The "Pigeon" produced a few text book sweeps

If this trio bowls like they have so far this summer, then I am sure the entertainment provided will make up for today.

During the last World Cup the team was heavily criticised for a go-slow performance that enabled them to take a tactical advantage.

While the method may not have been everyone's cup of tea, the ultimate result in 1999 was a World Cup for the Aussies.

Let's hope from this humble and biased point of view that our method in this game will also help produce the ultimate reward in nine weeks time.

On a lighter note, today's batting also helped re-ignite a rivalry between two of our tail-enders, Colin "Funky" Miller and Glenn "Pigeon" McGrath.

There is always entertaining banter between the bowlers about who should bat where in the batting order.

Before this tour, "Funky" set a challenge for our improving batting bunny and specialist number 11, "The Pigeon".

He boasted that if Pigeon could out-bat him in terms of runs and strike rate in any of the first tour matches, he would be happy to take up the number 11 mantle for the remainder of his career.

Obviously the skipper would make this final decision, but nevertheless the challenge was a delicious source of entertainment for our touring party.

"Funky Pigeon"

As each of our two team-mates exchanged blows in the middle, the humour from the player's balcony heightened to hysteria.

As quickly as Funky swung his Kookaburra blade for another boundary, Pigeon soon followed with a deft sweep or elegant straight drive for four.

At one stage both of the guys were sitting ominously on 38 before the Pigeon tried one too many "slogs" and was out in the process.

Glenn gets annoyed at being dismissed at the best of times, but his disappointment was trebled today as his position right at the tail of the order was confirmed.

Even though the crowd indicated a lack of appreciation of the five-run-an-over onslaught coming from our batsmen, the consensus within our camp is one of a job well done.

The lead up to any Test is about preparation and planning and I think it would be fair to say that we are feeling very positive about our cricket up until now.

With the Lions giving our boys a flogging on Saturday, attentions turned quickly this morning to the State of Origin showdown between NSW and Queensland.

"Alfie" Langer - No relation

If the rivalry between McGrath and Miller is intense, then the interstate competitiveness is like a burning inferno.

Regardless of the sport or subject, we all believe our State is superior in one way or another.

With the return of my namesake "Alfie" Langer for the deciding encounter of the best of three series, less-informed judges believed Queensland coach - and John Buchanan mentor - Wayne Bennett had lost his marbles.

Before the first kick-off, there was a glint in the eye of our supremo coach as he waited in gleeful anticipation to see whether Bennett's move would pay off.

The jibes were running riot within our changing room as each camp traded some of the best sledges I have ever heard.

After two minutes and one NSW try, "Junior" Waugh claimed that a 50-0 thrashing was impending.

Wrong again Junior - and didn't Messrs Buchanan, Hayden, Seccombe and Noffke let him and his NSW mates know about it.

Pumping adrenaline

There was almost an all-out brawl in our changing room as the Cane Toads from Queensland handed out a brutal lesson in rugby league to their Cockroach counterparts from NSW.

Even on the team coach tonight the jibes continued to flow - especially from Matty Hayden who is giving our skipper a really hard time.

Anything "Goughy" or Caddick have to throw at our NSW batsmen will be nothing compared to what they have faced from our Queensland team-mates.

Travelling tonight from Essex to Birmingham there is a real enthusiasm in the air.

For a Test cricketer, the lead up to a Test match is a very special time.

The hype and expectation is exciting as the adrenaline starts to pump through our veins - 11am on Thursday can't come quick enough.

From the team coach on the way to Birmingham

JL