I think we've had four or five weeks rest since we got back from the tour and I feel really ready to go again. It was funny because on Wednesday night I took three for 14 at one point and yet I didn't bowl well at all! It wasn't rubbish, but I set myself quite high standards and was disappointed that I didn't get the ball in the right areas as much as I wanted to. Sometimes that happens. You can bowl superbly and not get a wicket at all and at other times be ordinary and get people out. I suppose you can't bowl well all the time and I got it to swing and got it in the right place on some occasions which was quite pleasing. To be honest it has just been nice to be back bowling. I got back at Yorkshire last week and got 40 odd overs under my belt and that felt good - although I felt pretty stiff afterwards.

Does the confidence from doing so well in New Zealand stay with you or is it like starting again?

No, it stays. It went okay for me, and I was quite pleased. In fact it was probably quite surreal in lots of ways. You always go into games thinking: 'Am I going to take wickets?' and wondering how a tour is going to go, so with what did happen it was obviously really pleasing, and I feel in good form now. I suppose I'm a bowler that needs to bowl to get into a rhythm. This week been the start, and hopefully I can get a few more wickets for Notts and help the team's cause and my own at the same time.

A Test hat-trick is pretty rare. Did you keep the ball?

Yes, of course. I went six years without playing Test or one day cricket so I've kept every little piece of memorabilia I possibly could. I suppose it will be something to tell my children when I'm older. Very definitely I made sure I hunt on to the hat-trick ball, and I think the ECB are getting it mounted for me so it's one thing I'll treasure for ever, especially with my parents being out there and able to see it.

You mention that you made your debut back in 2001 and then never got picked again for years. Has that made what's happening now even more special?

I think so. A number of people have said it and I think they're right. I'm 30 now and I've worked very hard and for a long time for my chance. I've realised there's no secret formula apart from giving it 100 per cent every day. You never know how things will go, so you just keep trying your hardest and enjoy every minute.

Fast bowling is always thought of as a young man's job though, or can you get better as you get older?

I think as you get older you develop more stamina to bowl for longer spells. In my case I think when I moved to Nottinghamshire it started to make a difference. All of a sudden I was bowling 500 overs a season. Three years of doing that probably helped me. It meant I was stronger and fitter, but also learning how to bowl through the experience. I had some great years at Yorkshire but probably didn't get as much opportunity there. Experience just helps you learning how to swing the ball and be more consistent

What difference will it make to have Freddie Flintoff fit again when the New Zealand series starts? The suggestion is he'll be picked as one of four bowlers.

Obviously we don't know that, but we've heard the talk and I think that's firing everybody up. If you look at the first couple of County games I think all the England lads have put in good performances. You want to have competition for places. You'd be unwise to take anything for granted and I certainly won't. There's a lot of younger guys wanting to play, so you've got to keep taking wickets to make sure you are in the frame to be selected. I mean I had a great end to the series in New Zealand but I know I definitely can't afford to take anything for granted now. People have seen me bowl as well and that makes them all the more keen to knock you down a peg or two. I want to keep playing as long as possible so I need to make sure I stay fit and stay bowling well. There's a lot of guys out there ready if you don't.

Okay, so we'll say if selected, how do you see England's prospects for the Test series?

I think we showed during the winter that we've got a very good young side. There's a lot of talent, and we need to be a bit more consistent now. If we play like we can we will go in as favourites, but we saw in the winter that New Zealand are also a very young side and are very competitive and we can't take them lightly. The series there went to and fro, and between one session and another it changed very quickly. We've got to try to keep our levels up through three sessions every day.

It does seem as if an air of confidence was starting to grow within the team during the winter. Is that correct?

I think so. To be fair the spirit in the dressing room has been fantastic. When I came back into the squad this time everybody made me feel welcome. I think all the guys get on with each other, we all criticise each other if we're not doing the right things which I think is a healthy thing, but we also help each other

So is that different from when you had your first game against Pakistan all those years ago?

I don't think so, but I think maybe I'm different. When I first played you had the likes of Mike Atherton and Alec Stewart, Graham Thorpe. I think I was a bit overawed by it all, to be honest, and that didn't allow me to play my own game. I was concentrating on other things, maybe, instead of just going out there and bowling. Now I think I've been around a few years and I'm more confident and focused on doing my own job. As a team everybody clubs together and we work really hard. You'd have to be there to see how the guys train. There's a real determination to win every match this summer.

Thanks for your time - we've a free £50 bet for your favourite charity.

Great, the cash can go to Cancer Research. I lost both my Auntie and my wife's Grandma because of it and any drop in the ocean to help find a cure must help. I'm a Manchester United fan so I'll put the money on them to win the Champions League. That will be compulsive viewing in a couple of weeks time.

Assessing current English Test Cricket I am struck with the fact that we would not have one player worthy of a place in a World X1 Test team and looking fervently on the horizon I see no one about to break through either. A damning indictment indeed! My present World XI Test team in batting order would be:

1. Matthew Hayden: Although this 'world sledging champion' is near his 'sell by date' I still prefer the belligerent left-hander to bolshie Graeme Smith. I keep waiting for his performances to fade but sense he might want one more Ashes series. An imposing enforcer, he has been the most potent opener in World cricket for years and sets the standard and tempo for any match.

2. Mahela Jayawardene: Not a captain and not an opener but I want to fit this marvellous cricketer into my team. A steadfast pillar who values his wicket and is a hard man to dislodge. He is a prolific compiler of runs on the most difficult of wickets, undeniably a wily individual.

