Speaker by Various Artists

Those two hours west, Sydney, provide the perfect time advantage for the last twenty or so overs - the glorious run chase or slow strangulation (gwad, the spectre of Woolmer's demise now hangs over us). The little one wakes up, you do the caring father routine and change nappies, administer milk and resettle... then a quick dash to a mate's or the nearest feral pub; a sneaky pint and a badly charred pie - heaven!

so what about today's (mis)match. Great clinical batting but the bowling didn't look so sharp. I'm afraid Tuffey won't be getting much more bowling in this tournament.

That continues to be a bizarre selection. With all respect to what he's done in the past, his current form is terrible, he hasn't been in the team for a couple of years, and he's making no impact over there.

Everyone knew it was a bad selection at the time, the numbers, and plain logic supported it being a bad decision, and we're seeing that come true. That rubbish about which way he moved the ball, getting wickets should be the key to selection, not which way you move the ball while you leak runs.

Poor Chris Martin must be feeling extremely ripped. You couldn't get much better figures than he's had this domestic season, to be replaced by someone who's going to do a lot of drink carrying. And if his lack of batting was _so_ important, then Adams should have been next cab, he's got a reasonable slog shot.

Poor Lou Vincent - injured by friendly fire no less. I feel sorry for this bloke since he seemed to be finding his feet after many years on the outer. Who'll open with Flem now, McCullum perhaps? I know the top order haven't really fired against a quality attack, but I was hopeful that Vincent and Flemming had the class to do it when required, I'm not so sure now...

Aussie's are quietly (shock) confident now having dispatched the Proteas so easily.

I wonder if Paddles got on the phone to Astle and quietly asked him "so, you said you'd lost the heart for the game. How you feeling this week?"

Because seriously, if Astle was up for it, he'd be the person you'd want there, recent bad form or not. He's a big game player and he's got the stats to back it up.

But no, they've gone with Hamish Marshall. Because another middle order batsman is essential when we lose our opener, and putting a Marshall in as ODI opener has worked really well for us in the past.