It's Monty

Yes, that's right. Before a tour to the subcontinent (actually, at pretty much any time), I like to get unreasonably excited about an unknown spinner. I was going to write "the full monty" in the headline, but that's probably best reserved for when he takes all ten wickets in the second innnings of the first test. OK, so he'll probably get hammered all over the place by Sehwag and co (most bowlers do), but he's young, appears to have a good attitude, and if England can stick by him as they've stuck by Harmison, Jones and Flintoff, then perhaps in a few years' time we'll have a decent attacking spinner. I think it's good too that he's a Sikh, in the England team, going to tour India. Surely that will ease relations between the two sides, and the two countries, which at times, as far as I can tell, seem just that little bit fraught.
As for England's new bowling coach, at least it's not going to be Alan Donald. When I first saw that he was in the frame, from what he was saying, it did seem that he may have put his name forward just to force the hand of the South African authorities. That's just what he's done. Seeing as he's so passionate about South African cricket, this is probably for the best. Also, you know, as Mike Selvey points out, there's something to be said for promoting from within. It keeps everyone interested.
Finally, a bit off topic I know, but I'm very excited that Robbie Fowler's going back to Liverpool. I'm not mad about football, but I do like it and when I used to like it a bit more, Robbie Fowler was my favourite player I think.
I will never mention football again... unless England win the world cup maybe, but even then, I will only do so to mention how unexcited I get about it compared to England winning the Ashes.