V England India: Andrew Strauss, explains the long form of cricket is the ultimate Test

The initial to ttwweennttyy rush declined a little, but you do not have to be a specialist of the rockets to see that, in some parts of the world that it is fighting for interest. Many of the reasons is not met and has turned to other forms of gambling.

We are very lucky in England , because we have a base of very stable and solid support for the game of Test cricket, which I do not change any time soon.

But it is important that we continue encouraging and nurturing the game in other parts of the world. There is room for three forms of game to coexist, but we need administrators to continue to work and ensure Test cricket is a good product to look at.

Once, no there were no rival of Test cricket. We now have to adopt other forms of game and use them to introduce people to Test cricket.

It should not be an unhealthy competition between the formats. The challenge for administrators is to get this balance so that all can coexist together. The difficulty is that on the commercial plan, shorter forms of the more logical than Test cricket game is a challenge for administrators to look at the overview rather than simply the bottom line.

In my view, it is not easy for them and we all have responsibility for the future. Sometimes, this means investing in something that is not the most cost-effective in the short term while knowing that in the long term it could pay off the coast.

As players, we also recognize that such situations that leave for bad light help to our cause. We have too much to a little more receptive to change if this means that the game will continue to prosper.

In 20 years the cricket Test will always be with us, but it is unlikely that we will play as much of it. You can see that already happening in other parts of the world but there is much cause for optimism that England will continue to produce high Test cricket players in the future.

In this case, Test cricket is 1 and you can make an argument that it is not necessarily healthy to the priority on a day and ttwweennttyy cricket. It is something that we know and will continue to address so that we can win the world cups in the future. But the strength of Test cricket is with its history in this case, the manner in which our media focus on it, and because the players to the forefront of their minds.

I think always that the vast majority of players see the ultimate form of the game. This is where you make your name and players see their Test record as a measure of good how a cricket you are. We are yet to see a specialist ttwweennttyy and watched as a Test player and that will not change.

It is clear that some players were influenced by the armoury of ttwweennttyy and make a pleasant stay for themselves. I would hold it against them, but the next generation of cricketers will face difficult choices on what direction they want to go. It is up to individuals, but they got to keep in mind the balance between money and the status of the game. Test cricket gives opportunities to produce sports feats, such as the Test of ash at Headingley in 1981.

That does not occur in the shorter forms of the game and is the reason why I like Test cricket. Individual players are tested continuously and if they have any weakness it deems.

If the players and spectators start to turn its back on the cricket Test which would be a shame. A value of two centuries of history and tradition would be lost, but there are reasons to believe that will not happen.

Innovations such as day-night Test cricket have been raised and the world Test Championship will give us context.

Series of tests is more and more short so you must have a context otherwise, it is difficult for people to generate real interest.

Also if the teams are familiar with each account to something at the end of what they may feel encouraged to play more Test cricket.

None of us know enough how the Test World Championship, which will be played for the first time in England in 2013, at this stage, but over time, it will rely on a great event give us a reason to be confident for the future.

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Success of England could be damaging to the young fans with Andrew Strauss

Or of the Declaration of irritable refused a sensitive drummer and his first and only century against the Australia key? Or the connecting often sore supremo/Manager/coach and Captain?

Or a weakness for horoscopes? Miss Barbados? Pedal boats? A captain flouncing a conference press and position for the theatre? Motions of CMC of confidence in the Test and County Cricket Board?

There is no leakage: when English cricket team is something of an anomaly. They are not only excellent but also very beautiful and very sensitive and thoroughly professional.

Steering team Andy Flower and Captain Andrew Strauss work closely, are sensitive and mature, speak honestly, accepting blame, where it is due and well-deserved success.

Combine their batsmen flourish and grindstone, their bowlers guile and muscles, and for those who believe that it is a bit too complacent, there is the pantomime of Kevin Pietersen sideshow and arm left spinner.

The great shame is that it y if few people in Cardiff to see this England - so confident, so good - catapult out sri Lanka to 24.4 overs. Just 922 in all Monday, with at one time only 39 people shivering landside of soil.

You cannot blame the fans, the weather was miserably cold and wet, and play has not yet started up to three hours. The players themselves expected to come.

Session waiting for cricket, first rain cascades down your back and adhesive jeans as a wet membrane is really not much fun.

And as you give not to test only the eastern part of the country, the ECB cannot really be attributed to the formidable grey clouds sweeping off the coast of the sea of Ireland.

It is concerned that Cardiff had not been able to sell more tickets in advance. It was the first time that the home fans had the chance to see in England since their victory of ash in the winter and Sri Lanka, even without Muttiah Muralitharan, are still a team to make look.

The other international grounds around England casting of expensive reconstruction work will be swallow hard: despite the end of fairy tale, Cardiff look as if they lose about 1 million £.

Unfortunately for administrators, a singularity in cricket is that people feel not only they do not have to be a game to feel part of it, but they are not watching television. Much read and live their cricket through the newspapers.

Observe the crowds through the doors with the Lord Friday. A large number will carry a newspaper cleverly folded with a selection of light snacks, cushion, umbrella, and hat.

It is a report much more high paper the viewer that you would get in a game of football or rugby - in fact I strive to think of another sport that that you would take commonly a log in with the concept of express read while a game is actually played.

And for those who find their papers Friday, in the woods of St John can see you not only another magnificent performance, a voracious Chris Tremlett and Jonathan Trott fervour, but perhaps a small technical hitch, nothing too large or discouraging, just a little hiccup to help develop the moral courage of those who are too young to recall the work of the former England.

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V Sri Lanka England: Andrew Strauss willing lack of address of the centuries in third test

"You are never going to have all the seven batsmen reaching at the same time, and I have just to make sure I do everything I can to return to the passes and get a hundred," Strauss said after the nets.

"I don't know why my conversion rate has tailed off the coast." I marked many fifties and transforming them into hundreds is something that I am determined to change. He was one of my strong points, and I need to find again.

"If you can get hundreds big as an opening batsman, and then he establishes the side well enough and it is the challenge for me.".

