It’s good to see that the sense of humour that has helped Andrew Strauss get this far in life is still with him as he contemplates England’s Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia in Centurion on Friday.

“You are only as good as your last game and we trounced them at Chester-le-Street,” the England captain said as his team wrapped up their preparations on Thursday. “I think we have a hold on them.”

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If this Champions Trophy is remembered for anything other than Jesse Ryder’s excellent moustache, it’ll be for captains having to make decisions about the spirit of the game. Andrew Strauss recalling Angelo Mathews after he was run out following a mid-pitch collision and then Daniel Vettori allowing Paul Collingwood to stay after he was stumped following the end of an over.

Then there was Strauss’s decision to not allow Graeme Smith a runner after getting cramp. Again, that was clearly the right call. Or was it? Read the rest of this entry »

Injured all-rounder’s hindquarters reveal all about bum-muscle scan scare

This last week really brought home the ups and downs of being a professional sportsman’s bottom. Needing a scan at this stage of an international tournament is obviously a massive disappointment and it’s sad to think that last time I was getting this much media coverage, it was for being naked in Cosmopolitan.

Believe me, having people write: “Is Broad’s arse suffering from fatigue?” and “StuBo’s bum burnout” is a hell of a long way from walking down the street and hearing people shouting: “Cor look at the buns on that highly promising young allrounder, what an incredible temperament for a young derrière”, and I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t got to me.

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