Calypso cricket? Well, not quite.

Welcome to Lord's

The view from our Mound Stand seats

The one and anly Dickie Bird

Fun in the sun

And so to Lord’s on Saturday with Shteeeeeve, who won the draw with Sober as to who comes to which test match with me this summer. Lord’s looked absolutely magnificent, which is more than can be said for the opposition, the West Indies being a pale shadow of the force they were in their pomp. What with Lord’s being the way it is, it goes without saying that conch shells, instruments, rum and afros were conspicuous by their absence, owners of the latter being no doubt put off by the cost of the tickets (Steptoe paid less for his cup final ticket, but we’re not mentioning that) and the draconian constraints placed upon supporters by the MCC. However, Shteeeeve and I had a splendid day, although the cricket wasn’t up to much with the exception of the performance of Monty Panesar, who took four wickets during the day, and ended up with 5 LBW decisions in his favour during one innings, thus becoming the only spin bowler in the history of test cricket to accomplish such a feat, and the best performance by an England spinner at Lord’s for 33 years. We lunched well, your correspondent having promised Shteeeve a gourmet picnic if he brought his tool bag with him, which he dutifully did. Shteeeve also “cut the ribbon” on the newly refurbished guest room at Howards End, the first visitor of the summer and if the appointments diary is anything to go by, certainly not the last. Shame about the football, though.