Keys injured as his shoulders been rebuilt so he won't amke the Englanbd squad thank god. I just hope hes not called up for the Ashes which cricinfo hinted at!

His been in no kind of form so far this season and his physique is showing it, he's probably been on the comfort food it appears 'cos he don't look in good shape at all.

I think we'd expect it for a guy like him at the age of 35, much like Goughy now, but he's only just turned 27 - he should be in something close to peak condition. If this is his peak I don't even want to contemplate what he'll be like at 35.

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Watch this for a perfect about.
James May

I read recently that he'd cut out the pastry products in order to feast himself on runs instead. Good to hear he's actually maintaining his well-rounded physique, as well as his appetite for pies of the red and round variety. You can't knock him for his ability to make big scores - he's one of the best out there. I still think the plethora of 15s and 20s will debar him from a meaningful test career.

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Just what is going off out there?

Well everyone will be waiting for Read to come in to bat tomorrow. Whatever he gets it won't be enough to get Jones out of the England team. I will also be interested to see how Broad and Hoggard match up. Who will the Pakistani batsmen find the more difficult to score runs off?

Whatever Read does is irrelevant, if he comes in and knocks off a 35 ball century then it's just because it's a flat deck or the pakistanis can't be bothered, if he get a first ball duck from the best delivery of the day then he can't cope and jones was always the better batsman blah blah.

Foster or some other youngster is where the focus should be now, Read's wasting that A-team slot because Fletcher decided in the caribbean that Read would never play for England again.

Well, Read is batting now, as three wickets have fallen for about 30 runs. Bopara out for 15, Dalrymple for 1 and Key for 136. Read (0*) and Loudon (4*) now batting and the score is 291/6.

It's currently lunch and the score stands at 365/6, with Read on 39 and Loudon 29. Great chance of England A posting 400-450 here with Bresnan, Hoggy the block and Broad (not knowledgeable about his batting - is he is bunny material or can he handle a bat?) to come. Excellent performance so far by the boys.

The lunch break is currently being eaten into (time wise) and Read and Loudon have done a solid job in steadying a collapsing ship, they are on 39* and 29* respectively.

England A's bowling will be interesting, we will see whether our pace bowlers can dominate and whether spin will have any effect at all.

Broad is averaging 11.22 this season with the bat for Leicestershire having scored 101 runs - top score of 24.

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Watch this for a perfect about.
James May

Well, he may be useful for a frustrating few runs at the innings death. It would be nice to see him, flukily or not, knock Kaneria straight back over his head for 6 or something just to dent Danish's bravado.

Loudon has passed 50 runs at a strike rate of just under 50. Read also still with him on 41, I suspect England A will make a friendly declaration if they pass 450 runs/Tea is taken.

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Watch this for a perfect about.
James May