The Surfer

“What the bloody hell are you on Twitter for, making an arse of yourself?” asks this Gibson. I says I don’t bother with the Twitter because frankly Ian Bell has more important things to do than spend his whole life telling people every last little thing he’s doing no matter how fascinating that would be to some fans and instead would rather concentrate on being the man to fill the problematic number three berth in England’s fragile middle-order, getting Nuneaton Borough promoted to the Premiership on Championship Manager, learning Esperanto, designing his range of volumising hair mousses for the recently deceased and generally being a decent bloke to have around the place.

Obviously FIFA is of the opinion that injuries and doping are closely related. Steroids generally speed up recovery after injuries. The list is not based on rankings of teams or countries. It is a dynamic list and could evolve, but basically FIFA has stuck to its argument that team sport has to be treated differently, giving a ray of hope for other team sports in their fight against the ‘whereabouts’ rules.

Historically aware advocates of Ramprakash point out that, 53 years ago, and with the Ashes also at stake, the selectors brought back the 38-year-old Compton at the Oval for "a wonderful return to Test cricket". Why not gamble again, romantics argue, and give the vital job of stiffening England's batting to a player who has scored 29 centuries in the past four seasons, many of them at the Oval, and who is averaging over 100 again this season?

After what happened in Lahore in March, and previous terrorist threats to the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni, the players are petrified that revealing their future whereabouts to Wada will compromise their safety. Fair enough, you'd think, except for the fact that Wada's online process is as secure as most banking transactions. You, I or AN Ordinary won't be able to gatecrash Yuvraj Singh's next party.

Afridi, 29, has had a career whose colorfulness is eclipsed among current players only by his turbulent erstwhile Pakistan teammate Shoaib Akhtar. Afridi’s extensive rap sheet includes a four-match ban for insulting opponents and a match umpire; a dressing room dispute with his captain and vice captain over his place in Pakistan’s batting order; sanctions after a girl was found in his room — his explanation that she was seeking his autograph was not accepted — and being fingered as the provocateur two years ago when Akhtar finally lost it and struck a teammate with a bat.

It is a thoroughly absorbing, long-haul clash. While a Manchester United encounter with Chelsea might be all over in 90 minutes, England's business with Australia takes all summer, in what should be 25 full days of combat (fewer if it rains or if the home side collapses).

"There's always people out there who are wanting to make some comment. Once you're out there, then there are people who are supportive and people who have the knives poised all the time and they'll find a reason to plunge the knife."

Ponting has come a long way in a few months. He has emerged as a fine leader, though not yet an astute tactician. Clearly he has the respect of his players and is relishing the opportunity to captain a bright young side. If 2008 was his worst year, 2009 has been the best. Now he stands on the edge of a substantial achievement. Holding the Ashes might not seem much of a feat. Not so long ago Australia beat this mob 5-0. Moreover the opposing side has lost its two best players. But Australia have endured numerous setbacks and still heads have not dropped. Nor has conduct deteriorated.

Further it is no secret that the TTCB president, Deryck Murray – the former Windies wicketkeeper and vice captain – harbours ambitions to take over the WICB presidency. The Murray led boycott may have been engineered to demonstrate in no uncertain terms its unhappiness and disenchantment with Hunte’s leadership. However the boycott brings into focus a growing disinterest in West Indies cricket as a result of the WICB’s hard lined position against the players, particularly the established players.