The Welsh Sheila and The Mad Monk

In the year that Messrs Strauss and co visit Australia to defend the Ashes there is a spicy warm up bout called the Australian General Election.

In the Labour corner we have Julia Gillard a plain speaking Welsh born lawyer from Melbourne who is the present and first woman prime minister of Australia. She achieved high office in June when Kevin Rudd was removed from office with the efficiency of the stiletto. Et tu Brute. She is said to be very charming one on one but so I believe are crocodiles. Ms Gillard is also an atheist which apparently may not play out too well Down Under.

In the Liberal corner is Tony Abbott who once studied to be a Catholic priest. He was born in London albeit to Australian parents. Earlier this year he completed an iron man triathlon at Port Macquarie in NWS. He is well versed in the traditional debating arts of Australian politicians and last year described the argument for climate change as "absolute crap".

Ms Gillard expected to win by a street but her coup d'etat and worries about what she believes by way of policy, if she believes anything, are making this a neck and neck race.

We are used to criticism from our antipodean friends that England has to recruit for its cricket team from South Africa and now Ireland. So it is a glorious irony that the next PM of Oz will be a Welsh woman or a Londoner!

P.S. I hear Shane Warne has returned to Australia from his commentary duties on the England Pakistan series. On which side will he bowl his googly? The outcome will be known on election day August 21. Timelord can't wait!