3. Ricky Ponting: My favourite cricketer! The inclusive captain, he ticks all my boxes. Australia has had some great captains and he is up there with the best. He relishes the role and has no weaknesses. A fighter extraordinaire and my skipper at number three.

4. Sachin Tendulkar: The best batsman of all time! I appreciate that aged 35 he is on the wane but I could not select a team without him. Maybe a sentimental choice but I feel privileged to have watched him. Please revisit Tendulkar is better than Bradman.

5. Mohammad Yousuf: He is truly world class and this composed stroke player has magnificent technique. Scores big hundreds and always keeps the scoreboard moving no matter what the situation.

6. Kumar Sangakkara: In the absence of Adam Gilchrist he is a worthy nomination. He is not the greatest wicket-keeper but is competent. An aggressive left-hander; sharp, and able to spark a team. Able to open if the game dictates.

7. Andrew Symonds: Would have selected Kumble if he could bat. Symonds energy and drive wins him a place. He is a fine bowler, batsman and fielder and this all-rounder gives the side balance. I believe he has a big role to play for Australia in the coming years and we might not have seen the best of him yet. He is my wild card!

8. Brett Lee: I admire this wholehearted cricketer, he brings the crowd alive. Just short of being top class, his attitude personifies all that a sportsman should possess and his searing pace with line and length has got better with age.

9. Stuart Clarke: This McGrath impersonator impresses me all the time, he bowls very few bad balls and because he bowls straight you have to play him. He would be my stock bowler. Selected because the fast bowling fraternity is mediocre to poor at the moment!

10. Dale Steyn: A tentative selection but his efforts in the last year have proved he is rapidly improving. Great strike rate in Test cricket. He is competitive, bowls fast and can swing the ball miles. Can reverse swing the cherry also. Watch him continue to improve!

11. Muttiah Muralitharan: I have always viewed the action of this wrist-spinning offspinner as suspicious and sometimes illegal and often find myself at odds with the general consensus but putting my reservations to one side he would be in the team. His record speaks for itself.

Those that were near to selection were Kumble and Dravid. Anil Kumble a tireless right arm leg spinner would compliment Murali. He is the second highest wicket taker among leg spinners in Test cricket (behind Shane Warne). One of only two bowlers in history to have taken all 10 wickets in a test innings. An intelligent world class bowler who has sadly neglected his batting.

Rahul Dravid, known as 'The Wall' has had a fabulous career. He is a Mike Atherton and Ken Barrington rolled into one, plus a bit extra. Despite his triumphs I could not find a place in the team for him (just lost out to Mahela).

I am waiting patiently for Kevin Pietersen to claim a world spot but wonder if he has the intelligence or application. I sense he will continue to promise greatness but not deliver it! I would love to see him bat for a day and a half and score a huge double century on a bowler's wicket and against a top side in a winning cause. Am I dreaming?

Our only other pretender would have been Andrew Flintoff as number seven but I believe that despite only being 30 years old he has 'gone' physically and mentally and will never get back to the 2005 Ashes form...

And Vaughan has been no mere time-server. Statistically, his record is unimpeachable. He has won well over half of those forty-six matches, a figure that is only surpassed in the post-war era by Mike Brearley. It certainly dwarfs those of his immediate predecessors. Hussain, whose captaincy also overlapped with the reign of Duncan Fletcher has a relatively healthy thirty-seven per cent win rate. But Gooch and Atherton, who toiled long and hard in the dark days of English cricket won barely a quarter of their matches as captain and you have to go back as far as Len Hutton to find anyone with an even remotely comparable record.

Those with a mistrust of statistics might grumble that mere figures don't really tell us enough about his leadership. What sort of skipper has he been and how does he compare to other captains of the modern era?

Well, his calm determination and thorough professionalism were apparent long before he became captain. On his first Ashes tour, in 2002-03, he weathered the inevitable verbal barrage so well that the Aussies eventually stopped wasting their breath. In the midst of another debacle down under, he alone stood tall and played a series of defiant innings. Like Michael Atherton, he has demonstrated great reserves of physical and mental courage, often batting through the pain of various injuries that have at times threatened to end his career. And he has remained throughout a team player, frequently moving position in the batting order to accommodate others. Such unselfishness and professionalism is a good foundation for any captain.

On a personal level, though his laid back manner is reminiscent of David Gower's easy going approachability; it has been no Gower-style captaincy. He has stated his belief in the importance of getting his message across in the right way and encouraging a positive mental attitude, and his inclusive approach has ensured that no cliques or factions have developed in the dressing room. But he also has a mean streak that Gower did not posses and has been prepared to put players in their place if required. We had a flavour of this when he let slip a hint of his frustration with Andrew Flintoff's behaviour in the Caribbean.

In public, there has been none of the prickliness or defensiveness that characterised the captaincies of Gatting or Hussain. He has invariably played as straight a bat with the media as he wields on the field. To have been captain for so long without accumulating any enemies in the press is a remarkable achievement.

Perhaps most importantly of all, he is tactically the equal of any of his predecessors, even wily old Raymond Illingworth. On the field, he is not given to waving his arms around or barking out orders. He goes about his business from mid on with a calm authority that fills his team with confidence. An instinctive captain, he has a flair for sensing when the game is changing and predicting rather than reacting. There have been few better tactical performances than Vaughan's in 2005 when he outmanoeuvred and out-thought his counterpart, Ricky Ponting, to regain the Ashes. Tellingly, when Vaughan has been absent, England have looked like a rudderless ship.

Some might say that as a man-manager, he is not quite the equal of Mike Brearley. But then who is? Brearley had an insight into human nature and a gift for working out what made each of his players tick that is uncommon in any sport. But Vaughan's place as one of the finest captains ever to lead his country is secure. He will be a hard act to follow.

