The problem for Plunkett was Duncan Fletcher resigning. Fletcher was just starting to get results from Plunkett, his displays in the One-Day finals series in Australia in 2007 were pretty outstanding, he had no less a batsman than Adam Gilchrist in his pocket, but then Duncan buggered off, and Moores didn't fancy him.

Ditto (to a lesser extent) Saj Mahmood.

Heads up that on Friday BBC 2 Scotland (Sky Channel 990) will be showing a 1 Day Clash between Scotland and the Ashes losing Aussies all day on Friday from 10:30am.

This will also be shown on Freeview (Either channel 301 or 302) or the BBC's relevant red button services on Sky and Cable.

Cheers for that pal. Friday sorted

TBH Mahmood is a Lancs lad and i dont rate him 1 little bit as a international player hes too wild and bowlsat least 2 boundary balls a over

ponting said he will be around as captain in 4 years time for revenge

Are we back in 2005???? That sounds familiar!!!!!

The Australian selctors might have something to say about that. (But let's hope so all the same. First man to captain three losing Ashes teams in England!)

2.

3 if he does it next time

after another 5-nil whitewash

He's become the first man in over 100 years to do it twice, but nobody has yet managed the hat-trick.

Which is why I'm hoping he'll be back again in four years' time!

If he is back again in 4-years time then it will either show A) how poorly they've progressed to still have him in charge or B) how brilliantly he's been playing...lets hope it's A!!

Good start from England in Ireland too...both Bopara and Trott out for 0, recovered slightly 34-2 now, Denly and Prior 15 and 14 not out.

ponting has a high winning rate vs england . he wants to be back for the ashes in 4 years .regardless of captain

203 (50) - Not the greatest start.

Hard to judge how good a total that might be without seeing the pitch.

Some nice hitting down the order by Luke Wright.

how about a cold VB

I've not seen that much of him in 4 day cricket Andy, is he a possible Test player or strictly a one day man.

Not convinced his bowling is up to Test standard to be honest, good variation for the one-day game but not really up to being a 4th seamer at Test level.

First class average of 35 with the bat is respectable if you wanted to bat him at 7 or 8, but I'd say he's a long way behind Stuart Broad for that job at the minute.

Pretty much as I thought then, useful one day man. Anyway we managed to sueeze a tight victory!

Typo mate.

won 4 tests out of the last 15 ashes tests

And yet won two Ashes series out of the last three. Never mind.

please use the 20/20 1 day thread now