But I will tell you this – what they did looks like a crime against cricket. And if there is no firm response from the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit, we might as well disband it.

As for the Pakistan High Commissioner, he should get off his high horse. Spot-fixing cannot be condoned. There is no conspiracy against Pakistan here, and by claiming that he is “100 per cent convinced” that the players are innocent, he is not looking at the evidence.

I am particularly concerned about the size of the no-balls sent down by Mohammad Amir. Professional cricketers play the game within small fractions. It is hard to see how he could have run up and bowled a no-ball by 12 inches without realising he is going to overstep. In normal circumstances, he would know at least two strides before he gets to the crease, and would abort his run-up.

As for the captain, he is the person who decides who will bowl the next over. So if the fixer is saying “the third ball of the first over”, the bowler can’t do it without having the captain onside. The evidence looks so bad that, whatever the police make of this case, the ACSU will be under pressure to take strong action. Within the disciplinary hearings, the burden of proof might as well be reversed: it is up to the players to prove themselves innocent.

Because it is so crucial for cricket, I think the ACSU should offer Mohammed Amir a plea bargain. Tell us the truth about what took place and he can get off with a lighter sentence. If he won’t play ball, then make an example of him. I feel for Amir, because any 18-year-old is likely to get dragged along by his seniors. But I still believe that he deserves a lengthy ban – seven years, perhaps – if he is shown to have bowled no-balls to order. As for the others, they should be treated even more harshly, because they have no excuse.

It is no coincidence that Pakistan are repeatedly implicated in these scandals, because they never deal with them properly. People might get suspended or banished from the team, but within a few months the regime changes, and they are back again, as if nothing had happened.

We saw a typical example with Mohammad Yousuf on this very tour. I am not saying that he was kicked out for match-fixing – we don’t really know – but that the to-ing and fro-ing was typical of Pakistan cricket. One minute he’s in disgrace, the next he’s on the field.

Now look at the Indians and their response to the revelations surrounding the Hansie Cronjé affair 10 years ago. Mohammad Azharuddin and Manoj Prabhakar were among the players implicated. They were never convicted in a criminal case, but the Indian board was strong. They never played for India again, nor did Ajay Jadeja, even though his ban was quashed in 2003. The selectors cannot be forced to pick people they don’t want to pick. Having these sort of players in your dressing-room can damage the team’s morale, as well as its credibility.

Pakistan must join the rest of the cricket world in deploring what happened at Lord’s. There is no point them trying to turn a blind eye.

The PCB has been treated with a lot of sympathy since the terrorist attacks, just over 18 months ago, which meant that they were unable to host international cricket. But that will dry up very quickly if they fail to address what has been going on. No one will want to host their matches.

Shakespeare wrote that Caesar’s wife must be above reproach. The same must be true of cricket. And that means dealing harshly with anyone who casts a shadow on it. If the ACSU aren’t prepared to take this case seriously, they should hand this case over to the former players – people like myself, Ian Botham and Michael Holding, who played tough, competitive cricket throughout our careers. I can promise you, we wouldn’t mess about.

When match fixing happened in football in 1964 three Sheffield Wednesday players, Peter Swan, Tony Kay and David “Bronco” Layne all received jail sentences, and were banned from football for life. Their footballing careers were finished.

We have cycling and horse racing that are tainted by illegal drug use, or illegal betting, and we don’t want cricket to carry on going down the same route. This business has been going on from before Hansie Cronje. There has been whispering and innuendos for the best part of twenty years. We ex players have heard lots of stories about individuals, some very famous names, but again because of our legal system it is difficult to say anything, or prove it. It has to be stopped.

Whether we like it or not, no matter how many rotten bookies there are trying to make pots of money, it can never happen unless players are being compliant with the bookies and fixers. Without the players it cannot happen. We have to stop it with the players. There has to be huge consequences for any players involved. It is up to the national cricket board of whichever country is involved to hit the players hard. If they don’t then the ICC have to step in and do it for them.

