White-ball warriors at Gatwick

England arrived to a distinct Twenty20 welcome at Gatwick with the surreal tag of world champions in the shortest format. Barney Ronay, of the Guardian, was there among a troop of reporters to record each moment.

Before long it became clear a small misjudgment had taken place. We had a steward-shortfall, combined with a surge into the main hall by the bored or the merely cricket-curious. Mild logjam-chaos ensued. James Tredwell was very slightly jostled. Tim Bresnan got bogged down shaking hands. Ryan Sidebottom paused, presidential-style, to kiss a baby (this turned out to be his own daughter, Indiana Sidebottom). Touchingly the spin coach Mushtaq Ahmed, who seems to have a mummy bear role opposite Andy Flower's paterfamilias, could be seen hugging each player in turn as they left the hall.