Clark, Clarke & Co.

Willowists,

And the hopeless jokes purporting to run the game are seriously talking about four day test matches??
Bah! Humbug!
Bring back timeless tests.
Make ‘em battle it out to the death.
Ban the draw!
Or-Straya made a fundamental fatal mistake before a ball was even bowled in the Cardiff test match for mine, by not picking Clark No-E.
Why on earth would you leave out a bloke who is ideally suited to the conditions, has form on English tracks, heart, hates Poms and loves the Baggy Green?
Unforgiveable.
No-E would have tidied up the Pommy tail on the second morning instead of bleeding 99 runs, and would have won the match for you any time you liked on day five, if only he was asked, instead of seeing a platinum opportunity to take a priceless one-nil lead in a five match series go begging.
The tragedy is that barring anyone completely dropping their bundle, Stuart Clark now probably won’t get a game this tour, and will be condemned to rearranging the tumblers of well chilled gin & tonic on the dressing room silver drinks platter.
Still, no use crying over spilt milk, and in the final paralysis, the Poms have absolutely nothing at all to celebrate as they go to Headquarters.
Pleasing to see that MJ Clarke has left nothing of his talent and technique in South Africa, or at home for that matter.
However he did end up quietly frothing at the mouth about not managing to go on and score a big hundred, when a matter-of-fact ton was staring him in the face at 83 not out.
Suitably booted himself up the arse in the Monday morning fishwraps.
Still punching the cover drives and the classical straight drives, as well as the usual trademark off cutting off the back foot that give the field out there absolutely no chance at all,
while the pull shot off the spinners seems to have come back into his canon for this series.
And why not?
Can be an almost risk free profit on the scoreboard in the hands of a proper professional.
As always, impeccable footwork and seeing the ball like a footy with an eye like a dead fish.
He would have been filthy with himself about the shot he got out to -- for once his footwork deserted him and he found himself shuffling across the crease and then cramped for room by a short ball, only to watch the dolly fly away for a simple chance.
Silly.
Seems Pup has been drawn even closer into the inner circle this series as the board of directors continues to groom him for the captaincy.
Did like him playfully pretending to call the batsmen in well before Punter made the actual declaration, appearing on the balcony with his skipper at all the right moments etc, still, there were some terse exchanges as the Captain and Vice-Captain fielded at first and second slip late on day five and appeared to argue over what eventually became some rather bizarre bowling changes at the dénouement.
Doubt that Pup would have accepted any responsibility for the morning session on day two.
Suppose that’s the luxury to have when you are not actually in charge.
Bring on Lords for another round of the finest sight in world sport – Poms being ground into dust.