CRICKET is too often mocked. Players in Test matches come off when the slightest spit of rain falls – and when it fines up they go and have their tea.

When a Test is wrecked by the weather as the third match of the series with Sri Lanka at the Rose Bowl was, it is daft moments like those that people remember – especially when they have paid an arm, a leg and a kidney to get into the ground.

Even if you can get over that sort of shock and accept that cricket does things its own odd way, it is nigh-on impossible to understand the latest farce.

This farce sees England skipper Andrew Strauss, who plays for Middlesex, head off to play for Somerset against India – it’s a crazy situation, a totally unacceptable situation that chips away at the foundations of the game.

County cricket has to be the backbone of the game. You start messing with the structure of that, the whole thing can fall apart.

If Strauss wants to find form he should go and score runs for Middlesex in their one-dayers. He could even go and play for a club side because league cricket down in that part of the country is pretty strong.

The tourist games are normally one of the highlights of a county player’s season. A lad who has no chance of being picked for England – ie the majority of people playing the county game – can play against the best that the tourists can offer.

While I accept there is no sentiment in sport, I just feel it is plain crazy that the authorities feel able to toy with the structure at a whim.

Strauss ain’t having the best of times with the bat. So go off and play the Indians. I am sure if he falls first rock he will feel a whole lot better ahead of the Test series.

Decisions like this only make a mockery of the game. It’s madness.