Ask Nasser
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Above
Moeen Ali ducks
against Pat
Cummins in an
ODI at Adelaide
in January
Thomas Hodgson, Lichfield
Not a huge amount. I like to keep the
roles separate. I am a broadcaster now- although sometimes I think with my
captain and coach’s hat on. I like being
The Third Man. We have a new monitor,
Gary Neville-esque, that has touch
screen. It is very good. Occasionally the
England management will say that they
have liked something we have done,
or that it is nonsense. I thought the
interview Ian Ward did with Stuart Broad,
about his wrist position at Headingley,
was excellent. It was excellent on the
technical and mental side of the game
from both men.
I have always hated the expression
‘death bowling’ and hoped it would
disappear after the Phil Hughes
tragedy. Are you surprised that the
expression survived?
Phil Hewitt, Chichester
Sometimes I find myself wincing a bit
when I say it. I guess we just have to
remember that it is not about the death
of batsmen, but the death of an innings.
I think it would be more of a problem if it
was specifically about bowling bouncers,
or something like that.Following the success and progression
of women’s cricket, do you agree that
women should receive the same pay
and conditions as men?
Les Wood, via email
Conditions, definitely. Pace in the pitch is
absolutely vital to showcase the women’s
game in the best light. I think they should
play a lot more white-ball cricket and
the surfaces are crucial. Sky showed the
women’s Test at Canterbury, and it was
a low, slow, turgid pitch that did them no
favours, as many of them are fine touch
players. It was not great viewing, and put
the women’s game back a year or two. On
pay, it should reflect the revenue coming
in to the women’s game, be it ticket sales,
sponsorship and broadcasting deals, and
so on.Can you recommend a good box-set
as I have run out?
Agnes Pagan, Southwold
Only Fools and Horses is still my favorite,
but Atherton is always raving about
Game of Thrones (although he has
not convinced me to watch it yet).Five one-day internationals against
Australia – a worthy venture, or milking
the cash cow?
Bill Wilson, Reigate
Worthy. The World Cup is less than a
year away. I think Andrew Strauss is doing
the right thing. When England didn’t do
well in the last World Cup, everyone said
we didn’t play enough ODIs. It is easy to
moan and complain. The proof will be in
the pudding. Will the tickets sell? After
Sandpapergate, will there be a good
atmosphere, with lots of banter flying
about? I don’t worry about Australia’s
brand diminishing by coming here too
often. They need the practice too ahead
of next summer. In general I would rather
three ODIs and three T20Is, as opposed
to the five/one they have here, but on this
occasion it is justified. We still have the
big marquee Test series against India to
look forward to.The Royal London One-Day Cup was
high-scoring – is this a good thing,
or would you like more of a contest
between bat and ball?
Nell Honey, Barking
I guess it is a little bit predictable. When
I check the app on my phone at 4pm,
lots of scores of 300-plus keep flashing
up. Occasionally it is more entertaining
to have some low-scoring ones too – BRENTON EDWARDS/AFP/GETTy IMAGESalthough too many scores of about 200
would be rubbish. youngsters are just
brought up to play with no fear against
the white ball these days. It does less than
the red ball. They struggle a bit more in
the Championship in April when the red
ball is nibbling around a bit.Who will win the T20 Blast?
Ottis Keith, Liverpool
I am going to get my pencil and paper out
and do a lot more studying of the teams a
bit closer to the time. But I like the look of
Sussex’s bowling. I am a big fan of Jason
Gillespie, and that attack of Rashid Khan,
with Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer and Tymal
Mills (if he is fit) is going to be interesting.
I am bit more worried about their batting,
but they have Luke Wright, who is a good
man, and a good leader.While you were Sky’s Third Man on day
one of the second Test v Pakistan you
dissected why Dawid Malan dropped a
regulation catch, distracted by Joe Root
diving in front. How often do you speak
to the England camp (Root, Bayliss,
Farbrace primarily) regarding your
observations from the commentary
box? Surely some of the experience
from former England captains and
players should be passed beyond the
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