The one country that has done it well is India. They have cleaned up their act. When Mohammed Azharuddin, Nayan Mongia, Ajay Jadeja and Mohaj Prabhaker were implicated in match fixing by circumstantial evidence, they were not found guilty in court, but the Indian cricket board used the strongest weapon they had, and stopped picking them for the national team.

It may be difficult to make a legal case from circumstantial evidence, but when it is overwhelming then the cricket authorities have the biggest sanction of all, to stop picking players for the national team. That really hurts a player’s career, and his pocket, as the endorsements dry up. The players can scream blue murder, write letters, and appeal. But appeal against what? The board can just respond that it’s a judgement call – another player is in the team because he is better than you.

By not picking players who are implicated by strong circumstantial evidence then the boards are sending out the biggest message of all for the next batch of youngsters coming through – don’t get involved or your career is finished. The national bodies must be strong and follow India’s example.

The team reached the semi final against Surrey, but unfortunately the rain came Friday and Saturday, and the tournament ended without a winner.

We have got to start getting hard evidence and make it stick to cut the cancer of corruption from cricket. Anyone we find who has hurt the game must be made an example of, and banned for life. Should there be some leniency for a young player? – I’m not sure – but there is no doubt that senior players must be involved and that there is tremendous pressure on the youngsters.

After Hansie Cronje, Lord Condon and the Anti-Corruption unit I thought cricket had done a good job – cleaning up the game – banning mobile phones from dressing rooms. But modern cricketers are very well off – they have more than one mobile – when I was in Sri Lanka a few years ago with Darren Gough he had four! When my daughter was at boarding school they had to hand their phone in at bed time – but at 14 they were bright enough to hand in an old one, often without the SIM card, and keep the real one for texting under the bed covers! They were pretty switched on at that age!

I had hoped that match fixing was behind us but these allegations are not just about defrauding bookmakers over spot betting, but include a statement by Mazhar Majeed to the News of the World that it was already agreed to lose two of the upcoming One Day Internationals between England and Pakistan.

Getting the evidence has always been the problem – now we have tapes and video – images of money being counted – all very worrying. But we have the right people on the case – the Metropolitan police – they will not be sweeping evidence under the carpet.
I have good friends in Pakistan – I didn’t just play there, I commentated on television. I like the Pakistani people and like many in cricket we want to help them. They’ve had the problems with terrorism and they are now devastated by enormous floods. We have a warmth towards them but no one will go and play there because of these problems. We in England have hosted their “home” Test matches. Look at Yorkshire – we have lost money hosting Pakistan v Australia at Headingley and now this.

For now they are only allegations, but when Mazhar Majeed said what would happen re no balls, and it did happen, it doesn’t look good. The circumstantial evidence is overwhelming.

If the Pakistan Cricket Board had sorted it out years ago, when match fixing first reared its ugly head, then their team, and cricket, would not be in such a mess now.

The problem with the PCB is when a player is suspended, or banned, some weeks later it is overturned and the player is back playing again. The players know this so suspensions and bans are worthless.
Every mother knows for their child to get the message and understand the rules of the house, if she says something and the child disobeys, then she must carry out the punishment. Too often that does not happen in Pakistani cricket. So this time, the ICC and the PCB have to stop sitting on the fence and follow through with their own lengthy punishments.

The crowds were so poor at Nottingham and Birmingham I’ll be surprised if they haven’t lost money.

With nine grounds queuing up for Test matches it’s brainless to have back to back matches in the same areas – spread them around all parts of the country!

These Test matches follow six weeks of cricket lovers having to pay out loads for constant 20/20. They’ve no money left – they’re voting with their pockets. This could be the start of an era of falling attendances. Six weeks of 20/20 was always a stupid idea – there is not enough money around. Play them every Friday night throughout the season, alternating home and away – one match a fortnight. Spread the cost for the spectators.

