English cricket fans haven't had an awful lot to cheer about in recent weeks

When Nasser Hussain was captain and his players had an off-day in the field (contrary to rose-tinted opinion, this tended to happen once every other innings), his great lament was that English bowlers lack "mystery"

Herschelle Gibbs is a rare gem among international openers

It's been three years since Gloucestershire last won the trophy that might have been named with them in mind, but today, on a beautifully sunny day at Lord's, they once again established themselves as the pre-eminent one-day team in the country

The Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy has lost some of its prestige in recent seasons

It has been several months since Alok Kapali last hit the headlines for his bowling

Marcus Trescothick: time to reassess his opener's role

Andrew Hall once survived a brutal point-blank shooting at a Johannesburg cashpoint - it's little wonder he has an easy-going attitude to the game of cricket

This evening's resistance notwithstanding, England are sliding headlong towards another comprehensive defeat

God bless Headingley

Close South Africa 260 for 7 (Kirsten 109*, Zondeki 50*) v England Scorecard Gary Kirsten cuts loose as England lose their way at Headingley © Getty Images England start the second day of the fourth Test against

Gary Kirsten scored a fabulously well-paced 109 not out, his 18th in Tests and unquestionably one of his most valuable, to haul South Africa towards a total of some potency on the first day of the fourth npower Test at Headingley

This is how it was meant to be all along - two ferociously well-matched teams, asking no quarter and giving none in return

After muttering under their breath about the state of the Trent Bridge pitch, South Africa lost two wickets in the opening over of the day, and a fretful Jacques Kallis shortly afterwards

Everyone knew there was a reason for English optimism in this series

After a winter of purgatory, Graham Thorpe is on the comeback trail, making regular runs in the County Championship, and inching ever closer to an England recall

The more things change, the more things stay the same

Graham Thorpe may be forced to wait a while longer to make his return to Test cricket, as England's selectors are expected to resist the temptation for wholesale changes ahead of the third npower Test against South Africa at Trent Bridge next week

Gone, but not forgotten

Down the years, England have suffered many butcherings at Lord's, more often than not at the hands of Australia