Ian West writes from Australia

THE highest rainfall since records began – that was the story in Melbourne for November. I can’t believe that last summer in England we played all 26 league matches, yet when I get here we miss five out of ten weekends because of rain. And it’s not just Melbourne that’s suffered.

Most of the rest of the country has had higher than average rainfall and the first two Test pitches at Brisbane and Adelaide were testament to that.

The first day strips on both grounds were unusually green and it was no surprise to those in the know that the most help the bowlers got in both those matches was on the first day – if only the captains had had the nerve to field when winning the toss!

THERE’S two days gone at Perth and it’s another green ‘un with Strauss bravely inserting the Aussies this time.

The word before the game was that the WACA would help the bowlers over the first part of the match but big second innings scores have become the norm in recent years. That came straight from Mike Hussey, who plays his State cricket there.

The Aussie press went mental with the Test selectors before the Perth game, particularly over Michael Beer’s surprise inclusion in the squad, which was explained away as ‘horses for courses’ and the hope that Beer would exploit his home conditions.

Many have pounced on this by pointing out that the lad has only ever played three games at the WACA. He has just joined Western Australia this season after failing to secure a place in his home state of Victoria. All his previous cricket experience has been in the Melbourne area! After a barrage of criticism it was no surprise that he didn’t make the final X1.

Whilst I desperately want England to win after the verbal pounding I received from my Aussie club mates four years ago, when we were getting drubbed 5-0, I have to admit a soft spot for the Australian team, having met a lot of them in the last couple of years.

JUST before the first Test, in company with a few other lads from Steve Chapman’s Melbourne Cricket Academy, I was asked to go along to the MCG and net bowl for the Victorian and Western Australian state sides and got to do a three-hour session with Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson and Marcus North.

A few days before the Ashes there was a media scrum accompanying the practice sessions with all eyes on those in the Test squad, and an embarrassing moment when we walked past a camera crew shooting a news item for national TV that was basically making out that Mike’s time in the Test team was about up.

He clearly heard this but maintained a dignified silence – and what a great bloke he turned out to be.

I’ve done a few of these sessions before and some of the superstars can understandably be a little aloof, but he was brilliant, taking time out to chat to all of us and make us feel comfortable, while all the time being scrutinised by all and sundry.

And he worked damned hard – after his own half hour batting session he came back a bit later to round a few of us up for an extra net.

Mitch Johnson is bigger than he looks on the TV – and more muscular. He certainly netted hard with bat and ball, and didn’t spare his team-mates as he served up some seriously quick bouncers.

I didn’t know quite what to expect with him after hearing rumours that he could be a little arrogant.

But he is not at all.

The nets must have done them good. After a first innings duck in the State game, when he was caught out by brother Dave, Mike piled on a second innings ton and Mitch did the ‘double’ of a century and five wickets. It’s a strange outcome given I’d had them in two minds during our nets – they couldn’t decide whether to hit me for four or six!

IN all my years in Oz I’d never been to Adelaide but the trip a couple of weeks ago to take in the third and fourth days of the second Test proved to be a fabulous experience.

I love Melbourne but Adelaide is said to be the most beautiful of the country’s ‘big five’ and I find it hard to argue.

I came across people from a number of North East clubs – Bishop Auckland, Seaton Carew, Thornaby, Seaham Harbour and South Northumberland to name just five.

I had a great time with the Barmy Army, despite the unrest when their leader – the Jimmy Saville look-alike with the big white hat and flag – was escorted from the ground after climbing on a friend’s shoulders to strike up another song.

The game was like a home one for England with our fans easily overshadowing a rather sad Aussie support. One bloke particularly impressed. In 35 degree heat he wore a horse’s head all day long and supped his beer through a straw.