The IPL is a classic example. Faced with a newish format and a strange tournament involving large squads of players assembled from around the world, it appears that many punters have lazily fallen back on simply supporting the franchises with the biggest names. Why else were the Deccan Chargers so fancied at the start of the tournament, if not due to the presence of Symonds and Gilchrist? It also explains why it has been possible so far to make a profit by simply backing the outsider of two teams. In a tournament where all the sides have match winners and are all capable of beating one another, it makes little sense to go in at short odds.

And just looking at the squad list can give a false impression. No matter how many foreign stars a team have, it can only play four of them at a time. On top of that, the squads contain a number of players who aren't actually available, either due to disciplinary problems or other commitments. With more arrivals and departures than an international airport, it is vital to keep on top of which players are about to leave and which have just arrived. Last week, the entire Australian squad flew out for their pre-Caribbean training camp and the five Black Caps left for England whilst the South Africans and Pakistanis were flying in. Meanwhile, Brad Hodge has signed for Kolkata, Tendulkar is still injured, Harbajhan has been banned and Shoaib, it now appears, is un-banned.

But for those able to keep on top of the comings and goings and to analyse the matches so far, there are certain useful trends already apparent. In particular, when looking at those teams who have fared best, the recurring factors are strong captaincy, good team spirit and economical bowling. Of the eight teams, it is already possible to make an educated guess as to which will be in the semi-finals.

Delhi Daredevils have lost a couple recently, but their good start should give them enough to reach the last four. Their success has been built on some miserly bowling from McGrath, Asif and Maharoof, an attack that has proved so effective that their lightweight middle order batting has not been tested too often. You can back them in the winner's market at [4.8]

Rajasthan Royals' success has defied the critics who pointed to an absence of big name signings. But Shane Warne has brought about a remarkable team spirit. His young team play for one another, their bowling has been tigerish and his infectious leadership style, his positive attitude, willingness to gamble and tactical intelligence have been a pleasure to watch. Known as Jaipur in the Betfair winner's market, they are the current favourites at [4.3]

The Kings XI Punjab (Mohali) have also shown a great spirit. A batting line up of Yuvraj, Sangakkara and Jayawardene is imperious though Brett Lee is a hard bowler to replace. He led the line impeccably and provided a real cutting edge. In his absence, they will look to one of the domestic players to step up and support Pathan and Sreesanth. They are available at [6.0]

Finally, the Chennai Super Kings made a good start, making the most of Hayden and Hussey while they were available. But what has helped maintain their challenge is the emergence of a credible bowling attack. With Gony and Joginder Sharma bowling economical medium pace, they have become more than a one-dimensional team. Dhoni's adept leadership has also been a factor, putting into perspective the poor showing of two former Indian captains, Ganguly and Dravid, who have struggled to adapt to the format. If you think Chennai have what it takes to win the tournament, you can back them at [6.6]

In the gap between then and now, Flintoff has kept his promise. He peppered Somerset captain Justin Langer to the extent he was labelled "the best fast bowler in the world" and Michael Vaughan was obviously listening.

The England leader has said that he would like to include Flintoff in England's team to play New Zealand in the first Test of the summer, which begins at Lord's on May 15.

However, there is a caveat. It would be as a fourth bowler, batting at No 7 which puts Flintoff's all-rounder status in doubt.

The risk aside of expecting a man who has been injured since the New Year Test in Syndey 2007 to share the overs workload of three others, another pertinent query of those considering backing England at [1.81] to beat New Zealand, who are [6.8] and the draw [3.3], is this: would Flintoff be worth his place as a bowler only?

It has been clear for some time - or at least whenever a spinner has a ball in his hands - that Flintoff's batting has been overrated and he can no longer expect to play for his country with only willow work as a skill set.

So if he does line up for England at Headquarters, it could be make or break for the 30-year-old, who is no stranger to ultimatums. If he does not perform or, god forbid, break down again, then he could be jettisoned in the same way that Matthew Hoggard was omitted.

And before you raise a quarrel along the lines of 'you've got to give Freddie a chance!', why should he? Hoggard was dropped only two Tests after blitzing Sri Lanka in Galle. The scorecard is here

It was 2001 when Flintoff's career was last at a crossroads. He had been warned by his management to lose weight and live a more professional lifestyle after performing poorly for England.

Thankfully, he bucked up, asked to attend Rod Marsh's ECB Academy and responded to England's SOS for him to join them on the tour of India. There he marked himself out as a bowler of worth. And it is this point from which we can ask ourself the important question above.

By noting what England conceded on first innings in each of the matches (not including meetings with Zimbabwe or Bangladesh) that Flintoff played in after that call-up and the ones that he did not, we can work out how important he is as a bowler.

The answer may come as a surprise. Not because he is not as valuable as some may have thought but for the reason that he is probably more important than most realise.

With Flintoff in their ranks over the study period (which tallies 57 matches) England conceded on average in first innings a miserly 260. Without him, admittedly over a shorter 23 Tests, they haemorrhaged nearly 140 runs more with 393 the average opposition total.

What is equally surprising is that margin has not resulted in more England victories. Without Flintoff England's win percentage stands at 39, just four per cent less than when he is the side.

It is only be a small difference but given New Zealand are without Stephen Fleming and, more importantly, short of confidence, it should not be big enough to prevent Flintoff from establishing himself in his new role.

Is Freddie ready or will he misfire?

