A Pre-Test Match Stocking Filler

Today has undoubtedly been a disappointing day for English sports fans with Sepp Blatter and his merry men deciding that Russia should host the 2018 World Cup. I don’t know what they can offer that we cannot, I mean, who wants to play in a cold climate with freezing temperatures and snowfall? We never get that over here...

With this in mind I believe that the people of our nation need a little winter pick-me-up. My suggestion is to let your other half dust off her copy of Love Actually from last Christmas, get her tucked up in bed with a cup of cocoa and turn on Sky Sports in the hope that Strauss and his clan can leave us in a winter wonderland.

After Australia’s egregious performance in the field at the Gabba, is there any news going into tonight’s second test? The past couple of days have provided the first inevitable twitter tantrum, criticism of Aussie support, and the first big drop of the series. Well, the first big drop if you exclude the dolly put down by Michael Clarke the other day.

The biggest news is that Australia’s most highly acclaimed bowler going into the first test has been sidelined until further notice. Express quickie Mitchell Johnson, who has been in shocking form of late, is expected to be replaced by either Doug Bollinger or Ryan Harris. Johnson stayed positive in press interviews claiming that he believes he can still play a big part in the series. The one aspect of the game he was less positive about however was the lack of support the home side received in Brisbane (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/9249891.stm), surely it should be us at home getting cold feet?

Although England are expected to field an unchanged side tonight, they have not had the best preparation for Adelaide either. Bad weather conditions in the city have hampered the Poms preparations, to the frustration of KP who felt obliged to tweet “What should a groundsman make sure he does 2days out from a test match????....Cover the nets when it rains maybe???....PATHETIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!.” Well I say just save your runs for the middle Kevin and let your bat do the talking.

Looking ahead to five more days of sleep deprivation, I wish our lions down-under the best of luck. Let’s just hope come December the 7^th England’s only annoyance in Australia will be Gillian McKeith. Bring home the bacon fellas!!

Thanks for Reading!