And now MP Vaughan shows why some of us believe he shouldn't be anywhere near this team! Geeat job, skip!!

England won the CB Series without him. They don't need him. Someone with his figures (and after so many games they don't lie) does ot deserve to be selected. Select Pettini, Benning or Loye just leave Vaughan out!

Now that we've dropped Strauss though, we would need a captain if Vaughan's leadership is seen not to make up for his batting stats. Who would you go for NE?

Sounds like a slow and slightly unpredicatble pitch though, so I'd back Anderson and Plunkett to make inroads with the new ball and Monty to get some real turn - Patel's first ball turned a fair bit according to CricInfo, can any viewers elaborate?

I would select the XI and then pick a captain. I don't believe we are good enough to carry players because they might be useful captaincy material. England do not make sufficient use of the first fifteen overs and re never likely to do so with that top order. I would select one of the younger players on the circuit who hits the ball hard. I'm no fan of Surrey or Essex but both Benning and Pettini stand out, young Patel at Notts would be a half decent number three. I'm sure there are others, I just can't think of them at the moment.

For the time being I'd have Freddie as captain but I can see a time where Bell or Collingwood might do it.

KP's looking frustrated.

The pitch doesn't look great. Which makes Bell and Vaughan's shots worse! It's really not coming on as the batsmen would like. Might dry out for the Black Caps.

What's par on this pitch? 180? 190? It seems to me that anything over 200 (and certainly 220) would be an acceptable, defendable total.

Sadly, England have yet again batted as if concerned that this would not be enough...

I wish the batsmen would just start believing in the bowlers: on this pitch it's OK to aim at 180-220 and just trust the bowlers to deliver!

I actually think we'll need well beyond the 200 mark. The New Zealand batsmen aren't stupid and they'll play their game properly. Get in and you should still score runs on this pitch, it's just difficult to start with. Shot selection is crucial. This is a small ground, a batsman who is well set should be able to hit boundaries regularly.

Holland strikes in the first over against SA - Game now reduced to 40 overs

That's more like the England we know and .............

First Colly and then KP. Colly playing a shot that only ever gets one. And KP just gifting his wicket, wrapped up and with a bow tied around it. Absolute rubbish.

And now Freddie, first ball!

This is just pathetic. Vaughan, KP and Collingwood need to take the blame for this shambles - get in, stay in. Simple as that. And Bell and Joyce's shots were both utterly disgraceful. Ho hum. Normal service is resumed I assume.

Last 5 overs says it all really 10/4

England did not all of a sudden become a decent team in Australia. They merely had a few decent games. Form is temporary and class is permanent. In ODIs England do not have enough class.

Is it any surprise that everyone else laughed when England's World Cup chances were being talked up on the basis of a few end of series victories?