A special cricket match-

is it now Stoke’s Ashes?

The visit to Headingley by Joe and I turned out to be one of those ‘I was there ‘ moments. The Third Test match in the Ashes series turned out to be a classic.

Joe and I bought the tickets for this match last October and it was not possible to obtain tickets for either of the London venues. It turned out to be a significant outlay as only the more expensive tickets were available ; £130 for day three and £65 for day 4. Also being the Bank Holiday weekend the trains fares were ridiculous and the hotel not cheap. It just so happens that there were other events going on in the area- Leeds music festival all weekend and horse racing in York.

So the place was rammed and the trains very busy. From Chesterfield to Leeds on the Saturday there was cramped, shoulder to shoulder standing room only.

On the way the outcome of the match did not look bright with England having been bowled out for a paltry 67 on day 2. I was anticipating another poor batting display after the Australian 2nd innings and the action to be all over by the end of day 3. However it did not turn out that way.

After finishing off the Australian 2nd innings better than expected England actually batted for the most part like it was a Test Match rather than a T-20 match. Though Roy hadn’t learned. Root and Denly played controlled and measured cricket and kept England in the match. Until Denly was out and Stokes came in towards the end of the day. We sat and watched and enjoyed the slow and tense and conservative tempo. Joe and I retired to the town for a fancy burger and couple of beers before bedtime. We we tired- having got up at 4-00 to catch the early train.

On Sunday they came out to resume needing just over 200 to win with 7 wickets standing. It wasn’t long before Root was back in the pavilion and it looked all so unlikely.

There were periods of optimism but wickets continued to fall though Stokes was still there keeping the ball out snd hitting a few runs. Finally he was left with the number 11 and 73 still needed. The game changed and was a classic to watch. As Leach defended his wicket and Stokes consoled the strike so that Leech had 1 02 balls to face, ran suck twos to keep the stroke and began to hit wonderful boundaries. The crowd were active and loving the moment. Cheering the big hits- straight and concocted and the blocking at the other end.

The runs needed were falling and the excitement rose. The Aussies were feeling the pressure. The bowling remained great to watch but errors occurred; in the fielding, the throw to the wrong end, the missed easy run out by Nathan Lyon, the wasted use of a review which left a more clear lbw that was not given un-reviewable.

In the end a fantastic run chase, Stokes 135 not out, Leach noon -out on 1 having batted stoically, the crowd going wild and the press/ media calling it the best batting performance ever and best Test Match ever.

As ever one man gets the attention with some for Leach for his great innings of 1 not-out.

Not so much written about the solid and more dull batting from others to set the platform Stokes did bat so well and adapted his approach extremely well to the changing needs of the match.

The media have gone will not surprisingly – like everyone else for that matter.

Ben Stokes century leads England to epic Ashes-saving win at Headingley

By Stephan Shemilt

BBC Sport at Headingley

Men’s Ashes: Third Specsavers Test, Headingley (day four of five)

Australia 179(Labuschagne 74, Archer 6-45) & 246(Labuschagne 80)

England 67(Hazlewood 5-30) & 362-9 (Stokes 135*, Root 77, Hazlewood 4-85)

England won by one wicket

Scorecard

Ben Stokes inspires England to sensational third Test win over Australia

Ashes 2019 •Australia 179 & 246, England 67 & 362-9
•Stokes hits 135 not out as home side level the series at 1-1Supported byAbout this content

Vic Marksat Headingley

Ben Stokes (centre) and Jack Leach lift their arms in celebration after the former hit the winning runs at Headingley. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Headingley 1981 was a foregone conclusion compared with this. So, too, the World Cup final in July, as Ian Botham’s incredible exploits of 38 years ago have been matched, maybe surpassed. But on a day like this who cares about rankings anyway? Ben Stokes produced the innings of a lifetime to snatch a one-wicket victory, which keeps the Ashes alive and the game alive, while threatening to cause multiple heart failures among those lucky enough to witness this contest.

So in the end Joe and I had a great sporting weekend that did not look that promising. Ah the beauty of Test Cricket.

Sunday Times

Not quite making history

Ireland cricketers do not quite keep up the momentum

Due a 50% refund for the low number of overs seen -15.4 for Ireland innings amp I think 1 ball for end of England innings.

I was at Lord’s today to watch Ireland play England in the first test match between the two countries. Today day was day 3 of a possible 4 though the action was over quickly.

There was anticipation at the beginning of the day as Ireland needed one more wicket to take and then bat for an historic and unpacked win.

They took the last wicket with the first ball and then had a target of 188 to win. They had shocked and embarrassed England by getting them out for 85 in the first innings. Not exactly the warm-up England were looking for before the start of the Ashes.

Unfortunately it did not go anywhere near to plan with the quick and then sustained tumble of wickets under cloudy conditions and with Woakes and Broad dangerous in the conditions. Ireland were all out for 38. Sad.

A disappointing end and a very quick exposure for my £50 on the day ticket. Though I will receive 50% back for the shortened period of entertainment. I was supporting Ireland as I watched the irritating play of England. They were expected to win easily from the outset but screwed up and played badly at the beginning. It was all high fives and jumping about. I thought this was over the top in the circumstances.

Back to being an England supporter next week when they play Australia. Not currently optimistic.

We woz there

For the first time I watched the Boat Race from the banks of the Thames. Never been that interested- rowing for one and Oxbridge for the other. But as we still live by the Thames it had to be a good idea to go.

I do like the sporting prowess of the people who compete in these sort of things and we did have a bit of buy-in as we had seen the crews training in he last couple of months along by Putney Bridge and outside our window.

