Colly good show

Bumble backs Paul Collingwood for getting it right in the end at The Oval and hits back at cricket's critics.

Collingwood was spot-on eventually, so why the fuss?

Well done Paul Collingwood, 10 out of 10. You might not believe it from the stuff being written and said, but I thought the England skipper did exceptionally well. Not for the slow overs, but for the incident at The Oval. Yes, he took a wrong turn in the heat of the moment, but turned round and said sorry, offered his apologies straight away. He says they were within their rights but admitted he got it wrong and in turn Daniel Vettori comes out accepts that, and all of a sudden we move on. Well, most people do - and this is where I might upset a few. If you haven't played the game at that level, if you haven't been out there in the middle as a player or an umpire, then I don't care who you are... keep quiet! I have been staggered at some of the stuff I have heard and read and again, Collingwood did exactly the right thing at the time. On reflection it was wrong, but he was big enough to admit it in his interview with Michael Atherton (who I thought did really well and texted him to say so). The reason I have been asked about it so much already is because it happened to me during my time as an umpire. It wasn't a one-day international in front of a sell-out Oval, more a county match in front of two cats, a dog and a shopping bag, but it happened: bang, collision between batsman and bowler. It doesn't matter who it was, but I gave him out. Of course the batting team were incensed, but the laws state that unless it's a wilful act - which Ryan Sidebottom was certainly not guilty of - then the batsman is out. Tough luck, but under the laws it's up to the opposing captain to bring him back. The one grumble you could have is that the rules could be a little more pro-active and help the umpires out. At The Oval, Mark Benson was the man in charge and he has been there as a player and a captain, and is a terrific man-manager. You could see that as well and I just wonder if he was saying to Paul Collingwood "listen, I've been there myself, are you sure you want to do this?". It was like Chris Tarrant's "is that your final answer?".

Scrumping

And, as I was watching at home like most of you, wasn't it great drama? It even had old Jacob Oram, who normally wouldn't say boo to a goose, getting wound up, shouting from the balcony. But the bottom line is, the two captains shook hands eventually and we got the right result. Right now people seem too quick to criticise. It reminds me of a conversation I was privy to in deepest, darkest Yorkshire, or Barnsley as its also known. It was a cricket club celebrating something or other and the stand-up comedian got an ovation as he left the stage. The president turned to the chairman and said: "Ee were magnificent!" The reply was: "Ee were alright. If you like laughing". I couldn't believe my ears when I heard people moaning about the small boundaries at Chelmsford on Tuesday night when Graham Napier took me back to my younger days. It's a long time since I've been scrumping, but there I was shinning into someone's back garden in search of one of those 16 sixes. I don't know who's house it was, but forgive me my trespasses. And if my lawnmower ever turns up, I'll lend it to you because your grass could really do with a trim. It was a wonderful, wonderful performance from Napier and I couldn't believe someone even tried to tell me it wasn't a good game! Tell that to the 6,500 people packed into Chelmsford because they were in absolute delirium, I can tell you. And to the bright sparks that pointed out the boundaries had been brought in, so what? I didn't see anyone else hitting 16 sixes. Some people are just too quick to find fault.

Stumbled

Napier's batting and Tim Bresnan's bowling also got me thinking about the Stanford Twenty20 and I have stumbled on to something that is going to rear its head very soon, you mark my words. The selectors and the captain (my old mate Dibendar Singh Ormerod) cannot pick players who are contracted to play for England. So, they are going to have to go for county players, none of their own, if you like. Seeing as I am the only one to bring this up, I thought I'd pick my XI, from what I've seen doing almost all the Twenty20 games on Sky Sports so far. Oh, and while we're on, England only play a couple of Twenty20 games this summer, so how can the selectors be put in charge of naming the side? I want to put forward a few names who should be consulted: ask Chris Adams, ask Mark Ealham, ask Stuart Law, they'll tell you just who we should be sending out. In the meantime here's my team for the Stanford: Denly (Kent), Mustard (Durham), Napier (Essex), Carberry (Hants), Sales (Northants), Trego (Somerset), Tredwell (Kent), Bresnan (Yorkshire), Pyrah (Yorkshire), Marshall (Lancs), Mahmood (Lancs). Before you start writing in, Lloyd (Accrington) is missing, I know. I have all but given up hope and the best I think I can ask for is being asked along to watch. Skipper it's over to you! Just in case I did get some warm weather practice in this week with a little trip to Majorca. Some mates of mine are putting on a charity do out there, so we went off on a reconnassaince mission on Sunday morning and got back Sunday night. It was 33 degress and at last I found out what summer was all about! The golf was good as myself and Bob Willis one against our entrepeneurial friends Phil Collins (not the famous one) and Paul Monk, while Willis won the Stableford and our Euros, with a dogged performance. Off 21 as well, I might add...

