Well

Well, well, well. Where can one start? As is well-known, there is a lot of cricket played these days. If an Ashes Test isn't on, it's a World Cup ODI final, a crucial IPL group match or a thrilling battle between Ireland and Bangladesh. There is always something on. Usually, the duty of a cricket fan is to watch the match that is currently the most entertaining, while keeping an eye on the scorecard of the other three or four.

However, over the past few days, we've been spoiled. Dreadfully spoiled. Like a gazelle who has just noticed three different lions on three different hills, my eyes have been rapidly dashing between the close fought tussles in Sri Lanka's ODI series in India, the intriguing spin battle in England's first Test in South Africa and the ferocious and often downright nasty stand-off between Australia and the West Indies. We'll all need a cricket holiday after this, although with the series just started in South Africa and a long summer ahead in Australia respite seems very far off.

Firstly, the Perth Test. We probably haven't seen so much bad blood in a Test match since the infamous SCG game versus India in 07/08. This hasn't quite got down to a public mud-slinging match, but it's had its fair share of controversial claimed catches (and run-outs), verbal send-offs and pushing and shoving. Needless to say, it hasn't been played in the correct spirit (especially in my perhaps not-quite-objective eyes by the Aussies), but I must ask a question - is this just what Test cricket needed? Is this just what West Indian cricket needed? The Windies have shown in the past two matches that they care desperately, firstly because of the barrage of bagging from the media after Brisbane, but even more so after the behaviour of Ponting, Watson and Haddin in this match. Nobody wants to throw away their wicket to the enemy, for enemy the opposition have become. No longer does it seem a rivals on, mates off relationship between the teams. Both want blood, and Kemar Roach nearly had it with his bowling to Ricky Ponting on the first day.

Now, as the match and series is on the eve of a finish, what a finish it could be. 51 runs to win for the West Indies after a brilliant bowling performance yesterday and a feisty showing from Deonarine, Nash and the tail in the final innings. Australia need just the one wicket. Even if the men from the Caribbean lose the final wicket without a run added tomorrow, they must be applauded for coming such a long way from conceding 520/7, from the three-day innings defeat in Brisbane, from the player strike and the series loss to Bangladesh. I think it's the appropriate Australian thing to do to commend them for standing up to their critics and showing the world that the West Indies is far from a side resigned to extinction. And for me, I'll be cheering every ball Roach and Tonge face tomorrow with even more passion as I cheered Anderson and Panesar's last wicket stand in Cardiff, and Duminy and Steyn's partnership in Melbourne. Go on, boys, get as many as you can and hold your heads high.

Phew, some passion was released in that last paragraph. Let me get my breath back. Where was I? Of course, on a mental plane to South Africa where Graeme Swann and Paul Harris are busy demonstrating that finger spin is most certainly not a lesser form of bowling. In a perfect world, either one will get the Man of the Match honours mattering on who wins this fascinating match, but in truth it will probably go to some batsman who scores a valuable 50 and gets out, or Jacques Kallis for his hundred on what was a pretty flat pitch first day. Batsmen always have the edge in this sort of game. Except maybe Bell, who might just have played his last Test innings yesterday and robbed England supporters of a good few more years of ranting at the selection panel.

But Swann is the man for me - fifer and top scoring in England's second innings with an 81-ball 85? Digging them out of a deep, deep hole and giving them a sniff of a chance? Two switch-hits that made KP's version in previous instances look like something that Murali might do? Brilliant tweets to keep us all entertained in the few seconds that a cricket match isn't happening somewhere? What a guy, is all I can say. WAG! However, my other favourite cricketer (AB de Villiers) is currently doing a good job of digging South Africa out of a hole of their own. They were 4/48 at one stage, just over 100 runs ahead on an admittedly dodgy pitch, but he's batting at a strike rate of over 70 and is closing in on his half century, slowly but surely pushing this game out of England's grasp.

