But surely strong recent domestic form should be more relevant to selectors than bad Test form from three months ago?

In conditions that demand pitched up bowling that allows the ball to swing, that demand a line that makes the batsmen play and that demands an effort to tempt batsmen into going hard at balls that aren't quite there to be hit, Hoggard has the experience and nous to deliver.

With Sidebottom and Broad also prone to bowling negative, back of a length deliveries that were Caddick's constant downfall and that so limited Flintoff until Troy Cooley sorted him out... having a third seamer with something between his ears is essential.

It is a real lottery. The problem with Anderson is that you don't know what you will get from one innings to the next, never mind one match to the next. Fortunately in this match he probably wont get another bowl - His first match where he hasn't bowled rubbish in at least one innings

It depends... I still maintain the figures he has achieved in the CC are irrelevant. It depends how he has bowled in the games.
Although there are some good players in the CC, there is a lack of intensity, too many Kolpackers collecting a salary and a general lack of class. How many of the '05 Ashes winning team would have got picked on their county performances??

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Mark.

So, here we are at the beginning of the fourth day, and with all but eight overs lost yesterday the game is certainly likely to end in a draw. But England might be in with a chance: if they can put 350 on the board today, an overnight declaration just might give them time to win the match tomorrow. The forecast looks OK for the next two days - let's just hope that the Met Office has that right!

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Spike Milligan

I see that the hours of play have been extended to 7pm. I wonder why they couldn't have started at say, 10.30am as well?

As you say OF a draw is most likely on the cards, unless England really go for it today an Anderson does something he's never yet managed - bowl well in 2 consecutive innings.

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Mark.

They were just talking about the hours of play on TMS - apparently England is the only country in which the extra time to replace earlier losses is added at the end of the day rather than at the beginning. Given that it is daylight in England at about 5.30am at this time of year, it is a bit strange. There can't be a dew problem at 10.30 at this time of year (unless the dew is falling in whacking great lumps from the sky, as it did yesterday). The best the TMS people could come up with is travelling time and price for the spectators (many rail fares are more expensive early in the morning than they are for an 11am start, apparently). It sounds a bit thin to me, to be honest.

Interesting point from Bill Frindall: last time there was a change in bowlers or batsmen in this match was at 1703 on Friday. It is now 1142 on Sunday. This could be a record!

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Money won't buy you friends. But it gets you a better class of enemy.
Spike Milligan

I can't complain too loudly, as it is really great that I can hear TMS at all over here (it's only ever available when England are playing at home), but the delay in the audio signal online this morning is ridiculous! I'm getting a bit confused here, with Cricinfo's online commentary on screen coming through about three balls before the radio commentary! Unfortunately, I know that Cook is about to be out!

Yup! There he goes. I wonder if I can find someone who's taking bets?

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Spike Milligan

But England's record of so far taking the light every time it's been offered suggests that they're not likely to do anything overly aggressive like you're suggesting.

First time for everything.

Anyway, the match is a little closer now with England three down, and Vettori looking dangerous, as is Martin and Oram.

To give credit where it's due - namely to New Zealand - from what I've heard on the radio this morning England have not really been allowed to set their store out. New Zealand, from all comments, have bowled pretty tightly all morning and they've taken some wickets.

The loss of Pietersen for only three runs may have significantly reduced any chance England had of taking a win into the second test - really he was needed later in the day. In fact, though, the run rate this morning has not been a disaster, and with the forecast looking good for the remainder of what could be a long day - we could have almost five hours of play still to go today - this game, although it has swung to New Zealand this morning, is still finely poised and an England win is not out of the question. Critically, however, Vaughan and Bell need to stick around for while - really all afternoon. If they don't, with a new ball coming up in 23 overs and no-one in the order to deal with it, a draw is almost inevitable now.

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Money won't buy you friends. But it gets you a better class of enemy.
Spike Milligan

Some sort of conspiracy going on here, I think. My online audio feed dropped, re-buffered and when the sound came back Collingwood and Ambrose were both out!

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Money won't buy you friends. But it gets you a better class of enemy.
Spike Milligan