Of course, what everyone is thinking but not saying is that if this comeback fails, it is likely to be the end of his England career. Last year Alan Donald recommended a change in bowling action (link) as a solution to his recurring ankle problems. But Flintoff instead put his faith in more surgery, this time having a large piece of bone removed by a Dutch specialist. The operation went well, but then so did the previous three. The test will be in a few months time, after a summer pounding his left foot into hard pitches. If he were to break down again, England would have to accept that he wasn't coming back again and move on.

However, he has at least given himself longer to recuperate this time. And the refreshing degree of cooperation between the England set-up and Lancashire has helped him to stick to his rehabilitation schedule. So is he ready? Well, so far, he has bowled 59 overs for 139 runs and taken 3 wickets. He suffered a first ball duck against Somerset but his two scores in the twenties against Surrey and Scotland were achieved at a run a ball and he has already notched up a few boundaries, suggesting his timing is returning. Marcus Trescothick who faced him at Old Trafford is convinced he is back to something like his best (link)

Then again, it wouldn't be in anyone's interest for him to rush back, least of all Lancashire's. After all, they are the current favourites at [5.9] to win the County Championship that narrowly eluded them last year and Flintoff's presence would be a huge boost to their campaign. More specifically, if his England comeback were delayed until after the first two Tests, he would be available for all their group games in the Friends Provident Trophy (for which they are available at [8.8]). Don't be surprised if Lancashire argue successfully that he should get a few more county games under his belt before returning to the international fold.

But when he does return, it will surely have to be at number six. If he played at seven, it would be as one of four specialist bowlers and that would surely place too much pressure on his bowling. It is true that his batting since 2005 has not warranted his batting so high in the order. But he himself has said that his ongoing ankle problems were actually restricting his batting more than his bowling. A big score for Lancashire in the next couple of weeks would be enough to justify his selection at six.

And every one of England's batsmen, with the possible exception of Michael Vaughan, realise their place is under threat if they have a bad series. That should be all the extra incentive they need to raise their game against New Zealand. The Black Caps were a poor side before Fleming retired and having their best five players engaged in the IPL over the last three weeks can't have helped their preparation. But they shouldn't be totally written off. Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum can have their destructive phases and Tim Southee and Jacob Oram should thrive in English bowling conditions. If you think they can pull off an unlikely victory in the First Test at Lords, you can back them at [7.0] with the draw at [3.05] and England on [1.82]

It has not been an armchair ride for punters, who should have come to terms with the fact that the only thing we should expect, is the unexpected. It is a surprise to see Shane Warne's unfashionable Rajasthan Royals, the outsiders before the tournament began, riding high in second place before Monday's matches and the Deccan Chargers, hotter favourites than the temperatures out there, struggling so badly.

Okay, they got their first win yesterday beating another desperately depressing outfit, the Mumbai Indians, but surely a team boasting such hitting talent as Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds, Shahid Afridi and Scott Styris should have won more than once?

Indeed, there we have our first lesson. In a format where the course of a match can turn on one delivery, it makes betting sense to always be on the bigger priced outfit. Especially when trading in-running.

However, that is pretty basic stuff so we have trawled through the stats and scorecards - have a look at the official site for the tournament here www.iplt20.com - to attempt to come up with a better punting strategy and the best we've come up with is a tried and tested favourite: back the side batting second.

In the matches so far only four have won batting first which suggests the best players in the world are at the top of the tree not just for talent, but their ability to handle the pressure of a chase.

Also, in a game of risk, it is much easier for batters second up to know how much they can push the envelope. For example, Graeme Smith, in Rajasthan's win over the Chargers, would try to take one boundary an over and then push singles knowing that would be enough. A batsman in the first innings can never be sure what will suffice so keeps trying for the big shots. Inevitably, he makes a mistake.

That is perhaps one reason why the top runscorer market has been so tough to call. Normally you would blindly back the openers for success but they have disappointed. In the 28 innings so far, Nos 1 and 2 have top-scored only nine times between them.

Delve further and you discover that the No 1 position has managed only two of those. The next most profitable position is No 4 with six efforts but the No 5 and 6 batsmen have contributed four each.

What could be an easier market to call is the team totals. The average first innings score in the tournament is 169, which is a useful in-running stat on its own. But if you work out the average score after the first ten overs, value is added.

So far the average is 72. This means that teams are scoring just shy of 100 runs in the last ten overs, allowing the punter to have a reasonable idea of what the team batting first will end up with 50 per cent of their innings to go.

From here on in then you could be forgiven for wondering what all the fuss was about Twenty20 and why it is such a tough version to predict. Oh, but do bear in mind that the teams will now change beyond recognition with the Australia, West Indies and New Zealand Test players - that's 15 in total - all leaving for international duty.

Who do you think will win the IPL?

Of course, you have to speculate to accumulate and the scale of the investment in Twenty20 is staggering. The IPL franchises alone cost between $70m and $110m and on top of that were the millions paid for players at a series of auctions. Meanwhile, Allen Stanford, the Caribbean based millionaire has proposed a $20m match between England and a West Indian All Star XI and is in talks about helping to set up an English Premier League. In this context, his statement that Twenty20 could make cricket more popular than football in the next ten years is not just about a personal vision. For those with a financial stake in the format, it is essential that it continues to expand out of cricket's traditional markets. Basically, that means America or the Far East must buy into Twenty20.

The truth is that at the moment, cricket is a long way off the pace in terms of global popularity. Conservative estimates put the television audience for the last football World Cup Final at around 260 million. By contrast, last year's Twenty20 World Championship Final attracted only 40 million and if India hadn't been involved, you can bet it would be a lot lower. In 2007, nine events, including the Superbowl, the Brazilian Grand Prix, the Champions League Final, the Rugby Union World Cup and even the World Handball Championship attracted bigger global audiences.

