India v England ODI

Samit Patel seems to NWG an underrated England player. Always on the fringe. First to be dropped. Angers the naughty Stuart Broad if he dare drop a catch.

But yesterday he showed that he should be considered. 44 off 20 in a finish with Kieswetter impressed NWG, not least because she loves a late flourish.

England have "rested" Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann and James Anderson because of what awaits this year and it seems, in this instance, that that is just fine by James Tredwell and Jade Dernbach.

Stuart think, 'maybe I'm not as good as I think I am....'

All Is Forgiven?

Now, NWG is a truthful person. She doesn't like liars. She doesn't like cheaters.

She likes to know where she stands.

She likes to think that people want to be truthful. That they want to be good. That they mean what they say.

And then KP came along.

Now NWG likes to think that people want to change for the better, but she can't quite believe in KP.

England have handed him a (nother) central contract now that he remembers how to score runs and play nice.

But for how long will it stay like this?

NWG gives it till January 2014, just till after the Ashes and he decides to start texting again...

KP - NWG has her eye on you.

Shane Warne and the Exclamation Mark

Now you are all aware that NWG is not one to judge. She doesn't sit on some cushioned pedestal and look down on others.

She certainly has no opinion on Shane Warne's little outburst on the field against Marlon Samuels last night (Shane - remember it's only a game, and the Big Bash at that - does it really matter that much? Oh wait, that's an opinion. Turns out NWG can't keep quiet).

But what NWG really can't handle is annoying punctuation.

Can anyone explain these exclamation marks?

"I have decided to accept my penalty of a 1 match ban!" He tweets.

"I went to far in trying to stand up for the team !"

 "I'm disappointed at some of my actions last night as captain & as a player, but I'm also very disappointed at the severe penalty I received!"

The Last Week of My Cricketing Life by Michael Hussey

Monday - Six days to go.
Tuesday - Five days to go.
Wednesday - Four days to go.
Thursday - Three days to go.
Friday - Two days to go.
Saturday - Tomorrow.
Sunday - Finally.

It's a burden being called Mr Cricket. I'd much rather be known as the more successful Hussey brother. Or the guy that can bat. But they're not as catchy.

I feel a bit bad leaving Australia with someone like Philip Hughes, who for all his batting skill, holds as much charisma as a dehydrated lizard. It's not his fault that he's so serious. Or boring.

But when you've played as many Tests as I have, and travelled the cricket-playing world for as long as me, you'd understand that it can get a little samey-samey. When I suggested that we try and change things up a bit - you know, like have Mitchell Johnson bowl at the wicket instead of second/third slip, or Ricky Ponting crack a smile every once in a while - they knocked me back, saying why change things that work? I also put forward the proposal of swapping the baggy green for a yellow jester hat - folks, that really didn't go down well and sort of spelled the end for me.

My heart is heavy leaving behind a once successful team that now, well, let's face it, isn't really that good. If they had only given me the captaincy (after all, I'm called Mr Cricket for a reason), instead of Pup, I would have considered sticking around for a bit longer.

But Dancing With the Stars calls. I reckon I've got a good Fox Trot in me and I've been practising my jive for months. If that doesn't work, I'm off to Celebrity Masterchef where I'm sure I can squeeze out a celebrity cook book in the following months like some of my predecessors.

Listen though folks, don't worry about me. I'll be fine. To be honest, I'm glad to be out of the whole thing.

It's the team I worry about.