Once A Cheater, Always A Cheater

NWG can't but help feel a little deflated. Pakistan have taken all the fun out of this series.

NWG is reminded of the boyfriend who cheated on her. Once it happens, the trust is gone (and so was he). You can never go back to the trust, and that's how she feels about Pakistan.

They cheated on England.

But Eoin Morgan is brilliant. That is a fact.

There Are No Words (Well, A Few, But You Know What NWG Means)

NWG is not his biggest fan. She has not spent many hours babbling on about how amazing he is.

But dropping him from the England team? Dropping him from the England team when he of all the batsmen needs some batting practice. Dropping him from the England team when this is the only cricket between now and November.

This is ridiculous. Has the ECB lost their mind? What's wrong with them? Is this the beginning of the downfall? It's only August? (just)

Australia will be rubbing their hands with an American tv show about a singing group in high school.

Money Does Not Make The World Go Round

NWG doesn't really know where to start with Pakistan.

The whole issue is troubling.

Money does strange things to people, but NWG firmly believes that cricket, the game, the greatest game, now tarnished and bloodied, will suffer the consequences of these few naughty people.

But hats off to the New of the World for the story. It's one time where a tabloid actually makes life better for all in the long run.

And to Jonathan Trott and Stuart Broad - no, it has not affected your great partnership that saved and won the game.

To Pakistan - NWG can't help but be disappointed. Hopefully this is the kick in the box that you need.

Epic

So it seems that two men have taken on the task of being England's batsmen. Thank heavens.

Not content with another batting disaster, it was two lone men who took it upon themselves to be different...

...to score runs.

NWG is proud today of her team. Not the other lot who didn't care (maybe Matt Prior can be excluded from this).

For it was Jonathan Trott, Englishman, hero, batting supremo, the man with a level head, and Stuart Broad, impossibly tall and gangly, not known for his batting skill, but bloody excellent.

This gruesome twosome must be in this England side forever. Till they are old and grey. Till they can bat no longer. For now that they have done it once, it can always be done again.

Even if they are out first ball tomorrow they have played their part.

NWG is happy, even if her knee is still sore and she was forced to sit still all day and watch the cricket.

Knees, Ashes and Lots of Other Stuff

Fear not readers, NWG has not fallen off the side of the earth, she has, like all the greats in the world, had knee surgery.

And no, she has not, like one less than brilliant cricketer moved to Dubai to get a tan and ride camels, nor has she ditched the great game to eat cakes and pretend to be funny with Aggers.

She has just been lying rather still.

This has had its advantages.

Firstly, NWG has a new appreciation for scones. They are delicious. Secondly, NWG has watched way too much tv. This has included Big Brother (yes, she knows, it's rubbish, but still she has been very bored) and Come Dine With Me which she now believes to be the best thing in the world and should now most definitely and without fail have a cricketers special (imagine Matthew Hoggard's delightful dinner conversation and wonderful trifle).

Thirdly, and most importantly, she is now almost positive that England will win the Ashes. This is based almost entirely on NWG making the enormous journey to Australia (think of the effort).

NWG will now go and continue to lie down, mull over daytime TV and imagine how she will celebrate the Ashes in her codeine-stupor.

Oh It's Tough Being A Cook

No one is ever satisfied.

They are always criticising.

But poor Cook. He has failed again. And something needs to be done.

Strauss needs to be strong. He should know that there is another out there who can deliver nice scrambled eggs and crispy bacon.

His name is Trott and it's about time he went up the order.

Be strong England.

Update: Never mind being strong England, be at least a little bit good.

NWG Smells Trouble

This is a bad idea.

NWG suspects double agent status.

For John Buchanan, the Australian, the former Australia coach is on England's side.

Will there be another dossier?

Why can't everyone just play fair? Why do England need an inside scoop? They play Australia often enough. If they don't know it all by now, they never will.

And it just doesn't sit well with NWG.

NWG has a bad feeling about this.