Six month wait is nearly over...

A few days ago I was surrounded by Chinese food and beer as well as a group of my oldest, dearest friends.  We had a great night chatting about all the things we love and find interesting.  Despite being just a month away from a general election, not a single word was spoken about politics.  I expect this would be unusual in a gathering of ten people in their forties but I’m proud that my friends don’t buy into the charade.  

Elly Griffiths’  “The House at Sea’s end” is another in the Ruth Galloway series with all the familiar characters pooping up in another murder mystery set in north Norfolk.  I’m beginning to think this rural idyll is actually a dangerous place to live!  The stories are well told and the cast is easy to warm to.  This one isn’t the best of the bunch but its still a good read.

Here we are on the eve of a Test match series at long last.  It starts tomorrow in Antigua and England have to start as favourites but West Indies are always unpredictable these days.  Sitting here tonight eight England players look sure to play if fit but there are question marks on a few others.Of the eleven that lined up against India last August, Robson has been dropped and his replacement looks likely to be good old Trotty.  Moeen and Woakes are both injured so will England replace them with two all-rounders in Stokes and Rashid?  Will Tredwell play as spinner?  Will Jordan hang on to his place?  Back here in England Paul Downton has been sacked from whatever his job was and the path for the KPego’s return is getting clearer.

As for WI I haven’t a clue.  Like many English fans I grew to love the great players of the Lloyd/Richards era and admired the cricket they played.  I’d love to see a competitive West Indies side and with a new coach in Phil Simmons they have something to prove.  Gayle is injured and there will probably be a few new faces amongst the experienced Samuels, Ramdin and Chanderpaul.  

I reckon the pitches for this series will be prepared to last five days so the local economy can milk as much revenue from the test matches as possible.  I think England should be good enough to bowl WI out twice and win 2-0.  England  must hit the ground running ahead of two tough home series this summer.