Mark Nicholas

The 95 runs of epic character scored by Jonny Bairstow at Lord's were of immense importance to English cricket

It was a tight call over who would be England's third fast bowler at Lord's. The decision to stick with Steven Finn, despite his Headingley problems, was rewarded

How hard will it be for them to get the wheels back on, Pietersen and all?

His batting is cause for celebration and his achievements reflect the greater cultural richness now evident in South Africa

Technical deficiencies on slow, dry pitches mean England have now lost five from nine

Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis gave a lesson in Test match batting during their record stand, showcasing skills that can only be found in the game's original format

The difference in South Africa's fast bowling Thursday to Friday was startling

Their one-day (and Test) cricket resurgence has plenty to do with a change of attitude

Tony Greig has no cause to feel anything but proud about his involvement with World Series Cricket - as seminal a turning point as any the game has seen

Paying viewers are short-changed when players go off in borderline poor conditions

Tino Best came within five runs of immortality and did so with a brilliance that put him up there with anybody in the great litany of Test cricket's unlikely performances

Pietersen's has been among the most sparkling yet controversial stories of all

Viv Richards may be in the commentary box these days, but the aura still endures

After proving their mastery over West Indies, England's only doubts surround No. 6 - and here the selectors might just get lucky once again

Jonny Bairstow and Ajmal Shahzad: two players at crucial stages in their careers

Questions about his place in the team are quickly forgotten if he scores runs and/or the team wins again. Not that he can afford to flatline in either department for long

The IPL and county cricket are not as irreconcilable as many think. And cricket needs both

A simple change to the lbw law would encourage a stroke that makes spectators gasp in wonder

Each side is shaped in the image of the man who leads it. To undervalue the captain is to misunderstand the nature of team