The Surfer

Eagles fighting with Sharks, sparks flying between the Dynamos and the Lightning, and a derby between the Brown Caps and the men in pink shirts: it’s Twenty20 time again as the shortest form of cricket starts its fifth season this afternoon. Yet somewhere over the past four years of beach parties, mascot races and evening boozing, a decent tournament has emerged. Counties no longer need gimmicks to fill their grounds, many people come simply to watch cricket.

"My family were appalled by what went on at Old Trafford," writes Graham Phipp, of Little Sutton, Wirral, noting the drunkenness, shouting, endless standing-up, and constant use of beer trays (and anything else that came to hand) as missiles. Also (and why is nobody not surprised?), the inability of stewards to do anything about it. Mr Phipp has written to the Lancashire club, outlining the many incidents that marred his family's day, and has asked for his money back.

This has been an unmemorable, one-sided series in which a West Indies side disinclined to recognise the demands of the modern age have been predictably despatched. Perhaps it will goad them into rectifying their faults to know that the old colonial power, awash with condescension, is desperate for them to get their act together.

"Indian cricket is passing through a difficult phase after our poor showing in the World Cup, and along with the BCCI, the players have also gone through some tough time."

"You are representing the country where all actions of yours will be closely followed and we have to impress upon all the members of the squad to be disciplined, at times, both on and off the field. Please ensure that all the talks in the dressing room and in team meetings is confidential and always respect this."

“The authorities should encourage indigenous cricketers and scale down their dependency on Australians, South Africans and Asians who migrated to Dublin when the economy took off in the Nineties. Unless they can block the drain of talent to England by contracting Ireland's young elite such as Boyd Rankin, Niall O'Brien and Eoin Morgan, who all play county cricket, they'll need more Johnstons and Bothas if they're to have any chance of building on their international success.”

“The Irish Cricket Union would rather avoid a repeat of the Ed Joyce scenario. While understanding his career decision and wishing him well at Middlesex, most followers were hurt to see an Irishman representing England in the World Cup. It was like watching Roy Keane sing God Save the Queen.”