After a fantastic Test Series between Australia and India, Friday’s 20/20 was an absolute letdown, with Australia hammering the hapless Indians by nine wickets and bowling them out for 74, the second lowest score in 20/20 history.  The Aussies strolled to victory from 12 overs, only losing one wicket.  This meagre match must have been a huge disappointment to the massive crowd of 80,000, a wonderful attendance that only a place like Melbourne can facilitate.

Meanwhile, England’s One Day players will have begun to acclimatise themselves to the time difference in New Zealand, and tomorrow contest the first of two 20/20 internationals.  There are plenty of places available to play for in Paul Collingwood’s team and it will be interesting to see who gets picked for the first international game.

The Kiwis, of course, are already without their fastest and most dangerous bowler, Shane Bond, who last week had his contract terminated after signing a lucrative three year deal to play in the Indian Cricket League.  There are big numbers on offer to the players, which I guess is far more interesting to some countries; New Zealand being one where their international players do not earn the same amounts of money as some of the top international countries.

Andrew Flintoff’s rehabilitation takes another step forward this week when his cricket rehab really gets underway with a two and a half week trip to India; half of it with the Lions team and the other half with some of his Lancashire team mates. He’ll have a great chance to work on his batting outdoors and there will be lots and lots of willing bowlers.  He is really looking forward to working hard on his cricket again having had another long spell on pure fitness rehabilitation under the ever watchful eye of Dave ‘Rooster’ Roberts.

Good luck to the England lads this week, let’s hope they can start the tour off on the winning foot for what should be very exciting international cricket.