Definitely something to look out for in voting trends before 2028 because 2024 was won on the back of the youth vote turning out for Trump in a way not many expected.
Hot take: I've seen Botham and Flintoff AND Stokes in their pomp
Stokes is, by a distance, superior to them both. Not least because he's such a superb captain, unlike them
The best English cricketer and possibly English sportsman of my adult life
Hmm. Its tricky comparing eras (and even Flintoff is almost a generation ago). Botham was an extraordinary player - 14 centuries at 33.54 and over 5000 runs (this is test numbers). Bowling he took 383 wickets at 28.40 in 102 matches.
Jimmy took 704 in 188 at 26.45. That's essentially the same (so if Botham had played as many games he would have taken 700 wickets too). Clearly Botham enjoyed life* a lot and so played fewer tests and I think there were fewer in that ear anyway.
Flintoff scored 5 centuries at an average of 31.77 and scored 3845 runs. Bowling he took 226 at 32.78.
Stokes to date has 13 centuries at 35.15 and has scored 6891 runs. Bowling he has 224 wickets at 32.02 (from 114 test matches).
From the numbers alone I would suggest that Botham is the better bowler than Flintoff and Stokes, but Stokes is possibly a better bat. Right now he seems better as a bowler than a bat, but it may turn round.
But Stokes has given us Bazball, and is also a far superior captain - no small thing
I'd agree with you there.
Botham was probably the more naturally gifted player, but Stokes is the far superior all round sportsman. His captaincy has had a similarly consequential influence to that of Brearley, who would not have been in the team at all, otherwise.
"Police raid on 'Epping migrant hotel protester': Suspect is arrested at his home as a ring of steel is put up around two taxpayer-funded asylum seeker centres amid fears of riots"
Hot take: I've seen Botham and Flintoff AND Stokes in their pomp
Stokes is, by a distance, superior to them both. Not least because he's such a superb captain, unlike them
The best English cricketer and possibly English sportsman of my adult life
Hmm. Its tricky comparing eras (and even Flintoff is almost a generation ago). Botham was an extraordinary player - 14 centuries at 33.54 and over 5000 runs (this is test numbers). Bowling he took 383 wickets at 28.40 in 102 matches.
Jimmy took 704 in 188 at 26.45. That's essentially the same (so if Botham had played as many games he would have taken 700 wickets too). Clearly Botham enjoyed life* a lot and so played fewer tests and I think there were fewer in that ear anyway.
Flintoff scored 5 centuries at an average of 31.77 and scored 3845 runs. Bowling he took 226 at 32.78.
Stokes to date has 13 centuries at 35.15 and has scored 6891 runs. Bowling he has 224 wickets at 32.02 (from 114 test matches).
From the numbers alone I would suggest that Botham is the better bowler than Flintoff and Stokes, but Stokes is possibly a better bat. Right now he seems better as a bowler than a bat, but it may turn round.
Both Botham and Anderson's figures are a bit misleading. If you take out Anderson's first 20 or so Tests, when he was being horribly mismanaged, he averaged around 23-24. If you include Botham's first 50 Tests only, he averaged about 22 (he took half his wickets before 1982 at an average of just 18).
In that period, Botham also averaged around 40 with the bat in Tests. After 1984 he scored one century and had no fifties.
So at his best, Botham was a better all round player than Stokes. He was never quite so good with the bat as Stokes at his best, but was a much better bowler, possibly even better than Anderson although he couldn't maintain his fitness long enough to take as many wickets.
Its quite hard to maintain your fitness under a regime of weed, booze and shagging barmaids, but I'd say Botham did his best... Those Somerset years with Viv and Joel must have been fun.
How does shagging barmaids negatively impact fitness? Asking for a friend.
Some joke about doing bar belles being physically tiring that I can’t be arsed to work properly.
Cricket question: for many years they used to have a small box in the corner of the screen showing the batsmen running while the ball was going to the boundary so you could watch both things at the same time, but have recently stopped showing it. Why? Makes it more difficult to work out what's happening.
Hot take: I've seen Botham and Flintoff AND Stokes in their pomp
Stokes is, by a distance, superior to them both. Not least because he's such a superb captain, unlike them
The best English cricketer and possibly English sportsman of my adult life
Hmm. Its tricky comparing eras (and even Flintoff is almost a generation ago). Botham was an extraordinary player - 14 centuries at 33.54 and over 5000 runs (this is test numbers). Bowling he took 383 wickets at 28.40 in 102 matches.
Jimmy took 704 in 188 at 26.45. That's essentially the same (so if Botham had played as many games he would have taken 700 wickets too). Clearly Botham enjoyed life* a lot and so played fewer tests and I think there were fewer in that ear anyway.
Flintoff scored 5 centuries at an average of 31.77 and scored 3845 runs. Bowling he took 226 at 32.78.
Stokes to date has 13 centuries at 35.15 and has scored 6891 runs. Bowling he has 224 wickets at 32.02 (from 114 test matches).
From the numbers alone I would suggest that Botham is the better bowler than Flintoff and Stokes, but Stokes is possibly a better bat. Right now he seems better as a bowler than a bat, but it may turn round.
But Stokes has given us Bazball, and is also a far superior captain - no small thing
I'd agree with you there.
Botham was probably the more naturally gifted player, but Stokes is the far superior all round sportsman. His captaincy has had a similarly consequential influence to that of Brearley, who would not have been in the team at all, otherwise.
And unlike Botham, he has improved with age.
I don't know about all round sportsman. Botham managed to also play professional football.
But its also a bit like comparing George Best to modern footballers. The strength and conditioning is total different universe. The average EPL player now would blow Best out the water, they are just much faster, stronger, fitter.
Also understanding of technique has changed. There was a piece they did 5 years ago with Flintoff and Buttler talking about power hitting and Buttler could nail the ball miles further. Sky did another piece with Liam Livingstone with KP with similar outcome, KP who is still in incredible physical shape looked like a total weakling.
Hot take: I've seen Botham and Flintoff AND Stokes in their pomp
Stokes is, by a distance, superior to them both. Not least because he's such a superb captain, unlike them
The best English cricketer and possibly English sportsman of my adult life
Hmm. Its tricky comparing eras (and even Flintoff is almost a generation ago). Botham was an extraordinary player - 14 centuries at 33.54 and over 5000 runs (this is test numbers). Bowling he took 383 wickets at 28.40 in 102 matches.
Jimmy took 704 in 188 at 26.45. That's essentially the same (so if Botham had played as many games he would have taken 700 wickets too). Clearly Botham enjoyed life* a lot and so played fewer tests and I think there were fewer in that ear anyway.
Flintoff scored 5 centuries at an average of 31.77 and scored 3845 runs. Bowling he took 226 at 32.78.
Stokes to date has 13 centuries at 35.15 and has scored 6891 runs. Bowling he has 224 wickets at 32.02 (from 114 test matches).
From the numbers alone I would suggest that Botham is the better bowler than Flintoff and Stokes, but Stokes is possibly a better bat. Right now he seems better as a bowler than a bat, but it may turn round.
But Stokes has given us Bazball, and is also a far superior captain - no small thing
I'd agree with you there.
Botham was probably the more naturally gifted player, but Stokes is the far superior all round sportsman. His captaincy has had a similarly consequential influence to that of Brearley, who would not have been in the team at all, otherwise.
And unlike Botham, he has improved with age.
I don't know about all round sportsman. Botham managed to also play professional football.
But its also a bit like comparing George Best to modern footballers. The strength and conditioning is total different universe. The average EPL player now would blow Best out the water, they are just much faster, stronger, fitter.
Also understanding of technique has changed. There was a piece they did 5 years ago with Flintoff and Buttler talking about power hitting and Buttler could nail the ball miles further. Sky did another piece with Liam Livingstone with KP with similar outcome, KP who is still in incredible physical shape looked like a total weakling.