But let us suppose that America and the Far East did take to Twenty20 in the way that they never did to Test cricket or the fifty over version. What then? If these new and powerful markets embrace Twenty20 then they will dominate the sport to such an extent that Test cricket will be sidelined. Young talented cricketers won't bother wasting their time on the five day version when there are millions to be made playing Twenty20. It is a worrying prospect.

Just as worrying and far more likely is the alternative scenario: that the Twenty20 boom turns out to be nothing more than hype and froth, rather like the dotcom boom of the late 1990s. There are already rumours that viewing figures for the IPL are below expectations and that up to sixty per cent of spectators have been given free tickets. Franchise owners struggling to get a return on their investment may well want to sign players up on all year round contracts, to play more often, to tour America and the Far East. In that scenario, does anyone believe that the ICC will act firmly to ensure the integrity of world cricket? No, me neither. It has all the makings of a Packer type crisis with none of the benefits that Packer brought about.

The ICC has missed the boat with Twenty20. They should have seen that it would eventually replace fifty over cricket. It is faster, more exciting, shorter and lacks the long periods of tediousness that set in the middle overs of the fifty over game. It also has the potential to expand the sport significantly in countries where cricket is already established.

Had they been bold, they could have replaced all fifty over cricket with Twenty20 at the international level and orchestrated and licensed Twenty20 leagues in every ICC member country. They could have ensured that the new format grew alongside Test cricket and complemented it, rather than overwhelming it. Instead, they dithered, toyed with a few extra matches here and there and as a result have allowed the format to be highjacked by millionaires and cricket administrators on the make. The consequences for the sport could be disastrous.

The ECB should have acted proactively but now retrospective action is required, hence a need to fully embrace the IPL. Fighting it with a rival league is like playing poker against someone with a bank of a million pounds while you have a fiver. We must accommodate the IPL into our Test and County structure because although Test cricket is safe our County game is sliding into a giant abyss. Limiting potential damage with vague fads Stanford style or beseeching American curiosity is not an option. Anything West Indian/American/Cricket is destined for the cutting room floor!

The ECB will not stop England's top players playing in the IPL so the choice is simple, either pay them more to dissuade them or interrelate within the contract. Yes, it is appeasement but any attempt at a third way will end in confusion, separation and break down. This is the largest issue cricket has ever faced and needs essential and immediate attention by cricketing bodies!

If we can win the player's concentration and it is a big if, we can turn matters to cricket on the pitch and areas where we must improve. But where do we start? Do we continue lurching visionless from one match to another? Should we have a medium to long-term plan? In cricket we do not have Euro 2008 so we should be building towards the visit of the Australians next year. This planning will tie in nicely with the ODI World Cup 2011. Scratching 1-1 draws with New Zealand or South Africa with the current crop of players whilst maintaining the status quo is debilitating for English cricket.

Three things must happen this summer! English cricket must transform its mentality and work ethic! I would also like some changes of personnel. I would like Peter Moores and Michael Vaughan separated from their jobs. Although a quick, fluent talker Moores has shown nothing post-Fletcher and was an awful appointment. He promised innovation and inspiration - he has delivered disastrous performances. He has no playing experience of international cricket and it shows. As a former wicketkeeper he cannot even sort out the chaos behind the stumps! I would prefer a Nasser Hussain or a Bob Willis in charge with a remit to the future. A middle choice could be Tom Moody?

For skipper I would love Kevin Pietersen to be given the South Africa series. He would certainly inject some much-needed energy and hopefully understand personal responsibility. Can you imagine him going head to head with Graeme Smith - what a clash of personalities? The third umpire would certainly be kept busy! To see more of what is wrong with English cricket go to:

http://betting.betfair.com/cricket/county-cricket/county-cricket-is-a-joke-and-nasser-hussain-should-190308.html

Players must be responsible for their individual performances. The whole world is bewildered with the inability of our batsmen to get to seventy but not hundred, that the bowlers cannot bowl one side of the wicket or execute a plan and that a fielder cannot stop or catch the ball travelling towards him! We must not make excuses a la Michael Vaughan anymore!

We must not accommodate past players (Andrew Strauss and Harmison) if they are not delivering the goods! We must not hold back good young players - blood them! Is Panesar the panacea that we thought he was, if not blood another young spinner this summer? We need to decide on a wicketkeeper that is potentially capable of averaging 35 runs plus per innings and give him a series guaranteed. Our fielding must improve, if there is no one in the England set up that can do it then sub contract the job out! In ODI matches replace Bell and Cook, they are not suited to that format (would be surprised if they got a call from India)!

South Africa are only an average side but more aggressive and better than England and with a lead up series against a poor New Zealand coming first we should have our eye in and be semi-prepared. Neither of the touring sides have great bowling so our batting can be scrutinised fairly. By the end of August we will be able to measure our progress (or decline) against the Proteas who would be an ideal yardstick.

The Test Series Winner against the Kiwis shows England at [1.32] with New Zealand [10.5] and a drawn series [5.8]. With these Betfair prices I would be happy to lay England. It is too short even allowing for home advantage.

Because the second team arriving this summer is South Africa and if this renewal of an old rivalry is anything like previous series, it will not be pretty. Expect fraying tempers, vicious bouncers and verbal volleys in at least three languages. The Proteas play their cricket in the style of their captain: hard, uncompromising and aggressive. It will be compulsive viewing.

This is the third time Graeme Smith has pitted his wits against Michael Vaughan and he has yet to win. There is a curious symmetry to their careers as captain. Both were appointed within four months of one another in 2003 and that summer's dramatic drawn series between the two teams was an early baptism of fire for both men.

