Just to be clear - although I’m sure everyone knows what I mean - I certainly have no sympathy for his actions or punishment. The punishment is tough in some senses, but credit to CA for hitting these guys hard. However, it’s not nice to see any individual in the mental state that he was. Surely we all would agree on that.

I feel for him on a personal level, yes. Lehmann is gone as well now.

Watching Smiths interview it’s clear he’s absolutely devastated. Watching a grown man crying in front of the worlds cameras isn’t nice, you have to feel for him as a person. having said that there are still unanswered questions as to whether this was an isolated incident. Unless someone else steps forward with evidence I guess we’ll never know.

He’s confirmed himself on Twitter that it’s the same hamstring problem

“The premier league declined to comment”! Blackpool have been well and truly shafted by these people. Weren’t the bailiffs at the club and the Oyston Home this last week or so? They’re looking to force 25m from the family I believe.

How how did we lose that? I went to bed with England 200+ for 1 and loads of overs left.

Close then Tyrone! Never heard of Johnny Green, even though I’ve obviously seen him.

Duggie and Ronnie both played at Great Harwood if I remember correctly. So did a few other ex Rovers at the time - Paul Round for one?

Oh, yes, I agree 47er. That team got relegated. But the individuals I listed - how much would those players be worth in today’s money when they were all at their peak? Anyone want to guess? What about Blackpool’s pairing of Alan Ball and Tony Green - how much would they be worth nowadays? A massive amount of money I guess? How much would the likes of England, Clayton, Newton be worth now? it was just nice to look back.

Yes granted, but.......... Waiters, Armfield, Tony Green Alan Ball, Newton, Mike England, Clayton, Mike Ferguson?

The funeral of Jimmy Armfield today. Yesterday I was talking to a Blackpool fan and I showed him a programme for the last Christmas Day football game ever played in England ... Blackpool v Rovers 25th Dec 1965. 3:30 KO, to allow for Xmas dinner. as a matter of interest these were the teams that day and there were some superb players on show. blackpool :- waiters, Armfield, Thomson, Turner, James, Green, Moir, Ball, Charnley, Waddell, Oates rovers :- Else, Newton, Wilson, Clayton, Mullvaney, Sharples, Darling, Jones, England, Ferguson, Harrison. a lot of talent there, yet before this game Blackpool lied 5th from bottom of the first division, while Rovers lied 3rd from bottom, eventually being relegated. Burnley sat 2nd in the league sandwiched between Liverpool at the top and Man Utd in 3rd spot.

Doesn’t matter what I would do Chaddy, I’m not an England cricketer. dont you think you’re being a bit obtuse? You know he’s been left out of the ashes squad because he’s being investigated by the police. He was brawling in a backstreet and the ECB were correct in leaving him out of the squad. It’s his own fault. He knows he shouldn’t have got involved.

Jesus Chaddy. ”maybe not thrown as many punches” ?

He wasn’t right to get into a backstreet brawl Chaddy. You play for your country, you keep out of trouble. He knows that. Are you really arguing that players in any sport can behave exactly as they like off the park? Surely you’re not.

You have a strange sense of responsibility if you think thats acceptable for an international cricketer Chaddy.

Stokes got what he deserved Chaddy. This can’t be defended. https://youtu.be/RvXDg4IcYiw

Nice one Kamy. ?

Getting back to pace, I agree that an English bowler with 90+ mph speed and control would be fantastic and I think we’ve had a few over the years. Trying to do that over here nowadays though for an entire career on the softer ground must be so difficult. I doubt that in today’s cricket, with so many games now, it’s possible. How do we encourage bowlers to bowl flat out over here for their entire career? You have to try to give them the wicket to bowl on. Sorry Matty, I’m going round in circles.

Yes, I agree with you. We’ve always struggled in Oz because the bowling conditions are completely different. I can also understand why the coaches slow them down a bit over here (if they do?). Movement of the ball has to be controlled movement. It’s no good swinging the ball around if it’s not in the right areas and that’s much easier to do if it’s done at a slightly lower pace. In Oz, bowlers just need to have pace. As we see all the time there’s little for the medium pacer out there. Oz gives bowlers all the encouragement to bowl as quickly as they can, while in England it’s exactly the opposite. I don’t think we really differ very much Matty. That’s just the way it is.

We can only bring bowlers up to play in English conditions Matty. In England bowlers must move the ball. I can’t see how or why that should change to be honest.

We’ve never had the bowlers to flourish in Oz, Chaddy and it’s unlikely we ever will. English conditions mean bowlers need to be able to move the ball around and generally speaking, when you up the pace, you lose control to some extent. Exceptional pace isn’t necessary in England.

Good day for England, but there’s a long way to go yet. Warns reckons 400+ will see a good contest, while the guys on 5live reckon 550 to give England a chance of a win. I tend to agree with 5live. However, I’ll be amazed and very happy if we get anywhere near to that score. Anything less than that will, I reckon, see the Aussies at least level on first innings and that would be a worry for me. We must have a sizeable lead of 100 or more to be able to put real pressure on them. But..... so far, so good. ps. What were the selectors thinking of playing Bairstow lower down the order? He’s a class act now, even if he is from the wrong part of England.

We all have to remember they could get worse owners. Stability is what they need.

I think the Oystons argue that they have simply reclaimed money they previously “invested” into the club. So are we sure Venkys haven’t already taken out money, or could do so in future? That wouldn’t make them any different would it. however, Venkys don’t have any co shareholders, so it’s different in that way.

Managers fault. It always is (unfortunately).