Visitors to this blog may have noticed an omission in the last few days - no progress report on England's attempt to retain the Ashes, the every 18-month cricket battle between Australia and England. A little while ago I suggested that I'd be very happy if England was boringly 3-0 up in the series at this stage and I could claim my winnings (I bet A$500 at 2-1). I was nearly correct. The score is 3-0 but the wrong way round and I have had to concede the bet and any pride in the 2005 victory in England.

The defeat has been crushing but the strange thing is that, apart from the first match where England were completely dire throughout, the other two could have (or even should) have been won at various times. Apart from the obvious talent and professionalism of many of the Australian players I can't help thinking that a significant difference was about leadership. Somehow, England just didn't have it. This is the England manager after the defeat - his face says it all.

For more detail on all this disappointment go to the Ashes on cricinfo. In spite of this gloom - or maybe as an antidote - some cricket books are doing really well in Britain. My favourite, Wisden Anthology,was made Book of the Week in the Sunday Times and garnered this great review in the Guardian. I quote from the beginning of the ST review:

'If Wisden is cricket's Bible, here is the New Testament.'

The book, all 1300 pages and £40 worth, has reprinted and, hallelujah, a major bookshop chain has finally agreed to purchase some copies for sale at Christmas - better late than never. Perhaps they should have read my previous blog and taken note.

Finally on cricket someone sent me this rather unkind joke about England's cricketers.

Billy was at school this morning and the teacher asked all the children what their fathers did for a living. All the typical answers came out, fireman, policeman, salesman, chippy, captain of industry etc, but Billy was being uncharacteristically quiet and so the teacher asked him about his father.

"My father is an exotic dancer in a gay club and takes off all his clothes in front of other men. Sometimes if the offer is really good, he'll go out with a man, rent a cheap hotel room and let them sleep with him."

The teacher quickly set the other children some work and took little Billy aside to ask him if that was really true.

"No" said Billy, "He plays cricket for England but I was just too embarrassed to say."