The house that Jacques built

I met a South African on Saturday night who told me about his reasons to come and live in the UK. Lack of work opportunities were the main reason before we touched on quotas in rugby and then tequila.

It seems Jacques Rudolph is doing the same. The talented 26-year-old has just signed a Beckham-esque contract with Yorkshire (last week mind, but there were no blogs). He wants to represent England, look for a house next year and probably run the Dales with Hoggie at some point. Rudolph's quotes upon signing must also rate as the longest:

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my first season with Yorkshire , both on and off the pitch. Everything about the Club is professional, supportive and focussed on getting results. The infrastructure and administration is first-rate and it has allowed me to concentrate all of my efforts on playing and enjoying my cricket, which has been very important to me. The quality of coaches, players and facilities is superb and there are exciting times ahead. I’m really pleased to have signed the new contract and look forward to seeing the Yorkshire lads again in March next year for pre-season training. We can then concentrate on winning some matches and trophies for Yorkshire . In the mean-time I am focussed on playing for Eagles in South Africa where we are looking to build on a winning start to the domestic season over here.”

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.

Pedigree Hogg

With the news that Marston's, the ale brand made famous by IPA and Pedigree, has been appointed official beer of the England cricket team there can only be one player fit to lead the company to the Ashes and beyond.

In an advert fit for Hovis, you can just picture swing merchant Matthew Hoggard coming off the Dales, taking off his wellies and supping a nice pint of Pedigree in the local. The company will partner England in a three-year deal and Hoggard could be an integral part of the brand's Ashes campaign, if this familiar urn posture is anything to go by.

The Wankhede chapter

An announcement was made over the scorer's microphone in the Press Box yesterday - by our very own Nobok Legend Farokh Engineer.

It came shortly after tea and began: "Hi I'm Farokh Engineer. Some of you may remember me...." although he didn't launch in to how he nearly scored a ton before lunch.

He was upset with sections of the Indian crowd and was embarrassed as a Bombayite. Farokh was having a drink with Andrew Flintoff and Matthew Hoggard the previous night and the pair were upset at the abuse the England captain was given on the field. Of the printable banners on view one read "Hoggie is a Doggie".

Booing Sachin Tendulkar and now barraging the England captain? What will happen if the Little Master gets a pair and Freddie does a lap of honour?

***

The Wankhede may look an imposing ground for the players in the middle, but on further inspection things are slightly different.

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) built the Wankhede to take over from the Brabourne as Bombay's primary Test venue in 1975. It holds 50,000, floodlights were installed in 1996, but that's about the size of it.

If you can imagine a sloping glassed squash court then that's what the Press Box resembles. Dried paint which has dripped from hurried workmen is evident on the windows, while around the ground the seats have the same - only there's more dust.

Police security employed by the MCA has also been attendance and the treatment forced MCC president Robin Marlar to walk out in disgust at lunch on the first day; none was laid on anyway.

***

At the close of play press conference, even Indian journalists were amazed at the treatment handed out to the media. Half of the reporters were stopped from hearing what Andrew Strauss had to say, and a fight ensued, involving some British media.

Plain bazaar

Behind the Taj Hotel there is a long stretch of stalls known as Colaba Market. Haggling for some jewellery off these wise Indian vendors is a fine art, but I soon found my way and by the end of the stretch came away happy.

Many of the ex-England players out here have seen their fair share of markets during their touring years, but for Athers it's a more surreal shopping experience he can recall.

England were on a trip up the Khyber Pass in the early 90s and found themselves at a bazaar in the mountains. Not known at the time for their love of cricket in Afghanistan, the players were amazed at what happened next.

Athers and Nasser got off the team bus and ventured into the stalls. The former Lancashire opener takes up the story. "We weren't up for any haggling but remarkably and amazingly everyone knew who we were. They all had their little picture cards with Atherton, Hussain and Thorpe.

"These days the players don't really get out much. The ECB have their own security measures and seem to make it compulsory to keep the players under lock and key. I don't think it is necessary myself but that is the way it goes."

***

Which player will walk away from Mumbai with the sponsor's red motorbike as part of the man of the match prizes? Will Hoggy be seen doing another lap of honour to the dismay of BCCI officials, who now count the Wankhede as the governing body's new home?

Whoever it is, the tax will be waived on the bike as it is seen as a prize and not a gift. Four years ago, however, saw a different story when Sachin Tendulkar was gifted a Ferrari 360 Modeno by Fiat for equalling Sir Don Bradman's record of 29 Test centuries.

The 120 percent import duty was waived by India's Finance Minister after the car was flown in by Air France from Paris the following year. A high court notice was soon issued on the Little Master to pay the outstanding duty, but Sachin still had a fleet to choose from in his garage.

***

The Nobok Legends out in India like nothing better than to kick back with a gin and tonic after a hard day's stint behind the mic.

But their thirst was scuppered in Nagpur when there was no sign of Schweppes' classic yellow India tonic water. They even had to send out their tour operator to find a batch, but all a local could find were a load of Isotonic drinks.

A quick glance in the Taj Hotel bar says they'll be fine in Mumbai.