Imagine winning a game after the ball hits the stumps and runs away towards the boundary...
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George Dobell
@GeorgeDobell1
LondonJoined January 2012
George Dobell’s Tweets
Dobell: ECB's double-standards fast losing them friends
The day before Gary Ballance was named, Azeem phoned me at 6am asking for help to ensure he - Gary - received the help and support he would need if and when his name came out. He really isn't in the business of revenge. It's about improving things in general.
Naseem Shah beat Jos Buttler 5 times in that over. And it still went for 11.
This is absolutely devastating for the ECB:
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Aakhir main jeet cricket kee hogee #PakVsEng
@iramizraja @TheRealPCB
That Ollie Robinson line about Australia having 'three No. 11s' hasn't aged terrifically well, has it?
Joe Root, the great crowd pleaser that he is, has secured victory quickly enough that 4th day ticket holders will receive a full refund.
Rohit Sharma has just called that innings not only Virat's best 'for sure' but one of India's best, too. Hard to disagree, really.
Credit where it's due, Ashwin was the coolest guy in Melbourne just then. (That's why they don't call him Ashlose).
This, however... utter ****. In thrall of India and England. Mentions Pakistan (and West Indies, oddly) in passing and in terms of needing sympathy. Cricket deserves better.
Imagine those poor kids seeing Test cricket for the first time on Channel 4 and thinking watching England is always like this...
This is nice: Jos Buttler, Joe Root and families play on the outfield at Headingley a few hours after England win the 3rd Test:
I've no idea who will win this game. But of this I'm certain: if this match (and all the others like it) were broadcast free-to-air, cricket would have no popularity issue in England.
I know we're not at the end of this and I've no right to be, really, but... I'm so damn proud of
Won a men’s global tournament more recently than India, no?
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The cricket concept that is the West Indies needs to be abolished and all those island countries - Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua, Guayana, Trinidad etc - should be given associate memberships. They may then play for pride and who knows one or two may actually bounce back on the… Show more
I’m trying to think of a time I’ve experienced a better atmosphere on the way to the ground. And I’m struggling.
It’s not an attempt to ‘destroy’ English cricket. It’s an attempt to make it inclusive for everyone. It’s pretty clear it hasn’t been.
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Azeem Rafiq is guilty of the worst double standards possible.
Can we please end this attempt to destroy English cricket? twitter.com/BBCSport/statu…
One more time: Moeen is the top wicket-taker in the world in Test cricket over the last year. Nobody took more wickets in the Test series against Sri Lanka or West Indies. He bowled 9 overs yesterday, took 1 wicket and had a drop. Yes, he batted horribly. But easy with the obits.
Yorkshire racism report ruled Azeem Rafiq being call 'P**i' was 'banter'
Poor Australia. They've never had a batter who has scored 1,700 Test runs in a calendar year.
Btw... Anderson now (and I mean right now; a boundary could change it) has a lower bowling average in Asia than Kapil Dev. Might not check the replies to this tweet...
You can pretty much divide cricket lovers into two camps: those who realise what an incredible player Ben Stokes is. And idiots.
Middlesex in talks with PCB to enter Pakistan Super League | The Cricketer
England counties offer to host remainder of IPL 2021 in September
To be clear: it's not cheating. it's just out.
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Replying to @GeorgeDobell1
Same old Aussies always cheating
Australian meteorologists have had a worse tournament than their cricket team.
For those asking… I’m very disappointed with the Azeem revelations. There are no excuses. He’s let himself down. He’s let all of you who supported him down. And, of course, played into a grim anti-Semitic trope. He’s still my friend. I guess it shows how far we have to go.
English attitudes towards turning pitches need to change
As a sports journalist, I’ve witnessed a fair few displays of outstanding athleticism and stamina. But the couple - oh, how I hope it’s a couple - in the hotel room next to me are something else.
Spurned Moeen Ali begins the long kiss goodnight after 'choosing' to leave India tour
Adil Rashid corroborates Azeem Rafiq's claims against Michael Vaughan | The Cricketer
Here’s the Leeds surface about 24 hours before the game:
Brilliant from Cummins all match. Restrained, smart, patient, low-ego. Hell of a player.
ODI likely to go ahead in England despite bomb threat:
England must quickly learn that entertainment is great but results matter | The Cricketer
People who thought Jack Leach would be broken mentally from his experiences on day 3 really haven't been paying attention. Have you seen what he's been through? He's a whole lot tougher than he looks.
Disappointed would reference “media scum” at the #SpirtOfCricket talk. Orwell was a journalist. Dickens and Churchill, too. ‘s story isn’t told without the media. Azeem and I have both had physical threats in recent days. Words matter.
Someone just outside the ground is playing Dil Dil Pakistan on what I think is a saxophone.
It would have been great captaincy even if they hadn't taken that last wicket.
