Working with an eye on the wicket

By Jonathan Duffy
BBC News Magazine

Nervous, us?

With Ashes glory in the balance for England, there are almost too many distractions to keep one's mind on work.

At least football matches are over in 90 minutes. Who knows how many productive "person hours" have been lost thanks to this summer's creeping obsession with Test cricket.

Monday marks the culmination of the Ashes series between England and Australia, and what a climax awaits.

For the first time in what must almost qualify as a generation, England are in with a shouting chance of reclaiming their honour against the mighty Aussies.

Of course, England being England, this could all have been sewn up several weeks ago. Had they played with the sort of dogged proficiency usually associated with their current foes, and triumphed in the first three Tests, they'd have won the series by mid August.

Instead, you can almost hear the collective gnawing of nails as emotions ebb and flow according to England's progress.

Whatever the final result, one thing is for sure: this will not rank as a productive day for the British economy.

Distractions are simply too numerous.

Calling in sick

The BBC must declare an interest at this point - its pop-up scorecard is one of the chief means by which the working public can keep abreast of events at the Oval without leaving their workstation.

Ashes: Full coverage

In a similar vein, the Channel 4 website has its Desktop Richie - a munchkin-sized animation of the veteran commentator Richie Benaud who pops up to deliver what passes for breaking news in the cricket world - a four, a six, a wicket God forbid.

Some hardened cricket fans - ie. those who know to issue a slow moan at the possibility of an LBW - will have resorted to more drastic options.

Having nested in front of the TV over the weekend, many will have phoned into the office on Monday morning feigning a croaky voice and a well-rehearsed cough.

Employers believe about 14% of absences from work are not due to genuine illness and when the nation's sporting glory hangs in the balance, that figure rises.

For its part, the TUC says "sensible" companies have been flexible in the past when it comes to major sporting events. Quite what that might mean for turnout at the TUC annual conference, which begins today, is uncertain.

Of course, true fans will find the game's spirit of fairplay forbids them from getting one over on the boss.

Circular thoughts

But even then the distractions of the workplace will be too numerous to ignore. On a normal working day, 40% of workers spend an hour or more e-mailing friends and relatives or swapping jokes with colleagues, according to research published earlier this year.

How many of those e-mails shuttling back and forth today will be discussing the fortunes of the England's heroes-in-the-making?

The same goes for texts and instant messages.

Finally, there is the sheer, paralysing stasis of uncertainty. "Will we or won't we do it?"

It's not a little unnerving how even the most rational mind can be reduced to repeating, mantra-like, this basic linear thought, in full knowledge that only time itself will yield the answer.

And as such thoughts flutter aimlessly around the head, England's hour of reckoning edges ever closer.

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Add your comments to this story using the form below:

I've been watching the whole Test series and never thought it would be this interesting or close. There's no more than four hours to go and I can't hold..........there was no chance of blagging a sicky as too many lads in the office. It's 2.42pm and I'm going to have to go to the pub and watch an hour, it's 198-6 as I write this. Come on England, bring the Ashes home.
Micky O'Brien, England

It would have been fairer of the government to declare the fifth-day of the test a national holiday; the same amount of work would have been done! However, perhaps we should be given a national holiday anyway!
Paul Wakeley, South Shropshire, UK

I have had great difficulty concentrating at work today, having to contend with the constant chatter from the latest bandwagon jumpers. If it's not cricket, it's the world cup. If it's not the world cup is Star Wars. Win or lose, it will be forgotten by the idle of the nation by the end of the week.
Steve B. Lake, UK

I have always thought cricket was a deeply tedious and irritating sport. But watching TV now and the vain attempt to make cricket interesting and, dare I say, humorous is even more irritating. I for one cannot wait until the whole affair is over.
Andy, UK

I am not really interested in cricket and this Ashes series is no exception. I have tried to stay focused on a tight deadline but have found it next to impossible due to everyone in the office monitoring multiple websites and commentating to one another on it as different events occur. Glad when its all over, regardless of the result
Lee, England, Ruislip

I just wish the English would stop imposing this national obsession on us in this country. Its the media that distracts me not the sport. My hope is that our antipodean cousins win so that our near neighbours will just shut up about it!
A Scot, Scotland

Sorry, haven't got time to do this, watching the cricket...
Dan, London, UK

I'm sitting at work, earpiece in and tuned to Radio 4LW. It's very hard to contain my emotion and am getting a few odd looks from colleagues!
Trem, Manchester, UK

So how much time does the British workforce spend reading stories about how much time the British workforce wastes?! Haha!
Catherine, England

I'm a bag of nerves and I kant even tipe
Will, UK

I've already had a number of emails from one of the bosses updating me of the score. Little does he know I have the BBC desktop update on and the Radio.
Phil , UK

This is excruciating, listening online, haven't done any work all day, my desk is warm due to the frequent shuffling of paper!!!! Come on boys!!!!
Darren Pullinger, London, UK

It helps to take lunch after the cricketers have... less distractions for half an hour. Though it's hard to work with your fingers crossed
Ben, England

I feel sick !
Michael, UK

It's so true. I can hardly concentrate today, I just want to watch the Ashes. We have a TV in our office and I keep sneaking down to turn it on, that and the pop up score card are the only things that have kept me at my desk today. Come on England, first Ashes victory on home soil in my lifetime... If I'm going to get the sack make it worth it!!
Julia, UK

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