For many years England's cricket team had one reliable batsman. A character with the resolve of Geoff Boycott not to let his nation lose when he was on the field. Often he was successful and often he merely postponed the inevitable.

Imagine my shock and horror when I discover that the rain has decided that he would rather play for Australia than England. Imagine my disgust at the memories of all those test matches he saved just by being there to thwart India, the W. Indies and even Australia. This is just a terrible tradgedy for English cricket, when even our own weather refuses to play for us.