These schedulers at the ECB need their heads testing!

When we had Ronaldo with Rooney we frightened opponents to death with our pace. Berbatov just slows everything down – he’s too slow, no pace; no strength; easily knocked off the ball; doesn’t score enough goals – other than that he’s well worth his £30 million. He has nice touches; feints; dinks – but no penetration. Like Juan Sebastian Veron he’s another expensive misfit – not a Manchester United player.

I can’t see this kind of performance being good enough. Bobby Zamora ran Johnny Evans ragged leaving him complaining or fouling. John O’Shea had the worst game I’ve seen him have at right back – slow and his passing was poor. A big disappointment.

The introduction of Nani produced some pace and urgency…. but that penalty??…..Not good enough.

It was great to see Scholes get his 150th goal. He’s the best striker of a moving ball we’ve had since Bobby Charlton – Beckham was the best striker of a static ball. It takes great technique and accuracy to strike a moving ball like Scholes does. It’s amazing to all of us how someone with such fantastic ability can be the worst tackler in the Premiership. He’s not a dirty player – it’s just his timing is so poor.

Pakistan’s use of it has been as bad as their catching! They have made mistakes and wasted their calls. The review system is there to make right glaring wrongs and mistakes, not for fine line decisions. It’s a judgement call. Pakistan have to learn that when making the judgement to review or not they do not let their emotions run away with themselves. Just because you want a player to be out doesn’t mean he is. It is a cold and calculating decision and emotions should not be allowed to run wild.

In the first two Tests Pakistan have made bad calls, losing confidence in their own judgement. Twice in the last match they didn’t review, and the decision would have gone their way. They are too excitable – they must put their emotions to one side and use the system wisely.

With all change there are people for and against. The players have quickly accepted the use of Hawkeye and Hotspot and there has been no complaining. It’s the same as when Hawkeye was introduced to tennis – it is now accepted as part of the game – no McEnroe outbursts!

The review system is quite dramatic and adds to the excitement of the game. It is there to help the umpire get the right decisions – to help the game, and it will soon be part of the furniture. Most umpiring decisions are right. It’s a very difficult job, but an umpire is kidding himself if he thinks he can get all his decisions right. The review system is there to help get more decisions right.

I’d like to see the system spread to all forms of cricket but finance will be a big problem.

Let’s hope Cook hurries up and scores his 246 for England. Thinking about it though, Insole played for and Captained Essex, so he probably would have kept Cook in the side, looking after his own!

The thing is, Sachin Tendulkar scored 41 and 54 at the P Sara Oval but those runs were far more valuable than the double hundred he made on a flat pitch at the Sinhalese Sports Stadium just up the road in Colombo and shows why statistics are only important to a degree. I don’t blame the players, they can only perform in the conditions they are given, but Virender Sehwag’s 109 from 105 balls in the first innings was better than making 300 on a flat pitch and VVS Laxman’s 103 not out under pressure on a difficult pitch and with a bad back to win the game was fantastic.

He’s always been one of my favourite batsmen and I call him ‘magic man’ when I’m commentating because he has such an array of shots. If you bowled him four identical balls he would come up with four different strokes. He’s got unbelievable timing to go with that range of shot and add to that a big heart. He’s always up for the challenge and plays big innings when it matters and that’s what top batsmen want to do; make big scores when it wins matches.

Suresh Raini who was with VVS at the end is also a good kid, again, making his runs under pressure and answering those important questions; are you mentally strong, can you do it when the going is tough ? It didn’t look as though India were going to make it at 62 for four but Sachin and Magic Man showed immense class and put India back on top of the world. What a fantastic Test for the millions of people in Asia who watched on TV. This is what we want from Test matches around the world, this is the sort of contest people want to watch and which will bring spectators back to the game. Whether administrators like it or not players are totally dependent on the pitch. If we get a strip that helps bowlers and batsmen and gives everyone a chance, we’ll get great cricket. Pitches like the one at the Sinhalese Sports Club are a disgrace and kill the game.

