I recieved this email from my old chum Dr. Phileus Algenon Welshegg (of the Swansea Welsheggs) with regards our amazing victory over our traditional enemy - the Aussies, on Sunday (which I was watching of course - gripping stuff)

In keeping with the spirit of the times I think you should cook a dish to celebrate the test victory of the Poms over the Convicts in quite possibly the most exciting test match ever (certainly the most exciting since the famous Botham series of the early eighties (which I also watched). Oh yes indeed. It would also serve to welcome the battling cricket giants to Manchester ahead of the titanic third test at Old Trafford. Bowl on!

I was planning to have braised lamb's hearts today. This I was dreading as they have tubes visible all over them and although I've never tried lamb's hearts they have put the fear in me. So the email above was a godsend - a great idea to sneer at those over inflated Aussie shysters and an excuse to delay the braised lamb's hearts for another day. Yipee!

And what a great and historic victory it was too. No person in the entire country who calls himself British could not have held back from a little tear of pride as the evil antipodeans were sent packing with their dingos' tails between their legs and their spirits crushed like so many 1850's gold miners' ribs.

We may only have levelled the series and there may be three more to play, but there was dancing and singing all over the cricketing world on Sunday - I bet even the New Zealand umpire had a little chuckle to himself when no-one was looking. I often take the mickey out of other groups and countries but it's always in jest - but where the Aussie cricketers are concerned (and rugby players too) the feelings are true and personal.

Pray we really stuff them at Old Trafford - and let every English cricketer in the team know that when you go out to play on the 11 August, everybody in the entire world who is not a Australian, will be on your side.

Serves two (unless you are Shane upon which you'll probably want a big bowl of chips and some fried eggs, a hamburger or two...)

The ingredients of the dish are supposed to symbolise the things present when Shane accidentally slipped and kicked the bales off his wicket (oh how we laughed). The layout is cricket pitch shaped with only the major players involved (I could have put some cubes of cheese down or pickled onions for the fielders but thought I'd already done enough) - here's how the salad goes:

Shane Warne's Hit Wicket Salad

*****************************************************

And here's a blow up of that 'slip' for those who are interested:








Jon.Borresen@GMail.com