Onward!

Michael Vaughan is quite right: England may have shown considerable backbone and no little skill in coming back from 1-0 down to win the series in NZ, but England will have to get much, much better if they are to avoid taking a shellacking off of big boys like the Saffers

There are so many positives to take out of the last two Tests - Siders, a mature Monty (with an arm-ball), Broaders far exceeding expectations, Straussy, KP and Bell back in the runs, Ambrose doing ok (that's a big thing) - that it's a shame to dwell on any negative aspects, but Vaughan's lack of form is something of a concern to me

Don't get me wrong, Vaughan is a fine, fine player and his cover-drive is one of the most blessed sights in cricket, but he made bugger-all runs in this series and these days lets too much go through the gate or else edges balls that he really shouldn't be. If it's just that his technique that's slipped a little, then he can iron things out, but if judgement is the isue, that's worrying, because picking length and playing the right stroke to it has always been Vaughan's biggest strength. Aggers doesn't seem to think that moving to 3 would make much difference, but I'm not so sure. Admittedly, he's played the majority of his best cricket as an opener, but he's looked, of late, too uncertain a starter (no shame in it, as Ponting, Butcher and Lara will testify) to open the innings and maybe it's time he dropped to 3, and stayed there. Providing we trust Strauss to partner Cook, that is

Elsewhere, the Tresco question, mercifully, has been answered, Broad is beginning to look the business (the consensus had been that he was shite) and could provide some sort of cover for Flintoff should the big man not, heaven forbid, make it back and I think that Hoggy should come back in place of 'Sprayer' Anderson, certainly for the early part of the summer. And Harmison? Does he really, really want to play cricket for England? 'cos 'e's looked as though he don't. Make up your mind, old boy, and put us all out of our misery, there's a good chap

So, the XI that won the last two Tests should splatter NZ in conditions over 'ere, but will those same players have enough to beat Smith and his charmless lot? We shall see

An exciting summer lies in store (if ever it gets here)