I’M really looking forward to watching the England cricket team do battle in India this winter.
It’s one of the most challenging tours of the lot, and one which will provide a severe examination for new captain Alastair Cook on his first assignment since taking over from Andrew Strauss.
Regular readers will know I love my cricket, and I’m delighted Kevin Pietersen is back in the fold and there to add his brilliance to our middle order on the sub-continent.
It was interesting to hear Graeme Swann talking about setting off on tour when he has a young family at home.
He says you just have to factor that into your life, because touring in winter is part and parcel of the job for an England cricketer.
If you want to play for England, you have to be ready to spend a long time away from home and a long time living out of a suitcase.
England will certainly be doing that this winter, because they play four Tests in India in the weeks before Christmas, return home for a short break, and then go back to play a load of one-dayers.
When they have finished over there, they come back home before heading off to New Zealand and another month or two away from their families.
I remember seven weeks was more than enough for me in London when I had my loan spell at Tottenham, so how on earth they fill in the time during a three-month tour is totally beyond me.
Our lads, I know, are used to it and I know they are determined to do well this winter.
England are focused on regaining the No1 Test ranking they lost last summer, and the make-up of the team, particularly the spinners, will be fascinating.
