But some things about the last year do seem unusual, at least. Yes, many sides have played positively, even fearlessly. But few have publicly said “it’s only a game, entertainment is more important than winning”. I think that is what I like most about it. Blaspheming in the church of very very serious professional sport.

One, its called “Bazball” (as if no one has ever played like that before and this particular England team are the first to think of it) and that annoys me so much that for the first time ever I want the Aussies to win the Ashes.

Two, the approach appears to rely on good batting conditions and heroic performances from at least one player, preferably two (Root is often one of the players, so the rest of the team just needs to put together one). I would quite like to see what “Bazball” does on a wicket that assists movement or very overcast conditions that aid swing (or for that matter, on one of those under prepared wickets in India where the game’s done in 3 days)

Also, pitch it up, jeez!

Let me explain. Bairstow was unsportsmanned out, but was an idiot for thinking an Australian wicketkeeper (that’s wicketkeeper) could be sporting. So on this subject, I don’t know what I think. English aggressive batting tactics have been the direct cause of most of the wickets, but have magnificently dug us out of a hole, the hole created by our aggressive batting tactics. On this subject also, I don’t know what to think. Bowling 98% of deliveries short is just stupid / genius, and is completely inventive / stolen from the Aussies. This leaves me not able to know what to think.

I love the way England are playing right now, but we are two-nil down after two matches of a five-match series. It’s the score that matters, not the method. The method has kept us fighting against a very good Aussie side, placing us with good chance of winning both matches in the final stages. It’s the way we are playing that matters, not the score. It’s clear that we need to change our approach somewhat, but whatever we do we must not change our approach. That would be madness. It would be just what the Australians want us to do, that or the opposite of it.

Ultimately, my meditation has led me to the following conclusion – that a) caves are bloody uncomfortable, and b) the only answers meditating gives you are the sort of answers only found in that storehouse of clarity – Zen mysticism. So here we go. First, some Sun Tzu. Then a kōan. And finally, natch, a haiku.

England must do that which discomfits their opponents the most, even if their opponents don’t know what that is.

Monk – Master, what is the nature of Bazball?
Buddha-master – 155 not out, run out without facing a ball.

England play the game
Stokes risks everything to win
And also to lose

No you do not have to side with either house, Daneel.

As I sometimes find myself saying to Daisy, “just because that bunch of mendacious, dissembling lying-liars are usually wrong, does not mean that EVERYTHING that any of them ever say is wrong”.

I would no more wish for the Tory Government (or Tory party) to be custodians of THE LINE than the Aussies.

On that topic, the following KC piece (reasonably recent ie the last few years) sprung to my mind in this context. It suggests that THE LINE might be fuzzy or possibly even a curve:

https://www.kingcricket.co.uk/linewatch-a-mankad-related-clarification-from-the-official-custodians-of-the-line/2020/10/07/

Everyone can be wrong?

A plague on both their houses.

Daisy still quietly confident we’d win the match at that stage…she still says that England will win 3-2!:

https://flic.kr/p/2oLYFHk

View from our Day Five seats:

https://flic.kr/p/2oM1jAR

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

Yes, Ged was in the Long Room…

…briefly…

…on Days Two and Three…

…but not on Day Five. He was in the Lower Tavern with Daisy on that day and has several independent witnesses.

Ged has not been suspended.

Ged wouldn’t behave like an a**ehole in the pavilion (or indeed anywhere else), whereas those who have been suspended (and probably others in the Long Room at that time), in Ged’s opinion, did behave like a**eholes.

Out in the fresh air, the crowd was very vocal. “it’s like being at Edgbaston again” was Daisy’s take on the exhilarating scenes. Ged has no problem with that.

Why is Ged writing in the third person this morning? I have no idea. I’ll stop for now.

Very much agree with KC’s analysis. I have just sent my take (with more excruciating detail) to Australia for some red teaming of my thoughts. More here anon no doubt.

But whatever, another great test match. Kudos to both these teams!