That's the case with all sports except those involving horses.
Hot take: I've seen Botham and Flintoff AND Stokes in their pomp
Stokes is, by a distance, superior to them both. Not least because he's such a superb captain, unlike them
The best English cricketer and possibly English sportsman of my adult life
Hmm. Its tricky comparing eras (and even Flintoff is almost a generation ago). Botham was an extraordinary player - 14 centuries at 33.54 and over 5000 runs (this is test numbers). Bowling he took 383 wickets at 28.40 in 102 matches.
Jimmy took 704 in 188 at 26.45. That's essentially the same (so if Botham had played as many games he would have taken 700 wickets too). Clearly Botham enjoyed life* a lot and so played fewer tests and I think there were fewer in that ear anyway.
Flintoff scored 5 centuries at an average of 31.77 and scored 3845 runs. Bowling he took 226 at 32.78.
Stokes to date has 13 centuries at 35.15 and has scored 6891 runs. Bowling he has 224 wickets at 32.02 (from 114 test matches).
From the numbers alone I would suggest that Botham is the better bowler than Flintoff and Stokes, but Stokes is possibly a better bat. Right now he seems better as a bowler than a bat, but it may turn round.
But Stokes has given us Bazball, and is also a far superior captain - no small thing
I'd agree with you there.
Botham was probably the more naturally gifted player, but Stokes is the far superior all round sportsman. His captaincy has had a similarly consequential influence to that of Brearley, who would not have been in the team at all, otherwise.
And unlike Botham, he has improved with age.
I don't know about all round sportsman. Botham managed to also play professional football.
But its also a bit like comparing George Best to modern footballers. The strength and conditioning is total different universe. The average EPL player now would blow Best out the water, they are just much faster, stronger, fitter.
Also understanding of technique has changed. There was a piece they did 5 years ago with Flintoff and Buttler talking about power hitting and Buttler could nail the ball miles further. Sky did another piece with Liam Livingstone with KP with similar outcome, KP who is still in incredible physical shape looked like a total weakling.
That's the case with all sports except those involving horses.
I am not really a follower of the nags, but have they not improved over time? I would naively presume that training, recovery and nutrition would also improve for the carrot munchers.
A challenger on the Left (in addition to the Greens) is nothing but a negative for Labour. I won't be tempted (I see it as self-indulgent) but I bet some people will be. They'll think Labour under Starmer is not the beautiful game so let's do a feelgood vote. The good news (for Labour) is the new party's lack of credible leadership. It seems the only Jeremy Corbyn they can find to front the operation is the actual Jeremy Corbyn. This will surely hold them back.
It's perhaps more of a challenge for the Greens than for Labour. That's what the hypothetical polling suggests.
Hot take: I've seen Botham and Flintoff AND Stokes in their pomp
Stokes is, by a distance, superior to them both. Not least because he's such a superb captain, unlike them
The best English cricketer and possibly English sportsman of my adult life
Hmm. Its tricky comparing eras (and even Flintoff is almost a generation ago). Botham was an extraordinary player - 14 centuries at 33.54 and over 5000 runs (this is test numbers). Bowling he took 383 wickets at 28.40 in 102 matches.
Jimmy took 704 in 188 at 26.45. That's essentially the same (so if Botham had played as many games he would have taken 700 wickets too). Clearly Botham enjoyed life* a lot and so played fewer tests and I think there were fewer in that ear anyway.
Flintoff scored 5 centuries at an average of 31.77 and scored 3845 runs. Bowling he took 226 at 32.78.
Stokes to date has 13 centuries at 35.15 and has scored 6891 runs. Bowling he has 224 wickets at 32.02 (from 114 test matches).
From the numbers alone I would suggest that Botham is the better bowler than Flintoff and Stokes, but Stokes is possibly a better bat. Right now he seems better as a bowler than a bat, but it may turn round.
But Stokes has given us Bazball, and is also a far superior captain - no small thing
I'd agree with you there.
Botham was probably the more naturally gifted player, but Stokes is the far superior all round sportsman. His captaincy has had a similarly consequential influence to that of Brearley, who would not have been in the team at all, otherwise.
And unlike Botham, he has improved with age.
I don't know about all round sportsman. Botham managed to also play professional football.
But its also a bit like comparing George Best to modern footballers. The strength and conditioning is total different universe. The average EPL player now would blow Best out the water, they are just much faster, stronger, fitter.
Also understanding of technique has changed. There was a piece they did 5 years ago with Flintoff and Buttler talking about power hitting and Buttler could nail the ball miles further. Sky did another piece with Liam Livingstone with KP with similar outcome, KP who is still in incredible physical shape looked like a total weakling.
That's the case with all sports except those involving horses.
I am not really a follower of the nags, but have they not improved over time? I would naively presume that training, recovery and nutrition would also improve for the carrot munchers.
No, nothing like as much. Secretariat's 1973 Kentucky Derby time still stands. Dancing Brave which won the 1986 Epsom Derby and the Arc would likely win those races today.
Hot take: I've seen Botham and Flintoff AND Stokes in their pomp
Stokes is, by a distance, superior to them both. Not least because he's such a superb captain, unlike them
The best English cricketer and possibly English sportsman of my adult life
Hmm. Its tricky comparing eras (and even Flintoff is almost a generation ago). Botham was an extraordinary player - 14 centuries at 33.54 and over 5000 runs (this is test numbers). Bowling he took 383 wickets at 28.40 in 102 matches.
Jimmy took 704 in 188 at 26.45. That's essentially the same (so if Botham had played as many games he would have taken 700 wickets too). Clearly Botham enjoyed life* a lot and so played fewer tests and I think there were fewer in that ear anyway.
Flintoff scored 5 centuries at an average of 31.77 and scored 3845 runs. Bowling he took 226 at 32.78.
Stokes to date has 13 centuries at 35.15 and has scored 6891 runs. Bowling he has 224 wickets at 32.02 (from 114 test matches).
From the numbers alone I would suggest that Botham is the better bowler than Flintoff and Stokes, but Stokes is possibly a better bat. Right now he seems better as a bowler than a bat, but it may turn round.
But Stokes has given us Bazball, and is also a far superior captain - no small thing
I'd agree with you there.
Botham was probably the more naturally gifted player, but Stokes is the far superior all round sportsman. His captaincy has had a similarly consequential influence to that of Brearley, who would not have been in the team at all, otherwise.
And unlike Botham, he has improved with age.
I don't know about all round sportsman. Botham managed to also play professional football.
But its also a bit like comparing George Best to modern footballers. The strength and conditioning is total different universe. The average EPL player now would blow Best out the water, they are just much faster, stronger, fitter.
Also understanding of technique has changed. There was a piece they did 5 years ago with Flintoff and Buttler talking about power hitting and Buttler could nail the ball miles further. Sky did another piece with Liam Livingstone with KP with similar outcome, KP who is still in incredible physical shape looked like a total weakling.
That's the case with all sports except those involving horses.
I am not really a follower of the nags, but have they not improved over time? I would naively presume that training, recovery and nutrition would also improve for the carrot munchers.
I’m at Sandown this afternoon and I can assure you none of the ones carrying my cash have shown much evidence of improvement from training, recovery or nutrition.
Hot take: I've seen Botham and Flintoff AND Stokes in their pomp
Stokes is, by a distance, superior to them both. Not least because he's such a superb captain, unlike them
The best English cricketer and possibly English sportsman of my adult life
Hmm. Its tricky comparing eras (and even Flintoff is almost a generation ago). Botham was an extraordinary player - 14 centuries at 33.54 and over 5000 runs (this is test numbers). Bowling he took 383 wickets at 28.40 in 102 matches.
Jimmy took 704 in 188 at 26.45. That's essentially the same (so if Botham had played as many games he would have taken 700 wickets too). Clearly Botham enjoyed life* a lot and so played fewer tests and I think there were fewer in that ear anyway.
