Here is the news

Good evening. Here are tonights' headlines: Politicians, it has been discovered, will say whatever they think will appeal to the most people (voters).

Understandably, there has been a massive reaction to Scottish Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill's decision to release Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds. When 270 people are murdered you expect extreme emotions and opinions. What puzzles me is the furore regarding Libyans waving Scottish saltires. Would the Head of the FBI (and everyone else) have been happier if the convicted bomber had, in a couple of months, died in a Scottish prison and there were television pictures of Libyans burning the Scottish Saltire instead?

The reason I was reluctant to post this is because, like religion, I believe everyone is entitled to their own political views and who am I to say Mr. Head of the F.. B.. I, for example, is wrong with his populist knee-jerk reaction? (With my new-found keyboard bravery I am jeering at the FBI and flicking two fingers à la Rik from The Young Ones). I just felt that no-one in the media have been asking obvious questions.

There is more disappointing news with British banks: An ATM manufacturer has introduced a new language to the user options on some London cash machines - Cockney Rhyming Slang (No, I am NOT making this up). Customers will be asked to enter their 'Huckleberry Finn' (PIN) and given the option of withdrawing a 'Speckled Hen' (£10). Could it get any more ridiculous? (Honestly, this is real! -

Go to http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6077110/Cockney-rhyming-slang-introduced-in-bank-machines.html if you don't believe me). Cockney Rhyming Slang must be the most pointless and pretentious thing ever (apart from Simon Cowell).

And finally..... Congratulations to Andrew Strauss and his team on a surprising, but magnificent Ashes victory. When you think back to the 1st Test at Cardiff and how Anderson and Panesar hung on for almost an hour to earn an unlikely draw - It could so easily have been a very different result.

If you don't get Test Cricket, there is still hope for you; Lily Allen recently became a convert and spent much of her festival-filled Summer trying to keep up with Englands' exploits with the willow and leather (that's 'bat and ball', not some new perversion). On the face of it, Cricket does look like an excuse for 13 men (plus umpires) to stand out in the sun (hopefully), spend a few seconds each minute facing each other, maybe run about for another few seconds and then have a well-earned rest for Lunch, Tea and Elevenses with the other 9 men. And then repeat the process for the next four days. But, when you actually watch it, you see there is so much to the game. Watch how a bowler gradually lures a batsman to play a misjudged stroke into the hands of a fielder, or how a batsman will doggedly defend 90+ mph missiles before swatting one to the boundary from within inches of his face, or (especially with Test Cricket) how the Captain and bowlers will move their fielders around like a Grandmaster positions his chess pieces.

Because I have (so far) refused to give in and sign up to Sky, I have been denied live television coverage of this series. Radio 5live has done its best, but updates at 15 minute intervals is not enough. However, when I have been able to listen to Test Match Special on Radio 5 Sports Extra on my digital radio at home or via the internet on my laptop between lessons, the tension has almost been as great as actually being there. Even the moment when Freddie Flintoff scooped up the ball and, with a sniper's accuracy, scattered Ricky Pontings' stumps was vivid in my mind before I saw the television highlights later in the day.

Hard to say who deserved 'Man of the Series'; If you compare with the 2005 Test Series, there was no-one with the out-and-out brilliance of Shane Warne, or the superhuman heroics of Andrew Flintoff, but I think that, although he made some puzzling tactical decisions, Ricky Ponting's overall performance (and conduct) was superb. I considered giving Andrew Strauss my vote until I saw that it took both hands for him to lift that ridiculous little trophy.... wimp.