We down here in the Southern Hemisphere are just on the cusp of our long Summer holidays. Summer to me is Christmas, the Cricket Test Matches (major cricket matches between several countries of the British Commonwealth, England, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand, India, Pakistan and, Zimbabwe.) This year Australia is playing England here over the summer. I particularly love the week between Christmas and New Year ... long, hot, hazy, lazy days with the sound of the cricket in the background on radio or television: the lovely sound of the thwack of the leather ball as it hits the bats ... commentators discussing the long five day matches ... they talk about “previous best scores” (the statistics they produce would earn an economist a PhD degree!!!) The game is described in a language most of us don’t understand ... all the field positions “silly mid on”, “the outer field”, “gully”, “leg by”, etc. I have no comprehension of what they mean ... yet I just love the language .. I love the game. The commentators speak English with a variety of accents - English, West Indian, South African, etc. The game on television is so attractive ... large playing fields contained within white picket fences and all the players dressed in long whites “flannels” (trousers). Often at the Sydney Cricket Ground (hallowed turf for many!!) there are seagulls on the field ... almost watching the game in flocks!