Flintoff scored 5 centuries at an average of 31.77 and scored 3845 runs. Bowling he took 226 at 32.78.
Stokes to date has 13 centuries at 35.15 and has scored 6891 runs. Bowling he has 224 wickets at 32.02 (from 114 test matches).
From the numbers alone I would suggest that Botham is the better bowler than Flintoff and Stokes, but Stokes is possibly a better bat. Right now he seems better as a bowler than a bat, but it may turn round.
But Stokes has given us Bazball, and is also a far superior captain - no small thing
I'd agree with you there.
Botham was probably the more naturally gifted player, but Stokes is the far superior all round sportsman. His captaincy has had a similarly consequential influence to that of Brearley, who would not have been in the team at all, otherwise.
And unlike Botham, he has improved with age.
I don't know about all round sportsman. Botham managed to also play professional football.
But its also a bit like comparing George Best to modern footballers. The strength and conditioning is total different universe. The average EPL player now would blow Best out the water, they are just much faster, stronger, fitter.
Also understanding of technique has changed. There was a piece they did 5 years ago with Flintoff and Buttler talking about power hitting and Buttler could nail the ball miles further. Sky did another piece with Liam Livingstone with KP with similar outcome, KP who is still in incredible physical shape looked like a total weakling.
That's the case with all sports except those involving horses.
I am not really a follower of the nags, but have they not improved over time? I would naively presume that training, recovery and nutrition would also improve for the carrot munchers.
No, nothing like as much. Secretariat's 1973 Kentucky Derby time still stands. Dancing Brave which won the 1986 Epsom Derby and the Arc would likely win those races today.
The MAGA coalition has completely disintegrated with the new video leaks of the Epstein deposition. I think they're going to have to release the files and be damned or the whole unite the right effort will come to an end in the US. It's also mostly younger commentators under 30 who are the most incensed by the u-turn so that content cycle on YouTube that has helped Trump/MAGA to capture so many Gen Z voters could be coming to an end as well. Definitely something to look out for in voting trends before 2028 because 2024 was won on the back of the youth vote turning out for Trump in a way not many expected.
Trump isn't standing again so not sure what difference it makes, unless this affects Vance.
Hot take: I've seen Botham and Flintoff AND Stokes in their pomp
Stokes is, by a distance, superior to them both. Not least because he's such a superb captain, unlike them
The best English cricketer and possibly English sportsman of my adult life
Hmm. Its tricky comparing eras (and even Flintoff is almost a generation ago). Botham was an extraordinary player - 14 centuries at 33.54 and over 5000 runs (this is test numbers). Bowling he took 383 wickets at 28.40 in 102 matches.
Jimmy took 704 in 188 at 26.45. That's essentially the same (so if Botham had played as many games he would have taken 700 wickets too). Clearly Botham enjoyed life* a lot and so played fewer tests and I think there were fewer in that ear anyway.
Flintoff scored 5 centuries at an average of 31.77 and scored 3845 runs. Bowling he took 226 at 32.78.
Stokes to date has 13 centuries at 35.15 and has scored 6891 runs. Bowling he has 224 wickets at 32.02 (from 114 test matches).
From the numbers alone I would suggest that Botham is the better bowler than Flintoff and Stokes, but Stokes is possibly a better bat. Right now he seems better as a bowler than a bat, but it may turn round.
But Stokes has given us Bazball, and is also a far superior captain - no small thing
I'd agree with you there.
Botham was probably the more naturally gifted player, but Stokes is the far superior all round sportsman. His captaincy has had a similarly consequential influence to that of Brearley, who would not have been in the team at all, otherwise.
And unlike Botham, he has improved with age.
I don't know about all round sportsman. Botham managed to also play professional football.
But its also a bit like comparing George Best to modern footballers. The strength and conditioning is total different universe. The average EPL player now would blow Best out the water, they are just much faster, stronger, fitter.
Also understanding of technique has changed. There was a piece they did 5 years ago with Flintoff and Buttler talking about power hitting and Buttler could nail the ball miles further. Sky did another piece with Liam Livingstone with KP with similar outcome, KP who is still in incredible physical shape looked like a total weakling.
That's the case with all sports except those involving horses.
I am not really a follower of the nags, but have they not improved over time? I would naively presume that training, recovery and nutrition would also improve for the carrot munchers.
No, nothing like as much. Secretariat's 1973 Kentucky Derby time still stands. Dancing Brave which won the 1986 Epsom Derby and the Arc would likely win those races today.
And no suspicion of the Flo-Jo naughtiness was going on?
Changes from 16th July [Find Out Now, 23rd July, N=2,651]
Supposedly, this would give 436 MP's for Reform, compared to 15 for the Conservatives!
If that were the result, then it would clearly be a big win for Reform. If you have 60% more votes than the next party, then under FPTP you will sweep the floor. That the Conservative 16% is so evenly spread doubly hammers them.
The interesting question is how efficient the left, and centre left, vote is under this kind of scenario. My guess is that there are a lot of upset left wingers who won't go back to Labour under Starmer, and so the Green/Sultana vote will hold up.
That could massacre Labour, and leave the LibDems as the official opposition.
The MAGA coalition has completely disintegrated with the new video leaks of the Epstein deposition. I think they're going to have to release the files and be damned or the whole unite the right effort will come to an end in the US. It's also mostly younger commentators under 30 who are the most incensed by the u-turn so that content cycle on YouTube that has helped Trump/MAGA to capture so many Gen Z voters could be coming to an end as well. Definitely something to look out for in voting trends before 2028 because 2024 was won on the back of the youth vote turning out for Trump in a way not many expected.
I'm in Phoenix today, and there's a lot of anger among the middle class Hispanics. They want illegal immigration stopped. But they don't want American citizens, who look Hispanic, being dragged off the streets by ICE and detained.
The MAGA coalition has completely disintegrated with the new video leaks of the Epstein deposition. I think they're going to have to release the files and be damned or the whole unite the right effort will come to an end in the US. It's also mostly younger commentators under 30 who are the most incensed by the u-turn so that content cycle on YouTube that has helped Trump/MAGA to capture so many Gen Z voters could be coming to an end as well. Definitely something to look out for in voting trends before 2028 because 2024 was won on the back of the youth vote turning out for Trump in a way not many expected.
Trump isn't standing again so not sure what difference it makes, unless this affects Vance.
Hot take: I've seen Botham and Flintoff AND Stokes in their pomp
Stokes is, by a distance, superior to them both. Not least because he's such a superb captain, unlike them
The best English cricketer and possibly English sportsman of my adult life
Hmm. Its tricky comparing eras (and even Flintoff is almost a generation ago). Botham was an extraordinary player - 14 centuries at 33.54 and over 5000 runs (this is test numbers). Bowling he took 383 wickets at 28.40 in 102 matches.
Jimmy took 704 in 188 at 26.45. That's essentially the same (so if Botham had played as many games he would have taken 700 wickets too). Clearly Botham enjoyed life* a lot and so played fewer tests and I think there were fewer in that ear anyway.
Flintoff scored 5 centuries at an average of 31.77 and scored 3845 runs. Bowling he took 226 at 32.78.
Stokes to date has 13 centuries at 35.15 and has scored 6891 runs. Bowling he has 224 wickets at 32.02 (from 114 test matches).
From the numbers alone I would suggest that Botham is the better bowler than Flintoff and Stokes, but Stokes is possibly a better bat. Right now he seems better as a bowler than a bat, but it may turn round.
But Stokes has given us Bazball, and is also a far superior captain - no small thing
I'd agree with you there.
Botham was probably the more naturally gifted player, but Stokes is the far superior all round sportsman. His captaincy has had a similarly consequential influence to that of Brearley, who would not have been in the team at all, otherwise.
