The roadshow's gathering momentum

13 April 2012

Can it get any better? The England roadshow just keeps rolling on. We start tomorrow's Test in the unbeatable position of one up with one to play because we blew the Pakistanis away at Lord's in three days.

How was it done? Simple, we out-bowled them and we out-batted them, and who would have thought we would be saying that a few years ago.

Caddie and Goughie showed the old masters Wasim and Waqar how they should have bowled at Lord's on that type of pitch. They just kept the ball up there with it swinging and seaming, made them follow on and then did exactly the same thing again.

The fellow I felt sorry for was young Ryan Sidebottom. I mean, with the two strike bowlers going as they are at the moment, there is not much chance for the other lads to get among the wickets, and now Sidebottom's been left out for tomorrow.

I hope he gets another chance, if only so that we can see that hairstyle again.

The batsmen did well at Lord's but at Old Trafford it would be nice if someone got a really big knock. At Lord's all the lads got starts, but will be disappointed that none of them kicked on to make a century.

Thorpey is looking right at home now and really enjoying himself. As for Alec Stewart, well he will be laughing all the way to the crease and knocking the ball all the way to the boundary if they continue their tactic of trying to bounce him out.

Come on, against probably our best player of pace bowling, work it out lads. No actually, don't. Let's enjoy the feast up at Old Trafford.

Alec will have the added job of being captain tomorrow because the only thing which didn't go well in the First Test was Nasser Hussain breaking his thumb. It shouldn't upset things too much. With Alec, Athers and Thorpey having captained before, I am sure he will find he has all the help he requires, although Pakistan won't be as bad again.

I found the whole Pakistan performance naive. The most bizarre decision was to leave out Mushtaq. He is one of the best spinners in the world and he was left to carry the drinks. I don't care what they say, whatever the pitch is like, you play your best bowlers.

I'd have picked a different team for us this time. I'd have given Nasser's batting place to the young lad at our place who is batting as well as anyone, Owais Shah.

Anyway the first objective for the summer is almost accomplished and we all know what the second objective is. Stuff the Aussies.

Can't you just feel the pressure building on the Aussies? As they boarded the plane to come over, the last thing their friends would have said to them would have been: "Don't you dare be the side that loses The Ashes to the Poms."

Let's just keep things going as they are and we will certainly be in with a chance of regaining those Ashes.

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Alec Stewart

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Pakistan

The roadshow's gathering momentum

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