Strauss insists he is not the kind of person to succumb to paralysis by analysis, but his dismissal for 4 and 0 to the Lord left - arm, Chanaka Welegedara, obtained tongues shake that there may be a technical weakness against them.

He was certainly not the first time recently that he was troubled by the angle they create.

Not that it would admit to address more than them to used in the build up to the game of today.

"I have a lot of stick and I am working on a couple of small things, the most important thing is the good mentality," said Strauss.

"I was frustrated with my return to the Lord and it is the nature of the beast as a drummer of openness that sometimes get you a few good balls at the beginning."

"But I am very comfortable with my own game and I am very comfortable with us as a frappeurs unit with 6/7 is largely found in the first two tests."

"I will not fall into the trap of analysing." I just need to look at the ball and give me the best chance to score some runs.

"Psychologically, I'm feeling in a very good place so I mustn can't get too caught up in it.".

It is not the only player of England misfire.

Stuart Broad was admitted that more than 100 runs in the first two tests of the series, he takes his first one-stop.

Which is pretty damning for an opening bowler but then wide is probably operating above its station, being better as a first change bowler, at least in English conditions, where pitching full and straight are better rewarded than his short preferences and intimidation.

Broad is not likely to be abandoned for this Test, a fate which will be certainly sanctioned as Steve Finn, after James Anderson has been declared fit.

England need an executor when go flat and wide Heights has more energetic personality to accomplish this task, while Chris Tremlett has physical presence.

If making wide among the four best bowlers when conditions are useful is a moot point, but England seem intended to stay with him for some time yet.

What the quartet is established as soon as they are against a side Sri Lanka compromised not only by the loss of its captain, Tillakaratne Dilshan, but by the reluctance of his mentor, Kumar Sangakkara.

Sri Lanka will incorrectly be runs of miss Dilshan and swaggering nature (he bats as Captain Jack Sparrow could), which is opposite of his replacement, Lahiru Thirimanne.

But Sri Lanka are used to deal with upheavals and as Sangakarra clearly to the yesterday press conference, they can still bind this series of Tests and how they play must reflect this possibility.

Conditions at the Rose Bowl are slightly unknown during five days, the match being his first Test.

Historians will find it appropriate that a Test match is finally played in the County which gave birth to cricket up Broadhalfpenny Down, but other international theatre, even if it as well as this, only increases the complexity and the collusion that accompanies already distribute.

Sometimes the competition is not healthy for the game.

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Steve James: The English captain and andrew Strauss shows how the devil is in the details of eligibility for the international

The top five, two were born in Johannesburg to Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg and Dublin. Saturday, it was Lumb (Johannesburg), Kieswetter, Pietersen, Morgan. Add Jade Dernbach (Johannesburg), which is also in the team, and you have to scope of which was so rapidly inhabited by some sort of nirvana xenophobic when Martin Johnson announced recently squadron of formation of the world of Rugby of England 45 - man Cup.

He has been a number of players born abroad, including newcomers Manu Tuilagi (born in Fatausi-Fogapoa in Samoa), Mouritz Botha (Vryheid, South Africa) and Thomas Waldrom (Lower Hutt, New Zealand). Much was made of the inclusion of Waldrom, courtesy of the accidental discovery that grandmother was born in England, especially when the Narraway failed Luke tweeted his disgust.

But when it was pointed out in some quarters that 14 of the team were not born in England, it make you wonder. This certainly ask, and I tried hard to find the 14. Only when I realized Matt Banahan (born Jersey) has been included alongside Simon Shaw (Kenya), Charlie Sharples (Hong Kong), Alex Corbisiero (USA) and Delon Armitage (Trinidad), all came from England at a young age, that rather more became of what should be the case. I know Jersey is part of the British Isles, but is not part of the United Kingdom, but this was extending to a point.

This xenophilia seem perhaps strange coming from one known for its criticism scathing of the proliferation of EU-qualified and Kolpak players in county cricket, but, as always, the devil is in the detail. For example Strauss should not count in such arguments. It may have been born in South Africa, but he settled in that country when he was six. He would not acquire the nickname of "Lord Brocket" had he stayed in South Africa as long.

My gripes were always with signed specifically moved foreigners because they were cheaper and "those made above"; no need to waste time in the academies of County. It is interesting that the case for Kolpaks is currently re-made now, with their presence reduced by so-called strict regulation coinciding with a fall in standards. But if there is Kolpaks of the use that they are generally type which would have been real players overseas in the past before the expanded international cricket fixture list.

Of course, the aliens have their use. I am currently writing a book about the influence of Duncan Fletcher and Andy Flower as coaches of cricket in England for canker love team. And in these days of easy global travel, emigration is hardly a rarity.

It is plain silly for some critics of John Bull-tendency to question the recent selections of Johnson. As the beetle eyebrows rightly said: "they are qualified and are available for us. "He must choose his best team from those available. Acting otherwise would invite all sorts of other charges.

The only caveat is that it is probably best to check with the individual first if he really wants to play for England. I'm not sure that the England cricket selectors builds enough when they selected the Australian Darren Pattinson for a Test against the South Africa at Headingley in 2008.

Only a change in the regulations may see a decrease in the number. And they differ from sport to sport. In Rugby Union the residence qualification is 36 consecutive months; In cricket, it is four consecutive years, at least 210 days in each of those years.

And the grandmother of born in England of Waldrom guarantee not qualifying for the team of cricket in England, as is the team of Rugby Union, although it is hoped, a birth certificate to prove it, kiwifruit Shane Howarth and Brett Sinkinson, who played once for Wales without doing so.

This episode of "grannygate" infamous since considerable tightening regulations of the Rugby Union. Now you can play for both countries, as did Howarth. Unless it is a different sport, which is where Shontayne Hape, former New Zealand Rugby international XIII and now England Rugby Union of the centre, recently.

Perhaps these regulations should I crunch.

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Pakistan v England: Andrew Strauss falls cheaply as England bat first in final World Cup warm-up match

England find themselves batting first for the second match in succession - but this time after losing the toss.

