The Surfer

This time last year, of course, there were a whole team of possibles lining up. They all wore white and they would go on to take part in what Richie Benaud described as the best Ashes series he had seen. There were heroes from one to 11 in the England cricket team. Not so many now. If they retain the Ashes this winter, they will be back in contention, but they have had a fairly ordinary time of it since sending Ricky Ponting's men home so chastened last September

His 18 improved on his averages in his last two Test series and also helped him to a world record. Jones has now gone longer than anyone else, 45 Test innings, without getting a duck. ... Alas, that just shows how numbers can get in the way. The truth was that his main achievement on a lustrous Lord’s day was to press Chris Read’s case for inclusion in the team.

"I would normally support Pakistan, not just because they are the underdog in terms of technology and resources but also because both the players and the country want it more"

Please try to concentrate, otherwise you may well be dismissed as GROLI, which happens to mean Guardian Readers Of Limited Intellect, as if such a thing could possibly exist.

He admitted to popping up to the umpires’ room in the lunch break to say hello to Steve Bucknor and Simon Taufel. Bucknor, with whom he stood on many occasions.

Crowe had a fine series personally but remembers, during his century in the second Test in Lahore, a game played on a green top with a lush outfield, picking up the ball and noticing chunks removed from one side. In that innings Waqar Younis took 7 for 86 and Wasim Akram, he said, was unplayable. "It was the first we really saw of reverse swing. They said it had roughed up on the outfield." Next Test, Crowe recounted, they decided that they too should have some of this. So they took bottle tops on to the field with them, the better to gouge the ball. Pakistan were blown away, bowled out for 102 by a medium-pacer called Chris Pringle, who took 7 for 52. A dozen wickets in the game for Waqar meant that the Kiwis lost that match, too, but at least they felt there had been some equality.

Haroon Lorgat, the convenor of selectors, called me around midday on Tuesday to break the news. I'd heard that Smithy had injured his ankle and was in doubt for the tour. Obviously it's a massive honour to lead your country and the phone has been ringing off the hook with well-wishers so no complaints - it's been fantastic.

There's a perception that the captain and the coach are getting the team they want, and that it is a bad thing. Your thoughts.

Greg Chappell, who publicly said that the all-rounder was not considered because he had lost his confidence, would do well to realise that the mindset of the Indian fast bowlers has insecurity as its core in spite of the tremendous hard work put in by them to reach the top.