Never mind about the players making a statement, at soon point soon I would suggest the selectors have to start making a statement. The top six has been under-performing for a while, certainly as a unit, and still excuses are made. True, some of them got very good balls at Lord's but very good batsmen repel very good balls, don't they? It's supposed to be the nature of the game. Poor Paul Collingwood looks out of form to me, and I know, I know he's an easy target. But isn't it time for something to give?

I knew this Stanford match would cause problems. Let's make one thing clear, it isn't about preserving Test cricket, it's about 1. advancing T20; 2 providing some money for the hard-pressed West Indies board; 3 getting the English board out of a hole by giving them a way to give their players lots of dosh as compensation for not allowing them to appear in the Indian Premier League. Point three is where it becomes copmplicated. It is true that regardless of Twenty20 experience, which is what should count, many players have been signed for IPL because they are Test stars. So the England Test players' argument is that though they might not be in the England T20 side, they would have been chosen for the OIPL because of their genuine star quality, therefore they deserve a cut of the cash. It's a nonsense, of course, and the Stanford match, to be played in Antigua, in October, is already losing its edge. It had a certain frisson only becase of its winner take all status - a cool $20 million, do not forget. Once that is eroded to winner takes more than loser forget it. It all comes down to money in the end. The ECB might do everybody a favour by allowing the players to sign for IPL if they so wish. That would put the ball in the players' court and we would know who had the wider interests of the game at heart next year with an Ashes series pending.

That actually as a top conversatiom, the most telling line in which was: "Money did not buy my success." The way this has been handled makes for uncomfortable reading and the Rnglish board need to get it sorted out quickly.
One point about the Test we haven't discussed yet. Everybody keeps talking about Test cricket as the purest form of the game - which it is - but it didn't do itself any favours by the perpetual bad light stoppages at Lord's. It made it look daft or is it so pure that such matters as as the light must always be considered? On the other hand isn't Test cricket in danger of disappearing up a place where the sun never shines?

True, all true. England need to play fearless cricket whatever the light at Old Trafford. That does not mean reckless, it means confident, assured, unafraid. Otherwise what's the point of going on as they are? I see change coming somehow. Hats off to Vaughan, by the way. He is a survivor but also a class act. If England win in style in Manchester the bubbly's on you.

Guys,

Very lack lustre and disappointing overall...
Looking back on previous years' tests at Lords, this seems to be the one pitch which actually becomes truer as the game goes on, and tends to turn in to an absolute belter by day 5. Also I thought the slope would be harder for Southee and Mills to negotiate than they did.

Maybe it could work the other way, and somehow work out as a positive for England by leaving Flynn, How et al feeling more at ease than they should be - IF Old trafford turns in to a trampoline. They did all struggle on South Africa's harder pitches last year. I know it's almost embarassing to be clutching at such straws when we are facing the 7th ranked team, but what can you do?!

Tremlett for Anderson perhaps? The temptation has got to be there.

Again - 60s...starts... doing just enough - what a familiar pattern? Collingwood looks out of sorts, and it seems as though his 5th bowler option keeps him in as much as his batting/fielding. We all know Key and Shah are waiting in the wings, but I would not necessarily pigeon hole Key as only being an option at the top of the order if Strauss/Cook were to fail. Look at the Aussies later today playing Katich at the top of the order, and potentially Hodge and Hussey can fill the role there as well. I think Key and Shah could slot in anywhere in the 6 and should get a chance in the third test if we don't win this one. That being said, they had an excellent chance to really put pressure on in the Lions game, and neither got that score then - that was pretty frustrating to see.

Did you guys hear Jack Simmons' ideas to squeeze more square pegs in to round holes??! Steve James had a good piece on it online the other day - the counties STILL, now with T20...not only want to have their cake and eat it, BUT want to fill each pocket, and have a slice in each hand for good measure - 3 day cricket with 120 overs in each day?! And then 2 lots of T20 competitions, and the Pro40! Why don't we just play 24 hours a day...

Is there really any chance this will get passed? Surely with Gatts, Morris, Brian Rose and the PCA rep on this same committee that Simmons chairs, they can all tie this guy to the leather executive chair and wheel him in to the broom cupboard - job done.

Cheers,
Yatish