And Strauss fell with just six on the board, and five runs to his name - bowled by Shoaib Akhtar.

For this match, England have named what is likely to be their first-choice side ahead of the tournament proper.

Seamers James Anderson and Tim Bresnan were passed fit this morning to play in Fatullah.

Anderson missed England's first warm-up fixture, against Canada at this same venue two days ago, because of a stiff back.

It's Bresnan's inclusion, though, that is the most surprising. It is his first match since suffering a calf injury last month in England's one-day international series defeat against Australia.

There was also room in the team for Ravi Bopara, the batting all-rounder who replaced injured Eoin Morgan in the 15-man World Cup squad. He has been given a chance in this day-night match at the expense of Luke Wright.

Pakistan confounded expectations, as they so often do, by leaving out captain Shahid Afridi - along with all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and pace bowler Umar Gul. They are being led by Misbah-ul-Haq.

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V Sri Lanka England: James Anderson is key to our bowling attack, says Captain Andrew Strauss

England lead the series three games 1-0 and a draw will be enough to ensure that they will end.

However, Strauss continued: "we are determined to make it 2-0 and finish the series."

"There was some good cricket played by the two parties among showers, that we had, but we want to build on what we have accomplished so far."

"We have until now in decent positions in two games and we want to get the win this time."

Tourists, sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be Captain tomorrow by Kumar Sangakkara in the absence of the injured Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Strauss added: "Dilshan casts exceptionally well to the Lord but Sri Lanka have always got deep in their batting."

"We will have to take care of what we encounter the day and make the hard yards".

Strauss continues: "the first two games were very stop-start, it was difficult to construct the rhythm.

"But we made five centuries in the first two games and if you do that you will win more games than you lose." There are also a few performances really good bowling and good catch.

"We were not quite at 100%, but I hope that we will improve."

"Which showed the Lord is the quality of our bowling in the last 18 months, we were a little down and it became very clear." You cannot expect platy perfect Test each time, but we need to improve. »

Form of Strauss made review after a series of low scores, alongside that of paceman Stuart Broad.

Captain insists focus rest on the outcome of the team, just by adding: "I want to win the series, more importantly, and hopefully get runs myself, I can go and watch the one-dayers with assured the series."

Offshore, he said: "it knocked a few really good balls, some really good spells, and he has not obtained the wickets to show that."

"We all need to make, pushing to take your places of persons.".

"Which is an element important to our success over the past two years, you are still likely to encounter an injury to your bowlers and you need this backup it."

"Steven Finn is an exceptional bowler and we have Tim Bresnan recover from injury, so this means that nobody can rest on their laurels."

Strauss praised the work of the staff of the Rose Bowl, saying: "we're excited about it, they did an amazing job with the stage and there is an enthusiasm for first Test of the Rose Bowl."

"They took much time, effort and money in the ground." When it was built kiosks were not very good and now they are excellent, so they have answered all the questions asked of them. »

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Cricket Worldcup 2011: Andrew Strauss comes cheaply in England bat first in game final warm-up against Pakistan

England are batting first for the second game in succession - but this time, having lost the toss.

Strauss has fallen with only six to the Board of Directors and five goes to his name - overthrown by Shoaib Akhtar.

For this match England named which is likely to be alongside them first choice prior to the tournament proper.

Seamers James Anderson and Tim Bresnan spent to adapt this morning to play in the Fatullah.

Anderson missed first warm-up fixture England, against the Canada in the same place, there are two days due to a dos stiff.

Inclusion of Bresnan, however, it is most surprising. This is his first game since suffering a calf injury last month to one-day international series defeat England against the Australia.

There is also room for Ravi Bopara, team the frappeurs all-rounder who replaced injured Eoin Morgan in World Cup 15 - man team. He was given a chance in this game of day-night at the expense of Luke Wright.

Pakistan confounded expectations, as they so often do, leaving Captain Shahid Afridi - with All - Rounder Abdul Razzaq and pace bowler Umar Gul. They are headed by Misbah-ul-Haq.

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Somerset v India: English Captain Andrew Strauss made hay with cent against tourists out-of-sorts

As Andrew Strauss tuned-up for the week Lord's Test with a hundred of invincibility to go with the 78 he made in the first round, the India must be hoping that their instinct for survival kicks in until their cricket in the three-day match against Somerset was disastrous, despite the match petering out for a game zero.

It is perhaps too early to describe their tour as being in shreds, despite Peter Trego dismantling their bowling with a brutally hit 85 which took 57 balls and included seven fours in six and seven.

But unless significant improvements are made, they may struggle to match in sri Lanka, who were more lame than game such as the summer warm-up Act.

Arrived in England last Tuesday, India gave a practical printing did not want to be here.

Yesterday, after the swaggering century from Suresh Raina had brought them a semblance of dignity, they took the field - decision of the Somerset next to not enforce the monitoring - without Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan.

A call to the Manager of the Tower, Anirudh Chaudhry, said that the injury was not the reason for which that they stayed in the locker room, and that both were actually at rest.

Odd mogul could have used these tactics in the past, but there is a sense stars of the Indian Premier League, with the premiums added for the Indians, is wasting players and making modern maharajas of all the.

On Saturday, VVS Laxman, which was founded in his game, said that experienced test players will always adapt.

However, experienced test players also know that bowlers need overs in the legs and the batsmen, even those who are also good as Tendulkar, enjoy time to the fold.

After all, this is why Strauss, rather than have more net with Graham Gooch, is the unprecedented move to guest for Somerset that they offer the only chance of a decent bat before the series.

It is plausible that the absence of Zaheer was a tactical move, given the vulnerability seen Strauss against bowlers fought his left arm.

It pretty much him bowling at half-cock in the first round so if he is himself save ambushed in Lord of the next Thursday for the test, it was an interesting approach. You do not tend to rise to reveals lounging around your sweat.

Without cause Strauss a few problems, Captain of England simply selected other offshore among the hundreds of simpler that he never scored.

