Three (or two, whichever way you look at it) matches into the test series and we must start having serious doubts as to our ability to get us out of this series deficit we find ourselves in. To win the series means having to win each of the final two tests, difficult enough with the England team alone, and unavailability is making the task even more difficult.

Despite the tense end to the last test, the test as a whole wasn’t as exciting as I’d hoped, although I don’t sit in the Botham camp (ie. I know everything, I told you so type words) and blame Strauss for batting too long. Had Chanderpaul and Sarwan been batting towards a more achievable target, on the pitch they had I reckon we could have lost the game. Anyway, that is done and dusted, but what team can we pick for the next game?

Flintoff is out injured, Prior is in England with his wife and new baby, and Swann is a small doubt with an arm injury. Coupled with the fact that Harmison is still useless, there is the need for 2, 3 or 4 changes to the side. Ambrose will take the gloves (oh.. joy…), but I’d seriously put Broad ahead of him in the batting line up. Going in with five bowlers doesn’t really show you have faith in them, so assuming Swann is fit I’m going with him, Broad, Anderson and a n other. Amjad Khan took 5 wickets in the warm up game but bringing him in would be nearly as close to insanity as bringing in that Australian roofer Pattinson, after only one warm up game. In for Freddie will be Bell or Ravi Bop – I’d go with Ravi for the simple fact that he brings fresh enthusiasm into the team, and not the same old same old mentality.

However, I have little confidence in that team actually pulling a win out of the bag unfortunately, such is my pessimism with the England team at the moment. Just call me Bob Willis!!