But though they share a similar length of tenure, they could not be more different, as people or as captains. Even their batting offers a marked contrast. Whereas Smith is a dominant opener, a hefty-forearmed smasher in the Hayden mould, Vaughan is happier at number three, a technically orthodox batsman who's cover drives have a crisp style and elegance that is distinctive. Cold statistics don't lie however and though both batsmen have been in a slow decline for a number of years, Smith is the superior of the two, averaging in the high forties to Vaughan's low forties.

As captains, Smith is in the mould of Graham Gooch, a leader by example. He had little choice. He was made captain at the age of twenty-two and had barely been in the team a year before he was handed the captaincy. Many people in and around the squad were sceptical. But his towering performances with the bat soon established an awesome reputation and there has been no doubt ever since who was the captain. At times he has led his team by sheer force of personality, one steely glare being enough to nip mutiny in the bud.

Vaughan's leadership has been more understated, calm assurance rather than a belligerent leader of men. He has shown man management skills lacking in pretty much every England captain since Brearley and the ability to get disparate personalities pulling together in a common cause. It is this skill that Smith has not mastered. He has been guilty of allowing cliques to develop, of not running an inclusive squad. Then again, he has had to put up with an absurd quota system. It's hard to bond a team when not everyone has been selected on merit alone.

But as captains, there is one key difference that marks Vaughan out as the more successful. Whilst both have won roughly half of their Test matches as captain, Vaughan is the only one with a series victory over Australia to his name. Time and again, the Aussies have ruthlessly crushed South African hopes and Smith personally has been scarred by the experience. His batting average against Australia is a feeble twenty-two.

This summer could be the last time these two face one another as skippers. Vaughan's slow batting decline, his age and his battered body make it unlikely he will be in charge come the 2009/10 tour to South Africa. Smith's contract is up next spring and last year he admitted that criticism of his tactical inflexibility and poor man-management had got to him. But if he does bow out, he will want to go with a bang. A series against a faltering Australia at the end of the year could be his last chance to defeat the old enemy. And his team are finally looking the part. Their batting is solid and, in Dale Steyn, they have a genuinely scary quick bowler. Meanwhile England must sharpen their edge for next year's Ashes. England versus South Africa 2008 promises to be cracker.

Yet once the atmosphere of awe has passed slightly and the smattering of applause, which seem to accompany these sort of appearances has quietened down, the enraptured eyes move down from those still-boyish looks, past the massive shoulders which have sent down 90mph thunderbolts, the Flintstone-like forearms and to that pesky, brittle left ankle, which has undermined all of the above.

When one gets the opportunity to speak to the all-rounder the first question is inevitable. A pre-requisite that Flintoff admits he is beginning to tire from. "It's the first question I get asked all the time," he says. "I've had four operations on the ankle so I guess it's to be expected."

What follows that sentence will cheer cricket supporters the world over, however, as he bids to return to the England side in time for the first Test on May 15. "I feel great, like I've never had a problem with it."

Indeed Flintoff claims to have bowled at full pace for Lancashire against Surrey in the County Championship at The Oval last week. His first game back since going under the knife in October.

"I was bowling at full tilt occasionally. It was just great to be back, the captain throwing me the ball and then seeing if I could get it down as quick as I could."

It has been a remarkable turnaround for Flintoff, who looked a broken cricketer when hobbling in to the crease in the World Twenty20 in South Africa in September.

Flintoff even considered playing only as a batsman so he wouldn't have to give up the game. "I feel I could have played on just as batsman," he says, "although some people would question that given my previous form but I'm sure the ability to score runs is still in there.

"I went to India with England Lions in February and I played a game just as a batter. It was only a one-day game and when you don't bowl, 50 overs is a long time, just prowling around the boundary."
Fortunately for England, Flintoff appears to have been saved from that future. "The operation is forgotten about. The ankle's not on my mind when I run in to bowl when in the past possibly that was the case. I just hope in three months no one asks me about it," he said.

"I would not have had the operation if I believed I wouldn't come back. I could've continued operating at 70-75 per cent, bowling on one leg as I tried to do at the Twenty20 World Cup, but that was no good for anyone and would have probably resulted in England not wanting me. So it had to be done."

He says he feels in great shape after more than six months of rehabilitation, which included trips to America, South Africa, India and Dubai: "The rehab was daunting because it was going to be longer than any other I've done and having come back three times already from ankle operations, the thought of going through all that again was not pleasant so we devised a programme, made it a bit more interesting by putting some travel in there with the full backing of the ECB, who have been fantastic. And here I am now, raring to go."

Just don't ask what Flintoff will do if he breaks down again. "You're jumping the gun a bit there?" he bristles. "I'm just getting back on a cricket field again and not even thinking about another operation."

The inaugural game did not disappoint. At this early stage, local loyalties have yet to be cemented, despite the best efforts of the face-painters, flag distributors and the franchise owners, so it was a fairly neutral crowd who watched Brendon McCullum's awe-inspiring and world record setting demolition of the Bangalore attack. An opening ceremony with no embarrassments, a full house and a record score would certainly have ticked the boxes for the IPL's organisers.

Subsequent games have not disappointed in quality nor atmosphere. Though the pyrotechnics of the opening ceremony were always going to be a one-off, all the matches so far have been played in front of packed houses and accompanied by blaring local music and a carnival feeling. It already appears that the IPL has been successful in attracting large numbers of women and children, not to mention a fair few Bollywood celebrities.

