I don't know if anyone has read the article on the BBC tonight, but it seems that changes in the England team may be in order sooner rather than later and Andrew Strauss is eyeing an opening in the middle order.

The suggestion seems to be that Trescothick is, for now, safe - as he does average over 40 still one could say that he has proved that he is a class act - but that Nasser Hussain's place is, once again, under threat.

This was a perenial topic of debate on the BBC MB. Hussain would reach his 100th cap this summer in the 2nd Test against the West Indians (assuming that he doesn't miss a game). I, for one, have assumed that his intention is to reach the 100th cap and then announce that he will be retiring from international cricket at the end of the summer, leaving it to the selectors to decide whether to let him see out the series or try his replacement.

However, seeing as last year the selectors probably erred by letting sentiment allow Alec Stewart to reach his 100th cap when his form with bat and gloves was slipping a little (not that we noticed until Read took over and we saw an artist at work with the gloves), it may be that Hussain isn't given the same leeway.

I would argue strongly that only incremental changes in the side should be carried out. We have already had one significant change with Read handing over to Jones and a second major change could just unsettle the side (particularly as Ashley Giles must, surely, find himself surplus to requirements against New Zealand and that will also imply a change in the side and its balance). Would the selectors be right to drop Hussain now? Or should they wait until after the New Zealand series to make further changes - possibly Strauss for Hussain?

If we apply the rule of thumb: "no more than 2 changes in the side from the 4th Test", what changes should they be? Assuming Giles is dropped, who should replace him in the side? One assumes that it would be an extra batsman rather than another seamer or spinner and that England will rely on 4 seamers plus Butcher/Trescothick/Vaughan, which should be enough on green, seaming May pitches.