Ok, so maybe it wasn’t quite as clear cut as that but there is no doubt that the reason for losing the second test at Trent Bridge was the awful first innings after being put into bat. Yes, the ball was swinging all over the place, but to only score 198 was always going to put the team under immense pressure. And then when India came out and showed us how to bat the writing was on the wall by the end of the second day.

Losing the last 7 wickets in the second innings for not many runs didn’t help either, but we were thoroughly outplayed in this test and we now need to win the final test at the oval next week to ensure that Vaughan doesn’t lose his first home test series as captain.

We also had “jelly bean gate” which seemed a lot of fuss over nothing, with Khan and KP getting a bit tasty. We like a bit of fight in a game, especially when the actual cricket looks one-sided! I’m not quite sure where we can go with our team, they just need to be sent out there and hope they play like they did in the first test. They all want to win, every player in every walk of the game always does. But those that show the most fight are the winners, and that wasn’t us in this test.

I commented a last week about the possibility that Tresco could return to the England squad by means of the one dayers against India, but it looks like he has all but ruled himself out of that, the winter tours and in all probability playing for England ever again. 

The management have been quite hands off with him, letting him resolve whatever issues there are and it looks like they are too much for him to get over. Whether it’s the being away from home or something else, he hasn’t liked touring with England for a few years now. It’s a damn shame though as at his peak he was a magnificent test and one day player, and he’s got plenty of time left in him, but could you really pick him again? Other guys have come in and done well, and even if Tresco was to return would he be the same player? Could he handle the jibes he’d get from top quality opposition, as they need the smallest insecurity to jump into a batsman at the crease.

Like I said, its damn shame as I remember him battering the Aussies in ‘05, but it’s quite clear he doesn’t think he’ll be that person for quite a while, if ever again.

It was a close thing, but the dark skies closed in just in time for India at Lords. With England requiring one wicket, which looked quite likely with Monty bowling some absolute beauties, the drizzle came and the game was halted. Before play started on the fifth day it looked like it was going to be a cracker of a day, and those that went to see were lucky they daw as much play as they did.

India were always going to have to try and hold on, and it looked like it was going to happen with Kartik and Dhoni each making half centuries. However, England kept battling away and wickets started to fall and the tail was exposed. There was an almighty lbw shout in Monty’s penultimate over which looked like it should have been given, but games are won and lost on more than one decision. England were unlucky – they bowled well as a unit, despite my worries as soon as I heard the news Tremlett was in the side.

So we go to the next test which starts at Trent Bridge on Friday – and the England team might have a tough decision to make if Hoggard is fit to return to the team. But we will feel a lot more confident after the showing here, and if we can stop losing our lower order wickets quite so quickly we will be in good shape!

The title of this post isn’t the time – but the amazing figures Ottis Gibson managed to get today playing for Durham against Hampshire!

This hasn’t been done for 13 or so years in the county championship, and for it to come from a bowler who is 38 and has been around for quite a few years it is quite a feat! Gibson has had a season full of wickets, but I imagine this will be the peak of his season.

Well the injury curse has returned to the England squad, and now it looks unlikely that Hoggy will play any part in the test match against India which starts tomorrow. After the news that Harmy is our of the series, and the ongoing injury to Freddie, our bowling is going to look decidedly lacklustre.

The likelihood is that Anderson will come in for Hoggy, whilst Stuart Broad will make his debut in place of Harmison. The only other bowler in the squad at the moment is the Hampshire 6″10″ bowler Chris Tremlett, who if you ask me shouldn’t be anywhere near the test squad. When he burst onto the scene there was a great deal of excitement around him due to his height and the potential to hit the deck hard and bowl fast. But after some injuries he isn’t really that sort of player, and he has never shown a decent run of form to even suggest he should be in the squad.

I’m not a huge fan of someone like Saj Mahmood like I’ve said before, but surely he has got to be a better option. Unless he’s injured! Or how about Graham Onions, a young player who has had a few good reviews over the past couple of seasons. Or even how about bringing back Simon Jones! Ok this is clutching at straws a little bit, but he’s been bowling quite a bit for his county this season.

It shouldn’t be a problem hopefully anyway as Anderson and Broad will take over the reigns, leaving us with probably the least experienced attack we’ve fielded in a long time. Right, what are the odds on a three-nil India…..

The one dayer’s out of the way, attention turns back for a three test series against India. This is going to be a harder series than the recent test series against the West Indies, more so now than Steve Harmison has been ruled out. His place will be taken by either James Anderson or Stuart Broad, which could mean a test debut for the latter. I don’t really have a problem with either selection, so lets just see what happens!

With the bat, we really need Strauss to kick into some form again, or his place will be under serious threat for the winter tours. He scored some good runs against India in a warm up game, so lets hope he’s had a good sighter of the Indian bowlers. It is with the bat that India really pose a threat, with a batting order that looks mightily impressive and holds considerable depth. The lack of a fifth bowler without Flintoff in the side could hurt a bit here, but it’ll mean that Monty will get plenty of opportunity to bowl against a side he played his debut series against with great success.

Lets hope for some better weather over the next few weeks so we actually get to see some cricket as far too many games have been canceled for this crap English summer we’re having! If you’re looking to get tickets for any days of this test or any future games, I recommend you give MyTicketMarket a go. Its a ticket marketplace which puts you in touch with genuine cricket fans with tickets to sell, and gives you a chance to get hold of tickets for particular days and stands in the grounds. I hope you find it of use! Follow the link to Cricket Tickets @ My Ticket Market