Strauss opts out of responsibilities

A year into the job as England captain, and Andrew Strauss has decided it is time for a rest. His next scheduled competitive cricket for England is May 27th. So four months off, on a central 12 month contract - not bad work if you can get it. He goes into his voluntary rest in very bad form with the bat - be interesting to see what sort of form he returns with. Let's hope he doesn't cash in during his holiday with any sponsorships, corporate appearances, book deals or anything that tires him out.

There are unconfirmed mutterings that this decision is due to personal reasons, but captaining England is massive honour and is a full-time responsibility. Let's hope Strauss hasn't gone down the road of lothario Graham Thorpe whose nickname in the dressing room was shagger and whose ex-wife wrote unflattering things in the Daily Mail.

Meanwhile the rest of the troops are going to Bangladesh led by comrade Cook, not a natural leader and already on record as stating he'd be a cautious captain who would think carefully about every decision. Not exactly inspirational stuff is it?

Here are a number of ex-England captains who don't agree with time off for Strauss:

“Strauss should not be having a rest. He has only been in the job for a year, he does not play Twenty20 cricket and plays very little for Middlesex, and it is not as though he has been out in the middle for hour after hour in South Africa. Captaining your country is a demanding job but it is also an honour. I can’t imagine Ricky Ponting or Graeme Smith just handing over the captaincy for a tour to have a rest.” Mike Atherton, Times chief cricket correspondent

“He should definitely be there. After the defeat to South Africa, Strauss said the team are not where he wants them to be. He should be with the team to get them there, not resting at home. The guys have four weeks off now [and] there is no need for Strauss to play in the one-day internationals. The first Test is almost eight weeks away. That would be a fairly lengthy rest.” Bob Willis

“It is a serious mistake. It is his team. They are not functioning perfectly and having just been thumped by an innings, that is no time to be walking away for a break. There is work to be done.” Sir Ian Botham

“The England captaincy is a 24-hour-a-day, 12-months-a-year job. It is not a job you hand over to someone else and you should never ask your side to go on to the field without you.” Nasser Hussain

“I fully understand why they are doing it, but I believe that when you take on the role of captain, you have to take everything that’s thrown at you.” Alec Stewart

“Once you get the job, my view is that you stick at it. Those of us who have been sacked know that the England captaincy can be a precarious position. When you have achieved a position of some strength, as Strauss has with an Ashes win and a decent showing in South Africa, you should be keen to improve. Every Test provides a chance to learn more about captaincy.” David Gower

Defeat before lunch as tour ends on a low

4th Test Jo'Burg, Day 4; England 180 & 169; South Africa 423-7 declared

The series has ended 1-1 after England capitulated on the fourth morning, all seven wickets falling before lunch. KP chased a wide-one, Prior skied his second ball, but Swanny smacked a few and Colly dug in for another 50 in a fruitless cause.

Press conference tomorrow at 10am to reveal the side touring Bangladesh. Rumour is that Strauss isn't going to go - which is poor. As England captain you need to be involved, and he needs the practice.

Overall England have done well to escape with a 1-1 series draw, Fourth Slip expected them to get heavily beaten. But the selectors were wrong not to take a genuine fast bowler, and the batting line-up has not produced. In the Ashes it was Bell, Colly and Cook who were the weak links. Here in South Africa, it's KP, Strauss, Prior and Trott who were averaging in the 20s.

Stage set for KP and stormy weather

4th Test Jo'urg day 3; England 180 & 48-3; South Africa 422-7 dec

Tamely they surrendered this afternoon. Cook, Trott, and Strauss walked back to the pavilion. The stage is set for KP to silence the critics and crack a scintillating 100 before storm clouds render the pitch unplayable and the final day washed out to seal a memorable 1-0 triumph.

Nothing surprising happened in today's action. England's bowling looked toothless. Sidebottom's inclusion was not justified. The absence of Harmison was never more keenly felt. South Africa cruised to 400+ before Smith remembered he needed more than 5 sessions to bowl us out judging from past evidence.

Then the faster attack, Steyn and Morkel, averaging 10+ kph more than any England bowler, got rid of 3 key England wickets, leaving just KP heroics standing between South Africa and a series-leveller.

TV shambles spoils second day

4th Test Johannesburg, day 2; England 180, South Africa 215-2

Rain could save England. South Africa probably need to bat for another day and hope that they can, third time lucky, bowl England out in two days. This time they look as though they've got the bowling attack right.

Umpiring. Not a difficult job. Standing behind the stumps, concentrate for six balls, then rest for 5 minutes at square leg. Only easier job in cricket - third umpire. Sit in a box watching TV of cricket all day, occasionally having to review decisions after watching 12 different angles.

