Sweating on his spot

Hauritz: small haul would not go astray before Cardiff

I think the England Lions should get after Hauritz. If they do then he won't play at Cardiff, even if as we are told it is a turning pitch.

David Lloyd
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It's sweltering here in Worcester and some of the Australian batsmen are feeling the heat.

It's not a great pitch; in fact it's very placid. Mike Hussey has played very well for his century but the tourists will be concerned that a number of them didn't get a start first time around.

I'm at New Road for four days and then heading off for the first Test at Cardiff and even though it means more miles on the road I can't wait.

It would appear that Australia have declared their hand - certainly with their top eight, which like England's seems set in stone.

Now I'm looking forward to getting a good look at Nathan Hauritz, who is under a lot of pressure.

He's only taken one wicket so far, down at Sussex, so tactically I think the England Lions should get after him. If they do then he won't play at Cardiff, even if as we are told it is a turning pitch.

The only surprise England might spring is to play Ryan Sidebottom if they decide to only go with one spinner. At present Graham Onions' bowling is more impressive so he's probably ahead of Steve Harmison as things go.

Pitch it properly

There's been plenty of chat this week about the future of Test cricket and whether the introduction of four-day Tests would benefit the game.

I'm not against the idea but it's pretty obvious to me that if you do go ahead with it you have got to get a proper pitch.

I keep banging the drum that the individual grounds - Lords, the Oval, wherever - want the game to last five days because of the corporate issues. You've got to get away from the situation where grounds look after their own financial interests.

So then what you do get is an unbelievably dead pitch. In contrast the pitches we had for the World Twenty20 were outstanding.

You've got to have a pitch with pace and bounce, it's as simple as that. If it's not, it's hard work. This winter in the Caribbean we saw pitches which were heartbreaking as well as backbreaking and a number of people said it was like watching paint dry.

You've got to sex up Test match cricket to compare with Twenty20 cricket; if you can get a great pitch for a Twenty20 game, you should be able to get a great pitch for a Test match.

Bus-ted

I didn't make too much of the furore around Andrew Flintoff this week. These things are quite simple. If it's Flintoff, it's a story.

I'll just counter that and say we did a Twenty20 game at Derby. Flintoff played and played really well and after we had packed up and were heading off home he was still on the pitch signing autographs.

Now that just doesn't get a mention but he's all over the papers when he misses a bus. Explain that to me!

Bumble answers your questions...

Send your questions to Bumble by filling in the feedback form below. Or you can mail them in by e-mailing skysportsclub@bskyb.com

WHAT A SIGHT!
Hi Bumble! Great stuff! I was watching Sky Sports the other day and was surprised to see you holding up play - much to the amusement of your colleagues - behind the bowler's arm. Was this indeed you or an impostor? I reckon the latter because even if you were lost I'm sure you wouldn't do this! Jeff Chappell

BUMBLE SAYS: It's true, I was behind the bowler's arm where the commentary box is and the batsman said that someone was moving about, which was me. All I can say is that if they were looking up at me then they have got a big problem! And no - I wasn't lost. I knew my way in and out, I was just walking with a cup of tea minding my own business!

Bumble's jukebox

My confidence in you all was well-placed! I was overwhelmed last week by the number of you who identified 'Million Miles' by Bob Dylan. Right, let's crack on with this week's lyrics:

Down in the High Street somebody careered out of Boots without due care or attention / I suggest that they learn some pedestrian etiquette/ i.e sidle out of the store gingerly / Embrace the margin

Show if you know by sending in your guesses below. I'll give you the answer next week!