Journalists report on 3 things at this time of year – weather, travel chaos and shopping at the sales, and this year has seen the rolling news channels full of all this guff. Oh, and an aussie wicketkeeper wearing pink keeping gloves. Whether Gilchrist wearing these gloves has had an effect on the mild but damp weather or the delays at Heathrow are matters for a seasonal saloon bar debate, but one thing is for certain, these gloves have certainly got the shoppers out wanting to splash the cash at the xmas sales.

The procurement phone has been red hot with constant phone calls requesting various cricketing items for the forthcoming year. Mr Bell has requested a pair of pink puma wicket keeping gloves just like the ones that Adam Gilchrist is currently sporting during the test with India. Our other stump croucher, Bloater, has also seen Gilchrist and has been on the blower asking for a pink helmet. Perhaps the old one has been overused after much frantic polishing.

The bad news for both is that it appears that the gloves are a one off design by Puma following Gilchrist’s request to follow in the footsteps of last years pink bat grips. However, we all know that pink grip mania swept the cricketing world, and everybody could get their hands on a copy, so the time may come. In light of this, the new wicket keeping gloves for the club will not be purchased until April in case that Puma come up with the goods.

The Lords shop is normally a place I swerve when purchasing, as the name alone adds 20% onto tourist inflated prices but I was much surprised when their winter catalogue dropped onto the doormat. Footwear, England kit and helmets have been slashed by anything from 25 – 50% and you won’t find cheaper elsewhere.

Apart from the Sturridge Sports website. They have a wallet opening, moths releasing humdinger of a deal on at the moment. You can get your paws on a white playing short-sleeved shirt, a coloured ODI shirt of the same arm length, matching sun hats in both colours and an ODI cap in the same colours as the shirt – all for £25!!!