IF ONLY...

The gloomy mood brought on by the harsh winter weather of the past week has been lightened by the Test Match between England and South Africa in Cape Town. It`s turning out to be one of the great series of Test Matches and although England may be 1-0 up and therefore can`t lose the series, the outcome of the final match starting next Thursday is anyone`s guess.

This series, like last summer`s Ashes and the one in 2005, has confirmed once again - if any confirmation was ever needed - that Test Match cricket is real cricket, the pinnacle of the game and however commercially successful the other forms of the game might be, it`s still the five day game that really matters. And in a series in which there have been so many outstanding performances of skill, determination and concentration, I have been especially pleased to see Ian Bell, pictured above holding his own, finally establish himself.

Now, Bell has played in over 50 Test Matches for England but he has never really been sure of his place. Despite scoring nine centuries and making other useful contributions, he never been really convincing or inspired confidence. Until this week, when he played an innings of hitherto uncharacteristic grit and determination to help stave off England`s likely defeat. I confess to have been critical in the past about Bell`s selection and his apparent fragility and so it is a real pleasure now to see that he has at last come of age, shown that he has what it takes and, for his sake, hopefully dispelled any doubts about his talent and ability. In short, I`m pleased for him.

Watching the game from Newlands on tv, which was played in glorious sunshine and high temperatures, it struck me that international cricketers really do have life worked out. They follow the sun, they are to be seen playing the game they love in the summers of all the cricketing nations of the world and they seldom, if ever, have to contend with the arctic conditions we are currently having here.

If only I had stuck with the game rather than giving up playing when I was in my early 20s, if only I had built on the foundation of consistently doing the Basted Double of 100 runs and ten wickets in a season, if only I had sharpened up my right arm unpredictables and curbed my penchant for flashing outside the off stump, I might now not be suffering the slings and arrows of this outrageous winter. If only......