Chris Woakes is now averaging more with the bat in this series than Joe Root. Unfortunately, he's also averaging more than him with the ball...
The Ashes is sinking into the mire of its own bullshit espncricinfo.com/australia-v-en
In the end, it came down to this or being the new Bond. (Seriously, I'm delighted. Hugely appreciative of 's support and enthusiasm for my work in recent years. Excited to join their great team and looking forward to the next chapters. See you all in Oz).
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Replying to @TheCricketerMag
The Cricketer is delighted to announce that George Dobell will be joining our team as chief correspondent from mid-November
thecricketer.com/Topics/news/ge
3 in a row. I know it's a strong statement but... I really think he might be the new Ravi Bopara.
It's not confirmed yet but I understand Lord Patel has been appointed as the new (or interim) chair at Yorkshire. This seems a good choice as 1: He's not Colin Graves. And 2: He's STILL not Colin Graves.
A reminder of the time Moeen turned a ball into a helmet:
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@thefulltoss @GeorgeDobell1 @OutsideCricket I knew Moeen Ali was good, but check this out! He throws in a cricket ball & turns it into a helmet by the time it gets to the stumps!! #MagicArm
The MCC have suspended 3 members pending an investigation after the incident in the Long Room earlier.
There's a 40 year old seamer bowling England to victory in Pakistan...
Mark Wood has just bowled a delivery at 94.6 mph. Fastest of the series.
If the only reason for batting on was to annoy Shane Warne, I'm on side.
You ok, mate?
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He is an absolute shit left arm spinner whose career will likely be ended by Indian batsmen during the course of this series. twitter.com/GeorgeDobell1/…
Respect to for doing this. Thanks to @Taha_Wisden and too. Immediate reaction of has been really encouraging. Over to you ... Azeem Rafiq was 'on brink of suicide' after racism at Yorkshire
Have to admire Broad. Talks a great game when he's dropped. And nearly always backs it up with performances when recalled. He could be very near the end now. Enjoy him while you can.
Yorkshire have been suspended from hosting international or major matches ‘until it has demonstrated that it can meet the standards expected…’
So... the next time someone says Anderson is reliant on English conditions, you make sure to tell them his record in Asia is better than Ishant, Rabada, Mohammad Amir, Philander and Zaheer Khan. He really is quite good, you know:
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James Anderson delivers another performance to treasure on day of England toil espncricinfo.com/story/sri-lank
England scored 47 in the session. Australia only 12. Clearly England's morning. Clearly. Basic maths.
Former Yorkshire player Rana Naved-ul-Hasan says he heard Vaughan's comments:
Hands shaken. Ireland win. the loser of Eng v Aus on Friday is (almost certainly) out.
If that Test had been on free to air... doesn't matter about formats: cricket is a great game. The Hundred gamble, £200m investment, new team names etc... all completely unnecessary. Just let people see it. The rest will follow.
Here’s the pitch at Wellington about 48 hours before the toss:
England players' body did not play a part in Pakistan tour abandonment
And here’s the Manchester pitch 24 hours before the start:
You wait months. You spend millions on bio-security. You persuade your broadcasters to pay-up despite everything. You put your opposition in lockdown in a travel lodge. You wait hours for the rain to stop. And then you go off for bad light with 2 spinners bowling...
378 to win in 148 overs? Only 2.55 an over.
6.51 if they want to win it today.
CPL triumph adds to Donovan Miller's CV, but home coaching calling proves elusive
So, they've waited all day for these conditions. And Joe Root is bowling?
‘Oh, it’s nice to that nice David Warner get a second chance’. Said absolutely nobody sitting up in the cold in the middle of the night in the UK.
I know some people are uneasy about this but I’m pretty confident it’s the right thing to do. It harms nobody, costs nothing and might be just a bit more inclusive. So let’s do it:
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MCC has today announced amendments to the Laws of Cricket to use the gender-neutral terms “batter” and “batters”, rather than “batsman” or “batsmen”.
Huge thanks to my friends at (and, I believe, ) for my farewell gifts. It’s been a lot of fun.
James Anderson - with 630 Test wickets - looks on in mock frustration (I THINK it’s mock) as his cover fielder let’s one through. Root, Buttler, Silverwood and Jon Lewis (plus assorted family members) also involved.
Heard quite a few commentators full of praise for the benefits of the Hundred in recent weeks. Be nice if they could at least acknowledge the possibility there might be one or two drawbacks, too.
My lip reading isn't perfect but I'm PRETTY sure Jos Buttler said 'Ingenuous move, Ashwin; we should hang out more.' But I guess I COULD be wrong.
Well, I guess sometime, somewhere there may have been a better Test innings. But I’ve not seen it. Just give the man a cape and have done with it.
It's a fifth-day sell-out at The Kia Oval tomorrow. That's about 125,000 people over the five days. And every ball will matter.