Sadly both forms of umpiring are proving beyond umpire Harper, who not only gets decisions wrong in the middle, but apparently can't work the remote on his TV to turn the volume up when Graeme Smith edges a delivery to the keeper.

Smith hit a decent ton today to put South Africa in a dominant position, but was incredibly lucky to get away with the umpiring howler having scored just 15.

Flower and Strauss are apparently complaining to the referee, but let's face facts - England have so far been completely outplayed, and chances are if the weather holds off, the home side will get 500. England must now be regretting the absence of Harmison, last two tests we've missed the fast bowler; and the still-baffling omission of Onions was not answered by Sidebottom's sole wicket today, his second Test wicket in 12 months.

Looking ahead England face a ridiculous amount of cricket in the months ahead:

Feb - 3 ODIs in Bangladesh
March - 2 tests in Bangladesh
May - World 20/20 in West Indies
May/June - 2 tests at home to Bangladesh
June - ODIs v Australia (5),
July/August - 4 tests at home to Pakistan, 3 ODIs Bangladesh (3)
September  - 5 ODIs v Pakistan
November-January Ashes Tests & ODIs

England Mr Inconsistent Again

4th Test Johannesburg, 1st Day; England 180; South Africa 29-0
Win the toss, bat first, get bowled out before tea on day one. Didn't go entirely to plan. The stats for England top seven do not lie - three of them are in form, and it showed yesterday. Bell, Collingwood and Cook all stayed in for a bit. Four of them have done very little this series, and were all out cheaply, albeit in different ways. All the Strauss lovers have been quick to point out how he was unlucky to go to a screamer of a catch first ball of the game - first English player in decades to go for a diamond duck. But truth is he has looked tired this series, and is the lowest performing batsman of the top seven average under 25.

Trott looked as though he was on speed, stories of attending anger management stuff are emerging, and his brief innings was a world away from the calm assuredness that saw off Australia at the Oval. KP came in, hit a decent four, then smacked a pull straight down a fielder's throat. All very well for Vaughan et al to say bat for an hour, see how it goes, but KP's made his name through attacking, but is going through a crisis of confidence caused by Morris and the ECB sticking the knife in a year ago - plus he came into this series having had no cricket for six month. Send KP to Bangladesh and see his confidence restored.

Fourth Slip does not have a lot of confidence in Sidebottom, a management favourite curiously restored to the XI in favour of England's best form bowler, Onions. If Sidebottom can send down 30 threatening overs in the heat on a single day than I'm a dutchman. Doubt he could even chuck down 20.

Bell the hero with Colly & Onions

3rd Test Cape Town, day 5
South Africa 291 & 447-7 dec, England 273 & 296-9

Another incredible finish! For the 2nd time in 3 tests, Graham Onions batted out the last three overs to secure a magnificent draw which means England cannot lose the series. That in itself is a great tribute to Strauss and his men because Fourth Slip was convinced South Africa would win this series, as were the bookmakers.

Collingwood and Bell batted for more than 50 overs to thwart the home side, after Jimmy and Trott had departed swiftly. When Colly left the stage it became touch and go, as Prior and Broad went quickly as England fans started to panic. But then they remembered the last man was Onions, and he looked rock solid to the joy of the barmy army.

This series has seen England strengthen as a team unit, with players previously under scrutiny for not contributing, or being out of form, standing up and being counted. None more so than Ian Bell, who was vital in the win in Durban, and monumental again today. Cook has a century and two 50s at the top of the order, Colly has proved durable, Prior class behind the timbers and with the bat, whilst Graeme Swann has risen to 3rd best in the world.

All we need now is to move to Johannesburg and witness a KP century as England secure series win. Can't see the team being changed unless there are injuries.

Bell and Trott to save the day

3rd Test Capetown, Day 4; South Africa 291 % 447-7 dec; England 273 & 132-3

This test is now poised for final day heroics from Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell as they guide England through the 98 overs to secure the draw. Any contributions from Colly, Swanny, Prior and the rest would also be most welcome. Seven wickets to play with, about seven hours play, so that means each pair needs to bat for an hour...

Not a good day for KP who once again was out playing across the line. Not long ago he hit the composed 81 and looked in good touch, now his confidence has gone again and hopefully he will get sent to Bangladesh to pick his average back above fifty.

Cook and Strauss had looked in no trouble as England began the chase for 450+, and the opening pair passed 100 in good time. But Cook got himself out mis-pulling, and Strauss offered a simple bat pad chance.

So the odds are on the South Africans making it 1-1 but I've just got a feeling tomorrow the two Warwickshire men will combine for England glory.