Poker for fun

Cricketers are not afforded, for want of a better word, the same wages as footballers. But fortunately for their wives and girlfriends, they don't spend as much on gambling either. Following recent reports of a culture of gambling pervading team morale at West Ham, the Daily Mail have conducted their own investigation into the ruinous evils of poker games in the England (cricket) team.

The six poker-school regulars are batting coach Matt Maynard, who has supplied the cards and the counters, plus Michael Vaughan, Freddie Flintoff, Andrew Strauss, Paul Collingwood and Jon Lewis.

An England spokesman said: "The money involved is minimal. We regard it as a good relaxing way for the players to spend time bonding together out of their rooms. I don’t think anyone’s going to be too upset at being $10 down after a fun evening."