Bumble's Blog: T20 Finals Day is 'Rock 'n Roll' and Flintoff loves Elvis!
Tuesday 24 October 2017 09:22, UK
David Lloyd warms up for a T20 Finals Day sing-off, names his all-time T20 track and reflects on a fabulous Windies' win - all on Transfer Deadline Day!
I've absolutely no doubt that Edgbaston will be rocking for T20 Finals Day.
We've had some fabulous matches and some huge scores so far this year and all three matches on Saturday will be full on - on the pitch and in the crowd.
T20 Finals Day is a big day out from the off and the atmosphere just keeps cranking up. Good times never seemed so good!
'Sweet Caroline' has become a T20 anthem, closely followed by 'Hey Jude' but I think there is one song that tops them all but they never play it - 'It's Only Rock 'n Roll', by the Rolling Stones. Perhaps I should get a request in.
There's been some talk of a sing-off in the commentary box so I've been getting a bit of unofficial practice in. Where it began? From what I can gather it's all Rob Key's idea.
While it would be a lot of fun, I'm absolutely dreading it unless everyone joins in. I'm not sure how many people know the words to 'Folsom Prison Blues', though.
I've no chance of winning anyway because Flintoff is taking professional singing lessons and I know already that he does a fantastic Elvis.
He's even got his own suit and I reckon he's probably got an Elvis room at his house!
On a different note, I'd love to see the crowd take part in an air-guitar competition, with 30 seconds of AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, Keith Richards, Mark Knopfler…
I've been backing Notts all the way this summer - they and Surrey, who went out in the quarters, are the two best teams I've seen this year. I thought Yorkshire were a terrific team but they've fallen short again.
Notts have got firepower with the bat, bowlers with a bit of pace and ones - like Steven Mullaney - who can take pace off, plus spin from Samit Patel. I think they've got everything covered.
The only thing to bear in mind if you're a punter is the pitch. I haven't seen it yet but there's been so much cricket at Edgbaston this summer that I wouldn't be surprised if it's a very tired pitch, so spinners will be the key player.
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By the time we get to the final - and it's the same pitch for all three matches remember - I wouldn't be surprised if it's spinning.
The second Test was a brilliant game from start to finish with wonderful performances from Shai Hope and Kraigg Brathwaite.
The senior, long-in-the-tooth experienced West Indies cricketers, the ones who are playing T20 around the world, seem to pick and choose when they want to play and I think Windies are far better off staying with these young lads.
They fully understand that they are going to lose some but they've put a marker down now as to how well they can play and the series is live going to Lord's.
If Hope and Kraigg, 23 and 24-year-olds, can play against that England attack - with all the vagaries of Headingley in overcast conditions with floodlights on - they can play anywhere.
The England captain said that the first innings cost them but they gave it everything to get back into the game; the bowlers were out on their knees at the end and the captain tried everything but the opposition was too good.
It was brilliant from Yorkshire to charge £15 and £10 for days four and five respectively - absolutely brilliant. Leeds is a fabulous place for a night out too and we had a little pub that we camped out at of an evening called the BAHT'AP. We gathered there after a day's play and had a good time.
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Today is Transfer Deadline Day so I'll be watching closely to see if Accrington get anybody; we've bought well so far, been very shrewd and we are doing ok.
The Premier League has gone made though. It's absolute madness to spend all that money! Send some of it down to the lower leagues! That's where your grassroots is! To all you glory hunters, come and watch some proper football.
Watch Birmingham v Glamorgan (10.30am) and Nottinghamshire v Hampshire (2pm) as well as the final (6.15pm), live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event on Saturday.
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