Bumble: cut pub prices and bar Chancellor

Pubs should drop the price of a pint to 2005 levels, ban the Chancellor and keep the Aussie bar staff in for a bit of banter for the fifth and deciding Ashes Test.

That's according to legendary Sky cricket commentator David "Bumble" Lloyd, who believes England can win the decider at the Oval, while pubs can cash in with his recipe for success.

"Get behind England. Drop the prices to 2005 levels when we last won it and don't let the Chancellor of the Exchequer in," says Bumble.

"It is quite right he is banned from a lot of pubs — why is he always putting up duty? He is a lousy man.

"Keep the Aussie bar staff in — helps the banter."

Despite England's heavy loss at Headingley, Bumble — who achieved cult status thanks to his phrases like "Start the car" to signal the end of a match — believes the team will triumph at the Oval.

"It's a new match, a new day. England have been superb in one match and lousy in another. They have got to bounce back. I've put a big bet on England at 5-1. It's great value."

With the series finely poised at 1-1, the scene is set for Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff's final bow in test match cricket. "He is a man of the people," says Bumble.

"He knows he owes a lot to cricket. He might have stumbled on a few occasions but never on a cricket field."

Fittingly, Lloyd is speaking from the Circus Tavern in Manchester. "Absolutely love it here," he said. "Get down as often as I can. It's a small place. The landlord, George the Greek, can hardly fit behind the bar. He's quite a big unit."

Passionate about pubs​

And after a day's cricket, Bumble heads to the pub with his mates rather than to hotel bars — the choice of fellow commentators Ian Botham and David Gower.

"I'm passionate about pubs. One of my regrets is never owning a pub. I'd have loved to have done that. The pub is a focal point. You can chat to strangers. There are all different types of people. It's about good conversation.

"I am a real-ale fan too. My favourite pint? Black Sheep, Chiswick and Timothy Taylor's. They are all very quaffable."

Bumble reckons he'd be a good licensee. "I have a good idea what the public want. My pub would be a drinking establishment, minimal but comfortable, and there would be good conversation. It would be good fun. A band as well — The Fall. The whole place would be rocking. Absolutely rocking."

So, in Bumble's imaginary pub, he has a lock-in. Who does he invite? "Me mates," he says. "The Brigadier, Clarke, Phil the suit, George the Greek. Oh and one female: Lulu. I've got the hots for her."

All the talk around cricket was of who will make the England team — should there have been a recall for Marcus Trescocthick or Mark Ramprakash? "No. Those days have gone. I think they understand that. We have got to look to the future."

Lloyd was in favour of a recall for Rob Key at No 3 in the batting line-up and for playing two spinners. "We'll win it," he confidently predicts.

Bumble now has over 35,000 followers on the micro blogging site Twitter. "It's great — very addictive. In a way, its like being in the pub, it's all about conversation and interacting with all sorts of people."

And he promises to put out a special tweet for pubs that get behind his call for 2005 price levels. You can follow him at twitter.com/BumbleCricket​.