Paid vacations, teary farewells and butter chicken

Like it or not, you'll all remember Australia's recent cruise through that little tournament over in the West Indies, but you're not going to recall seeing either Mitchell Johnson - already dubbed the future of Australian fast bowling - or reserve wicketkeeper Brad Haddin in action during their side's unbeaten run. They were the only two members of a 15-man squad not to get a game, but they're set to pocket A$180,000 for their vacation in the Caribbean. Yes, you read it correctly - one hundred and eighty thousand dollars. Cricket Australia has announced that every man in the side will equally share in the US$2.24 million (A$2.71 million), which means that Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden will get the same as these two, who didn't bowl or face a ball. Not bad at all.

Brian Lara cut a fairly composed man as he bid goodbye to fans after his final international appearance during the World Cup last month, but when he was called onto stage the following week tears streamed down his face. Invited by soca star Machel Montano during the Plymouth Jazz Festival, a wet-eyed Lara stepped onto the dais after Montano dedicated his performance to him. "Keep going, keep moving, don't you ever stop. The road is long and rocky but I know you're gonna' make it," Montano began, singing the lyrics to his 2005 Carnival hit "We Not Giving Up". Montano embraced the emotional Lara and sang a new song he had written especially for "the world's greatest". Lara took the microphone from Montano and thanked the packed Plymouth recreation park for their love and support. Again, Lara's timing was impeccable.

Remember Gary Pratt? 2005 Ashes, Trent Bridge, substitute fielder, Ricky Ponting, smirking Duncan Fletcher? Ah, I thought so. Well anyways, a while back The Australian traced Pratt's career path post-Ashes 2005 and found that he'd been released by Durham, and was playing - and sometimes freezing his butt off on the sidelines - for Crook Town, a lower league football club. But fans of the young man destined to be known as the chap who ran out Ponting will be glad to know he's back on the cricket field. Turning out for Cumberland in a 50-over MCCA Trophy game, Pratt took a catch and made 36 batting at No.3 in a 21-run loss to Northumberland in Gosforth. A sedate start, but that's probably the way Ponting would like it: Pratt far away from the national side.

Far from the raucous, fun-loving leprechauns that swigged ale and swayed with locals and other foreign tourists during the World Cup, the successful Ireland cricket team played out their first game at home in front of a rather sedate crowd. A smattering of about a hundred soaked up the sun and clapped politely at the Stormont ground near Belfast when Trent Johnston led the Irish side - barring young stars Boyd Rankin and Eoin Morgan - onto the field. That number swelled to around 400 as the day progressed, but given that 7,500 mini flags had been supplied by the team's kit manufactures the Irish Cricket Union officials didn't have much to smile about. And Ireland went down to Kent by 58 runs. A quite homecoming, by all accounts.

The road to a man's heart is through his stomach, goes the old adage. The Indian management is hoping their cricketers play with some much-needed heart against Bangladesh, and part of their dietary planning includes doing away with the butter chicken and naans and bringing in the hard-boiled eggs. A strict diet has been imposed on the team, beginning with the preparatory camp in Kolkata before the departure for Dhaka. "Every tour has its rules and regulations, and diet chart," said Ratnakar Shetty, an Indian cricket board official. "But I cannot give you a breakdown of the food items." But local Bangladesh television stations managed to show the team diet card, which forbids red meat and all fried food. Lean meat such as chicken and fruits and vegetables are allowed, and boiled eggs are specifically mentioned as a good protein source. Now there's food for thought.

Shilpa Shetty's back in England. Dickie Bird's out of retirement. And Kapil and Azza will take to the field again, smiling. No it's not the end of the world as we know it, rather a friendly celebrity cricket match at Headingley as part of the International Indian Film Academy Weekend (IIFAs). The match, which will see an IIFA celebrity team consisting of Asia's cricketing greats and top movie stars play a UK cricket legends side, is perhaps the highlight of the star-filled itinerary. Let's leave aside the nature of the match; the proceeds will be donated to the IIFA Foundation. Amitabh Bachchan, acting legend and IIFA Brand Ambassador, will inaugurate the match, and will head out to the middle for the toss with Shilpa and Salman Khan, all to the tune of Chunky Pandey and Boman Irani's commentary. Its just not cricket, I can hear many mutter.