That's the point though, isn't it? Our tail at the moment means that, if we make a reasonable start (say 250-4) with this tail, 19 times out of twenty, we're bowled out for around 300 - a below par score. This match has been a case in point - why did Australia get a first innings lead? Because their batsmen played better? Absolutely not - the top six all got in without making hundreds. The reason was because the tail performed. I don't mind playing specialists - but we need a number seven that can bat - and we don't have one. If Flintoff drops down the order to seven, and Broad (or anyone) joins the party at eight, leaving Read at nine, that's fine.

Read's a great keeper, who was treated abysmally on this tour. But his batting has been a joke. Take the debacle against Dwayne Bravo in the CT, or the awful second innings (not out or not) at Melbourne. His scores were good against Pakistan, but he looked nervy and was lucky. He has been put under pressure, its true, but we can't hope he scores runs against the West Indies and forget about the Ashes and the World Cup. In my mind, he's got one chance to save his Test career. What better way of proving whether he is an international cricketer? Whatever their failings, all of the top six have batted well under pressure, so it's time for Read to stand up and be counted. I really hope he takes it, but the selectors need to be ruthless if he doesn't.