Bunch of fives: top five England cricketers to follow on Twitter

For this week’s Bunch of Fives we’ve picked the five top cricketers to watch on Twitter.

The ‘micro-blogging’ social network is particularly popular with cricketers, with some big names from the county circuit running into trouble after running their mouths off.

In September the England and Hampshire all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas called the national selector Geoff Miller “a knob”, adding that he had no clue what he was doing. Two months earlier the England under-19 captain Azeem Rafiq referred to the team coach John Abrahams in language a lot more fruity. Rafiq was given a one-month ban but kept his account – Mascarenhas has closed his.

Of the remaining men, first off is batsman Kevin Pietersen (@kevinpp24). Although he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer, Pietersen is worth following for his occasional indiscretions. He’s also notable for a laissez-faire attitude to spelling and an over-familiarity with the question mark and exclamation mark. You’re not going to get the gossip on his celebrity lifestyle, but he has just been told off by captain Andrew Strauss for venting his frustration at Australian ground staff, describing them as ‘pathetic’. Last year he was fined by the England Cricket Board after condemning them for dropping him from the team for the one day series against Pakistan.

Former captain Michael Vaughan (@vaughancricket) – who led England to Ashes victory in 2005 – may be hitting his stride in his new role as a commentator on the BBC’s Test Match Special, but on Twitter he paints a surprisingly frank picture of his domestic life. His obsessions include golf and wine – Mateus Rose was a particular favourite over the summer, judging from the number of times it was mentioned in his posts.

More insightful Twitter commentary comes from batsman Ian Bell, or rather an account called Not Ian Bell (@notianbell). In contrast to Vaughan’s golf and wine, fake Ian Bell is obsessed with sunglasses and sausages (“Before anyone asks, I eat sausages sparingly as part of a healthy varied diet, like all international cricketers”).

Representing England’s bowlers is the most articulate of the Twitter squad, spinner Graeme Swann (@swannyg66). He's revealing ("Walking through Perth airport, everyone staring at me. Only when i got to the lounge did I realise why. Flies wide open, the goods on show" ) and wittier than most sportsmen ("Oh dear. I thought we had a six week sea voyage ahead of us. Have packed boat shoes, tuxedo, chess board etc. Turns out we're flying"). Well worth following.

The final one to follow is an ex-England cricketer (and ex-England coach) turned Sky commentator David Lloyd (@bumblecricket). In keeping with his left-field TV persona, his Twitter posts can be on the strange side, and are as likely to reference ale, curry or The Fall (yes, The Fall) as events on the pitch.