Day 2 in Melbourne for us and Day 2 of the Test. Headlines in the local papers showed a picture of Ponting under the headline DISGRACE. Smug - of course we were!!

We set off for a ride round the City on the complimentary City Centre tram which takes in and explains a lot of the key buildings (and also stops near the MCG and so was full of people on their way to the Test). We stopped off close to the centre to do a walk through some of the old streets, taking on some of the arcades, which were very European in style plus a number of narrow lanes full of cafes teaming with people. We then could not resist a quick trip to Federation Square to catch up on the cricket and we stayed to watch a couple of overs - Pietersen and Trott were in at that point.

We headed by tram to St Kilda beach, the local beach for residents of Melbourne, complete with our swimming things, but it soon became clear that it would be too rough and too cold for swimming. We were told in Brisbane that we would need sweaters in Melbourne and they were right. Whilst this is not English weather, it is certainly not what we expected for summer in Australia.

We are now back to the hotel to take in a bit of cricket on Channel 9. At close of play Trott has 138 and Prior has 75 after surviving "being out" to a no ball on 6.

Off now to meet Ray's long lost cousin!