Will Pakistan lead by a Triple Nelson? There are those, battered and breadcrumbed by England's recent batting performances who would argue that a single Nelson would be 39 steps too far even if Napoleon Solo's Uncle had been asked to return from San Francisco to join the Flower People in the absence of Goochie Goochie Goo. Even if you love the Fast Train to bits it does you good to slow down from time to time if only to see how the South East's Trackside Vista has changed. Waterloo East was where we had to change. In the days before mobile phones I made a date to meet someone at Waterloo Station at Sunset. How was I supposed to know that there was a second Waterloo further West? Put it down to an Abbaration. Right on cue Swanny got Azhar Ali for 157. We went to Kew yesterday. England need only a Triple Nelson moins neuf to win.
No queues at The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew despite being the first day of the Tropical Extravaganza in the Princess of Wales Conservatory. Our conservatory is covered in snow au moment. Cook has hit a four and Strauss has got off the mark, but Cook has already been dropped so the weather forecast for Cuckoo Land does not look promising. The Coffee was as they said on the brochure - freshly roasted as we fear England may be before long. Having been reminded of the problems caused by even two glasses of wine a day we went to the Temperate House. Having finished reading the brochures we went to the Palm House to turn over a new leaf. Winter bargains were still available in the shop though I decided to save my money to pay for award winning fish and chips when we were back in Gravesend. England 22-0. Strauss misses the cut but this is not so serious in Cricket as it would be in Golf.
The first review goes England's way. The Reviews are becoming the 'Power Plays' for Test matches. Only one left now for Pakistan. By now England will have a Review Coach as well as a Batting Coach, a Bowling Coach, a Sledging Coach etc.,etc. England Cricket will soon be rivalling Kew with its 200 science staff, 75 affiliated researchers and 110 horticulturists. It's obviously working, despite the fact that the sledging coach would be more fully occupied over here what with the blanket of snow that descended on Britain last night, as CMJ has told us that this is the highest England opening partnership in the series. 29! The advice is 'Get a dog.' If you are stuck on the M25 in the snow the dog blanket will be invaluable and while the dog's water is likely to be frozen the dry dog food should take you through to stumps on day 4 now there is going to be one. 36-0. As ever Sir Geoffery gets it right. 'Improbable, yes; impossible, no.'The Xstrata Treetop Walkway may have been closed at Kew but we'll be on Cloud 9 if England does do it.
No comments:
Post a Comment