He was not bowling of Bill, despite the violent assault of the Trego, especially against Amit Mishra, thus believing. Mishra actually beat the bat several times in the first round with his wrist spin.

But yesterday, he went the distance with all eight hit sixes, including that of Strauss, arriving off the coast of his bowling. Indeed, one of his overs cost 28 after Trego struck for four successive sixes, Miss hundreds Somerset after complete humiliation by declaring at tea.

Earlier in the day, Raina, this is certain to play in the Test next week, appreciated its own fireworks by joining club hundreds here, the last 70 court is to stick with Munaf, No 11 the India Patel.

As soon as that Patel market, Raina was used in the fashion of the IPL, something it quite effectively to Chennai SuperKings. Its ruined assault certainly figures of Charl Willoughby, who have been exemplary Saturday after he claimed by high order of the India.

Willoughby finished with six for 76, his left arm swing is not not that something offered by the England attack next week after Tim Bresnan and Stuart Broad was included in the team. Wide is a melon bang-it-in trying to get face of drummer bullet and bluster.

For the moment, the captain and the coach is feeling its aggression complements other launchers, but less than the drummers of India knuckle down, something much more polished should be sufficient to bring them down.

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Andrew Strauss admits batting has to improve for World Cup after defeat to Australia in one-day series

 Work to be done: Andrew Strauss is aware that England have to imporve their batting ahead of the World Cup after another defeat to Australia Photo: EPA

The tourists won the Ashes in emphatic style but have failed to reproduce that form in the shorter format, slipping to a decisive 4-1 deficit in the seven-match series after a 51-run loss in Brisbane today.

A string of poor totals with the bat has been at the heart of Strauss' side's failings, and he said: ''We're very disappointed with how we've played as a batting group. There's been a lot of talking but talking doesn't bring results - guys have to bring it to the middle.

''We want the guys to play positively, We've got the World Cup coming up and I'd hate to see guys go into their shells but it's decision-making - when is the right time to attack and the right time to defend - and we haven't done that well enough. The reasons for that, I'm not sure.

''We've played very badly, we could have won the first two games and probably should. We haven't played smart cricket.

''We've got two games to get momentum for the World Cup.''

Young all-rounder Chris Woakes provided a rare bright spot on the day with six for 45, the best ODI figures by an England bowler on foreign soil, and Strauss continued: ''He obviously showed talent and it shows the future's bright for us.''

Woakes himself added: ''I was pleased with my performance with the ball, it was one of those days when it seemed to go my way, but it would have been sweeter if I was on the winning side.

''I'm pleased with my own performance but it's just a shame we're out of the series.''

Australia skipper Michael Clarke, whose 54 out of Australia's 249 all out was the top score of the match, said: ''I'm excited to contribute, it's been a while since I made 50.

''To win the series is fantastic, the boys are stoked.

''I thought when I got out that if we could scratch out 230 or 240 we were in with a chance, I thought 249 was a pretty good score.

''Everybody contributed, a few guys got starts with the bat and guys chipped in with two wickets.''

The match also saw another significant amount of money raised for the flood relief effort in the surrounding Queensland area and Clarke concluded: ''That's the most important thing really, the turnout today was fantastic.

''The game of cricket has raised so much money. England have been fantastic too, they've donated a few things.''

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Andrew Strauss backs England to turn series around after victory over Australia in fourth one-day international

Having lost the first three one-day internationals to an Australian side chastened by Ashes defeat, England secured a 21-run win in Adelaide built around Jonathan Trott's anchor innings of 102.

Trott's efforts pleased Strauss but it was the contributions for previously out-of-form players like Matt Prior (67), Paul Collingwood (27) and Michael Yardy (39no) that gave the skipper cause for optimism.

Asked if an improbable 4-3 series win could now be achievable, Strauss said: "I don't see why not.

"We absolutely desperately needed a victory and we were very determined to do so, but we needed a couple of good performances.

"Jonathan Trott's hundred was a very high quality innings and we probably could have got more than our 299, but that is generally a defendable total here and the bowlers did a good job.

"Matt Prior did brilliantly too. To come in after two ducks and play so positively showed his attributes. He played some good shots down the ground and scampered between the wickets to put the Australians under pressure.

"We needed Colly to get back into form and he came in in a good position where he could play some shots which will help him. Michael Yardy also played in the inventive way he can, which was good to see."

Trott was also pleased to have notched a second one-day hundred having been left short on 84 no in Sydney last time out.

"We spoke before the game about getting big partnerships and I'm glad to have done that," he said.

"(Boundary hitting) is something I've been working on very hard to improve and it's important to have those options.

"You're learning all the time with this game but keeping the basics and doing them well is always important."

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The Ashes: England's leadership of Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower made vision a reality

But it was an easy mistake to make. Both countries loiter embarrassingly low down the International Cricket Council’s Test rankings, don’t they? And England did only beat Bangladesh by an innings once in four encounters home and away last year. They have just hammered the Australians by an innings three times in four Tests.

Anyway, you may have gathered that there has been some joy at this result. Some schadenfreude even. Maybe also some smugness that this column long ago predicted that there was very little to fear out in Australia (except a country risibly obsessed with tiny rules and regulations).

There have been so many column inches devoted to it that even the most avaricious of readers must have struggled to keep up. I’ve tried to do so, so apologies if there is some repetition, but I am pretty sure that here are a few things you have not read.

That camp in Germany was rather a good idea

I hesitate to use the phrase ‘boot camp’ because my ears are still ringing from the volley of expletives Andy Flower sent in my direction the last time I did that. To say he was not happy about the response of the press and public would be rather an understatement.

And he was right when saying that nobody outside of the inner circle really knew what had gone on there. There were some photos of players boxing and that was about it. And then it emerged that James Anderson had cracked a rib. Some said he would miss the start of The Ashes, maybe even as many as two Tests.

