THIS Ashes of 2009 has already divided into two series. One was relatively straightforward, at times almost pedestrian with the Cardiff crowd more concerned with entertaining themselves with their choice of fancy dress.

The history books had been re-written with four Aussie batsmen passing three figures. Obituaries for English cricket were in preparation when it happened.

After what happened back in 2005, you might imagine a reasonably-priced, recently published dictionary would have a definition for ‘ponting’, to display an outward show of anger to prove one has become a victim of gamesmanship; to be the one whose skin one’s opponent has got under.

Then it was the fielding prowess of mystery man Gary Pratt and the use of comfort breaks for the bowlers that prompted the visiting skipper to mouth accusations to those who had studied the rules in finer detail.

This weekend, it was the embarrassment of dragging on a dreadful delivery from Monty Panesar compounded by witnessing his nemesis standing in the way of his rightful reward.

Fresh gloves and unscheduled visits from the medical team got to Ricky Ponting, prompting the usual debate about what is and what is not cricket.

Gamesmanship is a matter of not of opinion but of geography. It all depends on where you are when it happens.

The ability to win a game by making an opponent less confident and using the rules to your advantage does not require the intervention of the umpire or higher authorities.

These are measures to which even the most high-minded players occasionally resort.

Few will now recall the outcry when Surrey captain Peter May sent his entire posse of outfielders to protect the boundary to grab a draw from the jaws of defeat in that era when the engraver could justifiably bulk engrave the championship trophy.

Trevor Chappell’s underarm delivery against New Zealand in 1981 took cricket temporarily into disrepute and it is the job of the rulebook writers to prevent that level of spectacle besmirching the game.

The game in Wales has proved no more than a prologue to the series, which starts all over again at Lord’s tomorrow. Monty Panesar may well have saved his place in the side by virtue of his irritation value.

Ashes to music

THE county is awash with touring Australian sides recovering from a heavy night to inflict defeat on any host making the schoolboy error of underestimating the visitors.

A more surprising venue for friendly rivalry is Cheltenham’s Pittville Pump Room which hosts the Ashes Octet on Friday morning to coincide with the minor skirmish at Lord’s.

The Australian String Quartet will be joining forces with the Barbirollis to tackle a piece by Mendelssohn that lasts about six overs.

Music festival director and cricket fan, Meurig Bowen has ambitious plans to integrate with the cricket festival if the dates coincide again next summer.

Hot on the hooves of Kempton Park’s experiment to accompany a race with a live performance of the William Tell Overture last week, there could well be more than just music of the disco variety with Twenty20 coming to town.

Give us some hope Mr Baker

MANAGING expectations is part and parcel of the role of being chairman of any sports club.

A quote in early July such as, “My hopes for the new season are to finish outside the bottom two, and if we can finish mid-table that would be great” should be coming from a newly promoted side looking to establish themselves in a higher league, not one that has dropped down a rung.

At least give fans the misplaced sense of optimism that fills coaches travelling vast distances to away games and attracts enough fans at home to keep the local constabulary interested.

Paul Baker must have mistaken the fun and games at the charity match this weekend for a scouting mission.

No, chairman. Book in goal; Bloomer, Brough, Howarth and Victory across the back with Grayson up front is nostalgia for the golden days long gone. League Two is very nearly as competitive as League One.

To start off with any objective other than fighting for promotion is denying the fans the reason why they buy season tickets and replica kit.

They aspire to be fashionable and successful, to have more good days than bad and to believe, if only for a few weeks, that the team of 2009-10 will be afforded cult status 10 years from now.

Take a leaf out of Forest Green Rovers’ book and sign up someone like their exciting new right-sided defender Andy ‘Snacks’ Taylor from Austin Aztex in USA.

OK so he is really from Liverpool but he might have an interesting accent, be good for a few games and sell some shirts.