We shouldn’t forget Sri Lanka’s part in this wonderful match. Thilan Samaraweera made 200 odd runs in the game and ended on the losing side! He must have been heart broken and Suraj Randiv, too, he had nine wickets and nothing to show for them. One problem the Sri Lankans have to face is life after Murali. They’ve got to learn that the great little spinner is no longer there to get them out of trouble, he’s gone.

But India showed great character, tremendous spirit, real ability, played like the number one side in the world and I take my hat off to them.

If the ball moves around then they have three bowlers — Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer and Umar Gul — who can cause us problems. But the one thing you know about England’s batsmen is that they will fight and scrap better than the Pakistanis did at Nottingham.

The England batters may not always be pleasing on the eye or have perfect techniques, but they are good, solid performers in Test cricket.

We know that Alastair Cook gets stuck on the crease and has technical problems with his footwork. We know that the captain, Andrew Strauss, is liable to have a nibble outside off stump and that Paul Collingwood is a bottom-hand player who sometimes looks ugly as he works the ball to the onside.

There are no problems with the young Irishman, Eoin Morgan. He is starting his career and is hungry for success, but what we need is Kevin Pietersen to return to form.

Even though he is struggling for runs, England are nowhere near dropping him. There is talk about it in some quarters but there is no way they would do that.

There is, though, some concern about whether he is focused enough on the international game and not other things going on in his life.

Eventually he will have to make substantial runs and not play little cameos.

Until he does that, there will be murmurings that he has not produced a big innings for a year and a half. It has been that long because I don’t count anything that happened against Bangladesh or in Twenty20 cricket.

There is nothing wrong with his batting technique. It is about what is going on between his ears. Too often he is trying to hit balls he should be defending.

He should give himself more time at the crease before he starts being expansive. It is about shot selection. Picking the right stroke for the right ball and accepting sometimes bowlers bowl well at you and you have to defend more than you attack.

But despite the weaknesses of the England batsmen, they have got good Test records and, anyhow, even if they nick it you can’t be sure the Pakistani fielders are going to catch the ball.

Look at the wicketkeeper, Kamran Akmal. He caught a blinder off the inside edge off Pietersen in the second innings at Nottingham but then he dropped a couple of sitters and missed a stumping against Collingwood when he had so much time that he could have run him out, let alone stump him. That seems to have cost him his place.

On top of that, we know for sure that if it swings and seams, our bowlers will bowl out Pakistan because their batsmen are very naïve and inexperienced in our conditions.

Even bringing back Mohammad Yousuf isn’t going to make the difference between winning and losing. He arrived yesterday afternoon and he hasn’t had time for an outdoor net. That is how ludicrous this situation is. Their cricket organisation is shambolic. You feel for the kids because they are so young and talented.

But even if the pitch is good and flat and their batsmen score runs I still believe that England are more professional, disciplined and battlehardened than their youngsters.

It should be men against boys. It is a shame because we would all like to see Pakistan do well. They deserve a bit of luck after not being allowed to play Test cricket in their own country. But I don’t see any way out for them on this trip.

This mismatch is the reason why we have to be careful of reading too much into England’s performances and tactics and get carried away about the winter.

On a tactical front, England are always going to pick six batsmen because they don’t make enough runs in the first innings to pick only five. They make too many mistakes and get themselves out. Five bowlers would be helpful but you have got to have dependable batsmen who make big scores and we don’t have that.

As far as James Anderson is concerned, it is true that he is a mercurial and brilliant bowler in these swinging and seaming conditions. But in Australia four years ago he played three Test matches, took five wickets and they cost him 82 runs each. That doesn’t win Test matches.

Although he is a little older and wiser, the Kookaburra ball will not swing like the Duke does here.

I don’t care how mature and experienced he is, just bear in mind Test matches against Pakistan have no resemblance to Test matches in Australia.