Finally, the series I've probably been following less closely than the other two, merely due to the fact that it's not my favourite format and it clashes rather horribly with my timezone - the series between India and Sri Lanka. South Africa would have been proud of the way Sri Lanka managed to choke in the first game, losing by four runs when they'd been cruising for most of the match. The game, as I understand, had the second highest number of runs scored in it in total since the epic 434 match at the Wanderers. That may not be true. I might have completely fabricated that piece of information; it wouldn't be the first time. Always thought I would have made it alongside the likes of Donald Rumsfeld in government.

Anyway, in the second match Sri Lanka narrowly avoided the choke with Matthews recovering their cause from a late collapse to make Dilshan's effort good. 1-1 and two of the best LOI openers in cricket of any form on display in Sehwag and Dilshan. If I find a way to live without sleeping, I'll be giving this series my full attention.

All I can say is, long live cricket.

England win BBC Team of the year Award

A year which commenced topsy-turvily with the Moores-Pietersen rift has culminated with the English cricket team winning the BBC team of the year award following their Ashes' heroics. From the test series loss in the Caribbean to the ODI series win in the Rainbow Republic, it has been a roller-coaster ride for England and skipper Strauss confirmed as much : "Yes, it has been a roller-coaster ride", before adding : "much like Bopara's test performances this year".

While the BBC Sports Personality of the year ceremony was taking place amongst much glitz and glamour in Sheffield, the England team could only be part of it via the webcam on Strauss' laptop since they were in a remote village outside Johannesburg in preparation of the test series against South Africa. All of the players were seated in their chairs and were looking on intently at the laptop on the table in front, which then served as the podium for Strauss. The captain, amidst wild applause from Sheffield, stood on the podium and held the laptop aloft when the cameras at the ceremony focussed on the trophy. The players, meanwhile, gasped in amazement as they marvelled at the technology they saw before their eyes. The nearby villagers, however, remained distinctly unimpressed. In fact, one of the locals remarked to a bystander nearby : "Seems like they a tribe from the 18th century who have seen technology for the first time", to which the bystander replied : " Yaa, almost like they are from Durban. Maybe they are from Hillcrest like Sir Wernich", much to the amusement of all those who heard.

At the same time, Strauss got set to deliver his speech. His chest, filled with pride, was puffed out and his head was tilted skywards at a 45 degree angle as he wore a smug look. A stern looking Flower then got onto the table and wiped the look off Strauss' face with his handkerchief before cautioning him : "We have talked about this before, Straussy. The Ashes win is only a starting point and not the end. Lets not make the mistakes of 2005 when the team took their eyes of the ball amidst drunken celebrations". Strauss, realising the error of his ways, nodded twice in approval; while back in Sheffield, Freddie Flintoff was seen raising a bottle of Namaqua and drinking to that.

Strauss then proceeded with his speech. Initially he echoed Flowered sentiments after which he read out from a sheet of paper: "Our lofty goals include becoming the numero uno team in tests. We have started working towards this with a combination of predetermined amounts of hard work, rest, enjoying each others success and creating a relaxed atmosphere for the team so that everyone feels at ease whether we are playing home or away. We are also looking to improve in the limited-overs formats by playing a more positive brand of cricket and the results are starting to show already as our series win in South Africa shows. In fact, looking back at the 1-6 loss against Australia at home its safe to say we have come a long way already, 5617 miles actually for those who want to keep track of our progress".

As I looked on, I began to ponder if there was any truth to what Strauss was talking about so I decided to randomly observe two of the players and ended up with Pietersen and Trott. Good choices, I believed, given the former is a senior pro in the team while the latter is the newest member. Watching them go about their business, I could see where Strauss was coming from. Despite being in the backyard of tough opponents and in an unfamilar environment, both Pietersen and Trott looked very comfortable. It was as if they were right at home. In fact had I not known any better, I would have been convinced they were born and bred South Africans! Preposterous thought, I know. Although if you let your mind wander for a bit and consider the possiblity, just how wonderfully ironic would it be if a couple of South Africans were to play against South Africa!

Meanwhile, Strauss concluded his speech by thanking everyone, the Aussies in particular for being rubbish enough to lose to England. It was a wonderful speech that promised much and gave hope of a brighter the future for the team. The players then considered playing snakes on their phones but were rebuffed by Flower. The coach told the team to hit the sack as it dawned on him that it was past their bed time, bringing an end to an eventful evening.