As temperatures seem to have plummeted in the UK it is quite the opposite here with temperatures set to hit 40 at the end of the week. Having managed to burn my lips whilst doing the coaching courses, I now resemble the Ultimate Warrior with my zinc. Rolo will be pleased to hear that the zinc sticks over here are really cheap so there will be a fair few coming back with me. Since I last spoke to you we managed to have a two dayer called off after three days of constant rain.

Due to the format of the league and the winter break it has been six weeks since I had a bat, it's fair to say I am looking forward to coming back home in April and playing one day cricket again. We have just played the first day of a fixture and will be chasing 250 next saturday which will be a good challenge especially as we seem to have an outfield which isn't always the quickest. However besides the cricket I have got a pretty exciting couple of weeks ahead trips to Brisbane/Gold Coast next Sunday for six days. I am hoping to catch up with Josh while I am there so fingers crossed that we can get that sorted. The chance to spend Australia Day on the Gold Coast is quite an appealing option.

I have got my Dad coming over also a week on Thursday so it will be good to catch up with him also and show him around Albury for five days. I also managed to purchase a ticket for the World Cup final at the MCG on the day before I fly home at the end of March so fingers crossed England don't continue to struggle in the one dayers as our performance last Friday against Australia left me open to a bit of stick. The last couple of weeks have seen me have a go at preparing the wicket also so besides bogging the roller after the rain last week and having to get the chairman at 7am to help me pull it off the square it has been pretty good fun. The wicket on saturday seemed to play pretty well and I have acquired a rather agricultural tan to match.

I hope everyone has a good couple of weeks and that the pre season training is shaping up pretty well. With only five months to go until Chester's Got Talent returns I have begun the process of trying to develop a new act, I don't think the botched magic tricks combined with Guy in drag will be easy to follow but my attempts at learning to juggle during the coaching courses have been fruitless. It looks like any sort of circus act is already out of the window. Have a good couple of weeks and wish me luck that the heat/humidity doesn't continue to make my hair look like Kevin Keegan in his pomp. Speak soon.

Ross