Adelaide Diary: Poker, spin & sledges

By far the best Adelaide station to wake up to - in my case 4am at the moment - is Triple M. The Adelaide version had 12th Man creator Billy Birmingham on this morning talking about its success, and Nutley was quick enough to record the classic interview. There is a new 12th Man CD out which features a Kerry Packer sketch; Richie phones up heaven and interrupts a poker game with the late media magnate, the Apostles and Jesus. You'll hear me laughing in the background during this mmmarvellous bit of comedy, and you can download it here.
***
There is something rhythmical watching Australia in the nets. The day before the fifth Test at the Oval last summer, it was England who had the confidence: Trescothick, Strauss, Bell and Flintoff batting as one in the nets, almost at ease with everything going on around them. Yesterday, Australia looked the part: Gilchrist pulling effortlessly, Ponting making the net bowlers look just that, and Warne, with one pad on, playing the six balls left, 10 to win game. He then treated the 100 spectators to a spin class with the aid of mentor Terry Jenner, who was helping his pupil with flight and drift in a particularly long session.
***
After yesterday's news of a possible Adelaide streak, last night witnessed humiliation for one Aussie at least. A mad-keen supporter named Simon had a bet last year that England would not win the Ashes. At 5pm he had to walk across the Birkenhead Bridge in Port Adelaide in nothing but a pair of Union Jack underpants. Local businesses and people from the community saw him take the "Walk of Shame", although it is not known whether he has since tipped England to regain the urn.
***
It may be day one in Adelaide (and for UK readers, waking up at last to a promising start) but England could have been reminded of what might have been in Brisbane, thanks to a You Tube clip sent in by Dan. Ian Botham blasting 22 in one over off Merv Hughes is classic Beef on ball stuff. There is one rarely heard sledge surrounding this over - coming from one of the Swerve's own team-mates. When Dean Jones tossed the ball back to Hughes after a huge flay from Beefy, he said: "Jeez, Merv, that one went so far it should have qualified for frequent flyer points."