One back, one out, the library is magic

Sussex 212 from 20 overs

Quite something last night. The other teams' fear is the Sussex top six. Described, all six of them, as destructive bats. Any two of the six get going, and there's a fearsome total to try and get. Last night one of them was Matt Prior. He blocked two or three balls to get his bearings, then went proper mental and ignited the rocket fuel acceleration cylinders. Not a close game, but 212 from 20 was great watching.

Body falling apart

Got one from Zak today. Short but didn't take off, and I mistimed putting it away. Badly. Edged it off the shoulder of my bat and into my balls. Naturally I tried to take evasive action in the micro second between shoulder of bat and testicular impact. Even with a box on, that remains instinctive. In doing so, something in my right achilles went ping. It had been coming. Both achilles tendons have been feeling tighter week on week, but along with knees, shoulder, neck, etc, etc, I've done nothing about it.

Draw snatched from jaws of defeat

Some draws feel like a win. They should've sorted us right out today, and they didn't. Great.

Concentrated bores

Behind us at the game yesterday, we had the five or six loudest and most boring men ever. A statistical anomaly. In any usual bunch there are less than or equal to one humourless irony-free bloke, specialist subject general knowledge. Then the others alleviate the pain by supplying the humour and irony. Seldom are there > 2 such in any group. Let alone half a dozen or more all the same. Me? I'm not so easy going all the time. Mr Naughty is. He went out for a Melvin and came back saying: “nice to have a couple of overs without the commentary”. When you've cheesed Mr Naughty, you know you're the one in the wrong.

Finally, a football final

It'll be tight tomorrow. I predict a Spain win, in a close game.

The Art of Fielding and Lionel Asbo

A new author's book went back to the library yesterday, and I collected the new Martin Amis. So cool. Here's a fantastic book I've finished with back. Thanks. 60 p that cost me. Can I pick up the new Martin Amis. Hardback. Unread. First time out. Would've bought it in any case. Another 60 p. If you can find better value, point me in that direction, please.

Martin Amis always draws mixed reviews. They can be reliably ignored. Everything he writes is worth reading. Everything.