With the sort of impeccable timing which tends to escape England's one day batsman the domestic cricket season begins today, just 24 hours after the national side's World Cup challenge came to a humiliating end in the Caribbean.
Oh well, it was to be expected really wasn't it? And at least nobody can blame Steve Harmison for the embarrassment this time because he's down here in Worcester with Durham and didn't even bowl a ball - at second slip or otherwise - in the World Cup!
Harmison's decision to retire from one day cricket - before he was dropped if the cynics are to be believed - has proven to be the correct one. The Ashington Express' reputation has soared in his absence from the farce and, instead, he will be able to concentrate on finding his rhythm and form playing for his county ahead of the start of the Test Series against the West Indies in 30 days time.
As for the World Cup challenge, I'll be honest, I wasn't even bothered. Partly because I'm not a big fan of one day cricket, but mainly because I always knew it would end in disaster. England have been useless at one day cricket for more than a decade and that wasn't going to change just because they were playing in the World Cup was it?
There was about as much hope of England winning the World Cup as there was of the tournament being completely washed out by rain in the Caribbean. Or, if you prefer, there was about as much chance of England winning the tournament as there was of an Australian being gracious in victory!
No point getting worked up over nothing as I'm sure some wise person said once. Far better to get wound up about the state of Newcastle United or the fact Leyton Orient are in relegation danger and need to win at Bradford City on Saturday to avoid falling back into the bottom four for the first time this year!
Now that's stressful. What isn't stressful is the first day of the cricket season, long days with the sound of leather on willow. After the trials and tribulations of the football season, it's bliss.
Mind you, there is already something wrong with the domestic season. It's the first day of the campaign and it's not even raining. Nope, the sun is shining into the press box, the usual mix of pensioners and jobless are wearing short-sleeved shirts and Durham have elected to bat! Let's hope we don't see anything of Harmison for a couple of days then!
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