Strauss is definitely our man
AT last it seems Andrew Strauss has silenced those critics who still don’t believe he is the right man to lead England into the World Cup on the sub-continent next year.
The England captain is at the very top of his game and showed in his century at Headingley that is equally as comfortably in the one-day arena than he is at Test level.
Strauss looks supremely confident with bat in hand right now. He’s efficient, good in the field and well respected by his team-mates. Why on earth wouldn’t you want him leading from the front?
Sunday’s second one-dayer was the best game we’ve seen all summer. Pakistan batted well and fielded a lot better, meaning England had to be on the money to come through. That bodes well for when they face tougher opposition in Australia this winter.
Leading 2-0, England will be expected to wrap up the series, and comfortably, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the word ‘ruthless’ is used in the dressing room for the third one-day at the Oval on Friday.
This is also the final week of the county season and what a shame that the weather could part in part in determining the key issues. Your heart must go out for Nottinghamshire who now need two positive days at Old Trafford to hold off Somerset and preserve their lead at the top.
Credit to the Cidermen though, who, incredibly, are searching for their first County Championship title.
I remember playing against the likes of Viv Richards, Joel Garner and Ian Botham all in the same team – and even they couldn’t bring title success to Taunton.
Marcus Trescothick’s got a great set-up down there in the west country and if they hold on to the lead they currently hold, they’ll be popular champions.