I will miss the Test match as I am working in Thailand. A shame to miss it. No sooner have I become an Associate Member and logistics just make it impossible to attend. From afar, I’m quite excited though. I think the crowds will build throughout the week. I see Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes working very well together, and Rob Key could open doors. I hope Graham Thorpe is on the road to recovery.

Stuart Broad has been quoted on the BBC website as feeling England need to play attractive / engaging cricket. True. But we also just need to win. One victory in 17 tests in appalling. Sea change on the horizon – fingers crossed.

I approached a cricket team out here, but it’s the closed season, and it sounds like even a Thursday net at ‘The Outback’ (what else?!) might be stretching it. The Chairman said I needed to put Ko Chang in my diary for the end of August for some beach cricket but I’ll be as gone as a wild goose in Winter.

C’mon England.