Excellent to see England win 3-0 in Pakistan. Let us hope Ahmed has many more Michelle Pfeiffers up his sleeve. Being bunkered down in Hainan, it’s been a treat to hear BBC broadcasts of Beefy on R4 and The Tailenders Podcast. 

The Amalgams sung on The Christmas Special were quite splendid. CRUSIC ~ yes.

Australia giving SA a tough time Down Under and thousands of more runs between NZ and PAK in Pakistan. Lots to look forward to in 2023 : not just the Ashes in England, but ODIS in Bangladesh and SA and tests against NZ.

26.. always a number that gets referred to by the Statisticians. Look it up. Eng v Nz back in the day.

Anyway, the 2nd Test in Pakistan was touch and go, but good to see England sneak a victory. Simple Economics has meant the Cricket ground in Pakistan is no longer so central, and does not get the same footfall. Sad, as the stands looked quite empty.

South Africa have lost four early ones Down Under this morning, but are currently making some kind of a comeback. It’s great to finally have Live Cricket on my Laptop. I can’t quite work out how the Company does it, but at £3 a month I’m sure if Del boy had had anything to do with the internet this would have been a contender.

Finally England are touring Pakistan again. A seventeen year gap. Good photos of our 40 year old Jimmy touring from last time and receiving the MOTM award. What a career. It was an enthralling Test Match. Four English centurions in the first innings, Pakistan knocking off plenty, another whizz bang England innings, including Harry Brook nearing another ton and Joe Root deciding he can bat left handed, much of which I followed on BBC Live Text but it was superb to watch some of the match via on my laptop too. When Rizwan and Shakil were putting together a partnership on Day 5, it could have been Pakistan’s day, but England got the break through.

With one wicket needed in the last half hour of play, all men were round the bat. A nick went sailing through between Pope (who had previously just taken a beautiful catch down the leg) and Root. That would’ve sealed it, but Pakistan holed out until about the last ten minutes ~ before light would have surely meant stumps. Leach delivered. LBW.