Mistresses

So, managed to catch up with eps I & II of Mistresses series 2 last night. Very good telly. But how blimmin' far-fetched is it?
You've got the Irish bird, stuck in a loveless marriage, child by another father born into the marriage, going off and having random anonymous sex on what appears to be a nightly basis, in a posh hotel that must be costing a bomb. Firstly, if you start spending that sort of cash, you'll have none left. Then, secondly, your partner would notice. And thirdly, if your life is that rubbish, DO something. But she is fit, though.
Then you've got Sarah Parish, who is also fit. She was a star in Cutting It and is a great actress. She gets a young bit of man-meat and then is letched at by an old college boyfriend. How many people (not just sexy mature ladies) get involved in a love triangle? Surely the answer is 'v. few'.
Next up - Trudi, who is with a bloke who appears to be available at any point during the day, but still earns enough to be regularly paying out £3,000 to an unknown beneficiary. And he argues with strange & unexplained ladies in houses throughout the locale. Unfortunately Trudi appears to be on a losing streak.
And finally there's Jessica, obviously very attractive but not my pair of socks, who is now married to a randy sod who is going to break her heart - despite the fact that she wants to be seen as a free spirit, she wants the marriage to work.

It's all complete poppycock, but a great way to spend an hour a week.

Windies Part II

So, from zeroes to heroes - possibly. I missed the last part of today's play, as TW was recording ANTM and MasterChef, but it looks like Swann got 5-57. And that's after we got 566-9 declared yesterday. My fear early today was that the match would end in a draw, with the WI 1st innings incomplete. If we can bat like that, surely they can do the same? But apparently not.
If we can pull a win out of this one, that would set the series up quite nicely.
TTFN.

53 All Out - A Sad Day?

Okay, it's taken me a while to get around to this. I've read a bit, thought a bit, been a bit sad, and been quite pessimistic. Which (I feel) is unlike me.
Let's start by looking forward to the Ashes. I've watched with interest as Australia have lost to South Africa, and made life difficult for themselves against the Kiwis. In my opinion, if Australia lose on Friday, they will be stung in defeat and they will come fully-armed for the Ashes. If they don't come as a broken force, we will be in trouble. Even with a home advantage, I don't believe we will have the hunger necessary to win a test series against Australia.

Now let's look at England today. Who needs to be replaced? Mostly, the batsmen. Strauss, Cook, and Bell all need to go. Obviously Shah will replace Bell. A certain Rob Key could replace Strauss, and A.N. Other could replace A.N. Cook. But, you cry, what about the captaincy? Give it back to Pietersen, is the obvious answer. Someone in India reckons he is worth $1.55MM, and the captaincy for three weeks of a six-week season. Yet ECB have hung him out to dry. He may be an egomaniac, I don't care. What is good for Pietersen as England captain is good for the England team. KP wants to win? The team need wins. If KP drags the team dragging and screaming to winning ways, so be it. If it looks like the ECB are using KP, so be it. At this time, right now, a win is a win is a win.

Why did England lose, and get all out for 51? Several factors: working backwards:

• IPL auction - $1.55MM for KP & Freddie is going to impact on all psyches involved.
• Change of coach - Andy Flower may have been involved in the coaching team, but do the players see him as a leader
• Change of captain - I may regret this. Strauss may be a grower. However, I think KP showed he was thinking outside the box. He got Harmison back. He wanted Vaughan back for his strategic planning. He wanted to WIN. Strauss is a competent leader, but he is a fill-in, he's not inspirational. He's a care-taker captain.

I'm concerned that we are going to get mugged by the Windies here. Gayle is cited as being much matured. Sulaiman Benn has been a surprise. Taylor and Powell are on top of their game and I sweat every time Chanderpaul comes to the crease.
Can you single out English individuals in the same way? KP, as a batsman. Freddie is efficient but not killer. Monty the same. Harmison can be devastating, but not on every occasion.
Best wishes to the England team, but I'm calling a loss in the Windies.
TTFN (sadly).

More Cricket...

...up at 06:00 this morning to watch AUS vs NZ first ODI. Surprised to see Aus 50 for 5, but they improved to 180 all out. NZ aren't much better, 41 from 42 required to win. Will they do it? Quite an interesting game. No big boundaries, but evenly-balanced.
Superbowl XLIII tonight - my money's on the AZ Cardinals - quite literally. I've got colleagues who work in Phoenix, so I allowed myself a £2 wager at 5-1. Break out the Cristal!
TTFN.