Robert Fleming
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8bitcricket.bsky.social
Robert Fleming
@8bitcricket.bsky.social
One-time Aussie grade cricketer, now an umpire.
Historian of armies, empire, espionage, maps & cricket.
@flemingrob.bsky.social for history content.
London & Tasmania/lutruwita. Born on the traditional lands of the Palawa/Pakana people.
Reposted by Robert Fleming
NEW: Huge cheers earlier for the Ukrainian athletes at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

Then huge BOOS as JD Vance comes on the big screen in the stadium.

Even the commentators can’t hide it…
February 6, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Any away win at the WACA is worth shouting about!

The win just about keeps Tassie in the hunt, and a final round home game Vs Queensland might be crucial to see who will likely meet the Vics in the final.

And Gabe Bell rang up 200 first class wickets - ding, dong!

www.cricket.com.au/news/4446508
Bell rings true for Tasmania in narrow win over WA | cricket.com.au
Man of the match Gabe Bell's six wickets on the final day has proved the difference in Tasmania...
www.cricket.com.au
February 8, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Discovery Channel multi-sport view might be the absolute best way to watch all the Winter Olympics sports you have no idea about.
February 7, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Reposted by Robert Fleming
🎬The flipper isn't an easy delivery to execute

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmVH...
February 6, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Reposted by Robert Fleming
In eastern Uganda’s Jinja district, groups of older women have embraced cricket as a way to stay active and socially connected.

Referred to locally as “cricket grannies”, they take part in informal games and training that combine light exercise with elements of the sport

📸 Luis Tato
February 6, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Reposted by Robert Fleming
Good morning Australia 🇦🇺
April 15, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Amazing behind the scenes deets as the Grade Cricketer's Sam and Ian interview some of the Azzurri pre- #T20WorldCup.

youtu.be/z82xGbeYfqg?...
Forza Azzurri! 🇮🇹 TGC x the Manenti and Mosca brothers
YouTube video by The Grade Cricketer
youtu.be
February 5, 2026 at 11:24 PM
One of the things that angers me a lot about ECB pro-"innovation" proponents and certain elements of the cricket media is framing the whole situation as "innovate or die"; when there are a lot of quite well-off traditional format fans with many years left.
updates.thecricketer.com/c/AQjlnhYQi5...
Drop-in pitch farms and LED floodlights: MCC aim to innovate in battle for relevance | The Cricketer
As MCC publish their new cricket strategy, Rob Lynch discusses the Lord's square, World Cricket Connects, the relationship with Middlesex and ambitious plans in research and development
updates.thecricketer.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:30 PM
The Royal Mail at their finest.
February 5, 2026 at 7:29 PM
He's right—there is a bit of a pile on—because they treated the Ashes like young lads on a stag weekend. Probably one of the least professional outfits since the 20th century.

www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/engl...
England great slams ‘totally unacceptable’ act as McCullum hits back over ‘pile-on’
England great slams ‘totally unacceptable’ act as McCullum hits back over ‘pile-on’
www.foxsports.com.au
February 5, 2026 at 8:42 AM
A willow shortage is forcing lawmakers to broaden their tolerance of allowable bats.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
Laws of Cricket: MCC allow bats which were previously 'illegal'
Changes are to be made to the Laws of Cricket to permit bats previously deemed illegal in an effort to make the game affordable for amateur players.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 3, 2026 at 12:36 PM
I'm afraid this story primarily reminds me of Aggers complaining about walking home from the pub around midnight, post-Adelaide test match, and getting fined for crossing at a pedestrian crossing showing a red man, even though there wasn't a soul or car to be seen anywhere. 🚦🤷
Reminder that "jaywalking" was literally made up by american car manufacturers to shift the blame for accidents from drivers to pedestrians. "Jay" was a slang term meaning "idiot" or "rube".
“Jaywalking is permitted in London. In 1966, the police tried to crack down on it, but gave up after three months.”

People walk and cycle on roads by right, people drive under licence.

