As if I would...!

Very interesting post, Mark. I do feel those statistics don't tell the whole story, though - Tres's average is bumped up by the 219 at the Oval (scored, interestingly, when there was serious discussion of dropping him for the first time), a century against Bangladesh, and a couple of not outs in low second-innings chases and in the rained-affected Edbaston match.

I only seriously had doubts about him as an opener after the Colombo test match, in which he scored 77 in the first session and then got out just before lunch. An opener should be able to bat for more than one session, and he is just not occupying the crease long enough. To say nothing of his poor conversion rate of fifties to 100's.

I also have nightmares about his first innings shot in Antigua... Unfair, perhaps, after he'd fielded for two and a half days in that heat...

Anyway, I've finally (and reluctantly) come to the conclusion that he should drop down the order in order to extend his test career.

Saving my best reason for last, as I was taught in French composition class: openers like Gooch, Atherton, Boycott etc. were able during their careers to correct faulty technique through long sessions in the nets. We are told that this is not much good to Tresco, as he doesn't rely much on technique anyway. "He needs time in the middle" is the standard verdict. But this is costing England very dearly, since an opener sets the tone for the entire innings. Too much burden is being placed on Butcher & Hussain, and, while they have done a stirling job, this can't continue indefinitely and anyway Hussain is to be going soon. If Tresco needs time in the middle, he should be made to play in county cricket, central contract or no. We can't afford another series of failures from England's no.1.