Richard - I really am very nice (for a grumpy old man) and I'm sincerely flattered by your assertion that only 'some' of what comes out of my mouth is crap - ipso facto some of it isn't.
You really do know something about cricket too, which I must confess did surprise me (some of your earlier postings were a little light on fact, to say the least). And of course I'm just pulling your leg about Spofta, sheep and the like. I never even mentioned Wellington and the 'unfortunate' connection boots going by that name have with sheep (and Welsh farmers), so I couldn't have been too serious. Most of the sheep-sha sorry, New Zealanders on Cricket Web have felt the sharp edge of my rapier-like wit, but they humour me. Treat me like a senile old great-uncle, wipe my chin when I dribble, that sort of thing.
What do I put England's results down to over the last 10 years? Apart from just being plain crap, you mean? Organisation and spirit, top to bottom. That's a serious reply, so you can rightly feel flattered in extracting one from me. The best signing England have made is that of Rod Marsh, because he's instilled an element of attitude and pride in the side. The league tables don't lie - a few years ago, England really were the worst test side in the world. Hussain was a superb appointment as captain too, because he was visible - and that's what players required. The worst thing they can do is congratulate themselves about what they've achieved in recent years, because second is still nowhere so fourth, fifth, sixth - wherever they are placed now - is doubly so.
