Test Match Dan

Chasing those final sessions on fifth days around the world

[Test Match Dan @TestMatchDan]

It’s obviously very fashionable to be outraged about change, but you look like an idiot if you do it sounding quite as ill-informed as they do. What they want to preserve here is an idealised version of TMS, rather than what it has actually become now.

[Test Match Dan @TestMatchDan]

Crazy ignorance in the replies to this. Half have clearly never listened to TalkSport’s cricket commentary before. The other half think this would somehow be the end of TMS, even though they’d still be allowed to continue their fairly simplistic and overly twee broadcasts.

[Will Macpherson @willis_macp]

ECB are exploring taking BBC TMS's exclusivity away in their next round of radio rights, opening up the prospect that TMS and Talksport could broadcast live from home Tests for UK audiences, like Australian model https://t.co/cnoYzGXpj8

[Test Match Dan @TestMatchDan]

Vitality Blast:
Kent Spitfires v Sussex Sharks.
📍 St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury

[Test Match Dan @TestMatchDan]

The 2026 summer of cricket:

[Test Match Dan @TestMatchDan]

Vitality Blast Women’s League Two:
Kent Women v Sussex Sharks Women.
📍 St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury

[Test Match Dan @TestMatchDan]

This is all going to reflect very badly on the club.

[Will Macpherson @willis_macp]

At Beckenham, no play on day 3 because water got through the cover overnight. Not called off til 4pm

[Test Match Dan @TestMatchDan]

Farcical day at Beckenham, reminds me of the equivalent at Worcester where they simply didn’t admit it was too wet and kept everyone hostage in the sunshine. Bowler’s follow through is the area of concern after the covers failed overnight. Pretty abject from those responsible.

[Test Match Dan @TestMatchDan]

Rothesay County Championship Division Two:
Kent v Durham, day three.
📍 The County Ground, Beckenham

[Test Match Dan @TestMatchDan]

Perhaps more fool us optimists for hanging around this long, but the umpires finally put the Beckenham crowd out of their misery after a fifth inspection of the afternoon. Plenty of people had popped along to see what cricket was all about, and unfortunately they’ve found out…

[Test Match Dan @TestMatchDan]

@dafrankland The last line is laughably melodramatic. They’ve picked a player based on potential, but never realised that he was already playing to that potential the whole time. He’s had a good career and has made healthy money. I’m sure he will continue to play for Kent.

[Test Match Dan @TestMatchDan]

@Vitu_E Three new shirts every year to keep rinsing as many people as possible

[Test Match Dan @TestMatchDan]

Some incredible cope going on in the replies to this remarkable and particularly damning statistic.

[James @investor_bod]

England’s opener today, Zak Crawley, and number 11 Adil Rashid have each batted 251 times in first class cricket in their careers.

Adil Rashid has a better first class batting average.

#SLvsENG

[Test Match Dan @TestMatchDan]

Preparing for flat pitches that Australia haven’t produced since two Ashes tours ago by picking an attack of quicks who spray it around is probably the most infuriating. Especially as Anderson was forced into retirement based on that flawed assumption.

[Test Match Dan @TestMatchDan]

The entire project was based around preparing for one series as if it was the only thing that mattered, and they cocked it all up so comprehensively — the long-term planning and the short-term execution. You don’t need to ask them questions, you just need to send them packing.

[The Athletic @TheAthletic]

There is a simple way for the ECB to conduct their ‘thorough review’ into what went wrong for England in Australia. They should just sit in a room with coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key and ask them:

What happened with the preparation? With Shoaib Bashir? With Zak Crawley? With bowling short and wide? Is anyone questioning the batters' shots?

Why was there no fielding coach? Why was the main fast bowling coach playing in franchise cricket?And most important of all, how are they going to change things going forward?

Because there has to be change. England messed up the Ashes. Key and McCullum need to explain how they are going to put it right.

Then we will see if they can carry on.

📝 @nassercricket

https://t.co/xjoB0zgeFo

[Test Match Dan @TestMatchDan]

How many times have we been made to suffer their ‘elite’ decision-making because they somehow knew better? Picking random kids based on skills, persisting with low-output players, losing games because results don’t matter, resting players so much that they barely play.