The Surfer

In common with other newspapers, we may have been guilty of suggesting that John Bracewell was not quite the next Albert Einstein, and that his selection policies appeared to have been designed by a bunch of Alzheimer's victims

The Centre of Excellence coach Tim Nielsen remains the favourite to assume Buchanan's position after the World Cup, but Cricket Australia's subcommittee nonetheless has decided to expand its search in the aftermath of Tom Moody's withdrawal.

Cricket aside, coming back home and getting to spend time with my parents, my brother, sister and close friends was the best thing to happen. Staying at home, eating food with my family the way we usually do, driving through the lanes of Baroda, catching up with friends, I enjoyed all that.

Oram has emerged as the man most likely to end Australia's dominance this summer after turning on an ominous batting display that almost snatched victory for the Black Caps

"The main thing that kept us going was that we desperately wanted to make that final. That was the carrot. England are in a similar situation at the moment. I imagine that they'd love to qualify for the finals."

It comes to something when, before the solitary one-day competition that really matters, we can seriously advocate the benefits of avoiding further fixtures to spare the England players further mental disintegration. Currently, so many of the team are shot to pieces. Their minds are dead. It is most evident among the batsmen. Bowlers can just about function mechanically, batsmen need a spark of life to react to the ball and the situation. No spark is visible.

The desperate selections, the old men of county cricket, Paul Nixon and Mal Loye, are reminding us why they hadn't been chosen before. The call-up of Nixon, in particular, still grates. Choosing players primarily because they have a combative tongue, reflects the disarray in the camp.

The talk is of a bloated and cowed group who have toured joylessly. Nothing illustrates England's suspicious and insular approach more than the four security guards employed by the England and Wales Cricket Board to protect the players on their travels around Australia. It is a disproportionate measure which suppresses England's players mentally as much as it seeks to protect them physically, proof only of English cricket's pompous self-regard

Less than 18 months ago, Fletcher could do no wrong. He was a national hero, the man who masterminded England’s Ashes-winning summer against Australia. Perhaps he should have gone then — stepped off the open-top bus and handed in the dinner-pail. But a coach almost never goes at the right time

“When you field on the boundary - especially in a day-night game - there are always blokes in the crowd who try to be funny,” Bracken says. “In previous years they've yelled that I couldn't bowl or I was hopeless. This season they've been saying I should get a haircut. On a professional level, being abused about my hair is a big step up from being branded hopeless.”

“Guys like Jeff Thomson and Ian Chappell used to criticise me,” he says. “I'd tell myself it didn't matter, but in the back of my mind I'd think, ‘It’s Ian Chappell and Jeff Thomson, two all-time great players, and their opinions count’. That's why it has been great to hear them change their tune since the ICC Champions Trophy. They've said I should be considered again for Test selection.”

There is an infectious, almost naïve enthusiasm in Yashpal’s answers, one that is rare in the commercial world of today's cricket. Until now, he has kept going on a combination of adrenaline and hope, illuminating the dim world of the Plate Division.

On the evidence of the past few weeks, Australia have plenty of strength in depth. As the senior side plundered runs in Perth, so numerous impressive candidates strutted their stuff on the eastern seaboard. Nor were the contenders happy with 50 runs or tidy spells. Everyone knows they must knock the door down and force their way in.