Ideally, every member of the side (at least in the top / middle order) would be capable of digging in when the going got tough.. and then capitalising somewhat when the game was there for the taking.

It goes without saying that in practive, most Test class players are far, far stronger in one than the other.. leaving one with the problem that from the top 6-7 one wants at least 4-5 guys who can dig in.. and ideally 2-3 who can open up a little and swing a game that would otherwise be in the balance.

Butcher and Thorpe strike me as the clear-cut class acts in the current top order, capable of playing each ball on its merits and just taking what comes.. or of leaving bowlers in despair as they find gaps no matter what is sent their way. Vaughan perhaps has what it takes... but needs to sort out when is, and when is not, the time to try and accelerate the run rate.

To my mind, those three give us more than enough on the aggressive front.. but we've also got Tresco.. who always looks stronger when he looks to dominate.. and Freddie.. who's yet to show he can do anything else.. and now Jones.. who looks like another from the same mould.

Thankfully, Strauss and Collingwood both look more circumspect.. but with Pietersen poised as another naturally aggressive batsman we're stuck, as we always seem to be, needing to bat down to 8 in order to compensate for lack of "grittyness" in the top order.

Strauss, <Richarson Clone>, Butcher, Vaughan, Thorpe, Pietersen strikes me as a top 6 that's strong on strokeplay and weak on grit.. but with no obvious Richardson clone in the offing.. and pressure to accomodate Freddie at 6... I think we are going to be living with a grittiness deficit for some time.