Cook Serves It Up To Aussies!

They say that too many cooks spoil the broth...well the old adage certainly doesn't apply to cricket!  Alastair Cook has been in fantastic form for England against the Aussies in the second Test of the Ashes series.  Following his magnificent 235 not out at the Gabba, he finished the second day at Adelaide unbeaten on 136, while it was also good to see Pietersen coming back to the form he showed about four years ago with a knock of 85 not out.  England will resume tomorrow on 317-2, with a first innings lead of 72 - a very promising position indeed.  For all that England have played superbly, I do feel that the Australian bowling attack is probably the worst I have ever seen.  A couple of years ago the skipper would just have thrown the ball to Shane Warne, and to be honest Warney would probably still be better than the bowlers they have now!

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Another day, another all-weather meeting abandoned!  How could Lingfield leave it so late before calling their meeting off yesterday?  The track was given the all clear to race at 6.30 am before abandoning only four hours later.  Personally I would hold the courses accountable and make them pay the costs of the trainers that have travelled their horses.  As usual, it is the owner who has to pick up the tab and racing cannot afford to lose their support.  If the tracks were made to pay I am sure they would be a lot less willing to gamble.

Let's hope that racing gets the go-ahead at Exeter tomorrow.  I live about twenty-five miles away from the course in Torbay and it was 5°c at 5am and with rain forecast there is every chance that they may benefit from their ingenuity of switching their meeting from Friday.

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We have managed to keep going pretty well during the cold snap and David managed to get the following photographs from the gallops this morning.  As you can see from the scenic shot of the horses making their way back down the gallop most of the snow and ice has melted, although there is still some of the white stuff on the higher ground.  The individual shot is of Ladbroke entry Notus de la Tour who was pictured going well within himself.

 
Above left: The string make their way back down the gallop during second lot, and right: Notus de la Tour