We have missed you!

Next week Andrew Flintoff will play for Lancashire Seconds against Yorkshire, he last played in the final test of The Ashes at The Oval nearly a year ago. He then had two knee operations and he is aware that everyone is watching as he prepares for his comeback onto the international field.

He has retired from Test Cricket and will concentrate on Twenty20 and One Day Internationals. He has also been named in the Chennai Superkings preliminary 20-man squad for the IPL Champions League in September.

Flintoff said:

‘I’ve gone back to how I used to bat. If I see it I hit it. I’ve not played since September, so the thought of playing again for Lancashire is massive. But I’m not getting ahead of myself. I just want to get on the field, make sure I’m right and play well.’

We certainly do like a ‘fit’ Freddie!

Those lovely jubbly people over at Big Sport Management have uploaded a rather eye catching photo in their facebook group!

I think it’s fair to say the majority of Crickettes just couldn’t keep their eyes off it!

Please show your appreciation by joining the Big Sport Management Group

Guy’s and Gals, it’s that time again – and we are starting EARLY! We need enough time to get the contents together and to get the books over to SA in time for christmas!

On our Facebook page we have started up some discussions for fans to write their messages

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Crickettenet/69966137229?v=app_2373072738

So far we seem to have started fan books for TTO (Morne), AB, Albie, Graeme and Boucher

Remember you can send your items also to crickette@live.com

And dont forget to include:

• messages
• pictures
• fan photos
• digital art
• drawings
• stories
• anything you want!

We are also working on a special project for TTO & AB – more details to come soon!

We are urging all followers / readers to take time out from their busy schedule and vote for TTO aka The Tall One aka Morne Morkel for the fan’s cricketer of the year!

Simply register your vote here:

http://www.cricket.co.za/compo.aspx

it was a fantastic test match wasnt it! They wrapped it up in just over 3 1/2 days of play! Were all so very proud here at Crickette HQ if a little sad that we shall not be watching another fun filled day of cricket on this drizzly Monday!

But we did however notice one major thing! There is a new fully fledged member of Team TTO!

The lovely Colin Croft – positively peeved at the Windies he never stopped praising the tall one. And for this reason we’re adding his picture

Although a serious lack of Twipic’s from the boys after that victory!

Steven Finn took quite a few of the headlines after his 15 wicket haul over Bangladesh in the recent test series. Finn was also named England Man of the Series but he will be replaced by Stuart Broad for the upcoming one-day matches against Scotland, Australia and Pakistan.

Stuart Broad said of Finn:

“It’s fantastic to see. He’s a great talent and he has all the attributes to be a fantastic bowler. It’s great to see England developing a stable of bowlers who can come in and perform. When the pressure’s on, players play at their best and that can only help England win”

As I had mentioned before here introducing Finn and Morgan to the international field I feel very proud that my local lads (Middlesex County) have done a very good job, Strauss of course included.

Strauss will be returning as Test and one-day captain this Summer after taking a break earlier this year he will come back into the fold.

Broad said of Strauss:

“Obviously Andrew Strauss will come straight back into the side – he’s the one-day international captain and he’s performed fantastically well over the past year since he’s come back into the side”

England play five one-day internationals against Australia, a series which starts later this month. Broad sees the games a chance to continue building confidence rather than a key staging post ahead of next winter’s Ashes. He said:

“The players aren’t looking as far as the Ashes yet. “We’ve got an important summer ahead with four important Tests where we can build momentum.”

I hope to go to Lord’s again this Summer to see England in action again!

Things look good for a positive England future

Given his bowling record over the past 12 months, off-spinner Graeme Swann has been named a well deserved winner of the ECB’s Cricketer of the Year.

He’s had an incredible year with England’s Ashes win against Australia, an ICC World Twenty20 Cup Championship and personal victories such as being named third in ICC test bowling rankings, and taking 99 wickets in just 45 matches for England since May 2009.

Swann was named winner over other nominees Andrew Strauss, Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad, and Paul Collingwood.  This honor comes ten years after Swann debuted with England in 2000 against South Africa and at 31 and the pinnacle of his career, we hope to see even more out of him for both Nottinghamshire and England.

“I am absolutely delighted to win this award.  It’s been a magical year for me with so many high points.  I love playing for England and hope this award can be a stepping stone for even greater things, both personally and as part of a successful England team.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank my team-mates for the support they’ve given me on and off the field over the last year.  As I’m sure you can see from the pictures on TV we work hard as a team and take real pleasure in each other’s successes. The atmosphere and bond we have in the dressing-room at the moment makes winning that much sweeter.”

-Graeme Swann

And off the pitch, Graeme is an incredibly likable guy who gives fans a laugh with his often hilarious twitter updates, usually referencing hijinks with teammates Jimmy Anderson and Tim Bresnan.

I’m very happy for the man, and I’m very happy that his use of zinc lip block has seemingly subsided. Twas no bueno.

Middlesex County Cricket Club are my local club, it’s just down the road really to Lord’s. So that’s my Summer sorted then. Cricket. Men. Cider.

Job done.

I’m off to Lord’s tomorrow for the first day of The England v Bangladesh test match at Lord’s. I’m very excited. Can I go now? Middlesex CCC players Andrew Strauss, Eoin Morgan and Steven Finn have been called up to the squad, so I’m feeling dead proud.

So Morgan and Finn are relative newbies to the International scene, who knows we could be seeing a lot more of them very soon…

Eoin Morgan – He was born 10th September 1986  in Dublin, Ireland. He is the only player in history to score an ODI hundred for two nations (he previously played Internationally for Ireland).

Steven Finn – born 4 April 1989 in Watford, Hertfordshire. Finn is 6′7″ tall and is a former county basketball player.

So seriously can I go now?

Hello there Crickettes!

I’m new to the site and for my first post I’ve got to say a big WELL DONE to England for winning the Twenty20 World Cup at the weekend.

Why is there no shirt removal in cricket? Come on lads when you win please remove your shirt

Also congratulations to Kevin Pietersen and Jessica Taylor for the arrival of their baby boy Dylan.

1. TTO played!!! whooop

2. if you foolow us on twitter you will now know that giraffe lady has scurried off into the smallest cupboard possible hiding after she was caught by @albiemorkel tweeting about TTO

3. the name TTO is catching on!

4. Those names and numbers didnt look so good!

5. Miller you little legend

6. it got a bit too close for comfort!