Tuesday 24 October 2017 09:18, UK
What a game we had at Lord's!
It was great to be back for the first Test of the summer and to see an excellent start for Joe Root as captain.
He gets 190 in his first bat, and skippers the side to a big win. You can already tell, just from this one game, that his players play for him.
I, meanwhile, adopted an 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em' approach on my return to the home of cricket.
For the MCC members, this is such a special game for them, it's dress-up time. So on Sunday morning, I chucked on a straw boater, some outrageous red trousers, bow tie, and a colourful jacket, a loaner from Hampstead Cricket Club.
Two senior officials at the club, up until very recently, were the married couple of acting duo Imelda Staunton and Jim Carter from Downton Abbey. He would definitely wear a jacket like that. It might have even made an appearance in Downton, when he was off duty.
I also got a bit of grief for how I was dressed on day one from my fellow commentators. I thought I was looking very sharp in my suit, with a red tie, but was getting compared to either Jeremy Corbyn or Donald Trump!
Anyway, as for the cricket: it was an excellent Lord's pitch. You got something out of it if you bent your back as a quick bowler, and then as the game progressed, the spinners came right into it.
A terrific performance from Moeen Ali. On top of some first-innings runs, 10 wickets in the match! He is such a dangerous player for England.
Root wants him to be more attacking as a spinner and not just think of himself as a holding bowler, waiting for the quicks to come back. He was exactly that, and I've not seen him bowl better - great control, a lot of spin on the ball and a wonderful line.
England had not beaten South Africa at Lord's since 1960 so it is some performance from the team. South Africa will have been very confident coming here because of that record, but they look in trouble for the rest of the series, especially with Kagiso Rabada suspended for the second Test.
Talking of great wins for England: how about the win for the women over Australia in the Women's World Cup? Three runs!
I've been watching their progress throughout the tournament. They've been playing really well ever since the wake-up call they got against India in losing their opening game. Mark Robinson has got a heck of a team together. They'll be big players in the competition.
And like everyone else it seems, I was watching with interest the British & Irish Lions on Saturday morning. I got up early and came to the ground to watch it, up in the media centre with all the press boys, who were also hooked.
These fellas are enormous. It is full on for 80 minutes. The toughness of these lads, the bravery of the sport, and yet after it all, a draw after 80 minutes, a tied tour, both teams come together for a group photograph. That was real sportsmanship.
That should be an example to cricket. We have an obligation in the game to stamp out vulgar behaviour. Forget Rabada. I'm not directing this specifically at him, he is just the unfortunate party this time. But there is absolutely no need for vulgarity, or a send-off in the sport.
The authorities will clamp down on it. The players know this; they've been told it will not be tolerated. Demerit points have come in, and as a result suspensions, although I'd also be interested in exploring sin-bins like in the rugby. For something like the Rabada incident we've seen, put him in the sin-bin for an hour or two so he can't bowl. There are all sorts of ways to look at it.
We've had Bob Willis here with us all week, doing The Verdict from the Test post-play, and I've decided to team up with him - 'Bumble and Grumble' we're calling it. I think it has legs.
Somehow, though, in one of these live videos we do for the Sky Cricket twitter, we got on to football transfers, particularly Wayne Rooney's move from Manchester United to Everton. One of the greatest Utd players ever in my book, but Bob, as a City fan, comes back with 'what a shocking signing for Everton! Where's he going to play? Left-back?' I don't think Rooney will be too concerned, mind.
The Blast is back! We've already had some great games. There was a tie to start the tournament, Surrey beat Essex in a thriller on Friday in our first live game on Sky, while Birmingham also scraped past Notts on Saturday.
Freddie Flintoff was in The Pod for that game and was outrageous on commentary! The twitterati loved him, and I'm looking forward to meeting up and teaming up with him on comms - plus that Rob Key as well, we'll be like the three stooges.
Also, I just want to wish Luke Fletcher all the best after his hit on the head in that game.
It looked to be a sickening blow. Fletch is such a great character in the game, a real grand lad. He has now been released from hospital, given us the thumbs up, and started tweeting, so I'm sure he'll be back soon.
All the best Fletch.