Goodness, talk about hysterical exaggeration. Anderson actually completed all the tasks asked of him in Germany. It was only when he tried to play a round of golf upon returning home that it became clear he had a small problem. Note the adjective ‘small’. He played in the first tour match and was, by a country mile, England’s best bowler of the tour.

Oh, and I hear that England’s players frequently referred to the Germany trip both on and off the Australian fields.

Andrew Strauss missing the Bangladesh tour last year helped win the Ashes

Remember the fuss that caused? A bevy of former England captains lined up to denounce the decision as nothing short of treachery. How could the England captain desert his post? Because he was absolutely knackered, and wanted to be ready for the Ashes and the forthcoming World Cup, that’s why. And England gave their next captain, Alastair Cook, some valuable experience.

Given the crowded international schedule that shows no sign of uncluttering, resting players is going to be an ever-present reality. Anderson is back home now after all. The one I worry about is Flower, though. He will need a break soon. He must schedule it.

The four-bowler theory was correct all along

It beggars belief that some observers are still urging England to use a five-bowler strategy because it is ‘the next step forward’. Yeah right, let’s weaken the side in an instant. How many wickets do you need to win a Test match?

England took 20 wickets in Australia in four of the five Tests, only failing on the Gabba feather-bed. Their six specialist batsmen, plus the still underrated Matt Prior, constantly forged strong positions on which the bowlers thrived. Those praising the winning mentality garnered in the three warm-up matches might want to recall that Ian Bell’s 192 was rather important in defeating Australia A.

Every team would like five frontline bowlers, but they can only be accommodated by the presence of a genuine all-rounder. England do not possess such a cricketer.

You can try arguing cases for Tim Bresnan and Stuart Broad at No 7, but that position demands an average of 40 in Test cricket. See either doing that? Nope.

Our problem in English cricket is that vision is viewed as suspiciously as a door-to-door salesman. Other sports are little different. Look at what happened to Sir Clive Woodward at the hands of the senescence-and-flatulence-laden Rugby Football Union.

Hopefully John Steele is about to rectify that, but the message in English cricket at the moment is simple: everyone is entitled to their opinion, but beware of Strauss and Flower. They can make monkeys of anyone. As the Australians have discovered.

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England v West Indies: Andrew Strauss and Graeme Swann back for World Cup clash but Ajmal Shahzad ill

 Skipper: Andrew Strauss (left) is fine but there are now doubts over Ajmal Shahzad (right) Photo: AFP

Both reported fit for practice at the MA Chidambaram Stadium this afternoon, but Ajmal Shahzad has emerged as a new doubt for Thursday's crunch World Cup fixture after also succumbing to a stomach upset.

Shahzad is the sixth England player to be taken ill at some point on this month-long trip so far.

But only Stuart Broad, who subsequently had to return home because of a side strain, has yet missed a match and Strauss appears confident he and Swann should be able to take on the Windies.

"I'm feeling very well now," Strauss said. "I was laid low the night before last and yesterday morning.

"Graeme Swann is recovering well and should be practising today. I don't know if he is quite as buoyant as I am, but we're still very confident he'll be fine for tomorrow.

"Ajmal Shahzad has been struck by it as well and he probably will not practise today.

"We're not sure at this stage whether that is going to affect his chances of being selected tomorrow."

Shahzad took three wickets in England's shock defeat to Bangladesh in Chittagong on Friday, a result which means they must beat West Indies to have any chance of progressing to the quarter-finals.

Doubts over the Yorkshire seamer's fitness may reopen the door to James Anderson, even though team management are thought to feel the Ashes hero is due a rest after such an arduous winter.

Strauss declined to confirm or deny any selection issues before match day.

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V Sri Lanka England: side Andrew Strauss failed to make the most of the conditions at the Rose Bowl, said Geoffrey Boycott

Towering success: Chris Tremlett deserved his haul six wicket but Sri lanka should have been overthrown on day two despite the games at length limited Photo: GETTY IMAGES

There was no source of inspiration in the cricket today. It is even a field hosted for seam bowlers if you Bowl straight and he pitch-up.

Chris Tremlett was by far the best launcher and seems to improve all the time. Her lift was disconcerting and its line was good. He overthrew a nice full length and deserved his wickets.

Jimmy Anderson was probably too much with the ball. Step that a bowler can run and swing half or half sewing it. This is impossible. But its good bullets were simply too good for everyone to nick.

But in England from the point of view, he considered to have good pace and already overthrown 23 overs in the match after his injury aside.

Stuart Broad is a great concern. It is of course of confidence and it shows on his face. It is no doubt he tried like hell to Bowl the right line and pitch the ball, but most of the time that is short and wide and has completed to resort to the bouncers. Why Strauss kept so long, it is astounding.

It has the best spinner in the world in Graeme Swann. He did not get to bowl until the hands and then took a one-stop with his second ball.

A score of 177-9 to Sri Lanka would be a fairly good performance by England if it were a flat batting pitch but, sorry, on this type of surface, that we should be having overthrown for much a total lower.

Their batsmen are used for flat land, non-bouncy that perhaps a little later, turn the. They never see conditions like this. Their feet is non-existent. They transform the seamers squares.

They are so frustrated with the ball moving and bouncing they play of airy fairy shots. In fact of the tail-enders to side leg before the bowlers delivered the ball.

They have no patience because they are used to be able to play many shots on good frappeurs locations and again in England was struggling to get out their terrain tailor-made for seam bowlers.

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V Sri Lanka England: on the side of Andrew Strauss can still to beat the rain and Sri Lanka, said Geoffrey Boycott

Men running: Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook showed England how the Rose Bowl Photo: GETTY IMAGES

England can win this Test match is they bat and think positively today. It would be wrong to imagine it y two days are left in the game because apparently heavy rains are due to fall Monday.

We have that one day guaranteed cricket. This overs only 98 leaves to play with. I think England should bat until lunch today and get way more 100 run lead and give themselves the best part of 65 overs to Bowl Sri Lanka out.

The path of Sri Lanka have played so far this field England can only run through them especially if to Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene cheaply outside.

