Keep an eye out for an Ashes promo on Sky Sports, which features me surfing on Manly Beach.

We filmed it this week and in reality, I was sitting on a chair in Wilmslow, which I suppose isn't quite as glamorous.

I'd love to have a go at surfing for real - not in Australia because I don't want to be eaten - but I'm always envious when I see the surfers in Cornwall. I reckon it's like riding a bike.

India: will test England next summer

The advert is based around a nightmare that Warney has and features all of the Sky Sports commentators. You'll be able to see the finished thing in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, Australia have had a bit of a nightmare themselves against India. Their attack just isn't suited to those conditions and you need a pitch with a bit more spice in it to take on this India side.

They'll be much stronger on home soil for the Ashes, but I feel Australia are vulnerable at the moment.

In contrast, India are a terrific team right now. If MS Dhoni is coming in at number seven, you know you've got a pretty good line-up.

What's particularly pleasing is the fact they've unearthed three young players to play around Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar (who, by the way, gets better and better - what an appetite for the game). It looks like Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Suresh Raina are the real deal.

Zaheer Khan is a very special bowler too and I think we'll see a terrific series against England next summer.

In fact, with Sri Lanka touring here as well, we should be in for a great summer. England play three of the better teams in the world in the next few months - and there's the World Cup sandwiched in the middle - so we'll learn a lot about how good we are.

I'm clear in my mind that England are a very good team and they should be competitive against Australia, Sri Lanka and India, but they've still got to win against those sides.

On that subject, I'm pleased by the ICC's plan to revamp the Test match structure. After a four-year period the top four teams will play-off to find out who's the best team.

That's a great idea because you want to see the best teams playing against each other as much as possible.

Savage Tweets

It's all kicked off on Twitter between Robbie Savage and Darren Gough.

It seems Robbie wasn't too impressed with Dazzler's comments about the England football team on a radio show. All I'd say is there are plenty of journalists, who pass comment on football and cricket who've never played professional sport.

I know Robbie from the village and he's a good guy. I think he's great on the radio because he winds everybody up and gets them going - just like when he was a player.

He knows what he's doing and I'm sure the BBC don't mind a bit of extra publicity. I love it when people ring up and say: "I hate to say this, but I agree with you Robbie..."

He's the villain of the piece and he knows it.

Power to the People

I'm outraged by the decision not to commission another series of Bellamy's People. What are the BBC thinking?

If you haven't seen it, then have a look on YouTube because it's one of the funniest TV shows around. It's by the same people that did the Fast Show and it's just as funny. It's right up there with Fawlty Towers and stuff like that.

I've been talking about it on Twitter and I'm certain I got a Tweet from Adil Ray, who plays Mr Khan, the community leader. I also like Felix Dexter, who plays the mature African student and Early D, the Jamaican entrepreneur. It's side-splitting stuff.

So save Bellamy's People - and don't forget to watch yours truly in Dictionary Corner on Countdown all week as well!

Off on tour

Also this week, I've been going through the format for my 'Start the Car' tour with the cricket writer Peter Hayter.

If you want a bit of a taster for it, let me tell you this: I was an only child and my parents wanted a girl called Gwyneth. It's amazing how I've turned out.

If you want to know more, come to the tour. The dates are here.

That's all for this week. I'm off to the Cheltenham Literary Festival with Athers and Aggers.

Don't ask!

back to top