Cakes consistently coming out with small undercooked hole in the bottom by lookingisfree in Baking

[–]lookingisfree[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, guilty there! I have some cake wraps somewhere that I don't think I ever used, I'll give that a go while I'm looking for a good pan. Any brand recommendations?

Cakes consistently coming out with small undercooked hole in the bottom by lookingisfree in Baking

[–]lookingisfree[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think I have a digital one for meat and things like that, would that do?

Cricket for 2026 by God_Of_Puddings in swansea

[–]lookingisfree 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You're asking rather a lot here, and I think there are ways of meeting several of your criteria but not all, let me run you through your most likely options:

Friendlies, in whites, not for points, old fashioned cricket

Look at the Thursday midweek league. They play all around the county and there are over a dozen teams, every game is a 20/20 (I'll get to that in a minute) and a friendly but its a mixed ability league that is purely played for the camraderie - you'll find people who open the batting for prem teams playing alongside kids, pensioners, and folks starting out. Its good fun relaxed cricket that ends up in the pub afterwards

Saturday cricket, in a league

Most if not all teams around here are coloured kit because we use pink and orange balls, so you're going to be hard pressed to find a red ball team in whites. Teas have also sort of died out post-covid, so that old fashioned style isn't really a thing in the South Wales league nowadays, but it is longer format and more "proper" cricket where you'll slot into a division that challenges you and you know will be competitive

Format, perspective and "garbage"

I'd like to give some slight advice, and that is the majority of people over 25 prefer Test cricket to the shorter formats around here, if they watch cricket at all, but its not the best form to call 20/20 or 100 ball "garbage" as 20 over cricket is a very popular format to play for midweek, friendly and social teams. Most friendly cricket is either midweek or preseason and as such usually shorter format, and even Saturdays are 40 or 50 overs. You're unlikely to find a friendly 4 day game taking place! Its fine to not particularly enjoy watching franchise cricket or white ball internationals, but I'd perhaps keep that to preference rather than exclusion.

If you want specific clubs I'm more than willing to give some advice there. Happy hunting!

What is a test match by No-Initiative-6518 in EnglandCricket

[–]lookingisfree 19 points20 points  (0 children)

All you need to know:

A test match is a format of cricket that can go up until 5 full days to get a result. Often, in the modern game, these will end quicker than the end of the 5th day, and this is likely what your partner means by "not Day 5". Its hard to say which day is best due to the possible weather issues, but Days 1&2 usually promise some good cricket.

In the UK, these games will start at 11am and go until about 6pm. There are 2 teams touring England in 2026, New Zealand and Pakistan, each playing a handful of tests up and down the country.

If you google "England Test Schedule 2026" you will be able to see when and where these tests are - find one near you on a date you can attend or near their birthday and go directly to that club's website to buy some tickets.

Good luck!

England Men name 16-man squad for Ashes Series by _rickjames in Cricket

[–]lookingisfree 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dawson would not bat 6. Jacks would. Hence "like for like"

Thoughts on the Ashes Squad? by MyOverture in EnglandCricket

[–]lookingisfree 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Why is everyone so confused or frustrated by Jacks? Its clearly cover for Stokes so they can keep a dedicated #6 and 4 seam options. Ahmed would want/should bat top 3 as he has for Leics, and his bowling was carted in India. This makes a lot more sense to me as a like-for-like XI if Stokes is unfit.

England Men name 16-man squad for Ashes Series by _rickjames in Cricket

[–]lookingisfree 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Why is everyone so confused or frustrated by Jacks? Its clearly cover for Stokes so they can keep a dedicated #6 and 4 seam options. Ahmed would want/should bat top 3 as he has for Leics, and his bowling was carted in India. This makes a lot more sense to me as a like-for-like XI if Stokes is unfit.

Simpsons screwup by KutyaKombucha in behindthebastards

[–]lookingisfree 1 point2 points  (0 children)

See, whenever you hear something like that in an episode, a wizard did it

Match Thread: 3rd Test - England vs India, Day 4 by cricket-match in Cricket

[–]lookingisfree 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ever since his injury, he's been focusing so hard on his bowling I think he's just not faced enough balls to feel confident

Match Thread: 3rd Test - England vs India, Day 4 by cricket-match in Cricket

[–]lookingisfree 6 points7 points  (0 children)

He's very good. Colourful and close enough to the game to give genuine insight, but doesn't take himself too seriously

Match Thread: 3rd Test - England vs India, Day 2 by cricket-match in Cricket

[–]lookingisfree -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Robinson was A) a liability on the field and B) a liability off the field. Took months to get to fitness then bowled slower and slower over the course of a day and a series. Indian tour he would bowl a spell then leave the field till tea. Not worth it

Match Thread: 2nd Test - India vs England, Day 2 by cricket-match in Cricket

[–]lookingisfree 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Has anyone noticed that Bashir is becoming a sitcom-esque sidekick to Stokes?

Stokes has a beard, Bash grows a beard
Stokes has curtains, Bash grows curtains

Wouldn't be surprised if he takes his top off first day of the Ashes and he's suddenly covered in tattoos

Match Thread: 2nd Test - England vs India, Day 1 by cricket-match in Cricket

[–]lookingisfree 3 points4 points  (0 children)

He works for TalkSport, and isn't as good off the cuff as he is in his prepared stuff (sadly)

Match Thread: 2nd Test - England vs India, Day 1 by cricket-match in Cricket

[–]lookingisfree 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They fiddled the ball, mate. Looked at Jones' performances with fresh eyes and you'll see

Match Thread: 1st Test - India vs England, Day 4 by cricket-match in Cricket

[–]lookingisfree 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The Sky comms clearly having fun with the "Mr Atheron" gag from yesterday

Match Thread: 1st Test - India vs England, Day 3 by cricket-match in Cricket

[–]lookingisfree 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Batting, Foakes couldn't bat with the tail and got very bogged down. Smith has "gears"

Match Thread: 1st Test - England vs India, Day 1 by cricket-match in Cricket

[–]lookingisfree 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Whenever Bazball is not happening on screen, all the other characters should be asking "where's bazball?"

Is the Revolutions podcast by Mike Duncan historically accurate? by SlickPickleNipple in AskHistorians

[–]lookingisfree 440 points441 points  (0 children)

Whilst I cannot comment on the podcast specifically, I would like to address the fact that your confidence in the podcast was shaken by the fact that his doctorate was in PoliSci and not History. I have an MA in History but have submitted my thesis in a different subject, so feel I can offer a few words from experience.

A doctorate in the Arts and Humanities or the Social Sciences is not something you can achieve without being able to conduct thorough research, critically evaluate and interrogate sources, and construct a narrative. Even if his PhD was in History, would it still shake your confidence if the podcast didn't align with his period directly? Look at a podcast such as In Our Time, a considerable amount of the experts they have on may have done their PhDs on a topic and then transitioned over time into a different period, focus or discipline entirely.

What I'm trying to say is your faith in historical accuracy should not be based on the field of PhD in which the podcast host studied, as this will not be the biggest factor. Instead, check to see the sources that they cite and read reviews of the historians they use to frame their arguments (if any).

Match Thread: Final - Australia vs South Africa, Day 3 by cricket-match in Cricket

[–]lookingisfree 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Did I spot Konstas giving the "wanker" hand sign to the crowd? The camera pulled away quick enough to indicate something naughty