"It wasn't enough for Melba to become one of the greats of the Golden Age of Grand Opera. She wanted to be the greatest. her glorious voice took her to the top; her ruthless determination to overthrow any rival kept her there long after the voice had begun to decline. Revealed in this relentlessly candid yet sympathetic study is Melba the drama queen, the monstrous prima donna, the canny businesswoman, the generous and kindly friend, the unique star who refused to fade."

- source Melbourne University Publishing website.

Afficionados of Melburnian prima donnas who engage in marathon farewell tours should check in on this entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography.

The first playing day of the El Naive et Stupenda Farewell Tour was a showpiece for the lad himself, as he took Test wickets 694 to 698 (plus six against a World XI in 2005) and set up the prospect of a couple of extra days on the golf course later in the week.

Although the last two Tests of the Ashes of 06/07 have been reduced to hero-worshipping farce, the Midwinter-Midwinter count rolls on. Votes for Boxing Day - 3 pts: Shane Warne; 2 pts: Andrew Strauss; 1 pt - Brett Lee.

(Warne is currently one point ahead of Ricky Ponting in the lead on 11 points.)