And unlike Botham, he has improved with age.
I don't know about all round sportsman. Botham managed to also play professional football.
But its also a bit like comparing George Best to modern footballers. The strength and conditioning is total different universe. The average EPL player now would blow Best out the water, they are just much faster, stronger, fitter.
Also understanding of technique has changed. There was a piece they did 5 years ago with Flintoff and Buttler talking about power hitting and Buttler could nail the ball miles further. Sky did another piece with Liam Livingstone with KP with similar outcome, KP who is still in incredible physical shape looked like a total weakling.
That's the case with all sports except those involving horses.
I am not really a follower of the nags, but have they not improved over time? I would naively presume that training, recovery and nutrition would also improve for the carrot munchers.
I think it turns out that horses are pretty much optimised already, and there's not much you can do to boost their performance further.
If this pollster wasn't BPC accredited I would doubt the accuracy of Ref 34 and Cons as low as 16. But they are so it is what it is.
Find Out Now posted a long piece on their site yesterday about why they are finding Reform higher than other pollsters and why they think they are right.
Beyond areas where Corbynite Independents already do well, I can't see the new party getting that much traction with FPTP.
If we had PR like Germany they might gain more traction and seats as Linke have. In France Melenchon's party effectively has formed a combined block with the Socialist Party under their second ballot system
If it takes a thousand votes from Labour in every Labour constituency it returns right wing MPs and a right wing government.
Mission accomplished.
Fortunately for Labour the right is also divided between the Tories and Reform, with mo major party polling consistently even over 30%
Reform seem to have pulled away from the Tories which puts them very much in the driving seat . Corbyn will merely adjust the driving seat to make it even more comfortable for them.
The man is an enigma. A self proclaimed champion of the underdog who inadvertently keeps the underdog on his knees.
For now, if Kemi's new axe spending and leave the ECHR policies don't win back Tory voters from Reform she will likely be replaced by Jenrick or Stride who might start to do so
So Kemi, who defended keeping the WFA for wealthy pensioners, and the IHT tax relief for wealthy farmers, wants to hack spending? I am not convinced.
Cricket question: for many years they used to have a small box in the corner of the screen showing the batsmen running while the ball was going to the boundary so you could watch both things at the same time, but have recently stopped showing it. Why? Makes it more difficult to work out what's happening.
The MAGA coalition has completely disintegrated with the new video leaks of the Epstein deposition. I think they're going to have to release the files and be damned or the whole unite the right effort will come to an end in the US. It's also mostly younger commentators under 30 who are the most incensed by the u-turn so that content cycle on YouTube that has helped Trump/MAGA to capture so many Gen Z voters could be coming to an end as well. Definitely something to look out for in voting trends before 2028 because 2024 was won on the back of the youth vote turning out for Trump in a way not many expected.
Trump isn't standing again so not sure what difference it makes, unless this affects Vance.
Why don't you think he will stand again?
Only the Grim Reaper will stop him.
And man will he bellyache when he loses and has to take the Capitol with force.
Beyond areas where Corbynite Independents already do well, I can't see the new party getting that much traction with FPTP.
If we had PR like Germany they might gain more traction and seats as Linke have. In France Melenchon's party effectively has formed a combined block with the Socialist Party under their second ballot system
If it takes a thousand votes from Labour in every Labour constituency it returns right wing MPs and a right wing government.
Mission accomplished.
Fortunately for Labour the right is also divided between the Tories and Reform, with mo major party polling consistently even over 30%
Reform seem to have pulled away from the Tories which puts them very much in the driving seat . Corbyn will merely adjust the driving seat to make it even more comfortable for them.
The man is an enigma. A self proclaimed champion of the underdog who inadvertently keeps the underdog on his knees.
For now, if Kemi's new axe spending and leave the ECHR policies don't win back Tory voters from Reform she will likely be replaced by Jenrick or Stride who might start to do so
So Kemi, who defended keeping the WFA for wealthy pensioners, and the IHT tax relief for wealthy farmers, wants to hack spending? I am not convinced.
Not just wealthy farmers but wealthy *landowners* who happen to own farmland.
"Police raid on 'Epping migrant hotel protester': Suspect is arrested at his home as a ring of steel is put up around two taxpayer-funded asylum seeker centres amid fears of riots"
“I’d got home after a peaceable day chanting racist slogans and politely throwing bricks at the police. I was innocently typing a tweet advocating setting fire to immigrants when the police arrested me. The vicious, fascist thugs.”
Hot take: I've seen Botham and Flintoff AND Stokes in their pomp
Stokes is, by a distance, superior to them both. Not least because he's such a superb captain, unlike them
The best English cricketer and possibly English sportsman of my adult life
Hmm. Its tricky comparing eras (and even Flintoff is almost a generation ago). Botham was an extraordinary player - 14 centuries at 33.54 and over 5000 runs (this is test numbers). Bowling he took 383 wickets at 28.40 in 102 matches.
Jimmy took 704 in 188 at 26.45. That's essentially the same (so if Botham had played as many games he would have taken 700 wickets too). Clearly Botham enjoyed life* a lot and so played fewer tests and I think there were fewer in that ear anyway.
Flintoff scored 5 centuries at an average of 31.77 and scored 3845 runs. Bowling he took 226 at 32.78.
Stokes to date has 13 centuries at 35.15 and has scored 6891 runs. Bowling he has 224 wickets at 32.02 (from 114 test matches).
From the numbers alone I would suggest that Botham is the better bowler than Flintoff and Stokes, but Stokes is possibly a better bat. Right now he seems better as a bowler than a bat, but it may turn round.
But Stokes has given us Bazball, and is also a far superior captain - no small thing
I'd agree with you there.
Botham was probably the more naturally gifted player, but Stokes is the far superior all round sportsman. His captaincy has had a similarly consequential influence to that of Brearley, who would not have been in the team at all, otherwise.
And unlike Botham, he has improved with age.
I don't know about all round sportsman. Botham managed to also play professional football.
But its also a bit like comparing George Best to modern footballers. The strength and conditioning is total different universe. The average EPL player now would blow Best out the water, they are just much faster, stronger, fitter.
Also understanding of technique has changed. There was a piece they did 5 years ago with Flintoff and Buttler talking about power hitting and Buttler could nail the ball miles further. Sky did another piece with Liam Livingstone with KP with similar outcome, KP who is still in incredible physical shape looked like a total weakling.
That's the case with all sports except those involving horses.
I am not really a follower of the nags, but have they not improved over time? I would naively presume that training, recovery and nutrition would also improve for the carrot munchers.
I think it turns out that horses are pretty much optimised already, and there's not much you can do to boost their performance further.
Invent a better horseshoe and you could make a fortune.
The MAGA coalition has completely disintegrated with the new video leaks of the Epstein deposition. I think they're going to have to release the files and be damned or the whole unite the right effort will come to an end in the US. It's also mostly younger commentators under 30 who are the most incensed by the u-turn so that content cycle on YouTube that has helped Trump/MAGA to capture so many Gen Z voters could be coming to an end as well. Definitely something to look out for in voting trends before 2028 because 2024 was won on the back of the youth vote turning out for Trump in a way not many expected.
Trump isn't standing again so not sure what difference it makes, unless this affects Vance.
Why don't you think he will stand again?
Just don't think he will. Probably bored of the job by then.
The MAGA coalition has completely disintegrated with the new video leaks of the Epstein deposition. I think they're going to have to release the files and be damned or the whole unite the right effort will come to an end in the US. It's also mostly younger commentators under 30 who are the most incensed by the u-turn so that content cycle on YouTube that has helped Trump/MAGA to capture so many Gen Z voters could be coming to an end as well. Definitely something to look out for in voting trends before 2028 because 2024 was won on the back of the youth vote turning out for Trump in a way not many expected.
