ECBTv has been up and running for a little while now, and seeing as a lot of people come to this site to find out how to view cricket on their PC, I did a little more research. The first thing that struck me, is that the ECBTv website is out of date - it’s still telling you that you can subscribe to watch England vs Pakistan, which has obviously finished. Secondly though, I was struck by a notice that said “live coverage is not available in your area”. Interesting. Read the small print and it becomes a lot more interesting:

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Shane Warne is once again in the news for something other than cricket, and this time it’s nothing to do with his allegedly lascivious extra-Cricketicular (get it?) activities. Nope, once again his image is at stake - specifically his hair.

An advert for a hair-loss treatment featuring Shane Warne has been found in breach of industry rules.

His appearance in the Advanced Hair Studio advert was seen as celebrity endorsement of a treatment which uses medicine.

After getting banned in 2003 for failing a drugs test (claiming his “mum” told him to take it) you’d think he might be a bit more careful. But then that’s always been his problem - the diuretic he took are commonly used to control weight. But when you’re the world’s best bowler, I suppose you can afford to be a little cocky.

P.S. Shane Warne’s middle name is Keith.

P.P.S. Instead of advocating miracle cures to baldness, perhaps Warnie should have a look at Baldiness - a helpful blog for the folically challenged!

England started the Sri Lanka test series with some confident batting. After Freddie successfully called the toss and elected to bat, Trescothick and Strauss did a good job of getting the England innings underway. Strauss fell on 48 on the last ball before lunch, England on 87-1. When play resumed in the afternoon, newbie Alastair Cook showed little sign of nerves as he hit a stunning 87. Trescothick looked his usual best, thwapping a century before being dismissed by Murali. Cook was dismissed late in the day to bring Matthew Hoggard in as night watchman, to join England poser Kevin Pietersen, not out on 58 at stumps, England at 313-3.

A very solid start, and with Sri Lanka’s bowlers looking ropey at best, on a wicket that is looking like it will only improve for bowlers in the coming days, England will surely aim to build a first innings lead of 600 and bowl the Sri Lankans out twice*.

* Cue stunning collapse, England all out for 320 in the first hour tomorrow

I for one am getting thoroughly confused. I’ve been that busy recently that I’ve been a little slack on keeping up with what’s going on in the cricket world. So you can imagine my bewilderment. Brian Lara was captain of the West Indies, was crap, so wasn’t anymore. The he was again, was again crap, and wasn’t again. And goshdarnit if he’s not captain of the West Indies for a third time. It’s true. So how long before they again realise he’s still a crap captain and he gets the arse?

But that’s not all. Because last time I checked, Shahid Alfridi was taking a break from Test cricket. Now it seems that was a complete figment of my imagination as he’s back in the Pakistani Test squad.

And things come in threes - yep, I thought the days of comical cricketing W.G. Grace facial hair were over the day that Merv Hughes (top) hung up his bowling socks. And as King Cricket agrees, South African (of Muslim descent) Hashim Amla (bottom) has made a welcome entry to the test arena - not because of his century against New Zealand - but because of his legendary chinwarmer. And what a boof it is.

It’s looking less and less likely. The BBC today announced plans to phase out 48-year old Grandstand the staple of any sporting enthusiasts television diet. Having covered epic sporting encounters such as the 1966 World Cup final, the BBC is where I first started watching cricket - when there was actually test coverage on the BBC.

In those days, the England team was made up of Graham Gooch, Allan Lamb, Mike Gatting and David Gower. We had fast bowlers like Derek Pringle and Neil Foster. The Australian side was as good (if not better) than it is today, with the likes of Allan Border, Ian Healy, David Boon, Steve Waugh and Merv Hughes dominating. The West Indies were actually a side worth playing - Malcolm Marshall, Patrick Patterson, Gordon Greenidge and Vic Richards. Being young, 5 day test matches seemed like they lasted 3 weeks. My brother and I would have the television as close to the garden as possible with the sound turned up - we’d be in the garden playing cricket and listening out for the action on the television. At the fall of a wicket, we’d drop everything to rush inside and see the replay. [Sticks for wickets, tennis balls with holes in, the old conifer at extra cover. Jumpers for goalposts. Them were the days. OK, Grandad, enough.]

This latest move is a strong signal - the BBC is losing its grip. They claim they’re still interested in Sport, but they simply can’t compete with Sky anymore. Their coverage of the 888.com Snooker World Championships has been exemplary, as usual. But the promising looking link on the BBC Sport Cricket homepage “Live Cricket on the BBC” leaves a little to be desired. Test match special is one thing (an institution in itself) and for those who have access to a radio whilst games are on are in for an aural treat, but I for one want to watch the cricket. I sold myself to the devil and currently enjoy Sky.

When the BBC realise that not everyone in England enjoys football and there are burgeoning number of people who want to watch the cricket, the sooner they’ll show evidence that they actually understand that making changes is good, but making the rights changes is better.