Alan Oakman and The Drinks Interval

At 5.30pm on Thursday July 26, 1956, the first day of the fourth Test between England and Australia ("Laker's Test") at Old Trafford, drinks were taken out to the players.

It was the only drinks interval of that entire Ashes series during a damp, chilly summer.

Watching from the pavilion as the Australian fielders and English batsmen David Sheppard and Peter May took a slurp was Alan Oakman. He was to take five catches in the match, supplying more than a quarter of Jim Laker's 19 wickets.

Meanwhile, animal-lovers please note. The cold snap which began last night poses danger to pets.

"It is easy for us to wrap up warm and add layers on to keep us snug," an RSPCA spokesperson commented today. "But it is not that simple for our pets."

I mentioned this last night to my Uncle Ron. He has been having a few problems lately with his missus who has grown so fond of her pet pig she has taken to keeping it in the bedroom. "Disgusting," Ron said. "It's not nice and it's not healthy. It stinks to high heaven in there."

"Why don't you open a window?" I asked. "Oh, I can't do that," he replied. "All me pigeons would get out."