The Spin | Slurs and slights of pre-Ashes 'phoney war' are all part of the show

As England's men and women prepare to take on Australia, nothing builds the anticipation like some well-aimed barbs May creaks into June. The first block of the County Championship is in the can, the sun's meek rays gather a little more strength and the damp English loam begins to sweat. So too the collective palms of the English cricket fan. A conjoined pulse quickens as thoughts, daydreams, hopes and fears become inordinately focused on that first ball at Edgbaston in three weeks' time. That's...