The Old Ben Stokes (nice backdrop, Ben)

Nice to see both openers on form, too. Didn't realise this was only a two Test series.

Rain everywhere today. Nothing doing in the Championship at all. Grey and windy here. Not like the lovely sunshine we have yesterday for FA CUP FINAL DAY!! WOW!!!! THAT'S HOW YOU WIN THE CUP!!!!
A good day all round for North London, with Saracens battering Bath earlier in the afternoon. (I'm not really a Saracens fan, just a bit of North North North London civic pride...)
Still, the rain this morning will give me a chance to catch up on yesterday's cricket highlights.

Exciting times all round. Ashes coming to a shoddy blog near you soon.....

At last a proper match - start of the summer

Can't wait for this to start, make or break summer for Cook

where is KP at 4 down

KP mandatory for any rational challenge this summer

If the media reports are accurate English cricket is a shambles.  Going public and saying Strauss is focussed on 2019? what about 2015.  KP has good reason to be very very annoyed, is there some type of class system at work here, why wouldn't you have one of thebest batsmen available.  It's a joke,

I hope gallespie steers clear of the poison challace or is he the man to help force KP back in?  Strauss is a nice bloke but what is he going to add really?  Vaughan a much better choice

Technical blip or the start of a horrible summer for England?

England's new opener: Daniel Lawrence

17 years old, scored 161 of Essex's 610/8d at The Oval. And you're going to be saved from sure defeat by the rain!

http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2015/content/story/867765.html

Better

I'm loving this. Like old times. Boycottian stances by both openers. Trots bat looks like he has smashed a piglet to death on a parked car.

Hales watch. Double century!

https://twitter.com/TrentBridge/status/589835458089222144