However it was all celebrity rower and not a concentration of the teams in the end.

Dad and Son and football

The weekend action at Griffin Park featured the visit of WBA with one ‘Baggies’ supporter sitting next to me. Unfortunately for Joe he could not get a ticket to sit in the away supporters end and had to accept sitting with me and the Brentford supporters.

It was not a good game with both sides playing poorly and making errors. WBA scored a good solo goal but rest of the performance was limited.

But it was good Dad and son time. A fine cycle in history as of course Joe holds his allegiance to WBA as it was his first game I took him to when we lived in the West Midlands. He was nearly or a little more than 5. The first game was against Nottingham Forest. I think he lasted until about half time. I took him again but I cannot remember who against when he lasted longer.

Football inculcation. How it is always done.

FA Cup drama- the wrong sort?

Brentford struggle against non-league Barnet- but a cup classic.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/47036957

Trip to Griffin Park

A overcast day and disappointing game against the Swans.

Brentford played poorly and offered little to give confidence. Not helped by letting in a goal within 20 seconds. 3-nil down within 20 something minutes and a crowd that could not find more than a whisper.

There was murmuring everywhere with the typical reaction to sack the manager. I am not sure of the necessary response but his hold on employment does look precarious.

A run of bad form and poor football

SAT 24 Nov 2018Championship

Marcus Tavernier — Middlesbrough’s victory kept them within two points of leaders Norwich

Middlesbrough returned to second in the Championship as they held off a late Brentford fightback to win at Griffin Park.

After a relatively quiet, goalless first half, Jordan Hugill tapped in to put the visitors in front.

When Marcus Tavernier’s downward header doubled the lead soon afterwards, the points looked safe, but Alan Judge fired in to pull one back for Brentford.

A tense finale followed but Darren Randolph did well to save from the Bees’ Josh Da Silva as Boro claimed back-to-back victories.

The hosts, for whom defeat was their fifth in six games, had chances to level after Judge’s effort, but Sergi Canos’ low shot lacked the power to trouble Randolph.

I had to leave at half- time so I could reach the RAH on time for the music. Kick- off changed to 5-30pm for the sake of TV- very annoying.

The football was again very frustrating. Brentford again played in their usual style which to me has become a cliche of football – possession without purpose. At one point the player with the most forward passes must have been the goalkeeper with his ‘hoofs’ up the pitch. The ball is passed along the back four but no one has the confidence, skill or permission to take the ball forward and commit the opposition who are able to remain back, covering space and not really being troubled. So as ever the stats give a lie to the effectiveness of the ‘Bees’. Players seem to not know each other.

I am finding it hard to be excited even though I have missed a few games with being away.

The Beesotted podcast and the fans response seems to place more emphasis on the opposition and bad periods during a match. I think there is something more fundamental going wrong.

Historic Irish Win

So Ireland beat the All Blacks and we were in Duffy’s to witness the match. Joe wore his All Blacks shirt with pride and Shaz and I were also on the side of the men in black. Anthony and the lads were ecstatic with the deserved victory.

A fun trip to west London with more due in the future.

Ireland 16-9 New Zealand: Hosts hold nerve to earn first home win over All Blacks

By Cian Murtagh

BBC Sport NI at Aviva Stadium

Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best, Cian Healy, Peter O'Mahony and Devin Toner show their delight after the final whistle in Dublin — Irish joy was unconfined after the final whistle at the Aviva Stadium

Autumn internationals: Ireland v New Zealand
Ireland: (9) 16
Tries: Stockdale Cons: Sexton Pens: Sexton 3
New Zealand: (6) 9
Pens: Barrett 2 Drop Goal: Barrett

Ireland have beaten New Zealand on home soil for the first time with a frenzied 16-9 win at the Aviva Stadium.

Jacob Stockdale’s superb chip-and-gather try decided an absorbing contest between the top two sides in the world.

Johnny Sexton advanced his claims for the world player of the year award with the rest of Ireland’s points.

The Grand Slam champions added to their historic first win over the All Blacks in 2016 as they sent out a warning before next year’s Rugby World Cup.

Stockdale’s try pushed his side into a 10-point lead in the 49th minute and they produced a heroic defensive display, led by man-of-the-match Peter O’Mahony, to repel the inevitable New Zealand fightback as ‘The Fields of Athenry’ rang through the Dublin night.

Stockdale swings it

Identity

So last week I was happy to support New Zealand when they played England, and as it happens, won in a tight game that really England should have won.

This week the All Blacks play Ireland. Assessment of the merits of each time probably give Ireland the edge in the contest.

But emotionally who do I want to win. With me drifting more to my father’s origins maybe it is less easy to support the ABs this weekend.

At the same time I still evoke the ‘I’m too old to invest too much emotion in these things’ mantra.

Ireland can repeat Chicago win over New Zealand, says Rory Best

• Joe Schmidt’s side beat All Blacks in the US in 2016
• Captain Best says injuries will not have big impact

Liam Napier

Ireland players celebrate the win over New Zealand in Chicago. Photograph: Phil Walter/Getty Images

Rory Best is confident Ireland can repeat their history-making efforts in Chicago by claiming a maiden win over New Zealand on home soil despite suffering more late injury dramas.

Already without the Lions flanker Sean O’Brien, who broke his arm against Argentina last week, Ireland suffered another major setback on the eve of the match with the loose forward Dan Leavy ruled out. Leavy’s absence adds to a growing injury list which includes O’Brien, the influential half-back Conor Murray and Robbie Henshaw.