FrankGregan

Frank Gregan considers England's chances of success Down Under and explains why the selectors have a big role to play if Andrew Strauss and co. are to return home with the urn.

The England selectors have shown a bit of bottle of late which might just shake one or two of the more established players out of their comfort zones. The decisions to 'rest' an out of form Kevin Pietersen will be a wake up call to those who thought their places were secure as will tinkering with the opening partnership which won the Twenty20 World Cup.

The selectors will have been delighted with how the first ODI against Pakistan panned out with the two players asked to fill some very big shoes producing match winning performances. Jonathan Trott played the anchor from KP's number three spot with Steve Davies top scoring 87 and holding his own with the wicket keeping gloves. Next year is a World Cup year and, having tasted success when lifting their first ever World Cup trophy during this year's Twenty20, all of the players will be desperate to be a part of it.

"The Ashes series won't be won around the selection table but it could be lost there."

ODI and Test selections have very little in common. ODI selections are often bold with experimentation allowed whilst Test match selection is usually more conservative than Margaret Thatcher. Invariably, changes to Test match teams are reactive rather than proactive and when the change is made it tends to be singular and like for like. The media will not be slow to give advice to the selectors in the run up to the Ashes and all the usual management clichés will be wheeled out.

The selectors need to listen to the advisor they are paying to advise and make sure that they pick a team that will be effective at each venue. John Buchanan's input will be invaluable but the chances are that the selectors will not like what he tells them. They have to be brave, proactive and, to quote a corny management statement, they have to exercise control before the event.

When you look at it objectively the solution is simple - the 11 players picked must be capable of getting at least one big total and taking 20 wickets in five days. The number six spot is the one that is up for grabs - should it be Eoin Morgan or Ian Bell? If England are going to post big totals they need all the fire power they can muster, so why not both? Seven batsmen and four bowlers is a fairly common composition, it just means one of the batsmen has to be able to keep wicket. With the likes of Craig Kieswetter and Steve Davies around that shouldn't be a problem.

The bowlers are there to bowl the Australians out twice, that's their job. However, if two or three of them can also bat a bit, that's brilliant. Both Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad are capable with the willow and with both in the side along with seven batsman it will be a very deep batting line-up. But those 20 wickets have to be taken and if numbers 10 and 11 have big furry ears, buck teeth, love lettuce and say "what's up Doc" who cares? Just so long as they can get a five for!

The selectors need to take note of a final corny management saying: 'People are our greatest asset.' The 11 people they select for the opening Test have to be the right ones. If they are advised the ball won't swing they have to be brave and go without James Anderson. If they are told the track will be a batsmen's paradise they have to make sure they have seven in the top order to get a big total. The Ashes series won't be won around the selection table but it could be lost there.

Five massive totals would mean at worst five draws which would be enough to keep the Ashes. If you want a drawn series on your side, a match at 2.3 should be attainable on England retaining the little urn.

As a talented New Zealand batsman receives a final warning for his alcohol-fuelled escapades, Frank Gregan considers the boozy antics of some of cricket's most colourful characters.

"After drinking 52 tinnies on a flight to England, David Boon attained hero status in his home state where there was a campaign to lower the speed limit to 52 mph."
Cricket has always had the image of belonging to the gentry, the G&T quaffing brigade in their navy blue blazers and paisley cravats. There used to be a protocol in the game, when the paid serf was thrown the ball and given a chance to bowl he would touch his forelock to his skipper and say "Eee by gum M'Lord, Thankee Sir." Oh boy, how things have changed!

These days high profile cricketers veer off the straight and narrow more than Michael Schumacher. The latest to be making headlines on the front pages in his native country for the wrong reasons is Jesse Ryder. The Kiwi decided to add a little spice to an indoor cricket competition in Christchurch last week by getting hammered and causing an 'alcohol fuelled disruption.'

He's been given his final warning by the board of New Zealand Cricket that his contract will be terminated if there are any further transgressions. That's exactly the same punishment that he's been given in the past! In fact, this is his sixth official reprimand in two years but they don't seem to be worrying the big fella, he goes from strength to strength - 5.5 to 8% beers!

The Chief Executive of New Zealand Cricket, Justin Vaughan said that Ryder was "worth supporting through his off field troubles." That's a euphemism for 'Hey, bear with me here. We've got such a small talent pool that I have no other option but to be soft on the guy!'

Booze is at the heart of most cricketing scandals these days. Fredalo wouldn't have happened if Andrew Flintoff had been on a course of antibiotics and unable to drink during the 2007 World Cup. And imagine if the open top bus driver had have been a jobsworth and said "sorry lads, no booze allowed on here" during the 2005 Ashes celebrations - we probably wouldn't have witnessed such 'liberal' celebrations.

It's all about context. No English cricket fans complained about the 2005 Ashes celebrations because the players had performed and deserved to enjoy the moment. Fredalo happened during a disastrous World Cup campaign which is a time for a low profile.

When news broke of David Boon drinking 52 tinnies on the flight over for the 1989 Ashes Series, you might have expected folks back home to wonder if he was preparing for the series with due diligence. That wasn't the case but his cause was helped in no small way by the result of the series; the Aussies, who had been dubbed "possibly the worst side to ever tour England" walloped the Poms 4-0, a result which was the catalyst for 16 years of dominance.

Boon attained hero status in his home state where there was a campaign to lower the speed limit to 52 mph in recognition of his drinking prowess. That's evidence that cricket loves a winner - no matter how much they transgress.

Jesse Ryder is in exalted company. Sir Ian Botham, Shane Warne have all attracted more than their share of bad press after a boozy night out or three. Oscar Wilde said that he never played cricket "because it requires one to assume such indecent postures." These days there's far more than postures that's indecent in cricket, but the game is much better for it!

Pakistan could do with some wild spirits, heck they could do with any kind of spirit. They showed resolve and were applauded for taking the second Test into day four which is indicative of how far they have fallen. Some wise souls attained a match at 12.5 on a 4-0 England whitewash and with the price now a skinny 2.04, having traded as short as 1.91, it might pay to take on the late comers and lay England.