Sink or swim

England’s preparations for the World Cup have gone well, Andrew Strauss says, though Monty Panesar has fallen victim of his own enthusiasm. In the sea.

…a gentle swim in the sea at the end of a long day is perfect for relieving tired muscles and relaxing weary minds. Also, after 12 months of constant injury worries, the only real concern we have encountered so far was when Monty Panesar tried to join a few of the better swimmers on a journey to a nearby island, and had to be rescued halfway across.

Mike Atherton, though he remains hopeful of England’s chances, labels England’s preparations as shambolic.

Even Michael Vaughan has found the opportunity to trumpet his squad's claims too good to miss: "We are talking a good game at the minute, and rightly so." Well, up to a point, skipper. England have their best chance for a long time to make an impact, but only because of the general frailty of the rest. England's own preparations since the last World Cup - the last fortnight in Australia aside - have been completely shambolic and if preparation is a prerequisite for success then they have little chance. Bowling, both the consistency of it and lack of penetration, is surely too big an Achilles heel for them to go all the way. Only a short while ago Duncan Fletcher said that he felt his squad to be a year behind in their preparations, a hardly enthusiastic but probably accurate assessment.

And he highlights another example of an increasing trend at cricket grounds around the world…

The usual carnival atmosphere will not be easy to create, given the Gestapo-like rules and regulations that confront every spectator. When I took my son to watch a warm-up match this week we could not even take a bottle of water into the ground, never mind the usual paraphernalia of conches, whistles, horns, Eskies, ice and shedloads of rum that West Indian supporters traditionally associate with a day out at the cricket.