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Bumble's blog: David Lloyd on the IPL, Accrington's form and Lancashire's relegation

Sky Sports man hopes for a trip to India - and a spicy Boxing Day...

Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman Chris Gayle (R) hugs teammate Virat Kohli after the end of their innings during the IPL Twenty20 cricket match between
Image: Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle light up the IPL

I’m gearing up for a very busy few months.

I’m going to Sri Lanka for England’s ODI series at the backend of November and then in mid-January I’m commentating for Channel 9 on England, Australia and India’s Tri-Series Down Under.

Then it’s World Cup time in Australia and New Zealand, before a little spell at home, three Tests in the West Indies and then – if the bosses alow me – a little trip to the IPL.

I would be really interested in seeing how the IPL works. I still think it’s a little bit long and inevitably it still needs tidying up but I love the concept.

I doubt something similar to the IPL will ever come to pass over here because of the counties but I think a franchise system would definitely work.
David Lloyd

You get the best players on the planet in action over a concentrated period of time playing for a small number of teams. It’s all-action and great fun.

I doubt something similar will ever come to pass over here because of the counties but I think a franchise system would definitely work.

It would be a money-spinner for the counties and the only problem people might have is who to support. London Lions? Manchester Magic?

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Nail-biting

There’s been mixed fortunes for my cricket and football teams, meanwhile.

Accrington have won four games out of five, including a cracking 5-4 win over Northampton. I was watching Soccer Saturday with Jeff Stelling and it was really nail-biting stuff. We were 5-2 up at one stage but then they scored two late goals and were hanging on at the end.

Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman
Image: John Coleman is back at in the Accrington hotseat

We also had a tight game against Plymouth where we scored early on and defended pretty well to win 1-0 and with one or two loan players coming in we’re looking alright.

I’ll be going to the War of the Roses on Boxing Day when York host Accrington and as my wife is a York fan that will be interesting – particularly on the way home!

I thought York would do well this year and be top four or five team but they’re really struggling at the moment. Let’s hope they struggle at Christmas, too!

Reassess

Lancashire, though, are now back in County Championship Division Two – but I think relegation could be a blessing in disguise.

Image: Chapple: coach or captain?

It gives them an opportunity to really reassess whether cricket is the foremost concern at the club and understand exactly what is required when you are in the First Division.

There is a chasm between the two tiers. The fact the two teams that went up, Lancashire and Northants, went back down tells you that.

The template is Yorkshire, who produce young players – AND PLAY THEM – and have recruited very well with the likes of Jack Brooks, Ryan Sidebottom and Liam Plunkett.

It won't be easy for Lancashire to get out of Division Two as Surrey and Essex should be very strong. They need to get the Glenn Chapple situation sorted, too.

If they want to make him coach, make him coach, but they can’t have another season where he is captain and coach. That didn’t work and doesn’t work. I could have told them that when they made decision.

Chapple can’t run the team, open the bowling, deal with discipline, be a mentor and organise practice. It’s just not possible.

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Nasser Hussain and Andrew Strauss indulge in a game of Real Tennis at Lord's

Tennis

Oh, yeah, and I hope you enjoyed Bumble! The David Lloyd Story. I missed all of it! If you missed it on Sunday you can watch it via On Demand.

I think we should do The Nasser Hussain Story next, which would focus on his tennis court. He’s more of a jazzer than he lets on but I think he rents out the court to the local community.

Always giving back is Nass.

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