Brendan McArdle, always a source of sensible cricket comment, thinks Stressa was stupid to fess up about the mints, and also gives a pretty good summary of the 2005 Ashes:
Apart from the obvious desire to boost his book sales, it is difficult to understand what drove Marcus Trescothick to reveal his Murray Mint story from the 2005 Ashes series. Has he become bitter on a game that drove him to a state of mental anguish?
Simon Jones has rubbished claims England used mints to create reverse swing during the Ashes.
Australian Nathan Bracken, who played for Gloucestershire, said mints were used in county games.
But Jones, a fine exponent of reverse swing, said: "It's probably just sour grapes and are you telling me that they've not done it?"
"It's a silly comment to make. I don't use mints and I'm not sure whether any of the other lads use them or not."
Bracken said the mint breath fresheners could have been the key to England's Ashes triumph.
Naturally, as is the way of over-lawyered, professionally indignant - "Me? Cheat? Never!" How many times have you heard that? - modern sport, Bracken was made to apologise when everyone knew he was right.
The most revealing part of Stresscothick's book, is that he knew he was cheating:
He says: “For the first time, as I dived to gather the ball at square leg, I landed on my side and a shower of Murray Mints spewed out of my trouser pocket all over the grass right in front of the umpire.
“Fortunately, neither he nor the two batsmen seemed to take much notice as I scrambled around on all fours trying desperately to gather in the sweets before they started asking awkward questions.”
Where's Vaughny? Those of you whot tuned in here when we lost The Ashes will remember Vaughny from Manchester. Chances are you DO remember, afterall, it WAS only 15 months ago. Give or take a day. The belligerent bugger was all over us then - "DOO DOO BE BOB WAH WAH WAH." See what I mean. Well Vaughny, me old Dread Devil, if you're skulking out there somewhere, as I suspect you are, this one's for you:
