England’s batsmen lucky to be playing in this era

Now that the dust has settled on the four Test series in South Africa it’s time to take a closer look at England’s performance. On the face of it drawing the rubber 1-1 is a good result but to be honest we could have lost it 3-1 and probably should have. We were lucky enough [...]

Strauss is naïve tactically

In his regular CricInfo ‘Bowl at Boycs’ feature, Geoff Boycott talks on Collingwood’s growth, Pakistan and captains, and the ball-tampering controversy at Newlands…

Ball-tampering row is much ado about very little really

If anyone needs their wrists slapping after this risible ball-tampering row, it is South Africa.

Lady Luck has helped Andrew Strauss and England in South Africa

Richie Benaud used to say that, as a captain, it’s better to be lucky than good. His line came back to me this week, because even Andrew Strauss would have to admit that the gods have smiled on England so far in this series.

England’s harum-scarum batsmen need to be less exciting

The first thing that came out of the Centurion Test was that life without Andrew Flintoff is going to be very tough. There is simply no balance in this England team without a world-class all-rounder.

We don’t just want a captain, we expect a superman

The captain’s job is the most important position in the team because every side has to have a leader whether it’s at school, in a club, at county or Test level.

Victory in South Africa would be Strauss’s biggest coup

This is a huge tour for England, and unless there are a few injuries in the South African ranks – or some hefty slices of luck going Andrew Strauss’s way – I can’t say I’m feeling too confident about their prospects.

Now win in South Africa

It’s a fantastic achievement by England to win the Ashes, and we’re all thrilled to bits. Like the last home series four years ago, it was a contest of tiny margins.