CHICKENS AND MARATHONS

Today`s press is all about the Adelaide Test Match.  Never mind Wikileaks, never mind the economic crises facing Euroland, never mind the shennanigans with North Korea or Iran, never mind even the shrill aftermath of FIFA`s open, transparent and perfectly fair selection of Russia and Qatar to host the next football World Cups.   Not much else seems to matter in the world of English cricket lovers than to read reams of newsprint and watch countless tv replays of England`s crushing defeat of Australia yesterday morning in Adelaide.

And on yet another bitingly cold, snow covered winter`s day, it all makes for good reading and watching.   It`s tempting also to revel in the verdicts dished out to Ponting`s hapless team by the Aussie press - the Melbourne Age calling for heads to roll, the Sydney Herald fearful that this Aussie team would struggle to beat Bangaldesh.  I haven`t been able to track down any condemnation from an Adelaide newspaper - maybe the Crafers West Bugle will have something to say?

But here`s the thing.   England captain Andrew Strauss, the England management and old hands like me are eschewing any sense of triumphalism, especially on the evidence of just one win so far in a five match series.   For we`ve been here before. We have counted chickens and lived to see them fail to roost and we remind ourselves that one thing the Aussies will never do is shrug their shoulders and give up without a fight.  

So whilst I might be inwardly punching the air and enjoying the moment, I remind myself that any proper Test Match series against Australia is almost the ultimate sporting marathon.   One thing it ain`t is a sprint and we`re a long way from the finish line yet.

So far, so good.  That`s all.