Xmas Lunch

Our readers probably don’t want to hear this but it’s 25 degrees Centigrade here with not a cloud in the sky. The Xmas buffet was in the function room on the 8th floor and the first opportunity to meet the rest of the group. Over the next fortnight we will be going to the cricket, New Years Eve, a wine excursion and travel to Sydney.

One lady had been to Cape Town on the same tour as me but we did not recognise each other. Since then she has become a widow and was sad. I admired her for not wallowing in melancholia and coming on this trip on her own. The two other ladies were close friends and had travelled together before. They both enjoyed their cricket,  One – Eleanor – had played cricket with Rachel Heyhoe Flint.

Alexander is a farmer. When he said he would like to see Donald Tusk’s head on a pike at the Tower there was load approval … but not from me. One of the many reasons I dislike that disastrous referendum was for the first time people seemed happy to disclose their views and expected you to do the same. I soon directed the conversation to cricket, the purpose of our visit. Of the final two of our group – Chris and Shoko – there was no sign.

I am not a big fan of buffets, loud Xmas pop music and noisy children – all three of which were much in evidence in the room. Nonetheless I have had less enjoyable Xmas lunches and the general view was that we cleared the first meeting well and the group would get on. All are knowledgeable on cricket and I foresee many interesting discussions.

How will the fourth Test go? The Aussies do not have Mitchell Starc so the Tasmanian Jackson Bird, without much game practice, steps up. Tim Curran comes in for Craig Overton, no Mason Crane who may well debut in Sydney where he played grade cricket. England need performances from Stuart Broad, Alistair Cook and Joe Root to get a result. Personally I am not confident.