I'm in Phoenix today, and there's a lot of anger among the middle class Hispanics. They want illegal immigration stopped. But they don't want American citizens, who look Hispanic, being dragged off the streets by ICE and detained.
They want other people's faces to be eaten leopards, but they don't want their faces eaten by leopards...?
Hot take: I've seen Botham and Flintoff AND Stokes in their pomp
Stokes is, by a distance, superior to them both. Not least because he's such a superb captain, unlike them
The best English cricketer and possibly English sportsman of my adult life
Hmm. Its tricky comparing eras (and even Flintoff is almost a generation ago). Botham was an extraordinary player - 14 centuries at 33.54 and over 5000 runs (this is test numbers). Bowling he took 383 wickets at 28.40 in 102 matches.
Jimmy took 704 in 188 at 26.45. That's essentially the same (so if Botham had played as many games he would have taken 700 wickets too). Clearly Botham enjoyed life* a lot and so played fewer tests and I think there were fewer in that ear anyway.
Flintoff scored 5 centuries at an average of 31.77 and scored 3845 runs. Bowling he took 226 at 32.78.
Stokes to date has 13 centuries at 35.15 and has scored 6891 runs. Bowling he has 224 wickets at 32.02 (from 114 test matches).
From the numbers alone I would suggest that Botham is the better bowler than Flintoff and Stokes, but Stokes is possibly a better bat. Right now he seems better as a bowler than a bat, but it may turn round.
But Stokes has given us Bazball, and is also a far superior captain - no small thing
I'd agree with you there.
Botham was probably the more naturally gifted player, but Stokes is the far superior all round sportsman. His captaincy has had a similarly consequential influence to that of Brearley, who would not have been in the team at all, otherwise.
And unlike Botham, he has improved with age.
I don't know about all round sportsman. Botham managed to also play professional football.
But its also a bit like comparing George Best to modern footballers. The strength and conditioning is total different universe. The average EPL player now would blow Best out the water, they are just much faster, stronger, fitter.
Also understanding of technique has changed. There was a piece they did 5 years ago with Flintoff and Buttler talking about power hitting and Buttler could nail the ball miles further. Sky did another piece with Liam Livingstone with KP with similar outcome, KP who is still in incredible physical shape looked like a total weakling.
That's the case with all sports except those involving horses.
I am not really a follower of the nags, but have they not improved over time? I would naively presume that training, recovery and nutrition would also improve for the carrot munchers.
No, nothing like as much. Secretariat's 1973 Kentucky Derby time still stands. Dancing Brave which won the 1986 Epsom Derby and the Arc would likely win those races today.
And no suspicion of the Flo-Jo naughtiness was going on?
If this pollster wasn't BPC accredited I would doubt the accuracy of Ref 34 and Cons as low as 16. But they are so it is what it is.
Find Out Now posted a long piece on their site yesterday about why they are finding Reform higher than other pollsters and why they think they are right.
If this pollster wasn't BPC accredited I would doubt the accuracy of Ref 34 and Cons as low as 16. But they are so it is what it is.
Find Out Now posted a long piece on their site yesterday about why they are finding Reform higher than other pollsters and why they think they are right.
Was that one of Matt's impartial analysis pieces?
Do you have a link?
Matt Goodwin has nothing to do with Find Out Now and never has
The MAGA coalition has completely disintegrated with the new video leaks of the Epstein deposition. I think they're going to have to release the files and be damned or the whole unite the right effort will come to an end in the US. It's also mostly younger commentators under 30 who are the most incensed by the u-turn so that content cycle on YouTube that has helped Trump/MAGA to capture so many Gen Z voters could be coming to an end as well. Definitely something to look out for in voting trends before 2028 because 2024 was won on the back of the youth vote turning out for Trump in a way not many expected.
Trump isn't standing again so not sure what difference it makes, unless this affects Vance.
Why don't you think he will stand again?
Just don't think he will. Probably bored of the job by then.
The problem authoritarian shitbags like Trump have is that it isn't safe to retire, because they're only safe while they're in power.
If someone who respects the rule of law replaces them then he will have committed plenty of crimes to prosecute him for. If someone who doesn't respect the rule of law takes over then they'll still go after him to make sure he doesn't try to return to power.
A challenger on the Left (in addition to the Greens) is nothing but a negative for Labour. I won't be tempted (I see it as self-indulgent) but I bet some people will be. They'll think Labour under Starmer is not the beautiful game so let's do a feelgood vote. The good news (for Labour) is the new party's lack of credible leadership. It seems the only Jeremy Corbyn they can find to front the operation is the actual Jeremy Corbyn. This will surely hold them back.
It's perhaps more of a challenge for the Greens than for Labour. That's what the hypothetical polling suggests.
A key question would be about those 2024 Labour voters on the Left who are disillusioned with them but wouldn't vote Green. Are there many of these and would they vote for Corbyn/Sultana? If that's 'quite a lot' and 'yes' it's bad for Labour. If not, it's no big deal for them.
There's also the generally angry andies who want to throw rocks in the pond. "It's all gone to shit, whole thing needs a shake-up bla bla". Reform gets these types atm but a left populist party might take some. One of our posters cited his grandma as an example. Likes Corbyn and Farage.
Beyond areas where Corbynite Independents already do well, I can't see the new party getting that much traction with FPTP.
If we had PR like Germany they might gain more traction and seats as Linke have. In France Melenchon's party effectively has formed a combined block with the Socialist Party under their second ballot system
If it takes a thousand votes from Labour in every Labour constituency it returns right wing MPs and a right wing government.
Mission accomplished.
Fortunately for Labour the right is also divided between the Tories and Reform, with mo major party polling consistently even over 30%
Reform seem to have pulled away from the Tories which puts them very much in the driving seat . Corbyn will merely adjust the driving seat to make it even more comfortable for them.
The man is an enigma. A self proclaimed champion of the underdog who inadvertently keeps the underdog on his knees.
For now, if Kemi's new axe spending and leave the ECHR policies don't win back Tory voters from Reform she will likely be replaced by Jenrick or Stride who might start to do so
So Kemi, who defended keeping the WFA for wealthy pensioners, and the IHT tax relief for wealthy farmers, wants to hack spending? I am not convinced.
When she says cut spending, she doesn’t mean spending on pensioners, silly.
Hot take: I've seen Botham and Flintoff AND Stokes in their pomp
Stokes is, by a distance, superior to them both. Not least because he's such a superb captain, unlike them
The best English cricketer and possibly English sportsman of my adult life
Hmm. Its tricky comparing eras (and even Flintoff is almost a generation ago). Botham was an extraordinary player - 14 centuries at 33.54 and over 5000 runs (this is test numbers). Bowling he took 383 wickets at 28.40 in 102 matches.
Jimmy took 704 in 188 at 26.45. That's essentially the same (so if Botham had played as many games he would have taken 700 wickets too). Clearly Botham enjoyed life* a lot and so played fewer tests and I think there were fewer in that ear anyway.
Flintoff scored 5 centuries at an average of 31.77 and scored 3845 runs. Bowling he took 226 at 32.78.
Stokes to date has 13 centuries at 35.15 and has scored 6891 runs. Bowling he has 224 wickets at 32.02 (from 114 test matches).
From the numbers alone I would suggest that Botham is the better bowler than Flintoff and Stokes, but Stokes is possibly a better bat. Right now he seems better as a bowler than a bat, but it may turn round.
Tony Greig
Batting average 40.43 Bowling average 32.20
With best individual performances in away matches in West Indies, Australia and India.
If this pollster wasn't BPC accredited I would doubt the accuracy of Ref 34 and Cons as low as 16. But they are so it is what it is.
Find Out Now posted a long piece on their site yesterday about why they are finding Reform higher than other pollsters and why they think they are right.
Was that one of Matt's impartial analysis pieces?
Do you have a link?
