Every cloud...

About a month or so ago, I stumbled upon an Ashes preview show on Sky, hosted by David Gower. Lubo was joined by messrs Botham, Hussain, the ever cheerful Willis and the token Aussie, Ian Harvey. Harvey did his best to hide his mirth as Beefy in particular talked up our chances against the declining Baggy Greeners. Botham seemed convinced that in order for the urn to be reclaimed in the summer, all the England boys had to do was turn up, along with the masseuse, the analyst, the doctor, the physio, the psychologist, the bloke who picks all the practice balls up after nets and the chap that straightens their hair before they go out to field.

Whilst Harvey did a great job of hiding his contempt, I was left scratching my head at whether Beefy was talking about the same shambolic, disorganised, rudder-less group I'd been watching lurch down a slippery slope since 2005. After the nightmare that was Sabina Park, I'm convinced he can't have been. I wonder if the great man still thinks that the summer will be one big canter to another parade through Trafalgar Square?

However, this most optimistic (or perhaps foolish) of England fans thinks that even this darkest of dark clouds has something of a silver lining. Why? Because this England side got the kick up the backside they so desperately needed. It's now up to them whether they do something about it or whether they remain bent over for the rest of the series...

We clearly need someone at the top making tough decisions. A coach, a manager, call them what you will, just someone who will say no to these players from time to time and someone who will give them the direction they need. Someone who will ask why Harmison, allegedly England's most hostile weapon, continues to fart it out at 80 mph. Quick enough to hurry this particular rabbit but barely medium pace at test level. Someone who will also ask why Panesar is quicker than Sidebottom. And someone who will ask Bell and Collingwood why they only ever seem to score runs when their very careers depend on it.

I'm all for the advances Team England have made since the days of Ray Illingworth - but surely it's gone too far now.

I'm perhaps hoping against hope that out of this mess can come something positive. However, the early signs are...that it's not going to happen. Certainly, if you listened to Andy Flower this morning talk about the need to avoid knee jerk reactions and how important it was for the guys to remain solid. Well, we haven't beaten anyone of note in the last three years so I think a reaction is pretty overdue! And as for solidity, they looked about as solid as the morning after a Vindaloo as they came and went at Sabina Park on Saturday.

I just hope they take the view that this can't happen again - and if changes are needed (they are) then they are made. Then maybe we can look back on this in perhaps 12 months time and say that it was worth going through, no matter how bad it was at the time.