Point-scoring in county cricket is never a simple business. No three-for-a-win here. Instead, teams gather a hatful of points for a win, and then there are baffling bonuses for batting and bowling feats. Followers of the Championship are forgiven for wondering what a win means exactly. And the tinker-happy ECB has just announced more changes for 2010.

There will be 16 points for a win (compared to 14 last year) and three for a draw (four last year). Bonus points stay the same (five batting, three bowling), but teams will have 110 first-innings overs to scoop them up (10 fewer than in 2009). Quite obviously, this encourages positive cricket, and, as such, the changes should be applauded.

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The Australians, as a nation, like a drink and a joke and most people love them for it. It’s far more fun to sit with the Aussie Fanatics than the Barmy Army. Trust me, I’ve done both.

Yet, over the last 15 years, their cricket team has failed to reproduce this spirit. Aside from the snarling comedy of Shane Warne, we’ve had to deal with the humourless Steve Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Justin Langer, Glenn McGrath … this list could end up longer than Tiger Woods’ little black book.

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