Saturday was a miserable, rainy on and off days finally lit up by the stick of Kevin Pietersen. We have waited long for him to show us its class and it was the day.

The right ball shape the first its set of feet was immaculate. It has been positive in its defence on the front or rear foot and superb shot making his selection. He looked a different player.

More than 75 per cent of its tracks were evaluated through mid - on and mid-off bang slams in c of the drummer.

Sri Lanka trying broad Bowl it out and as soon as they launched short and it could reach it he executed shots excellent traction. The only error he was seeking a hundred before the close of the game and diverted a wide slightly to the keeper.

Alastair Cook has played magnificently again. It is in the best drummer form of his life and he has been a hell of a surprise when he chipped a wideish that gully.

The batsmen were fed some very poor deliveries and the Sri Lankan bowlers seemed ineffective. They could allow the ball that bounce or couture as England did on the first two days.

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2010 Ash: how alongside Andrew Strauss compares to Great Britain of the past?

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The batting line-up was equally full of great names: Len Hutton, Peter May, Colin Cowdrey, Tom Graveney, Bill Edrich. If there was a criticism, it would be that none of them were quite at the peak of their careers, Hutton being on the slide and the others on the way up. But it was a low-scoring series, in which only five individual centuries were scored - and three of those by Englishmen.

(2) 1932-33 - England 4-1

Douglas Jardine had a single minded focus, a side stacked with heaps of batting, and a secret weapon named Harold Larwood. We will always remember the series for Jardine's notorious "bodyline" tactics, which restricted Don Bradman's average to a ' mere' 56. Yet there was more to England than bouncers. The urn was clinched a placid Gabba pitch when the tonsillitis-ridden Eddie Paynter rose from his hospital bed to hit the winning runs.

England's leading scorers were Herbert Sutcliffe and Wally Hammond, two of the statistical giants challenged by Alastair Cook this winter.

And, as in Hutton's team, there was plenty of back-up with the ball. Bill Voce was a barrel-chested left-arm quick, and Gubby Allen had a decent turn of speed, even if he refused to follow Jardine's ruthless orders. No one ever talks about Hedley Verity's contribution, but he won the final Test with his classy left-arm spin. A team with no weaknesses, perhaps? But they lose a mark for tarnishing the spirit of the game.

(3) 2005 - England 2-1

Like the previous two teams, Michael Vaughan's outfit came up against a powerful Australian outfit and bested them - if only by the skin of Kevin Pietersen's unnaturally white teeth.

They did it mainly through their 'awesome foursome' of fiery quicks.

Between them, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones had everything: pace, bounce, swing, reverse-swing, psychology, canniness and unpredictability. They were also brilliantly led by an inspirational in captain Michael Vaughan.

Still, we can put Vaughan's side no. higher than no. 3 in this table because their batting was so shaky. It was only because Flintoff hit the best form of his life that they were able to keep up with an Australian side that scored runs all the way down the order. Neither did they have a world-class spinner, though Ashley Giles filled in manfully with his left-arm sliders.

(4) 2010-11 - England 3-1

Andrew Strauss's side gain points for winning Down Under - a feat that only one other team of any nationality has managed in the last 18 years. But they lose a few, too, because of the confused, even chaotic nature of the opposition.

There is perhaps a shortage of great players in this team, but Cook and James Anderson have led the batting and bowling with skill and application. Both men will probably have won entry to the "great" category by the time they withdrew. This is also the finest fielding unites England have ever put on a cricket ground.

(5) 1956 - England 2-1

Look at the statistics, and this was something of a one - man effort.

Off-spinner Jim Laker took 46 wickets in the series, still an Ashes record. Nineteen of those cam was made-to-order Old Trafford dustbowl.

It was a damp summer, tricky for batting even when England were not doctoring the pitches. Peter May - England's cherubic young captain - was the only man to pass 400 runs on either side. Purpose this team had a handful of iconic players (Fred Trueman, Colin Cowdrey) and over the late 1950s they would enjoy the spoils of victory against weak teams from the former colonies.

(6) 1928-29 - England 4-1

The hale and hearty Percy Chapman led a tour that started with the largest margin of victory - 675 runs - ever recorded in a Test.

Australia's only fast bowler, Jack Gregory, broke down in that match, leaving Hammond to feast on a second-rate attack for the rest of the series. With only Clarrie Grimmett's leg-spin to worry about, Hammond piled up 905 runs in all - a total that even Cook could not overhaul.

England's bowlers were not vintage: they had a young Larwood and an ageing Maurice Tate, leaving the non-turning left-arm spinner Jack White to shut down one end (economy rate was 1.86 runs per over his) and lead the wickets table at the same time. England won well, but despite the introduction of a 20-year-old boy from Bowral, Australia were easy pickings.

(7) 1977 - England 3-0

Mike Brearley led England in three Ashes series wins - a record. This was his best team, with an attack that combined Bob Willis - then at the peak of his powers - with Mike Hendrick, Derek Underwood and the young Ian Botham.

The batting was not quite so distinguished, at least until Geoff Boycott retourne the side to score his 100th first-class century at Headingley. You would not count a middle-order featuring Bob Woolmer, Derek Randall and Tony Greig among the finest England have produced attractive players though they all were.

And then there was the opposition. The 1977 Australians are remembered as the team that Kerry Packer poisoned, as two-thirds of the players had committed themselves to World Series Cricket before boarding the plane, and a deep split opened up between the "ins" and the "outs".

(8) 1970-71 - England 2-0

Ray Illingworth's side was the most disciplined England team to win the Ashes until the current one. They dried up the scoring rate with their miserly bowling, which was led by the piratical figure of John Snow. They also runs all the way down the order made in the manner of modern teams.

The heaviest scoring was done by the three specialist openers - Boycott, Brian Luckhurst, and John Edrich - who occupied the top three batting positions. Between them they scored so many runs that four of the six Tests were drawn.

But the weak point of this side - whose average age was almost 32 - was their fielding. More adventurous opposition than Bill Lawry's Australians might have exposed Oliveira Basil's 39 - year - old legacy.

