Just a couple of days now until our early morning flight back to Manchester.

This week has seen two day-night games completed under lights at the excellent Sharjah Stadium and we were left with two one-day games to complete the tour.

On the field we have had mixed results and performances. On Thursday night we bowled and fielded reasonably well to restrict the Emirates Cricket Board to 200 before batting without a great deal of thought or composure.

We were bowled out comfortably short of our target. It was a disciplined bowling performance by the ECB, backed up by some excellent fielding, but our own standards were chiefly responsible for the result.

No team wants to put in a bad performance, but when it does happen it is important that there is an appropriate reaction.

On Friday night we maintained professional standards throughout the game to walk away comfortable six-wicket winners.

Again the bowling was good and was supported by some outstanding fielding to restrict the home side to 175.

The significant batting partnership that was lacking on Thursday was provided by Gary Scott and Mark Stoneman and the result was never in question. The challenge is now to maintain and raise these standards during the remaining fixtures.

Off the field the team has been kept busy by the 'Entertainment Committee' of Graham Onions and Neil Killeen.

Their principal job has been to get the whole squad involved in various team events during the quieter days.

These have so far included a dominoes evening, quiz night, sand-castle building competition and the finale on Saturday morning, the Beach Olympics - including a range of It's A Knockout style tasks.

Although it all sounds a little like a Butlin's Holiday Camp (and I am fully expecting to see some Redcoats soon) it has had the desired effect of getting everyone involved together in situations that are not entirely familiar.

We spend so much of our time seeing each other as cricketers in a cricketing environment, but on tour you get the opportunity to see another side of a player's character.

Mike Hussey mentioned last season how interesting and informative it can be to see people when they are 'outside their box' or put in unfamiliar circumstances, so there is a beneficial side to our extra-curricular activities.

But this will all be over shortly and we will be back at the Riverside.

The net pitches may be damp and slow, but will be similar to the early season match pitches, I am sure.

The whole squad is looking forward to the challenge of Division One cricket, with the added incentive that if we can be successful again this season the club will have to send us back to Dubai in 12 months' time. Well you can't change a winning formula!