In a case of ‘three strikes and you’re out’, the Taliban have also been criticised for their vocal protests against the ‘un-Islamic’ organ music during the quarter finals against the Colorado Rockies, and their wholesale execution of the St. Louis Cardinals for refusing to grow beards.  ‘Such aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated,’ said a National League spokesman.  ‘We suggest they go back to wherever the hell it is they came from. Either that or take up ice hockey.’

Other Europeans visiting the United States have confirmed that Rounders continues to be big business in America where tens of thousands of people will spend hours watching the game in huge purpose built stadia. ‘They have special teams like the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees’ reported Mr Johnson, ‘but none of their kids are allowed to have a go like in Rounders back home. So you don’t have all that business of persuading the older kids to let the youngers ones have another try to avoid tantrums.’

Rounders is not the most popular sport in America however. That honour goes to the game that we know as ‘British bulldog’ although they have to wear special helmets and shoulder pads and are not told off by playground supervisors for being too rough.