Having now won five successive series on home soil in the space of a few months, with the latest sealed by last night's Tim Bresnan-inspired success, England's cricketers are probably wishing this triumphant summer will never end.
How different the atmosphere must feel in their opposition's dressing room. With five one-day internationals still to play, Pakistan's Tour of Hell is starting to feel tortuously drawn out.
Bresnan leapt into their nightmare while the water was still warm, as he took three wickets to set up another comprehensive six-wicket victory in the second T20 international in Cardiff. As has become customary just lately, England's top-order struggled over the run chase, but were again marshalled across the finish line by Eoin Morgan and Michael Yardy, as they sealed a 2-0 series win.
Cardiff's Swalec Stadium may be a relative newcomer to international cricket, yet it is already etching out a storied history for itself.
Last year it was the site of Paul Collingwood's match-cum-Ashes-saving rearguard against Australia in the first Test to be played in the Welsh capital.
That match culminated in a heated debate about the erosion of the Spirit of the Game, as Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, fumed over stalling tactics by England, which had apparently included orange juice and a batting glove.
It seemed important back then. However, the gravity of that mini-furore pales into insignificance when set against that which overshadowed this week's two-match Twenty20 series in the principality.
The Ashes spat was little more than a temporary diversion. The latest drama, namely the spot-fixing scandal involving Pakistan's players, has provided a threat to the fabric of the sport.
Welsh cricket supporters should have been able to savour arguably the 20-over format's blue riband series.
On paper, this pitted together the world champions, England, against a Pakistan side who are - by some distance - the best side in the history of the newest form of the sport.
Yet it proved to be a non-event. So distracted were Pakistan, England were virtually playing unopposed as they took the series 2-0.
Even if their opposition had gone AWOL, the home players still had plenty of incentive with an Ashes series fast approaching.
Bresnan continues to do all he can to earn himself a ticket for England's winter tour from the sparing chances which come his way.
The underrated Yorkshire seam-bowler was England's star performer with the ball, as he hastened Pakistan's implosion with three cheap wickets.
That included the first to fall, Kamran Akmal, and the last, Shoaib Akhtar, as the tourists crumbled to a paltry 89 all out.
Stuart Broad, the pace bowler whose place on the plane for the Ashes is - barring injury - beyond doubt, showed why he could prove a real threat on the hard wickets of Australia.
The Swalec pitch provided more assistance for the slow bowlers over these two T20 games, yet Broad still managed to produce some alarming bounce.
Pakistani batsmen historically struggle against fast, short-pitched bowling.
The point was proven again when a brace of 90mph thunderbolts from Broad removed Shahzaib Hasan, then Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan linchpin.
Afridi's departure left the tourists mired at 22 for four, and they never recovered.
Umar Akmal briefly sparkled. His innings was a microcosm of his summer, as he blazed two imperious straight sixes off Graeme Swann, the England spin bowler, then promptly fell trying to make it a hat-trick.
Swann is still riding high. England's player of the year also dismissed Fawad Alam, contributed to the run out of Mohammed Hafeez, and ended with two for 26 from his four overs.
While England's bowling unit could be satisfied with their evening's work, the batsmen were out of sorts again.
Craig Kieswetter, who has not been selected for their 50-over side, will return to the shadows with another disappointing score to his name.
He smashed Akhtar for a huge six, before being run out.
None of the rest of the top-order fared a great deal better, and it was left again to Morgan and Yardy to apply the gloss.
* Compiled by Paul Radley
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
SPECS
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
MATCH INFO
Azerbaijan 0
Wales 2 (Moore 10', Wilson 34')
MATCH INFO
Asian Champions League, last 16, first leg:
Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
Second leg:
Monday, Azizi Stadium, Tehran. Kick off 7pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fixtures (all in UAE time)
Friday
Everton v Burnley 11pm
Saturday
Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur 3.30pm
West Ham United v Southampton 6pm
Wolves v Fulham 6pm
Cardiff City v Crystal Palace 8.30pm
Newcastle United v Liverpool 10.45pm
Sunday
Chelsea v Watford 5pm
Huddersfield v Manchester United 5pm
Arsenal v Brighton 7.30pm
Monday
Manchester City v Leicester City 11pm
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