(9) 1986-87 - England 2-1

With a couple of exceptions, the 1980s were a grim time for English cricket. Many famous names. Few famous results. Although England won the Ashes three times in the decade, we cannot rate these teams too highly as they tended to lose to everyone else.

Mike Gatting's was the best of them. They started their tour in such poor fettle that one reporter done wrote that "they can't beats, can't bowl and can't field". But they pulled together brilliantly when it mattered. Chris Broad hit three hundreds and still has the highest Test average of any visiting batsman to Australia. Gladstone Small took two five-wicket hauls - the only two of his Test career. The spinners, John Emburey and Phil Edmonds, didn't give anything away.

And Botham popped up like the showman he was to help win Tests in Brisbane and Melbourne.

(10) 1985 - England 3-1

This was a glorious summer for English cricket, as the "G-force combo of David Gower, Mike Gatting and Graham Gooch carried all before them.

Botham created the defining moment of the summer when he smashed his first ball, from Craig McDermott, into the Edgbaston pavilion. But Australia were painfully undermanned after many of their best players had itiswhatitis on rebel tours of South Africa. Apart from McDermott, Geoff Lawson and Allan Border, there wasn't much in their locker.

Pre-World War I England teams were not considered for this article.

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The ashes of 2010: we have exorcised demons of 2006, said England Captain Andrew Strauss, after the Australia examined thoroughly

Six members of the England team had played in Australia before this tour, but it was their first victory of test. Little is part of such unilateral victory, the time which gave England chance make sure to keep the ashes before Christmas.

"The best feeling is walking in the locker room after winning this test match," said Pietersen. "Four years ago it was a cloakroom very, very horrible to walk." It was a very quiet locker, closet very negative, and not not as United as the cloakroom is at this time.

Individual performances obviously add a victory for the team and the victory of the team is now simply an incredible feeling. Any takes the wickets or obtains passes.

"Australia wins, I have not had one and Straussy did not have one, it is a feeling." We are going to enjoy, but we are not going to get on our laurels, because once the convenience defines, it bites you.

"English cricket good thing made in the course of that a few months or a few years is that we have not been complacent." We are on our jobs.

As advocates of the Ashes, a victory for England in Perth would retain the ballot box, but with the Australia such a low ebb, first series victory here for 24 years is the only goal.

"We now have a big boost in this series and we must keep going, said Andrew Strauss, the captain of England.".

"This rest in good place, but we know the game of cricket and we know that there has been a horrible bite you, if you start yourself way tap on the back too."

"We must take advantage of this and it enjoy because it is a special victory for us and to some extent exorcises some demons here four years ago."

We are in a good position now. Our batter is in good shape and bowling are bowling. But we must ensure that we take our foot off the coast of the pedal now. We know Australia will return us hard and if back us their way in the series they will take it. »

Strauss has confirmed the three launchers England hoping to replace Stuart broad - fast Ajmal Shahzad, Chris Tremlett and Tim Bresnan - will play in the game for three days against Victoria starting with at CWM Friday.

"The probability is all three play so we'll see than that which is the most powerful and most adapted to Perth, research that is going to be important,", he said.

"What is happening in Melbourne will have an effect, but we suggest bowling are more likely to Perth from ATMs."

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The dream of Andrew Strauss fears World Cup Eoin Morgan with England is more for a finger injury

Morgan has become the sixth Player in England to leave the tour to Australia after being diagnosed with a major fracture in his left hand and going to see a specialist Monday to determine how long it faces out of the game.

This information will be known when team manager Andy Flower and Strauss are due meet the England selectors on arrival in the country Tuesday, when they discuss the possibility of injury replacements for 15 - man crew.

Strauss has admitted that Morgan is the player the most at risk to be excluded after having described the wound as a "substantial break."

Australia Captain Ricky Ponting has put aside for six weeks since he suffered a similar injury in ashes and not returned to stick in nets last week.

A similar timetable would spell the end of the Morgan World Cup hopes although Strauss has been suggested that England may be willing to keep him during the final stages.

"He has a broken finger, he will see a specialist to decide what is the best way to remedy this situation," Strauss said.

"There is obviously a chance it won't feature (at the World Cup)."

"We do think through - at what stage is cut-off, that the guy must be replaced."

"We are fairly confident the other guys will be shaped, but Eoin Morgan we are not certain at this point."

"This is a great loss for us potentially." It is particularly important in those circumstances, be able to identify the strings in the way he does.

"I hope that there will be an opportunity for him to play." If it is not available someone will fill these shoes. »

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V England West Indies: Andrew Strauss team for the victory of the formula

"We have well in big matches in recent years." This is not a time to enter our shells - we to have out there and take the West Indies on the team. »

What is less clear and not only because of the usual secrecy that surrounds the selections of the team of Strauss, is what players will provide the winning formula. So far, England worked their usual woolly thinking, at the world cups, not knowing their best team. Injuries to key players such as Kevin Pietersen, who, on Wednesday, with success, underwent surgery for a hernia, did not help, but no there was no change made unifying vision.

With Collingwood and Anderson, both set to miss, the bowling attack could include two specialist pace bowlers and two spinners, with partial Ravi Bopara, Jonathan Trott and, given the popularity of padding out the batter, Luke Wrightfill in as the fifth bowler. Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann choose themselves at the head of each category, especially now that Swann is on his belly of Tamil Nadu, but joined with them is not obvious.

Strauss spoke to have wicket-taking options, and there is no more likely that Chris Tremlett, including height and pace should have been used when Stuart Broad was the home, or even a third spinner.

The West Indies have four left-handed in their seven top of the page and if the ball is spinning, James Tredwell, transforming from them might be a better option than Mike Yardy, allowing for left-handed Chris Gayle among themhitting with the tour. Kieron Pollard, an another mighty smiter, is right-handed and would enjoy Tredwell, so it's six of one and half a dozen of the other view of the length, that the two obtain after blow offshore.

The authorities in the MA Chidambaram Stadium will be desperate for a lot more true than the one used between England and South Africa, which is alarming and had inconsistent bounce.

