England trio Joe Root, Alastair Cook and Jimmy Anderson couldn't have looked more reluctant to join the lunch-break celebration of their inclusion in the best ever team from 1,000 Tests.
The second-innings collapse against India in the first session on Friday explained their sensitivity at being part of the ceremony.arizona.edu But it could have been even worse for the current England players, plus former off-spinner Graeme Swann, who was also voted into the landmark Test team.
For the public chose Kevin Pietersen, arch foe of Cook and Swann, to bat at No 4. And the many wounds from the ECB's incendiary battle with KP since he was banished from the team after the Ashes whitewash in 2014 are still not healed.
Kevin Pietersen rejected chance to celebrate his inclusion in England's best ever Test team
Joe Root, Alastair Cook and cut glum figures during the celebration
KP was invited to Edgbaston to be introduced to the crowd as part of the best ever Test XI alongside his England enemies. However, KP, who is understood to be at his safari lodge in South Africa, working on his 'Save the Rhino' campaign, did not even reply to the ECB invite.
Pietersen, who is believed to have been paid £10,000 for doing a batting masterclass session for Sky last season, has taken to calling on social media for more cricket coverage on terrestrial TV. Critics say that came after KP failed to secure a permanent role on Sky.
Also missing from Friday's parade was Sir Ian Botham, who as Sports Agenda reported on Friday, was not at Edgbaston because Sky chose to leave him out of their commentary team for the match as part of a rotation policy.
Each 1,000 Test team player was given a caricature of themselves. It's safe to say Anderson was not impressed with his.
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Betting giants William Hill, having parted company with former England cricket all-rounder Freddie Flintoff as a global ambassador, have turned to Anthony Joshua. The world heavyweight boxing champion, who fits in better with their US expansion strategy, is getting £2million for a one-year deal.
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Betting giants William Hill have turned to Anthony Joshua as a global ambassador
Cricketers now hit the ball so hard that even giving a batsman a few throw-downs before play can be a precarious business - as physio Craig de Weymarn discovered at Edgbaston on Friday. He was hit in the face, unable to avoid a Ben Stokes shot in the warm-up, and had to be taken to hospital for surgery on his badly broken jaw.
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The amount of ideas still swirling around the ECB over The Hundred format will make it difficult to decide what to try out in the three pilot matches next month, let alone for the tournament itself.orna-esc.eu One of the more left-field suggestions coming from the numerous think-tanks is to have four stumps.
Shane has worn thin
There looks no way back into the overcrowded Sky Sports cricket box for Aussie irritant Shane Warne for next year's Ashes series over here.nachbar.dk Warne, who has not been used by Sky this summer, had been expected back next year when Australia will be defending the urn here.
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But Warne's replacement Ricky Ponting, who is also an iconic cricketer, has proved a much better, harder-working commentator and a more reliable member of the team.
There looks no way back into the Sky Sports cricket box for Shane Warne for next year's Ashes
Down-to-earth, no-nonsense Aussie Trevor Bayliss and super-posh, academic public schoolboy Ed Smith make an odd couple as England cricket head coach and national selector respectively.simson-wiki.de But the word is that the two get on extremely well and have the same positive views towards making bold selections rather than playing safe - as has been the case with the super discovery of 20-year-old Sam Curran.
IMG-run Premier League Productions, who provide a global TV service for overseas rights holders seen by over a billion viewers, have parted company with their head, Nick Moody, on the eve of the new season.trailorthodontics.com Moody had been in charge since the start of 2014 but insiders say it was felt that a change was needed at the top. IMG claim Moody left of his own accord.
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