Good show

* I hear that in one Twenty-20 match last week "the quarter seam was coming away from the ball big time" and that "the atmosphere on the pitch was poisonous". How nice that no-one complained and that all the team spokesmen behaved like gentlemen afterwards. Jolly good show.

* It is also the day when romance goes out of the window. Sri Lanka, led by their elegant batsman Mahele Jayawardene, edge their way to victory over the Irish who boldly thought they might find a place in the semi-finals. England, set aside their belief that the young leg spinner Adil Rashid can influence the outcome of a key game, bring back Ryan Sidebottom and - relying more on bouncers than googlies - send the holders India home.

* Just 24 days to go to the start of the Ashes, with Andrew Flintoff fit, Graeme Swann talking the best game anywhere on the planet and the Australians bogged down in Leicester. If England were to win the T-20 next week-end that might create a new betting market and one that would not amuse Greg Orry and his mates.