Bumble answers your questions...

MAN IN THE HALF MOON
On the last evening of the Durham Test Match last year you walked into the Half Moon in Durham. My wife said I should approach you but I didn't. Would you have spoken pleasantly to me about the day's play or told me where to go? Peter Harwood
BUMBLE SAYS: Well Peter, you were about the only one that didn't speak to me! I go in the Half Moon a lot and it's an excellent little pub. It's good fun to nip in and have a drink at the end of a busy day and it's lovely that people come and have a natter, I don't mind that one bit. I won't accept a drink, because you won't catch me free-loading, but I'll stand my corner too, don't worry about that. I'm not the biggest but if anybody starts, we'll be straight outside, no problem about that, hamstring or no hamstring. Come to think of it Peter, I think I do remember you - your wife's quite nice isn't she?! BEAUTIFULLY BAFFLED
Bumble, great to see in this morning's Guardian beauty page that you are diversifying into styling lotion! Is the hamstring problem the final episode in your illustrious career that has forced you to switch jobs? I do not need this product myself but will keep my ear to the ground for customer comments. Eric Dawson
BUMBLE SAYS: Errr... pass! You'll have to explain yourself on this one Eric, because I have no idea what you're on about. WINE-ING ATHERS
Hi Bumble, can you tell me if it's Athers who does the voiceover for the wine advert in the intervals? It sure does sound like him, take a listen. Richard Beer
BUMBLE SAYS: A question about a wine advert from a bloke named Beer? Is this a wind-up? I've got to be honest, we don't get to see the ad breaks in the commentary box, but it wouldn't surprise me,a because Athers is a bit of a connassuer when it comes to the old plonk. Not me though, the Half Moon's about my cultural limit, I'm afraid. THE FALL GUISE
I spotted 'Folding Money' and 'Eat Yourself Fitter' so far....Do you take special requests? Ncroachment: yarbles... Ann Benson I spotted 'Eat Yourself Fitter' at the Lancashire v Yorkshire 20/20 last night and 'Touch Sensitive' the game before that. Still no sign of "Arms Control Poser" (eventualy KP will drop a chance and then's your chance!) Kenny Shovel Hey Bumble, when you need to berate the ODI team next mention, 'You're not Up to Much'. Next time Hussain gets on your nerves just tell him you talk 'A Lot of Wind'. Tim Ambrose is a member of 'The League of Bald Headed Men.' For Sir Ian it might have to be, 'The Man Whose Head Expanded' after his knighthood. Anyhow Bumble, good to see you 'Fit & Working Again' after your hamstring injury and hope to see further input and comments from you on The Fall Forum. Rick Parker
BUMBLE SAYS: Well done to the lot of you for spotting them, but there are millions you have all missed. And there will be plenty more to come as long as the Twenty20's are on and I'm working, believe me. I do like the idea of mailing in suggestions as well and love your Arms Control Poser, Kenny. Rick, I will try and tell Hussain exactly what he's talking, next time he's off on one, but I wouldn't like to address Sir Ian in the manner you suggest. The Fall did record The Knight, the Devil and Death, so we've got one out of three on the team, possibly even two, depending on how you look at it... Send your Fall commentary suggestions to Bumble, or any other questions for his blog, by filling in the feedback form below. Or you can mail them in by clicking HERE