The next best thing?

I think I have changed my mind. After years of neglecting those porcelain, dog-pictured plates on the back of magazines, there is now a suitable replacement for worst tack award.

The ABC blog reports that Cricket Australia has come up with a new marketing baby. Literally.

'Steve, the Little Aussie Supersub' apparently feels just like the real thing thanks to its 'Realtouch vinyl skin'.

And like ABC, I've got the creeps. It links to the Sydney Morning Herald, where it says "for the likes of Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson, who do not yet have any children, it may be just the thing to ward off the loneliness on tour."

However, Steve is still not able to solve Ricky Ponting's current bowling problems.