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It's been a case of so far - so good, as far as England's tour Down Under is concerned. Valuable time has been spent out in the middle and there have been some confidence enhancing performances from key players. It was a relief to see Alastair Cook come good against South Australia, the irony of course is that everyone is thinking "what a waste of a ton" but let's hope that the confidence that he has gained from that knock enables him to repeat the performance in Brisbane next week.

The bowling has looked impressive and James Anderson has laid his raspberry blowing foundations with some very good spells. Graeme Swann is getting a lot of turn, Stuart Broad and Steve Finn have been ticking over very nicely thank you, whilst with the bat, Kevin Pietersen has been steady if not spectacular. All in all there is a feel good aura around England which makes you wish that the Ashes were due to get underway this very week.

They don't of course. Instead there is a four day warm up match against Australia A in Hobart. The conditions will bear little resemblance to those that England will face at the Gabba and invites the question: why was this warm up game not played at the beginning of the tour, swapping places in the schedule with the opening match against Western Australia?

That would have given England the opportunity to sample virtually the same conditions that they will face during the first Test less than a week before the Ashes start. The counter argument is: why on earth would the ECB make the players endure such energy sapping conditions so close to the big one?

It's the old 'damned if you do - damned if you don't' and Andy Flower and his advisors will face a few of those dilemmas during the course of this tour. The first conundrum was: do England stick with a full-strength side in Hobart or do they send key players, particularly the bowlers, to Brisbane to put their feet up so that they are well rested for the first Test?

The argument in the past is that England have often rocked up for the start of an Ashes series and been undercooked and that is why this third warm up game was arranged. If key players are given a leave pass, not only does it seem counter-productive but also divisive. Would you be happy going to work knowing that your peer has just been given the week off because his role is deemed more important than yours?

The batting line up must also be causing Andy Flower to wander the corridors at night. Cook's hundred in Adelaide will probably be enough to ensure that he stays in the side and Eoin Morgan looks set to get the nod at number six. Both of them need a good performance against Australia A or Ian Bell, who looked accomplished during the first innings against South Australia, might just sneak into the starting XI for the first Test.

Bell at his best is as good as anything in the England top order but a dismal average of only 25 in 13 Tests against the old foe means that he will probably be carrying drinks at the Gabba. Yep, Andy Flower and the selectors are going to have some real tough decisions to make in the near future but the England coach has been doing a mighty fine job of it to date so whatever he opts to do, the English supporters will be more than happy to trust his judgement. He has elected to send his four bowlers (Swann, Anderson, Broad and Finn) to Brisbane as an advance party and time will time if he has got it right.

The Aussies have a saying that applies to most sports when England tour Down Under; "The English always have a great team right up until the coin gets tossed." Yeah we know, this touring side is being talked up but this time it's the real deal. Why not have a wager with your shrimp- barbequing cousin? 3.2 on England to win the series, "that's very generous of you Bruce!"


By Frank Gregan

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