Not surprisingly, batsmen have dominated the headlines. Brendon McCullum's 158 at over 2 runs a ball was followed the next day by Mike Hussey's 116 at a similar strike rate and there have been half-centuries for Sangakkara, Ghambir and Hopes. Refreshingly though, bat has not dominated ball totally. After the first two games saw Kolkata and Chennai amass 222 and 240 respectively, Delhi managed to restrict Rajasthan to 129 through some wonderfully accurate bowling from Maharoof and old-timer Glen McGrath and Kolkata's second victory, over the much-fancied Deccan Chargers was a low-scoring affair on a dangerously two-paced wicket. Given that this tournament is played at the end of a long domestic season in searing heat, it's likely that a number of pitches will show signs of deterioration, preventing it being as much of a batting fest as people expected.

Team of the tournament so far are the gold helmeted Kolkata Knight Riders who have provided glorious entertainment and are early favourites at [3.05] in the winners market. Bear in mind as well that we haven't even seen their best batsman Chris Gayle yet. The much fancied Deccan Chargers (Hyderabad) got off to a poor start at Eden Gardens but are still second favourites at [4.6] though as better alternative, the Delhi Daredevils look very strong and are available at [6.8] They easily swept aside Rajasthan in their first game and their economical bowling could be crucial in the weeks ahead. As suggested in last week's article Bangalore's classy batting line-up is not explosive enough and they will rely heavily on their bowlers to restrict the opposition. At the bottom of the heap, Rajasthan Royals (Jaipur) already look outgunned, their batting flimsy and their bowling lacking depth. They are available at [13.5]

It hasn't all been champagne and caviar though. A floodlight failure at Eden Gardens temporarily plunged the place into darkness during yesterday's game and the state of the pitch there is likely to lead to some complaints. And it remains to be seen how the tournament will be affected when both the Australians and the Kiwis depart for their respective tours of the Caribbean and England in the middle of May.

If the IPL can retain its support despite the loss of such high profile performers, it will be considered a success, certainly locally. And it should be remembered that it is above all an Indian League. For all that the world is looking on with fascination and trepidation, the tournament was conceived to cash in on a new format of cricket in an attempt to reach a new audience domestically, in a similar manner to our own Twenty20 competition. Inevitably though, the sums of money involved have the potential to distort cricket far beyond the borders of India. So whilst the carnival rolls on, the longer-term implications for the world game remain unclear.

The biggest criticism of the IPL is that it is an event created solely for the purpose of making money. Everyone involved, from the BCCI to the television companies, from the franchise owners to the players are caught up in a frenzy for cash. Yes for sure there is a novelty value in seeing the world's best players in one place. But that should wear off fairly quickly, around the time Andrew Symonds launches his thirty-seventh six. Beyond that, unless you have some connection to any of the cities involved, your interest will surely wane. That is certainly the case for the players. Cold hard cash is drawing them to the subcontinent and nothing else. Kevin Pietersen in particular seems to have forgotten all about his complaints over player burnout!

But if it's good enough for the players, then we shouldn't be coy about making money from the IPL either. Tomorrow's opening match between the Bangalore Royal Challengers and the Kolkata Knight Riders will give us a chance to assess what the tournament is all about.

Bangalore bear the name and logo of the franchise owner's brand of whisky whilst the Kolkata Knight Riders already have their own motto, album, mascot and some fetching gold and black jerseys created by a Bollywood fashion designer. They are named after the American television series and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if David Hasselhoff turned up to bowl the first ball.

Absenteeism and injury have bit hard into both these squads. Already denied the services of Shoaib Akhtar, Kolkata are without the excellent Twenty20 bowler Umar Gul and fellow Pakistanis Salman Butt and Mohammed Hafeez, whilst they are busy with Bangladesh. Bangalore are without Anil Kumble, Dale Steyn, Misbah ul-Haq and Abdur Razzaq, though they will have Jaques Kallis and Mark Boucher available for the opener.

Taking into account the absentees, it is Kolkata who are able to put out the strongest team. On the face of it, both sides have similarly strong batting line-ups with Bangalore able to field a top order of Jaffer, Chanderpaul, Dravid and Kallis, whilst Kolkata will rely on Gayle, Ponting, David Hussey and Ganguly. But the relative strike rates of these batsmen give Kolkata a big edge. They simply score their runs more quickly. Chris Gayle in particular will be key for the visitors. He averages an excellent 37 at an astonishing strike rate of 164. They also have the hard-hitting Brendon McCullum and useful allrounder Ajit Agarkar to keep the momentum going lower down the order.

Neither side are over blessed in the pace bowling department and both will rely on an assortment of allrounders and bits and pieces players. With only four international players permitted in any team, both teams will want to cram in their overseas batsmen and are likely to call on domestic Indian players to fill the gaps in their bowling ranks.

Bangalore's key player could be Zaheer Khan. He will need all his experience to lead a bowling line up light on quality and variety. Kolkata will be relying on Ishant Sharma to make the early inroads but captain Ganguly can turn to an array of different bowlers, from his own military medium to the spin of Murali Karthik, Ajit Agarkar's lively medium pace and the part time twirling of Chris Gayle. Kolkata seem to have a clear advantage in most departments and can be backed at [1.76] with Bangalore on [2.12].

It has been difficult to judge the merits of the ODI series so far, a six off the last ball, (which was a gentle full toss) secured the win in the first ODI followed by the unconvincing D/L method win where they got providential with the rain. The 2-Match Test Series between two mediocre sides ended in a 1-1 draw. The West Indies were on a long losing streak of seven consecutive Test series and Sri Lanka have never had a series win in the region.

