Courtney, an apology and the Big Girl's Blouse debate

Popped up the motorway to Derby to see my favourite cricketer. Courtney Walsh is in fine form. He's two years younger than me but he moves like a panther and speaks like a statesman.

Me? I move like a statesman and feel like a hippo next to the world's greatest ever Test bowler, as he sits back in his "office" the West Indies tour bus, parked behind the dilapidated main stand at Derbyshire's Country Ground.

The tour match is of little consquence. What worries me is that Courtney appears fitter and even more determined than he did when we first met at Cardiff two months ago before the start of the Test series, which is locked at 1-1 going into the fourth Test at Headingley next week.

Courtney tells me much than I cannot disclose until the Sunday Mirror is published this week - but he does say this: "On Monday at Old Trafford I was bowling pain free for the first time this summer. The instep and the knee felt right and I felt great."

Just what English fans didn't want to hear I guess. It certainly had me worried. But you can't help but like this 6ft 5in Jamaican giant as he lopes about, handing out signatures and smiles by the dozen.

We've met all over the country now; Wales, Bristol, Essex, Derby, Birmingham. And he's always being bugged by ordinary members of the public. I watched Jimmy Adams, the skipper, walk into the ground at gloomy Derbyshire in the morning and nobody bothered him at all, despite the fact he was wearing the bright West Indies track suit.

Courtney? We walked through the near deserted car park and people emerged from potholes and bushes to demand autographs, pictures and a pound of flesh: "Can you just write Best Wishes From..." "Can you sign this one twice...?".

Doesn't he ever tire of all this? "Not really," grins Courtney, "You get used to it. We've been here three months now which is a long time. Some mornings you get up and think: Here we go again but generally England is one of the best places to tour. Only Australia rivals it.

"Of course I'm looking forward to getting home, to relaxing on the beach. I guess everybody needs to chill out. But there's still some work to be done."

With Courtney and his pace pal Curtly Ambrose firing on all cylinders and Brian Lara showing signs of a return to form, the portents are not good for England at Leeds next week.

Courtney says: "Brian Charles is a happy man. You saw how much that century meant to him at Old Trafford. You could see it even from the press box. Weren't you the one who said he was finished?"

And of course he's right. With Lara scoring centuries, Adams hanging about and the Curtly/Courtney duo feeling fit and well at 73 years young, we're in all kinds of trouble.

"Don't worry," laughs Courtney, seeing the anxiety writ across my face, "You might win more medals than Jamaica at the Olympics!"

Or we might not. Courtney and I will both be in Sydney next month. Me to write about Britain's fading medal hopes. Courtney to take the micky out of me.

Is there no justice?

APOLOGIES are in order. Yesterday I said Brian Lara scored 501 against Warwickshire when clearly I meant he broke the first class record while batting FOR Warwickshire.

On the great BIG GIRL'S BLOUSE DEBATE: Of 38 emails received 32 said the phrase "England batted like a big girl's blouse" was NOT sexist, four said it was mildlys exist but not offensive. The other two made no sense at all.

How about this one from David Morgan: "I suppose a lot would depend on whether it was the girl or the blouse that was big!"

Gavin Fisher from Port Elizabeth in South Africa says: "Just a short note to say that I thought the "big girls blouse" comment was really funny. Like most of your input, your humour is different and most entertaining. I usually scan the articles for info pertinent to my interest and anything from your pen. A good laugh is always had. People must stop being overly "politically correct". There is no harm in using a phrase (which is not derogatory) in explaining something in a humorous manner. Keep up the good work."

Jean Plane from Vancouver, Canada brings the women's opinion: "I'm a woman and I don't find it sexist - it just makes me laugh. Some people are just too paranoid these days and have lost touch with reality. I really enjoy your articles, they're a breath of fresh air. I know SOME comments might offend SOME people but that's life and I think you have enough intelligence to know where to draw the line."

Karl Lee from closer to home agrees: "Not at all offensive. It's obvious, a big girl's blouse can't bat. Neither can a big bloke's shirt. Political correctness is driving everyone potty and is killing social behaviour."

David Stevenson from Liverpool, England: "Describing somebody as batting like a "big girl's blouse" is perfectly normal English usage. Unfortunately there are some people these days who look for offence where none is intended and they would like to destroy the casual approach to life. Please continue to use this phrase and any others of similar type that you see fit."

Desmond Imbert from Trinidad is not so sure (ouch): "I did not even notice the phrase "big girl's blouse" and, if I had, I wouldn't have considered it offensive or sexist - just tasteless."

But he adds: "I enjoy your articles, not only for their fairness and humour but also for your frequent apologies."

And finally Ian Travis from Bolton, England writes: "The phrase "big girl's blouse" is a traditional description applied to anyone (usually male) displaying anything vaguely feminine in their manner. It IS probably sexist, but who cares? Here in t'North of England (just outside of Bolton, in fact) it is used regularly, and the Politically Correct Police are going a little too far for my taste... and if someone DOES bat like a big girl's blouse, I will defend your right to say so!"