Matt Goodwin has nothing to do with Find Out Now and never has
The MAGA coalition has completely disintegrated with the new video leaks of the Epstein deposition. I think they're going to have to release the files and be damned or the whole unite the right effort will come to an end in the US. It's also mostly younger commentators under 30 who are the most incensed by the u-turn so that content cycle on YouTube that has helped Trump/MAGA to capture so many Gen Z voters could be coming to an end as well. Definitely something to look out for in voting trends before 2028 because 2024 was won on the back of the youth vote turning out for Trump in a way not many expected.
Trump isn't standing again so not sure what difference it makes, unless this affects Vance.
Why don't you think he will stand again?
Just don't think he will. Probably bored of the job by then.
The problem authoritarian shitbags like Trump have is that it isn't safe to retire, because they're only safe while they're in power.
If someone who respects the rule of law replaces them then he will have committed plenty of crimes to prosecute him for. If someone who doesn't respect the rule of law takes over then they'll still go after him to make sure he doesn't try to return to power.
Trump will not willingly leave the White House.
His behaviour after losing the 2020 election does rather support this assertion.
If this pollster wasn't BPC accredited I would doubt the accuracy of Ref 34 and Cons as low as 16. But they are so it is what it is.
Find Out Now posted a long piece on their site yesterday about why they are finding Reform higher than other pollsters and why they think they are right.
Was that one of Matt's impartial analysis pieces?
Do you have a link?
Matt Goodwin has nothing to do with Find Out Now and never has
If this pollster wasn't BPC accredited I would doubt the accuracy of Ref 34 and Cons as low as 16. But they are so it is what it is.
Find Out Now posted a long piece on their site yesterday about why they are finding Reform higher than other pollsters and why they think they are right.
Was that one of Matt's impartial analysis pieces?
Do you have a link?
Matt Goodwin has nothing to do with Find Out Now and never has
A challenger on the Left (in addition to the Greens) is nothing but a negative for Labour. I won't be tempted (I see it as self-indulgent) but I bet some people will be. They'll think Labour under Starmer is not the beautiful game so let's do a feelgood vote. The good news (for Labour) is the new party's lack of credible leadership. It seems the only Jeremy Corbyn they can find to front the operation is the actual Jeremy Corbyn. This will surely hold them back.
It's perhaps more of a challenge for the Greens than for Labour. That's what the hypothetical polling suggests.
A key question would be about those 2024 Labour voters on the Left who are disillusioned with them but wouldn't vote Green. Are there many of these and would they vote for Corbyn/Sultana? If that's 'quite a lot' and 'yes' it's bad for Labour. If not, it's no big deal for them.
There's also the generally angry andies who want to throw rocks in the pond. "It's all gone to shit, whole thing needs a shake-up bla bla". Reform gets these types atm but a left populist party might take some. One of our posters cited his grandma as an example. Likes Corbyn and Farage.
I think a party to the left of Labour could be successful, but I think to do so, it needs (a) to clear the field of rivals, and (b) to be reaching out to the centre. Your Party or Polanski's vision for the Greens is rabble-rousing, strident, confrontational populism. It's big on social media, but won't win under FPTP, even if they merged into one project.
If this pollster wasn't BPC accredited I would doubt the accuracy of Ref 34 and Cons as low as 16. But they are so it is what it is.
Find Out Now posted a long piece on their site yesterday about why they are finding Reform higher than other pollsters and why they think they are right.
Was that one of Matt's impartial analysis pieces?
Do you have a link?
Matt Goodwin has nothing to do with Find Out Now and never has
"Police raid on 'Epping migrant hotel protester': Suspect is arrested at his home as a ring of steel is put up around two taxpayer-funded asylum seeker centres amid fears of riots"
“I’d got home after a peaceable day chanting racist slogans and politely throwing bricks at the police. I was innocently typing a tweet advocating setting fire to immigrants when the police arrested me. The vicious, fascist thugs.”
It's another egregious example of two tier policing. Totally different approaches taken to people who commit a crime compared to those who haven't.
"Police raid on 'Epping migrant hotel protester': Suspect is arrested at his home as a ring of steel is put up around two taxpayer-funded asylum seeker centres amid fears of riots"
“I’d got home after a peaceable day chanting racist slogans and politely throwing bricks at the police. I was innocently typing a tweet advocating setting fire to immigrants when the police arrested me. The vicious, fascist thugs.”
It's another egregious example of two tier policing. Totally different approaches taken to people who commit a crime compared to those who haven't.
Comments like that will get you cancelled.
It’s “members of The Legally Challenged Community”
The MAGA coalition has completely disintegrated with the new video leaks of the Epstein deposition. I think they're going to have to release the files and be damned or the whole unite the right effort will come to an end in the US. It's also mostly younger commentators under 30 who are the most incensed by the u-turn so that content cycle on YouTube that has helped Trump/MAGA to capture so many Gen Z voters could be coming to an end as well. Definitely something to look out for in voting trends before 2028 because 2024 was won on the back of the youth vote turning out for Trump in a way not many expected.
Trump isn't standing again so not sure what difference it makes, unless this affects Vance.
Why don't you think he will stand again?
Just don't think he will. Probably bored of the job by then.
I would not be surprised if Trump thinks "Imperial Purple makes the best burial sheet". Also once he is out, all the slime will come out and drown him in litigation for the rest of his days. A man who was Roy Cohn´s apprentice will remember the unexpected lesson of McCarthyism- "have no shame" (also don´t drink yourself dead, but Trump already learned that lesson).
The problem comes when the MAGA nutters turn on him. The midterms, if free and fair, will paralyse his ability to bypass Congress. Then things get really messy.
All coming while the US economy is in deep doo doo with the US debt market falling out of bed, investor strike, blah blah blah....
Hot take: I've seen Botham and Flintoff AND Stokes in their pomp
Stokes is, by a distance, superior to them both. Not least because he's such a superb captain, unlike them
The best English cricketer and possibly English sportsman of my adult life
Hmm. Its tricky comparing eras (and even Flintoff is almost a generation ago). Botham was an extraordinary player - 14 centuries at 33.54 and over 5000 runs (this is test numbers). Bowling he took 383 wickets at 28.40 in 102 matches.
Jimmy took 704 in 188 at 26.45. That's essentially the same (so if Botham had played as many games he would have taken 700 wickets too). Clearly Botham enjoyed life* a lot and so played fewer tests and I think there were fewer in that ear anyway.
Flintoff scored 5 centuries at an average of 31.77 and scored 3845 runs. Bowling he took 226 at 32.78.
Stokes to date has 13 centuries at 35.15 and has scored 6891 runs. Bowling he has 224 wickets at 32.02 (from 114 test matches).
From the numbers alone I would suggest that Botham is the better bowler than Flintoff and Stokes, but Stokes is possibly a better bat. Right now he seems better as a bowler than a bat, but it may turn round.
But Stokes has given us Bazball, and is also a far superior captain - no small thing
I'd agree with you there.
Botham was probably the more naturally gifted player, but Stokes is the far superior all round sportsman. His captaincy has had a similarly consequential influence to that of Brearley, who would not have been in the team at all, otherwise.
And unlike Botham, he has improved with age.
I don't know about all round sportsman. Botham managed to also play professional football.
But its also a bit like comparing George Best to modern footballers. The strength and conditioning is total different universe. The average EPL player now would blow Best out the water, they are just much faster, stronger, fitter.
Also understanding of technique has changed. There was a piece they did 5 years ago with Flintoff and Buttler talking about power hitting and Buttler could nail the ball miles further. Sky did another piece with Liam Livingstone with KP with similar outcome, KP who is still in incredible physical shape looked like a total weakling.
That's the case with all sports except those involving horses.
I am not really a follower of the nags, but have they not improved over time? I would naively presume that training, recovery and nutrition would also improve for the carrot munchers.
