Harsh but Fair

You know how it is. You get on a bus and sit down, minding your own business.

Soon after you've taken your seat you become aware that the bloke behind you is taking part in a loud mobile phone conversation, which you can't avoid listening to. It's usually banal, but sometimes it's interesting and sometimes it's amusing. Rarely, in England, will it feature anything whatsoever to do with cricket.

Most of today's was about horses and horse racing, which have never done much for me, but then the conversation turned to the ridiculous performance of the England football team in last night's World Cup game against Algeria in Cape Town.

Talking about the reaction of one of his friends to the circus which was unfolding before their eyes, I picked up the words:

'He said it was worse than watching Graeme Smith bat'.