If I watch any more cricket I am going to morph into Geoffrey Boycott.
Bravely, I summoned up the energy to have one last blast (until the Pro40 competition starts tomorrow) as England and South Africa played out the final day of the first test match at Lords. England are twice as successful as they were yesterday, but that isn't saying much since they only took one wicket on the fourth day. All of which leaves them needing another seven wickets for victory when play is finally brought to a close around 5.00. Farcically, the players had been called off for bad light ten minutes earlier, and yet recalled to the field despite there being as much chance of a positive result as there is of a sensible statement from Sepp Blatter.
When the tedium ends it is announced that Andrew Flintoff is in a 12-man squad for the second test which starts on Friday. Paul Collingwood is the logical choice to be replaced, so expect Stuart Broad to sit it out at Headingley.
Back to the subject of sensible statements, and it seems the ECB cannot find one either. Faced with the thorny issue of Yorkshire's appeal against their expulsion from the Twenty20 Cup for fielding an ineligible player, the ECB deduct the Tykes two points which effectively eliminates the Headingly club anyway. Yet those points are not awarded to Nottinghamshire, meaning that it will now be Glamorgan who face Durham in the quarter-finals. That is unless Nottinghamshire appeal, which they doubtless will. Got that? Good on you if you have because the cricketing fraternity are very confused.
A word for Sky TV who after inviting emails for a lunchtime discussion completely dodged the issue of the grotesque arrival of 'Sir' Allen Stanford and his Twenty20 cash. Does anyone else think they are keeping their nose clean on it until they have secured the television rights?
Dutifully I still have to report on the Tour de France. I know, but I wouldn't really be able to call myself a sports journalist if I didn't now would I? There's a new leader overall, as Cadel Evans takes yellow by just one second from Frank Schleck following Leonardo Piepoli's 10th stage victory today. You'll be pleased to know that tomorrow is a rest day.
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