Indeed you can. At last a couple of players knuckled down and made the most of favourable conditions and moderate bowling. They were contrasting hundreds Strauss' was typically workmanlike. He is a fighter and it was a case of mind over matter. That innings meant a lot to him as could be seen from his rather violent celebrations.

Bell's innings was beautiful - pure class. Nobody has doubted his ability just his temperament and his penchant for giving his wicket away too easily. Bell timed the ball superbly - it was as though he had a rocket auncher in his hand.

If both had failed again, at least one of them would have gone, so they will be two tired but very happy bunnies in Napier last night.

The innings create an interesting scenario though. For the first Test next summer should Strauss open and Vaughan return to three. And Strauss' form if it continues to be good, puts Vaughan's position as captain under greater threat. Strauss, I would guess, is the only person the selectors would seriously consider replacing him with.

Indeed we do. He has not been the first Yorkshireman to like the sound of his own voise and he won't be the last judging by Darren Gough. I had a problem with Ray Illingworth when he was Chairman of selectors. Like a lot of Yorkshiremen they say 'I say what I think and if you don't ike it, unlucky'. My experience tells me thay are fine when no one has a go back at them but when you do they don't like it a lot. By the way I was born in Wigan, on the right side of the Pennines. But Lancastrians are amost as bad too.

That is the frustration of Bell. You see so much and you want to see so much more because he has it in him to be, as you say, a formidable batsman. I wouldn't blame him for getting out today. Quick runs were needed and he was trying to do the right thing by the team.

But he got out.
So, the question remains. We have spent two days - and many before that - suggesting it was time for change in the England side. Our correspondents agreed unanimously. What then should happen now. The statistics for the series have taken on an entirely different hue. Four of the top six are suddenly averaging above 40 and the other two are the openers. Is it now a middle order for the ages?

Stephen, I think all the top six (bar perhaps Pietersen) should remain under scrutiny. They've cashed in - well done to them - but on a flat track and against a toothless attack.

Despite what I said about the captaincy, it's important Strauss' innings doesn't mean he can now be mediocre for the whole summer with no threat of being dropped - same goes for Bell.

As an example, for some years this is what happened with Mark Waugh. On the basis of 'we all know what he's capable of' he was retained time and again through very poor form. He ended up with a career average of 41.8 - really below average by Australian batting standards. But through each trough he was retained until - the law of averages being what it is - he got another good score, and thus bought himself another 6 months or so. (Remember I'm referring to the latter part of his career). Is this what Strauss or Bell will do? It's now generally recognised that Mark Waugh was kept on for a year or even two beyond what he should have been. It didn't affect overall test results, but it did have the effect of severely limiting the test careers of players like Darren Lehmann and, to a lesser extent, Stuart Law and Martin Love - Lehmann and Love, in particular, probably as fine batsmen as Mark Waugh ever was, but never as favoured by selectors or circumstances.

So in summary I think yes, pressure should still be on the top six.

Lucas,
I hear what you are saying with Mark Waugh and i'm not sure where i sit. He was a very good player but as you say his record is modest compared to other Australians. i happen to believe he was a better player than Lehmann, Law and Love but who knows what they may have done given a good run.

Yes, of course the top six shoud be kept under pressure but at least, for a while, they will not enter each innings fearing it could be their last, because that is not heathy either.

I agree with you Stephen Vaughan's position as captain needs to be looked at as closely as that of players who fail to score runs. Ashes winning captains carry a certain aura in many peoples eyes but they should not be untouchable. Look a Mike Gatting's record he won two out of 20 odd Tests in charge yet he is looked at as a legend.

Yes, Grant Elliott is rather inocuous. Facing him on a flat one is a nice way of regaining form. It would be like bowling at Chris Martin and Monty Panesar for 1/2 hour.

Hmmm.. which would be more tempting... half an hour to bowl at Fraser, or half an hour to bat against Brenkley... *s*

Hmmm, zooter is it? Well, I've been refining my eight ways up and down reversible parasweep, so there!