Waking early, I find the comfort of my chair, as the rhythm of The Ashes takes control.

Jason Roy was caught out by Steve Smith and Joe Root walked out to the pitch to replace him.

“There will always be an England”, someone said. As the cameras shift to a view of Birmingham, and this green land shows herself.

An aircraft engine’s noise fills the background. The commentators chatter own.

Why am I up? Is sleep such an unsatisfying state that I spurn it in favor of this splendid game?

Outside my house it’s raining and a thunderclap sounds off.

Cricket is a game for people who have nothing else to do on a Summer’s day, except be lost to time, where sitting and standing are as much of the routine as the bowling and batting.

But I do long to sleep now.