It's a lock out

The Australian writers who were locked out of the ground in Brisbane need not worry if the media dispute over images and online use makes it to parliament. Old John Howard will surely sort it out. Cricket has a funny habit of making the headlines when it comes to disputes such as this. Perhaps it is the slow pace of the game that allows the splash, as opposed to the Rugby and Soccer World Cups when governing bodies relent and everyone is happy.

The bottom image is Aggers famously reporting from Galle.

Lambeth gas Oval project

Lambeth Council has buffed Surrey's grand hospitality scheme thanks to the iconic gas works stationed close to the Brit Oval.

The Council has distanced itself from any impending explosion that may occur in Vauxhall and rejected Surrey's proposal for a 170-room hotel. The four star venture would replace the ugly banqueting suites by the pavilion and open up the ground's Victorian architecture for all to see.

The OCS stand by the Alec Stewart gates has made the Oval into a fantastic venue. I love the stand and the top balcony at mid-off is one of the best views in cricket in my opinion. In fact, my top five is: 1. Watching from Galle Fort 2. OCS Stand at The Oval 3. Tavern Stand at Lord's 4. Anywhere at Adelaide 5. A full-house at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

What's yours?

Cricket World's Island Diary No.4

The Asgiriya Stadium is staffed with knowledgable employees to help keep avid cricket fans up to date in the Test match. Unlike in Galle, there is a public announcer with details at each fall of wicket as well as landmark statistics. But it is the scoreboard operators that provoke more interest where around six young staff are manned. 24-year-old chief operator Naalem has been working at the ground for 12 years and his love for the game has seen him witness Marvan Attapattu's double century against Pakistan as well as favourite players Nasser Hussain and Chaminda Vaas.

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Kandy, dubbed the Manchester of Sri Lanka due to its indifferent rain patterns, is set to hold two international stadiums by August 2004, when the Pallekele venue, around 7kms from the city, is expected to be completed. Sri Lankan cricket signed an understanding in October with the stadium owners while the governing body is in talks with a foreign bank which would see international cricket being played for the next 10 years.

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Barmy Army rival group 'Wavy Navy', which first could be heard during the first Test in Galle, have arrived in force in Kandy. Although the group will have to wait until the third Test in the sea-port capital Colombo before they will feel at ease, t-shirts have been made and humorous, light-hearted exchanges heard between the two sets of fans. Under the signature 'Why join the Army when you can join the Navy', only around 10 t-shirts have been seen in the 30 rupee (18p) section of the ground.

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Finally, England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff's sweet smell of success with the bat may not be down to him bearing the fruits of hard work in the nets. He is also carrying a strawberry logo on the bottom of his bat this winter as part of a promotional push for girlfriend Rachel's new pr company.

Cricket World's Island Diary No.3

After close on five years living in Galle, British couple Joe and Jack Eden, grandson of former prime minister Anthony Eden, have developed their business of helping run and maintain villas in the city, but not just through hard work. Word-of-mouth and tourism to the south-west coast have flourished and as Cricket World discovered, staying in one of these beautiful villas (www.villasinsrilanka.com) is close on equal to having the privilege of watching a Test match here.

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UNESCO recently visited the Old Fort area, a world heritage site, to help develop Galle for its future. And after several years of the Citadel being unable to maintain various sites with the funds given to them, the development uinit at the University of London has drawn up plans which will see the Fort's ramparts being properly maintained and conserved, advertising on the city's tuk-tuks and a focus on urban regeneration in the principle.

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If the Australian batsmen find themselves in a spin next February, when they are due to tour Sri Lanka, they could no worse than finding solace in one of their country's own brand of wines. Aussie company Angoves specialises in exporting wines and has tapped Sri Lanka as one of the new emerging markets after previously sourcing India and China. Last month it shipped its first 700 cases to Colombo.

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Finally, former England legend Ian Botham, who is covering the tour for Sky Sports and Ten Sports, has been busy on two fronts. He arrived in Sri Lanka only last week only then to fly to Melbourne, Victoria to shoot the latest in his line of Shredded Wheat adverts before flying back on Monday in time for the first Test.