I was lucky enough to be at the ICC Champions trophy final on Saturday with my friend Mike. What a match! It was absolutely pitch dark by the end and with SJ Harmison bowling at 96mph you have to hand it to the Windies: the lads done terrific as they say in Montego Bay. It was fairly parky for a day's cricket (I swear I've been skiing in warmer temperatures) but the action was hot hot hot. Lara's catch to get rid of Freddie; Strauss's catch to get rid of Sarwan; Banger's ton: it was all top quality stuff. There was banter aplenty in the crowd and best of all I got a chance to see, well, my heros. For once I was actually one of the people standing to applaud Freddie as he returned to the boundary after more heroics with the ball. I was amongst all the noise as Harmy roared in to bowl. I was amongst the people being amazed at just how far away the wicket-keeper and slips stand when Harmy was bowling - it's a good thirty yards!

Looking around the crowd, and seeing so many Asian faces, I couldn't help but think of the Tebbit Test. Do you remember the brou-ha-ha old Normo Tebbs caused when he denounced British Asians for supporting Pakistan or India and not England in Cricket? Well this weekend the stands were full of young Sikhs in turbans and St George's flags, Asian families in England shirts and caps. Maybe they had bought tickets hoping to see India or Pakistan in the final but were supporting England. But would they have bought the gear just for that? Even if they did then at least it's not the old "anyone but England" phenomenon that anyone who is English will have experienced watching England play football in Scotland. I just got the feeling that they were there supporting their team, my team, our team.



Whatever it is - I think it's good.