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 [...]

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.

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.

Flintoff’s fitness crucial for Broad

If I were Stuart Broad I would be making sure that Andrew Flintoff has got plenty of ice to put on that dicky right knee. Because Broad’s place in this England team could depend on Flintoff being able to deliver a full complement of overs.