Sunday semi round-up

England have yet to get a grip of themselves Down Under (what Freddie must be thinking as captain?), but at least the media have found some salvation in the form of Ian Bell and his growing confidence as a batsman.

The shorter game, of course, still eludes England. The really limited overs game saw England caught out as well as Dominic Cork's men were soundly thrashed in the Hong Kong Sixes yesterday... by the hosts.

If you are travelling to the Caribbean, I would take the Independent's advice and check out some of the sites of St Lucia over what could be some dour cricket played by England at the Beausejour Stadium.

News reaches Nutley of a leaked ICC document which sounded out Darrell Hair as the governing body's second best umpire before his controversial sacking.

Meanwhile, take a look at what England's movements will be this week, courtesy of Scyld Berry in the Sunday Telegraph.

Hong Kong... phooo-ey, another six

The only Ashes connection with today's post is England's stop-over on their way to Sydney. Perhaps that is where they should have stayed after today's performance in Canberra.

As it is, the team took their connecting flight via Hong Kong, where the annual sixes tournament take place this weekend.

Dominic Cork will lead England, under David Graveney's management, and they look to be favourites judging by the line-ups of some of the other participating squads. A look back through the archives suggests these five-over slogathons tend to go down to the wire. Take 1997, when Pakistan chased down England's 70-5.

In a tournament where tight bowling is key (no place for Saj Mahmood's confidence) skipper Adam Hollioake bowled his allotted one over last-up; England looking in control as Pakistan needed 17 from it. With Wasim Akram 30*, it fell to Zahoor Elahi to strike 4,4,6,4 before Hollioake bowled a wide to hand Pakistan a thrilling win. Anyway, catch all the weekend's action here.

**Matthew Hoggard is posting some video blogs to the Times this winter, and judging by the first few entries, these could prove entertaining if England start by winning the first few Tests.