Jaywalking is not a thing in English law and Waymo must not change that.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
February 3, 2026 at 9:44 AM
Bradman baggy green cap sets record fee at auction - www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
Don Bradman: Australian batter's Baggy Green cap sets record fee at auction
A 'Baggy Green' cap worn by Don Bradman during a series against India in 1947-48 is been sold for A$460,000 (£232,000) at auction.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 11:17 AM
I try & keep this account politics free, but come on—the US government is committing terrorism against peaceful protesters.

No reasonable person can turn a blind eye & say "let's go enjoy some soccer in America while peaceful protesters defending their democratic rights are shot". #BoycottWorldCup
January 26, 2026 at 12:26 AM
Reposted by Robert Fleming
Congratulations to Anne Gordon, captain of Australia's womens Test team in 1976, who has been awarded an AM (Member of the Order of Australia) in the Australia Day honours list wyndham.starweekly.com.au/news/womens-...
Women’s cricket pioneer honoured
Women’s cricket is in pretty good shape right now– and that is no small part due to the efforts of Werribee’s Anne Gordon and her ilk. On Australia Day, she was made a Member of the Order of Australia...
wyndham.starweekly.com.au
January 25, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Is Australia the sportiest country in the world?

Probably is.
youtu.be/rAJaFnLUf24?...
I went to Australia and found the sportiest country on earth.
YouTube video by Joey D'Urso
youtu.be
January 25, 2026 at 11:23 PM
In 1926, just a mere hundred years ago, Australia toured England for the 26th Ashes series (🇦🇺10-15🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿). They had won three in a row and debuted the talented Woodfull (2,300 at 43.00) who would go on to form one of the great partnerships with Ponsford.
There were four draws but England took the fifth.
January 24, 2026 at 9:13 AM
Reposted by Robert Fleming
Today’s beautiful cricket ground is Castle Ashby House in Northamptonshire
January 20, 2026 at 6:30 AM
Interesting. BBC is seeming asking if Sinner/Alcaraz's rivalry is risking an era of "boring" rivalry... When so far in the 25 years of the 21st Century, the 100 titles of the four majors have been so widely spread:
Djokovic 24
Nadal 22
Federer 20
Other 14

F1 or Tennis?
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis...
Australian Open 2026: Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner rivalry is thrilling - but could it make majors boring?
Though the Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner rivalry is thrilling, tennis correspondent Russell Fuller ponders whether it could make Grand Slams boring.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 24, 2026 at 12:02 AM
England have decided they do not like pink ball tests anymore.
www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/poms...
England’s demand for Ashes shake-up as Poms set to reject iconic event
England’s demand for Ashes shake-up as Poms set to reject iconic event
www.foxsports.com.au
January 14, 2026 at 9:01 AM
47% female participation in the #WinterOlympics26 in Milano-Cortina. The most gender-balanced Winter Games in history.
January 14, 2026 at 8:40 AM
$8k world cup final tickets and a third #Sportswashing #FIFAWorldCup in a row, an appalling brown-nosing "peace prize" and they're now having to have an emergency meeting over why Infantino declaring the World Cup the source of world joy isn't actually making ripped off fans happy.
Since last night, 16,800 fans have cancelled their FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets.

In addition FIFA has scheduled an emergency meeting next week to address the escalating protesting and how it relates to safety and political concerns.
January 13, 2026 at 5:59 PM
I can't imagine anyone currently involved in English cricket who doesn't think Gould-Key-McCullum have had their time, except for maybe the inner clique they have built around themselves.
www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/any-...
‘Any idiot should see’: Ashes act of ‘devastating stupidity’ that Poms can’t forgive — UK View
‘Any idiot should see’: Act of ‘devastating stupidity’ Poms can’t forgive — UK View
www.foxsports.com.au
January 12, 2026 at 8:23 AM
Only 81 days until the start of the #CountyChampionship2026 - perhaps this will be the year the #ECB prioritises red ball and treats it rightly as a feeder for future #TestCricket success?
a man with glasses and the number 81 in front of his face
ALT: a man with glasses and the number 81 in front of his face
media.tenor.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:31 AM