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Just time for a quick note on the antics of Kevin Pieterson over the weekend.  I was down in the big city watching Joseph so missed last weekends ODI, with the big man switching to a lefty and clubbing Scott Styris for six a couple of times.  I enjoyed watching it in the replays though.

A fairly predictable outcry emerged from certain quarters (mainly ex-bowlers of course) that it just wasn’t cricket.  However, in the main supporters and commentators alike are united in the view that it is a skill which should be rewarded and its up to the bowler to adapt accordingly.  One view from Nassar Hussain is that the bowler could either bounce or bowl body line as the batsman has to move early to get into position.

The good news from a supporters point of view is that the MCC have for once moved quickly and ruled it legal so we can look forward to some more fun and games over the next few matches.

The next thing to discuss is the debacle at Edgbaston yesterday, where 16000 fans and the New Zealand cricket team were denied a result by a combination of weather and rules.

There needs to be some flexibility with the rules and umpires should be allowed to apply commonsense where necessary.  As the rules stipulate that there is a 30 minute break between innings for one day matches they had a 30 minute break yesterday. This despite the game being reduced to 23 overs and the players being prepared to turn round in 10 minutes.

That meant that the only 19 overs were bowled as the rain came again and as 20 are required for a result to be valid the game was deemed a draw.  A disappointment for the Kiwis of course but also for the fans who had paid good money and then sat down in the rain for half the day to see a drawn match.

Sir Ian Botham as always spoke sense the other day during the last Test match.  It should not be down to the players to decide if they want to come off for bad light or rain.  We all know that  a team in a winning position will always come off given the choice, and a team chasing a victory will be prepared to bat in semi-darkness if they think  they might snatch the game.  All very well but hardly fair on the paying public.  Botham’s solution was to give the umpires control - they don’t “offer” the light - they make the decision based on light metres and conditions and its then the same for both teams.

Last night’s Twenty20 at Headingly was a classic example.  Yorkshire were chasing a rain stopped game but behind on Duckworth Lewis.  Therefore despite the fact that is was raining hard they continued to bat without complaint and managed to win with a couple of balls left.  Had they been winning then they would no doubt have walked at the first opportunity and the crowd, (which included my girlfriend) would have been deprived an exciting climax. (Make up your own jokes there…).

If the ICC want to build on the popularity that Twenty20 and limited over cricket has brought to the game, then they have to keep moving with the times to keep the momentum and the crowds interested.