Day three - Tuesday 26 June

Looking from a purely selfish point of view, things can only get better from here on in for yours truly.

A magnificent four runs in the first innings superseded today's inglorious first ball duck.

This really is a crazy game we play, as I went into the game full of expectation and confidence, after a regenerating break from the game.

Michael Slater disappointed after scoring 17

Thanks to Queenslander Joey Dawes, my match tally is therefore four runs and not entirely the start to this 2001 Ashes tour that I was looking for.

Nevertheless, life must go on and from the more important team point of view, this three-day game fixture is running perfectly to pre-test match plan.

Stephen Waugh belted yet another first-class hundred in awesome style, while Damien Martyn continued his consistent form with an impressive 80.

After bowling out the MCC side for just over 100, we are now in a position to take more confidence and rhythm from the remainder of the game.

With only tomorrow remaining, a fast clean up of the MCC batting line-up will have us building up a full head of steam coming into the all-important first Test match at Edgbaston.

Writing today's article at 2300BST, it would be fair to say that Tuesday has been a long day at the office.

Damien Martyn cuts against the MCC

Before play this morning we were invited to visit the beautiful Arundel Castle.

What an experience! With some of the buildings being built hundreds of years before Australia was even discovered, it was awe-inspiring walking through the castle and listening to a commentary of its history from the Earl of Arundel himself.

The experience was like a real life bedtime story for my children, with suits of armour, 16th-century swords and paintings, lion skin rugs by the fire places and a church and library in built inside the ancient walls.

My bedtime stories are sure to improve in the future as I now have a real life experience of what life is really like inside a castle.

After stumps it was then off to an official MCC dinner where we had the privilege of listening to the one and only Richie Benaud.

What an outstanding speaker he is, which is hardly a surprise as he truly is one of the icon's of the game of cricket.

Tuesday has been long, and while the batting results have been disappointing, it is a memorable day in the life of Justin Langer.

From Arundel,
JL