TMS is back
For those of us who wake up a few hours earlier than we might wish the return of Test Match Special to cover the first test of Sri Lanka v England at Galle is a great boon.
The commentators are not actually there. Jonathan Agnew is in his attic, Ebony Raynsford Brent in her front room, Andy Salzmann in his garden shed, Dan Norcross and Phil Tufnell at the Oval and Simon Mann in the Strictly studio.
Nonetheless the band provide their normal witty, light hearted but perceptive commentary.
Two years ago I was at Galle, a lovely ground in the shadow of the fort.
I remember too the coach journey when we stopped off for some fishing off poles.
The Sri Lankans are a cheerful people but their cricket standard has dropped .
They were well beaten in South Africa and dismissed cheaply yesterday with some very poorly judged stroke play.
In the lunch interval there was an interview with Aussie head coach Justin Langer.
After the antics in South Africa two years ago we were promised a new dawn under skipper Tim Paine but it’s the same old, same old.
Langer’s justification was everyone makes mistakes and the incidents were blown up.
It all rather reminded me of how Premiership football millionaires regard themselves above and beyond the Covid protocols.
Alison Mitchell the interviews gave Langer a very soft ride.
With typical braggadocio Langer called India and Australia the best two test teams in the world.
Well actually New Zealand lead the rankings.
