Ashes 3rd Test

[Sweder]

Shayne Warne is many things and certainly not all of them savoury, but in cricketing terms he's a genius. For those who think that's bandying a word like 'genius' around a little too easily I defer to the great Ritchie Beneaud who used the term to describe the loud-mouthed pie-eater. Personally I prefer the term 'wizard' - the bloke manages to strike fear into the hearts of men where moments before all was calmness and serenity (OK, perhaps not but you catch my drift).

I won't miss his ridiculous hystrionics (for which he should have been slung out of the current series) but then are not most genii (geniuses? ), at least in sporting terms, flawed? Ali, Best, Senna, they all had self-inflicted burdens to lug through their remarkable careers.

I see McGrath is also bailing out, post-World Cup in his case.
Only a cynic would suggest he is doing so only because his much repeated 'whitewash' prediction has a very real chance of coming true this time. On the subject of painful Aussie boasting (yes, you Glenn) I recently received a number of jolly japes aimed at our brave boys from some beer-swilling, fly-swatting toad in Coffs Harbour. Here's a sample:

Q: What d'you call an Englishman with 100 against his name?
A: A bowler

Q: What is the height of optimism?
A: An English batsman applying sunscreen

Q: What does Ashley Giles put in his hands to make sure the next ball almost always takes a wicket?
A: A bat

There are plenty more where that came from, but you get the idea.
Sigh. Oh well, I suppose we've got a couple of dead rubbers to 'enjoy' now.
That and the last two tests . . . eye thangyow!