No, nothing like as much. Secretariat's 1973 Kentucky Derby time still stands. Dancing Brave which won the 1986 Epsom Derby and the Arc would likely win those races today.
And no suspicion of the Flo-Jo naughtiness was going on?
It did and does - but quite rare and not a major factor, I don't think.
Hot take: I've seen Botham and Flintoff AND Stokes in their pomp
Stokes is, by a distance, superior to them both. Not least because he's such a superb captain, unlike them
The best English cricketer and possibly English sportsman of my adult life
Hmm. Its tricky comparing eras (and even Flintoff is almost a generation ago). Botham was an extraordinary player - 14 centuries at 33.54 and over 5000 runs (this is test numbers). Bowling he took 383 wickets at 28.40 in 102 matches.
Jimmy took 704 in 188 at 26.45. That's essentially the same (so if Botham had played as many games he would have taken 700 wickets too). Clearly Botham enjoyed life* a lot and so played fewer tests and I think there were fewer in that ear anyway.
Flintoff scored 5 centuries at an average of 31.77 and scored 3845 runs. Bowling he took 226 at 32.78.
Stokes to date has 13 centuries at 35.15 and has scored 6891 runs. Bowling he has 224 wickets at 32.02 (from 114 test matches).
From the numbers alone I would suggest that Botham is the better bowler than Flintoff and Stokes, but Stokes is possibly a better bat. Right now he seems better as a bowler than a bat, but it may turn round.
But Stokes has given us Bazball, and is also a far superior captain - no small thing
I'd agree with you there.
Botham was probably the more naturally gifted player, but Stokes is the far superior all round sportsman. His captaincy has had a similarly consequential influence to that of Brearley, who would not have been in the team at all, otherwise.
And unlike Botham, he has improved with age.
I don't know about all round sportsman. Botham managed to also play professional football.
But its also a bit like comparing George Best to modern footballers. The strength and conditioning is total different universe. The average EPL player now would blow Best out the water, they are just much faster, stronger, fitter.
Also understanding of technique has changed. There was a piece they did 5 years ago with Flintoff and Buttler talking about power hitting and Buttler could nail the ball miles further. Sky did another piece with Liam Livingstone with KP with similar outcome, KP who is still in incredible physical shape looked like a total weakling.
That's the case with all sports except those involving horses.
I am not really a follower of the nags, but have they not improved over time? I would naively presume that training, recovery and nutrition would also improve for the carrot munchers.
No, nothing like as much. Secretariat's 1973 Kentucky Derby time still stands. Dancing Brave which won the 1986 Epsom Derby and the Arc would likely win those races today.
The MAGA coalition has completely disintegrated with the new video leaks of the Epstein deposition. I think they're going to have to release the files and be damned or the whole unite the right effort will come to an end in the US. It's also mostly younger commentators under 30 who are the most incensed by the u-turn so that content cycle on YouTube that has helped Trump/MAGA to capture so many Gen Z voters could be coming to an end as well. Definitely something to look out for in voting trends before 2028 because 2024 was won on the back of the youth vote turning out for Trump in a way not many expected.
I'm in Phoenix today, and there's a lot of anger among the middle class Hispanics. They want illegal immigration stopped. But they don't want American citizens, who look Hispanic, being dragged off the streets by ICE and detained.
Whilst a very impressive lead, the only other double digit Reform leads have come from BMG just after the May elections (10 points 32 to 22) and twice with Freshwater Strategy (a 10 and an 11 32-22 and 32 -21-21) in May and June. The average lead is about 5 without FoN. Be interesting to see if either 1) any other pollsters find a recent big move to Reform or 2) their average lead accelerates outwards
The MAGA coalition has completely disintegrated with the new video leaks of the Epstein deposition. I think they're going to have to release the files and be damned or the whole unite the right effort will come to an end in the US. It's also mostly younger commentators under 30 who are the most incensed by the u-turn so that content cycle on YouTube that has helped Trump/MAGA to capture so many Gen Z voters could be coming to an end as well. Definitely something to look out for in voting trends before 2028 because 2024 was won on the back of the youth vote turning out for Trump in a way not many expected.
I'm in Phoenix today, and there's a lot of anger among the middle class Hispanics. They want illegal immigration stopped. But they don't want American citizens, who look Hispanic, being dragged off the streets by ICE and detained.
How many of them voter for this?
Enough of them.
They may not have realised that this was what (as well as who) they were voting for, but they voted for it all the same.
"Police raid on 'Epping migrant hotel protester': Suspect is arrested at his home as a ring of steel is put up around two taxpayer-funded asylum seeker centres amid fears of riots"
“I’d got home after a peaceable day chanting racist slogans and politely throwing bricks at the police. I was innocently typing a tweet advocating setting fire to immigrants when the police arrested me. The vicious, fascist thugs.”
It's another egregious example of two tier policing. Totally different approaches taken to people who commit a crime compared to those who haven't.
Comments like that will get you cancelled.
It’s “members of The Legally Challenged Community”
If this pollster wasn't BPC accredited I would doubt the accuracy of Ref 34 and Cons as low as 16. But they are so it is what it is.
Find Out Now posted a long piece on their site yesterday about why they are finding Reform higher than other pollsters and why they think they are right.
Was that one of Matt's impartial analysis pieces?
Do you have a link?
Matt Goodwin has nothing to do with Find Out Now and never has
Is MoreInCommon Goodwin's pollster? Always get confused between those two for some reason.
Goodwin doesn't have a pollster any more. It was People Polling
What happened to People Polling?
No idea.they haven't released a poll since the GE
Good afternoon
Another poll showing Reform capturing the narrative and leaving the opposition in their wake
We know the conservatives are having a difficult time, but Labour are on the cusp of going sub 20% and on the day Corbyn Sultana launch their party.
We are entering an unprecedented period in politics with both main parties losing to their extreme wings and no sign of better days
This has to be an indictment of Starmer and his utter first year failure to govern
I just cannot see a way out for Starmer and Reeves, but also the future of politics which is beginning to look like a country that has become ungovernable
Not only is this stuff an absolute joke and a revolting abuse of state power at the expense of vulnerable older people, it is also waste of police time that could allow actual terrorists to commit crimes more easily. The stupidity on display from the authorities is almost off the scale.
"Police raid on 'Epping migrant hotel protester': Suspect is arrested at his home as a ring of steel is put up around two taxpayer-funded asylum seeker centres amid fears of riots"
“I’d got home after a peaceable day chanting racist slogans and politely throwing bricks at the police. I was innocently typing a tweet advocating setting fire to immigrants when the police arrested me. The vicious, fascist thugs.”
Oh dear. And you wonder why Reform are so high in the polls. The left never learn.
If this pollster wasn't BPC accredited I would doubt the accuracy of Ref 34 and Cons as low as 16. But they are so it is what it is.
Find Out Now posted a long piece on their site yesterday about why they are finding Reform higher than other pollsters and why they think they are right.
Not only is this stuff an absolute joke and a revolting abuse of state power at the expense of vulnerable older people, it is also waste of police time that could allow actual terrorists to commit crimes more easily. The stupidity on display from the authorities is almost off the scale.
This sort of thing shouldn't be happening to either left-wing or right-wing people.
The MAGA coalition has completely disintegrated with the new video leaks of the Epstein deposition. I think they're going to have to release the files and be damned or the whole unite the right effort will come to an end in the US. It's also mostly younger commentators under 30 who are the most incensed by the u-turn so that content cycle on YouTube that has helped Trump/MAGA to capture so many Gen Z voters could be coming to an end as well. Definitely something to look out for in voting trends before 2028 because 2024 was won on the back of the youth vote turning out for Trump in a way not many expected.
I'm in Phoenix today, and there's a lot of anger among the middle class Hispanics. They want illegal immigration stopped. But they don't want American citizens, who look Hispanic, being dragged off the streets by ICE and detained.
