How bad can it be playing cricket for huge money?

Interesting to see the England cricket team concerned about the Stanford competition. No matter how much of a farce the competition is, personally I'd put up with it for the chance of a life changing amount of money in return for playing the game I love in a beautiful location! The England players would have to feel really strongly to put the 4 remaining years on the 5 year $100m deal in doubt.

Once again it appears that a tiny incident has suddenly been blown out of proportion by the media. Yes, Sir Allen Standord flirted with Matt Prior's wife as she sat on his knee, and if the players think that is unacceptable (although she looked anything but concerned) then they have every right to let him know and feel as disgruntled as they like. But why put the cricket at risk - that's a purely off-field matter. Similarly if they don't want him in their dressing room, just ask him for some privacy at key times - only the most brash of men would want to come into the dressing room when they know they aren't wanted.

I can't help feeling that there's a little bit of a parallel with the absurd over-reaction in England to Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross' radio show in the UK where they left a dodgy voicemail for ex-actor Andrew Sachs (nearly all the complaints have been inspired by the media rather than coming from people who listened to the show live). We have to get a bit of a grip or pretty soon, no-one will be able to say anything or do anything ever!! As the British public we need to have our own opinions and not just be taken where the media would like us to go in order for them to maximise sales.

Please Britain, have minds of your own and don't succumb. Press freedom is vital but free-thinking from the public is even more vital. No ECB sackings are needed, and a routine assessment post-tournament is what is required. Let's hope for an exciting final.