The bits you didn't see (or maybe did) - FLT20 Finals Day

*WARNING* IF YOU SYMPATHISE WITH JADE DERNBACH YOU MAY FIND THIS ARTICLE OFFENSIVE

On Saturday, whilst the Barclay's Premier League was just beginning - see my alternative round up here - English county cricket's most popular competition was finishing in the most loud music sounding, cheerleader jiggling, awful bowler bashing, style. Yes, that most heretical of spectres for the cricketing purist - 'Friends Provident' Twenty20 Finals Day, was here. Whilst I could eulogise about David Willey's brilliance, unless you've been living on another planet, or on the 'Jade Dernbach Fans' twitter page, you'll know every detail of every run/catch/wicket/run out that he was involved in. So instead, here's a kind of random collection of bits that I think are worth knowing, and that you probably won't have seen before.

Too much: tattoos and ego.

I thought the best moment of the whole day was David Willey (wait for it) being told by Charlie Dagnall that he had ruined Jade Dernbach's figures (4-0-55-0) and replying with - "Good. I don't like the bloke, so it's good to spoil his figures". Sadly I can't find the audio, but surely, a brilliant line. I should say at this point - I can't help but love this - not only does Dernbach play for Surrey, the moneybags of our humble cricketing nation (though as a Notts man I can't boast), he also has an awful attitude. Apparently he'd been sledging Willey even before any of the smashing had begun. I need not comment on his selection in England's T20 side, it really is a joke - the consistent selection of Surrey/Warwickshire players inexplicably without any real justification is becoming a bit silly. Obscura even hears that certain other Surrey players reckon Stuart Meaker is a better bowler even at the club alone, and they are the closest to judge...

Another brilliant moment, rather than on the radio, but for the eagle-eyed twitter follower, Niall O'Brien tweeting about his brother's exclusion from the Surrey side in place of Glenn Maxwell - not a hint of bitter about it. But he does have a point, I have no doubt that big Kev would've scored a big total, he is after all, pretty much dedicated to T20 short of the odd match for Ireland and Leinster. Also, in saying "best Stewie wished he'd have Kevin back" -  I did enjoy Alec Stewart's look of bitter disappointment as poor old Division Two Northants, having not won something major since 1992, tashed his big money men around. He really shouldn't come across as so obviously 'ECB establishment'.

On a personal level, I was caught out by the damned sponsorship names/acronyms, again. Having tweeted all night with the hashtag "FLPT20", it was only until it was pointed out to me by a friend that 'Friends Provident Life' was just 'Friends Provident' - leading to nostalgia about the good old days when we called it "Sunday League" and even just "Twenty20 Cup". Mad to think, I know. I even struggle to write "Premier League" without the prefix "Barclays", so I suppose they've got what they wanted. I'm convinced that one day I'll accidentally call the "ClydesdaleBank40" the "Benson and Hedges" and be shot for advertising cigarettes inadvertently.

Overall though, whilst I try and be as mardily anti-corporate and purist as possible, I'm afraid, seeing so many people being enthused by county cricket on social media, even though it's not the Championship (Liverpool Victoria Insurance), I can't help but feel that the balance might be right. The big step is trying to translate that zeal into the longer formats in the next ten years, and ultimately, turning the best people into Test cricketers. In that respect, I worry for Indian cricket - their balance is certainly not right. Will they care? Not if the money's there.


Editor's note - I'm told by the aforementioned friend, it is 'FLt20'. So maybe I was right, and wrong, and also right, and then wrong again. I wouldn't let them have the joy of checking their site.