Remarkable they didn't see this coming, given that it was obvious to me and I face a far lower risk of it happening to me than they do.
If this pollster wasn't BPC accredited I would doubt the accuracy of Ref 34 and Cons as low as 16. But they are so it is what it is.
Find Out Now posted a long piece on their site yesterday about why they are finding Reform higher than other pollsters and why they think they are right.
"Police raid on 'Epping migrant hotel protester': Suspect is arrested at his home as a ring of steel is put up around two taxpayer-funded asylum seeker centres amid fears of riots"
“I’d got home after a peaceable day chanting racist slogans and politely throwing bricks at the police. I was innocently typing a tweet advocating setting fire to immigrants when the police arrested me. The vicious, fascist thugs.”
It's another egregious example of two tier policing. Totally different approaches taken to people who commit a crime compared to those who haven't.
Comments like that will get you cancelled.
It’s “members of The Legally Challenged Community”
Q. Why did the lawyer cross the road?
A. I can't tell you for legal reasons.
Because the lawyer knew it would take 6.1 minutes.
"Police raid on 'Epping migrant hotel protester': Suspect is arrested at his home as a ring of steel is put up around two taxpayer-funded asylum seeker centres amid fears of riots"
“I’d got home after a peaceable day chanting racist slogans and politely throwing bricks at the police. I was innocently typing a tweet advocating setting fire to immigrants when the police arrested me. The vicious, fascist thugs.”
It's another egregious example of two tier policing. Totally different approaches taken to people who commit a crime compared to those who haven't.
Comments like that will get you cancelled.
It’s “members of The Legally Challenged Community”
Q. Why did the lawyer cross the road?
A. I can't tell you for legal reasons.
{narrator : he was immediately sent to jail for contempt of court, under a super injunction, for that answer}
If this pollster wasn't BPC accredited I would doubt the accuracy of Ref 34 and Cons as low as 16. But they are so it is what it is.
Find Out Now posted a long piece on their site yesterday about why they are finding Reform higher than other pollsters and why they think they are right.
Was that one of Matt's impartial analysis pieces?
Do you have a link?
Matt Goodwin has nothing to do with Find Out Now and never has
Is MoreInCommon Goodwin's pollster? Always get confused between those two for some reason.
Goodwin doesn't have a pollster any more. It was People Polling
What happened to People Polling?
No idea.they haven't released a poll since the GE
Good afternoon
Another poll showing Reform capturing the narrative and leaving the opposition in their wake
We know the conservatives are having a difficult time, but Labour are on the cusp of going sub 20% and on the day Corbyn Sultana launch their party.
We are entering an unprecedented period in politics with both main parties losing to their extreme wings and no sign of better days
This has to be an indictment of Starmer and his utter first year failure to govern
I just cannot see a way out for Starmer and Reeves, but also the future of politics which is beginning to look like a country that has become ungovernable
BBC PM bigging Your Party up. Evan making the same extrapolation that 18% of voters will support it.
Comments
Well played the young bastard, er, gentleman.
Comic Sans.
Appropriate for this bunch.
Botham was probably the more naturally gifted player, but Stokes is the far superior all round sportsman. His captaincy has had a similarly consequential influence to that of Brearley, who would not have been in the team at all, otherwise.
And unlike Botham, he has improved with age.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14937239/Moment-police-arrest-Epping-migrant-hotel-protester.html
Find Out Now voting intention:
🟦 Reform UK: 34% (+4)
🔴 Labour: 20% (-)
🔵 Conservatives: 16% (-1)
🟠 Lib Dems: 14% (+1)
🟢 Greens: 10% (-2)
Changes from 16th July
[Find Out Now, 23rd July, N=2,651]
You can see it here at 24 mins 9 secs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbEH0CW7mTg&list=PLdz_rC7tjXMsiIxrPMSxIOhmGpPTPeuq4
But its also a bit like comparing George Best to modern footballers. The strength and conditioning is total different universe. The average EPL player now would blow Best out the water, they are just much faster, stronger, fitter.
Also understanding of technique has changed. There was a piece they did 5 years ago with Flintoff and Buttler talking about power hitting and Buttler could nail the ball miles further. Sky did another piece with Liam Livingstone with KP with similar outcome, KP who is still in incredible physical shape looked like a total weakling.
I know we can't question BPC pollsters, but....
P.S. If this poll isn't posted on PB six times in the next six hours I will be so disappointed in the Reform rampers.
YouGov 44%
Focaldata 46%
Opinium 47%
Techne 47%
MoreInCommon 50%
FindOutNow 50%
JL Partners 46%
Freshwater Strategy 50%
DANCING BRAVE did NOT win the Derby - probably should have.
Shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, testing, acceptance
The interesting question is how efficient the left, and centre left, vote is under this kind of scenario. My guess is that there are a lot of upset left wingers who won't go back to Labour under Starmer, and so the Green/Sultana vote will hold up.
That could massacre Labour, and leave the LibDems as the official opposition.
Ipsos 49
Survation 46
Ashcroft 48
If this pollster wasn't BPC accredited I would doubt the accuracy of Ref 34 and Cons as low as 16. But they are so it is what it is.
Oh, you mean the England opener not the dump in West Sussex.
And man will he bellyache when he loses and has to take the Capitol with force.
Do you have a link?
https://findoutnow.co.uk/blog/how-pollsters-may-be-understating-the-reform-vote/
If someone who respects the rule of law replaces them then he will have committed plenty of crimes to prosecute him for. If someone who doesn't respect the rule of law takes over then they'll still go after him to make sure he doesn't try to return to power.
Trump will not willingly leave the White House.
There's also the generally angry andies who want to throw rocks in the pond. "It's all gone to shit, whole thing needs a shake-up bla bla". Reform gets these types atm but a left populist party might take some. One of our posters cited his grandma as an example. Likes Corbyn and Farage.
Batting average 40.43
Bowling average 32.20
With best individual performances in away matches in West Indies, Australia and India.
Labour 78
LD 55
SNP 37
Con 15 (Kemi loses her seat)
Greens 5
https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/usercode.py?scotcontrol=N&CON=16&LAB=20&LIB=14&Reform=34&Green=10&UKIP=&TVCON=&TVLAB=&TVLIB=&TVReform=&TVGreen=&TVUKIP=&SCOTCON=&SCOTLAB=&SCOTLIB=&SCOTReform=&SCOTGreen=&SCOTUKIP=&SCOTNAT=&display=AllChanged&regorseat=(none)&boundary=2024base
It’s “members of The Legally Challenged Community”
The problem comes when the MAGA nutters turn on him. The midterms, if free and fair, will paralyse his ability to bypass Congress. Then things get really messy.
All coming while the US economy is in deep doo doo with the US debt market falling out of bed, investor strike, blah blah blah....
We can drop that 'probably'. It so should have won the race that I've internalised that it did.
And when he was bad he was HORRID.
Hence why England perseveres.
England batsmen can bat all day
Be interesting to see if either
1) any other pollsters find a recent big move to Reform or
2) their average lead accelerates outwards
They may not have realised that this was what (as well as who) they were voting for, but they voted for it all the same.
A. I can't tell you for legal reasons.
Another poll showing Reform capturing the narrative and leaving the opposition in their wake
We know the conservatives are having a difficult time, but Labour are on the cusp of going sub 20% and on the day Corbyn Sultana launch their party.
We are entering an unprecedented period in politics with both main parties losing to their extreme wings and no sign of better days
This has to be an indictment of Starmer and his utter first year failure to govern
I just cannot see a way out for Starmer and Reeves, but also the future of politics which is beginning to look like a country that has become ungovernable
Not only is this stuff an absolute joke and a revolting abuse of state power at the expense of vulnerable older people, it is also waste of police time that could allow actual terrorists to commit crimes more easily. The stupidity on display from the authorities is almost off the scale.