On Wednesday, green grass cuttings were being rolled more, but not on the ground to help retain moisture in the surface and prevent sewing bite too dry soil.

Cuttings will be scanned before play Thursday, and the hope, according to Andy Atkinson, consultant of the International Cricket Council on the heights, is 230 runs made by the side batting first. He noted that it would be crazy for the team winning the toss does not at first to bat.

The other change England appear to have contemplated was that could associate Strauss at the head of the order. Is Matt Prior before and after Pietersen, with the apparent lack of success.

On Wednesday, in the nets, Bopara and Ian Bell takes forward before. Inconclusive evidence that a change was at hand, although Bopara faced a combination of pace and spin, the burst of openness promoted by the West Indies in the World Cup. They have mixed fire Kemar Roach with the tower and the rebound of the arm left spinner Sulieman Benn.

The West Indies have three spinners to call, Benn, Gayle and Nikita Miller. For this reason, the two teams will want to first of the bat and thus win the toss.

Never so can in a cup of the world have mounted on the single toss of a coin.

Match details

England (likely): * AJ Strauss, RS Bopara, IJL Trott, IR Bell, EJG Morgan, †MJ Prior, LV Wright, MH Yardy, TT Bresnan, GP Swann, CT Tremlett/A Shahzad (so good).

WEST INDIES (likely): Gayle C, D Smith, R Sarwan, S Chanderpaul, D Bravo, Pollard, †D Thomas K, * D Sammy, K. Roach, Benn S N Miller.

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V England West Indies: Andrew Strauss team for the victory of the formula

"We have well in big matches in recent years." This is not a time to enter our shells - we to have out there and take the West Indies on the team. »

What is less clear and not only because of the usual secrecy that surrounds the selections of the team of Strauss, is what players will provide the winning formula. So far, England worked their usual woolly thinking, at the world cups, not knowing their best team. Injuries to key players such as Kevin Pietersen, who, on Wednesday, with success, underwent surgery for a hernia, did not help, but no there was no change made unifying vision.

With Collingwood and Anderson, both set to miss, the bowling attack could include two specialist pace bowlers and two spinners, with partial Ravi Bopara, Jonathan Trott and, given the popularity of padding out the batter, Luke Wrightfill in as the fifth bowler. Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann choose themselves at the head of each category, especially now that Swann is on his belly of Tamil Nadu, but joined with them is not obvious.

Strauss spoke to have wicket-taking options, and there is no more likely that Chris Tremlett, including height and pace should have been used when Stuart Broad was the home, or even a third spinner.

The West Indies have four left-handed in their seven top of the page and if the ball is spinning, James Tredwell, transforming from them might be a better option than Mike Yardy, allowing for left-handed Chris Gayle among themhitting with the tour. Kieron Pollard, an another mighty smiter, is right-handed and would enjoy Tredwell, so it's six of one and half a dozen of the other view of the length, that the two obtain after blow offshore.

The authorities in the MA Chidambaram Stadium will be desperate for a lot more true than the one used between England and South Africa, which is alarming and had inconsistent bounce.

On Wednesday, green grass cuttings were being rolled more, but not on the ground to help retain moisture in the surface and prevent sewing bite too dry soil.

Cuttings will be scanned before play Thursday, and the hope, according to Andy Atkinson, consultant of the International Cricket Council on the heights, is 230 runs made by the side batting first. He noted that it would be crazy for the team winning the toss does not at first to bat.

The other change England appear to have contemplated was that could associate Strauss at the head of the order. Is Matt Prior before and after Pietersen, with the apparent lack of success.

On Wednesday, in the nets, Bopara and Ian Bell takes forward before. Inconclusive evidence that a change was at hand, although Bopara faced a combination of pace and spin, the burst of openness promoted by the West Indies in the World Cup. They have mixed fire Kemar Roach with the tower and the rebound of the arm left spinner Sulieman Benn.

The West Indies have three spinners to call, Benn, Gayle and Nikita Miller. For this reason, the two teams will want to first of the bat and thus win the toss.

Never so can in a cup of the world have mounted on the single toss of a coin.

Match details

England (likely): * AJ Strauss, RS Bopara, IJL Trott, IR Bell, EJG Morgan, †MJ Prior, LV Wright, MH Yardy, TT Bresnan, GP Swann, CT Tremlett/A Shahzad (so good).

WEST INDIES (likely): Gayle C, D Smith, R Sarwan, S Chanderpaul, D Bravo, Pollard, †D Thomas K, * D Sammy, K. Roach, Benn S N Miller.

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V England West Indies: Andrew Strauss and Graeme Swann back for the shock World Cup but Ajmal Shahzad ill.

Skipper: Andrew Strauss (left) is all very well but there are doubts now more Ajmal Shahzad (right) Photo: AFP

The two reported fit for the practice of the MA Chidambaram Stadium this afternoon, but Ajmal Shahzad has emerged as a new doubt for World Cup for Thursday's crunch fixture after also succumbed to stomach.

Shahzad is the sixth Player in England to take sick at some time on this month-long journey so far.

But only Stuart Broad, who was later to return because of a strain of side has again missed a match and Strauss appears confident that he and Swann should be able to take on the Windies.

"I feel very good now," said Strauss. "I was put down before the last night and yesterday morning."

Graeme Swann is recovering well and should be practical now. I don't know if it is as dynamic as I am, but we are still very confident that he will be fine for tomorrow.

"Ajmal Shahzad was struck by it even and it probably will not practise today."

"We are not certain at this stage if it is going to affect his chances to be selected tomorrow."

Shahzad took three wickets in the defeat of England in Bangladesh in Chittagong Friday, a result which means that they must beat West Indies have any chance of progression to the quarterfinals.

Doubts about the Yorkshire seamer's fitness may reopen the door to James Anderson, though the direction of the team are thought to feel the hero of ash is due a rest after such a difficult winter.

Strauss refused to confirm or deny any selection problem before the day of the match.

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