In the new millennium the West Indies have lurched from one disaster to another. Accepting that the prime cause of decline extends beyond the field of play, West Indies cricket have been in torment with deficiencies right through the team in recent years, whether in skill levels, experience or attitude. The casual nature of their cricket being the single most detrimental aspect! Add to that a total lack of respect to authority and you have a soup of consequential mediocrity. I have explained this demise further at: http://betting.betfair.com/cricket/bat-and-ball/basketball-and-rap-music-are-k-071207.html

So what should the West Indies Cricket Board do about it? Find the most expressionless, casual, lackadaisical-looking Jamaican, find someone irresponsibly reckless with breathtaking talent. Find an impulsive gambler with an all or nothing style but most importantly someone who disagrees with policies of the WCIB. Chris Gayle (born 21 September 1979 in Kingston, Jamaica) was duly appointed captain and keeps the job over fit- again and in-form Ramnaresh Sarwan.

I have a template that covers the qualities of a captain and apart from talent, Gayle does not tick any of the other boxes! He does not appear confident with people and is not a leader and though bold in his batting, he is withdrawn away from it. He is not tactically astute, his test batting proves that! He is a muttering whispering dissenter and does not carry the board/team ethic onto the field. He is more mutineer than captain material and I have seen no evidence of him turning poacher to gamekeeper. Of course he had been given the job because of lack of candidates but I would have still gone elsewhere as 'marking time' in sport is actually going backwards!

I found it strange and poignant that after ill-discipline and infractious behaviour by West Indies players during the World Cup he was totally against any sort of curfew (11.30pm) on their subsequent tour to England. He remonstrated "I don't agree with the curfew but it's team policy so you have to go along with it. If it was in my hands I would have let guys be free to do what they want to in the lead up to the first Test". Do what they want? He is so casual that he is anti-discipline. Surely he must recognise modern day demands and that includes changing the West Indies relaxed approach into a professional mode (see Shivnarine Chanderpaul)? Imagine Michael Vaughan saying he thinks Freddie Flintoff should be allowed to do what he wants before a Test? The mind boggles!

I genuinely enjoy Chris Gayle as a cricketer! Tall and imposing at the crease, he loves to carve through the covers off either foot, and has the ability to annihilate the figures of even the most economical opening bowlers. His belligerent approach includes poking fun at the textbook with total disregard for footwork. The 28-year-old hard-hitting left-handed opening batsman is the only player to score centuries at Test, One-Day and Twenty20 level and this makes him a fearful opponent as a genuine one-day allrounder (though he was a disturbing failure in the World Cup in the Caribbean). He is tailor made for the IPL especially with his effective right-arm off spin.

Looking at his statistics it demonstrates that he is predominantly an ODI player but capable of playing Test Cricket. His apathetic nature or batting will not be affected by the captaincy, you sense he will carry on in his own sweet way but I wager that he will not be captain 12 months from now! Check him out on: http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/51880.html

Sounds simple doesn't it? The reality is somewhat different, however, with the season kicking off on Wednesday. The two championship divisions look tough to call because of the uncertainty surrounding players' availability and the odd disconcerting bucking of a trend.

Many counties will have to wait for their overseas player to turn up after fulfilling their duties in the Indian Premier League - David Hussey's absence could hit Nottinghamshire particularly hard while Hampshire have allowed Dmitri Mascarenhas to play for Rajasthan Royals instead of captaining them.

Throw in some surprising results over the last few years and the waters muddy further. Somerset came from a ninth-placed finish in 2006 to win the Division Two title last year while unfashionable Durham raised eyebrows in not only the four-day game but one-day arena, too.
So to help punters make a decision on the best bets for the summer ahead - bear in mind even at this late stage the Betfair markets could still be considered fledgling - here's a guide to some wagers which should prove profitable.

Lay Lancashire in Division One at [4.6] - [4.8]

While the world spins in new groundbreaking changes virtually every week, it is comforting to think that nothing is ever different at Old Trafford. As usual, Lancashire start the county season as favourites to win the title and as usual they will probably fail. Normally it is the grim Manchester weather that denies them; last year it was just that they weren't good enough. And that with Muttiah Muralitharan in their team. Without him, how can anyone suggest they have possibly improved into title winners? Lancashire have not won the pennant since 1950 - keep waiting chaps.

Back to lay Yorkshire in Division One at [10.0] - [11.0]

Yorkshire have solid title credentials and should go close to glory. A simple way of supporting them could be to back them for a fast start before laying off at skinnier odds. There are solid reasons to do so. Last year they won their first three matches and found themselves as favourites to fly the flag this term before falling away badly. The reason for that was that they boast a fine seam attack who are often too tricky for batsmen in early-season conditions.

Back to lay Glamorgan in Division Two at [32.0]

Okay, you can stop laughing now, this is serious. Granted Glamorgan have finished bottom and second bottom in their last two seasons - winning only three times in that period - and most punters wouldn't touch them with someone else's money. Yet as disconcerting as that form is, let's ignore it. The reason is that the Welsh county have made some terrific signings. Jason Gillespie, Jamie Dalrymple and Matthew Wood are not all talented players but they have the correct attitude to walk into that dressing room, which must have been a depressing place, and really lift it. The feelgood factor and confidence they will give to some talented young players - look out for all-rounder James Harris - makes them good for a couple of early wins. But as soon as that happens, take the money and run.

Back to lay Northamptonshire to win Friends Provident Trophy at [42.0]. With new captain Nicky Boje joining Lance Klusener and Andrew Hall attempting to overturn a ban to join them, it is quite clear that Northants are keen to taste one-day glory. With the talent they have, Northants, who have had decent one-day plans down the years, should make it out of the Midlands and East division by which time they will be considerably shorter.