Captain Fantasy's Diary #6

It's a bright, sunny day. The sky is the perfect shade of 'cricket-blue, the kind that commentators love to refer to. The kind that a batsman looks forward to. The kind that come with good batting wickets. And the kind on which Harmison might be asked to bowl the first ball of his return to the English team. What will he serve up this time?

Fortunately for Harmison, this is a home series. Unfortunately for him, that also means his favourite excuse for an erratic performance is no longer available. England are one down in a four Test series. Only two more to go. This is not what England might have expected after dominating the opening exchanges of the first Test. Thoroughly.

But now, come Edgbaston, Smith might win the toss for the third time in three matches. Since there's a good chance that this will happen on a day with the 'cricket blue' kind of skies batsmen love, he will bat. Vaughan, on the other hand, will have at his disposal Sidebottom, Flintoff, Broad Anderson and Harmison. On paper, it looks like a good attack in which one of the five mentioned are going to have to sit out. At the time of starting this piece, I didn't expect Steve Harmison to be benched. Now, I see that he's not likely to be drafted into the playing XI.

Perhaps it's going to be a good batting wicket and England don't want to go into the match with their wicket-keeper Ambrose batting any higher than number 8. Optimistic fantasy players and eagerly waiting fans looking to take a punt on Harmison, again, will have to wait for the next Test match to see how the tall, temperamental fast bowler copes. This time.

I of course have no use for these fresh permutations and combinations. As regular readers of this blog already are aware, I'm out of transfers for the rest of the Test series. Here's hoping you're not. Knowing England's penchant for a 'horses for courses' policy, the always present possibility of another 'Flintoff breakdown' and the inevitability of final Test call up for Harmison, it looks a shrewd move to save a transfer or two for the fourth and final Test match.

PS: Even more sorrowful news for people like me who are left with no option but to go into the Test with the same team, there might be a change or more in the South African side. Graeme Smith may not play. England will not mind that because the inspirational Smith's absence will do no harm to the home side's chances of winning the third Test and the likelihood of a classic final game climax in the fourth at The Oval next week.